Getting Started with the Pokémon TCG
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What's on a Pokémon TCG card?
Card Name
In Standard format play, you can only have four cards of the same name in your deck. Energy cards are the exception to this rule.
Pokémon Type and HP
This shows your Pokémon's type and how much damage they can take before being Knocked Out. Each Pokémon has its own Weaknesses and Resistances shown on the bottom of the card. Keep this in mind when preparing for your next battle.
Stage
This shows your Pokémon's current Evolution. You can evolve Pokémon that have been on the field for at least one turn if you have their evolved form in your hand.
Attacks
To perform an attack, you must have the quantity and type of Energy shown here attached to that Pokémon. The number to the right shows how much damage an attack will do to your opponent's Active Pokémon.
Retreat Cost
This is how much Energy it takes to move your Pokémon from the Active Spot to the Bench. If you retreat, you must discard this amount of Energy from the Pokémon and move a Pokémon from your Bench to the Active Spot.
Card Name
In Standard format play, you can only have four cards of the same name in your deck. Energy cards are the exception to this rule.
Pokémon Type and HP
This shows your Pokémon's type and how much damage they can take before being Knocked Out. Each Pokémon has its own Weaknesses and Resistances shown on the bottom of the card. Keep this in mind when preparing for your next battle.
Stage
This shows your Pokémon's current Evolution. You can evolve Pokémon that have been on the field for at least one turn if you have their evolved form in your hand.
Attacks
To perform an attack, you must have the quantity and type of Energy shown here attached to that Pokémon. The number to the right shows how much damage an attack will do to your opponent's Active Pokémon.
Retreat Cost
This is how much Energy it takes to move your Pokémon from the Active Spot to the Bench. If you retreat, you must discard this amount of Energy from the Pokémon and move a Pokémon from your Bench to the Active Spot.
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The Field of Play
Prize Cards
When you Knock Out an opposing Pokémon, you take one of your Prize cards and put it into your hand. If you're the first one to take your last Prize card, you win!
Active Spot
Each player starts with (and must always have) one Pokémon in their Active Spot—this is the Active Pokémon. Each player may have only one Active Pokémon at a time. If your opponent doesn't have any more Pokémon in play, you win the game!
Bench
The bottom row of a player's in-play section is for the Benched Pokémon. Each player may have up to five Pokémon on the Bench at a time. Any Pokémon in play other than the Active Pokémon must be put on the Bench.
Deck
Each player starts with their own deck of 60 cards to play the game. While both players know how many cards are in each deck, no one can look at or change the order of the cards in either player's deck unless a card says so.
Discard Pile
Each player has their own discard pile. Cards taken out of play go to the discard pile, unless a card is played that says otherwise. Typically when a Pokémon is Knocked Out, it and any attached cards (such as Energy cards) are sent to its owner's discard pile.
Prize Cards
When you Knock Out an opposing Pokémon, you take one of your Prize cards and put it into your hand. If you're the first one to take your last Prize card, you win!
Active Spot
Each player starts with (and must always have) one Pokémon in their Active Spot—this is the Active Pokémon. Each player may have only one Active Pokémon at a time. If your opponent doesn't have any more Pokémon in play, you win the game!
Bench
The bottom row of a player's in-play section is for the Benched Pokémon. Each player may have up to five Pokémon on the Bench at a time. Any Pokémon in play other than the Active Pokémon must be put on the Bench.
Deck
Each player starts with their own deck of 60 cards to play the game. While both players know how many cards are in each deck, no one can look at or change the order of the cards in either player's deck unless a card says so.
Discard Pile
Each player has their own discard pile. Cards taken out of play go to the discard pile, unless a card is played that says otherwise. Typically when a Pokémon is Knocked Out, it and any attached cards (such as Energy cards) are sent to its owner's discard pile.
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