Pokémon Trading Card Game

This article is about the Trading Card Game itself. For the Game Boy Color game, see Pokémon Trading Card Game (video game).

International logo

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (Japanese: ポケモンカードゲーム, Pokémon Card Game), often abbreviated as Pokémon TCG or just PTCG (Japanese: ポケカ Pokéca), is a tabletop game that involves collecting, trading and playing with Pokémon-themed playing cards. It has its own set of rules but uses many motifs and ideas derived from the video games. There are Pokémon cards for every species of Pokémon, as well as Trainer cards featuring characters, items and other themes of the franchise (each with a different use) and Energy cards to power attacks. The artwork for the cards is often created specifically for the TCG by numerous artists, though occasionally pre-existing art made for the core series is used.

The Pokémon TCG is a popular and steady aspect of the Pokémon franchise and is played and enjoyed by many fans. As of the end of March 2023, over 52.9 billion Pokémon Trading Card Game cards have been produced worldwide in 14 languages, and being sold in 89 countries and regions.^[1] The game is part of the Play! Pokémon organized play along with the video game series and is also used in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Live.

History

Original back of Japanese cards

The Pokémon Trading Card Game was originally published in Japan in October 1996 by Media Factory. While other series of collectible Pokémon cards existed in the past (such as the Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards released in September 1996), this was the first card game based on the Pokémon series. The first Pokémon TCG sets took inspiration from the then released Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue video games and initially featured illustrations by Ken Sugimori, Mitsuhiro Arita and Keiji Kinebuchi. Soon new expansions began to release with many new artists contributing artwork. Three years later in 1999, Pokémon TCG was introduced in North America by Wizards of the Coast with the Base Set, and worldwide soon after. In 2003, Wizards of the Coast's license was transferred to The Pokémon Company International.

With the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver video games, the Neo Series, the second series of expansions, brought several new Pokémon into play. The Metal and Darkness types of Pokémon cards were also introduced, along with Light Pokémon and Dark Pokémon. These were eventually discontinued to prevent confusion with the Darkness type, but returned briefly with the release of the Neo Destiny expansion. The e-Card Series used Game Boy Advance add-on e-Reader to display Pokédex data about the Pokémon, play a minigame, play various tunes in a Melody Box, or activate a special attack for that Pokémon. The EX Series was released next, the first series produced by The Pokémon Company International instead of Wizards of the Coast, which introduced the stronger Pokémon-ex into the game. The Diamond & Pearl Series brought Pokémon LV.X, which were stronger, "Leveled-up" versions of final evolutions. Pokémon LV.X essentially replaced Pokémon-ex and continued until the Platinum: Arceus expansion. The HeartGold & SoulSilver Series featured two more types of card, Pokémon LEGEND, two-part cards with one Pokémon on each card, and Pokémon Prime, Pokémon with powerful and/or tactical attacks. With the release of the Black & White expansion, Poké-Powers (Poké-POWERs and Poké-BODYs) were combined into one mechanic and renamed Abilities. Pokémon-ex returned as Pokémon-EX in the Black & White Series starting with the Next Destinies expansion. The Dragon Pokémon type was introduced in the Dragon Vault expansion of the Black & White Series. M Pokémon-EX were introduced in the XY expansion and introduce the Mega Evolution mechanic featured in the Pokémon X and Y video games to the TCG. The XY Series also introduced the Fairy type Pokémon. Pokémon-GX was introduced in the Sun & Moon Series.

With the release of the EX Series worldwide, Pokémon TCG was published by Pokémon USA and distributed by Nintendo of America, instead of Wizards of the Coast.^[2] In 2006, Nintendo of America transferred distribution responsibilities to Pokémon USA.^[3] In 2000, The Pokémon Company replaced Media Factory in publishing the cards in Japan starting with the Awakening Legends expansion. Media Factory continued to distribute the cards until the DP era.^{[citation needed]}

Two Game Boy Color video games based on the card game were created: Pokémon Trading Card Game was released in 1998 and worldwide in 2000, and its sequel, Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, was released three years later. Pokémon Card Game: How to Play DS was released in Japan in 2011 and taught players how to play the Pokémon TCG. In 2011, the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online was introduced as a browser-based game but later became a downloadable game for PC, Mac, and iPad. Other media related to Pokémon TCG include several manga titles, such as the series How I Became a Pokémon Card.

How to play

Back of an English language card

See the Appendix:Glossary for a definition of most the Pokémon Trading Card Game terms.

Also see the FAQ Video Series on Pokémon.com for a visual introduction to the card game.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a two player game for all ages. Each player builds a Deck of sixty (60) cards using a combination of various "Pokémon cards" (the main type of cards used to battle), "Trainer cards" (cards with special effects), and "Energy cards" (cards that are required to perform most "Attacks"). New cards and decks are constantly being released, and players may purchase "Booster packs" to integrate these cards into their own decks or purchase pre-made "Trainer kits" or "Theme Decks" that already have all the cards needed to play. The Pokémon Trading Card Game officially requires a deck of 60 cards for Standard or Expanded play, though shorter Matches can be held with "Half Decks" consisting of 30 cards instead. During a 60 card match, only four of any one card, excluding Basic Energy cards, are allowed in each deck. This is further limited to two of any one card in a Half Deck match. Many fans have also created their own game rules and playing methods and have websites devoted to providing alternative playing methods. These rules and methods are not allowed in Play! Pokémon competitions.

Setting Up to Play

To begin a match, players need a coin or a six-sided die (where the even-numbered sides represent "heads" and the odd-numbered sides represent "tails"). One player calls heads or tails, while the other player flips the coin or rolls the die. If the player calling the coin flip gets their choice (heads or tails), that player gets to choose which player goes first. If the player calling the coin flip does not get their choice, the player flipping the coin gets to choose which player goes first. The player who goes first is not allowed to attack or play any Supporter cards on that player's first turn. In best-of-three match play, after a game has been completed, the loser of that game decides who goes first in the next game instead of determining it by a coin flip. This decision is made at the same point during setup that the coin flip would take place.

After determining which player goes first, both players must shuffle their own decks and allow their opponent to make a deck cut; alternatively, the opponent may choose to shuffle the other player's deck and allow the deck owner to make a deck cut. Each player then places their deck faces-down in the play area or "field" in a north/south orientation, with the short sides of cards facing each player, and any card sleeve openings facing the opponent. The players then each take seven cards from the top of their respective decks. These cards go into their hand. Players then place at least one Basic Pokémon from their hand face down into play: one to the Active Spot and up to five onto the Bench. Next, each player sets aside six cards from the top of their deck face down as Prize cards. Finally, each player flips over their Active and Benched Pokémon and the game starts.

Mulligan

If a player does not have any Basic Pokémon in their hand while setting up to play, after their opponent sets aside the Prize cards, they must take a mulligan. For each mulligan a player takes, that player’s opponent may draw a card.

If both players had to take mulligans, the player that took fewer mulligans may draw a number of cards up to the difference in the numbers of mulligans. This means if the player took 1 mulligan and the opponent took 3, the player may draw up to 2 cards.

Turns

At the start of each player's turn, they must draw a card. Then, they may take any of the following actions in any order they like.

Attach up to one Energy card from their hand to one of their Pokémon
Play as many Basic Pokémon from their hand onto their Bench as they like
Evolve as many of their Pokémon as they like
Retreat their Active Pokémon up to one time
Play as many Trainer cards in their hand as they like (but only one Supporter card and one Stadium card)
Use any Abilities or Pokémon Powers

Attacking will end a player's turn regardless of how many other actions they have taken, but a player may choose to end their turn without attacking.

Finishing a match

To finish a match, players must take their six Prize cards by Knocking Out their opponent's Pokémon by using attacks to reduce the opponent's HP to zero. The player that does so wins the game.

One player may also run out of Pokémon in play, i.e. they have no Active Pokémon or Benched Pokémon. The player that runs out of Pokémon in play loses the game.

At the beginning of a turn, if a player must draw a card from an empty deck, that player loses the game. Winning or losing can also be achieved directly with the effect of certain cards.

Card types

Pokémon card

Trainer cards

Energy cards

Rarity

On the bottom right corner of most cards, there is a small logo that indicates its rarity. Below is a list of these rarities:

(Common)
(Uncommon)
(Rare)
(Ultra-Rare Rare)
(Double Rare)
(Ultra Rare)
(Illustration Rare)
(Special illustration Rare)
(Hyper Rare)
(Shiny Rare)
(Shiny Ultra Rare)
(ACE SPEC Rare)

No symbol usually denotes a card that is part of a promotional set or a Basic Energy card. In addition, some cards are rarer than the symbol alone indicates, including due to it being a Holographic version, Secret Rare or alternate art print.

International sets

Generation I

Original Series

Generation II

Neo Series

Legendary Collection Series

Legendary Collection

e-Card Series

Wizards of the Coast were the western distributors of the game between 1999 and 2003

Promotional series

Unreleased sets

Generation III

EX Series

The Pokémon Company International has since taken over the TCG from Wizards of the Coast.

Generation IV

Diamond & Pearl Series

Platinum Series

HeartGold & SoulSilver Series

Call of Legends Series

Call of Legends

Generation V

Black & White Series

Generation VI

XY Series

Generation VII

Sun & Moon Series

Generation VIII

Sword & Shield Series

Generation IX

McDonald's Collection — since Black & White Series

McDonald's Collection 2011
McDonald's Collection 2012
McDonald's Collection 2013 — French print only, non-tournament legal
McDonald's Collection 2014
McDonald's Collection 2015
McDonald's Collection 2016
McDonald's Collection 2017
McDonald's Collection 2018
McDonald's Collection 2019
McDonald's Collection 2021
McDonald's Collection 2022
McDonald's Collection 2023

Miscellaneous sets

Winner cards — Neo and EX Series
Poké Card Creator Pack — EX Series (non-tournament legal)
Pokémon Rumble — Platinum Series
Yellow A Alternate cards — XY and Sun & Moon Series
Pokémon Futsal — Sword & Shield Series
Prerelease cards
Jumbo cards — non-tournament legal

Miscellaneous cards

Japanese sets

Exclusive sets

Original era

VS era

Pokémon VS — minor expansion

Web era

Pokémon Web — minor expansion

DP era

Moonlit Pursuit — minor expansion
Dawn Dash — minor expansion

LEGEND era

Lost Link — mini set

BW era

Master Deck Build Box EX — mini set
Shiny Collection — mini set

Generation I

Original era

Generation II

Neo era

e-Series

Generation III

ADV era

PCG era

Generation IV

DP era

DPt era

LEGEND era

Generation V

BW era

Back of the current Japanese language card, since 2002

Generation VI

XY era

Collection X
Collection Y
Wild Blaze
Rising Fist
Phantom Gate
Gaia Volcano
Tidal Storm
Magma Gang vs Aqua Gang: Double Crisis — mini set
Emerald Break
Bandit Ring
Legendary Shine Collection — mini set

XY BREAK era

Generation VII

SM era

Generation VIII

SWSH era