Gym Leader Challenge format (TCG)

Gym Leader Challenge logo

The Gym Leader Challenge format of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, sometimes abbreviated as "GLC", is a recognized alternative format for playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The format name is a reference to how Gym Leaders in the Pokémon games often specialize in just one Pokémon type.

The format was originally created by Pokémon TCG player and online content creator Andrew Mahone on July 14, 2021. Inspired by the prominence of Pokémon with a Rule Box, which tend to have higher HP and powerful attacks, Mahone created the format to specifically exclude them. Mahone also envisioned the format as a "singleton" format, i.e. a deck can only have one copy of any card (except for Basic Energy cards).

The Gym Leader Challenge format has been acknowledged in official Pokémon materials and events. It is included in the official Pokémon TCG Alternative Play Handbook, and has been featured as a side event in tournaments such as the 2022 World Championships and the 2023 Europe International Championships. Some TCG-related posts on Pokémon.com promote cards that can work well in GLC.

Rules

The Gym Leader Challenge format is mainly derived from the Expanded format (i.e., cards from the Black & White expansion onward are legal), with the following rules:

• A deck can contain only one type of Pokémon.
  • Dual-type Pokémon are allowed in decks focusing on either of their types, as long as they have the type innately. For example, Galvantula (Steam Siege 42) is a dual-type Lightning/Grass Pokémon, so it is allowed in either a Lightning-type or Grass-type deck; however, Gallade (Cosmic Eclipse 82) is innately a Psychic-type Pokémon (even though the "Double Type" Ability makes it both a Psychic-type and Fighting-type while in play), so it can only be played in a Psychic-type deck.
• Only one copy of each card with the same name can be put in a deck, except for Basic Energy cards, which a deck can have multiple copies of. Any type of Basic Energy cards are allowed regardless of the Pokémon's type.
  • Note that the official Pokémon TCG ruling that a deck can only have either Boss's Orders or Lysandre (not both) remains in place. This also applies to Professor Juniper, Professor Sycamore, and Professor's Research, of which a deck can only contain one of the three. Other cards that share the same effects are allowed as long as they have different names, e.g. Hop and Hau.
• A deck may not contain any of these cards:
  • Cards with a Rule Box. This includes Pokémon-EX, Pokémon-GX, Prism Star cards (including Prism Star Trainer and Energy cards), Pokémon V, Radiant Pokémon, Pokémon ex, etc.
  • ACE SPEC cards.
  • Cards that cannot be used in official tournaments.
  • There is also a ban list (separate from the Expanded format ban list), which includes the following cards:

Cards banned from the Gym Leader Challenge format Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	Mark	English Expansion		Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion		Rarity	#
Lysandre's Trump Card	Su		Phantom Forces			99/119	Phantom Gate			086/088
			Phantom Forces			118/119	Phantom Gate			095/088
Oranguru			Ultra Prism			114/156	Ultra Sun			052/066
							GX Starter Decks			101/131
Forest of Giant Plants	St		Ancient Origins			74/98	Bandit Ring			079/081
							Premium Champion Pack			127/131
							Premium Trainer Box			016/018
							The Best of XY			154/171
							Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Deck Build Boxes			038/041
Chip-Chip Ice Axe	I		Unbroken Bonds			165/214	Double Blaze			080/095
Hiker	Su		Celestial Storm			133/168	SM-P Promotional cards			107/SM-P
			Hidden Fates			SV85/SV94	GX Ultra Shiny			156/150
Kyogre			Shining Fates			021/072	Shiny Star V			036/190
Pokémon Research Lab	St		Unified Minds			205/236	Miracle Twin			089/094
Raikou			Vivid Voltage			050/185	Legendary Heartbeat			015/076
Marshadow			Shining Legends			45/73	Shining Legends			046/072
			SM Black Star Promos			SM85	SM-P Promotional cards			155/SM-P
							GX Ultra Shiny			050/150
Duskull			Cosmic Eclipse			83/236	Remix Bout			023/064

(Until November 16, 2021, Pokémon with Ancient Traits were not allowed. When those Pokémon were allowed, the first bans took place: Oranguru and Lysandre's Trump Card.)

Alternative Play Handbook

As written, the GLC rules in the Alternative Play Handbook are slightly off from the community held rules. In specific, those rules only prevent the play of Pokémon with Rule Boxes, leaving Prism Star Trainers and Energy allowed.

External links

• Official website
  • Getting started guide
• Official introductory video
• Gym Leader Challenge playlist on the Tricky Gym YouTube channel
• Gym Leader Challenge playlist on the OmniPoke YouTube channel (includes video guides)

This article is part of both Project TCG and Project Fandom, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon TCG and Fandom, respectively.