What To Buy To Start Pokémon TCG In 2025 (and what to avoid)

So you’re ready to start playing Pokémon cards. But wait…Your local store looks like a Poké-carnival has just exploded. Decks, boxes, booster packs, tins- it’s chaos. 

What do you actually need to buy to start playing? And what do you need to skip to avoid wasting money?

Let me save you hours of confusion. This guide cuts through the noise and tells you exactly what to buy to start Pokémon TCG. Whether you’re a total beginner, a returning trainer from 2001, or a parent trying not to mess this up for your kid- you’re in the right place.

Essential Accessories

Before you throw money at shiny cardboard, make sure your first product includes all the essentials.

Here’s what you need to start playing Pokémon cards:

If a product doesn’t include all of these accessories, it’s probably not meant for you to start playing out of the box.

Best Products To Start Pokémon TCG

So now you’re asking: “Okay, but which product actually gives me everything to play Pokémon TCG?” I got you. These three are the undisputed best beginner kits in 2025:

All three products are starter decks that come packed with everything you need to start playing Pokémon TCG right out of the box. The only real difference? Age of the beginner they’re made for (they “hold your hand” and guide you through the game differently). 

One’s built for little hands, one’s for curious tweens and up, and one’s for older players who want to hit the ground running.

Click on each product to skip to its respective review.

1) Battle Academy

For $20, the Battle Academy gives parents and kids under 10 a good-value, chilled, and fully-guided experience in Pokémon TCG.  You get three full 60-card decks, a giant board with all the important zones labeled, and tutorial booklets that literally walk you through your first turns.

The giant playing board is invaluable for beginners- you don’t need to dive into the rulebook to figure out where your Active Pokémon goes- it’s printed on the board together with a description of what the zone does.

The Pokémon Battle Academy is perfect for beginners and easy for young children to learn the game. Heck, even Uncle Jimbo can join in (if he wants).

2) Build & Battle Stadium

If Battle Academy is “learn and play”, then Build & Battle Stadium is “learn, play, and build”. For around $50, two players get a little more action in the deck-customization aspect of Pokémon TCG (something that the Battle Academy doesn’t offer).

Inside the Build & Battle Stadium, you get two ready-to-play 40-card decks plus 12 booster packs- six for each player. The idea? Crack open those packs (great fun!), pick your favorites, and upgrade your deck into a full 60-card standard deck. 

The Build & Battle Stadium gives older children the full Pokémon TCG experience- gameplay, deck-building, and the thrill of ripping packs. 

3) Battle Decks

If you’ve played a Trading Card Game (TCG) before- or if you’re coming back to Pokémon after a decade away- you probably don’t want to learn on “baby mode.” You want the secret sauce. You want combos. You want to see what a pro deck looks, feels, and plays like.

That’s exactly what a Battle Deck gives you.

These are 60-card decks focusing on specific Pokémon and strategies. They’re pre-built to work, but still leave room for you to swap and upgrade as you learn.

There are 3 levels to choose from (marked on the box):

Battle decks are the fastest way to feel competitive from Day 1.

Do You Need Card Sleeves To Start Playing?

Technically? No. You don’t need card sleeves to start playing Pokémon TCG. But should you use them? Absolutely.

If you’re just learning or playing casually at home, you can get away without sleeves. But unsleeved cards take a beating fast. Bent corners, greasy fingerprints, and accidental spills- it’s not a good look for your shiny new cards.

Now, if you’re planning to show up at a local event or enter any kind of tournament? Sleeves aren’t optional- they’re essential. Tournament rules don’t allow “marked cards,” which can be as simple as a tiny crease or edge wear that makes a card stand out. Even if it’s unintentional, you can get penalized. Sleeves keep your cards clean and consistent, and judge-approved.

Plus, they make shuffling way smoother. And once you start pulling rares? You’ll want those sleeves ready

Casual or competitive- your cards (and future self) will thank you if you sleeve up.

What Beginners Should NOT Buy

Here’s what not to waste your money on, no matter how pretty the artwork is or how much lil’ Junior begs and pleads:

• Random booster packs–  They’re fun to open and great for collectors. But they won’t build you a functional Pokémon TCG deck to start playing. You’ll just end up with a pile of cool-looking cards that don’t work together. Same goes with Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs).

• Expensive single cards – That $30 holofoil? Looks great in a collector’s binder. Useless in a deck unless you know how to build around it.

• Custom / vintage decks – These are outdated and illegal in current Standard play. They’re also usually pricey as heck.
  

Seriously, don’t buy these. Stick with something purpose-built for the current Format until you understand how to build your own deck around your play style. Then you can start hunting chase cards and building spicy brews.

Next Steps

Once you’ve picked what to buy, here’s your next move: open the box and start playing Pokémon TCG.

If you haven’t yet, bookmark our full playing Pokémon TCG guide. It clarifies rule details that the official rulebook sometimes skips on- things like turn structure, how the heck “evolution” works, and more.

You may also want to start making small upgrades to your deck after a few matches. Add that second Charizard ex. Swap in some better draw cards. These small tweaks lead to massive performance boosts.

Our Pokémon deck-building guide walks you through how to build a killer deck, balance energy counts, and stay legal in Standard format.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering what to buy to start Pokémon TCG, here’s the bottom line:

• Buy Battle Academy if you want full-on hand-holding.
  
• Buy Build & Battle Stadium if you need less hand-holding and want to also experience opening booster packs and deck customization.
  
• Buy a Battle Deck if you’re ready to play like a pro right out of the box.
  

All three products give you everything you need to start playing Pokémon cards.

Oh, and don’t forget card sleeves!

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