Beginner Basics

The five Pokémon TCG Special Conditions are Asleep, Burned, Confused, Paralyzed, and Poisoned. Master the rules of this core gameplay mechanic to gain the edge in your next Pokémon card battle. This post may contain affiliate links. See our affiliate policy for more information. When playing Pokémon TCG, it’s the non-flashy stuff that can really mess […]

A Pokémon TCG retreat lets you swap the Active Pokémon with a Benched Pokémon by discarding Energy equal to its Retreat Cost. It’s a key move to avoid knockouts, heal special conditions, and bring in better attackers. Learn the rules to maintain control over your next battle. This post may contain affiliate links. See our

The bench in Pokémon TCG is where up to five additional Pokémon are placed. Benched Pokémon can evolve, use abilities, or be swapped into the Active Spot when needed. This post may contain affiliate links. See our affiliate policy for more information. To a newbie, the bench is one of the overlooked mechanics in playing

The Pokémon TCG Active Spot refers to the card position in the middle of the battlefield that sits in front of the bench. Learning how to manage the Active Spot properly allows you to outplay your opponent. Every Pokémon TCG match has a single place where all the action happens- the Active Spot. Here, your

The hand in Pokémon TCG refers to the cards that you hold during a battle. Learn the skills necessary to manage your hand effectively and outplay your opponent. After more than ten years of playing competitive Pokémon TCG, I know one thing: Powerful cards alone aren’t enough to win battles. Battles are won because the

A draw in Pokémon TCG means taking the top card of your deck and adding it to your hand. Learn how to make the most out of this mechanic to keep your hand refreshed with new resources. Pokémon TCG is a game of strategy, but it’s also a game of consistency- and consistency starts with

Pokémon TCG turns are structured into three phases: Draw, Main, and Attack. Learn the rules for each phase to start building strategic layers into your gameplay. A lot of people who are new to playing Pokémon cards think that the hardest part is making a deck or remembering hundreds of cards.  But the real challenge?