How to play the Pokemon Trading Card Game: Rules, Turn Order & Examples

• Deck: Each player needs a deck of exactly 60 cards. A deck contains a mix of Pokémon, Energy, and Trainer cards.
• Starting hand: Shuffle your deck and draw 7 cards.
• Active Pokémon: Each player places one Basic Pokémon from their hand face down as their Active Pokémon.
• Bench: You may place up to 5 Basic Pokémon face down on your Bench (these are backup Pokémon that can be swapped in).
• Prize Cards: Set aside 6 cards face down from your deck as your Prize Cards. These are cards you will collect when you knock out your opponent’s Pokémon.
• Coin flip: Flip a coin to determine who goes first.

• Pokémon cards: Represent Pokémon that battle. Basic Pokémon start on the field, and you can evolve them into Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon for increased power.
• Energy cards: Used to power up your Pokémon’s attacks. Each attack requires specific Energy types.
• Trainer cards: These provide special effects, such as drawing more cards or healing your Pokémon. Trainer cards come in different forms (Supporter, Item, Stadium).

Each turn has several phases:

Draw one card from your deck at the beginning of your turn.

During this phase, you can perform the following actions, in any order:

• Play Pokémon to your Bench: You can play Basic Pokémon from your hand to your Bench (up to 5 Pokémon total on your Bench).
• Evolve Pokémon: If you have a Stage 1 or Stage 2 Pokémon card in your hand and a corresponding Basic or Stage 1 Pokémon on the field, you can evolve that Pokémon (once per turn).
• Attach Energy: You can attach one Energy card from your hand to any of your Pokémon (once per turn).
• Play Trainer Cards: Use the effects of Supporters, Items, and Stadiums as needed.
• Retreat Active Pokémon: You can switch your Active Pokémon with one on your Bench by paying the Retreat Cost (discarding the required Energy from the Active Pokémon).
• Use Abilities: Some Pokémon have Abilities that you can activate during your turn without attacking. Check the text on the card for details.

• To attack, select one of the attacks listed on your Active Pokémon's card. Each attack requires a specific amount and type of Energy.
• Apply damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon, considering Weakness and Resistance if applicable.
• After attacking, your turn ends.

• If your opponent’s Pokémon receives damage equal to or more than its HP, it is knocked out.
• When you knock out a Pokémon, you take one of your Prize Cards.
• If you knock out a powerful Pokémon (e.g., a Pokémon V or VMAX), you can take 2 or 3 Prize Cards.

Some attacks inflict special conditions on Pokémon (such as Burned, Paralyzed, or Poisoned), which have ongoing effects like damaging the Pokémon each turn or preventing it from attacking.

You win by one of the following:

• Collecting all six Prize Cards.
• Knocking out your opponent’s last Pokémon on the field (no more Pokémon left to play).
• Your opponent is unable to draw a card at the beginning of their turn (deck-out).

1. Draw Phase: Draw a card.
2. Actions Phase: Attach an Energy to your Active Pokémon, evolve a Bench Pokémon, and play a Supporter card to draw additional cards.
3. Attack Phase: Use your Active Pokémon’s attack, dealing damage to the opponent’s Active Pokémon. If you knock it out, take a Prize Card.