- For the video game, see Pokémon Trading Card Game (video game).
Official logo of the Pokémon Trading Card game in the US.
Pokémon Trading Card Game, known as Pokémon Card Game (Japanese: ポケモンカードゲーム, Hepburn: Pokemon Kaado Geemu) in Japan, int. TCG is a collectible card game that is based on the Pokémon series. It was first published by Media Factory in October 1996 in Japan and has been published by Wizards of the Coast since December 1998. Nintendo took over the publishing of the card games since June 2003.
The playing card game became internationally popular and is holding tournaments around the world where fans can battle against different challengers from different countries, play against each other online and even a video game has been based on the playing card game series.
Gameplay[]
Each player has a deck that contains 60 cards. Each player shuffles your deck and draws seven cards as a starting hand. If the starting hand does not contain a basic Pokémon, the player puts the seven cards back in their deck, reshuffles their deck, and again draws 7 cards, until one obtains a starting hand containing at least one basic Pokémon. Then each player places one Pokémon card as an active one face-down at the zone: "Active Pokémon" and then you must place 5 more active Pokémon on your bench. Each player then deals out six cards face down, to be prize cards. To start the battle, flip a coin with your opponent to decide who will start first. Then reveal your face-down active Pokémon card and begin the battle.
Ways to Win the Game[]
- If your opponent is required to draw a card from their deck, but has no more cards in their deck.
- If you win all of your six prize cards.
- If you knock out your opponent's active Pokémon, and your opponent has no bench Pokémon with which to replace it.
- Playing "Lost world" card
Pokémon Arena Zones[]
Pokémon Battle Zones.
As both players are dueling with each other, they must place the card in zones. There are 5 different kind of zones containing:
- Deck – where you must place your deck, as already stated a deck starts off with 60 cards
- Active Pokémon – the Pokémon you are using against your opponent, Bench – A zone where you can place 5 cards that can be your back-up
- Discard Pile – Where you place cards that are out of play which can be Pokémons, Energy or Trainer cards
- Prize Cards – 6 random cards dealt from each player's deck before the battle starts.
- Deck
- Each player's deck starts off with exactly 60 cards, not less or more. The deck must be placed face down at the left on the field. The opponent or you cannot look at decks for the purposes of predicting what cards will be drawn. You must shuffle your deck first before you start drawing your cards.
- Active Pokémon
- Each player must start with one active Pokémon. You and your opponent must always have one active Pokémon as in the field or bench. If your opponent does not have an active Pokémon in play (either in the field or on the bench), then you win the game.
- Bench
- At the bottom of the zone: "Active Pokémon" there is a zone named: "Bench" which each player may have up to 5 Pokémon, Trainer or Energy cards after each turn. If your active Pokémon has lost the battle, then you can pick up another active Pokémon that you have on the bench. Same counts for Active Pokémon, if you have no Pokémon in play then your opponent will win the game.
- Discard Pile
- Each player has their own discard pile. The discard pile is meant for cards that are out of play which means if a Pokémon is knocked out, it is placed in the discard pile which also includes energy cards and Pokémon tools that were attached to the Pokémon. This can also be undone if there is a card that prevents the Pokémon from fainting. All cards in this pile must be placed face up.
- Prize Cards
- Prize Cards are six face down cards that each player deals at random from their deck at the start of the game. Each time a player knocks out one of their opponent's Pokémon, the player can take one prize card and place it in their hand. When a player takes their sixth and final prize card before their opponent, the player wins the game.
Types of Cards[]
There are three types of cards: "Pokémon", "Trainer", and "Energy" cards. These three are used in the Pokémon Trading Card Game to trade or to challenge your opponent.
Pokémon Cards[]
Card Information.
Pokémon cards are the important cards of the game, but are useless to attack if there are no energy cards attacked (Unless you use an ability or a non-energy requiring attack). You start with basic Pokémon cards and there are cards containing: "Stage 1" and "Stage 2" which means a certain Pokémon can evolve. There are important parts at a Pokémon card, such as: HP or Ability.
Pokémon Type[]
Cards can contain the type of the Pokémon which can be one of the 10 energy cards. The eleven types are: Colorless, Grass, Fire, Water, Lightning, Fighting, and Psychic. Later on, the Darkness, Metal, Dragon, and Fairy types were introduced. However, the Fairy type was later removed and is not scheduled to appear on any future cards.
Heal Points (HP)[]
These are the Pokémon energy of battling. If the Pokémon attacked with the points of the Pokémon attack, they will lose some Heal Points. If they got attacked and lost all of their Heal Points then the Pokémon is knocked out and sent to the discard pile, with all energy and Pokémon tool cards that were attached to that Pokémon.
Stage[]
Some Pokémon that contain the word "basic" have evolution forms. If there is a Pokémon with Stage 1 or Stage 2, then it means that it is the evolved type of Pokémon. But only if the Pokémon in the picture of the evolved Pokémon can be evolved.
Trainer Cards[]
Energy Cards[]
Energy Cards can be attached to Pokémon so that the Pokémon can use its attacks. (you may only attach 1 energy card to 1 Pokémon per turn)
TCG series (English)[]
Original series[]
Neo series[]
Unknown[]
- Legendary Collection
E-series[]
- Expedition Base Set
- Aquapolis
- Skyridge
EX series[]
- Ruby & Sapphire
- Sandstorm
- Dragon
- Team Magma vs Team Aqua
- Hidden Legends
- FireRed & LeafGreen
- Team Rocket Returns
- Deoxys
- Emerald
- Unseen Forces
- Delta Species
- Legend Maker
- Holon Phantoms
- Crystal Guardians
- Dragon Frontiers
- Power Keepers
Diamond & Pearl series[]
- Diamond and Pearl
- Mysterious Treasures
- Secret Wonders
- Great Encounters
- Majestic Dawn
- Legends Awakened
- Stormfront
Platinum Series[]
- Platinum
- Rising Rivals
- Supreme Victors
- Arceus
Heartgold Soulsilver Series[]
- HeartGold SoulSilver
- Unleashed
- Undaunted
- Triumphant
- Call of Legends
Black & White[]
| Set № | Set Image | Set Name | Set Icon | Set Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BW 1 | Black & White (TCG) | N/A | April 25th 2011 | |
| BW 2 | Emerging Powers | N/A | August 31st 2011 | |
| BW 3 | Noble Victories | N/A | November 16th 2011 | |
| BW 4 | Next Destinies | N/A | February 8th 2012 | |
| BW 5 | Dark Explorers | N/A | May 9th 2012 | |
| BW 6 | Dragons Exalted | N/A | August 15th 2012 | |
| BW 6.5 | Dragon Vault | N/A | October 5th 2012 | |
| BW 7 | Boundaries Crossed | N/A | November 7th 2012 | |
| BW 8 | Plasma Storm | N/A | February 6th 2013 | |
| BW 9 | Plasma Freeze | N/A | May 8th 2013 | |
| BW 10 | Plasma Blast | N/A | August 14th 2013 | |
| BW 11 | Legendary Treasures | N/A | November 6th 2013 |
XY[]
| Set № | Set Image | Set Name | Set Icon | Set Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XY 0 | XY Kalos Starter Set | N/A | November 8th 2013 | |
| XY 1 | XY | N/A | February 5th 2014 | |
| XY 2 | Flashfire |  |
May 7th 2014 | |
| XY 3 | Furious Fists |  |
August 13th 2014 | |
| XY 4 | Phantom Forces |  |
November 5th 2014 | |
| XY 5 | Primal Clash |  |
February 4th 2015 | |
| XY 5.5 | Double Crisis |  |
March 25th 2015 | |
| XY 6 | Roaring Skies | N/A | May 6th 2015 | |
| XY 7 | Ancient Origins | N/A | August 12th 2015 | |
| XY 8 | Break Through | N/A | November 4th 2015 | |
| XY 9 | Break Point | N/A | February 3rd 2016 | |
| XY 9.5 | Generations | N/A | February 22nd 2016 | |
| XY 10 | Fates Collide | N/A | May 2nd 2016 | |
| XY 11 | Steam Siege | N/A | August 3rd 2016 | |
| XY 12 | Evolutions | N/A | November 2nd 2016 |
Sun & Moon[]
| Set № | Set Image | Set Name | Set Icon | Set Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNMN 1 | Sun & Moon |  |
February 3rd 2017 | |
| SNMN 2 | Guardians Rising |  |
May 5th 2017 | |
| SNMN 3 | Burning Shadows |  |
August 4th 2017 | |
| SNMN 3.5 | Shining Legends | N/A | October 6th 2017 | |
| SNMN 4 | Crimson Invasion | N/A | November 3rd 2017 | |
| SNMN 5 | Ultra Prism | N/A | February 2nd 2018 | |
| SNMN 6 | Forbidden Light | N/A | May 4th 2018 | |
| SNMN 7 | Celestial Storm | N/A | August 3rd 2018 | |
| SNMN 7.5 | Dragon Majesty | N/A | September 7th 2018 | |
| SNMN 8 | Lost Thunder | N/A | November 2nd 2018 | |
| SNMN 9 | Team Up | N/A | February 1st 2019 | |
| SNMN 9.5 | Detective Pikcachu | N/A | March 29th 2019 | |
| SNMN 10 | Unbroken Bonds | N/A | May 3rd 2019 | |
| SNMN 11 | Unified Minds | N/A | August 2nd 2019 | |
| SNMN 11.5 | Hidden Fates | N/A | August 23rd 2019 | |
| SNMN 12 | Cosmic Eclipse | N/A | November 1st 2019 |
Sword & Shield[]
| Set № | Set Image | Set Name | Set Icon | Set Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWSH 1 | Sword & Shield |  |
February 7th 2020 | |
| SWSH 2 | Rebel Clash |  |
May 1st 2020 | |
| SWSH 3 | Darkness Ablaze |  |
August 14th 2020 | |
| SWSH 3.5 | Champions Path |  |
September 25th 2020 | |
| SWSH 4 | Vivid Voltage |  |
November 13th 2020 | |
| SWSH 4.5 | Shining Fates |  |
February 19th 2021 | |
| SWSH 5 | Battle Styles |  |
March 19th 2021 | |
| SWSH 6 | Chilling Reign |  |
June 18th 2021 | |
| SWSH 7 | Evolving Skies | N/A | August 27th 2021 | |
| SWSH 7.5 | Celebrations | N/A | October 8th 2021 | |
| SWSH 8 | Fusion Strike | N/A | November 12th 2021 | |
| SWSH 9 | Brilliant Stars | N/A | February 25th 2022 | |
| SWSH 10 | Astral Radiance |  |
May 27th 2022 | |
| SWSH 10.5 | Pokémon GO |  |
July 1st 2022 | |
| SWSH 11 | Lost Origin |  |
September 09th 2022 | |
| SWSH 12 | Silver Tempest |  |
November 11th 2022 | |
| SWSH 12.5 | Crown Zenith |  |
January 20th 2023 |
Scarlet & Violet[]
| Set № | Set Image | Set Name | Set Icon | Set Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVI 1 | Scarlet and Violet |  |
March 31st 2023 | |
| SVI 2 | Paldea Evolved |  |
June 09th 2023 | |
| SVI 3 |  |
Obsidian Flames |  |
August 11, 2023 |
| SVI 3.5 |  |
151 |  |
September 22, 2023 |
| SVI 4 | Paradox Rift | November 3, 2023 | ||
| SVI 4.5 | Paldean Fates | January 26, 2024 | ||
| SVI 5 | Temporal Forces | March 22, 2024 | ||
| SVI 6 | Twilight Masquerade | May 24, 2024 | ||
| SVI 6.5 | Shrouded Fable | August 2, 2024 | ||
| SVI 7 | Stellar Crown | September 13, 2024 | ||
| SVI 8 | Surging Sparks | November 8, 2024 |
