Everything you need to know to start playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game.
Last updated: 2026-06-03
The Pokemon Trading Card Game (PTCG) is a two-player strategy card game based on the Pokemon video game series. Players build 60-card decks and battle by using Pokemon cards to attack, Energy cards to power those attacks, and Trainer cards to gain advantages. The game was first released in 1996 alongside the Pokemon video games and has since grown into one of the most popular trading card games worldwide, with organized play at local game stores, regional championships, and the Pokemon World Championships. Each player starts with a Basic Pokemon in play and takes turns drawing cards, attaching Energy, evolving Pokemon, and attacking. The first player to take all six of their Prize cards wins.
There are three main card types in the Pokemon TCG. Pokemon cards represent the creatures you battle with. They come in three evolution stages: Basic Pokemon (can be played directly), Stage 1 Pokemon (evolve from Basics), and Stage 2 Pokemon (evolve from Stage 1). Each Pokemon card has HP, attacks with energy costs and damage, weaknesses, resistances, and retreat cost. Energy cards power attacks: Basic Energy comes in 11 types matching the video game types, while Special Energy cards provide additional effects like double colorless energy or acceleration. Trainer cards provide support effects and are divided into three subcategories: Item cards (used once, then discarded), Supporter cards (one per turn, powerful effects), and Stadium cards (affect both players' field).
A standard turn in the Pokemon TCG follows a specific sequence. At the start of the turn, the player draws one card from their deck. During the turn, the player may do the following actions in any order: put one Basic Pokemon onto the Bench, attach one Energy card to a Pokemon, play Trainer cards, evolve a Pokemon (can be done before or after attacking), and retreat their Active Pokemon by paying the retreat cost. The player then declares an attack by selecting one of their Active Pokemon's attacks, paying its Energy cost, and resolving the damage and effects. After attacking, the turn passes to the opponent. In a best-of-three match format, each game progresses through the Prize card count, with each player starting with six Prize cards and taking one for each opposing Pokemon they knock out.
Energy is the resource system of the Pokemon TCG. Each Pokemon's attacks require a specific number and type of Energy to use. Basic Energy cards (Fire, Water, Lightning, Grass, Psychic, Fighting, Darkness, Metal, Fairy, Dragon, Colorless) are attached from hand to a Pokemon once per turn. Special Energy cards provide Energy while adding effects like reduced damage, status healing, or acceleration. Double Turbo Energy provides two Colorless Energy but reduces damage by 20. Mist Energy protects the attached Pokemon from opponent's Trainer card effects. Stone Energy makes the attached Pokemon immune to damage from Basic Pokemon's attacks. Energy acceleration is a key strategy in competitive play, with cards like Gardevoir ex, Arceus VSTAR, and Energy Switch allowing players to attach more Energy per turn than the standard one-per-turn limit.
Evolution in the TCG works differently than in the video games. A Pokemon can evolve once per turn by placing a Stage 1 card on top of a Basic Pokemon, or a Stage 2 card on top of a Stage 1. Evolution can occur before or after attacking in the same turn. Evolved Pokemon keep damage counters and special conditions from their previous stage, so evolving a damaged Pokemon does not heal it. Rare Candy is a Trainer card that allows skipping the Stage 1 step, evolving a Basic directly to Stage 2. VSTAR and VMAX Pokemon evolve from Pokemon V in a similar manner. Retreating costs Energy as specified on the card, and the player discards that Energy when retreating. Switch cards and abilities like Free Flight allow retreating without paying costs. Normal retreat of a Pokemon with a retreat cost of zero is always free.
The primary win condition is taking all six Prize cards. When a player knocks out an opponent's Pokemon, they take Prize cards based on the knocked-out Pokemon's type: one Prize for Basic, Stage 1, and Stage 2 Pokemon; two Prizes for Pokemon ex, Pokemon V, and VSTAR; and three Prizes for VMAX Pokemon. Alternative win conditions include decking out (if the opponent cannot draw a card at the start of their turn), conceding, and specific card effects like those on cards that state you win the game if a condition is met. Some formats use sudden death, where both players start with one Prize card and the first to take it wins. In tournament play, if time runs out, the game goes to turns (usually 3 extra turns) and the player with the most Prize cards taken wins.