Mistakes new Pokémon players make
Every warning of the guides in one place, each under the guide that explains it.
4 min read
Reading a Pokémon card
- A Stage 1 never comes straight from your hand
- A type does not make Energy
- Weakness works only in the Active Spot, and you retreat once a turn
Your first Pokémon game
- No Basic Pokémon means a mulligan
How a Pokémon turn runs
- Draw first, every turn
- One Energy card a turn, not one a Pokémon
- Nothing after the attack
- One Supporter and one retreat
- The first turn is different
Trainers and Energy
- One Supporter a turn
- One Pokémon Tool on each Pokémon
- A Paralyzed Pokémon cannot retreat, but Switch moves it
- An effect that attaches Energy is not your attachment
- Special Energy keeps the four-copy limit
Attacks, damage and Prize cards
- Resistance subtracts, it does not halve
- Weakness and Resistance count only in the Active Spot
- Placed damage counters ignore Weakness
- Count the Prize cards of the Pokémon you Knock Out
- A Pokémon your own attack Knocks Out still gives Prize cards
- Damage stays, on the Bench too
- A Tera Pokémon ex on the Bench takes no attack damage
Evolution and Special Conditions
- Evolve once a turn, and never on your first turn
- A Stage 1 never comes straight from your hand
- Evolution keeps damage, not Special Conditions
- Asleep and Paralyzed stop a retreat
- A second Burned or Poisoned replaces the first
- Only the last of Asleep, Confused and Paralyzed stays
Winning the Prize race
- Count what each Knock Out gives before you trade
Building your first Pokémon deck
- Exactly 60, and four copies of a name
Choosing a Pokémon format
- Both formats use exactly 60 cards