Your first Pokémon League visit
Bring a ready deck, ask about the format, and learn with other players.
5 min read
After this guide you can
- Find an event and say what to bring.
- Say what to tell the other player during a League game.
Find a group before you buy cards
Advice, not a rule
Use the official event locator to find a Pokémon League. Ask if the session teaches beginners, which format it plays, and what you need to bring.
Bring what a game needs
Advice, not a rule
- A ready deck for the format of the group, in matching sleeves.
- Damage counters, a coin, and markers for Burned and Poisoned.
- Time to say that this is your first League visit.
Worked example: Ana plays her first League game
Miraidon exPokemon — Basic
Miraidon ex, Scarlet & Violet, illustrated by 5ban Graphics. Card images from TCGdex. Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo, Creatures and GAME FREAK. BinderLoot is unofficial and is not endorsed by them.
- 1Ana finds a League with the event locator and asks which format it plays. She brings her deck in sleeves, damage counters and a coin.
- 2She tells the organizer that it is her first visit, and the organizer pairs her with a patient player.
- 3They flip a coin. Her opponent wins and chooses to go first. Both players shuffle and draw seven cards.
- 4Ana announces each attack and Ability, and asks to read a card she does not know.
Flip a coin. The player who wins the flip chooses which player goes first.
Rulebook: Setting Up to Play, p. 8
Each player shuffles a 60-card deck and draws 7 cards.
Rulebook: Setting Up to Play, p. 8
Practice and tournaments have different goals
Advice, not a rule
A League practice game can stop for an explanation. A tournament follows its published procedures. Ask about those procedures before the first round.
Your turn: start a League game
You sit down for your first League game.