BinderLoot / Glossary
Cards and Energy
Read Pokémon, Trainers, Energy and the symbols that tell you what they do.
14 terms
Reading a card
Find the card’s job before playing it.
- Basic Pokémon
- A Pokémon that can normally enter play directly from your hand.
Example
Your opening hand has a Basic Pokémon, so you can choose it as your Active Pokémon.
- See alsoEvolution
- Evolution
- A Stage 1 or Stage 2 played on the matching Pokémon already in play.
- Normally wait until a later turn. Evolution keeps damage and attached cards, but clears Special Conditions and effects of attacks.
Example
Charmeleon evolves from Charmander. Put it on a Charmander that was in play when your turn started.
- See alsoBasic PokémonDamage counter
- HP
- Hit Points. A Pokémon is Knocked Out when its damage reaches or exceeds its HP.
Example
A Pokémon with 100 HP and 60 damage can take 40 more damage before a Knock Out.
- See alsoKnock Out
- Ability
- An effect on a Pokémon that is not an attack.
- Read its text for costs, limits and whether it works on the Bench. Using an Ability does not normally end your turn.
Example
Use an Ability that draws cards, then continue preparing before you attack.
- Attack cost
- The Energy symbols that must be satisfied to use an attack.
Example
An attack requiring two Fire and one Colorless needs two Fire Energy and one Energy of any type.
- See alsoColorlessBasic Energy
- Colorless
- An attack-cost symbol that can be paid with Energy of any type.
Example
A Water Energy can satisfy one Colorless symbol. A Colorless Pokémon does not generate Energy.
- Basic Energy
- An Energy card exempt from the usual four-copy deck limit.
Example
Your deck can contain twelve copies of the same Basic Fire Energy.
- See alsoSpecial Energy
- Special Energy
- An Energy card with its own effect, normally limited to four copies by name.
Example
Read a Special Energy’s text to see what it provides while attached.
- Item
- A Trainer card you can normally play several of during your turn.
Example
Play a search Item, resolve it completely, then play another Item.
- Supporter
- A Trainer card limited to one per turn.
- The starting player cannot play a Supporter on their first turn.
Example
After playing a draw Supporter, you cannot play a second Supporter that turn.
- Stadium
- A Trainer that stays in play until replaced or removed.
- Normally play one per turn. A different Stadium replaces the old one. You cannot play the same name as the Stadium in play.
Example
Play a differently named Stadium and discard the old Stadium.
- Pokémon Tool
- A Trainer card attached to a Pokémon to give it an effect.
- A Pokémon normally holds one Tool. Tools are a separate Trainer category, not Items.
Example
Attach a Tool to a Pokémon with no Tool, then read when its effect applies.
- Rule Box
- Printed special rules, often including how many Prize cards a Knock Out awards.
Example
A Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, so its Rule Box awards two Prize cards. A Mega Evolution Pokémon ex awards three.
- See alsoPrize cards
- Regulation mark
- A letter used to determine whether a modern card is allowed in Standard.
- Rotation, reprints, release dates and bans also matter. Check the current official legality rules.
Example
Before a Standard event, compare the card’s mark with the current rotation announcement.