How a Pokémon turn runs
Draw, prepare, attack, then Pokémon Checkup. The first turn has its own limits.
7 min read
After this guide you can
- Plan a legal turn with one Energy attachment, one Supporter and one retreat.
- Say what the first player cannot do on turn one.
Three parts of a turn
Draw a card, then take any of your actions in any order, then attack. Between turns comes Pokémon Checkup.
A turn is three parts: draw a card, then take any of the actions in any order, then attack, which ends the turn.
Rulebook: Parts of a Turn, p. 9
Every turn starts with a draw, the first turn of each player included.
Rulebook: Turn Actions, p. 10
Worked example: Ana plays a turn
Draw or check the Energy cost
Active Spot
220 HP
Bench
60 HP
Prepare and read the card text
Active Spot
220 HP
Bench
60 HP
Attack damage stays on the defending Pokémon
Active Spot
220 HP
Bench
60 HP
Resolve Knock Outs, then Pokémon Checkup
Active Spot
220 HP
Bench
60 HP
1 / 4
Draw a card. Every turn starts with a draw, the first turn of each player too.
Prepare: put Charmander on the Bench, attach one Lightning Energy to Miraidon ex, and play one Supporter.
Attack with Miraidon ex. The attack ends the turn, so Ana plays nothing after it.
Pokémon Checkup happens between the turns. Then Ben starts his turn.
Miraidon ex, Scarlet & Violet, illustrated by 5ban Graphics. Charmander, Obsidian Flames, illustrated by DOM. Card images from TCGdex. Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo, Creatures and GAME FREAK. BinderLoot is unofficial and is not endorsed by them.
A player can attach one Energy card from the hand each turn, to the Active Pokémon or to a Benched Pokémon.
Rulebook: Turn Actions, p. 11
Attacking ends the turn, so a player attacks once and plays nothing after the attack.
Rulebook: Turn Actions, p. 13
Keep track of your limits
- 1
- Energy card from the hand each turn
- 1
- Supporter each turn
- 1
- Stadium played each turn
- 1
- retreat each turn
A player can play any number of Item and Pokémon Tool cards in a turn, but only one Supporter and one Stadium.
Rulebook: Parts of a Turn, p. 9; Turn Actions, p. 12
Once per turn, a player can retreat the Active Pokémon: discard Energy from it equal to its Retreat Cost, then switch it with a Benched Pokémon. With no Retreat Cost it retreats for free, once per turn like any retreat.
Rulebook: Turn Actions, p. 12
Abilities are not attacks
Miraidon ex has the Ability Tandem Unit. Using it does not end the turn, so Miraidon ex can still attack afterwards.
An Ability is not an attack. A player can use the Abilities of the Active and Benched Pokémon and still attack.
Rulebook: Turn Actions, p. 12
Your turn: plan Ana's second turn
- 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.
Ana has Miraidon ex Active and Charmander on her Bench. Her hand holds two Energy cards and two Supporters.