Pokémon Wiki

Don't like the ads? Then create an account! Users with accounts will only see ads on the Main Page and have more options than anonymous users.

READ MORE

Pokémon Wiki
Register
Advertisement
For the video game, see Pokémon Trading Card Game (video game).
Pokémon Trading Card Game

Official logo of the Pokémon Trading Card game in the US.

Pokémon Trading Card Game, known as Pokémon Card Game (Japanese: ポケモンカードゲーム, HepburnPokemon Kaado Geemu) in Japan, int. TCG is a collectible card game that is based on the Pokémon series. It was first published by Media Factory in October 1996 in Japan and has been published by Wizards of the Coast since December 1998. Nintendo took over the publishing of the card games since June 2003.

The playing card game became internationally popular and is holding tournaments around the world where fans can battle against different challengers from different countries, play against each other online and even a video game has been based on the playing card game series.

Gameplay[]

Each player has a deck that contains 60 cards. Each player shuffles your deck and draws seven cards as a starting hand. If the starting hand does not contain a basic Pokémon, the player puts the seven cards back in their deck, reshuffles their deck, and again draws 7 cards, until one obtains a starting hand containing at least one basic Pokémon. Then each player places one Pokémon card as an active one face-down at the zone: "Active Pokémon" and then you must place 5 more active Pokémon on your bench. Each player then deals out six cards face down, to be prize cards. To start the battle, flip a coin with your opponent to decide who will start first. Then reveal your face-down active Pokémon card and begin the battle.

Ways to Win the Game[]

  1. If your opponent is required to draw a card from their deck, but has no more cards in their deck.
  2. If you win all of your six prize cards.
  3. If you knock out your opponent's active Pokémon, and your opponent has no bench Pokémon with which to replace it.
  4. Playing "Lost world" card

Pokémon Arena Zones[]

Pokémon Battle Zones

Pokémon Battle Zones.

As both players are dueling with each other, they must place the card in zones. There are 5 different kind of zones containing:

  1. Deck – where you must place your deck, as already stated a deck starts off with 60 cards
  2. Active Pokémon – the Pokémon you are using against your opponent, Bench – A zone where you can place 5 cards that can be your back-up
  3. Discard Pile – Where you place cards that are out of play which can be Pokémons, Energy or Trainer cards
  4. Prize Cards – 6 random cards dealt from each player's deck before the battle starts.
Deck
Each player's deck starts off with exactly 60 cards, not less or more. The deck must be placed face down at the left on the field. The opponent or you cannot look at decks for the purposes of predicting what cards will be drawn. You must shuffle your deck first before you start drawing your cards.
Active Pokémon
Each player must start with one active Pokémon. You and your opponent must always have one active Pokémon as in the field or bench. If your opponent does not have an active Pokémon in play (either in the field or on the bench), then you win the game.
Bench
At the bottom of the zone: "Active Pokémon" there is a zone named: "Bench" which each player may have up to 5 Pokémon, Trainer or Energy cards after each turn. If your active Pokémon has lost the battle, then you can pick up another active Pokémon that you have on the bench. Same counts for Active Pokémon, if you have no Pokémon in play then your opponent will win the game.
Discard Pile
Each player has their own discard pile. The discard pile is meant for cards that are out of play which means if a Pokémon is knocked out, it is placed in the discard pile which also includes energy cards and Pokémon tools that were attached to the Pokémon. This can also be undone if there is a card that prevents the Pokémon from fainting. All cards in this pile must be placed face up.
Prize Cards
Prize Cards are six face down cards that each player deals at random from their deck at the start of the game. Each time a player knocks out one of their opponent's Pokémon, the player can take one prize card and place it in their hand. When a player takes their sixth and final prize card before their opponent, the player wins the game.

Types of Cards[]

There are three types of cards: "Pokémon", "Trainer", and "Energy" cards. These three are used in the Pokémon Trading Card Game to trade or to challenge your opponent.

Pokémon Cards[]

Card Info

Card Information.

Pokémon cards are the important cards of the game, but are useless to attack if there are no energy cards attacked (Unless you use an ability or a non-energy requiring attack). You start with basic Pokémon cards and there are cards containing: "Stage 1" and "Stage 2" which means a certain Pokémon can evolve. There are important parts at a Pokémon card, such as: HP or Ability.

Pokémon Type[]

Cards can contain the type of the Pokémon which can be one of the 10 energy cards. The eleven types are: Colorless, Grass, Fire, Water, Lightning, Fighting, and Psychic. Later on, the Darkness, Metal, Dragon, and Fairy types were introduced. However, the Fairy type was later removed and is not scheduled to appear on any future cards.

Heal Points (HP)[]

These are the Pokémon energy of battling. If the Pokémon attacked with the points of the Pokémon attack, they will lose some Heal Points. If they got attacked and lost all of their Heal Points then the Pokémon is knocked out and sent to the discard pile, with all energy and Pokémon tool cards that were attached to that Pokémon.

Stage[]

Some Pokémon that contain the word "basic" have evolution forms. If there is a Pokémon with Stage 1 or Stage 2, then it means that it is the evolved type of Pokémon. But only if the Pokémon in the picture of the evolved Pokémon can be evolved.

Trainer Cards[]

Energy Cards[]

Energy Cards can be attached to Pokémon so that the Pokémon can use its attacks. (you may only attach 1 energy card to 1 Pokémon per turn)

TCG series (English)[]

Original series[]

Neo series[]

Unknown[]

  • Legendary Collection

E-series[]

  • Expedition Base Set
  • Aquapolis
  • Skyridge

EX series[]

  • Ruby & Sapphire
  • Sandstorm
  • Dragon
  • Team Magma vs Team Aqua
  • Hidden Legends
  • FireRed & LeafGreen
  • Team Rocket Returns
  • Deoxys
  • Emerald
  • Unseen Forces
  • Delta Species
  • Legend Maker
  • Holon Phantoms
  • Crystal Guardians
  • Dragon Frontiers
  • Power Keepers

Diamond & Pearl series[]

Platinum Series[]

  • Platinum
  • Rising Rivals
  • Supreme Victors
  • Arceus

Heartgold Soulsilver Series[]

  • HeartGold SoulSilver
  • Unleashed
  • Undaunted
  • Triumphant
  • Call of Legends

Black & White[]

Black & White Series
Set № Set Image Set Name Set Icon Set Release Date
BW 1
Black & White Set Image
Black & White (TCG) N/A April 25th 2011
BW 2
Emerging Powers Set Image
Emerging Powers N/A August 31st 2011
BW 3
Noble Victories Set Image
Noble Victories N/A November 16th 2011
BW 4
Next Destinies Set Image
Next Destinies N/A February 8th 2012
BW 5
Dark Explorers Set Image
Dark Explorers N/A May 9th 2012
BW 6
Dragons Exalted Set Image
Dragons Exalted N/A August 15th 2012
BW 6.5
Dragon Vault Set Image
Dragon Vault N/A October 5th 2012
BW 7
Boundaries Crossed Set Image
Boundaries Crossed N/A November 7th 2012
BW 8
Plasma Storm Set Image
Plasma Storm N/A February 6th 2013
BW 9
Plasma Freeze Set Image
Plasma Freeze N/A May 8th 2013
BW 10
Plasma Blast Set Image
Plasma Blast N/A August 14th 2013
BW 11
Legendary Treasures Set Image
Legendary Treasures N/A November 6th 2013

XY[]

XY Series
Set № Set Image Set Name Set Icon Set Release Date
XY 0
XY Kalos Starter Set Image
XY Kalos Starter Set N/A November 8th 2013
XY 1
XY Set Image
XY N/A February 5th 2014
XY 2
Flashfire Set Image
Flashfire
Flash Fire Symbol
May 7th 2014
XY 3
Furious Fists Set Image
Furious Fists
Furious Fists Symbol
August 13th 2014
XY 4
Phantom Forces Set Image
Phantom Forces
Phantom Forces Symbol
November 5th 2014
XY 5
Primal Clash Set Image
Primal Clash
Primal Clash Symbol
February 4th 2015
XY 5.5
Double Crisis Set Image
Double Crisis
Double Crisis Symbol
March 25th 2015
XY 6
Roaring Skies Set Image
Roaring Skies N/A May 6th 2015
XY 7
Ancient Origins Set Image
Ancient Origins N/A August 12th 2015
XY 8
Break Through Set Image
Break Through N/A November 4th 2015
XY 9
Break Point Set Image
Break Point N/A February 3rd 2016
XY 9.5
Generations Set Image
Generations N/A February 22nd 2016
XY 10
Fates Collide Set Image
Fates Collide N/A May 2nd 2016
XY 11
Steam Siege Set Image
Steam Siege N/A August 3rd 2016
XY 12
Evolutions Set Image
Evolutions N/A November 2nd 2016

Sun & Moon[]

Sun and Moon Series
Set № Set Image Set Name Set Icon Set Release Date
SNMN 1
Sun & Moon Set Image
Sun & Moon
Sun & Moon Symbol
February 3rd 2017
SNMN 2
Guardians Rising Set Image
Guardians Rising
Guardians Rising Symbol
May 5th 2017
SNMN 3
Burning Shadows Set Image
Burning Shadows
Burning Shadows Symbol
August 4th 2017
SNMN 3.5
Shining Legends Set Image
Shining Legends N/A October 6th 2017
SNMN 4
Crimson Invasion Set Image
Crimson Invasion N/A November 3rd 2017
SNMN 5
Ultra Prism Set Image
Ultra Prism N/A February 2nd 2018
SNMN 6
Forbidden Light Set Image
Forbidden Light N/A May 4th 2018
SNMN 7
Celestial Storm Set Image
Celestial Storm N/A August 3rd 2018
SNMN 7.5
Dragon Majesty Set Image
Dragon Majesty N/A September 7th 2018
SNMN 8
Lost Thunder Set Image
Lost Thunder N/A November 2nd 2018
SNMN 9
Team Up Set Image
Team Up N/A February 1st 2019
SNMN 9.5
Detective Pikachu Set Image
Detective Pikcachu N/A March 29th 2019
SNMN 10
Unbroken Bonds Set Image
Unbroken Bonds N/A May 3rd 2019
SNMN 11
Unified Minds Set Image
Unified Minds N/A August 2nd 2019
SNMN 11.5
Hidden Fates Set Image
Hidden Fates N/A August 23rd 2019
SNMN 12
Cosmic Eclipse Set Image
Cosmic Eclipse N/A November 1st 2019

Sword & Shield[]

Sword & Shield Series
Set № Set Image Set Name Set Icon Set Release Date
SWSH 1
Sword & Shield Set Image
Sword & Shield
Sword & Shield Symbol
February 7th 2020
SWSH 2
Rebel Clash Set Image
Rebel Clash
Rebal Clash Symbol
May 1st 2020
SWSH 3
Darknes Ablaze Set Image
Darkness Ablaze
Darkness Ablaze Symbol
August 14th 2020
SWSH 3.5
Champions Path Set Image
Champions Path
Champions Path Symbol
September 25th 2020
SWSH 4
Vivid Voltage Set Image
Vivid Voltage
Vivid Voltage Symbol
November 13th 2020
SWSH 4.5
Shining Fates Set Image
Shining Fates
Shining fates symbol
February 19th 2021
SWSH 5
Battle Styles Set Image
Battle Styles
Battle Styles Symbol
March 19th 2021
SWSH 6
Chilling Reign Set Image
Chilling Reign
Chilling Reign Symbol
June 18th 2021
SWSH 7
Evolving Skies Set Image
Evolving Skies N/A August 27th 2021
SWSH 7.5
Celebrations Set Image
Celebrations N/A October 8th 2021
SWSH 8
Fusion Strike Set Image
Fusion Strike N/A November 12th 2021
SWSH 9
Brilliant Stars Set Image
Brilliant Stars N/A February 25th 2022
SWSH 10
Astral Radiance Set Image
Astral Radiance
Astral Radiance Symbol
May 27th 2022
SWSH 10.5
Pokemon GO Set Image
Pokémon GO
Pokemon GO Symbol
July 1st 2022
SWSH 11
Lost Origin Set Image
Lost Origin
Lost Origin Symbol
September 09th 2022
SWSH 12
Silver Tempest Set Image
Silver Tempest
Silver Tempest Symbol
November 11th 2022
SWSH 12.5
Crown Zenith Set Image
Crown Zenith
Crown Zenith Symbol
January 20th 2023

Scarlet & Violet[]

Scarlet and Violet Series
Set № Set Image Set Name Set Icon Set Release Date
SVI 1
Sv01 logo 169 en
Scarlet and Violet
Sv01 symbol 38x38
March 31st 2023
SVI 2
Sv02 logo 169 en
Paldea Evolved
Sv02 symbol 38x38
June 09th 2023
173Cleffa
Stub!
Please help the Pokémon Wiki by adding more info.
Advertisement