Q&A Search Results

*Search by card name or text displayed on card
*Other than rules, some abilities and attacks of cards are also published.

• What are Promo Cards?
  They're special promotional cards that can be obtained by participating in official events and campaigns, or cards that come as a bonus with books and such.
  Basic Rule
• How is the Pokémon Card Game played?
  Two players face each other with sets of cards called "decks". You can also enjoy trading and collecting cards!
  Basic Rule
• What are "Trainer" cards?
  Trainer cards can be played from your hand during your turn, in order to use the effects written on them and help your Pokémon in battle. There are 3 categories of Trainer cards: Supporter, Stadium and Item cards. During your turn you can only play one Supporter and one Stadium, but you can play any number of Item cards.
  Basic Rule
• What does "Retreat" mean?
  A Pokémon retreating means it switches places with a Benched Pokémon. In order for a Pokémon to retreat to the Bench, you must discard from it Energy equal to its Retreat Cost. After making a Pokémon retreat to the Bench, you must choose another Benched Pokémon to send to the Active Spot. You may only retreat once per turn, during your turn.
  Basic Rule
• What does "Asleep" mean?
  "Asleep" is a Special Condition afflicted to Pokémon by effects from the opponent's attacks and such. To show a Pokémon is Asleep, it is turned to the side. An Asleep Pokémon cannot attack nor retreat. If a Pokémon is Asleep, flip a coin during each Pokémon Checkup between turns: if heads, that Pokémon is no longer Asleep.Other ways to heal the Asleep Special Condition include: - Evolving the Asleep Pokémon - Using Item cards such as "Full Heal"
  Basic Rule
• What does "in play" mean?
  Cards "in play" are cards on either side of the field, including your and your opponent's Active Spots and Benches.
  Basic Rule
• What is a "half deck"?
  It's a deck made of 30 cards. It can include up to 2 cards with the same name. Games with half decks are played with 3 prize cards per player.
  Basic Rule
• What is the Active Spot?
  It is the area where Pokémon battle. The Pokémon in the Active Spot are called Active Pokémon.
  Basic Rule
• What is the Active Pokémon?
  It is the Pokémon battling in the Active Spot. Only Active Pokémon can attack.
  Basic Rule
• What is a playmat?
  A playmat is a mat with position markers for play areas such as your Active Spot, Bench and such. Playmats make play more comfortable, but they are not mandatory to play.
  Basic Rule
• What is HP?
  HP is a Pokémon’s Health Points, like its stamina. If a Pokémon takes damage equal or above its HP count, it is Knocked Out.
  Basic Rule
• What is the "Bench"?
  The Bench is where you place your backup Pokémon. These Pokémon are called "Benched Pokémon". A player can have up to 5 Benched Pokémon in play at any one time.
  Basic Rule
• What is "Pokémon Checkup"?
  Pokémon Checkup is when you check your Pokémon's condition. Both after the end of your turn, and after the end of your opponent's turn, check if Pokémon afflicted with a Special Condition get healed or if the Special Condition remains.
  Basic Rule
• What is a "Pokémon Tool"?
  Pokémon Tools are a type of Item Card that you attach to your Pokémon. A Pokémon can only have one Pokémon Tool attached. A Pokémon Tool effect is active so long as it is attached to a Pokémon. The Pokémon Tool stays attached until the Pokémon is Knocked Out, and gets discarded along with the Pokémon when it is Knocked Out.
  Basic Rule
• What does "Paralyzed" mean?
  "Paralyzed" is a Special Condition afflicted to Pokémon by effects from the opponent's attacks and such. To show a Pokémon is Paralyzed, it is turned to the side. A Paralyzed Pokémon cannot attack nor retreat. Paralysis on your Pokémon is healed automatically after your turn ends, during Pokémon Checkup between turns.Other ways to heal the Paralyzed Special Condition include: - Evolving the Paralyzed Pokémon - Using Item cards such as "Full Heal"
  Basic Rule
• What does “Burned” mean?
  If a Pokémon is Burned, during Pokémon Checkup between turns, put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon. Then, that Pokémon’s owner flips a coin: if heads, the Pokémon is healed from its Burn. If tails, it stays Burned.A Burned Pokémon can still attack or retreat normally. Burn stacks with other Special Conditions.
  Basic Rule
• What does the “deck” mentioned in card effects refer to?
  Quite simply, your deck! More specifically, that means the stack of cards you placed on your side of the field, and from which you draw the top card at the start of each of your turns.
  Basic Rule
• What is the Lost Zone?
  The Lost Zone is the space on the left of each player’s prize cards. It is used when a card’s text specifies “put ____ in the Lost Zone”. Cards put in the Lost Zone become unusable for the rest of the game. The Lost Zone is a different space from the Discard Pile, so even cards that let you take cards from your Discard Pile back into your hand can’t interact with cards from the Lost Zone.(The Lost Zone is not shown on playmats)
  Basic Rule
• What is an “attack”?
  An attack is one of the skills a Pokémon has. To use attacks, Pokémon need Energy – although some attacks don’t require any Energy to use.
  Basic Rule
• What is an attack’s “effect”?
  It is the effect a move has, such as inflicting a Special Condition on the opponent’s Pokémon.
  Basic Rule