Learn to Play
Your path to becoming a Pokémon TCG Trainer
Follow the steps below, or jump straight to guides for your skill level.
Start here
Four steps from zero to your first homemade deck.
- 1 Read the first-game guide Setup, taking a turn, attacking and winning, explained step by step.
- 2 Keep the cheat sheet handy Turn structure, Special Conditions and Prize values on one page.
- 3 Play with a pre-built deck Theme decks and battle decks are balanced and perfect for learning.
- 4 Build your first deck Use our skeleton and check it with the Deck List Checker.
Everything you need to go from "what does this card do?" to confidently playing a full game. Work through the beginner articles in order, starting with How to Play Your First Game, and keep the Rules Cheat Sheet open during your first few games.
Guides by skill level
Beginner
- Understanding the Formats: Standard, Expanded, GLC & More Learn to Play
- How to Play Your First Game of the Pokémon TCG Learn to Play
- The Three Card Types: Pokémon, Trainers, and Energy Learn to Play
- Building Your First 60-Card Deck Standard
- Gym Leader Challenge: The Singleton Format Explained Gym Leader Challenge
- Casual Play: Theme Decks, Prereleases & Kitchen-Table Games Casual / Other
Intermediate
- How to Read and Adapt to the Meta Standard
- Expanded Format Overview Expanded
- Standard Format Overview Standard