5 tips for beginners of the Pokemon TCG

The Pokemon TCG is an accessible trading card game for fans of all ages, but that doesn't mean that new players will immediately grasp all of the nuances within the game's mechanics. Even though this particular TCG is a bit simpler than the likes of other major competitive card games, there are still strategies and things to keep in mind for players who are just now breaking into it.

There is a vast collection of advice for new Pokemon TCG players to work with, but for the sake of brevity, it doesn't hurt to take a look at some significant tips for beginners to keep in mind as they make their way into the Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game.

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Five tips to keep in mind if you're new to the Pokemon TCG

1) Learn the Mechanics of Starter Decks

Starter/theme decks can help you get acquainted with the Pokemon TCG mechanics (Image via The Pokemon Company)

While it might be enticing to try out a high-end meta deck right from the beginning, this won't always serve you well in the Pokemon TCG. Playing some of the best competitive decks in the game can require quite a bit of knowledge, so it may be better to start with a cheap and simple starter deck, also known in this TCG as a Theme Deck, that can demonstrate basic gameplay mechanics.

When playing theme decks, it's vital to not just play, but understand how the deck's cards work together and to what end they do so. Many of the same mechanics in these decks can be seen in meta decks as well, helping inform you and develop which playstyle you like before investing in stronger (and usually more expensive) deck archetypes.

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2) Don't Place More Than Your Active Pokemon During Setup

Placing Benched Pokemon early can give your opponent an advantage in the Pokemon TCG (Image via The Pokemon company)

Information is a huge part of the Pokemon TCG, and one of the early mistakes that beginners tend to make when setting up their field is placing both their Active Pokemon and Benched Pokemon all at once. This provides more information to your opponent than necessary, and you can play your Benched Pokemon later on if you don't plan to use them in your Turn 1 strategy.

Giving away your Benched Pokemon means that an opponent can determine your combos and strategies ahead of time and counter them, so there's no real upside to placing them together during setup.

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3) Attach Energy At Your Turn's End

Energy is best placed at the end of your turn in the Pokemon TCG when possible (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Energy, while being crucial for using moves when attached to Pokemon in the Pokemon TCG, shouldn't always be the first thing on your mind during a new turn. Many cards operate by using energy cards in the hand, and once an energy card is attached, getting it back isn't a simple process. With that in mind, be sure to exhaust other actions before attaching energy to close out your turn.

There will be situations where this tip can be overlooked, but in many situations, it's best to hold your energy until you're wrapping up your turn to ensure it doesn't get wasted beforehand.

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4) Know Your Deck Inside and Out

Knowing each detail in your Pokemon TCG deck is vital for success (Image via The Pokemon Company)

In addition to knowing a deck's core mechanics, it's vital to know each card within your deck to the finest degree possible in the Pokemon TCG. That includes every ability, weakness, resistance, retreat cost, and more as much as possible. The more of this information you have committed to memory, the less likely you are to make an unforced error during a match.

Each deck has varying levels of complexity, so if you're having trouble remembering the details of the cards of one deck, it might not be a bad idea to lean on a deck that's a bit more straightforward in its strategy.

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5) Practice Against Unconventional Decks/Cards

Not every deck will stringently adhere to the meta (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The Pokemon TCG's meta isn't set in stone, and sometimes some of the more unconventional decks/cards end up causing quite a bit of chaos. Not every player is going to run a Charizard ex or Raging Bolt ex deck, or if they do, they may include some unconventional cards that you wouldn't ordinarily see in that deck archetype.

With that in mind, it's recommended to practice against lesser-known decks and cards in your chosen format. You never know when you might see a surprise card or deck if you're playing in competitive circles, and you'll want to be ready.