how to play pokemon cards

To play the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), follow these basic steps:

Setup

• Each player needs a 60-card deck. Shuffle your deck and draw seven cards.
• Check if you have at least one Basic Pokémon in your hand. If not, reveal your hand to your opponent, shuffle it back into your deck, and draw seven new cards (this is called a mulligan). Your opponent draws an extra card each time you mulligan.
• Place one Basic Pokémon face down in the Active spot (this Pokémon will battle). You can also place up to five Basic Pokémon face down on your Bench.
• Draw six cards from your deck and place them face down as your Prize cards. These are collected when you knock out opponent’s Pokémon.
• Flip your Active and Benched Pokémon face up to start the game.
• Flip a coin to decide who goes first. The first player cannot attack or play Supporter cards on their first turn

Game Play

Each turn has three phases:

1. Draw Phase : Draw one card from your deck. If you cannot draw a card, you lose the game.
2. Action Phase : You can perform any number of these actions in any order:
   • Play Basic Pokémon onto your Bench (up to 5 total on Bench).
   • Evolve your Pokémon (one evolution per Pokémon per turn).
   • Attach one Energy card from your hand to one of your Pokémon (Energy powers attacks).
   • Play Trainer cards (Items, Supporters, Stadiums) to gain special effects.
   • Retreat your Active Pokémon by paying its retreat cost with Energy, swapping it with a Benched Pokémon.
   • Use your Pokémon’s Abilities as allowed.
3. Attack Phase : Use your Active Pokémon’s attack by paying the required Energy cost. Announce the attack and apply damage and effects to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Damage counters accumulate and remain until healed or the Pokémon is knocked out.

If a Pokémon’s damage equals or exceeds its HP, it is knocked out and placed in the discard pile along with its attached cards. The player who knocked it out takes one of their Prize cards

Winning the Game

You win by:

• Collecting all six of your Prize cards by knocking out opponent’s Pokémon.
• Knocking out all of your opponent’s Pokémon so they have none left in play.
• Your opponent cannot draw a card at the start of their turn because their deck is empty

This overview covers the essential rules and flow to start playing Pokémon TCG. As you gain experience, you can explore more advanced strategies and card interactions. For beginners, focus on learning how to set up, take turns, and manage Energy and attacks effectively