Whether your kids have rediscovered the Pokemon series through the latest video games or were already fans back when Red and Green first landed on the Game Boy, this is the perfect time to introduce them to the trading card game. With a few simple rules, your kid can start playing right away with a Trainer Kit or a themed deck. Eventually, they can upgrade to booster packs and other collectibles.
The goal of the Pokemon trading card game is to build the strongest deck of cards and battle other players using those cards. Each player has 60 cards and takes turns attacking with their Pokemon. Depending on how many cards are used and the skill of the two opponents, a match can last from a few minutes to over an hour.
A Pokémon card depicts a fictional creature from the Pokemon video game series and has a number on it that indicates its level. The higher the number, the more powerful the Pokemon is. Some cards also have special features, such as holographic artwork and special abilities that can change the course of a battle. These cards are called rare and can add a lot to a collection.
Most rare cards can only be found in booster packs and are worth a significant amount of money. For example, a 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise from the base set sold for $45,100 at a PWCC auction in November 2020.
There are three main parts to making a new Pokemon card: coming up with the idea, commissioning art and testing it with the current TCG rules. There are more than 70 artists and 19 playtesters that work full time on the creation of new sets of Pokemon cards.
During the initial testing phase, the playtesters will use their decks to test out different strategies and combinations of cards. The playtesters then submit their feedback to the card design team. The team will then make any necessary adjustments to the card. This can include things like lowering the attack damage on a Pokemon or increasing its HP by 10 points.
Once the playtesting process is complete, the cards will be reprinted in a booster pack and released to stores. These booster packs contain around 200 new cards. Booster packs are released in sets, roughly four times per year. Each set has a unique name and features approximately 200 new cards.
Energy is a vital part of any Pokemon deck and can come in the form of basic or special energy. The former is essential to power your Pokemon throughout a turn, while the latter has special effects that can make or break a game.
Most cards have an icon in the upper left corner that tells you how a particular card is affected by the current TCG rules. For instance, a card with an Asleep icon means that the Pokemon is turned counterclockwise and can’t retreat or attack during this turn. Similarly, a Confused icon means that you must flip a coin before attacking with the Pokemon. If it’s tails, the Pokemon stays Confused. Pokemon trading cards