Your Pokémon Deck

Players MUST play with a deck of Pokémon cards that meets standard deck requirements.

You may build your deck yourself, or purchase one already built and ready for play.
At most of our tournaments, there is a third option: use a "loaner deck" for the day.

A Pokémon deck must meet certain requirements in order to be "tournament legal". A Pokémon deck should have 60 cards which conform with the current "modified format". This format limits the cards that are playable. Furthermore, there are other restrictions and limitations on quantities of cards that can go in a deck. These are covered in greater detail in the next post (below -- see Building A Pokémon Deck).

Purchasing a Theme Deck (one that's already built and ready for play) will ensure that the deck conforms to Pokémon deck specifications, but you must pay attention to the deck's name, as NOT all theme decks are playable in today's tournament format. Most stores carry the legal sets, but don't be so quick to assume that they are all playable. (more on this below -- see Buying a Pokémon Theme Deck).

Building A Legal Pokémon Deck

Your Pokémon deck MUST meet the following specifications:

Your deck MUST contain 60 cards.
EXACTLY 60 cards. NO more, NO less.

Each card in your deck must conform with the current "Modified Format" as defined by The Pokémon Company International (TPCi).  To conform to this requirement, make sure your cards belong to one of these sets.

You can have as may Basic Energy cards as you want in your deck.

With the exception of basic energy cards, you must NOT have more than four of each card, or more than four of each Pokémon (even if they are different cards) in the deck. Pokémon are considered the same if they have the same name printed on the card. It doesn't matter if they have different pictures/text/set symbols. This limit also applies to Special (non-basic) Energy Cards, as well as Trainers/Stadiums/Supporters.

Novelty cards like the World Championship Cards, or other cards sold as "Not Tournament Legal" are not allowed.

Foreign cards are not allowed in play. The foreign cards are fun to collect and trade but you cannot play them.

Buying a Preconstructed Theme Deck

A Theme Deck comes with a 60-card deck and everything else you need to start playing. It also comes with a couple of good reference materials!

You'll get all this:

• 60 Pokémon Card Deck (includes a holographic card)
• 1 Metallic Coin (randomizer)
• Damage Counters and Markers
• Rulebook/Cardlist (This rulebook is a great resource!)
• Playmat (Great for teaching players proper game set-up, and it also has great player tips and reminders on it!)

Additional tips:

If buying for multiple children, buy different sets (there are lots of sets to choose from). Access to different sets and cards expands a child's exposure to the game. Similarly, if mom or dad are learning to play the game, too, try to get a different deck also.

Children learn better and quicker when they practice at home! Having your very own deck allows you to play at home and become familiar with your cards.

NOTE:

If you are thinking of buying a theme deck or two, make sure that they are on this list.