If you have a child who is a Pokemon fan, or even if you are a fan yourself, there’s no better time to get them into the tabletop version of the popular video game series. It is also a great time for veteran players to re-discover the trading card game with new expansions and booster packs.
The cards themselves are rectangular and feature a picture of the Pokemon on the front, with the name and horsepower on the back. They are designed to be easy to read with the most important information first. The most important piece of info is the Pokemon’s HP, followed by its move set and attack damage. The last piece of information on a card is its special condition, which can be Burned, Poisoned, Asleep, Confused or Paralyzed, and this information is written in smaller text.
Each turn, a player draws a card from their deck and may place any Basic Pokemon they have in their hand face down on their bench (up to five total). They can also play any number of energy cards from their hand to power up their Pokemon, but they can only attach one at a time and it must match the attack cost or type of the Pokémon. The Pokemon can be retreated by paying the retreat cost on its card, and once it is retreated the energy cards are discarded.
When a Pokemon is knocked out, it’s placed in the discard pile with any energy cards attached and any evolution cards that may be attached as well. Then the player who has knocked out all of their opponent’s Pokemon wins.
It’s worth noting that a Pokemon can only be evolved once per turn, and there is no jumping between Stage 1 and Stage 2 unless the card specifically states it can be done that way. Similarly, a Pokemon cannot be played and then immediately evolved because this would make it too powerful for the opponent to handle. However, if the Pokemon is a GX or EX variant, it can evolve straight away.
In the modern TCG, booster packs contain ten cards, usually four Pokemon and two trainer or item cards. They can also include code cards that are used to redeem virtual cards on the TCG website. In addition to Pokemon cards, there are special collector’s edition and holographic versions of the collectible that are highly sought after by fans. As a result, the value of these rare cards can fluctuate. In 2020, a rare Base Set Blastoise sold for $25,400 at an auction, which is a jaw-dropping amount. Despite these price fluctuations, the TCG has continued to grow in popularity as people discover the fun of the tabletop game and video games. It can be a fantastic family activity that helps children develop problem-solving skills, socialization and cognitive abilities. There’s also a lot that can be learned about design from this iconic hobby.