Setting Up the Game
- Each player shuffles their deck and places it on the playmat.
- Flip a coin to decide who goes first.
- Draw 7 cards.
If you don’t have a Basic Pokémon, show your hand, shuffle it back into the deck, and draw 7 new cards. Repeat this process until you get a Basic Pokémon.
Your opponent draws 1 extra card for each time you repeat this. - Place 1 Basic Pokémon in the Active Spot.
- Place up to 5 Basic Pokémon on your Bench.
- Set aside 6 cards face-down as your Prize Cards.
Your Turn – What You Can Do
- Draw 1 card at the start of your turn.
- Play Basic Pokémon to your Bench (up to 5 total).
- Attach 1 Energy card per turn to one of your Pokémon.
- Retreat your Active Pokémon (paying its Retreat Cost).
- Evolve your Pokémon (only if it’s been in play since the previous turn).
- Play Trainer cards (any number of Items, but only 1 Supporter per turn).
- Attack with your Active Pokémon.
Combat
- Make sure you have the right Energy to attack.
- Apply Weakness or Resistance if applicable.
- Place damage counters on the opponent’s Pokémon.
- If the opponent’s Pokémon is Knocked Out, move it to the discard pile and take 1 Prize Card.
Pokémon with Rule Boxes (like ex, V, Tera, etc.) give 2 Prize Cards when Knocked Out.
Special Conditions
- Asleep: Can’t attack or retreat. Flip a coin during Pokémon Checkup; heads = wakes up.
- Confused: Flip a coin before attacking. Tails = attack fails and take 30 damage.
- Paralyzed: Can’t attack or retreat during your next turn.
- Poisoned: Take 10 damage after each turn.
- Burned: Take 20 damage after each turn. Flip a coin; heads = recover from Burned.
How to Win
- Take all 6 of your Prize Cards, or
- Knock Out your opponent’s last Pokémon in play, or
- Your opponent cannot draw a card at the start of their turn.