Playing Pokemon is fun, challenging, and you can use cards from different sets in one deck. There is no need to use a "pre-built" deck from the manufacturer; you can make your own, choosing your favorite cards from each set. This tutorial will help you build your deck, to get started playing in local tournaments and leagues.
Steps
Step 1. Think about the type of deck you would like
Do you love playing Water, Fire, Psychic or Fighting Pokemon? Most competitive decks consist of just two types of Pokemon. However, some can use multiple types effectively.
- Try to use complementary types if possible. Water and Electricity are great together, like Fire and Grass.
- Take into account the weaknesses of the types you have chosen. If your Psychic-type Pokemon have Dark-type weakness, play Fighting-type Pokemon to counter the Dark-type Pokemon (because most Dark-type Pokemon are weak against Fighting-type moves).
- Remember that you can use colorless Pokemon, which often have useful effects, in any type of deck, to strengthen and complement it. Often, they can use all kinds of energy.
Step 2. Decide which strategy to use to win the game or to make your opponent lose
In the Pokemon card game you can win in three ways: by getting your opponent's six prize cards; eliminating all the opponent's Pokemon from the battlefield; leading the opponent to run out of cards in the deck. Ask yourself:
- What condition will your deck focus on to win the game? How are you going to get that goal?
- How could your opponent counter your strategy? What cards can you use to hide your weaknesses and enhance your strengths?
Step 3. Remember to keep the right balance when making your choices
Many decks contain around 20 Pokemon, 25 trainer cards, and around 15 energy to get a good balance, although the exact numbers often depend on the type of deck you're using.
For example, the 2012 Blastoise / Keldeo-EX deck, widely used in tournaments, contained 14 Pokemon, 32 Trainer cards, and 14 Energy. The best strategy depends on what you are trying to do
Step 4. During the game, your Pokemon must fill three roles
You need to have more copies of the basic version of your main attacker in the deck than the number of evolutions in the second stage, to be sure that you always have an active Pokemon and monsters in reserve.
- Basic Pokemon are defeated very quickly, so make sure you have some evolutions to use as soon as possible, to keep checking the game after the first wave of weak Pokemon is over.
- Finally, make sure you have a strategy for the later parts of the game and put some Pokemon in your deck that can take out enemies with a single hit. Most decks have a starting card like Cleffa or Pichu, which can help your strategy.
Step 5. Find the right harmony between the cards
To build an effective deck, it's a good idea to use cards that have synergy with each other. Strategy is very important!
Look for cards that have synergy with each other. For example, Hydreigon and Darkrai-EX are great for freely moving Pokemon and energies. Look for other combinations to use to your advantage
Step 6. Choose the right trainer cards to benefit your Pokemon
You need 5-8 cards to draw; if you don't have the cards you need in your hand, you can't win.
- Remember that you can put up to 4 copies of the same card in your deck; if your strategy relies on a particular combination, you should increase the chances of drawing the cards you need by placing many copies in the deck.
- You should put in about 5 cards to help and power up your Pokemon. Any remaining spaces can be used for cards that defend your weaknesses or that allow you to fish out your hand or reserve.
Step 7. Test your deck by drawing as if you were playing against an opponent
Remember: to start playing, you need to draw at least one basic Pokemon, so make sure you put enough in your deck to always have good opening hands.
Step 8. Insert many manager and fan cards into the deck
These cards allow you to search your deck for more, whether it's Pokemon or Energy. Also include cards that you can draw, to gain an advantage over your opponent and refill your hand. Finally, it uses Pokemon EX, because they are much more powerful than the basic versions and have useful abilities.
Step 9. Don't put in too many second stage Pokemon
Today, almost all decks use EX versions of basic Pokemon to quickly gain control of the game. Some exceptions to this rule are useful evolutions such as Pyroar or Eelektrik. The more turns you take to evolve your Pokemon, the more time your opponent will have to attack and prepare his strategy.
Advice
- Remember to keep your cards safe and keep the rarer ones in containers.
- Try using manager cards that allow you to use other manager cards to your advantage again.
- Use Pokemon and Trainer cards that have synergy with each other. For example, a good strategy is to keep a defensive Pokemon in the field as long as possible that gains HP every time it uses an energy, so you could use it in combination with trainer cards that can heal your monsters.
- If you don't already take part in a championship, look for one in your area. You will be able to test your strategies and trade. You may even find new friends.
- Get cards or Pokemon that allow you to reuse cards that ended up in the discard pile, such as Quest Vs. or Milotic. You can combine them with Battle Compressor to find the cards you need from your deck.
- Remember: Pokemon decks can only consist of 60 cards. No more, no less.
- Don't throw away or give away cards you don't need, you may be able to sell them to people who find them useful.
- Don't forget that basic Pokemon are important. You will need a lot of them in the deck.
- Make sure you include at least one evolution with good offensive abilities in your deck, because Pyroar is a big threat, very frequent in current tournaments (2015), which reduces the effectiveness of your base Pokemon.
- Consider the energy-damage ratio. Choose Pokemon that deal a lot of damage (or alter the enemy's status) for little energy.
