Q&A for How to Build a Pokémon Deck

While you can technically include many different Pokémon types and over 25 Pokémon, this approach is generally not recommended. A diverse set of Pokémon types requires a substantial number of energy cards for each type, significantly reducing space for essential Trainer cards and making your deck inconsistent. This imbalance makes it difficult to draw the cards you need to execute your strategy effectively.

There should be 60 cards in a deck. No more, no less. If you're building your own deck, then that's part of the challenge, making sure you have enough but not too much.

Yes, you can include as many different types as you want in your deck. However, mixing many types can create vulnerabilities; for instance, combining Grass and Fairy types might leave you susceptible to Fire-type opponents. You should carefully consider type synergy to avoid strategic weaknesses. While Pokémon requiring multiple energy types (such as Dragon types needing Water, Fire, or Electric) are allowed, this approach is generally inefficient unless your deck is specifically built with ample energy support for those Pokémon.

A Grass/Fairy deck's effectiveness depends on your opponent. For example, against a Fire/Steel deck, it would not be ideal because Steel types are strong against Fairy. To address this, a deck incorporating Fire types alongside Fairy could offer a better counter to Steel.

You might find a Water/Fairy deck effective, particularly if you anticipate facing Fire-type opponents, due to its strong type advantage.

Yes, you can mix cards from any Pokémon TCG expansions together. However, for official tournaments, you are typically only allowed to use cards from the newest few expansions.

Yes, because if your Psychic Pokémon are weak against Darkness-type Pokémon, then Fighting-type Pokémon can provide a strong counter.

You can often find energy cards at local comics or game stores. Pre-built themed decks are also a great source for acquiring multiple copies of specific energy types, such as electric energy.

The number of energy cards you need depends on how many cards in your deck allow you to search for them. You should generally aim for 10 to 20, adjusting this based on the energy costs of your Pokémon.

Consider building a Fighting or Psychic deck. These types offer broad coverage, as Fighting types are effective against Rock and Ground Pokémon, and Psychic types counter Poison and Ghost Pokémon.

No, you can only play with an even amount of players. With two people, you can play one vs. one, but you need four or more people to play with teams.

You can find these in Elite Trainer Boxes, which typically contain at least two EX or Mega Pokémon cards and 60 energy cards of every type.

Hit points (HP) represent the amount of health your Pokémon has. As damage counters are placed on your Pokémon, its HP decreases. When your Pokémon's HP reaches zero, it faints and is moved to the discard pile, along with all attached cards such as Energy and Item cards.

To evolve a Pokémon, you must ensure it has been in play for at least one turn and it is not your first turn of the game. Once these conditions are met, place its next evolutionary stage directly on top of the current Pokémon.

Building a deck with Psychic and Dragon types can be challenging, as Dragon Pokémon often pair more effectively with Poison, Steel, or Ground types due to their complementary resistances. Your ease in creating such a deck will depend on your current card availability. Dragon types typically have two weaknesses—Fairy and Ice—but also boast many resistances, so always review individual card details for precise matchups.

No, those show the deck numbers, the numerator being which number it is in the set, the denominator being how many different cards in that set.

You can attach any basic Energy card to Colorless Pokémon. You can also use certain Special Energy cards, like Double Colorless Energy (DCE). However, you cannot use Special Energy cards that specify a Pokémon type, such as Double Dragon Energy, as those are restricted.

Select your most powerful Pokémon, ensuring you include their basic and/or Stage 1 evolution forms. Always be mindful of their energy costs.

Yes, Dragon and Fire types can be a good combination. You should ensure the Pokémon complement each other and work synergistically within your deck.

You can only discard the energy if the attack allows you to discard it, or when you used it up after your attack.

To begin, draw seven cards for your hand and set six prize cards face down. Place one Basic Pokémon face down as your active Pokémon and up to five more on your bench. During your turn, you may attach one Energy card to a Pokémon, play one Supporter card, and play any number of Item cards, then attack if you meet the Energy requirements. You win by taking all your prize cards, or when your opponent runs out of Pokémon or cards in their deck.

You might find Psychic or Fighting decks to be strong contenders. Both types often have favorable matchups against a wide range of opposing Pokémon.

Yes. If they say they're basic, they're basic.

No, you'll find that a Fighting type's weaknesses are not effectively countered by a Fire type, and vice versa.

EXs usually are basics, so you can place them down whenever you want; you have to evolve Mega EXs.

You may attach only one Energy card per turn to either your Active Pokémon or any of your Benched Pokémon. Energy remains attached to a Pokémon unless an attack or Trainer card specifically removes it. When a Pokémon is Knocked Out, all Energy attached to it is placed into the discard pile along with the Pokémon.

There is no strict limit to the number of special effect cards you can include in your deck. However, you should generally aim for a moderate amount, as too many can make your deck inconsistent.

Not necessarily. Water types are typically weak to Electric, so pairing them together might create a vulnerability. You could consider a Water and Grass deck instead, as Grass types are resistant to Electric, which helps protect your Water Pokémon.

You can make less powerful cards useful by looking for synergy with other cards in your deck, utilizing their abilities in specific situations, or pairing them with Trainer cards that boost their effectiveness.

For official Pokémon TCG play, such as in leagues or tournaments, energy and trainer cards are essential components of a valid deck. However, if you are playing casually with friends, you can certainly agree to modify the rules and play without them.