Thorough Explanation of the Flow of Pokémon Card Battles | Illustrated Guide from Preparation to Determining Victory
For beginners who have just started with Pokémon cards, the actual flow of battles can be the first major hurdle. Even after reading the rulebook, many may find themselves confused about what to do in what order.
In this article, we will clearly explain all the steps from preparing for a Pokémon card battle to starting the game, the flow of turns, and determining victory. We will also carefully explain points where beginners are likely to stumble, such as how to handle the mulligan and the order of actions that can be taken during a turn.
Let's Prepare for the Pokémon Card Battle
Before starting the battle, gather the necessary items and get ready.
- Checklist of Necessary Items for the Battle
- Let's Shuffle the Deck
- Understanding the Layout of the Playmat
Checklist of Necessary Items for the Battle
- Deck (60 cards): Composed of Pokémon, Trainers, and Energy
- Damage Counters: Counters that indicate damage
- Coin or Dice: Used to determine who goes first and for effects of moves
- Playmat (recommended): A mat that indicates where to place cards
Starter decks come with everything you need, making them a great choice for beginners. [Related Article]: List of Items Needed to Start Pokémon Cards | Essential Items and Budget
Let's Shuffle the Deck
Before the battle, make sure to shuffle (mix) your deck thoroughly. Shuffle your deck well and have your opponent cut it. Your opponent will also shuffle their deck, and you will cut it. This ensures a fair start to the game.
Understanding the Layout of the Playmat
The places to put cards are each predetermined.
- Battle Area: Center front. Place one battling Pokémon here.
- Bench: Behind the battle area. Up to 5 backup Pokémon can be placed here.
- Deck: Upper right. Stack the deck face down.
- Trash: Next to the deck. Place used cards face up here.
- Side: Upper left. Place 6 cards face down (these can be taken when a Pokémon is knocked out).
Using a playmat makes these placements clearer and helps prevent rule violations. [Related Article]: Complete Explanation of Pokémon Card Types | Differences Between Pokémon, Energy, and Trainers
Flow of Starting the Game [Illustrated Steps]
Once preparations are complete, start the game following the established steps.
Draw 7 Cards
Both players draw 7 cards from the top of their decks. This is the initial hand. Check if you have any basic Pokémon.
Put Basic Pokémon on the Field
Choose a "Basic Pokémon" from your hand and put it on the field.
- Place 1 card face up in the battle area.
- You can place up to 5 cards face down on the bench (0 cards is also okay).
Since the Pokémon on the battle field is the center of the match, let's choose strong Pokémon.
How to Handle Mulligan
If you have no Basic Pokémon in your hand, you perform a "Mulligan" to redraw. This is an important rule to ensure fairness in the match.
Mulligan Procedure:
1. Show your hand to your opponent to prove that there are no Basic Pokémon.
2. Return all 7 cards in your hand to the deck and reshuffle.
3. Draw 7 cards from the deck again.
4. Your opponent can draw 1 card from the deck (it's okay if they don't).
You can repeat this procedure as many times as needed until you draw a Basic Pokémon. However, since your opponent can draw 1 card each time you mulligan, doing it multiple times can put your opponent at an advantage. It is important to include enough Basic Pokémon when building your deck.
Place 6 Cards on the Side
After placing the Basic Pokémon, take the top 6 cards from the deck and place them face down in the side area. These are special cards that can be added to your hand one by one each time you knock out your opponent's Pokémon. You win by taking all the cards from the side.
Decide First or Second
Decide who goes first or second with a coin toss or rock-paper-scissors.
Constraints for Going First:
- You cannot draw a card on your first turn
- You cannot use a move on your first turn
Once you have your Basic Pokémon on the bench face up, the match starts.
Let's Understand the Flow of Turns in Detail
You will alternate between your turn and your opponent's turn. Your turn is called a "turn," during which you can perform various actions.
- 【1】Draw 1 card at the beginning of your turn
- 【2】Actions you can take on your turn
- 【3】Use a move to end your turn
【1】Draw 1 card at the beginning of your turn
When your turn comes, draw 1 card from the deck and add it to your hand. However, you cannot draw on the first turn if you are going first.
【2】Actions you can take on your turn
Actions are divided into "things you can do as many times as you want" and "things you can do only once."
Things you can do as many times as you want
You can perform these actions as many times as your hand and situation allow during your turn.
Put Basic Pokémon on the Bench
You can place Basic Pokémon from your hand onto the bench. Since the bench can hold a maximum of 5 Pokémon, you cannot place any if there are already 5. Expanding with many Pokémon broadens your strategic options.
Evolve Pokémon
If you have an evolution card in your hand, you can evolve a Pokémon on the field. However, you cannot evolve on the turn you put it down, immediately after evolving, or on the first turn of the game. Evolving strengthens HP and moves, allowing you to advance the match in your favor.
Use Abilities
You can use the "abilities" that Pokémon have. Each ability has different usage counts and conditions, so be sure to read the card descriptions carefully. Utilizing abilities can often be the key to victory.
Use Items
You can use as many Trainer cards labeled "Items" as you want. They can draw cards, heal Pokémon, and have various effects.
Things you can do only once
These are important actions that can only be performed once during your turn. Timing is key to strategy.
Attach 1 Energy from your hand
You can attach an Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Pokémon in play. It can be either a battling Pokémon or a benched Pokémon. Since you can only do this once per turn, deciding which Pokémon to attach it to is an important decision.
Use 1 Support
The Trainer card "Support" has powerful effects, but you can only use 1 per turn. It can allow you to draw a large number of cards or switch Pokémon. The choice of which Support to use and when can determine the outcome of the game.
Retreat the Battling Pokémon
You can switch the Pokémon in the battle area with a Pokémon on your bench. However, you must discard Energy cards equal to the number of "retreat cost" set for each Pokémon. This is used to escape from unfavorable situations.
【3】End your turn by using a Move
At the end of your turn, you can use the move of your battling Pokémon. To use a move, the required Energy written on the card must be attached.
Moves have various effects. Some deal damage to the opponent, some heal your Pokémon, and others inflict special conditions. The effects and damage of moves are listed on the card, so be sure to check carefully before using.
Once you use a move, your turn ends. You can also end your turn without using a move, in which case you inform your opponent by saying, "I will end my turn."
End of Turn and Opponent's Turn
When your turn ends, it moves to your opponent's turn. The game progresses through the repetition of turns, and the player who meets the victory conditions wins.
Handling When a Pokémon Faints
When a Pokémon "faints," it significantly affects the flow of the game. It's important to understand the correct procedures.
What is Fainting?
HP drops to 0 or below
A Pokémon faints when the total damage taken exceeds its HP.
Fainting due to effects of moves or abilities
There are also cases where a Pokémon can faint regardless of HP due to specific moves or abilities.
Procedure When Fainting Occurs
When a Pokémon faints, process it in the following order:
Trash the fainted Pokémon and all attached cards
Send not only the Pokémon itself but also all attached Energy cards, Pokémon tools, evolution cards, etc., to the trash. If it is an evolved Pokémon, also trash the base evolution card.The opponent takes 1 Prize card
The player who caused the fainting takes 1 card from their Prize cards and adds it to their hand. This is the core part of the Prize race, and taking all 6 cards results in victory.Choose a new battling Pokémon
If the Pokémon in the battle area has fainted, the player whose Pokémon fainted chooses 1 from their bench to bring into the battle area. If there are no Pokémon on the bench, that player loses at that moment.
In Case of Simultaneous Fainting
If both players' Pokémon faint at the same time, the player who used the attack will process first. After the attacking player takes a prize and selects a new battle Pokémon, the opponent will process. If the victory conditions are met during processing, the game ends at that point.
How Victory is Determined (3 Victory Conditions)
You become the winner by fulfilling any of the three victory conditions.
- Take all 6 prizes
- Knock out all of the opponent's Pokémon
- The opponent cannot draw a card at the start of their turn
Take all 6 prizes
This is the most common way to win. You take one prize each time you knock out an opponent's Pokémon, and you win by taking all 6 prizes.
The match is also called a "prize race", and which player takes 6 prizes first is the key to victory. Special Pokémon like Pokémon V and Pokémon ex can allow you to take 2 or 3 prizes at once when they are knocked out, so defeating or protecting these Pokémon is an important strategy.
Knock out all of the opponent's Pokémon
You win when there are no Pokémon left on the opponent's battle field or bench. If the battle Pokémon faints and there are no Pokémon on the bench, the victory is decided at that point. You can win even without taking prizes, so attacks that target the bench are also effective.
The opponent cannot draw a card at the start of their turn
If the opponent cannot draw a card because their deck has 0 cards at the start of their turn, that opponent loses. This can happen in long matches or against decks that deplete the opponent's deck. Be careful about the number of cards left in your own deck as well.
Points Beginners Often Get Wrong
Let's cover points that are easy to get wrong in the finer details of the rules.
- You cannot use attacks on the first turn of going first
- You can only attach energy once on your first turn
- You cannot evolve on the turn you put out a Pokémon
You cannot use attacks on the first turn of going first
On the first turn of going first, you cannot draw cards and you also cannot use attacks. It is a turn to prepare by laying out Pokémon on the bench or attaching energy. From the second turn onward, you can draw cards and use attacks as usual.
You can only attach energy once on your first turn
You can only attach energy from your hand once on your first turn. No matter how many you have in your hand, you can only attach one. However, if you are attaching energy through the effects of supporters, abilities, or items, that is different. Remember that "attaching from your hand" is limited to once.
You cannot evolve on the turn you put out a Pokémon
The timings when you cannot evolve are as follows:
- The turn you put out that Pokémon
- The turn you just evolved
- The first turn after the game starts (both going first and second)
You cannot evolve until the next turn after putting out a basic Pokémon. There are exceptions due to the effects of specific cards, so be sure to read the cards carefully. [Related Article]: Thorough Explanation of Basic Rules for Pokémon Cards | Victory Conditions and Flow of Matches for Beginners
Summary: Remember the Flow of Matches and Practice
We explained the flow of Pokémon card battles from preparation to determining victory.
Flow of the Match:
1. Shuffle the deck
2. Draw 7 cards and place your basic Pokémon
3. Perform the mulligan process and set up 6 prize cards
4. Decide who goes first
5. Draw a card at the beginning of your turn
6. Take actions on your turn (put out Pokémon, evolve, attach energy, etc.)
7. End your turn by using a move
8. Alternate turns
At first, it may feel like there are many steps, but you'll naturally get used to it after a few matches. Practice by battling with friends or participating in store events. The charm of Pokémon cards is that anyone can enjoy it as long as they remember the basic flow. [Related Articles]: Pokémon Card Event Participation Guide | How to Participate in Tournaments and Gym Battles with Confidence for Beginners, Pokémon Card Glossary | A Complete Explanation of Basic and Specialized Terms Beginners Should Remember
