Complete Explanation of Pokémon Card Types | Differences Between Pokémon, Energy, and Trainer Cards

For beginners who have just started playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game, it is common to feel confused due to the many types of cards. In fact, there are only three main types of cards used in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. In this article, we will explain in detail the three card types: Pokémon cards, Energy cards, and Trainer cards, including their roles, differences, and how to use them. By correctly understanding the types of cards, you can deepen your deck building and battle strategies. Learn the characteristics and how to distinguish each card type, and further expand the enjoyment of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Three Types of Cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game

A deck in the Pokémon Trading Card Game must consist of "Pokémon cards, Energy cards, and Trainer cards". Each card has a clear role, and balancing these three is fundamental to creating a strong deck.

Pokémon cards are the main characters in battles, fighting against the opponent's Pokémon. They can be placed in the battle area or on the bench to deal damage to the opponent using their attacks or create advantageous situations with their abilities. Energy cards serve as the fuel needed for Pokémon to use their attacks. By attaching Energy cards to Pokémon, they can finally use their attacks. Trainer cards are supportive cards that allow you to draw cards, search for Pokémon from your deck, or disrupt your opponent's moves. They play an important role in supporting strategies.

Effectively utilizing these three types of cards is the first step to victory in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Understand the characteristics of each card and apply them in deck building and battles.

How to Distinguish Cards

The three types of cards can be easily distinguished by looking at the upper right corner of the card. Pokémon cards display the Pokémon's "HP" (Hit Points) as a number in the upper right corner. Energy cards have a large symbol indicating the type in the upper right corner, and the overall design of the card is simple. Trainer cards have the type of card written in text in the upper right corner, such as "Item," "Supporter," or "Stadium." By developing the habit of checking this upper right notation, you will be able to quickly identify the type of card even during matches.

For detailed terminology of each card, please refer to [Related Article]: Pokémon Card Terminology | A Complete Explanation of Basic and Specialized Terms Beginners Should Remember.

Pokémon Cards | The Main Characters of Battles

Pokémon cards are the cards that actually fight in battles and are the center of the game. There are basic Pokémon, evolved Pokémon, and special types such as ex, V, and VSTAR among Pokémon cards. Each has different characteristics, and it is important to differentiate them based on the concept and strategy of your deck. Pokémon cards contain various information such as HP, type, attacks, abilities, weaknesses, resistances, and retreat costs, and correctly understanding these can help you advance battles favorably. A deck must include at least one basic Pokémon, and it is common to include around 15 to 20 Pokémon cards.

• Seed Pokémon
• Evolution Pokémon (1 Evolution, 2 Evolution)
• ex, V, VSTAR, VMAX
• How to Read Pokémon Cards

Seed Pokémon

Seed Pokémon refers to Pokémon that can be put into the battle area or bench from the start. The card has "Seed Pokémon" written in the upper left corner, and it refers to Pokémon in their pre-evolution state. Many pre-evolution Pokémon, such as Pikachu, Eevee, and Charmander, appear as Seed Pokémon.

Seed Pokémon are an important foundation of the deck. At the start of the game, you must put at least one Seed Pokémon into the battle area, so it is necessary to include a certain number of Seed Pokémon in the deck. Some Seed Pokémon do not evolve (like Snorlax and Lapras), and these are designed to be able to fight on their own.

In deck building, it is important to adjust the number of Seed Pokémon appropriately. If there are too few Seed Pokémon, you may end up with no Seed Pokémon in your hand at the start of the game, leading to repeated "Mulligans" and giving your opponent an advantage. On the other hand, if you are using a deck with Evolution Pokémon, you need to ensure that the Seed Pokémon that evolves is definitely included in the deck.

Evolution Pokémon (1 Evolution, 2 Evolution)

Evolution Pokémon refers to Pokémon that can be placed on top of Seed Pokémon in play. Evolution Pokémon have two stages: "1 Evolution" and "2 Evolution", which are indicated in the upper left corner of the card. Pokémon that evolved from Seed Pokémon are 1 Evolution, and Pokémon that further evolved from 1 Evolution Pokémon are 2 Evolution.

The biggest feature of Evolution Pokémon is that they have higher HP and stronger moves than the Pokémon before evolution. For example, the Seed Pokémon Charmander (HP 60) evolves into Charmeleon (HP 90) at 1 Evolution, and further evolves into Charizard (HP 170) at 2 Evolution, with significantly stronger moves. By evolving, you can gain a significant advantage in battle.

A point to note when using Evolution Pokémon is that evolution takes time. You cannot evolve until at least one turn has passed after putting the Seed Pokémon into play. Furthermore, for 2 Evolution Pokémon, it takes more than two turns: Seed Pokémon → 1 Evolution → 2 Evolution. Therefore, in decks that use Evolution Pokémon, it is important to adopt strategies to buy time for evolution and cards that speed up evolution (like "Mystery Candy"). Understanding the flow of evolution and evolving strategically is the key to victory.

ex, V, VSTAR, VMAX

ex (Extra), V, VSTAR, and VMAX are special Pokémon cards that are more powerful than regular Pokémon. These cards commonly have high HP, powerful moves, and a disadvantage of "increasing the number of prize cards your opponent takes when knocked out". Balancing the risks and returns while using these special Pokémon is the key to utilizing them effectively.

Special Pokémon are central to battles in the current environment. They can take down opponents that regular Pokémon cannot defeat in one hit or change the flow of the match dramatically with special effects. They are often adopted as the main attackers of the deck and are core cards in deck construction. However, care must be taken not to be easily defeated, as they give the opponent many prize cards when knocked out.

Pokémon ex

Pokémon ex are special Pokémon with "ex" written after their card name. They have higher HP and powerful attacks compared to regular Pokémon, but when knocked out, the opponent can take 2 prize cards. They have appeared frequently in recent expansion packs, with popular Pokémon like Charizard ex and Mewtwo ex included as ex cards. Many ex Pokémon appear as basic Pokémon, making them attractive as they can battle immediately without the need for evolution.

Pokémon V, VSTAR, VMAX

Pokémon V are special Pokémon with a "V" at the end of their name, and when knocked out, the opponent takes 2 prize cards. Pokémon V can further evolve into "VSTAR" and "VMAX". VSTAR has a powerful "VSTAR Power" that can be used once per match, significantly changing the flow of the game. VMAX has very high HP and powerful attacks, and when knocked out, the opponent takes 3 prize cards. Pokémon in the V line have the characteristic of becoming even more powerful through gradual evolution.

How to Read Pokémon Cards

Pokémon cards contain all the information needed for battles. The most important is the "HP", which is the large number displayed at the top right of the card. If HP reaches 0, that Pokémon is knocked out. The top left of the card indicates the Pokémon's evolution stage (basic Pokémon, 1st evolution, 2nd evolution).

In the center of the card, the "attack" is listed, with the energy required to use it on the left side and damage or effects on the right side. Some Pokémon have "abilities", which are automatically activated or can be used at will, separate from attacks. At the bottom of the card, weakness, resistance, and retreat cost are indicated. Weakness shows the type that takes increased damage, while resistance reduces damage from specific types. The retreat cost is the amount of energy needed to return to the bench from the battle area. By accurately reading this information, you can maximize the Pokémon's abilities.

Energy Cards | Fuel for Using Attacks

Energy cards are absolutely necessary cards for Pokémon to use attacks. Without energy cards, even the most powerful Pokémon cannot use their attacks. There are two types of energy cards: "basic energy cards" and "special energy cards", each with different characteristics and rules.

Basic Energy Cards are the simplest energy cards corresponding to 9 types, and you can include as many as you want in your deck. On the other hand, Special Energy Cards have special effects in addition to their role as regular energy, but you can only include up to 4 cards with the same name in your deck. When building a deck, it is important to adopt energy cards in a proper balance, considering the types and quantities of energy required for the Pokémon's moves you will use. Typically, a deck contains about 10 to 15 energy cards.

• Basic Energy Cards
• Special Energy Cards
• How to Use Energy

Basic Energy Cards

Basic Energy Cards have 9 types: Grass, Fire, Water, Lightning, Psychic, Fighting, Darkness, Metal, and Colorless. Each type is distinguished by color and symbol, corresponding to the energy required for Pokémon moves. For example, to use a Fire-type move, Fire Energy is needed, and to use a Lightning-type move, Lightning Energy is required.

The biggest feature of Basic Energy Cards is that you can include as many as you want in your deck. While all other cards can only have up to 4 cards with the same name, Basic Energy Cards are the exception to this rule. Therefore, in decks that require a lot of energy, you may include more than 20 Basic Energy Cards.

The rule for attaching energy is that you can attach one card from your hand to one of your Pokémon once during your turn. This is a basic rule, so in deck building, it is common to support stable energy supply with support cards and items. Beginners should start by building a deck centered around Basic Energy that matches the type of Pokémon they will use.

Special Energy Cards

Special Energy Cards are energy cards that have special effects in addition to their role as Basic Energy. For example, "Double Turbo Energy" works as two Colorless Energy but has the drawback of reducing damage from moves by 20. There are various types, such as "Therapy Energy," which works as Basic Grass Energy while having HP recovery effects.

Unlike Basic Energy Cards, Special Energy Cards can only have up to 4 cards with the same name in your deck. This follows the same rule as other regular cards. Therefore, relying too much on Special Energy can decrease stability.

Effectively using Special Energy Cards can greatly expand the strategy of your deck. In decks where energy acceleration is difficult, you can use Special Energy that allows you to attach multiple energies at once, and if you want to enhance a specific strategy, you can adopt Special Energy with effects. Popular Special Energy includes "Double Turbo Energy," "Reversal Energy," and "Jet Energy," which are used in many advanced players' decks. Beginners should first ensure stability with Basic Energy and then incorporate Special Energy as they become more accustomed to the game.

How to Use Energy

The basic way to use Energy cards is to choose 1 Energy card from your hand once during your turn and attach it to 1 of your Pokémon (either in the battle area or on the bench). This is referred to as "attaching energy." Since you can only attach 1 card per turn, it takes time to use heavy attacks (attacks that require a lot of energy).

Once energy is attached, it will remain attached until the Pokémon is knocked out or discarded due to the effect of a specific card. Even if you move the Pokémon to the bench, the energy remains attached. When using an attack, make sure that all the required energy for the attack is attached. The types and number of energy depicted on the left side of the attack indicate the required energy. For example, if 2 Fire energies and 1 Colorless energy are depicted, you need 2 Fire energies and 1 energy of any type. Colorless energy can be substituted for any type of energy, so it's useful to remember this.

Trainer Cards | Support Cards that Enhance Strategy

Trainer cards are a collective term for all cards other than Pokémon and energy, serving as support cards that enhance battle strategy. There are three types of Trainer cards: Support, Items, and Stadiums, each with different rules and roles for usage. By using Trainer cards effectively, you can draw cards, search for Pokémon from your deck, and disrupt your opponent's moves, allowing you to gain an advantage in battle.

Trainer cards are activated by using them from your hand. Once used, Trainer cards are generally placed in the discard pile. In deck building, it is common to include about 30 to 35 Trainer cards, considering the balance of Support, Items, and Stadiums. The selection of Trainer cards and the timing of their use are crucial points that can determine the outcome of the game.

• Support (1 card per turn)
• Items (can use as many as you want)
• Stadium (only 1 in play)

Support (1 card per turn)

Support cards are the most powerful cards among Trainer cards. They are marked with "Support" in the upper right corner and have effects that allow you to draw a large number of cards, add Pokémon from your deck to your hand, or disrupt your opponent's hand. The biggest feature of Support cards is the limitation that you can only use 1 per turn. This limitation is what makes Support cards very powerful.

Representative Support cards include "Professor's Research" (draw 7 cards but discard your entire hand), "Nanjamo" (return both players' hands to their decks and draw the same number of cards as your remaining prize cards), and "Boss's Orders" (bring an opponent's benched Pokémon to the battle area). These Support cards are fundamental cards used in many decks and significantly influence the stability and strategy of the deck.

The timing of using Support is very important. Since you can only use one per turn, you need to carefully decide which Support to use and when. In the early game, it's basic strategy to use Support that increases your hand size, and in the mid to late game, to use Support that disrupts your opponent or searches for key cards depending on the situation. For beginner decks, it is recommended to include four simple and powerful Support cards like "Professor's Research".

Items (Can be used any number of times)

Items are the least restricted among Trainer cards and are cards that can be used any number of times per turn. The top right of the card says "Item", and they have supportive effects such as searching for Pokémon from your deck, attaching Energy, or evolving Pokémon. While they are not as powerful as Support, the lack of a usage limit allows you to gain a significant advantage by combining multiple Items.

Typical Item cards include "Ultra Ball" (discard 2 cards from your hand to add any Pokémon from your deck to your hand), "Nest Ball" (search for a Basic Pokémon from your deck and put it onto your Bench), "Switch" (switch your Pokémon with one on your Bench), "Rare Candy" (evolve a Basic Pokémon directly into a Stage 2 Pokémon). These Items are versatile cards commonly used in many decks.

Since Items can be used any number of times, you can quickly set up the board by using multiple Items in one turn. For example, you can add a Pokémon to your hand with "Ultra Ball", put a Basic Pokémon onto your Bench with "Nest Ball", and evolve it with "Rare Candy", allowing for a series of consecutive moves. It's advisable to include around 10 to 15 various Items in your deck that can be used depending on the situation for flexible responses.

Stadium (Only one can be in play)

Stadiums are Trainer cards that are played onto the field, and the top right of the card says "Stadium". The biggest feature of Stadiums is that only one can be in play at a time, and it affects both players. When a new Stadium is played, the old Stadium is discarded and replaced by the new one.

The effects of a Stadium continue as long as it is in play. By playing a Stadium with effects that are advantageous to you, you can continuously gain an advantage. Conversely, if a Stadium that benefits your opponent is in play, you can disrupt their strategy by playing another Stadium to overwrite it.

Typical Stadiums include "Beach Court" (reduces the retreat cost of Benched Pokémon by 1), "Pokémon League Headquarters" (allows you to redo actions that depend on coin flips), "Crumbling Stadium" (limits both players' Benches to 4 Pokémon). It is common to choose Stadiums that align with your deck's strategy and include about 2 to 3 of them. Since Stadiums remain in play, it is important to play them at the right timing.

Consider the Balance in Your Deck

The most important aspect of deck building is the balance of the three types of cards: Pokémon cards, Energy cards, and Trainer cards. The ratio in which these cards are included in a 60-card deck greatly affects the deck's stability and strength. In a poorly balanced deck, you may end up with too many Pokémon in your hand and not enough Energy, or too many Trainer cards and not enough Pokémon to play.

The appropriate balance varies depending on the deck's concept and the Pokémon used, but it is important to know the basic guidelines. Beginners should start with a standard distribution and make adjustments that suit their deck as they play.

• Recommended card distribution for beginners
• Adjustments by deck type

Recommended card distribution for beginners

The recommended card distribution for beginners is 15 to 20 Pokémon cards, 10 to 15 Energy cards, and 30 to 35 Trainer cards. This distribution is a standard ratio adopted by many balanced decks and is designed to allow for stable gameplay.

For Pokémon cards, choose 2 to 3 types of main attackers and include multiple copies of each, including their evolution lines. For example, if using Charizard, include 3 to 4 copies each of Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard, along with a few support Pokémon. The number of Energy cards should be based on the types and amounts needed for the Pokémon's attacks. Decks with heavier attacks (requiring more Energy) will need to include more Energy cards.

For Trainer cards, a common breakdown is 10 to 15 Support cards, 15 to 20 Item cards, and 2 to 4 Stadium cards. Support cards should focus on basic cards like "Professor's Research," "Nanjamo," and "Boss's Orders," while Item cards should include Pokémon search cards like "Ultra Ball" and "Nest Ball," as well as cards that fit the deck's concept.

Adjustments by deck type

The optimal card distribution varies depending on the deck's concept and play style. Adjustments are necessary for each type, such as Aggro decks, Evolution decks, and Control decks.

Aggro decks are designed to attack aggressively from the start, focusing on Basic Pokémon. These decks typically include around 20 Pokémon cards and 12 to 15 Energy cards. Choose cards that emphasize speed for Items, and focus on cards that increase your hand size for Support. Evolution decks are built around 2-stage Evolution Pokémon as the main attackers, making cards that support evolution crucial. Include more evolution-supporting Items like "Rare Candy" and increase the ratio of Trainer cards. Even with slightly fewer Energy cards, the strategy is to buy time to set up the board with Trainer cards.

Control Deck is a deck that fights while disrupting the opponent's movements, making Trainer cards very important. It emphasizes breaking the opponent's strategy by incorporating more Stadiums and including support to reduce the opponent's hand size. Pokémon cards are kept to a minimum, and the structure often looks towards a long-term battle. Adjusting gradually from a standard distribution according to your deck type is the key to building a strong deck.

Summary: Understand the Types of Cards and Utilize Them in Deck Building

In this article, we have explained in detail the three types of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Pokémon cards serve as the main characters in battles against opponents, Energy cards function as fuel for using moves, and Trainer cards play a supportive role in underpinning strategies. Each card has a clear role, and combining them in a balanced way is fundamental to creating a strong deck.

Understanding the characteristics of different types of Pokémon cards, such as Basic Pokémon, Evolution Pokémon, ex, V, VSTAR, the differences between Basic Energy and Special Energy, and the distinctions between Supporters, Items, and Stadiums will deepen your deck building and battle strategies. Beginners should start with a standard card distribution and make adjustments according to their play style while actually playing.

Correctly understanding the types of cards is the first step to enjoying the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Based on this knowledge, create your own original deck and try various strategies to further enjoy the depth of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. After learning about card types, let's tackle actual deck building. [Related Article]: A Beginner's Guide to Pokémon Card Deck Building | How to Arrange 60 Cards and Balance introduces more practical deck building techniques.