Alright, so I've never even played the TCG, but I used to collect the cards for fun as a little kid. Recently, I've been interested in getting into the more competitive level. So where should I start? What specifically should I buy? Any help whatsoever would be useful. Thanks.
Best way to get into the TCG?
- Thread starter McMuffins
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RE: Extremely Big Newbie
I'm not really sure your playstyle for every player it differs a bit I myself generally like decks that take a while to set up but once they are set up are almost impossible to beat.To try and find out your style you might want to try a few games on Playtcg. However without even knowing your style their are a few "staples" that you'll likely need to get started. Pokemon Catcher is one of them, So is N and you probably couldn't go wrong buying a "Computer Search".
I'm not really sure your playstyle for every player it differs a bit I myself generally like decks that take a while to set up but once they are set up are almost impossible to beat.To try and find out your style you might want to try a few games on Playtcg. However without even knowing your style their are a few "staples" that you'll likely need to get started. Pokemon Catcher is one of them, So is N and you probably couldn't go wrong buying a "Computer Search".
RE: Extremely Big Newbie
you're going to have to go to the official pokemon website, use the event locator to find out where your local league is.
show up and talk to the organizer. you will be helped, this is a great community.
you're going to have to go to the official pokemon website, use the event locator to find out where your local league is.
show up and talk to the organizer. you will be helped, this is a great community.
If you are on a budget, you can use Escape Rope as a substitue for Pokemon Catcher.
Probably the best bet would to buy 2 of the same starter deck, and combine them.
Of course taking out any unused Pokemon lines.
If you go with the decks from Plasma Storm maybe 1 of each to make a somewhat solid Team Plasma build.
If you have the $ the Premium Trainer Kit they just brought out is a good tool for newer players.
Since it comes with ten energy of each kind, 7 boosters of Plasma Storm, dice, and plastic burn/poison markers.
Of course having a place to play Pokemon is good as well, so search on Pokemon.com to see if there are any leagues nearby. It will be under the TCG tab.
If you need to learn how to play, the league or online tutorials can help.
Practicing on the TCGO (Online Pokemon Trading Card game) is useful as well.
Though you might need to get some booster packs in real life to get codes for booster packs on that.
Starter decks also come with a code to unlock them on there.
The only small downside to those is you have to play the Trainer Challenge and win 11 times with those to unlock the real starter deck (they change some of the cards until you do).
If you go to league and fill up a point row, you get a code card that gives you some semi useful cards on the TCGO.
You can also type in the last two set names (without spaces) in the redeem codes (in the shop area) to get a deck with some pretty good cards.
Probably the best bet would to buy 2 of the same starter deck, and combine them.
Of course taking out any unused Pokemon lines.
If you go with the decks from Plasma Storm maybe 1 of each to make a somewhat solid Team Plasma build.
If you have the $ the Premium Trainer Kit they just brought out is a good tool for newer players.
Since it comes with ten energy of each kind, 7 boosters of Plasma Storm, dice, and plastic burn/poison markers.
Of course having a place to play Pokemon is good as well, so search on Pokemon.com to see if there are any leagues nearby. It will be under the TCG tab.
If you need to learn how to play, the league or online tutorials can help.
Practicing on the TCGO (Online Pokemon Trading Card game) is useful as well.
Though you might need to get some booster packs in real life to get codes for booster packs on that.
Starter decks also come with a code to unlock them on there.
The only small downside to those is you have to play the Trainer Challenge and win 11 times with those to unlock the real starter deck (they change some of the cards until you do).
If you go to league and fill up a point row, you get a code card that gives you some semi useful cards on the TCGO.
You can also type in the last two set names (without spaces) in the redeem codes (in the shop area) to get a deck with some pretty good cards.
1.Buy cards online, rather than fishing in Booster Packs.
They call them, "Ultra Rare" for a reason.
2. Buy plenty of Draw Supporters and "search" cards. "Ultra Ball, Professor Juniper, N, Bicycle, Bianca, Cheren, Skyla, Random Receiver (Colress and Ghetsis provide less consistent draw, but potentially powerful effects). Level Ball, Heavy Ball (the last 2 are situational, one can only find Pokémon with 90 HP or less, and the other can only find Pokémon with 3 or more Retreat Cost.)
The typical amount of "Draw" cards in a Deck is 12-14
3. You'll need multiple copies of the same card, even Pokémon, in order to gain the upperhand. You can have a maximum of 4 cards of the same name in a Deck (60 cards). Stadiums are becoming more popular so get some Virbank Gym, Skyarrow Bridge, Pokémon Center, and Twist Mountain.
4. Staple Trainer Cards: Pokémon Catcher, Hypnotoxic Laser, Switch, Enhanced Hammer (to counter Team Plasma Decks,) Virbank Gym (this and Laser are very related).
5. All strong Decks run Pokémon-EX, such as: Mewtwo EX, Darkrai EX, Rayquaza EX, Keldeo EX, Landorus EX, and Cobalion EX. The first four have a Promo version, and are therefore much cheaper.
Sigilyph from Dragons Exalted provides a hard-counter against Pokémon EX, and is much cheaper than they are. Get it.
6. Strong Decks run much lower Energy than you think: 10-14.
7. Check out the "BW-On Metagame Discussion Forum". It has example Decklists.
8. Practice on Bebesearch.com and playtcg.me : The first website allows you to construct virtual representations of a Pokémon Deck, completely for free. The second website is where you can battle other players online.
You may need to press CTRL - (minus) once or twice when you enter a battle. There's a tab where you do all your actions (Draw Cards, Set Prizes, etc).
They call them, "Ultra Rare" for a reason.
2. Buy plenty of Draw Supporters and "search" cards. "Ultra Ball, Professor Juniper, N, Bicycle, Bianca, Cheren, Skyla, Random Receiver (Colress and Ghetsis provide less consistent draw, but potentially powerful effects). Level Ball, Heavy Ball (the last 2 are situational, one can only find Pokémon with 90 HP or less, and the other can only find Pokémon with 3 or more Retreat Cost.)
The typical amount of "Draw" cards in a Deck is 12-14
3. You'll need multiple copies of the same card, even Pokémon, in order to gain the upperhand. You can have a maximum of 4 cards of the same name in a Deck (60 cards). Stadiums are becoming more popular so get some Virbank Gym, Skyarrow Bridge, Pokémon Center, and Twist Mountain.
4. Staple Trainer Cards: Pokémon Catcher, Hypnotoxic Laser, Switch, Enhanced Hammer (to counter Team Plasma Decks,) Virbank Gym (this and Laser are very related).
5. All strong Decks run Pokémon-EX, such as: Mewtwo EX, Darkrai EX, Rayquaza EX, Keldeo EX, Landorus EX, and Cobalion EX. The first four have a Promo version, and are therefore much cheaper.
Sigilyph from Dragons Exalted provides a hard-counter against Pokémon EX, and is much cheaper than they are. Get it.
6. Strong Decks run much lower Energy than you think: 10-14.
7. Check out the "BW-On Metagame Discussion Forum". It has example Decklists.
8. Practice on Bebesearch.com and playtcg.me : The first website allows you to construct virtual representations of a Pokémon Deck, completely for free. The second website is where you can battle other players online.
You may need to press CTRL - (minus) once or twice when you enter a battle. There's a tab where you do all your actions (Draw Cards, Set Prizes, etc).