New player in the UK

Chin2112

Chin2112

Aspiring Trainer
Member
Hi everyone, I have been reading around the forum and decided to finally register.

I'm a 20 year old from England (old right lol) who has decided he wants to pick up the Pokemon TCG.I've been playing pokemon since the red and yellow days and have just recently completed every game again. I used to collect as a kid but like most kids I grew bored as there wasn't anyone to play with.

Now reading through the forum it seems like there are certain cards that can only be used and you can't use old pokemon cards which is fine as I have around £100 to spend.

The plan is to play in a league which is nearby but I don't want to walk in and be completed trashed and lose interest because I suck so badly. My girlfriend also wants to join me so I basically after rambling on about nothing important. I was wondering what you think I should do?

I was thinking 2 Theme Decks and a Elite Trainer Box, some boosters and then build a deck around what I have using eBay.

Also there is a Pre-Release in a few weeks, do you think my girlfriend and I should go or would it be a waste of time?


Thanks for all the help and sorry for such a long first post, I hope to become a good member of this forum and keep you all updated and help in any way possible.

Current Deck

Pokemon: 8

4 Darkrai EX
4 Sableye

Supporters/Trainers: 40

4 Professor Juniper
4 N
3 Bianca
2 Skyla
4 Pokemon Catcher
4 Energy Switch (need to replace)
4 Ultra Ball
4 Dark Patch
3 Eviolite
2 Tool Scrapper
4 Enchanced Hammer
1 Energy Search
1 Computer Search

Energy: 12

12 Darkness Energy
 
You won't get trashed for sucking, If you do suck, then they will joke around. Trust me, the TCG community is rather nice. Go to the pre-release. It is very fun and nice way to begin.

I would do this: 1 theme deck, 1 trainer box, booster packs
 
Chin2112 said:
I was thinking 2 Theme Decks and a Elite Trainer Box, some boosters and then build a deck around what I have using eBay.
Click to expand...

No, I personally would not do this. Theme decks give you a lot of cards that aren't even somewhat close to usable (aside from energy but I bet you could get some from league if need be), so I would save that money and buy single cards that you will need. As for the elite trainer box, I would wai tuntil the next set comes out and buy that elite trainer box. The Plasma Blast set has many more staples such as pokemon catcher and Professor Juniper (both of which are a 4 of in almost every deck), and some of the most playable EX's we've seen in a while (as in there is more than just 1-2 playable EX cards). So if you get any ultra rares you should be able to trade them away fairly easily for things you will need. Again for boosters, I would as well save that money and instead buy singles... but wait, both Deoxys EX and Thundurus Ex are coming out as promotional cards in September (right before large events are held) and those will only cost about 8 USD (approximately 6.03 euros), both of these cards normally can run as high as 35 USD. If you want to play competitively I would reccomend buying Singles or large amounts of packs at a time (such as the elite trainer box) and if you dont get things you want you could always trade those away (we have a trading corner on Pokebeach that would make that a lot easier instead of only trading locally).

Now reading through the forum it seems like there are certain cards that can only be used and you can't use old pokemon cards which is fine as I have around £100 to spend.
Click to expand...
You are correct! as of right now all cards from Black and white through the set Plasma Freeze are legal. HOWEVER, in an extremely short amount of time only cards from the sets Next Destinies, Dark Explorers, Dragons Exalted, Dragon Vault, Boundaries Crossed, Plasma Storm, Plasma Frezze, and Plasma Blast will be legal for competitive play.

Also there is a Pre-Release in a few weeks, do you think my girlfriend and I should go or would it be a waste of time?
Click to expand...
Not at all a waste of time, pre-releases are great things for new players. It gives you a feel for how your local tournaments will be run, how the tournaments work, and its a great way to get good playable cards. It also is a great time to trade any cards you have or get at the pre-release to build the deck you want for normal tournaments. Also, Pre-releases are one of the cheapest ways to get cards as usually packs cost about 4-5 USD (3.02 Euros - 3.77 euros) but a pre release cost 28 USD for 8 packs making each pack only about 3.50 USD (about 2.65 euros). Not only this, but it gives you a great way to pickup on some of the rules and the mechanics of some cards.


PS sorry for any inaccuracies on pricings or release dates as it may be a bit different in the UK than in the US
 
AlexanderTheAwesome said:
No, I personally would not do this. Theme decks give you a lot of cards that aren't even somewhat close to usable (aside from energy but I bet you could get some from league if need be), so I would save that money and buy single cards that you will need.
Click to expand...

The reason I wanted two Theme Decks is because I will probably play with my girlfriend as well to improve and test things out so she would also need cards to play with. So as its cheaper to buy 2 for £15/$25 then buy 120 singles I thought that would make more sense and then would give me somewhere to start and build around

AlexanderTheAwesome said:
As for the elite trainer box, I would wai tuntil the next set comes out and buy that elite trainer box. The Plasma Blast set has many more staples such as pokemon catcher and Professor Juniper (both of which are a 4 of in almost every deck), and some of the most playable EX's we've seen in a while (as in there is more than just 1-2 playable EX cards). So if you get any ultra rares you should be able to trade them away fairly easily for things you will need.
Click to expand...
I was gonna wait for the new one as its cheaper and is only say 2-3 weeks away. Also trading wise how would I know I was getting a good deal, would I just ask on here?

AlexanderTheAwesome said:
Again for boosters, I would as well save that money and instead buy singles... but wait, both Deoxys EX and Thundurus Ex are coming out as promotional cards in September (right before large events are held) and those will only cost about 8 USD (approximately 6.03 euros), both of these cards normally can run as high as 35 USD.
Click to expand...
So should I buy the EX Tins that come out soon? I think they are like £7-8 and come with a few boosters as well. Also what about the ones that are out now? Are they worth buying?

AlexanderTheAwesome said:
If you want to play competitively I would reccomend buying Singles or large amounts of packs at a time (such as the elite trainer box) and if you dont get things you want you could always trade those away (we have a trading corner on Pokebeach that would make that a lot easier instead of only trading locally).
Click to expand...
What about boxes of boosters? Would they be useful or are they too risky?

Thanks for all the help and sorry for all the questions again, I just want to make sure I don't end up with rubbish cards that aren't useful lol
 
Salamencetrainer34 said:
Hm... what deck are going to make?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, Is the Arcanine in my picture allowed/any good?

Edit: its not as its a Japanese card, what are the best decks to start with? I prefer fire types but I am unsure what I should put with it?
I'm thinking a fire/dark deck but that probably isn't a good idea lol

Edit again:

I'm now thinking of building the Virizion/Genesect deck.
4x Virizion EX
4x Genesect EX
1x Roselia DRX 12
1x Roserade DRX 15


4 Professor Juniper
4 N
3 Skyla
2 Bianca
1 Shadow Triad

3 Ultra Ball
3 Pokemon Catcher
2 Switch
3 Colress Machine
1 Tool Scrapper
1 Max Potion
2 Plasma Badge
1 Super Rod
1 G Booster

2 Skyarrow Bridge
1 Tropical Beach


12 Grass
4 Plasma

What do you think and how much do you think it would cost to make?

Also is it legal when the changes come along?
 
I just bought my first tin (couldn't resist)

I got a White Kyurem tin with 4 boosters. I don't think i got anything great in there but if you guys want to know when I get home tonight ill put a post up.
 
Chin2112 said:
Salamencetrainer34 said:
Hm... what deck are going to make?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, Is the Arcanine in my picture allowed/any good?

Edit: its not as its a Japanese card, what are the best decks to start with? I prefer fire types but I am unsure what I should put with it?
I'm thinking a fire/dark deck but that probably isn't a good idea lol

Edit again:

I'm now thinking of building the Virizion/Genesect deck.
4x Virizion EX
4x Genesect EX
1x Roselia DRX 12
1x Roserade DRX 15


4 Professor Juniper
4 N
3 Skyla
2 Bianca
1 Shadow Triad

3 Ultra Ball
3 Pokemon Catcher
2 Switch
3 Colress Machine
1 Tool Scrapper
1 Max Potion
2 Plasma Badge
1 Super Rod
1 G Booster

2 Skyarrow Bridge
1 Tropical Beach


12 Grass
4 Plasma

What do you think and how much do you think it would cost to make?

Also is it legal when the changes come along?
Click to expand...

The Arcanine is legal for tournament play, you'll find it in the Next Destinies set :)
As for your Virizion/Genesect list, with just the 4 Genesect EX, 4 Virizion EX and 1 Tropical Beach alone that's about £350. Tropical Beach is anywhere between £90 to £120, and both Genesect and Virizion are probably going to be about £30 a pop.
If you'd like to start with a relatively cheap yet powerful deck, I recommend the Garchomp/Altaria deck, you should be able to find plenty of example lists in the Decklist Help forum section! :D
 
You're talking a lottttt of money with the Genesect/Virizion deck. If I were you, start with a cheaper competitive deck like Darkrai. That card came out in tins and the Trainer/Supporter cards are relatively cheap now. Catcher is being released in Plasma Blast so the price of that card will drop significantly. (I'm looking forward to it!)

I would advise you to get the starter deck just so you have something to practice with, but then start getting singles from then on. Packs are a complete gamble. And they rarely pay off, ya know? Singles are often cheaper in the long run.
 
Ahh, I didn't release they were so expensive lol.

Is White Kyurem EX a good pokemon to start with? Or should I just start buying singles?

What theme decks would you recommend?

And finally is that Arcanine any good and worth putting in a deck I make?

Also is Klinklang a good start for me as I pulled one (plasma storm) in a deck I was looking at it requires tropical beach, are there any cards that can replace that?
 
1. Start buying singles, White kyurem EX is a horrible EX card.

2. That, I'm not sure about.

3. No, not too good.

4. Just because someone put a Tropical beach in a decklist doesn't mean it is required. You could replace with a extra trainer too. And klinklang is not good due to the primary energy accelerator (Or what moves energy around) being rotated out. I would highly recommend Darkrai.
 
Salamencetrainer34 said:
1. Start buying singles, White kyurem EX is a horrible EX card.

2. That, I'm not sure about.

3. No, not too good.

4. Just because someone put a Tropical beach in a decklist doesn't mean it is required. You could replace with a extra trainer too. And klinklang is not good due to the primary energy accelerator (Or what moves energy around) being rotated out. I would highly recommend Darkrai.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks very much :)

So I should get Darkrai EX and could you possibly show me a good deck?

I am looking at this one:

Pokemon: 8

4 Darkrai EX
4 Sableye

Supporters/Trainers: 40

4 Professor Juniper
4 N
3 Bianca
2 Skyla
4 Pokemon Catcher
4 Energy Switch
4 Ultra Ball
4 Dark Patch
3 Eviolite
2 Tool Scrapper
4 Crushing Hammer
1 Energy Search
1 Computer Search


Energy: 12

12 Darkness Energy

Would you say thats suitable?
 
You might consider Silver Bangle and Silver Mirror instead of Eviolite because of them working well against plasma decks.
 
4 Dark Patch
Also Crushing Hammer is being rotated, you could put in Enhanced Hammer in it's place.
 
corabed said:
4 Dark Patch
Also Crushing Hammer is being rotated, you could put in Enhanced Hammer in it's place.
Click to expand...

I've already got 4 Dark Patch in the deck already, is there anything else?
 
Oh yes, of course you do... Perhaps 2 Plasma Absol and 2 consistency cards. Not sure what they'd be though.
 
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