Old Player Wanting Back in

M

Mufasa804

Aspiring Trainer
Member
Greetings!

Back in 2004 I had a deep passion for the game and went to events for fun and competitive play and had a good time. But then life got busy and I just no longer had time for the card game I so very much loved.

Now 9 years later I found a box with all my old Pokemon cards and I couldn't help to reminisce and want back in.

My question to you guys:

How much has the game changed since? I assume I could pick it up pretty quickly having previous experience.

Which starter deck should I get? Or which ones would you recommend?

What's legal and what's not? I was having trouble finding a competitive play legal and not legal (I'm referring to what expansion packs I can use and stuff) list.

Thanks a bunch!!!

I'm from the Chicago area so if anyone knows a good place to go that would also be great.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Anything from Black & White onward (through Plasma Storm) is legal for competitive play.

Right now the format revolves around the new Pokémon-EX but other than that, I don't know a whole lot. :p
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Cool! When I go into the store I'll be sure to look for that. Thanks
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Starter decks really aren't the best way to start into the game right now. The game has changed a lot since back then, and right now it's entirely focused on big basics, with very few evoultions in sight, and those are only benchsitters. Because of this, starter decks don't give you any good pokemon, and since I'm assuming you already have energy, it's cheaper to buy the few decent trainers they give you as singles. Singles are the way to go right now, sadly.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Forgot to mention, you might want to consider the Elite Trainer Box.

It includes a rule book, damage counters, a case, and 7 Plasma Storm packs for about $35.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

That is sad, because since I don't know what the "good singles" out there right now are that's kinda tricky. Thanks for your input!

I'm planning on going to Toys R Us or Target in a few to buy something. I did see that Elite trainer box and it looked promising. Might just get that but we'll see.

Thanks guys!
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Singles can be sooo costly! A top deck can be well over $100. If you want to start easy, and just more for fun- go for a starter deck. EX pokes can be gotten easily in tins. If you want to really be competitive in tournaments, I would say buy a few tins and a booster box of plasma storm or boundaries crossed. With a sealed box you should get some really good cards, and can trade some of the cards towards other cards (trainers from other sets or multilpes of a pokemon you want in your deck but only pull 2 of ).

These are legal sets (packs)
black white, emerging powers, noble victories, next destinies, dark explorers, dragons exalted, dragon vault, boundaries crossed, and plasma storm. Toysrus in my state (NC) is very overpriced on all things pokemon cards. $10 for their exclusive BW pack w 1 nonholo promo. Over $5 for a pack. Tins that should be $15 are about $21, etc.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Binx345 said:
Singles can be sooo costly! A top deck can be well over $100. If you want to start easy, and just more for fun- go for a starter deck. EX pokes can be gotten easily in tins. If you want to really be competitive in tournaments, I would say buy a few tins and a booster box of plasma storm or boundaries crossed. With a sealed box you should get some really good cards, and can trade some of the cards towards other cards (trainers from other sets or multilpes of a pokemon you want in your deck but only pull 2 of ).

These are legal sets (packs)
black white, emerging powers, noble victories, next destinies, dark explorers, dragons exalted, dragon vault, boundaries crossed, and plasma storm. Toysrus in my state (NC) is very overpriced on all things pokemon cards. $10 for their exclusive BW pack w 1 nonholo promo. Over $5 for a pack. Tins that should be $15 are about $21, etc.
Click to expand...

You sir are the man, thanks to everyone else for their input as well.

I agree that singles are kinda expensive but I'm beginning to think that is the best option for me to go. I bought one of the Black and White Plasma Storm (Shadow) starter decks and am very happy with that decision. I've decided to begin building on that and have already bought some necessary trainers and other Pokemon. I'm aiming to have a Crobat themed deck. Not trying to be super competitive, just trying to have some fun and Crobat/Virbank City Gym seems like a lot of fun.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

That seems good then! By the way I am the woman! LOL Crobats are relatively cheap and easy to get.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

I would only recommend you joining back into the TCG competitively if:

Building decks with little to no strategy.
Decks with massive damage outputs, and snowballing games. Resulting in very short games.
Dealing with 1-2 hit ko's and nothing else. (otherwise you won't compete).
A 4 of Pokemon Catcher(gust of wind) in every deck, Disabling you from playing down a health 3-5 bench count.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

ashtavakra, if you feel that way then why are you in the game? Why discourage somebody that wants to join? It can't possibly hurt the community.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

@ashtavakra: My games take forever... I go over the time limit almost 90% of the time. And I feel like the decks I play require a decent bit of strategy especially if I want to win against a deck that was made to take my deck out. There's no need to put down the game to someone who wants to join. Playing Pokemon is very fun. Frustrating at times, yes, but always fun.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

I stand corrected, minimal strategy. In the game.
Pokemon is nothing like it use to be, when the game was fun, such as back in 2004 when the OP last played.
I am just stating facts about the current meta.

Blastoise Keldeo, Rayeels, Big Basics, Darkrai. Garbodor. Plasmakink.
Not much strategy in the 80-90% of the format.
Sure the community is nice, and if he enjoys it go for it.
I am just telling him what he is getting himself into.
When you got to a regional tournament and play the same 3 decks the entire time, the game is dry and lacks creativity.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Uh, Darkrai is a rather skilled based deck. Where you place the damage is very important and Supporter management is incredibly important.

The format isn't too skill based but it's very luck based.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Blui said:
Uh, Darkrai is a rather skilled based deck. Where you place the damage is very important and Supporter management is incredibly important.

The format isn't too skill based but it's very luck based.
Click to expand...

eh..
Darkrai is just 2 pokemon with techs.
1 Pokemon as your main attacker, the other to get items back.
That's all. Damage placement in this format means nothing, because everything is 2 hit consistently.

Darkrai decks consist of dark patch, lasers and 1 keldeo to get your out of special conditions.
And that's about it. There is no set up. You just attach energies or dark patch and throw down lasers and fast as possible. Sure, 30 damage to 1 benched pokemon. It takes no skill to add simple 10's place math in your head to figure out how many times you need to night spear to knock out a pokemon.
Darkrai is just a big basic deck.

Oh... I thought every deck had support management?? lol...
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

ashtavakra said:
Blui said:
Uh, Darkrai is a rather skilled based deck. Where you place the damage is very important and Supporter management is incredibly important.

The format isn't too skill based but it's very luck based.
Click to expand...

eh..
Darkrai is just 2 pokemon with techs.
1 Pokemon as your main attacker, the other to get items back.
That's all. Damage placement in this format means nothing, because everything is 2 hit consistently.
Simplicity is different to a low amount of skill. And no, not everything is. Laser did throw the deck down rather low in terms of skill but it still requires a smart player.
Darkrai decks consist of dark patch, lasers and 1 keldeo to get your out of special conditions.
And that's about it. There is no set up. You just attach energies or dark patch and throw down lasers and fast as possible. Sure, 30 damage to 1 benched pokemon. It takes no skill to add simple 10's place math in your head to figure out how many times you need to night spear to knock out a pokemon.
Let me attach all these energy to my mons. Yes that's easy but I've found that Darkrai is a deck that whiffs a lot of things and misses energy drops and against Rayeels where you attach energy is very important.
Darkrai is just a big basic deck.
#This format. Big Basics doesn't mean no skill, just money=greater chance at victory, like all card games
Oh... I thought every deck had support management?? lol...
Well yeah, but Darkrai more so than others. Just because Darkrai is (pretty much) about speed & consistency. A heap of players I've seen just Juniper 2/3 other supporters (like N) away. What I'm trying to say is Darkrai can be too fast for some people and they can't manage it.

Have you ever seen Darkrai vs Klinklang? You'd know that Darkrai is a lot more in-dept than it is on paper.

(but yeah, Straight Darkrai doesn't need to much skill anymore, but other variants like the Mewtwo ones need some more)
Click to expand...


Replies in bold
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

Blui said:
ashtavakra said:
eh..
Darkrai is just 2 pokemon with techs.
1 Pokemon as your main attacker, the other to get items back.
That's all. Damage placement in this format means nothing, because everything is 2 hit consistently.
Simplicity is different to a low amount of skill. And no, not everything is. Laser did throw the deck down rather low in terms of skill but it still requires a smart player.
Darkrai decks consist of dark patch, lasers and 1 keldeo to get your out of special conditions.
And that's about it. There is no set up. You just attach energies or dark patch and throw down lasers and fast as possible. Sure, 30 damage to 1 benched pokemon. It takes no skill to add simple 10's place math in your head to figure out how many times you need to night spear to knock out a pokemon.
Let me attach all these energy to my mons. Yes that's easy but I've found that Darkrai is a deck that whiffs a lot of things and misses energy drops and against Rayeels where you attach energy is very important.
Darkrai is just a big basic deck.
#This format. Big Basics doesn't mean no skill, just money=greater chance at victory, like all card games
Oh... I thought every deck had support management?? lol...
Well yeah, but Darkrai more so than others. Just because Darkrai is (pretty much) about speed & consistency. A heap of players I've seen just Juniper 2/3 other supporters (like N) away. What I'm trying to say is Darkrai can be too fast for some people and they can't manage it.

Have you ever seen Darkrai vs Klinklang? You'd know that Darkrai is a lot more in-dept than it is on paper.

(but yeah, Straight Darkrai doesn't need to much skill anymore, but other variants like the Mewtwo ones need some more)
Click to expand...


Replies in bold
Click to expand...


I can understand, how if you ran darkrai just for his ability for the free retreat, and it does whiff energy a fair amount in comparison to other decks. but that's why i run 2 energy search in all my darkrai. lol... it's worth it, and it slims the deck for late game, giving you a better percentage of NOT whiffing cards when you need them for that last KO.
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

For competitive play it is best to use the newer sets but if you are playing for fun at home or with a pool of friends any format will do. I would play Base set onward if it is just for fun XD.:)
 
RE: Old Geezer Wanting Back in

xxashxx said:
For competitive play it is best to use the newer sets but if you are playing for fun at home or with a pool of friends any format will do. I would play Base set onward if it is just for fun XD.:)
Click to expand...

Mr Mime + eviolite + Blissey or Serperior or potions ftw. Most annoying thing ever open format lol.
 
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