Returning Player - Should I Start Before or After Rotation?

[LethalNarwhal]

Hi guys,

Just posting here seeing as it is the only tcg site I even bother with and I'm thinking of returning.
I heard about the new rotation and thought why not it's a fresh start. I haven't played since Six corners, Mewtwo/Celebi and Zekrom/tynamo was a thing. So as you can tell I have a lot to catch up on.

My main question though is "Should I wait 'till the rotation has settled in and everyone is used to it around September/November or jump in now. If I jump in now I fear about making deck that won't be as good in the 2016/2017 season. Also, if there are any major rule changes since I left if someone could let me know or link me an update rule book that would be great!!!

Thanks, LethalNarwhal

 

[bbninjas]

Welcome back to the game!

A lot has changed since you last played. New mechanics have been introduced, the format itself has grown faster, and Big Basics no longer dominant the format. Here's a link to the most recent rulebook, which you should definitely read for rule changes and new mechanic details. The main rule change is that players may no longer attack on their first turn. To get to up-to-date with the game, I suggest checking out the Competitive Play forums, the front-page articles and in general chatting with the community (online and offline).

I don't think there is any reason not to jump into the game right now. Although it is a bit too late to participate in the 2016 Play! Season, getting an idea of what is presently good, looking at few decklists and perhaps checking out some streams, particularly the Worlds Stream, would be beneficial. That way, you'll be able to prepare for when you begin the 2017 season. While you may like to experiment and try constructing your own decks, however I would not recommend actually spending money on these just yet, as anything could happen before the season begins. Nevertheless, buffing up your collection with some staple cards (Professor Sycamore, VS Seeker, Lysandre, N, Ultra Ball) that have been reprinted for the 2017 format would be optimal. This front-page article is a good read, containing some great speculation on the upcoming 2017 format - but just remember to keep in mind that things could easily change. Meanwhile, you may like to try out the Official PTCG Emulator, where you have access to many cards for free.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[Otaku]

@bbninjas gives sound advice. Another major change though is that we now have two Constructed formats.

• Standard is just "Modified" by another name. Currently it is XY: Kalos Starter Set (which predates the plain XY set because... reasons). This is going to change to XY: Primal Clash and later sets come September.
  
• Expanded is a format added (I think) two years ago. It is currently Black & White and later releases. Come September, it remains Black & White and later releases. So if you build a good Expanded Format deck, the only reason for it to become obsolete is because of a new release (as opposed to set rotation).

I will caution rushing into the game and expecting to get back to where you were (or beyond) ASAP. Based on first- and secondhand experience, try to ease into the game with the few months left of the 2015-1016 season if you want to even dream of getting competitive and well equipped for the 2016-2017 season. I'd actually take it easy for the 2016-2017 season as well, but I'm not a particularly skilled or talented player. It takes time to get the new rules and changes in strategy down (old plays or ways of thinking that used to work may not). It also can be hard to acquire the right cards that fast without intense trading, large investments of money, or both. Just seems easier to invest time and enjoy yourself for a season. Since this season is almost over, you might manage to get over your adjustment period before the next begins, but it might eat into the next season as well.

You adjust for you though; I just would hate for you to rush back in, sink in a lot of time, effort, and money and then get frustrated and sick of it all after a few months. I had a friend who did that, because he convinced himself that since he was a solid player when he left, he could return and become a real competitor, aiming for Worlds. Didn't work out that way. ^^'

 

[cardgjammer]

Just returning?

Still want to play competitively?

^ As the major October tournaments(Regionals) nowadays(unless they changed this year) specialize in expanded format, you could do what @bbninjas suggested: get staple trainers printed for the current format, but to add to that...

...order staples for expanded as well. That means ordering either the Mewtwo vs. Darkrai Battle Arena set to get you most of the necessary staples of that format that are not already, or will not be, standard-legal anymore in 2016-17(Pluspower, Muscle Band, Pokemon Communication, among others) just to save you a lot of money paying for individual cards that are otherwise hard to come by(at least as singles), and/or even the upcoming keldeo vs. rayquaza battle arena set... Better yet, you can see the contents before you buy it in this article regarding the product so that, if you can filter out enough undesired cards from the BA set list you find on said article, that buying one or two BA sets are unjustified, look at online shopping sites(Amazon, eBay, etc.), like the one from the first link provided, for a way to get those staple trainers as singles for as little monetary outflow as possible, and at the same time, as much quality as the old staples can possibly be at this point in time. Beyond that, however, start saving money for your eventual standard-legal deck, but also look for possible significant developments that can affect the game(such as rule changes, card bans, etc.) on main pokemon site, keep your eyes glued to the Worlds stream to see which decks are good and which ones just fall apart to the competition, and look for P!P tourney dates on the main pokemon site... And most of all, use the online TCG to test decks and see whether or not they could work in the new season, and take it easy until the rotation officially takes effect!