TPCI Releases Alternative Play Handbook: Raid Format, 2v2 Team Battles, & More!

[JustInBasil]

The Pokemon Company International recently released its Alternative Play Handbook, which details a number of alternative ways to play with cards from the Pokemon Trading Card Game. If you’ve ever gone to large events like regional or international championships and played in any of the side events there, you may be familiar with a few of the alternative play options detailed in the new handbook. Among the formats described in the new handbook are beginner formats like Poké Catch, intermediate formats like Pack Battles, and the real highlights of the documents for more experienced players: the advanced formats including a new 2v2 Team format and a brand-new Raid format.
To be clear: these are not official formats for sanctioned...

Continue reading...

 

[dmein89]

I’m so happy GLC is being recognized. It has potential to overtake expanded

 

[ProfesserPopplio]

NGL dis looks cool af, but confusing

 

[HershelLayton]

NGL dis looks cool af, but confusing

Like most card games, it's pretty confusing when explained through paragraphs of text, but in person you get the hang of it pretty quickly! It's a fun alternative format especially in casual settings

 

[ZestyGan]

They HAVE to add the Raid Format to PTCGL if they wanna get it to be popular. It looks so fun and is the kinda thing that PTCGO needs right now.

 

[GymLdrJesse]

Gym Leader Challenge best format ?

 

[Diego Lima]

Pokémon better put some respect on Mahone's name, GLC is singlehandedly what keeps me in the game lately.

 

[fleshrum]

GLC being recognized is the best thing that's happened to pokemon in a long time. Mahone gets the credit, but its really the community that made it come to life. Good job team!

EDIT: ● Each player’s deck must contain only Pokémon without a Rule Box - YESSSS

 

[bbb888]

What is Mahone?? A new Pokémon from Scarlet/Violet?

 

[ZestyGan]

What is Mahone?? A new Pokémon from Scarlet/Violet?

Fr? Andrew Mahone, aka TrickyGym on youtube, us one of the most popular PTCGO and competitive TCG youtubers and he created the Gym Leader's Challenge format, one of the most successful and beloved fan-mage formats.

 

[ThePokemonGuardian]

They HAVE to add the Raid Format to PTCGL if they wanna get it to be popular. It looks so fun and is the kinda thing that PTCGO needs right now.

Yeah, it looks awesome and a nice new way to play

 

[Red-EyesHydreigon]

Just tried a couple games of Raid. Seems like a really cool concept, but doesn’t really feel like the ‘normal’ players have a chance. Boss gets unlimited supporters and attachments, right?

 

[Mimikeon]

Mahone must be losing his mind over TPCi acknowledging GLC like this.

 

[snoopy369]

Just tried a couple games of Raid. Seems like a really cool concept, but doesn’t really feel like the ‘normal’ players have a chance. Boss gets unlimited supporters and attachments, right?

Most of the time the players should win raid format in my experience. The key is to balance what’s in the raid deck - if you’re not able to beat it regularly with meta decks then make the raid deck easier.

Raid is a great format for league as newer players can play it alongside better players and have fun winning. It’s not meant to be super difficult.

 

[Luke Skywalker]

I’m so happy GLC is being recognized. It has potential to overtake expanded

Well it's not an official format so it couldn't take over expanded even if it wanted to.

 

[jarefox]

We have been playing Raid format at our local store for a few weeks now. Its very exciting to see the players working together to take out the Boss. Plus it gives us something to do with those old oversized cards besides collecting.

 

[Yaginku]

This is a very good move with Standard being Standard and Expanded being as unpopular as it generally is. TPCi cannot control the Japan side, but they can encourage people to try healthier formats.

GLC looks like a fun way of playing single-prizers but limiting Expanded's power through a singleton format. It's probably the best way to play single-prizers, since Standard has a very weird selection of cards. I think I'll try it out.

 

[cruithear]

This Raid format looks perfect for playing with my kids! The suggested cards are also super cheap so it's an easy boss deck to set up.

Does anyone have any more information than was presented in the PDF about example raid boss decks and the like? Everything I found searching was about the Raid Battle thing that looks very different from what is presented here.

Either way, I'm looking forward to trying a cooperative format and this looks amazing

 

[JustInBasil]

This Raid format looks perfect for playing with my kids! The suggested cards are also super cheap so it's an easy boss deck to set up.

Does anyone have any more information than was presented in the PDF about example raid boss decks and the like? Everything I found searching was about the Raid Battle thing that looks very different from what is presented here.

Either way, I'm looking forward to trying a cooperative format and this looks amazing

There are two different "Raid Battles" that Pokémon has presented, and the one in the PDF and this article is the newer one that's actually good. The other one debuted over a year ago and was awful. That's unfortunately what you're probably seeing when you're trying to search for more about this one. If you have specific questions about how to play Raid format, fire away!

 

[adw96]

The Raid format is amazing.
I have some questions about it, which not mentioned in the handbook.
What happens if players keep using Dialga GX and Dialga VSTAR to start new turn?
How to calculate the damage when Palkia VSTAR using subspace swell?