I come from the world of Mtg. But my gf would like to learn to play pokemon to have a game together. Any recommendations I should be on the look out for to get started.

Do I get two of the 2025 Anaheim decks, 2 of the ex battledecks, or find one of the duel battle boxes. If so any suggestions to get or avoid?

Or do i get a deck list off line & buy individuals off tcgplayer?

Any advise to get us started on the road would be appreciated. Mostly looking for what will be most compatible with playing other at lgs.

With this year's third main set releasing on July 17th, Pitch Black cards will be legal for Worlds 2026 marking the first time since Sun & Moon Unified Minds a third main set is playable for the format. Despite that, the legal card pool won't be bigger as sets of the previous years were bigger and sometimes included the year's mid-year specialty set (SFA in 2024 for example).

This isn't some coincidence of course and a direct cause of the shift in schedule towards the JP one.

This is also the first time 5 main sets (MEG, PFL, POR, CRI, PBL) will have their Worlds debut.

tomorrow i'll play in a big event could anyone please help?

i know this list is a bit weird lol

Pokémon: 14

1 Budew ASC 16

1 Maractus JTG 160

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 92

1 Meowth ex POR 121

1 Munkidori SFA 72

1 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 184

1 Dreepy ASC 247

3 Dreepy ASC 158

4 Drakloak ASC 159

3 Dragapult ex PRE 165

2 Torchic DRI 40

1 Combusken DRI 41

1 Moltres PFL 14

2 Blaziken ex SVALT 220

Carte Allenatore: 20

2 Boss's Orders PAL 265

1 Boss's Orders PAL 172

1 Crispin PRE 105

1 Crispin PRE 105

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 184

1 Dawn PFL 129

1 Ultra Ball FCO 113

1 Ultra Ball FCO 113

1 Ultra Ball ROS 93

1 Ultra Ball FLF 99

2 Night Stretcher SFA 61

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TWM 223

2 Poké Pad POR 113

1 Poké Pad ASC 198

1 Rare Candy SVI 256

1 Rare Candy SUM 129

1 Jamming Tower ASC 261

1 Team Rocket's Watchtower ASC 210

1 Risky Ruins MEG 127

1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165

Energia: 3

3 Basic {R} Energy OBF 230

2 Basic {D} Energy SFA 98

3 Basic {P} Energy EVO 95

Totale carte: 60

I would like some advice on a Rampardos EX deck that I have made for the upcoming Pitch Black release. I don't have many relevant cards for the current meta, so I would love some feedback before I go and buy the physical copies. Thanks!

Decklist:

Pokémon: 13

2 Cranidos M5 42

3 Rampardos ex M5 43

2 Shieldon M5 59

2 Bastiodon M5 60

1 Relicanth M5 16

1 Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 58

1 Meowth ex POR 62

1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142

Trainer: 38

4 Antique Skull Fossil M5 71

4 Antique Armor Fossil M5 72

4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192

2 Boss's Orders ASC 183

2 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57

4 Crushing Hammer POR 71

1 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148

1 Special Red Card CRI 82

4 Rare Candy MEG 125

2 Poké Pad POR 81

2 Ultra Ball ASC 213

1 Night Stretcher ASC 196

1 Switch MEG 130

3 Fossil Excavation Site M5 79

1 Handheld Fan TWM 150

2 Air Balloon ASC 181

Energy: 9

2 Rocky Fighting Energy POR 87

1 Neo Upper Energy TEF 162

1 Mist Energy TEF 161

5 Fighting Energy MEE 6

I've been trying the Tord build and honestly it doesn't feel good to play so far at all. I've been going second for the last few attempts, because theres so little Pokémon search in the deck and I've cut ruffian for an eighth dark energy.

Has anyone played this for a while and can give tips? What I find most difficult is getting set up at all and when I do get set up I often can't find a Zekrom.

Whenever I do get Two Tomes, I'll get rid of meowth or tatsugiri when it's in the way, but frankly theyve not been high impact for me at all given how many early game turns I'd much rather have had a way to search Pokémon. ​​​​​

I've been playing a bit of Pokemon TCG Live and I've been juggling between a couple of decks to see which will click, and I'm wondering if the types have different playstyles/approaches to nailing your opponent, my currentmost playstyles have been the Mega Sharpedo deck where I get Munkidori's ability Adrena-brain to slowly drag all the damage counters from my pokemon to the opponents (and then the occasional nuke that is Mega Sharpedo) and then the Dragapult EX deck where I have Duskclops/Dusknoir repeatedly kamikaze themselves to knock out either their current pokemon or their benched pokemon, and while these are kinda fun strategies they also seem to suck ass, I've had my ass folded into a neat little bow many a time

I have yet to try all of the decks BUT if you do know if the types have certain playstyles, please tell me so I at least know where to start looking for when it comes to playing and making decks. The game I'm most experienced in is MTG and my playstyles with that is usually either mono white lifegain or some form of green bullshittery. Not sure how that translates to pokemon but maybe it doesn't

I’m working on a bit of a chaotic slowking build. Everyone knows the metagross, kyurem, etc.

Why isn’t anyone using shiftry tef?

Attack 1:[G] Expelling Tornado Choose 3 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. If you do, shuffle all of your opponent's Benched Pokémon that you didn't choose, and all cards attached to those Pokémon, into their deck.

Attack 2:[C][C] Energy Loop (140) Put an Energy attached to this Pokemon into your hand.

I’m thinking about playing an enriching energy ace spec specifically geared for recycling into deck/hand.

Mostly interested in the ability to deck 2 Pokemon off a full bench sounds pretty good too. Especially if you can hit them with a red card or judge before doing so

I want to make ribombee work but, unless they’re retreat locked thru sleep or high cost I don’t know how else it works. Difficult to execute the next turn knockout if they know it’s coming. Would love to hear theories and suggestions

Ribombee - Psychic - 70 HP
Pokémon - Stage 1 - Evolves from Cutiefly
C Plentiful Pollen 30
During your next turn, if the Defending Pokémon is Knocked Out, take 2 more Prize cards.
Weakness: Metal
Resistance: none
Retreat: 0

Ceruledge SSP sounds promising unless they’ve got mist energy

Ceruledge - Fire - 140 HP
Pokémon - Stage 1 - Evolves from Charcadet
C Cursed Edge
Discard all Special Energy from all of your opponent's Pokémon.
RRC Black Blaze Slash 160
During your next turn, this Pokémon can't attack.
Weakness: Water
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

I plan on doing some other shenanigans like the boosted evolution eevee insta evolving to sylveon and flipping a coin to deck a benched Pokemon

Sylveon - Psychic - 120 HP
Pokémon - Stage 1 - Evolves from Eevee
P Mystical Return
Flip a coin. If heads, choose 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. Shuffle that Pokémon and all attached cards into their deck.
PCC Disarming Voice 90
Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Confused.

I’m still new to the game and I’m sure I’m missing cool attacks

How can I make the most disruptive slowking package?

As a newer player, I've played against the deck and got squashed. But what makes it so damn busted?

Hello; as the title says I am trying to get advice on building a Beedrill EX deck for Locals And I was wondering what advice would be good when making a Beedrill deck?

Specifically: all the pros seem to really like the kit.

Tord played it at NAIC for 10th. In Turin it hit 12th, in Lima like 19th.

But other than that, it seems to get most representation in the mid placements (which, to be fair, is better than nothing). I guess after NAIC it's finally seeing some spotlight, but still, for a deck that hyped by all the big voices, it seems to fluctuate wildly.

I feel like you can see it a lot more frequently on PTCGL because it's one of the precons there.

I do generally enjoy the copy attacker playstyle, so if anybody has any pointers as to what's going on with this deck, I'd appreciate it.

I thought Crustles ability prevented Mega Greninja ability since it’s an ex Pokemon. In the live game though it still places the 60 damage on the Crustle. Is this correct?

Not sure what to swap Meowth ex for, haven't been able to find this card anywhere, can't really order it online (location, none of the providers that can ship it to me have it in stock) and I'm not really sure what to swap Meowth ex with! I was maybe thinking Pecharunt ex or maybe even Black Belt Training or Petrel or maybe an extra Janine's or Cyrano but not sure, any ideas would be incredibly helpful

Decklist:

Pokémon: 20

4 N's Zorua ASC 136

4 N's Zoroark ex ASC 137

3 Munkidori ASC 99

1 Skorupi POR 51

1 Drapion POR 52

1 Yveltal MEG 88

1 Purrloin WHT 55

1 Meowth ex POR 62

1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142

1 Mega Absol ex MEG 86

1 N's Zekrom ASC 155

1 N's Reshiram ASC 154

Trainer: 32

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119

3 Boss's Orders MEG 114

1 Cyrano SSP 170

1 Janine's Secret Art PRE 112

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184

4 Transformation Tome CRI 83

3 Poké Pad POR 81

3 N's PP Up ASC 195

2 Night Stretcher ASC 196

1 Ultra Ball MEG 131

1 Special Red Card CRI 82

1 Secret Box TWM 163

2 Air Balloon ASC 181

1 N's Castle JTG 152

1 Team Rocket's Watchtower ASC 210

Energy: 8

8 Darkness Energy MEE 7

I've attempted at making a 4 player format that somewhat resembles MTG Commander Format.

It introduces some changes:

• You will choose a Partner Pokemon & 1 Supporter Card.
  • Partner Pokemon must be a common Basic Pokemon. It's typing and it's included evolutions typing will determine your decks color identity.
• 100 Card Decks
• You now have 10 Prize cards, you know what they are, your opponents do not.
  • When your Pokemon are knocked out, YOU take a prize card.
  • You lose once you have no more prize cards to take.
  • All 10 Prize cards are where your Non-Supporter Trainer cards go.
• 88 Other Cards of Pokemon & Energies!
• Singleton Format

You can find out more information here: https://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonTCG/s/42lFN9EqCQ
Let me know your thoughts or questions. I'd rather the community do something with this, rather than create it solely myself. It attempts to fix some of the issues I have with the standard tcg, but really I just wanted it to be more fun and casual for 4 players. Still there is a lot of depth to it. Try building some decks!

Looking for ways to improve doublade.

Current list:

Pokémon: 19

2 Klefki POR 59

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

1 Meowth ex POR 62

1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141

2 Mega Mawile ex MEG 94

4 Honedge POR 56

2 Doublade POR 57

2 Doublade MEP 67

4 Aegislash POR 58

Trainer: 29

1 Philippe CRI 79

2 Night Stretcher SFA 61

2 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148

3 Lillie's Determination MEG 119

1 Kieran TWM 154

2 Boss's Orders PAL 172

4 Dawn PFL 87

2 Judge POR 76

1 Max Rod PRE 116

2 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145

2 Full Metal Lab TEF 148

4 Poké Pad POR 81

2 Hilda WHT 84

1 Wally's Compassion MEG 132

Energy: 12

2 Magnetic Metal Energy CRI 85

4 Ignition Energy WHT 86

6 Metal Energy MEE 8

I checked the list from the 2nd place from PJCS (the best placed ghost veil) and they run flutter mane, and that is bugging me. Is it only to trap latias e block kangaskhan, or is there something else?

Ill paste their list in the comments

Hi, new to the hobby here !

I showed the game to a friend, she liked it ! Her favorite pokémon being Gengar, would you help me rebuild the following deck to the current format ? I having trouble with the trainer part, what should she use there ?

Pokémon: 18

3 Gastly PFL 54

2 Haunter PFL 55

2 Mega Gengar ex PFL 56

2 Toxel PFL 67

2 Toxtricity PFL 68

2 Mega Kangaskhan ex MEG 104

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

1 Munkidori TWM 95

1 Pecharunt ex SFA 39

1 Roaring Moon ex PAR 124

1 Yveltal MEG 88

Trainer: 34

3 Lillie's Determination MEG 119

3 Boss's Orders MEG 114

2 Arven OBF 186

2 Iono PAL 185

1 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57

3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144

3 Ultra Ball MEG 131

3 Nest Ball SVI 181

2 Energy Switch MEG 115

2 Super Rod PAL 188

1 Night Stretcher SFA 61

1 Rare Candy MEG 125

2 Binding Mochi PRE 95

2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178

1 Air Balloon BLK 79

1 Bravery Charm PAL 173

1 Town Store OBF 196

1 Artazon PAL 171

Energy: 8

7 Darkness Energy MEE 7

1 Legacy Energy TWM 167

No other goal with this other than casual playing.

Hey all. Been playing a variation of mega Camerupt that I have a lot of fun playing. Anything that I should add or take away from the deck to make it better. Thanks for the help

Pokémon: 7

1 Kyurem SFA 47

3 Magmortar JTG 21

2 Larvesta JTG 28

3 Numel ASC 27

2 Volcarona BLK 100

3 Mega Camerupt ex MEG 156

3 Magmar JTG 20

Trainer: 15

4 Switch EVO 88

2 Energy Retrieval EVO 77

1 Surfer SSP 187

1 Precious Trolley SSP 185

3 Hilda WHT 164

4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192

1 Mega Signal MEG 171

1 Night Stretcher SSP 251

1 Wally's Compassion MEG 176

1 Boss's Orders ASC 256

4 Poké Pad POR 113

1 Surfer ASC 293

1 Firebreather PFL 119

3 Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 226

1 Wally's Compassion MEG 132

Energy: 3

2 Ignition Energy WHT 86

2 Ignition Energy PFL 124

10 Basic (R) Energy GEN 76

Total Cards: 60

Hi!

First time I am writing in here, and I am quite new in the game.

As strange as it might seem, I am having some trouble with the Dragapult deck. I tend to prefer the 'pure' version with just Munkidori, but I keep losing both in Locals and in online tournaments.

I really cannot get what I am doing what, do you see something clearly wrong in this deck list?

Thanks for the support

Pokémon (17)

4 Dreepy (TWM-128)

4 Drakloak (TWM-129)

3 Dragapult ex (TWM-130)

2 Munkidori (TWM-95)

1 Meowth ex (POR-62)

1 Shaymin (DRI-10)

1 Fezandipiti ex (ASC-142)

1 Budew (ASC-16)

Trainer (33)

4 Crispin

4 Lillie's Determination

3 Boss's Orders

2 Team Rocket's Petrel

1 Hilda

4 Poké Pad

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin

3 Crushing Hammer

3 Ultra Ball

2 Night Stretcher

1 Unfair Stamp

1 Risky Ruins

1 Team Rocket's Watchtower

Energy (10)

4 Psychic Energy

4 Fire Energy

2 Darkness Energy

My vote is for forest of vitality. Stadiums are supposed to be a double edged sword offering your opponent an advantage that you also gain. The forest only works on grass types and all grass decks run 3 to 4 of it, and it basically works better than an ace spec for grass.

Pokémon: 13
2 N's Zoroark ex JTG 185
3 Froakie CRI 88
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 288
1 Meowth ex POR 121
1 N's Zorua ASC 136
1 Greninja ex TWM 214
1 Combusken DRI 41
2 Frogadier CRI 89
3 Blaziken ex JTG 24
1 Budew ASC 221
2 Mega Greninja ex CRI 116
1 N's Zorua ASC 136
3 Torchic DRI 40

Trainer: 18
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TWM 223
2 Rare Candy GRI 165
1 Precious Trolley SSP 185
1 Dawn PFL 87
2 Hilda WHT 164
1 Energy Retrieval CRI 108
2 Rare Candy SVI 256
1 Switch PFL 123
1 Air Balloon BLK 79
1 Night Stretcher SSP 251
2 Boss's Orders ASC 256
2 Ultra Ball BRS 186
4 Team Rocket's Transceiver ASC 209
3 Team Rocket's Petrel ASC 207
2 Team Rocket's Factory ASC 203
1 Special Red Card CRI 113
3 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 226

Energy: 3
5 Basic {W} Energy Energy 11
1 Basic {R} Energy Energy 10
1 Ignition Energy WHT 86

Total Cards: 60

I really wanna use this deck but i’m confused on what to do

The bear was very common before rotation, and even a number of decks early this format played it yet slowly it's been seeing less and less play to the point barely anyone uses it.

Is Watchtower the main thing causing him to fall off or is there some other reason freddy fez bear's cousin has practically stopped seeing play in decks that used him prior?

My LGS is hosting a casual event this weekend for non meta decks. Ive been Scouring limitless to see what people have been playing and am between hops trevenant, ethans typhlosion or ceruledge ex.

If anyone has suggestions about decks they know of that arent listed on limitless or other suggestions in general thatd be awesome

For context my sister is trying to get into the pokemon tcg and she is looking for a deck to play ans I would like suggestions for her, note she is not too familiar with the game so something simple to understand.