Looking to dive straight into the exciting world of Pokemon TCG? Building your own deck can be a daunting task for beginners, but with the right tips and tricks, you can create a powerful deck that will lead you to victory.
Here are 17 essential tips for building a Pokemon deck for beginners.
Understand the Different Types of Cards
First, let’s cover the basics (pun intended). Pokémon TCG has four main types of cards: Basic Pokémon, Evolution Pokémon, Trainer cards, and Energy cards, with each playing a different, yet crucial role:
- Basic Pokémon: These are your starters, so you’ll want 8-12 basics in your deck. Some, like Zacian V, are strong attackers, while others, like Manaphy, provide handy support by protecting your bench.
- Evolution Pokémon: These are your power-ups. They build on your Basics, unlocking stronger attacks and abilities. If you’re using Stage 2 Pokémon, make sure to include cards like Rare Candy to skip straight from Basic to Stage 2 when needed—it’ll save you precious time.
Trainer and Energy cards hold it all together, letting you draw more cards, disrupt your opponent, and fuel your Pokémon’s attacks. By striking the right balance, you’ll be one step closer to building a winning deck.
If you want to broaden your options, consider Japanese Pokémon cards. Known for their high-quality printing, unique artwork, and early access to exclusive releases, they offer a fresh perspective and an edge in casual or experimental play.
Stick to the 60-Card Rule
Your deck must have exactly 60 cards. No more, no less. This rule keeps the game balanced and ensures you’re not randomly cramming in cards that don’t add value to your strategy.
A focused deck improves your chances of drawing the cards you need when you need them. If you overload your deck with Energy cards or try to squeeze in too many Pokémon, you’ll struggle to find key Trainer cards.
Here are some quick tips:
- Stick to 8–12 Basic Pokémon to avoid starting-hand issues.
- Avoid loading up on Energy—8–14 is usually enough for most decks.
- Prioritise cards that complement your main strategy rather than trying to cover every possible situation.
In short, keep it lean, focused, and purposeful. A cluttered deck is just going to slow you down.
Build Around a Main Attacker
Every great Pokémon deck has a main attacker that your strategy revolves around. This is the Pokémon that deals most of the damage and takes the lead in battles. As such, you’ll want the right attacker who aligns with your playstyle and supports your overall plan.
- Single-prize Pokémon (like Regigigas or Radiant Charizard) are great for steady damage and are less risky since they only give up one prize card when knocked out. Include 4 copies to ensure consistency.
- Multi-prize Pokémon (like Zacian V or Chien-Pao ex) are powerful but come with higher stakes, as they give up 2 or 3 prize cards when defeated. You’ll typically need 3–4 copies, along with cards to support them, such as Energy acceleration or healing.
Once you’ve chosen your main attacker, the rest of your deck should support it—whether that’s through Energy recycling, setup speed, or disruption.
Include Support Pokémon
Support Pokémon won’t always be in the spotlight, but their abilities help your main attacker shine. They keep your strategy running smoothly by providing essential draw power, Energy acceleration, or protection.
Here are some popular roles for support Pokémon:
- Draw power: Pokémon like Bibarel (with its Industrious Incisors ability) let you draw cards consistently, keeping your hand stocked with options.
- Bench protection: Manaphy can block damage to your benched Pokémon, which is crucial against sniping strategies like Radiant Greninja.
- Energy acceleration: Pokémon like Flaaffy or Baxcalibur help attach extra Energy to power up your attacks quickly.
A good rule of thumb is to include 2–4 based on your deck’s needs. Choose ones that fit seamlessly into your strategy without slowing you down.
Optimise Your Energy Cards
Energy cards power your Pokémon’s attacks. But too much Energy can clog up your hand and leave you struggling to draw the cards you actually need. Finding the right balance is key.
- Most decks need 8–14 Energy cards, depending on your strategy. For example, high-energy decks like Chien-Pao ex thrive on extra Energy, while streamlined decks like Mew VMAX can function with as few as 7.
- Use Energy recycling cards like Super Rod or Energy Retrieval to keep your Energy flowing throughout the match. This way, you won’t have to overfill your deck with it.
Focus on quality over quantity—only include as much Energy as your deck truly needs, and let support cards handle the rest.
Master Consistency
Consistency is what makes a good deck great. You want your strategy to work in every game, not just when you get lucky. The best way to achieve this is by including multiple copies of key cards and adding tools that help you draw and search for what you need.
- Use cards like Professor’s Research or Iono to refresh your hand and keep your strategy on track.
- Add search cards like Ultra Ball or Level Ball to find the exact Pokémon you need when you need it.
- Play multiple copies of your main attacker, essential Trainers, and Energy cards to reduce the chance of getting stuck with a bad hand.
A consistent deck means fewer frustrating games and more chances to shine, no matter what cards you draw.
Plan for Speed and Acceleration
In Pokémon TCG, speed wins games. The faster you can set up your Pokémon and start attacking, the better your chances of taking control. Acceleration is all about setting up your board quickly and getting the jump on your opponent.
- Use cards like Rare Candy to evolve directly to Stage 2 Pokémon, skipping the slower Stage 1 step.
- Pokémon with acceleration abilities, like Baxcalibur (which attaches Water Energy to your Pokémon) or Flaaffy (for Lightning decks), are invaluable for powering up attacks faster than your opponent.
Building a deck that prioritises speed will give you a competitive edge, especially against slower, more methodical strategies. Get your Pokémon ready to attack as quickly as possible and watch your win rate soar.
Disrupt Your Opponent
A strong deck doesn’t just focus on your own strategy—it also throws your opponent off theirs. Disruption cards can turn the tide of a match by limiting their options or slowing down their setup.
- Path to the Peak: Shuts down abilities on Rule Box Pokémon, crippling popular cards like Mew VMAX or Zacian V.
- Boss’s Orders: Lets you target specific Pokémon on your opponent’s bench, pulling weak or underpowered Pokémon into the active position.
- Energy disruption: Cards like Team Star Grunt can remove Energy from your opponent’s Pokémon, forcing them to waste resources re-attaching.
The best disruption strategies are subtle but effective. They give you enough of an advantage to capitalise while leaving your opponent scrambling to recover.
Adapt to the Meta
The “meta” refers to the current trends in the game—what decks and strategies are most popular in competitive play. Adapting your deck to the meta is critical if you want to stay competitive.
- Research which decks are dominating tournaments or local play. For example, if Water decks are common, consider adding Lightning Pokémon to counter them.
- Test your deck against these popular strategies to identify weaknesses and make adjustments.
Staying meta-aware doesn’t mean copying what everyone else is doing. It means understanding the environment you’re playing in and preparing your deck to hold its own.
Use the 20-20-20 Rule for Beginners
If you’re just starting out and feeling overwhelmed, use 20-20-20 rule:
- 20 Pokémon: This includes your main attackers and support Pokémon.
- 20 Trainer cards: A mix of draw, search, and disruption cards to keep your deck consistent.
- 20 Energy cards: Enough to power your Pokémon without overloading your deck.
This balance is great for beginners because it gives you a well-rounded deck as you’re learning. After enough time, you can tweak this ratio to suit your playstyle and strategy.
Thin Your Deck Strategically
Deck thinning is a pro move that can make your deck feel more consistent. The idea is to remove unnecessary cards from your deck during the game so you’re more likely to draw the ones you really need. Every search card or draw effect you play helps you narrow down your remaining options.
- Use cards like Nest Ball or Ultra Ball to search for Pokémon early, even if you’re not ready to play them yet. This reduces the number of cards left in your deck and increases your odds of drawing key Trainers or Energy.
- Before playing a card like Professor’s Research, which draws a fresh hand, play as many cards from your current hand as possible to ensure your new draw is as effective as it can be.
Thinning your deck strategically gives you control over your draws and keeps your momentum going.
Count Your Prizes
Here’s a tip that can seriously up your game: during your first deck search (e.g., when playing a Nest Ball or Ultra Ball), take a mental inventory of what’s in your deck. By comparing this to your deck list, you can figure out what’s missing and is likely in your prize cards.
For example:
- If you notice one of your main attackers is missing, you’ll know to adjust your strategy and rely on backups.
- If key Trainer cards like Rare Candy or Boss’s Orders are prized, plan ahead so you don’t waste time searching for them.
Counting prizes might sound tedious, but it’s a skill that separates beginners from experienced players. Knowing what’s unavailable can save you from wasted plays and missed opportunities.
Choose the Right Trainers
Trainer cards are the backbone of any competitive deck, so getting the right mix is crucial. They keep your strategy running by letting you draw cards, search for Pokémon, disrupt your opponent, and more.
- Supporters (8–12): Cards like Professor’s Research and Iono refresh your hand, while Boss’s Orders helps you pick off key Pokémon from your opponent’s bench.
- Stadiums (2–5): Cards like Path to the Peak hinder opponents or boost your own strategy, depending on the matchup.
- Items (8–12): Search cards like Ultra Ball or Level Ball are essential for finding your Pokémon, while utility cards like Rare Candy speed up evolution.
Trainer cards are your best tools for staying consistent and ahead of your opponent, so make sure they complement your strategy perfectly.
Learn When to Concede
Giving up might sound counterintuitive, but in timed matches—like those in tournaments—spending too much time on a game can cost you the entire series. Knowing when to cut your losses and pivot to the next game is a skill that can make or break your success in competitive play.
Here’s when conceding makes sense:
- You’re significantly behind: If your opponent is down to one prize card, and you’re struggling to set up, it’s time to move on.
- The clock is running out: If it’s a best-of-three match, conceding the first game can give you more time to focus on winning the next two.
It’s a tough call, but recognising when to let go of a lost cause can give you a better shot at winning the series.
Playtest, Playtest, Playtest
No deck is perfect straight out of the gate, and that’s where playtesting comes in. Testing your deck against a variety of strategies helps you identify its strengths, weaknesses, and consistency under different conditions.
- Simulate the meta: Practice against popular decks to see how your strategy holds up. If you keep losing to the same kind of deck, adjust yours to counter it.
- Refine your ratios: Playtesting helps you figure out whether you have the right balance of Pokémon, Trainers, and Energy cards. Too much Energy? Add more Trainers. Struggling to set up? Include more Basics.
The more you playtest, the more confident you’ll be when it’s time to face real opponents.
Stay Focused and Composed
Pokémon TCG isn’t just a test of your deck—it’s a test of your mental endurance. Matches, especially in tournaments, can last for hours, and staying sharp is crucial.
Here’s how to keep your head in the game:
- Rest well: A good night’s sleep before a big match is non-negotiable.
- Stay hydrated and nourished: Bring water and snacks to maintain your energy.
- Reset between games: Take a deep breath and clear your mind after each match, whether you won or lost.
Staying focused helps you avoid silly mistakes and lets you adapt to challenges on the fly.
Enjoy the Process
Finally, remember why you’re playing. Whether you’re aiming for tournament glory or just having fun with friends, Pokémon TCG is all about creativity, strategy, and connection.
- Build a deck that reflects your personality or features your favourite Pokémon.
- Celebrate your wins and learn from your losses. Every game is an opportunity to improve.
Enjoying the process will keep you motivated and make the game even more rewarding. After all, it’s not just about winning—it’s about the journey.