Pokémon TCG Pocket beginners guide: How to get competitive fast

Pokémon TCG Pocket is a hit on iOS and Android. Its simplified gameplay of Pokémon’s Trading Card Game has millions of players hooked thanks to a collection mechanic, limited trading, and packs upon packs to open. For those starting now, however, getting into the competitive side of this game might be hard, as building one’s collection takes time and patience through the free-to-play route. 

While packs are not directly for sale, they are obtained through a timegate system, but with certain items, it’s possible to get even more packs. This guide aims to aid players through the Pokémon TCG Pocket basics: which packs to open, how to build a deck, which decks are the best for beginners, and how to win games. As with any other gacha game, remember that your success will depend on which cards you are able to pull, especially considering that the game’s most powerful ones are EX cards, which are the rarest.

Pokémon TCG Pocket is a simplified version of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Players open packs (two per day, three for premium subscribers) to get cards and build decks. Gameplay-wise, there are a few changes to adapt the rules to the new 20-card decks that this game uses. First of all, there are no prize cards: the first player to get three points wins. Regular Pokémon, when defeated, are worth 1 point, -EX Pokémon are worth two.

The bench is limited to only three spots, and there are no energies on the deck: they come from a reserve, one per turn. When collecting, it’s possible to choose which pack to open from a variety of expansions, and always remember that, unlike the physical game, packs in the same expansion with different artworks contain different sets of cards, so be mindful of what you are chasing when opening. To catch up against lady luck, there’s a points system: opening each pack gives a certain amount, and there’s a shop in-game in which they can be used to get specific cards. 

To get competitive quickly, you only need two things: a decent deck and a pinch of game-sense. Here’s what you need to do.

No deck can get away with not playing at least two Professor’s Research (which makes you draw two cards) and two Poké Balls, which get you a basic Pokémon at random from the deck. These cards are in every possible deck and are available in the “Cards” section of the shop using shop tokens, which you can get by completing matches against the CPU.

One feature often used very little by trainers after the Pokémon TCG Pocket tutorial is the retreat cost. Sometimes, without spending a single energy, you can deny an opponent one, even two points by retreating a wounded -EX.

Metas change, and drawing the wrong card at the wrong time can destroy even the most powerful decks. The name of the game, especially early on, is consistency. Aim for a single-EX deck (so no Charizard-Moltres or Arceus-Dialga) and get the second copy as soon as possible to maximise the chances of getting one in the starting hand.

One or two-staged EX Pokémons will always be weaker than basic EX Pokémons that can be played on turn one. Avoid evolutions entirely if possible and focus on synergies. Also, watch out for two energy type decks, they can be tricky to pull off and always require a combo to work. Opt for single energy decks with non-coloured energy Pokémon as additions.

If a particular deck is hammering you, look at the -EX’s weakness and don’t be afraid to build a scrap deck with random Pokémon that are super effective against it. It will get you your revenge if a meta is particularly oppressive, just don’t invest resources in it. 

Metas don’t last more than a few weeks in TCG Pocket, so don’t be afraid if none of the powerful cards that are talked about come your way. Matches are short, and so many decks can work. Focus on powering up the decks you already have and on the boosters that have good cards, as opposed to the latest ones.

The Mystery Pick mechanic is great for trying to get Sabrina, Giovanni, Cyrus, and many more Trainer cards that are indispensable in many decks. Look at the packs opened by your friends and choose those that have these cards inside. It’s much quicker than trying to pull them and more currency efficient than buying them from the points shop.

In this guide for beginners at Pokémon TCG Pocket, we’ve gathered tips and tricks to build a competitive deck as fast as possible. Since metas come and go very quickly and playing as a free-to-play user requires some grind, the most important advice we can give is to save your resources to finish an established strong deck rather than chasing where the meta is headed in a new expansion. 

Also, be mindful that everything can work if it’s well built and that luck is a factor in card games. With just a couple of weeks of pack openings (and the avalanche of resources that are awarded to new players), you should be ready to start climbing the ladder.