Here's an in-depth look at the gameplay mechanics of Pokemon TCG Pocket:
Basic Setup
•Deck Composition: Players construct decks with exactly 20 cards, featuring Pokémon and Trainer cards. Unlike the traditional TCG, there are no Energy cards in the deck.
•Starting Hand: Players begin with 7 cards in hand. If you don't have any Basic Pokémon, you can mulligan once to shuffle your hand back into your deck and draw 7 new cards.
•Active and Bench Pokémon: You start with one Active Pokémon and can have up to 3 Pokémon on your Bench.
Turn Structure
•Draw Phase: Draw one card at the start of your turn, except on your first turn.
Energy Zone:
•Automatic Energy: At the beginning of your turn, you gain one energy in the Energy Zone. This energy can be attached to any Pokémon you control during your turn.
Actions Phase: Here's what you can do:
•Play Pokémon: Place Basic Pokémon on your Bench. If you already have one, you can evolve Pokémon if they've been in play for at least one turn.
•Attach Energy: You can attach one energy from your Energy Zone to a Pokémon you control.
Play Trainer Cards:
•Items: Can be played as many times as you can afford in one turn.
•Supporters: Only one can be played per turn, but they often have significant effects.
•Attack: If your active Pokémon has enough energy, you can attack the opponent's active Pokémon. This is the only way to end your turn.
•Retreat: You can retreat your Active Pokémon to switch with one from your Bench once per turn by paying the retreat cost in energy, which is then removed from the Pokémon.
Special Mechanics
Knockout and Points:
•Knockouts: When you knock out an opponent's Pokémon, you score points. Regular Pokémon are worth 1 point, while Pokémon ex are worth 2.
•Winning Condition: The first player to score 3 points wins the match.
•Pokémon ex: These are stronger versions of Pokémon with higher HP and more powerful attacks but award more points when knocked out, adding risk and reward to their inclusion.
Effects and Conditions:
•Status Effects: Like Poison, Burn, Paralysis, Sleep, and Confusion, which can alter gameplay by restricting actions or dealing damage over time.
•Abilities: Some Pokémon have abilities that can be used to support your strategy or disrupt your opponent's, like healing, drawing cards, or changing how energy is attached.
Unique Features
•Wonder Pick: A social feature allowing you to claim one card from another player's pack after they've opened it, fostering community interaction.
Pack Opening:
•Stamina System: Opening packs is limited by stamina, which regenerates over time. You can bypass this with Pack Hourglasses.
•No Energy Cards in Deck: This simplifies deck construction but adds a strategic layer to energy management since you're guaranteed one energy per turn.
Additional Notes
•No Prize Cards: Unlike the physical TCG, there are no prize cards to claim after knocking out an opponent's Pokémon. Scoring points is the direct path to victory.
•Simplified Mechanics: The game streamlines some aspects of the traditional TCG for mobile play, focusing on quick, engaging matches.
Understanding these mechanics is key to mastering Pokemon TCG Pocket. Each element of the gameplay, from deck building to strategic use of energy and Trainer cards, requires careful consideration to outplay opponents in this digital adaptation of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
