Parents' Guide to Pokémon TCG

Welcome to the World of Pokémon

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a 2-player game in which players use 60-card decks to battle. In the Pokémon TCG, players build decks around cards that feature Pokémon characters, and then take turns using attacks to try to defeat their opponent. The game requires some strategy and planning to win.

Product selection guide

Need help finding the best Pokémon product for your player?
Choose a play style below to see our recommendations.

    • Build and Battle Box

      Build a playable 40-card deck for quick and fun games using 4 booster packs and a 23-card Evolution pack featuring powerful cards from recent expansions, including a special promo card.

    • Elite Trainer Boxes

      Just what you need to get serious about the Pokémon TCG, including card sleeves, dice, and plenty of Energy cards. You'll also get lots of booster packs to expand your collection!

    • Tins

      Show your love for a favorite Pokémon with a collector's tin. You'll get a special card of the featured Pokémon, booster packs, and a cool way to store your collection.

    • Booster Packs

      Enjoy the excitement of seeing what you get inside a 10-card booster pack. Expand your collection with different cards and Pokémon from each expansion.

    • Theme Decks

      Get started playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game with 60-card theme decks. You'll get a deck that's ready for full rules play right out of the box.

    • V Boxes

      Enlarge your collection with special sets that include an oversize card featuring a popular Pokémon, a regular-sized version to play with, and booster packs.

    • Pin Collections

      Score a collectible lapel pin of a featured Pokémon to show off your Pokémon pride, and add some booster packs and a special card to your collection.

    • Figure Collections

      These boxes feature two collectibles in one with a small Pokémon figure, a promo card, and several booster packs, too.

    • World Championships Decks

      Learn to play like the best with World Championships Decks. Get a card-for-card replica of a contender's deck along with a pin, a deck box, and a booklet about the event.

    • Build and Battle Box

      Build a playable 40-card deck for quick and fun games using 4 booster packs and a 23-card Evolution pack featuring powerful cards from recent expansions, including a special promo card.

    • Elite Trainer Boxes

      Just what you need to get serious about the Pokémon TCG, including card sleeves, dice, and plenty of Energy cards. You'll also get lots of booster packs to expand your collection!

    • Tins

      Show your love for a favorite Pokémon with a collector's tin. You'll get a special card of the featured Pokémon, booster packs, and a cool way to store your collection.

    • Booster Packs

      Enjoy the excitement of seeing what you get inside a 10-card booster pack. Expand your collection with different cards and Pokémon from each expansion.

    • Theme Decks

      Get started playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game with 60-card theme decks. You'll get a deck that's ready for full rules play right out of the box.

    • V Boxes

      Enlarge your collection with special sets that include an oversize card featuring a popular Pokémon, a regular-sized version to play with, and booster packs.

    • Pin Collections

      Score a collectible lapel pin of a featured Pokémon to show off your Pokémon pride, and add some booster packs and a special card to your collection.

    • Figure Collections

      These boxes feature two collectibles in one with a small Pokémon figure, a promo card, and several booster packs, too.

    • World Championships Decks

      Learn to play like the best with World Championships Decks. Get a card-for-card replica of a contender's deck along with a pin, a deck box, and a booklet about the event.

    • Build and Battle Box

      Build a playable 40-card deck for quick and fun games using 4 booster packs and a 23-card Evolution pack featuring powerful cards from recent expansions, including a special promo card.

    • Elite Trainer Boxes

      Just what you need to get serious about the Pokémon TCG, including card sleeves, dice, and plenty of Energy cards. You'll also get lots of booster packs to expand your collection!

    • Tins

      Show your love for a favorite Pokémon with a collector's tin. You'll get a special card of the featured Pokémon, booster packs, and a cool way to store your collection.

    • Booster Packs

      Enjoy the excitement of seeing what you get inside a 10-card booster pack. Expand your collection with different cards and Pokémon from each expansion.

    • Theme Decks

      Get started playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game with 60-card theme decks. You'll get a deck that's ready for full rules play right out of the box.

    • V Boxes

      Enlarge your collection with special sets that include an oversize card featuring a popular Pokémon, a regular-sized version to play with, and booster packs.

    • Pin Collections

      Score a collectible lapel pin of a featured Pokémon to show off your Pokémon pride, and add some booster packs and a special card to your collection.

    • Figure Collections

      These boxes feature two collectibles in one with a small Pokémon figure, a promo card, and several booster packs, too.

    • World Championships Decks

      Learn to play like the best with World Championships Decks. Get a card-for-card replica of a contender's deck along with a pin, a deck box, and a booklet about the event.

Our recommendations for Card FansFriendly BattlersCompetitive Battler

  • Build and Battle Box

    Build a playable 40-card deck for quick and fun games using 4 booster packs and a 23-card Evolution pack featuring powerful cards from recent expansions, including a special promo card.

  • Elite Trainer Boxes

    Just what you need to get serious about the Pokémon TCG, including card sleeves, dice, and plenty of Energy cards. You'll also get lots of booster packs to expand your collection!

  • Tins

    Show your love for a favorite Pokémon with a collector's tin. You'll get a special card of the featured Pokémon, booster packs, and a cool way to store your collection.

  • Booster Packs

    Enjoy the excitement of seeing what you get inside a 10-card booster pack. Expand your collection with different cards and Pokémon from each expansion.

  • Theme Decks

    Get started playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game with 60-card theme decks. You'll get a deck that's ready for full rules play right out of the box.

  • V Boxes

    Enlarge your collection with special sets that include an oversize card featuring a popular Pokémon, a regular-sized version to play with, and booster packs.

  • Pin Collections

    Score a collectible lapel pin of a featured Pokémon to show off your Pokémon pride, and add some booster packs and a special card to your collection.

  • Figure Collections

    These boxes feature two collectibles in one with a small Pokémon figure, a promo card, and several booster packs, too.

  • World Championships Decks

    Learn to play like the best with World Championships Decks. Get a card-for-card replica of a contender's deck along with a pin, a deck box, and a booklet about the event.

Fun for All Ages

The world of Pokémon is approachable and entertaining for people of all ages, from children to their parents and grandparents. Whether through the games or just learning about the Pokémon themselves, Pokémon offers endless opportunities to connect through an amazing cast of creatures and characters.

Play how you want

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has a clear set of rules that delivers a unique and fun gaming experience for all ages. But many children, create their own ways to play. This is great! Interacting with the cards in these ways stimulates creativity and collaboration. It also establishes familiarity with the Pokémon and the cards so children will be better suited to make the jump to the official rules when they’re ready.

Categorize and Organize

Some of the ways children like to play with cards include categorizing them by groups, or organizing them by their hit points (HP) or level. In these ways, kids get practice with concepts such as numbers, colors, and abstract categorization. And the best part is that they’re having fun playing the whole time!

Battles for Beginners

Some children really like to create their own games with Pokémon TCG cards, often with simple rules. For example, they use the cards to battle based on the HP of the Pokémon, or create games based on the official rules of the game, but with certain rules ignored.

Collect and Trade

Of course, it is not necessary to play the game at all to have fun with Pokémon TCG cards. Many kids simply love to collect cards featuring their favorite Pokémon. The cards feature all kinds of art styles that can be exciting for fans to seek out and share with friends. Many kids like to trade cards with friends, but it’s important to educate children on the relative value of cards and the consequences of trading.

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