1. Introduction

Welcome to the world of the Pokémon Trading Card Game! This is a game of strategy and luck where two players take on the roles of Pokémon Trainers, using their Pokémon to battle each other. The goal is to knock out your opponent's Pokémon to claim Prize cards. The first player to take all of their Prize cards wins!

2. Game Setup

Before you begin, you and your opponent need to set up the play area. Follow these steps:

1. Shuffle your 60-card deck and draw a hand of 7 cards.
2. Check your hand for a Basic Pokémon. If you have one, place it face down as your Active Pokémon. If not, show your hand to your opponent, shuffle it back into your deck, and draw 7 new cards. Your opponent may draw one extra card.
3. Place up to 5 more Basic Pokémon face down on your Bench.
4. Place the top 6 cards of your deck face down to the side as your Prize cards.
5. Flip a coin to decide who goes first.
6. Both players flip their Active and Benched Pokémon face up. The game begins!

A standard play area layout showing the Deck, Discard Pile, Active Pokémon, Bench, and Prize Cards.

3. Parts of a Card

Understanding a Pokémon card is key to playing the game. Each card has several important parts:

• Name: The Pokémon's name is at the top.
• HP (Hit Points): This number indicates how much damage the Pokémon can take before it is Knocked Out.
• Type: The symbol in the top right corner represents the Pokémon's type (e.g., Fire, Water, Grass).
• Attacks: These are the moves the Pokémon can use. They list the Energy cost and the damage they deal.
• Weakness and Resistance: These show if the Pokémon takes extra damage from or less damage against certain types.
• Retreat Cost: This is the amount of Energy you must discard to move this Pokémon from the Active Spot to the Bench.

4. Turn Structure

A player's turn consists of three main phases:

1. Draw a card. This is how you start every turn.
2. Take actions. You can do any of the following in any order:
   • Play Basic Pokémon onto your Bench (as many as you like).
   • Evolve your Pokémon (as many as you like).
   • Attach one Energy card from your hand to one of your Pokémon.
   • Play Trainer cards.
   • Use a Pokémon's Ability (as many as you like).
   • Retreat your Active Pokémon (once per turn).
3. Attack. This is the final action of your turn. If your Active Pokémon attacks, your turn ends.