Pokémon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the famous Pokémon video games by Nintendo. It was released in October 1996 and in Japan in December 1998 as a Pokémon Trading Card Game in North America by Wizards of the Coast, the company that also for the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering is responsible.

With the release of the Pokémon games - Rubin-Edition/Saphir-Edition for the GameBoy Advance but Nintendo took over the distribution of the cards themselves In Germany, the Trading Card Game continues to be marketed by Amigo.

Video game conversions

On 18 December 1998 Nintendo released a game for the Game Boy Color called Pokémon trading card. It is a kind of role game in which the player travels in a game world and discharges against other characters card dueling with the well-known "real" cards and rules. The game was released as Pokémon Trading Card Game March 31, 2000 in North America and on 8 December 2000 in Europe.

A second Game Boy game called Pokémon Card GB2 appeared on 28 March 2001 in Japan, but was not localized for other markets.

What is new is the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Here you play in different leagues. In the booster packs of the series " Black and White " are codes that you can unlock them. To use a profile with the Pokémon Trainer Club must be created, which is possible at any time.

With " Pokemon game Go! " There was also a German computer version that was used primarily for learning the rules.

Game concept

There are three types of cards: Pokémon cards that each represent one of the most known from the video games Pokémon characters, Trainer cards that provide support, and energy cards, which serve as energy source for the attacks of each Pokémon.

Each player has a "deck" of 60 cards, of which he must take a fixed number on the hand in play. From these it can accommodate up to six Pokémon at the same time into the game, only one is active, battling Pokémon, while the rest sit on the " bench ". If a Pokémon from the bank, you can get a new one from the cards in your hand into play. Alternately now try both players, with their Pokémon through the use of energy cards to attack the opponent's Pokémon. The game ends when a player has no more Pokémon in the game or a player has defeated six Pokémon of his opponents. The rules of the game can also be modified so that the same two Pokémon with two fighting.

The Pokémon types have been simplified compared to the video games: Instead of 17 types, there are only 10 metal and darkness were only added to the Neo - extensions Dragon with the set Highness the dragon.

• Electric - mainly electric Pokémon
• Colourless - mainly normal, flight and Dragon Pokémon
• Fire - mainly fire -type Pokémon
• Darkness - mainly Unlicht Pokémon
• Fight - mainly rock, soil and battle Pokémon
• Metal - mainly steel -type Pokémon
• Plant - mainly plant, poison, and Beetle Pokémon
• Psycho - Psycho mainly, Spirit Pokémon
• Water - mainly water and Ice -type Pokémon
• Dragon - mainly Dragon Pokémon
• Fee - mainly Fairy Pokémon

In general, all cards Pokémon have only one type, only some of the newer cards contain Pokémon with two types. In contrast to the type of the Pokémon video game and not used attack for the effectiveness of the attack is crucial.

Later expansions included Dark Pokémon, which are often used according to the story of evil trainers and organizations such as the Team Rocket. Also Gym Leader versions of certain Pokémon with stronger attacks and higher power points (KP ), but also a higher demand for energy cards, also Light Pokémon that are good through and through, and Shimmering Pokémon that require different energy cards to an effective attack. There are also some Pokémon -EX cards that are stronger than their normal counterparts, but in the case of Kos draw unfavorable consequences.

Pokémon attacks usually reduce the power points of the opposing active Pokemon. These energy maps are needed. Depending on the selected Pokémon and attack power cards of different colors are needed ( see above).

Provide coach cards to the player advantages, for example can be reduced by using the cards " potion " and "Super Potion " the damage suffered a Pokémon to it before the Ko to preserve. Others allow the player to search his deck after Pokémon, remove energy cards of the opponent's Pokémon, or revive Pokémon defeated. There are many other types of trainer cards.

Trainer cards can be divided into several sub- types:

• "Normal " Trainer cards allow the player to produce special effects such as healing of damage.
• Stadium cards bring about positive effects for both players, such as the healing of damage or exposure of PokéPower. Stadium cards stay in play until another Stadium card is played.
• Supporters cards act just like the "normal " Trainer cards positive effects on the player who plays out. Each player can only play a Supporter card per train.
• ACE -spec cards are particularly powerful trainer cards, of which a total of only one may occur in a deck.
• Equipment cards act on a single Pokémon. They produce positive effects such as healing or reduction of withdrawal costs. At each Pokémon only one equipment card can be created. Some equipment cards are removed after the train in which they were played, others to the nearest train of the enemy, while others remain in the game until they are used.
• Technical machinery equip the equipped Pokémon with another attack that may also perform it to his own attacks. Technical machines are stored after the train in which they are played.

Rules for deck construction

A deck consists Pokémon TCG basically of 60 cards, which must occur no card (except basic Energy cards and Arceus ) more than four times. This does not count the card itself but her name, so even then only four cards with the name " Nidoran " are allowed, if they come from different editions. However, it is quite possible to have more than four of the same Pokémon in the deck when the cards carry an attribute in the name. Thus, for a deck, for example, four " Ampharos " and four " Ampharos EX" included. Other attributes in map names are also "Bright ", " Dark " and the names of coaches (eg "Bright Vulnona ", " Dark Rapidash " and " Sabrina Bluzuk ").

For some cards are additional restrictions. For example, may occur only four cards with the name " Unown ". Unown are Pokémon that occur in the form of letters, so it may not, for example, two " Unown A" and three " Unown B" be present in a deck. Please do not use Pokémonkarten, the " Shimmering " in their name, appear only once ( for example, the map " Shimmering Mewtwo "). Another limitation has occurred with the set Boundarries Crossed, because from this set are called ACE -spec cards very strong trainers are published. You may install only one ACE -spec card in his entire deck.

Others

The cards are on the one hand in the form of prefabricated " Theme Decks " of 60 cards, on the other hand, in the form of " boosters " ( expansion pack with ten cards ) sold, the contents of which is unpredictable. The cards are ranked according to three levels of rarity. In addition, also be " Tins ", metal cans sold. These usually include 5 booster and a popular Pokémonkarte that is present in every Tin. About participating in tournaments and leagues can be won by the participants special cards that are not commercially available. It is, however, mostly reprints common card in another rarity.

From time to time, new enhancements such as the current " black and white " that add extra play cards and sometimes new rules appear.

Currently there are about 6637 different cards.