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New user, need help

  • 5
    Posts
    14
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    • Seen May 20, 2011
    Hi, I am a parent and I bought some Pokemon card decks for my young daughter. She wants to play but I need help with the rules. Hope some of you can help.

    Question 1) The instructions say to first take seven cards and to put the Basic Pokemons down. What do you do with the cards that are not basic Pokemons?

    Question 2) If none of your initial cards is a basic Pokemon, when it's your turn, you wait until you get a basic Pokemon to put on the Active position? Until then, all the cards that you pick go to the discard pile?
     
    I answer this before I report it so someone moves this to TCG.

    1. You keep those in your hand. Those become the cards you can play on your turn.

    2. You actually shuffle your hand back into your deck, and then draw 7 more cards. Your opponent then gets to choose whether they want to draw an extra card or not, as long as they themselves actually had a basic Pokemon in their own hand. This is all done before either player actually takes their turn.
     
    OK, thanks for the quick reply. Something you said reminded me of another question I had. You said, "You keep those in your hand. Those become the cards you can play on your turn.".

    Ugh, the instructions in the box are not terribly complete. So, let me see if I understand...

    In the beginning, each player picks 7 cards. The basic Pokemons go on the board. The remaining cards of the seven form the player's hand? The cards in the hand are cards that the player can use as he or she sees fit, at any point? So, for example, if I have a "switch" card in my hand, and my active Pokemon is getting hurt bad in an attack, I can use the switch card to switch a bench pokemon with the active Pokemon, in the middle of the attack? If that is correct, what does the switch card go after the switch is done (or, do I keep the switch card in my hand for the entire game)?

    Then, the user picks 6 cards and those go on the prize place.

    Then, with each turn, a player picks a card from the deck? The card can either go down on the board or into the "hand"?
     
    Breaking apart your post to highlight your questions:

    OK, thanks for the quick reply. Something you said reminded me of another question I had. You said, "You keep those in your hand. Those become the cards you can play on your turn.".

    Ugh, the instructions in the box are not terribly complete. So, let me see if I understand...

    In the beginning, each player picks 7 cards. The basic Pokemons go on the board.

    1. The remaining cards of the seven form the player's hand?

    2. The cards in the hand are cards that the player can use as he or she sees fit, at any point? So, for example, if I have a "switch" card in my hand, and my active Pokemon is getting hurt bad in an attack, I can use the switch card to switch a bench pokemon with the active Pokemon, in the middle of the attack?

    3. If that is correct, what does the switch card go after the switch is done (or, do I keep the switch card in my hand for the entire game)?

    Then, the user picks 6 cards and those go on the prize place.

    4. Then, with each turn, a player picks a card from the deck? The card can either go down on the board or into the "hand"?

    1. Yes. The player's initial hand is formed by those cards.

    2. Actually, those can only be played during their turn. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but those cards say they are exceptions on them (like if they require your opponent to have done something that they can only do on their turn to be played).

    3. Any used cards go to the discard pile, unless they say otherwise on the actual card.

    4. At the beginning of each player's turn, that player draws a card off the top of their deck. That card goes into their hand. All "drawn" cards go into your hand, just like with most games that can be played with a traditional 52-card deck (you know, the cards that are used in games like poker, bridge, cribbage, and related games).
     
    OK thanks. I think I now know enough to play, with some confidence. And that can only mean one thing...tomorrow I may have some follow-up questions. So, check back on this thread, if you remember. :)
     
    hmmmm take a looks at this video it helped me learn everything when i first started.https://www.pokemon.com/us/trading-cards/how-to-play/demo/

    https://www.pokemon.com/us/trading-cards/how-to-play/card-anatomy/ this is to help you learn where everything is on a card.but i dont think any of these are covering the new black and white rules so i will tell you.

    1.you can now put trainers,supporters,etc on the first turn
    i think there is more you should search it so you dont do anything illigal.
    hope my post help!
     
    Last edited:
    Thanks for the link to https://www.pokemon.com/us/trading-cards/how-to-play/card-anatomy/ . I will look at that soon.

    I played Pokemon last night and I have a few questions...

    1)
    Lillipup was my active Pokemon and it's 1st attack is called Collect and requires one colorless
    energy. But there is no HP damage count that it inflicts, and it says, "Draw a card." What kind of attack is that?

    2)
    What are the situations where you put cards in discard pile?

    3)
    Why is there a trainer card for switching Pokemons between Active and Bench when you can retreat on every trun?

    4)
    One of the trainer cards started by saying, "Reveal a Pokemon in your hand and put it on top of the deck.
    If you do, search ...".
    So, this is optional?
     
    Thanks for the link to https://www.pokemon.com/us/trading-cards/how-to-play/card-anatomy/ . I will look at that soon.

    I played Pokemon last night and I have a few questions...

    1)
    Lillipup was my active Pokemon and it's 1st attack is called Collect and requires one colorless
    energy. But there is no HP damage count that it inflicts, and it says, "Draw a card." What kind of attack is that?

    Well it just enables you to get another card, that's all. Not all attacks are for inflicting damage.

    2)
    What are the situations where you put cards in discard pile?

    Whenever a trainer card is used you discard it after it has been used. When a Pokemon is knocked out you discard it and all cards attached to it. Finally, whenever a card instructs you to discard a card.

    3)
    Why is there a trainer card for switching Pokemons between Active and Bench when you can retreat on every trun?

    Using the trainer card means there is no retreat cost. When you retreat a pokemon normally, you must discard energy attached to it equivalent to the retreat cost shown in the bottom right corner of the card. For instance, if the retreat cost is 2, you must discard 2 energy cards (of any type). So for instance, if you had 2 fire energy and a double colourless energy attached to a pokemon, you could discard both fire energies, OR the double colourless.

    4)
    One of the trainer cards started by saying, "Reveal a Pokemon in your hand and put it on top of the deck.
    If you do, search ...".
    So, this is optional?

    It basically means you have to do that to use the card. The "If you do" precursor just states that you must do it before you can perform the next action listed

    Answers in bold :) Hope this helps
     
    A few further clarifications:

    The only time something is optional when you play a trainer card, use an attack, or use a PokePower is if it uses the word "may" in its wordign.

    PokeBodies are in effect at all times.

    When you see a cost that requires colorless energy, it can be payed by any type of energy.

    Just putting these out there because I'm not sure how clear the rulebooks that come with theme decks are on these things.
     
    Thanks for the link to https://www.pokemon.com/us/trading-cards/how-to-play/card-anatomy/ . I will look at that soon.

    I played Pokemon last night and I have a few questions...

    1)
    Lillipup was my active Pokemon and it's 1st attack is called Collect and requires one colorless
    energy. But there is no HP damage count that it inflicts, and it says, "Draw a card." What kind of attack is that?

    2)
    What are the situations where you put cards in discard pile?

    3)
    Why is there a trainer card for switching Pokemons between Active and Bench when you can retreat on every trun?

    4)
    One of the trainer cards started by saying, "Reveal a Pokemon in your hand and put it on top of the deck.
    If you do, search ...".
    So, this is optional?
    HAve your answers
    1.those moves are known as techs where they help get you cards.

    2.cards in your discard pile well in general you only discard a pokemon when its knocked out,or if any other kind of card tell you to.like one of the new trainers.

    3.lol love that question:when you retreat you would have to discard in energy most of the time but when you have the trainer card or anyother card that does that it lets you do it free!!!![yay free]

    4.and last!!!you can only chose to do or dont when the card says you "MAY"do the effect other then that you have to do what it says.
    hope these help!!
     
    By the way. You cannot evolve a Pokemon on the first turn it has been played. Also (these rules may have changed in Black and White) but you also can't play trainers on your first turn of the game.
     
    The new rules, which come into effect today, state that each player may play trainers, supporters, and stadiums on the first turn of the game. However, you still may not evolve a pokemon during either player's first turn, even if you go second (because it still counts as your own first turn).
     
    Just bought my first pokemon cards in years! Got a hstriumphant box and call of legends box! Took me a while to find somewhere that still sold them! Looking forward to getting back into it!
     
    Wow, Pokemon is all about rules :-)

    After taking a few days off from playing, I played again with the daughter yesterday, and (surprise!) more Qs:

    1)
    Although I see it was discussed, let me make sure I understand evolves...On a player's first turn, the player cannot put a stage 1 pokemon down on a basic pokemon that it evolves from, yes? That's it? But in the 2nd turn, and beyond, it is ok to do that?

    2)
    I attacked with a stage 1 pokemon and the damage description was, 'does 20 damage to 2 of the opponents benched pokemon'. If there are more than two benched pokemons, which player decides which of the two benched pokemons gets the damage? What if the attacked player only had one benched pokemon? Would just that one pokemon get 20 damage?

    3)
    Along the same lines, if a player gets a card that says he can heal 30, but the only pokemon with damage has 20, can the player heal the 20?

    4) If I knock out a benched Pokemon, do I draw a prize card?

    5)
    Just need to clarify, attacking has no effect on the attacking pokemon? That is, an attack does not require me to take an energey card from my attacking pokemon, or something like that? If so, it looks like you can just keep the same attacking pokemon for the whole game, if you get the advantage. yes?
     
    Wow, Pokemon is all about rules :-)

    After taking a few days off from playing, I played again with the daughter yesterday, and (surprise!) more Qs:

    1)
    Although I see it was discussed, let me make sure I understand evolves...On a player's first turn, the player cannot put a stage 1 pokemon down on a basic pokemon that it evolves from, yes? That's it? But in the 2nd turn, and beyond, it is ok to do that?

    2)
    I attacked with a stage 1 pokemon and the damage description was, 'does 20 damage to 2 of the opponents benched pokemon'. If there are more than two benched pokemons, which player decides which of the two benched pokemons gets the damage? What if the attacked player only had one benched pokemon? Would just that one pokemon get 20 damage?

    3)
    Along the same lines, if a player gets a card that says he can heal 30, but the only pokemon with damage has 20, can the player heal the 20?

    4) If I knock out a benched Pokemon, do I draw a prize card?

    5)
    Just need to clarify, attacking has no effect on the attacking pokemon? That is, an attack does not require me to take an energey card from my attacking pokemon, or something like that? If so, it looks like you can just keep the same attacking pokemon for the whole game, if you get the advantage. yes?

    1. After that, you can only evolve a Pokemon if it has been in play for more than one turn. You also can't evolve a Stage 1 into a Stage 2 the turn you evolved it from a Basic.

    2. The attacking player chooses which Pokemon get damaged. And, yes, if there were only one benched Pokemon, it would be the only Pokemon to take damage.

    3. If a card heals a certain amount of damage, and the Pokemon being healed has less damage than that on it, then yes, it can heal all of that damage.

    4. Yes, you do.

    5. It does not require anything being done except stating the name of the attack. The only time you need to do more if the attack text underneath the attack name says to.
     
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