In order to make a good deck, you will need 60 or more cards to work with, for a deck can only have up to 60 cards. If you slightly don’t have enough, buy some booster packs; those will give you up to 10 cards each. [2] X Research source If you really don’t have enough, then it is recommended that you buy a theme deck, which will give you a deck of 60 cards. [3] X Research source You can always buy more cards online, and change your theme deck if you want.
If you are using more than one type of Pokémon, try to pick some that compliment each other. Electric and Water are good examples. Take advantage of your types. Put in types that help boost each other. For example: If you choose to have an Electric deck, and most of your Electric Pokémon have Weakness to Fighting types, add is some Psychic Pokémon cards, for Fighting Pokémon mostly have Weakness for Psychic. This helps make your typed stronger.
How do I want to win? What cards do I need to complete that goal? How will my opponent counter my strategy, and how will I prevent it? This is especially necessary if you know that it opponent has strong Pokémon, like EXs, and such. [4] X Research source
Try to make your main Pokémon a strong one; since it’s the main part of your plan on your strategy, it isn’t crucial to make sure that it stays in the game.
Try to make you main Pokémon also supports your secondary Pokémon. That way, they both compliment each other, making them both stronger!
A good example is Regirock. That Pokémon has high HP, has very strong, effective moves, but at the same time is a basic Pokémon. Not all strong Pokémon have to be evolutions, GXs, EXs, or Break cards. Keep that in mind when planning your deck.
Supporter cards[9] X Research source are special types of trainer cards that allow you to do extra things in a game that can really benift you. Most of the time, they allow you to draw cards. Include lots of supporters that help you draw cards.
Put in Trainer cards that benefit your types the best.
Ideally, your deck will only use one energy type, but sometimes this may be too risky. Rainbow energy or similar cards can sometimes be used instead of including energy cards that your main Pokémon can’t use. Be aware that Pokémon with colorless attack costs, which has a * symbol for the cost, can be used in any deck since they can use any type of energy. Colorless Pokémon are normal or flying types can use any type of energy. [12] X Research source Because of this, they can be used in any deck to fill up spaces and gaps. Be aware, though, that no Pokémon has Weakness to Coloroless Pokémon. Be sure to have enough Basic Pokémon. Leaving your bench empty is the quickest way to loose the game.
Don’t have more evolution cards than basic Pokémon; remember: a lot of basic Pokémon is the key to success. Evolving Pokémon can also get rid of Special conditions, and nay others effects to that’s Pokémon. Use that to your advantage.
Remember that your deck has to have exactly 60 cards. If you don’t have enough cards, remember that you can either: Buy a theme deck, which while provide you with a deck of 60 cards. Buy booster packs.
Be sure to shuffle your deck each time you do this to get a different result of cards, as this will happen when you’re actually playing.
If your deck is based on a theme deck, and you have extra cards in hand, try changing it up a little. Add is some cards and take out some. If you don’t have any extra cards, then buy some booster packs, which will provide with 10 additional cards.
Breathe in and out. This is a very effective way to calm your mind. It is also quick, for you need to be quick on what your opponent is doing.
How can I defeat those Pokémon? How will they be able to defeat mine?
The Weakness and Resistance of a Pokémon can be found at the bottom-left corner of the Pokémon card.
Don’t put energy on your dying active Pokémon. It might be better to let it be knocked out so you can set up it’s replacement. You don’t have to play an energy just because you have it. It’s also a good idea to put in a specific type of energy in the right type of Pokémon. For example: fighting energy should go with fighting Pokémon, and electric energy should go with electric Pokémon.
You can’t evolve a Pokémon more than twice. You also cannot evolve a Pokémon if it was just put in play, or of it is your very first turn. If your basic Pokémon has a Special Condition, that’s a perfect time to Evolve that Pokémon.
Be aware that it’ll cost you some energy cards to retreat. Strong Pokémon with no retreat cost are very valuable. If you can’t retreat, then try to use the cards you have in your hand, like potions, to heal and revive your Pokémon’s health. Some Pokémon cards have abilities, or attacks, that can heal other Pokémon. Chaney is a great example. Use those specific Pokémon cards to your advantage.
Did I draw a card from my deck yet? How have things changed since last turn? Have I played an energy yet? Can I activate an ability or stadium card effect? Will my Pokémon get knocked out on my opponent’s turn after I attack? Do I have any cards in my hand to make the effect of the attack stronger?
Evolve your Pokémon in play. You can’t evolve a Pokémon if it was just put in play on your field. Plus, if you evolved a Pokémon, you can’t evolve that Pokémon again for that turn, for it counts as a new Pokémon in play. You can evolve many different types of your Pokémon per turn, though. Evolving a Pokémon also gets rid of Special conditions, if your Pokémon happens to have one. It also gets rid of other effects. Attach tools to your Pokémon. You can do this as many times as you want. Be aware, though, that a Pokémon can only have one tool attached to it, so be wise on which tool you put on a Pokémon. Attach energy cards to your Pokémon. You can only do this once per turn. Mostly all Pokémon need energy to attack. The energy cost of an attack can be found at the left side of the attack move. If it has a grey spot, then the attack is free, and you can use it any time; you don’t need attach energy in order to use that attack. Use any potions or other Trainer cards that can help revive your Pokémon’s health. You can do this as many times as you want for your Pokémon. Once you use a your trainer card that heals, discard it. Play Stadium cards. They can give you power-ups or abilities that can favor your Pokémon. Be aware that only one stadium card can be in play; once a different stadium card is put in play, discard the other one.
To seeing if your Pokémon can attack or not. To analyzing you Pokémon if they have any special abilities that can benefit you and your Pokémon. To spend the time planning in your head on how to defeat your opponent’s Pokémon.
To seeing if your Pokémon can attack or not. To analyzing you Pokémon if they have any special abilities that can benefit you and your Pokémon. To spend the time planning in your head on how to defeat your opponent’s Pokémon.
Try not to be too obvious when doing this. Example: bending over constantly to look at your opponent’s Pokémon card information. Also, think to yourself when doing this, for you don’t what your opponent knowing what you’re doing.
Be sure to remember your strategy on winning.
If you get mad and loose it, your opponent will look at you as a sore looser, and won’t want to battle you again.
The Weakness and Resistance of a Pokémon can be found at the bottom-right side of the card.
For example: Luxio from Sun and Moon’s attack stops you’re opponent from playing Item cards, which is a type of Trainer card. That prevents lots of effectived, which can help you a lot!
For example: Luxio from Sun and Moon’s attack stops you’re opponent from playing Item cards, which is a type of Trainer card. That prevents lots of effectived, which can help you a lot!
Be sure to see if your energy cards, Pokémon cards, and Trainer cards are balanced. In other words, see if the numbers of all of them correspond with each other, and that one number is way bigger or smaller than the other. Remember that you should roughly have about 20 of each.
Remember that your deck must have 60 cards, unless you’re both using a trainer deck, which has half that amount. If you don’t have the cards you need, trade with your friends for card. Be aware, though, that you made need to give up so things in your deck. If they’re nice enough, they may even give them away for free!
If it doesn’t, look through your deck again, edit what you think you left out, and try again.
If you loose, do not get upset. Do the steps above over again, expect try even more to narrow down what you want your deck to do, and make sure it has the cards needed to do so.