Pokémon TCG Pocket takes only a few minutes to pick up, but your first days often decide what comes next. This guide shows you what to do first, what is better saved for later, and how to build a first deck that wins without spending a cent.
- Platforms
- iOS and Android, free
- Release
- October 30, 2024
- Free packs
- 2 per day (one every 12 hours)
- Deck
- 20 cards, no Energy cards
- Victory
- 3 points
The first ten minutes
At launch, the game gives you a series of welcome packs and a short battle tutorial. Take the chance to discover pack opening: you “tear” the pack open with a swipe of your finger, then the five cards appear one by one. The rarest cards are announced with a special animation.Before anything else, remember to link your Nintendo account from the settings. It is the only way to recover your collection if you change phones, and a mission rewards you for doing it.
Next, choose the pack of the most recent expansion: its cards are the ones you will meet most often in battle, and event missions almost always rely on it. Older expansions remain available permanently, so there is no rush on that front.
Resources to keep an eye on
Pocket relies on several “stamina” bars that recharge over time. Knowing them keeps you from letting free packs slip away.Pack Stamina
It recharges one pack every 12 hours, up to a maximum of two. Open them at least twice a day so you lose nothing. Pack Hourglasses each skip one hour.
Wonder Stamina
It is used to pick a card from another player’s pack. It recharges more slowly: save it for picks that contain a rare card.
Shinedust
Earned from duplicate cards and missions, it is mostly used for trading. Do not spend it on decorative effects at the beginning.
Missions, your best source of packs
The Missions tab groups together beginner missions, daily missions, Card Dex missions (registering a certain number of cards) and event missions. The beginner missions alone reward several dozen Hourglasses, the equivalent of many extra packs.- Day 1: finish the tutorial, link your account, open your welcome packs and complete the beginner missions.
- Days 2 to 3: do the Beginner-level solo battles of each expansion. They are easy and earn shop tickets and experience.
- Days 3 to 7: pick up the basic Trainer cards at the shop (Professor’s Research, Poké Ball, Potion…), then build a deck around a Pokémon ex that you own two copies of.
- After that: try Ranked Matches, the current events and the harder solo battles.
The free Trainer cards at the shop
Basic Trainer cards are not found in packs: they are bought at the shop with shop tickets, earned from missions and solo battles. They are the foundation of every deck. Take two copies of each as soon as you can.| Card | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Professor’s Research | Supporter | Draw two cards. The most played card in the game. |
| Poké Ball | Item | Put 1 random Basic Pokémon from your deck into your hand. |
| Potion | Item | Heal 20 damage from 1 of your Pokémon. |
| X Speed | Item | During this turn, the Retreat Cost of your Active Pokémon is reduced. |
| Red Card | Item | Your opponent shuffles their hand into their deck and draws three cards. |
| Hand Scope | Item | Look at your opponent’s hand. |
| Pokédex | Item | Look at the top cards of your deck. |
First deck: keep it simple
An effective first deck comes down to one rule: a single Energy type, one or two powerful Pokémon ex and Basic Pokémon that attack quickly. Basic Pokémon do not need to evolve, they enter play right away, and that is often what wins the first matches. If you are short on cards, use a rental deck. The game offers them for each expansion: you can play them without owning the cards, which lets you test a play style before investing your resources.Our guide Building Your Deck details the ideal split of the 20 cards. For the complete rules of a battle, see Battle Rules.
As for your collection, there is no need to aim straight away for the star cards: they are mostly cosmetic. Cards from ♦ to ♦♦♦♦ are enough to play, and a ♦♦♦♦ Pokémon ex has exactly the same effects as its illustrated version.
Mistakes to avoid
Battle rulesEnergy Zone, points, a Bench of three Pokémon: the whole flow of a game.
Build your deckTwenty cards, not one more: the method for a consistent, efficient deck.
Booster packs and raritiesDiamonds, stars, crown, shiny cards: what a booster pack really contains.
Wonder PickGetting a card from another player's booster pack: costs, tips and events.
