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Building a deck is something you can do from booster packs of course, but if you're looking for somewhere to start, a League Battle Deck is a working build from which to begin. Pre-made decks like the upcoming Dragapult ex build not only have everything you need to start playing immediately, but they can also work as a grounding point to start modifying decks accordingly with the cards you then get in booster packs.
League Battle Decks always have a theme and a basic strategy at play, some tactic around which the cards are based (as well as a type, of course). If you have a preferred way to play, look at all the League Decks that are available and see what one fits most with your sensibilities - then go from there!
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The Pokémon Trading Card Game has been around for nearly 30 years, with the very first "Base Set" debuting in Japan way back in 1996. Decades later, it's developed and grown alongside the video games into one of the biggest TCGs in the world - and those who feel nostalgia for the days of swapping Charizard in the schoolyard are always coming back to see where things have gone and get back into the hobby.
Getting back into any hobby can be a learning curve, and while the foundational gameplay of the Pokémon TCG is still the same even now, there's stuff that can help people get to grips with their childhood passion all the easier. With that in mind, here are our top tips to help you get back into the world's most iconic trading card game.
All the ways players can
get back into the world of Pokémon TCG
Pokémon TCG gets a new expansion roughly every couple of months, meaning literally hundreds of new cards are introduced every year. If you're playing casually, that's no great issue, but those who are looking to get into the more competitive scene (and maybe some tournaments) would definitely be well-advised to look into the ever-shifting meta and see how the new cards are impacting gameplay each time. The new Scarlet and Violet: Journey Together expansion has added cards like N’s Zoroark ex and Hop’s Zacian ex, and on May 30 the Scarlet & Violet - Destined Rivals expansion will add over 240 cards!
The important term here is Standard Legal, sometimes called the Standard Format Legal, as this is what defines what cards you can use in an official tournament. The Pokémon Company cycles older cards out of tournament viability every so often. It ensures that new players can still get a foothold in the TCG's competitive scene, while also letting them prevent too many exploitable strategies by mixing old and new cards. All pokemon cards are tagged with a letter in the bottom left hand side of the card, from April 11, 2025, the Pokémon TCG Standard format will rotate, removing cards with the "F" regulation mark, and making "G", "H" and future regulation mark cards legal for play. For more info on the next Standard Rotation, check here.
You can build a strong foundation from a League Battle Deck
Find your strategies in an ever-fluid meta, and keep up to date with the Standard Format
There are two different apps that recreate the card game in different ways - TCG Live and TCG Pocket, and both of these serve as great ways to practice the game or get a sense of how it feels in 2025. Pokémon TCG Live, the older game of the two, is more accurate to the physical game, while Pokémon TCG Pocket offers a truncated, abbreviated version for a more streamlined experience. I definitely recommend downloading at least one of them if you're getting into the TCG - it allows you to feel out the game, test cards you might not own in real life, practice deck building, and more besides!
Pokémon TCG Pocket and Pokémon TCG Live make for excellent training grounds
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Once you've decided on your perfect deck, Pokémon TCG Live makes for a great place to practice new strategies - or even just get more comfortable with the official rules. Pokémon TCG Live uses the exact same ruleset as the physical Pokémon Trading Card game, pitting players against one another in turn-based battles. You can train against a friend in casual matches, or grind out daily challenges to improve your skills and earn rewards.
Pokémon TCG Live is a game available on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, and it allows you to turn your physical Trading Card Game collection into a digital deck to battle with. By redeeming codes from purchased booster packs, you can build up a secondary collection without spending any extra cash. If you do want to augment your deck a little, Pokémon TCG Live lets you earn booster packs from in-game challenges, buy digital booster packs and bundles with digital currency, and even pick out your favorite cards by exchanging Credits for them.
The Pokémon League is the perfect place to get an introduction into the world of competitive Pokémon, whether you're a long-time fan or a complete beginner. But if you're looking for a few card game pointers before you head to your first event, Pokémon TCG Live is a great way to get yourself a head start.
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Harness your skills
before you head to
Pokémon League
The Pokémon Trading Card Game has been around for nearly 30 years, with the very first "Base Set" debuting in Japan way back in 1996. Decades later, it's developed and grown alongside the video games into one of the biggest TCGs in the world - and those who feel nostalgia for the days of swapping Charizard in the schoolyard are always coming back to see where things have gone and get back into the hobby.
You can build a strong foundation from a League Battle Deck
Pokémon TCG gets a new expansion roughly every couple of months, meaning literally hundreds of new cards are introduced every year. If you're playing casually, that's no great issue, but those who are looking to get into the more competitive scene (and maybe some tournaments) would definitely be well-advised to look into the ever-shifting meta and see how the new cards are impacting gameplay each time. The new Scarlet and Violet: Journey Together expansion has added cards like N’s Zoroark ex and Hop’s Zacian ex, and on May 30 the Scarlet & Violet - Destined Rivals expansion will add over 240 cards!
Pokémon TCG gets a new expansion roughly every couple of months, meaning literally hundreds of new cards are introduced every year. If you're playing casually, that's no great issue, but those who are looking to get into the more competitive scene (and maybe some tournaments) would definitely be well-advised to look into the ever-shifting meta and see how the new cards are impacting gameplay each time. The new Scarlet and Violet: Journey Together expansion has added cards like N’s Zoroark ex and Hop’s Zacian ex, and on May 30 the Scarlet & Violet - Destined Rivals expansion will add over 240 cards!
Find your strategies in an ever- fluid meta, and keep up to date with the Standard Format