Pokémon TCG Pocket tips and tricks to build a winning deck

Pokémon TCG Pocket is out for millions of gamers to start building their digital card collection. While the mobile card game follows the general rules of the real-life Pokémon game, it can also compel you to spend money to get cards of better rarity. We’ve compiled a handy list of tips to help you build a winning deck without having to spend any money so you can confidently challenge any Pokémon trainer.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Card Balancing

The first thing you should know before building a deck is card balancing. While you can collect over 250 cards in the game, you can only build a deck with 20 cards at one time. This means that you should balance your deck with a healthy mix of attackers and support cards. Don’t fill up your deck with just Pokémon either, and try to have some item cards as well. Ideally, having a deck of 12 Pokémon and 8 support cards/items makes for a good start.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Auto-Build Decks

If you’re having trouble choosing what Pokémon to select, try using the auto-build function. In the build menu, click on “Edit” and then select “Auto-build.” Here, select the Pokémon types you want in your deck, and the game will automatically sort through your deck to pull Pokémon of that specific type. After this, you can remove the ones you don’t want for support/item cards to hit the ideal balance.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Pokémon Types and Energy Explained

There are some major differences between TCG Pocket and the real Pokémon collectathon. For one, there are no energy cards in the digital version of the game. Instead, energy is generated automatically depending on what cards you have in your deck. Filling a deck with cards of a different type will cause the type of energy generated each turn to be random, and this is where the auto-build functions come in handy to keep you on track.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Pokémon Roles Explained

An important thing to remember is Pokémon roles. There are three types of Pokémon that you’ll need in your deck, those being fast attackers, stallers, and sweepers. The stallers need to be single-stage evolution Pokémon with a low retreat cost, while sweepers who need more energy can be benched. Here are some great bulky stallers with just one retreat cost and at least 70HP to start with:

• Articuno
• Bruxish
• Electabuzz
• Heatmor
• Moltres
• Pyukumuku
• Scyther

As for fast-attackers, these cards do exactly what we’re calling them: getting their hits in early and retreating without compromising your energy costs. It doesn’t matter where you set these cards as they are quite versatile. We recommend picking from these fast attacker cards:

• Blitzle/Zebstrika
• Cottonee/Whimsicott
• Eevee/Jolteon
• Goldeen/Seaking
• Petilil/Lilligant
• Ponyta/Rapidash
• Psyduck/Golduck
• Salandit/Salazzle
• Snom/Frosmoth
• Staryu/Starmie
• Tentacool/Tentacruel
• Venonat/Venomoth
• Voltorb/Electrode
• Vulpix/Ninetales

As for sweepers, these need to be used wisely. Sweepers can take up huge chunks of energy for any action, so you don’t want to use them early in the game. A good example of a sweeper card is the EX-type, which is great for backups on the bench. Here are some good starting sweeper cards:

• Articuno EX
• Bulbasaur/Ivysaur/Venusaur EX
• Bellsprout/Weepinbell/Victreebel
• Exeggcute/Exeggcutor EX
• Charmander/Charmeleon/Charizard EX
• Growlithe/Arcanine EX
• Moltres EX
• Magikarp/Gyarados
• Poliwag/Poliwhirl/Poliwrath
• Squirtle/Wartortle/Blastoise EX
• Staryu/Starmie EX

Pokémon TCG Pocket: How to Use Abilities

Many Pokémon come with powerful abilities that typically don’t require any energy to use. These abilities can only be used once per turn, so only use them when you know they will demolish your opponent. You can also use your benched cards for abilities, which can be helpful if your active card is in a bad spot.

You can use these tips with the game’s new expansions as well, like applying them to the best cards in the Mythical Island update.