The Pokémon Trading Card Game (or Pokémon TCG for short) has never been more popular. Whether you’re a fan of the Pokémon video games, the anime or Pokémon GO – or even if you have no previous experience of Pokémon but just love well-made card games – you owe it to yourself to check out the game that started it all. But where do you even start with a game that’s been around for over 25 years? In this article we're going to look at how to get started with Pokémon TCG.

First off, you'll need to get your hands on some cards – no great surprises there! You can find Pokémon TCG cards in our online store, where we have lots of options for pre-made theme decks that are ideal for beginners, as well as booster packs containing a random selection of cards. Don't worry too much about which theme deck you pick - they're all designed to be a good entry point.

Once have your first set of cards you can begin building your deck. In a game of Pokémon TCG, each player has a deck of 60 cards. You can choose to have up to four copies of any one card in your deck, except for certain special cards known as Basic Energy cards – there are no limits on the number of Basic Energy cards you can take in your deck.

To build a Pokémon TCG deck, you'll need to assemble a balanced mix of Pokémon, Trainer cards and Energy cards. Pokémon are the characters and creatures that you'll use to battle your opponent. Trainer cards are special cards that allow you do things like searching your deck for specific cards or healing your Pokémon. Energy cards are used to power up your Pokémon's attacks. Pre-built decks and theme decks like Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX or Pokémon TCG: Battle Academy can help you find a good balance whilst you’re getting used to the game.

Once you've built your deck, it's time to play your first game! In Pokémon TCG, you and your opponent take it in turns to draw cards and play them. Each Pokémon has a set of attacks that it can use to damage your opponent's Pokémon. When a Pokémon's hit points (HP) are reduced to zero, it gets knocked out and the card is placed on your discard pile. The player who knocks out all of their opponent's Pokémon first wins the game. It’s a wonderfully simple concept that gives rise to endless complexity, creating a new tactical challenge every time.

Building a deck is of course just the beginning of you Pokémon TCG journey. The best way to learn the game is to play it, and here at Firestorm Games you can do just that with our Pokémon TCG Trainer Days – these are regular events specifically designed for new players, where our resident Pokémon Professors will guide you every step of the way. We also host regular casual events for more experienced players, as well as competitive events and major tournaments. You can check out all of our upcoming Pokémon TCG events and book tickets here.

One of the greatest things about Pokémon TCG is that it’s beloved by players of all ages. Whether you're 8 years old or 80, it’s always a great time to become a Pokémon trainer and start collecting, building, and battling with your favourite Pokémon.

Grab yourself a starter deck, and we hope to see you at one of our amazing events very soon!

Firestorm Games is the UK’s trusted card retailer, with fast dispatch, reliable delivery and excellent service. Check out our competitively priced range of Pokemon TCG cards here.