Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

GETTING INTO THE GAME: New Player's Guide to getting started.

Worry not about the specifics of each card above. Worry more about what each section is actually saying. The meaning behind the meaning, if you will.

For the most part, this post is trying to convey the following information...

1) Use cards that work well together.
2) Draw and Search rule.

I think you can boil everything in every TCG down to those two rules. Everything else is just window dressing.
 
Well can I ask if I should buy a starter deck? Someone else told me it's not worth my time and he never explained so I'm still trying to figure out if I should buy starters or what. It confused me because of the lack of explanation lol
 
Just buying one isn't really gonna help you. They generally have poor strategy, worse cards, and bad deck ratios. If you're going to go the Starter Deck route, buy two of the same version and build your own 60 card deck. You should have enough of everything from 2 decks to build something that can at least compete with the 2nd or 3rd tier players in your area.
 
I have a thread about that topic, EDIT: now linked on the next page.
 
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Wanting to draw attention back to this thread, may we revise it for an HS-on format, so we aren't suggesting some out-of-format cards?
 
MegaVelocibot said:
Wanting to draw attention back to this thread, may we revise it for an HS-on format, so we aren't suggesting some out-of-format cards?
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This would be helpful, as it has been a while I feel like I am looking from the outside in, man my brain really is hurting...

and what really sucks my budget is thinner. :frown:
 
bugsbite said:
This would be helpful, as it has been a while I feel like I am looking from the outside in, man my brain really is hurting...

and what really sucks my budget is thinner. :frown:
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Well, for the person with a very small budget and poor access to / inability ot order online cards, there's my I Double Theme Decks: Improving Through Double-Decking thread. It's not the highest-level of competitive decks and doesn't cover staples, but it does help a new player take the step to the next level of usable decks.
 
MegaVelocibot said:
Well, for the person with a very small budget and poor access to / inability ot order online cards, there's my I Double Theme Decks: Improving Through Double-Decking thread. It's not the highest-level of competitive decks and doesn't cover staples, but it does help a new player take the step to the next level of usable decks.
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Thanks!

So what are the highest level decks now that would put someone quickly in the next level?
 
bugsbite said:
Thanks!

So what are the highest level decks now that would put someone quickly in the next level?
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The easiest one to acquire the cards for, most likely, would be TyRam/Reshiphlosion, which uses Reshiram from B/W (was a tin promo), Typhlosion prime from HS (tin promo as well), and Ninetales from HS/CL (in Recon theme deck). PokemonDan has a list of decks that he considers to be the archetypes for this format if you want to see what many consider the fiercest of the fierce, though a few novel decks aren't there yet.
 
MegaVelocibot said:
The easiest one to acquire the cards for, most likely, would be TyRam/Reshiphlosion, which uses Reshiram from B/W (was a tin promo), Typhlosion prime from HS (tin promo as well), and Ninetales from HS/CL (in Recon theme deck). PokemonDan has a list of decks that he considers to be the archetypes for this format if you want to see what many consider the fiercest of the fierce, though a few novel decks aren't there yet.
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Yeah, I agree with this ;) Thanks for the link to my site.

My page will show you all the 'main' decks of the format and I have the rest of the more 'rogue' ones coming with major updates come the release of Emerging Powers.

As for general starting out and gaining skill level, going to a League is a great way to do this. Playing against other players that are possibly double or triple your own skill level can really boost you as a player quickly if you stay really observant during games. Even watching matches between skilled players can help you out a ton.

As for decks, getting the staples is going to be the hardest part. Things like Pokemon Collector are hard to come by, but there is a HeartGold SoulSilver Trainer Kit which isn't very expensive and contains 2 Collector in them which could be a good start. The rest like Pokemon Communication and Rare Candy can be picked up for good prices on sites like eBay and here where you can find some great deals.

Hope this helps you out and please ask some more questions if needed.

Dan
 
Collector comes in the HS Trainer Kit.
Communication comes in two out of 3 HS theme decks and two out of 3 BW theme decks.
Rare Candy is almost as plentiful as Potion these days, especially after the nerf.
 
bullados said:
Rare Candy is almost as plentiful as Potion these days, especially after the nerf.
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They're still tightly held onto in my area. The grip's a bit looser after the nerf, but still pretty tight. Average price I've been seeing for them is US$5.
 
Hello, I'm interested in getting into the TCG. I'm curious as to what sets will get taken out of modified this year, and when; for example, would it still be possible to play HGSS (as well as Unleashed, Undaunted, Triumphant, maybe Call of Legends?) cards in this year's Regional/National/Worlds tournaments? I don't want to put money down on cards that'll be banned when I want to play competitively.

Additionally, I know that some trainers (Pokemon Communication and Rare Candy stand out in my mind) from older sets are still allowed. Will this be the same with cards such as Pokemon Collector and other HGSS-onward staples?
 
reshinov said:
Hello, I'm interested in getting into the TCG. I'm curious as to what sets will get taken out of modified this year, and when; for example, would it still be possible to play HGSS (as well as Unleashed, Undaunted, Triumphant, maybe Call of Legends?) cards in this year's Regional/National/Worlds tournaments? I don't want to put money down on cards that'll be banned when I want to play competitively.

Additionally, I know that some trainers (Pokemon Communication and Rare Candy stand out in my mind) from older sets are still allowed. Will this be the same with cards such as Pokemon Collector and other HGSS-onward staples?
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There is no indication that these cards will be removed from the format as of this moment. The current format is HS-on; any set released from HeartGold SoulSilver and onward are currently tournament legal. I can't imagine they would drop the HGSS block of cards between now and next year, but it could hypothetically happen.

If the sets the staples are in are rotated out, and subsequently reprinted in a non-rotated set, the older copies of the card would still be tournament-legal. This does not apply for things such as League promos, which bear the set symbol and number they were released in; one example is the Snivy season promo Broken Time Space. As Platinum has been rotated out, despite the fact that the card is given out at a Pokemon League, it is not legal for Modified tournament play.
 
Just learning the game, a few questions..

I AM HAVING TROUBLE NAVIGATING THE BLOGS... I cant seem to find what im looking for.
question of the moment, is there a difference between "the lost zone" & the discard pile?
 
duherrlumpy said:
I AM HAVING TROUBLE NAVIGATING THE BLOGS... I cant seem to find what im looking for.
question of the moment, is there a difference between "the lost zone" & the discard pile?
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Yes. The short answer is that the Lost Zone is like a "permanent discard pile" placed somewhere else on the playing area. Cards can never be recovered from it (as no printed cards have ever done so), but cards in it can be referenced (example: how Lost World from Call of Legends, and Mew from Triumphant, work). The discard pile is where "used-up" cards usually go, such as knocked-out Pokemon (and attached cards), Trainers you are done with the effects of, and Energy used for retreating.
 
noticed the sticky had MD-on, please give HGSS-on advice now =D (not that anybody hasn't done that)
 
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