How To Play Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) Learn To Play In Less Than 15 minutes!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Be sure to check out "Is It Worth It To Buy A Champion's Path Elite Trainer Box?" here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2GToKOFecx_gK8

[@ernestonapoles4556]

Please continue to review Pokemon TCG products!

[@mathunit1]

@@ernestonapoles4556 Certainly better the constant MTG shitshows right now. lol

[@ernestonapoles4556]

@@mathunit1 I only play MTG because the EDH format is the best multiplayer game for me, but I don`t like any other MTG format. In fact if other games like yugi or Pokemon have a better 4 player format I would not play MTG at all.

[@therealnolanpadaca]

Alright

[@BlakeS1003]

I dont know how to and i have 5 whole boxes of pokemon cards

[@epb111]

Had so many pokemon cards as a kid. Never actually knew how to play the game.

[@AndyThomson03]

epb111 My younger cousin has about 2000. She has no idea wtf they are, she just thinks they're pretty.

[@ferriswonders]

Andrew Thomson lol 😂😂

[@DragoonBB]

Andrew Thomson....well they are....

[@irenekelly864]

gjf do not the new year

[@brandonlawrence1381]

Back in school as a kid everyone had the cards, but no one knew how to play. I didn't even know it was a game at first lol

[@johnlabosky8477]

This tutorial was VERY helpful... my 7 year old Grandson loves Pokemon and I wanted to learn how to play the game with him... Thanks for this.

[@lordylord7208]

Such a cool grandad

[@philminkeesickquayash8988]

Show him no mercy... Lol Grandpa has some new tricks up his sleeve... Enjoy playing with your Grandson...

[@fjdhxjjshdbd5848]

love seeing comments like this. W person

[@agooddoctorfan651]

Yes dude lol

[@richardbehan8118]

Yeh I was never into Pokémon growing up but my daughter loves it. In here for the same reason 👍

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Quick correction in terms of order of play: Prize cards are drawn only after all mulligans have been taken, not before, and not before you draw your hand of seven cards. Apologies for stating this backwards.

[@captainkarnage9874]

Tolarian Community College I'd also like to point out that you can only play 1 supporter per turn.

[@LeoGimre]

Was just going to comment that :P Good job with this tutorial i already know the game but if i was new this would be the best video to watch :D

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

5:44 I say you can only play one per turn and also have it in red text on the screen.

[@AioriadLeo]

shut up! do no stain the sactity of this place with you crappy tcg

[@wmeno9942]

AioriadLeo go away

[@andrewdeats7798]

I like how his most watched video is about pokemon rather than magic.

[@David-gj9qr]

I think that's because many people collected pokemon cards as a kid and never knew how to play so they got curious and looked up how to play and this is the first video that came up The other possible reasoning is many magic the gathering players who are subscribed to this channel were probably curious on how to play the pokemon TCG since it was probably popular when they were a kid

[@ttkrystal8329]

@@David-gj9qr Pokemon is also pretty easy to get into and MUCH cheaper than Magic imo. And it's like a lil Magic clone.

[@connorhawkins315]

I played magic for years and just finished playing through pokemon infinite fusion and got curious about the card game, looked up a tutorial, and when i saw the prof, i immediately clicked

[@hpbloodcraft]

I'm 30 years old and though I collected the cards as a kid, I'm barely learning how to play. Thank you for the simple tutorial and explanation! You are epic!

[@xaviercarrera4104]

this is me right now. the little one wants to play and i couldnt remember how

[@MissMalikaA]

Same, I was just a collector as a kid and now my year old has been collecting and saying she wants to play, I'm now 32 trying to learn to play it properly so I can teach her 😂

[@TheRichardson711]

Lol I'm disappointed that this video didn't start with: "many magic the gathering players ask the question: how do you play Pokemon the trading card game?"

[@Iceman762004]

TheRichardson711 that would have been great.

[@ogropor]

believe me better than magic

[@thecrabempire5767]

TheRichardson711 but when has anyone ever asked that we are just fine with mtg

[@YankeeDoodleDandy]

@@thecrabempire5767 I'm a competitive magic player and have been for years and I still came because I want to try out Pokemon for fun.

[@thecrabempire5767]

@@YankeeDoodleDandy the reason I dont want to learn the pokemon tcg is because most little kids play it wrong and I not that many people in my area know how to play it

[@Hungarth]

If only KZbin existed when the game was released...

[@bioman1hazard607]

I figured out how to play when it first came out

[@annieyen3708]

Stupid guy

[@bioman1hazard607]

@@annieyen3708 I wouldnt call him that, he just didnt know heck most of the other kids I knew just liked collecting them and mock battling. It blew my mind when I found out how t truly played

[@annieyen3708]

@@bioman1hazard607 I'm so sorry for my innocent comments. In fact it's really a good video on guiding me how to play Pokemon correctly...

[@brwntwn123]

@@annieyen3708 Gtfo asshole

[@OExplosion]

I still think it’s so funny how Proff is legendary in the MTG community but his most view video is about teaching how to play the Pokemon TCG.

[@84478]

who else came here because they were never taught how to play the game properly and realized they have been playing all wrong?

[@kevindamiano1435]

No Im teaching my child lol

[@CharlieWilson1987]

Mee

[@peterlinsen7062]

I can relate

[@Noone-zg6zh]

Yep me

[@russellbrown2888]

me

[@xBeauGaming]

Thanks man! Now to start little man playing the cards he is collecting

[@Ian-fi7co]

Woah, verified channel with no replies! (Not anymore)

[@xBeauGaming]

@@Ian-fi7co ? What ya mean? Me and the prof are good bros and I prefer talking to him than a comment ;)

[@Ian-fi7co]

@@xBeauGaming ? I meant most verified channels have a ton of replies on their comments, and I was surprised to see one with no replies

[@arintheseatsesh6242]

@@Ian-fi7co ¿

[@rockshopcookies]

How old is too old to play pokemon tcg?

[@43tinmanz]

My nephew have some pokemon cards. I wanted to play with my nephew and learn him the game but we didn`t know how. Thank you so much, you have been of great help. So thank you.

[@CrimsonFox36]

There's an actual GAME!? i thought you just opened the packs, and stuffed the cards in your binder.

[@gerardinacalle1246]

your ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Stupid BOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIII

[@chrisfan3450]

I’m hoping this is a joke If it is, you have successfully woooshed me and many people.

[@brennanweiss4135]

Ertas Ten woooosh?

[@mishimosho1936]

Foreal

[@DarkBear]

🤣

[@ScottDevonKane]

Just so you know, prize cards are placed after each player has drawn their initial hand and placed a Pokemon into the active zone face down. This prevents Pokemon from being prized before you get an active. As mentioned, you only need 1 Pokemon in your deck to be legal. If you prize it before playing an active, it would be impossible to continue. Pregame order is as follows: 1- Determine who plays first. This must be done before cards are drawn. 2- Draw 7 cards. 3- In reverse turn order, place a basic Pokemon from your hand into the active area. Then place basic Pokemon onto your bench. If you do not have a basic, mulligan. Then your opponent does the same.Continue to mulligan until both players have active and benched (is possible) cards. 4- Place six cards from the top of your deck into the prize area. 5- Resolve mulligan DRAWS These have do be done in the correct order to keep discrepancies from the game. Also to be noted, when you said that when a player goes to draw a card and they cannot, they lose. That is incorrect. Whenever a player goes to draw a card AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TURN and cannot, they lose. You can play cards like Professor Sycamore with a deck of only 4 cards and not lose the game. Thank you for bringing this game to the masses. I love the Pokemon TCG, and wish more people to join me in enjoying this game.

[@ANTHIT]

it's gonna take a little longer before I join tcgplayer I'm just learning. I use to have cards as a kid, now I'm learning the value of them I'm doing this because my little brother is getting into pokemon with kids at school so I want to teach him everything.

[@lenaablythe3306]

Tf is mulligan

[@ScottDevonKane]

@@lenaablythe3306 It's a card game term for shuffling your hand back into your deck (for most games, but not all) and drawing a new starting hand.

[@lenaablythe3306]

@@ScottDevonKane alr alr thank you, i was teaching my bst friend tcg and i forgot half of it so we just watched the video

[@jonathantorres4957]

When you draw an opponents prize card can you play it as your own card?

[@area51prisoner]

80% of people who have pokemon cards don't know how to play

[@zn_greasy5507]

I’ve never met nobody who knew how to play, when I was playing with my friend. I put out like an ash greninja and a few others, he brought out charizard gx and said he one shotted everybody with his flames.

[@randompotato9753]

I guess i am in the 20%

[@phillipmartinez2436]

@@randompotato9753 im here for the nostalgia. I tried playing with people but nobody ever knew how to play and I was an awful teacher so I gave up. Now looking to play with my kids since they like it. The prices are annoying I just wanna collect and play with my kids.

[@biggle_man]

and it's a shame

[@hewhoc8664]

Source?

[@allennavas3830]

SO THATS HOW YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO PLAY THIS WHILE TIME? As a kid my brother would use "War" rules

[@EzekielMitchell98]

Yep what ever looked stronger and what ever looked cool

[@chibi5818]

lol, yeah my brother and I didn't ever know about the evolution rules. Half my deck of Pokémon are now useless until further notice...yaaaaaaaay...

[@rembramlastname3631]

@@chibi5818 10 Caterpies and 20 Rattata FTW!

[@owenh6810]

As a MTG, Hearthstone, Yugioh, Cardfight Vanguard, Hex, and Shadowverse player, this was one of the few TCG's I'd never bothered to look into, though I've always wanted to. Thank you for this video, now I can go play to my hearts content!!

[@notjoaquindecastro]

Glad you enjoy the game!

[@Jtblake]

I recommend buddyfight if your interested it's also made by bushiroad

[@Giby86]

The Pokémon TCG Online videogame is just everything Magic Online dreams of being when it grows up.

[@dylbarton]

Except having the benefit (if you could call it that) of being built to run a vastly simpler game, with less mechanics, cards, and rules. Nothing wrong with that, different people like different games, but trying to compare them at any deep level is like comparing a swimming pool with the ocean. Yes you can swim in both, and you shouldn't drink the water, but the amount of things you can do in an ocean is massively larger. MtGO still has major problems.

[@Giby86]

+dylbarton sure, but pokemon excels in things that have nothing to do with the complexity of the game. the interface, the way you win cards and packs, the rewards to the players, the management of your collection, the possibility to trade...these are all things that mtgo fails spectacularly at, and for absolutely no understandable reason. I'm more than willing to give it a pass on the gameplay itself (though we already have duels, which is far superior and proves that it can be done much better), but all the other faults are frankly inexcusable.

[@FANBOY41]

Why? Why?! WHY?!?!?! The Hell MTG have note the same thing with its online game like Pokemon? Buy real cards to get them in the video game? THIS should be in Magic too!

[@wolfekupo5651]

this should be in EVERY irl TCG that has an officially run Computer/Tablet version

[@silverfangmoonhunter]

Because WOTC :/

[@epb111]

I wish wizards gave you your physical cards online for free as well. It's so nice.

[@tealblade2994]

Imagine if every card had a unique qr/bar code that added your card to your online collection if you scanned it with some sort of app

[@LackadaisicalWizard]

@@tealblade2994 lmao there is an official app to scan the cards on the app store or Google play

[@tealblade2994]

*comes out from under a rock* oh really?!

[@mad-dash6448]

djhussler that was his whole point

[@TrueJamo]

WOTC hasn't been a part of Pokemon since 2003. So it'd be weird for them to give you anything.

[@jincjin8700]

😢 my mum bought me a booster pack in '99, I finally learnt the game at 30.

[@lukethecat0]

You can sell the old cards for thousands of dollars. By the way the rarest Pokémon is from 1999 it’s a charizard that is worth $300,000.

[@lukethecat0]

So see if you have him

[@Alhawaii1]

@@lukethecat0 oh ya? Which one? Seems like you're not even sure

[@kronos6711]

@@Alhawaii1 ? Hes speaking the truth

[@l0rdfriza853]

@@Alhawaii1 Lol he has a POINT

[@alexowo8408]

Pokemon players: "Pokemon is easy to learn" YGO players: "I've just crawled out of hell"

[@FestiveHearts]

I just started to play pokemon and man yugioh is just depressingly complicated in comparison

[@Tryforlive.]

I learned more from the Professor then I did going to my college classes today XD

[@Tryforlive.]

TheUnPCDrunkBastard _ not wrong my course is pretty insightful as its mostly coop but my one prof constantly cancels class on mondays

[@Tryforlive.]

TheUnPCDrunkBastard _ its not too bad cause its computing applications, which is something that I couldve just taken a exam at the beginning of the semester to skip, but yeah College has really gone downhill, more in America then Canada though.

[@hombreg1]

+TheUnPCDrunkBastard _ it's called play dough...

[@adnanhossain7200]

Tryforlive can u please tell me where the energy card go after doing an ability?

[@applepretz5368]

K3n5hin grammar nazi

[@dinosaurfilms7425]

So Pokemon Online is basically what we'd wish MTGO to be?

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Yep

[@antoniobush4560]

Praise arena

[@ericke9611]

Pokémon art online

[@gloriasanchez7549]

DinosaurFilms xvfvxjmv

[@joshkirkfield]

@@gloriasanchez7549 kjbbrctlu

[@MrRuff-cc3lg]

I just started playing this with my daughter. Saying Pokémon TCG is MtG lite is spot on. And the online game is far superior to Magic but then again what isn't? Great video!

[@tsuchikarasu2]

as a more advanced player who takes first place more than 50% of the time at my local game store, I actually have to disagree. to just say it is magic lite is very misleading and seems like a mostly outsider opinion. I play both pokemon and MTG and there are subtle but major differences in play style between the two. players who were very advanced magic players didn't do well at all in pokemon because it required some thought processes that magic didn't and vice versa. once you go in depth it becomes more clear that they are very different games

[@RoundHerosProduction]

I agree with what you are saying to some extent, but I also agree with the first guy. Pokemon is MTG lite in the sense that MTG has a way higher skill requirement. Pokemon is plain an simply a much more basic game in terms of how the game is designed. Not nearly as simple as Hearthstone, but much simpler than MTG. There are fewer interactions, less zones to keep track of(even if you count "lost zone" from back in the day) and there are no counter spells in Pokemon(unless you count the SP format) and so much more. Pokemon is still a skill intensive game and I personally like how the draw and search engines are stronger so you have greater access to your deck, but still nowhere close to MTG.

[@tsuchikarasu2]

+RoundHerosProduction that still doesn't counter the point I made nor strengthens the one made before. yes pokemon could be called a lite game because its less skill intensive, but its not magic lite. it just doesn't have enough similar mechanics or required skills to be called as such. all I see for similarities are that it has creatures (pokemon) "lands" (energies) and scorcery spells (trainers). the way the games played the strategies employed and the win conditions are all just too different to compare it to magic. I don't think just being a card game makes this possible. I would make that arguement for yugioh perhaps, but pokemon is by and far the most foreign card game of them all aside from maybe the bushiroad ones.

[@RoundHerosProduction]

ridley1313 Fair enough

[@MrRuff-cc3lg]

Your own words, ridley1313: "There are fewer interactions, less zones to keep track of(even if you count "lost zone" from back in the day) and there are no counter spells in Pokemon(unless you count the SP format) and so much more. Pokemon is still a skill intensive game and I personally like how the draw and search engines are stronger so you have greater access to your deck, but still nowhere close to MTG." Sounds like MTG Lite to me. btw, if you watched the vid, you'll know I'm just quoting The Professor.

[@jaredwhittemore4219]

I know this video is 7 years old but I've followed you for Magic content for a while, my son wants to learn Pokemon so now you've taught me to teach him. Thanks for giving us another way to bond 🙂

[@gr3ghammett587]

my son is really getting into this game. I am a MTG Kitchen vet, as usualy you help even so far after you posted this. Ty friend!

[@zacharybeyer8971]

po kay mon

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

pok-ay-mon

[@demonzero677]

The prof is right, Pok-ay-mon would be the accurate way to pronounce the world given the accent the E in the word has.

[@David-gj9qr]

Zachary Beyer both pronunciations are technically correct depending on how you spell the word Pokémon is pronounced differently than Pokemon However Pokémon is the correct way to spell it as to pronouncing it as Po-key-mon

[@David-gj9qr]

TeamRocket Grunt but if you actually consider the fact that Pokémon has an accent then the professor is correct.

[@ferroth]

isn't it pok-eh-mon

[@MrDeJesus90]

Thank you so much for this. I had so many cards growing up yet never knew how to play. It’s why I got into Yu-Gi-Oh! The show taught you the majority of the rules lmao

[@madscientist2621]

Same. I had cards (I wish I held onto them) but at the same time I was into the DBZ CCG and Magic, so I ignored pokemon.

[@nicknakpaddyman]

I agree with you Professor. If only WoTC would give something back to their player base like the Pokémon company has, it would be a stronger product.

[@undacoval3rotha]

I didn't realize starting to play online would be so easy! My son has shown interest in actually learning to play the card game and this video was a great help getting me started so I can catch up.😅

[@unknownm8569]

Thank you my daughter is 6 and in science summer camp the kids love pokemon so dad had to get educated on the game appreciate your video and all the information. Very informative!

[@ludicrousluke2787]

Thanks for making this video, it was very enlightening and fun! I love how the community can appreciate all fun tcg. Both Magic and Pokemon are awesome games and we're lucky you cover both! Great work Prof!!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Hooray!

[@craigknox6767]

Very educational for new players, thank you. The kids and I watched twice to follow the quick explanations..nice job professor

[@yvesm.8855]

Your videos are always condensed, meticulous and enlightening. Keep up the good work!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Cheers!

[@StalwartTiger35]

As a competitive Pokemon player, I appreciate you made such a simple tutorial that I can show to people.

[@baxter740]

Hey prof, great video, but you have a few things wrong. The Pokémon tcg was not in fact created by wotc, but rather a team at Nintendo. This was meant to capitalize on the TCG craze that magic had caused, and Nintendo weren't the only ones to do it. However, wotc had placed a patent on the "trading card game" and threatened to sue Nintendo. Nintendo and wotc worked out a deal, and wotc was given full publication rights in the USA. This ended after a short while, because of some legal rulings made about the patent. Wotc was merely a distributor

[@501stparatrooper5]

Mtg was created after wotc stoped distributing pokemon

[@Valtharr]

@@501stparatrooper5 Magic was first published in 1993. The first Pokémon games (on which the entire rest of the franchise, including the TCG, is based on) were first released in Japan in 1996. So unless the "Wizards" part in WOTC's name is literal, I severely doubt that.

[@Nasonix2]

What Paratrooper said was untrue

[@emotikonrad]

PTCG wasn't created by WotC. Wizards were responsible for introduction of the game in the US and the rest of the world three years after it's been created. They held the publishing licence for four years (between 1999 and 2003).

[@demitriafallscon2732]

Oh my God, I'm do glad this popped up in my recommended! Used to play this game as a kid all the time with my brother and friends... I thought I didn't remember anything but this video refreshed my memory completely. Thanks for making this video, it's detailed yet simple (if only we had a guide like this back in the day). ❤️

[@StoicBarbarian]

I'm more confused now then I was 10 minutes ago when I had absolutely no idea how to play pokemon.

[@juanjonesband]

Hahajahahahahaha same here!

[@snezzylvvr]

Nobody: Medicine commercials: 4:21

[@lavi-lulu3249]

"I summon my Charizared.... in attack mode."

[@wingz1595]

Ah, a fellow ygo player

[@YourLocalFurinaEnjoyer]

Theodd1out?

[@nhinguyenthikieu168]

I play my dragonite.... in defense mode

[@kennyiskenny7786]

@@nhinguyenthikieu168 You activated my trap card! Scroll of the Skies

[@4evermilkman]

Never stop doing what you do, people are gonna be learning from you for many years to come :)

[@Kuehnpiano]

great video Professor, this will help me out learning how to play Pokemon with my daughter.

[@gregkata461]

Homie, I don't even really play TCG, but they fascinate me. I could listen to you explain anything. You really nailed your format, and I appreciate your effort.

[@emmettenglish1537]

This is the first step for me and my son to start playing the game together. As an mtg player I'm thrilled to get him started in the card game world. Thanks for this.

[@putonghua73]

As advised to another Dad / Uncle, if you want to teach your kid MTG one day, Jumpstart (original - rather than the diluted Dominaria version) is the way to go: buy 4 packs (2 packs for each player) of Jumpstart, rip em' open, jam em' together, shuffle up, and play. Each pack contains a 'theme' e.g. Ninjas, Dinosaurs, Pirates, Zombies, etc, and 2 packs make your deck. No need to construct a deck - just jam 2 packs together, shuffle up and play! WOTC unusually provided a decent out of the box (pack) experience, without the need to spend more money. Wild, I know given their track record for hoovering up money from their playbase until they suck lint.

[@5MinuteMaj0r]

Thanks for sharing the basics. Being GenX with a 7yo asking me how to play had me at a complete loss. Today starts something new for both of us.

[@joea2484]

LOL I’m not the only one on the same situation

[@clangvictiongaming1883]

great video, very informative, and I'm glad to see the channel branching out and exploring other tcg games

[@atliszilla445]

To make the game spicy, Grab a land and a creature and place it on to the battlefield with that place a Trap Card and the dark magician. This will not only make the game fun but it confuses the player. Have fun.

[@atliszilla445]

@Sou Rany thats my favorite pokemon from 5th Gen.

[@robsteier1049]

You're a life saver! My daughter is big into Pokemon, I had zero clue to how to play. So you're video was super helpful! Thank you!!!!

[@Krackorn]

Checked your most popular video and it’s on Pokémon at 2 million views! Your a magic channel! Love you Brian!

[@whencatsinvade]

your voice and the instructions are so clear, i appreciate this quite a bit

[@c0ricori]

My dad didn’t know how to play Pokémon cards and the rest of my family

[@dfgdfffh]

Thank you, Tolarian, for creating such an impactful and wonderful guide to the Pokemon Card World, you are GREATLY appreciated, sir!!

[@TheAdminJ]

i was waiting for "many magic:the gathering players ask the question:"

[@ChadHex]

"Many Magic: The Gathering players ask the question 'How do I play the Pokémon Trading Card Game?'"

[@mistery8363]

i dont get it...

[@usudnik4561]

@@mistery8363 Proffesor (guy in the video) starts his videos about MtG with that sentence.

[@christianwestervelt3095]

Thank you so much for this video. My son really wants to play Pokemon TCG with me and now I have the basic understanding of the rules to play a game with him.

[@jkatt100]

Had cards growing up but never learned to play. My now 5yo is starting to like Pokémon so it’s time to learn and play together!

[@GameZone-rj4xu]

negative 20 less = 20 more professer

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

yes, yes, mathematics is lovely.

[@GameZone-rj4xu]

nitpicking wooooooo!

[@ZenoDLC]

He's not a math major

[@PlantDaddy1991]

Not sure why I watched this, but I guess I know how to play this now.

[@Aldonite]

Bro Pokémon is so fun, my favorite monster is Dark Magician

[@Wcocoon]

Wtf its yugio

[@yesno4065]

RANGE r/wooooosh

[@ClassicNguyen]

My nephews are starting to play pokemon, so decided to pick it up again. Was looking for a guide on how to play and watched several, but you have the most informative video yet. Basics, rules, the displays were excellent. Thanks for the content!

[@roundaboutcitizen]

so, i always find my self back with TCC to learn new things. be it things about MT:G which i no longer play but still learn about or more recently Pokémon TCG. your videos are always well produced, precise, and well spoken. i struggle to find anybody else who can reach your level of genuine care for theses games and their community's, or your production value and sharp looks. thank you for being here.

[@evil_tree]

I really like your suits how do you decide the combination of colors?

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Just whatever I am in the mood for that day. Sometimes I try and match the outfit to the video's general vibe.

[@gemofmagic9436]

Jeffrey Zom if you wear vests often enough they become just another part of you, like a ring or bracelet you always wear, you don't even notice it. - a frequent vest-wearer from Australia

[@AugmentedAugust]

As someone who can't play tcg in person currently, I just recently got into pokemon because of the extreme quality of their online game. It perfectly mimics the paper version, with formats like standard, expanded, and legacy. It even has a trading market, where you can trade valuable cards or even booster packs for staples you need for decks. The fact that you get free online packs for buying paper packs really seals the deal, for me. I was able to buy a booster box of the latest set in person and instantly traded the online packs for all the cards I needed for my greninja break deck, which has been an absolute blast to play! They even have tournaments in every format that have booster prizes. I have been loving the pokemon content you've been doing lately, but I would be especially happy to see a video on the online version, which I think without a doubt is the strongest online port of a TCG I've ever seen.

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Very true.

[@creature2711]

Wow, I've been reluctant to try Pokemon being a MTG player all my life, but prof, you are making me considering giving it a go 👌🏻 Quality video indeed

[@derekcstahl]

Thank you for this, learning to play again with my kid. I played as a young man but have forgotten over the years!

[@onyx.avenger]

Thanks for this primer, Prof! I follow mostly for MTG, but now I'm "the cool uncle" who's gonna play with my friend's elementary schooler!

[@jordantim5141]

Imagine opening a fans safe and alot of energy cards just fall on you XD

[@zombiemaster823]

TCC drinking game, every time the prof says pokemon take a drink.

[@alexlozano5021]

I...I...I think I need (hiccup) a new liver.

[@Mrtfarrugia]

+Alex “Deviantquest” Lozano you're such a lightweight ;-)

[@David-gj9qr]

Mrtfarrugia I don’t think you understand how much alcohol affects someone. According to someone else in this comment section the prof says Pokémon 20 times in two minutes. After 20 drinks someone will most likely be passed out drunk.

[@BrandonBowditch]

Mrtfarrugia Says the man who has probably never had a proper drink in his life

[@brianlynch4404]

Of water?

[@KhanGarth]

Please do some budget Pokémon decks if you can Prof. I wanna jump in but have no clue what kind of deck I want.

[@ressezpbmonk]

Greninja is relatively cheap and very competitive!

[@ForeverLaxx]

The big problem with Pokemon currently is the power level of the game has spiraled out of control. I picked up some tournament decks a few years ago and it's insane how much the power level increased from back when I used to play. And I used to play when Big Basics was the meta deck. Scythers, Magmars, Electabuzzes... that deck wouldn't even function fast enough in the new game, and that's frightening.

[@ressezpbmonk]

ForeverLaxx Big basics is still basically a deck lol they're just different a bigger basics =p

[@ForeverLaxx]

ressezpbmonk That's the problem, though. Chansey having 120 HP used to be a big deal, Scyther and crew sitting at 70 HP was important, but now everything has tons of HP and has huge damage attacks that are easy to set up. It's very Yugioh-esque in the amount of powercreep that's happened. Each new set has to have cards that outdo the old versions and I don't know why developers of games like these are so prone to falling into that trap. Wizards has been around for a long time and avoids that trap for the most part, but Konami and The Pokemon Company insist on using an abusive model to drive future set sales.

[@ressezpbmonk]

ForeverLaxx Well what do you expect in almost 20 years? And I thought you were referring to the deck of a couple of years ago called "Big Basics", not haymaker lol There was plenty of crazy and stupid draw power back in the day as well though so honestly not too much has changed.

[@percivalyracanth1528]

What's crazy about the game is that it pretty much revolves around huge amounts of drawing and resource recursion, rather than resource building, fighting, or board-building (though of course there're elements of those as well). Like, Trainer cards are pretty much THE most important cards, whereas Pokemon become somewhat secondary, and Energy are only tertiary. At least, that's how the modern game has turned out. The older shape of the game is much slower, and HP is much lower, though Trainers are still as weighty.

[@The0_oface]

i greatly appreciate the tutorial!!!! my boy has been begging me to learn now for months... thank you i dropped that like button as well good sir!

[@PlaneswalkerProject]

Loving the Pokémon content! Might there be a review of the online application in comparison to MTGO in the works?

[@l_scanu8645]

Planeswalker Project Please do that, that'll be awesome!

[@HausofMagic]

If MTGO had the ability to scan my cards in I'd pay the money to play there.

[@kendrawarren660]

Thank you! I knew my kid was changing and making up rules to win. Watch me take all his cards now!!!!! Bwa-hahahaha!!!!

[@stevewojcik7607]

Thank you for taking the time and putting this together. I am now ready to attempt to destroy my son! MUAHAHAA

[@KetsubanSolo]

I mean that's on-brand with Pokemon

[@clownwarlord]

My daughter asked for Pokémon cards for Christmas, so I grabbed two starter decks. One for her and one for me. Thanks for the video it will help us learn to play.

[@Burningtreeblood]

Found your channel with mtg and daughter started playing Pokemon cards. It’s interesting to see a young professor. You’ve done well 👍🏽

[@wwezombiegod]

Online, free, works, legit. Why not say the music playing in the game is metal

[@alexandra8619]

I love how he says Poke-a-mon and not Poke-E-mon

[@Starfury117]

I don't play Pokemon TCG so this video was great material. I do have a question though, is there any restrictions aside max of 4 for the same EX cards? If they don't need basic pokemon for EX cards, whats stopping people from using exslusively EX pokemons? They all seem to have more health, better attacks, less restrictions (EX charizard vs charzard) than their counter parts. Thanks for clarification.

[@yvesm.8855]

Well normally when an opponent knocks out a pokemon he draws 1 prize card. If you knock out an EX card you draw 2 prize cards. So using EX cards increases the chance of losing in a way. Also there are some pokemon with abilities or attacks hindering or even blocking EX pokemon from attacking all together so using only EX cards is not a great idea.

[@Starfury117]

Wow, Prof... you totally missed some very important information in your video =( Thanks for clarification btw.

[@Fjienz]

There is a ridiculous amount of pokemon cards with different effects/abilities. Mostly every pokemon has a counter card to it, so you can't count the prof to show you all of these.

[@StarkMaximum]

Starfury117 There's also a lot of Pokemon with abilities and attacks that protect them from or do extra damage to EX Pokemon. For example, there's a Regice with an attack that causes it to ignore all damage and effects from EX Pokemon. I have, in the past, used it as a tank against popular EX Pokemon to swing at them without taking any damage in return. Having nothing but EX Pokemon leaves you vulnerable to Pokemon that counter them.

[@charliechipchip1786]

I’ve started to get back into collecting Pokémon Cards. I’ve never really played the actual card game, I just collect the cards and play the video games. Your video is tempting me to start playing the TCG now😂

[@stonehorn4641]

Started playing this with my nephew this morning. He's teaching me Pokémon tcg while I teach him warhammer. He got the better deal, since I gave him a whole fyreslayers army (he's 10, he can't afford his own).

[@michaelgilliam8781]

Thanks. Trying to learn how to play with my son again after not playing since I was his age hahaha.

[@mekk-knightsarecool222]

What a legend of a parent!

[@philaspen6569]

Oh if only mtgo was free and paper boosters provided codes for digital packs.

[@aramondehasashi3324]

I know right! When i first heard of MTGO i thought it was dumb they didn't do the code thing for paper.

[@MassFlare]

I remember being a kid and being so confused by how to play the Pokemon card game, since I think they didn't come with a how to play instruction manual in the packs.

[@MasterDoctorBenji]

MassFlare I used to pretend it was like the video game I would draw a random Pokemon from a bag as an "encounter" try and catch it. then go to "gyms" where there would be 6 like typed cards and try to get 8 badges.

[@CaptainScarLeg]

Depends what you buy, if you just buy booster packs you just get some random cards as with any card game but instruction manuals/rule books are included with every theme deck. If you buy one of the Starter/Beginner 2-player deck sets the cards are even ordered specifically with a guide to walk players through their first game to teach them how it works. They've done that since the game started and still do it today.

[@thedanchannel7428]

Benjamin Saunders same... lol

[@madarauchia9211]

I have never played pokemon outside the gba games. I played only yugioh and i have always wondered how to play the pokemon tcg game since i was a child. Thanks for your very easy to understand and informative video.

[@charlesvictoria6800]

Collected the cards as a kid. Never knew how to play. Finally youtubed on how to play after all these years. Better late than never.

[@dakenhowlett]

Top. Notch video prof

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Thanks! I worked really hard on it. :)

[@swiftdragonrider]

Tolarian Community College cant you moligan to oblivion and force your opp to draw there whole deck?

[@GlaciesFrost13]

Did you decide to do this after the stream the other night? That was fun

[@G0ldnFen1x]

Arie Gelfand You can't. You can never choose to mulligan. If you have one basic Pokémon in your hand, even if the rest of the hand is garbage, you keep that hand. Your opponent may also choose not to draw the extra card.

[@justinm2094]

I like how he went P.B.S on us at the end. "From viewers like you. Thank u!" LMFAO😁

[@josuemacias7562]

Doesn't this guy sounds like the pokedex voice

[@thriftypsgr]

I just my my son Pokémon academy for Christmas and I am excited to play with him on Christmas day

[@geicothegecko8124]

i never knew how fun and interesting playing the game by the actual rules would be.

[@TTPMMA]

hey professor, you want to try explaining yu-gi-oh. good luck if you do

[@nightmaretroubadour2216]

Brandon Vo He wouldn't have that much trouble until he started talking about the extra deck.

[@breakfastscrub]

Nightmare Troubadour but there's also rulings that aren't really explained in rule books such as missed timing, when to activate, chain links, etc.

[@sircomeference2159]

“Inexpensive to play”

[@JazzyWaffles]

This guy really likes placing the wrong emphAsis on the wrong syllAble. LMAO

[@honukane242]

Actually he's saying Pokemon the way it was intended. There are other ways you can say it though.

[@FigBoot2001]

I've been recently playing with my wife and kid again and kept getting into debates if you could evolve a pokemon during the same turn you played it to your bench. You answered that for us.... Thanks!

[@youngorion1524]

this was really helpful. looking to get back into the game after many years of not being able to when i first started buying them and had no one to play with; all the feels right now.

[@HaloXfan]

could you do a how to play yugioh?

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

In the works,.

[@HaloXfan]

why not? is yugioh that bad?

[@goblin8689]

XToverdrive you mean opinions

[@rgar2913]

+Tolarian Community College professor, do you dabble in yugioh? if so, the community could very well benefit from your personal touch. I came to magic from yugioh purely bc of your videos.

[@cassidybros2512]

How to play Yugioh......Throw in trash.

[@chris-uz2ik]

"inexpensive to play" *Laughs in 2021*

[@sansolo7631]

We are here from the future and you're not gonna believe this

[@joshyboy1983]

So WOTC created PTCG? To quote King ross from Whatculture Wrestling.... Its time to grab 2 of each animal & head for the B***ARD BORDER!!!!!

[@TheFriendlyfire21]

Random sir on the internet, i respect your reference so much

[@joshyboy1983]

Why, thank you, random sir.

[@immersion726]

"The end is nigh, The end is nigh F**king run away the end is nigh."

[@willt9789]

Joshua Brou

[@mattygator3197]

This taught me to play, I’m 22 and my little cousin asked how to play so naturally I looked up how and this mans appeared. Thanks a ton man

[@-cactus.raven-]

My younger sister was starting to get into Pokémon, probably due to me getting into FaB. Wanted to learn how to play before getting her a battle deck as a gift. Thanks for teaching me prof.