If you’re just starting out in Pokemon TCG Pocket it might be overwhelming to see the amount of packs that are available and not know which one to choose. This guide will help you narrow down your choices and give you the best shot at making a deck that can work in Ranked Matches.
If You Plan On Playing Ranked Matches
If you plan on playing ranked matches you should pull the newest pack available and trade for the rest. Oftentimes when a new pack is released, the cards in that pack define that meta. Also when a new pack is released this also means all the other previous packs are opened up for trading.
For example, if you started playing during Shining Revelry (A2b) then you would have tried to make a Giratina, Darkrai deck.
Making a common DarkTina deck (at the time)
- Giratina x2 – Obtained from Shining Revelry
- Darkrai x2 – Trade
- Professor’s Research x2 – Shop
- Poke Ball x2 – Shop
- Potion x2 – Shop
- Giant Cape x2 – Trade
- Rocky Helmet x2 – Trade
- Leaf x1 – Trade
- Pokemon Center Lady x2 – Obtained from Shining Revelry
- Red x1 – Obtained from Shining Revelry
- Sabrina x1 – Trade
- Cyrus x1 – Trade
If you find a deck you want to play but happen to be missing a card or 2 just replace it with any of the cards that are useful in almost every deck. You’ll be fine.
Section on how to find out the current meta and how to trade below.
Cards Useful In Almost Every Deck
These are the cards that can fit into any deck and if you’re just starting out you should try to find at least 1 copy of these cards.
Pack Cards
- Sabrina
- Cyrus
- Giovanni
- Giant Cape
- Rocky Helmet
- Pokemon Center Lady
- Poison Barb
- Repel
- Guzma
- Team Rocket Grunt
Shop Cards
- Potion
- Red Card
- Poke Ball
- Professor’s Research
There are other cards that are great but usually only work with certain cards, like Lusamine, and don’t fit into every possible deck.
How To Find Out What The Meta is?
When it comes to games, Meta refers to the most popular and most effective deck or strategies used. The decks that are Meta are almost always ones that have high win rates and are consistent.
If you don’t want to theory craft with cards yourself just go to limitlesstcg find the most current pokemon tcg pocket tournament and see what is doing well. There will also be tons of youtube videos that will be released telling you what is good in that meta.
Keep in mind that the Meta can change and usually shifts a lot in the first 2 weeks of new cards being released. You can just wait till the meta is more set to build your deck or just start right away and see what happens.
Just try not to wait so long that you don’t even have time to rank up. How rank works guide here.
How To Trade and Get Cards?
Currently, it is very difficult to trade with random strangers. The best way is to join a discord group and offer up trades there. It is near impossible to get scammed since there are multiple checks of what card you’ll get and what card you’ll give. Your favorite Pokémon pocket youtuber will definitely have a discord channel where you can go and get some trades.
If you’re ranked focused just get the lowest rarity version of that card. Full Arts look great and all but they cost more to trade and are inefficient when you’re just trying to build the best deck.
Pulling Packs For Casuals?
Even if you’re a casual player, I really recommend playing some ranked matches. This guide will tell you how rank works and how to get the most out of it even if you play minimally.
If you’re pulling packs as a collector and you’re new, it is impossible to get everything you want without spending money on the game. The best way to go about it would be to open every pack evenly until you’ve gotten everything you want.