Pokémon
Route 1: How to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game
How do you play the Pokémon TCG? Check out this guide to learn more!
October 22, 2024
Route 2: The Pokémon League - Where Can I Play Pokémon?
You have your cards. You built your deck. And now you’ve learned how to play the Pokémon TCG. What’s next for you? The second entry on the path to becoming a Pokémon master is about teaching you what, where, and how you can play Pokémon in your local area. Where can you find Pokémon leagues and dive into battles with other trainers?
Alex Kivitz
The Play! Pokémon Program - Embarking On Your Journey
The Play! Pokémon program is Pokémon’s own organised play system for all things Pokémon. This ranges from the video games to Pokémon Go, to Pokémon Unite, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The program as a whole is designed to facilitate all trainers’ needs from playing at their first local leagues to the world championship stage. In a future article, we will discuss the levels of organised play in more detail, but for now let’s talk about signing up for, and going to a Pokémon League near you.
Pokémon League is a fun and easy way to find other trainers in your area and play some games. You can show up with your very own deck, and cards you want to trade, and maybe even win some fun prizes. Pokémon League events are a great way to get together with other Pokémon fans to practise the basics of the game, train, and all around have fun. These leagues are held everywhere and the most important step to joining is finding out where they are. Luckily there is a very handy Pokémon League locator available here (Event Locator | Pokemon.com) on the Pokémon website.
Once you’ve found a Pokémon League near you, it’s time to create your Pokémon Trainer Club account. This account lets you join and track events you attend, keep an account of your Champion Points and Play! Points, and let you enter larger tournaments as well. You gain Champion Points for winning more competitive events and you gain Play! Points for attending leagues.
You do not need a Pokémon Trainer Club account to attend League events but they are required to attend League Cups and League Challenges. One of the best parts of playing at League events is the cool exclusive prize packs you can get simply by joining.
What Other Events Are There?
The main focus of Leagues is to get players together in a non-competitive setting and let fun and casual battles happen. Once you arrive at your local League location, there should always be a Pokémon Professor there to help out any new trainers. These League days are not only focused on the trading card game as well. Trainers can bring their video games and battle, or even explore the wilds together in Pokémon Go.
Pokémon Leagues also are a great way to experience the newest Pokémon TCG sets. When a new set is released, Leagues will hold Pre-release tournaments. These usually will include a variety of pre-made decks given to each participant, along with booster packs to hunt for those shiny Pokémon for your deck. The new cards and premade decks make it an ideal entry experience for all new players, putting everyone on the same playing field and discovering the brand new Pokémon for the first time.
Recap
Let’s outline everything you need to start playing Pokémon and meeting new trainers in your area.
1. First, find a League near you using the Store Locator.
2. Create your Pokémon Trainer Club account
3. Find the dates your local Leagues have events and sign up
4. Bring your cards and your decks, meet new friends, and have fun!
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