Difference between Pokemon TCG Pocket (Pokemon Card App) and the traditional physical card game. See differences in cards, battle rules and decks for Pokemon TCGP.
Table of Contents
Card Differences
- Physical Cards and Cards in the App
- Different Rarity Symbols
- New “Immersive Cards”
Physical Cards And Cards In The App
Cards that have appeared in the physical Pokemon card game do not appear in the Pokemon card app. Cards have been adjusted for the app, such as the Charizard ex below, where HP and damage are adjusted for the app.
Physical | App |
---|---|
Different Rarity Symbols
The rarity symbols in the Pokemon card app differ from those of physical cards. In the app, the rarity is indicated by the number of “♦︎” or “★” symbols.
Rarity | |||
---|---|---|---|
New “Immersive Cards” Introduced
The Pokemon card app features a special kind of card called “Immersive Cards.” These cards allow you to experience the feeling of jumping into the world of the card’s illustration.
Deck Differences
- Decks consist of 20 cards
- Only up to 2 of the same cards allowed
- No Energy Cards
Decks Consists of 20 Cards
In the Pokemon card app, decks must be composed of 20 cards. You can also use the auto-build feature to create a deck automatically.
Only Up To 2 of The Same Cards Allowed
You can only include up to 2 of the same cards in a deck. However, note that regular Pokemon and Pokemon ex cards are treated as different cards.
No Energy Cards
Unlike physical Pokemon cards, Energy Cards are not included in decks in the Pokemon card app. Instead, there is a new feature called the “Energy Zone.”
Battle Differences
- New Energy Zone Feature
- Prize Cards Replaced by Point System
- Bench Size Limited To 3 Cards
- First Turn Is Different
- Initial Hand Size Is 5 Cards
- Hand Size Limit Of 10 Cards
- Turn Limit Of 30 Turns
- Deck Exhaustion Doesn’t Result In A Loss
- Weakness Is Calculated As +20 Damage
- No Resistance
New Energy Zone Feature
The Pokemon card app features a new “
Prize Cards Replaced by Point System
Pokemon TCG Pocket does not use prize cards and instead, a point system determines who wins. The first player to earn 3 points by knocking out the opponent’s Pokemon wins.
Bench Size Limited To 3 Cards
In the physical Pokemon card game, the bench size is limited to 5 cards, but in the app, it is limited to 3 cards.
First Turn Actions Is Different
App | Physical | |
---|---|---|
Support Cards | ✓ | ✕ |
Attack | ✓ | ✕ |
Attach Energy | ✕ | ✓ |
The differences for the first turn are that support cards can be used, attacks can be used, but you cannot attach energy from the Energy Zone.
Support Cards Can Be Used
In the physical Pokemon card game, support cards cannot be used on the first turn, but in the app they can be used on the first turn.
Attacks Can Be Used
In the physical game, you also aren't able to attack the opponent on the first turn, but in the app this is allowed.
Cannot Attach Energy
Energy cannot be attached on the first turn in the app, as energy does not appear in the Energy Zone until the second turn. Energy attachment becomes possible from the second turn onward.
Initial Hand Size Is 5 Cards
You draw 5 cards at the start of a match. Since decks have 20 cards, this means you draw 1/4 of your deck at the start of the game.
No Mulligan Rule
In the app, there will always be at least one Basic Pokemon in your starting hand of 5 cards, so there is no
Hand Size Limit Of 10 Cards
The hand size limit is 10 cards. If you exceed this limit, cards are sent to the discard pile.
Turn Limit Of 30 Turns
A single game is limited to 30 turns. If the match reaches the turn limit in the app, the match ends in a draw.
Deck Exhaustion Doesn’t Result In A Loss
In the Pokemon card app, you do not lose if your deck runs out of cards. In such cases, you simply skip your draw phase for the rest of the game.
Weakness Is Calculated As +20 Damage
In the physical game, weakness is calculated using a multiplier (×2), but in the app it is calculated as an additional 20 damage.
No Resistance
In the physical game, resistance can reduce the damage a Pokemon takes, but in the app there is no resistance.