Pokemon cards are part of a collectible card game that is popular among kids and adults. The card game involves battling between two or more players using Pokemon creatures as the basis for their decks. The cards depict the creatures as well as the trainers that control them. Some of the cards depict evolutions, while others act as energy or supporter cards used to power up the creature and aid in its carrying out the trainer’s orders. Some cards can also be discarded for special effects.
The most common way to win is by knocking out six of the opponent’s Pokemon and collecting prize cards, which are placed aside at the start of a turn. The first player to do this wins. Other ways to win include capturing all of the opponent’s Pokemon or having a full bench. This can be accomplished by attacking with attacks that reduce the Pokemon’s HP to zero.
Players begin the game by setting up their decks in a play area, known as the field. Each player places one Basic Pokemon from their hand face down as their Active Pokemon, revealing it after setup. The rest of the cards are placed in the player’s bench, which can contain up to five Pokemon. If a player does not have a Basic in their hand at the start of their turn, they must take a mulligan, which entails showing their hand to their opponent and reshuffleing their deck before drawing seven new cards from the top.
On the front of each card is the Pokemon’s name and its hit points, or HP. The Pokemon’s type is denoted by a color or symbol, such as a lightning bolt for an electric Pokemon. The move set and attack damage are listed in smaller text on the bottom of the card. The back of the card contains more details about the Pokemon’s stats, such as its retreat cost and any special abilities it may have.
Once both players have their hands of seven cards, they choose which to keep and discard the rest. The player with the highest leveled Pokemon takes the first turn. Then each player alternates turns. During each turn, the player may draw a card, battle one of his or her opponent’s Pokemon, use an attack, or play a stadium card.
If a Pokemon receives total damage that is equal to or greater than its HP, it is “knocked out.” It is removed from the game and discarded. The player can then claim one of its six prize cards. The game continues until all of the Pokemon are either knocked out or have claimed all six prize cards. If there are no more Pokemon to battle, the player who has claimed all of the prize cards wins the game. The Pokemon trading card game helps children develop socialization skills, as they work with their friends to build and maintain their decks. It also motivates them to be apart of consumer culture, which is a positive development in itself. Pokemon cards