r/pkmntcg

Good morning!

Recently, many of you may have noticed a sudden influx of AI bots posting on the subreddit, as well as Reddit as a whole. With the US election season in full swing, a lot of these accounts are trying to build up positive karma across multiple subreddits to make themselves look like real people. Their goal is to establish credibility so that when they eventually start posting propaganda, their accounts appear legitimate.

These bots are able to get around our anti bot measures we've put in place, such as account age and low karma requirements, by swarming other subreddits and interacting with users to build up karma.

One of the biggest indicators that these accounts are bots is that they frequently use outdated or incorrect information when discussing the Pokemon Trading Card Game. A lot of their responses read like what you'd get from asking ChatGPT or Gemini a question about the game, with information that sounds convincing at first but doesn't actually hold up. A good example is telling our users to purchase a Charizard League Battle Deck for a upcoming Regional as if it was in standard, Or my personal favorite, a bot telling users that Boss's Order is one of the least played cards in the format because of how hated it is.

To combat this, we've installed a Reddit app called Bot Bouncer, which has done a tremendous job of weeding out these accounts. Since it was installed on October 1st, Bot Bouncer has banned 48 accounts on r/pkmntcg alone. This number is only amplified when taking into account bots banned directly by Reddit, or by the Moderator team. That said, we've still had a few slip through the cracks.

If you notice a comment that seems out of place or doesn't make sense, particularly when it comes to things like the current meta game, previously card out of rotation, purchasing starter decks, or deckbuilding advice, please report it to the moderators using the report option under the comment.

I've added a specific report reason called "Suspected bot account" to make it easier for us to identify these accounts, investigate them, and report them directly to Bot Bouncer for further review.

Edit : Only because I figured this would be a funny thing to share. Within 3 minutes of this post, Bot Bouncer removed a flagged account replying here who has 0 previous community posts, claiming they saw a bot here recently. So this is still a very active issue.

Played at a local match yesterday and my opponent pointed out that I was doing and it never really registered that I was doing that until he did, not sure if its considered annoying/bad manners.

I think this is okay for my own plays? I think I do something like:
"I draw for turn, hilda for loak, telepath. Attach telepath, find duskull, duskull, (shuffle deck) cut? Now recon for..." obviously slowed down as I take the time to search my deck and stuff.

But for my opponent, I observe what they're doing and narrate out their plays. If I see them use poffin for example, I'll verbally say "poffin", and when they take out cards, I also narrate their choices, example "Dreepy, Budew". Likewise, if they attach energy from hand, I say something to the effect of "hand attach psychic". If stuff hits the discard, I say something like "Ultra ball, toss Gwynn, budew" etc.

I think its a (bad?) habit because I'm trying to keep track of the board state and everything, but now I'm not sure if I should try to keep it in my head instead.

We only have two universal draw pokemon post rotation and one is a mega(meowth and kanga) , we only have a few good new items and the pokepad almost feel like they were forced to release it due to nestball leaving, and with BBP leaving next rotation the format is only slowing more, i dont feel next format is going to be too much fun if things continue like this

So the ideal play for Pult is to Budew lock me for a long while, make me KO the budew so that they can rosa, fez and unfair stamp me.

Should i be trying to KO budew asap, or actually let budew item lock me, and slowly set up while they set up too, and then just fight to see who runs out of steam first?

I sometimes feel that the game is decided by the draw frkm unfair stamp.

Does the strategy to deal with the early game of Pult vary deck to deck? Like some decks prefer slowly playing it out and some decks rather just keep attacking.

I am currebtly thinking that I should just be able to KO budew asap, break out of trainer lock, and just keep swinging. But sometimes i run out of steam after taking 4-5 prizes and lose the game.

so a local at my small local scene told me that for his next self ran- after league tournament, it would be something called petite cup, the only rules being max hp on pokemon being 90, and its unlimited card legality.

so my first thoughts was to play muligan mewtwo, as it is a running joke bewtween a couple of my local players, but then thinking seriously, my thought was sneasel slowking from neo. I'm curious if theres any other thoughts on any other decks that might be good, or other cards that might make good inclusions if i do go slowking sneasel?

edit: slowking is staying as support, but for attacker hide n sneak seems to be the best option, still looking to see if a spread attacker exists(I doubt it), and I also need to find something that can stop froslass

Hi all,

I just started playing in July. After getting absolutely bodied for months at my local tournament playing Pult and Lucario, I finally went 2-1-1 at my local last night playing Mega Starmie and I am stoked!

Last night I bricked hard against Slop Box. Was basically over by turn 3. Then I beat Mega Gengar and Mega Manectric and tied against Pult Hammers. I definitely made a few misplays but overall I was happy because I’d never won a game at my local before.

I really like this deck and I want to make it better. I was wondering if you had suggestions for my deck list.

Pokémon: 12
2 Snorunt ASC 46
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 288
1 Meowth ex POR 121
3 Mega Starmie ex POR 102
2 Drakloak TWM 129
2 Mega Froslass ex ASC 47
3 Staryu POR 20
1 Patrat CRI 70
1 Budew ASC 16
2 Dreepy ASC 158

Trainer: 17
3 Lillie's Determination MEG 184
3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin MEG 167
1 Xerosic's Machinations SFA 64
2 Battle Cage PFL 85
1 Hero's Cape TEF 152
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Special Red Card CRI 82
1 Mega Signal MEG 121
2 Hilda WHT 171
3 Poké Pad POR 113
3 Boss's Orders BRS 132
1 Salvatore TEF 160
1 Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 226
4 Wally's Compassion MEG 132
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Switch SVI 194

Energy: 5
4 Basic {W} Energy SVE 19
1 Bubbly {W} Energy CRI 84
3 Ignition Energy WHT 86

Total Cards: 60

I’m wondering about swapping Budew for a Shaymin for extra protection against Pult. Or maybe another stadium, but I’m not sure. Let me know what you think!

Am in a region where a lot of players play single prizes, such as HnS, Flead, Team Rocket Honchkrow, Alakazam.
Have had a bad matchup rondo today against those decks, am thinking how to improve but unsure how. Any tips would be appreciated!

My Zoroark has been losing temendously, and I am starting to think whether this deck is suitable for me as well..

Any other little tip to improve how to do tip would be great too!

Currently running this deck list by Liam Haliburton in the comments
Here’s the full 60-card list:

Pokémon (14)
4 N’s Zorua (JTG)
4 N’s Zoroark ex (JTG)
1 N’s Zekrom (ASC)
1 N’s Reshiram (JTG)
1 Munkidori (TWM)
1 Tatsugiri (TWM)
1 Fezandipiti ex (ASC)
1 Pecharunt ex (SFA)

Trainer (38)
4 Lillie’s Determination
4 Boss’s Orders
3 Cyrano
2 Judge
1 Black Belt’s Training
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin
4 Poké Pad
3 Ultra Ball
3 N’s PP Up
2 Night Stretcher
1 Special Red Card
1 Secret Box
1 Binding Mochi
1 Air Balloon
4 Team Rocket’s Watchtower

Energy (8)
8 Darkness Energy

Extremely new tcg player here last time I played was before COVID times and back then I was a kid so I didn't grasp it well

My favourite is clawitzer and I stumbled over the mega evolutions one with the ability "fall back and reload" one look at it and I knew I just had to

I've been brain storming a few ideas but I got zero clue how I should build around the lobster

Supporting pokemon I had in mind were Kyogre, palkia, Lapras or even well spring ogrepon

But like I said I'm inexperienced would love to hear some suggestions!

I don’t want to play with venusaur. My general game plan is get celebi early, set up bench behind it, and swing with teal mask if needed for early KO’s, or bayleaf if i need to stall. Then, get the normal meganium for big swings, or go for mega meganium buildup and energy switches to advance energy.

Any advice or input for the deck?

Pokémon: 8
3 Chikorita MEG 8
2 Mega Meganium ex ASC 10
4 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
2 Celebi MEG 12
2 Bayleef MEG 9
1 Meowth ex POR 121
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 288
2 Meganium MEG 10

Trainer: 16
4 Bug Catching Set PRE 102
1 Energy Retrieval WHT 82
1 Forest of Vitality POR 109
1 Judge POR 76
3 Ultra Ball ASC 264
2 Rare Candy MEG 175
1 Night Stretcher SSP 251
2 Dawn PFL 87
2 Energy Switch MEG 115
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
1 Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 226
1 Lana's Aid TWM 207
2 Poké Pad POR 113
4 Lillie's Determination MEG 184
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Forest of Vitality ASC 188

Energy: 1
13 Basic {G} Energy MEE 1

Total Cards: 60

Hey, y'all. I'm reworking a deck to better handle Alakazam. I'm looking to slot in either Judge or Xerosic's, but only have space for one.

If you could only have one, which one would you choose and why?

Or does anyone know of an example where someone has reported a store and can share what happened afterwards; whether any action was taken?

TIA

A new shop in my local area has started doing a new player night, for youngsters (or anyone really) to get started on the game.

As you might guess, turn out has been low.

I realise this is something all shops contend with, and I've ben to plenty of open sessions, league cups and competitions, but this is a littl;e different, an from a different pespective.

I would love to hear some ideas of what you would suggest for encouraging people to turn up, and getting such a session off the ground.

What are some of the basic requirements you would expect if you attended?
What sort of incentives do people respond to?
What have you done if you've run similar events of your own?

Intrigued to hear some ideas to help them get it going. thanks!

hello! i think that i've finally gotten much better at the TCG, but now i am stuck between 3 decks right now which is honchkrow pult hammers and zoroark. i wanted to lock in on a single deck to prepare for my country's premier ball league later this year, so just curious as to how you pick your decks? thanks

Are there any decent dragons that I can play as their own deck? I don't want to just use dragons as part of Regidrago VStar deck.

Hi all! My bf and I have been playing TCG Pocket since it came out and started playing TCG Live. We feel pretty comfortable with the rules and basic gameplay.

We are planning to go to our first card show soon and I want to build 2 decks that are balanced against each other, but also still somewhat competitive individually against local players at our card shop!

I was thinking a Dragapult ex deck and a Crustle deck. Ive been looking at Limitless for the actual decklists, but I am not really knowledgeable about the meta and actual gameplay of these decks, and I worry that one will just overpower the other.

Thank you all! Excited to start playing with real cards :D

Recently picked up Basic Box after a pretty decent but telling 2-3 night at locals with Chomp. Was my first time playing against people who were regional-tier players (or at least who went to a regional and competed, didn’t ask them about their placements). Good night all around and got a lot of pretty nice feedback on my play. But it all made me conclude that it was time to go away from a straight beat stick deck like Garchomp and into something that was a little more nuanced. And tbh I didn’t really expect to like Slop Box as much as I do. Thought it would be clunky and weird and tbh, without any guidance it definitely can be. But after a dozen or so games I’m very much liking the feel and want to play it as my main deck at locals. Just want to know your thoughts or advice with the deck and if there’s any nuggets of info that are vital to piloting it. Running a pretty stock version of it ripped from a top8 placement at worlds running Prime Catcher. Tbh I’m sold on the spec card since there’s a lot of talk around teching for tools atm and Im more inclined to go for the extra insurance against retreat lock since I can only comfortably use Iron Leaves once, maybe twice in a game if I push it

Pokémon: 15
2 Latias ex SSP 76
1 Chien-Pao SSP 56
1 Raging Bolt ex TEF 123
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 288
2 Lillie's Clefairy ex ASC 280
1 Iron Crown ex TEF 206
3 Meowth ex POR 121
4 Mega Kangaskhan ex MEP 25
1 Iron Leaves ex TEF 25
2 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 211
1 Enamorus TWM 93
1 Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 64

Trainer: 16
2 Cyrano SSP 170
4 Energy Switch PBL 107
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
2 Boss's Orders PAL 265
4 Ultra Ball 30C 128
4 Crispin PRE 171
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
3 Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
1 Special Red Card CRI 113
2 Glass Trumpet SCR 135
1 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145

Energy: 5
6 Basic {G} Energy SVE 17
2 Basic {P} Energy SVE 21
2 Basic {L} Energy SVE 20
2 Basic {F} Energy SVE 22
1 Basic {W} Energy MEE 3

Total Cards: 60

I run Basic Box and I can’t seem to stop a Garchomp deck no matter what I do, so I’m wondering what you as basic box players have done when they come across this deck.

I have played Festival lead for months and really like it. However I am struggling with all the pult and dead hands you get. I have looked at basic box but honestly I haven't really won a single game on PTCGL. Not one.

I get that it's a reactive deck and you are aiming to take a prize card asap, start with Kang, Crispin for grass for Teal and one for attacker etc. But I honestly cannot do anything with it. I feel like I have hit a wall. With Festival Lead I have done well in person, multiple top 4 finishes (but never won, hence trying to change the deck, always losing to Pult) and always hitting the master league on PTCGL.

So I have some skills, but this is so very different. Please can someone point me in the right direction, or give me some tips. I've tried for 4 days, an hour or so each time, and only win if they do really badly or they concede because they think I am do something I can't. I haven’t ever won properly.