Rules by Era

Highlighted text, points out which rules changed from the previous era.


• Players flip coin AFTER setup - winner of flip MUST go first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 2 cards per mulligan, as they occur.

(if a player's opening hand contains only a Fossil(s) card, they may choose to mulligan)

• Player going First:

~ player draws a card to start their turn

~ player has no card restrictions

~ player CAN attack

• Players may retreat as many times per turn as they choose.

• If player's Pokémon is confused & wants to retreat: pay retreat cost (first), then flip a coin.

~ If Heads:

• proceed with retreat

~ If Tails:

• retreat fails, leaving Pokémon confused and remaining Active

• confused Pokémon can NOT attempt to retreat again this turn

• Players CAN play multiple Stadium cards per turn.

(Including Stadiums of the same name)

("Stadiums" are simply Trainers)


Weakness x2

Resistance -30

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 20 dmg (weakness & resistance applies)

Burn = coin flip between turns

~ if heads = no damage, but Pokémon remains burned

~ if tails = 2 damage counters and Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 1999-2002's rules.


• Players flip coin BEFORE setup - winner of flip chooses who goes first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, as they occur.

(if a player's opening hand contains only a Fossil(s) card, they may choose to mulligan)

• Player going First:

~ player does NOT draw a card to start their turn

~ player can NOT play Supporters

~ player CAN attack

• Players may use card effects to evolve Basic Pokémon on the first turn and or the turn they're played.

• Players can only retreat once per turn.

(coinflip no longer required to retreat confused Pokemon)

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.

(Players CAN replace in-play Stadiums with Stadiums of the same name)

(Stadiums are considered Trainers)


Weakness x2

Resistance -30

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = coin flip between turns

~ if heads = no damage, but Pokémon remains burned

~ if tails = 2 damage counters and Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 2003-2004's rules.


• Players flip coin AFTER setup - winner of flip chooses who goes first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, as they occur.

(if a player's opening hand contains only a Fossil(s) card, they may choose to mulligan)

• Player going First:

~ player does NOT draw a card to start their turn

~ player can NOT play Supporters

~ player CAN attack

• Players may use card effects to evolve Basic Pokémon on the first turn and or the turn they're played.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.

(Players can NOT replace in-play Stadiums with Stadiums of the same name)

(Stadiums are considered Trainers)


Weakness x2

Resistance -30

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = coin flip between turns

~ if heads = no damage, but Pokémon remains burned

~ if tails = 2 damage counters and Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 2005's rules.


• Players flip coin AFTER setup - winner of flip MUST go first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, as they occur.

(if a player's opening hand contains only a Fossil(s) card, player MUST start with it)

• Player going First:

~ player does NOT draw a card to start their turn

~ player can NOT play Supporters

~ player CAN attack

• Players may use card effects to evolve Basic Pokémon on the first turn and or the turn they're played.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.

(Players can NOT replace in-play Stadiums with Stadiums of the same name)


Weakness x2

Resistance -30

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = coin flip between turns

~ if heads = no damage, but Pokémon remains burned

~ if tails = 2 damage counters and Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 2006's rules.


(Beginning w/ Diamond & Pearl's release)


• Players flip coin AFTER setup - winner of flip MUST go first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, as they occur.

(if a player's opening hand contains only a Fossil(s) card, player MUST start with it)

• Fossils are now treated as Pokémon, if Knocked Out, they give up a prize card.

(no prize card is taken if simply discarded from play however)

• Player going First:

~ player draws a card to start their turn

~ player can NOT play Supporters, Stadiums, nor Trainers

~ player CAN attack

• Players may use card effects to evolve Basic Pokémon on the first turn and or the turn they're played.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.

(Stadiums are NOT considered Trainers)


(Weakness & Resistance specified on some cards, otherwise )

Weakness x2

Resistance -30

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = coin flip between turns

~ if heads = no damage, but Pokémon remains burned

~ if tails = 2 damage counters and Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 2007-2010's rules.


(Beginning w/ Black & White's release)


• Players flip coin AFTER setup - winner of flip MUST go first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, as they occur.

(if a player's opening hand contains only a Fossil(s) card, player MUST start with it)

• Fossils are treated as Pokémon, if Knocked Out, they give up a prize card.

(no prize card is taken if simply discarded from play however)

• Player going First:

~ player draws a card to start their turn

~ player has no card restrictions

~ player CAN attack

• Cards specify whether they can, or can't, be used to evolve Pokémon on the first turn or turn they're played.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.


(Weakness & Resistance specified on cards)

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = coin flip between turns

~ if heads = no damage, but Pokémon remains burned

~ if tails = 2 damage counters and Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 2011-2013's rules.


(Beginning w/ XY's release)


• Players flip coin BEFORE setup - winner of flip chooses who goes first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, after setup is complete.

(number of mulligan cards opponent chooses to draw, must be announced prior)

• Player going First:

~ player draws a card to start their turn

~ player has no card restrictions

~ player can NOT attack

• Cards specify whether they can, or can't, be used to evolve Pokémon on the first turn or turn they're played.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.


(Weakness & Resistance specified on cards)

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = coin flip between turns

~ if heads = no damage, but Pokémon remains burned

~ if tails = 2 damage counters and Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 2014-2019's rules.


(Beginning w/ Sun & Moon's release)


• Players flip coin BEFORE setup - winner of flip chooses who goes first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, after setup is complete.

(number of mulligan cards opponent chooses to draw, must be announced prior)

• Player going First:

~ player draws a card to start their turn

~ player has no card restrictions

~ player can NOT attack

• Cards specify whether they can, or cant, be used to evolve Pokémon on the first turn or turn they're played.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.


(Weakness & Resistance specified on cards)

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = 2 damage counters between turns

(after burn damage is placed, player flips a coin)

~ if heads = Pokémon is healed of burn

~ if tails = Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of 2014-2019's rules.


(Beginning w/ Sword & Shield's release)


• Players flip coin BEFORE setup - winner of flip chooses who goes first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, after setup is complete.

(number of mulligan cards opponent chooses to draw, must be announced prior)

• Player going First:

~ player draws a card to start their turn

~ player can NOT play Supporters

~ player can NOT attack

• Cards specify whether they can, or cant, be used to evolve Pokémon on the first turn or turn they're played.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.


(Weakness & Resistance specified on cards)

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = 2 damage counters between turns

(after burn damage is placed, player flips a coin)

~ if heads = Pokémon is healed of burn

~ if tails = Pokémon remains burned

Click here to download or print a PDF version of modern rules.


(Beginning w/ Scarlet & Violet's release)


• Players flip coin BEFORE setup - winner of flip chooses who goes first.

• For each mulligan, opponent may draw up to 1 card per mulligan, after setup is complete.

(number of mulligan cards opponent chooses to draw, must be announced prior)

• Player going First:

~ player draws a card to start their turn

~ player can NOT play Supporters

~ player can NOT attack

• Cards specify whether they can, or cant, be used to evolve Pokémon on the first turn or turn they're played.

• Tool Cards are NOT considered Items.

• Players can only play one Stadium card per turn.


(Weakness & Resistance specified on cards)

Poison = 1 damage counter between turns

Confusion = 30 dmg (weakness & resistance does NOT apply)

Burn = 2 damage counters between turns

(after burn damage is placed, player flips a coin)

~ if heads = Pokémon is healed of burn

~ if tails = Pokémon remains burned