Lots of people don't know a lot about what they're doing when they're making their first deck, so have a read through for some ideas of how to build your first deck!
Keep in mind that this is all general advice, certain decks should not follow all of the advice, but it's a good starting point.
Firstly, why should you even listen to me?
I'm a competitive player myself and while I don't have as much time to play now as I'd like, I still get games in when I can. I qualified for and competed at the Pokemon World Championships a couple of years back, so I know a little about building a deck so want to pass on some of the things I've learned.
How many of each type of card should I run?
It really depends on the deck but generally:
- Approx 12 Pokemon
- Approx 12 Energy
- Approx 12 draw supporters
- 4-6 other Supporters
- Approx 20 Trainers
This is a lot more trainers and supporters and a lot less Pokemon than a lot of new players are used to, but as you play games using this layout, you'll find that the extra support you get from the trainers and supporters means you don't need as many Pokemon and you actually get your deck working faster
How many different Pokemon should I run?
Generally I'd keep it to 3 or less evolution lines. By evolution line, I just mean that if you are running a Raichu or something, Pikachu is counted in that evolution line because you need it to get to Raichu. So generally you should try focus on around 3 Pokemon.
Why 3? Well, try to have one as a support pokemon, one that has a cool ability that can sit on your bench and help from there. One can be your early-game pokemon, this one should have a low energy cost (meaning it shouldn't need many energies to attack) and can help you set up your main attacker. Then you need your main attacker, this should be the one you work towards powering up and have it as something that can do a huge amount of damage.
It's always tempting to run lots of different Pokemon, but if you run a few copies of just a few, it means you'll draw them easier and your deck will work similarly most of the time, so you can get used to how it works.
Are basics better than stage 2s?
This depends on what you want. Generally, you want your main attacker to be a basic because they're the ones who will be being attacked by your opponent, so if you have to evolve every time you need a new one because one was knocked out, you'll struggle.
If you're looking for your supporting pokemon, a lot of stage 2s have super useful abilities, so use them here and just keep them on their bench and use their ability to get their bonus.
So basically, try to use basic pokemon as your attackers and stage 2s for your support.
How many types of Pokemon should I run?
By types, I mean water / fire / grass etc. Typically, keep it to two or less. If you run too many types of Pokemon, you'll need heaps of different energies and you'll find you don't draw the right energies at the right time. Most decks only run 1 type of Pokemon so they only have to run 1 type of energy.
Are theme decks fine to play with?
They're great to start with! As you get more cards, start taking out the weaker pokemon and replacing them, and replacing some of the pokemon with more cards that help you draw. They're a good base to get you started but you'll need to edit them a bit before you start going to lots of tournaments.
How many cards can my deck have?
This is an easy one :) Each deck must contain exactly 60 cards, no more, no less.
What's the best way to start a deck under $30?
Usually I tell people to pick up a Theme Deck and a pack of 20 Trainers / Supporters and get going with that. Then just upgrade as you get more and better cards.
Do I need EXs?
No you don't. EXs generally have stronger attacks and better abilities and can be incredibly useful when you decide you want to start playing at tournaments, but you don't need them to start out. There are also plenty of competitive decks that don't use EXs, so if they're not in your budget, you do have plenty of other options.
Once you start to build up your collection and strengthen your deck, you may want to start looking for some EXs to give your deck that extra power it may need.
Final remarks
Remember, this is advice for your first few decks. It's just a look at things that generally work. Once you work out how you like to play and what works for you, go with it.
