board game culture

The Joy of Deck-Building in the Pokemon Trading Card Game

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Building a deck from scratch is the most difficult task that any player of the Pokemon Trading Card Game will face. For the most part, you can skip this step entirely. Newcomers are usually guided through the early stages of their careers with pre-made decks from The Pokemon Company. Once they get familiar with the game, it’s usually best to simply use resources like Limitless TCG and build copies of decks that have performed well in tournaments. If it works for the pros who have done all the legwork, it should work for you too, right?

Nevertheless, the itch to create my own deck grew as I got more comfortable with the game. Most of my earlier efforts to create a deck were trainwrecks. Part of that came from me not having the best cards, but most of my early failures stemmed from not knowing how to truly build a cohesive deck rather than just a collection of cards. My earliest decks were stacked with V and VMAX cards and yet I’d still get destroyed because my decks didn’t have a clear game plan to follow.

After months of fumbling my way through the process, I may have finally turned a corner.

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Are V-Union Cards Worth Adding to Your Pokemon Trading Card Game Collection?

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V-Union Pokemon are the latest innovation in the Pokemon Trading Card Game. This new mechanic involves the use of four cards that form one large image of a Pokemon. The effect of seeing all four cards is quite striking on the table. But are they just an expensive gimmick? Or are these V-Union cards going to be a must-have in every deck?

As someone who owns all four currently available and has played with most of them, I weigh in on the matter in hopes of helping you make an informed purchase.

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Pokemon TCG Theme Deck Spotlight: Vivid Voltage Charizard Theme Deck

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The champ is here!

Galar region champion Leon enters the stadium with his trusty Charizard. Together, they form a fearsome duos in the Pokemon Trading Card game.

If you’ve never set foot on the battlefield or you’re a veteran trainer looking to give this deck a fire spin, here’s what to expect!

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Best Pokemon TCG Online Codes to Buy (and Some to Avoid)

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If you’re looking to supercharge your Pokemon TCG Online experience with more cards or better cards, there are online retailers out there that sell codes to unlock booster packs, cards, and accessories among other digital goods. I regularly buy codes from Potown Store and some of my purchases have greatly increased my enjoyment of the game.

That being said, not all of the items available for purchase are going to provide the bang-for-your-buck that you might be looking for. While everyone’s wants and needs are different, I’m going to make recommendations for new players just starting out, as well as those who are looking to get foundational pieces for great custom decks that are otherwise difficult to pull from booster packs.

Without further ado, here’s my list of Pokemon TCG Online codes to purchase (and which ones to avoid)!

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Buying Pokemon TCG Online Codes From a Third-Party Site

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(NOTE: This is not an ad or paid sponsorship for PoTown Store. Just documenting my personal experience with the site. Also should note that your results may vary. Also worth noting that before you purchase online codes from anywhere, please do as much research as you can beforehand so that you can make an informed purchase.)

The synergy between the physical and digital versions of the Pokemon Trading Card Game make things a bit weird. While the physical game can be enjoyed without ever touching the digital game, players of the digital game need to buy sealed Pokemon Trading Card Game products to unlock cards.

But what if you only want to play the online game? Buying decks and cards is particularly expensive if you only want the codes within. Also, if you have no interest or space to store physical cards, it’s an extra burden to consider in order to play a video game.

Though I wasn’t actively looking for a solution to this conundrum, I found at least one option that worked for me.

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My Evolving Perspective on Pokemon Card Pack Opening Content

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Long before I became personally invested in the Pokemon Trading Card Game, I was familiar with the pack opening formula. Steff introduced me to this style of content a few years back when she would watch UnlistedLeaf, one of the largest creators when it comes to this type of Pokemon pack-opening content.

Even though I knew nothing about the card game, I enjoyed the inherent adrenaline loop. As each card was presented, the tension would build for what rare card was at the end of this pack. Then the rare would get revealed and the adrenaline would be released, whether the card ended up being flashy or not. Our interest in the content grew to the point where we would buy packs from the Dollar Store to create our own budget version of the experience.

Since then, this type of content has exploded in popularity due to the pandemic and Logan Paul joining in on the action among other factors. The hype is so fierce that card supply at stores is strained at best (or nonexistent at worst).

Furthermore, I myself have gotten into the game. Looking at this content again from the lens of a new player, my feelings towards this content has evolved.

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Earn Booster Packs and Theme Decks in Pokemon TCG Online Without Spending Money

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The online version of the Pokemon Trading Card Game serves as a fantastic gateway for new players. You’ll learn the gist of the game within minutes of playing the tutorial with the AI. Once you get past that, it serves as a robust platform that allows you to play against the AI or online matches with others around the world.

Best of all, you don’t necessarily have to buy physical cards or online codes to gain access to more digital cards. While you’ll certainly have a massive leg-up if you do, the game gives you many opportunities to unlock cards for free. It’s not unreasonable to earn enough coins to unlock one theme deck or multiple booster packs every day by playing the game in an optimal way.

Here’s the most efficient path to take in order to get as many cards and decks as you can in the most efficient manner!

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Explaining the Different Matchmaking Options in Pokemon Trading Card Game Online

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Matchmaking in Pokemon Trading Card Game Online isn’t quite as straightforward as sitting at a table and playing the next available opponent. There are a number of matchmaking modes you can choose from that determine which cards are eligible. Because of this, the type of game you’re agreeing to will vary wildly based on which matchmaking option you choose.

Since the game doesn’t explicitly state what each one entails, let’s take a moment to explain them all!

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Are Repackaged Pokemon Cards From the Dollar Store or Convenience Stores Worth It?

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Repackaged Pokemon cards are a staple of dollar stores and convenience stores. Unlike your standard booster packs, these repackaged cards usually sell for less while adding some other incentive to sweeten the deal, such as more cards or smaller packs that only feature rares.

Are they worth it? Depends on what you’re looking for from these cards. Let’s run through some of the pros and cons with these types of card packs.

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Trying to Shop for Pokemon Trading Card Game Stuff Without Getting Ripped Off

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One of the lessons I have learned during this quickly-accelerating journey into the world of Pokemon TCG is that it’s easy to get ripped off when you buy cards. From insane markups to flat-out fake cards, being loose with your money can cost you way more than it should.

Based on my limited time in the scene, here are some things to look out for and ways of avoiding them!

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