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.• 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.• 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.• 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.• 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.• 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.• 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