For new players · paper TCG, digital client
Pokémon TCG Live; the five-minute primer.
New to Pokémon TCG Live? Five-minute primer. How the digital client works, daily quests, the Battle Pass equivalent, climbing ranked, and which starter deck to pick first.
What TCG Live actually is.
TCG Live is the digital adaptation of the physical Pokémon Trading Card Game. The official online client from The Pokémon Company International, free on PC, iOS, Android, and in browser. It replaced TCG Online in 2023 with a complete rewrite; new engine, new UI, automated rules enforcement.
The game is the paper TCG: 60-card decks, Energy attachment, Evolution, Stadium cards, Trainer cards, Special Conditions. Win by taking all 6 Prize cards, by knocking out an opponent with no Pokémon left in play, or by decking them out (forcing them to draw from an empty deck on their turn).
The five things to do in your first week.
- Finish the tutorial. It teaches Energy attachment, Evolution stages, Active vs Benched Pokémon, Prize cards, and the five Special Conditions (Poisoned, Burned, Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed). Worth 90 minutes; saves you 10 hours of confusion later.
- Claim every daily quest. Quests give Credits (crafting currency), Crystals (cosmetic currency), and the occasional pack. Most days take 15-20 minutes to clear.
- Stick with one starter deck. TCG Live ships pre-built theme decks. Pick one; usually a single-color aggressive deck like a Charizard ex deck or a Mega Lucario ex deck; and play 20+ matches with it before branching. Switching too early starves your learning of pattern recognition.
- Redeem every physical code you can. Codes from booster packs you buy in stores are 100% free packs in TCG Live. Even just three codes from a friend's discarded slips adds up.
- Hit Great League. TCG Live ranked uses Pokémon-themed leagues. Nest → Quick → Poké → Great → Ultra → Arceus. Reaching Great League unlocks much better daily rewards and crafting bonuses. Plan 1-2 weeks of casual play from zero.
How TCG Live differs from TCG Pocket.
Same brand, completely different rulesets. Here's the cheat sheet:
| TCG Live | TCG Pocket | |
|---|---|---|
| Deck size | 60 cards | 20 cards |
| Card copy limit | 4 of any non-Basic-Energy | 2 of any card |
| Energy cards | Yes, in the deck (typically 8-15) | No; auto-generated each turn |
| Win condition | Take 6 Prize cards | Score 3 points |
| Pokémon ex value | Worth 2 Prizes | Worth 2 points |
| Platforms | PC, iOS, Android, browser | iOS, Android only |
| Audience | Paper-TCG players | Mobile-first, casual |
| Launched | 2023 (replaced TCG Online) | October 2024 |
Common questions.
Do I need to know the physical TCG to play TCG Live?
Helpful but not required. TCG Live walks new players through a tutorial that covers the core mechanics. Energy attachment, Evolution, Active vs Benched Pokémon, Prize cards, and Special Conditions (Poisoned / Burned / Asleep / Confused / Paralyzed). If you have not played the paper game, plan on a few hours of practice matches to internalize the flow.
How is TCG Live different from TCG Pocket?
Completely different game. TCG Live replicates the paper Pokémon TCG: 60-card decks, full Energy attachment rules, Evolution stages, Prize cards (take 6 to win). TCG Pocket is a mobile-original 20-card variant with no Energy cards and a 3-point scoring system. Same brand, different rulesets.
What is the Standard rotation in 2026?
Standard rotates every spring. As of May 2026, Standard format is centered on the Mega Evolution series (Mega Evolution, Phantasmal Flames, Ascended Heroes, Perfect Order) plus the tail-end Scarlet & Violet sets that survived the April 2026 rotation. Older S&V sets (Paldea Evolved, Obsidian Flames, 151, Paradox Rift, Paldean Fates, Temporal Forces, Twilight Masquerade, Shrouded Fable) rotated out at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Is TCG Live free?
Yes. The client is free on PC, iOS, Android, and in browser. There are no microtransactions; the only way to add cards is via daily play rewards, code redemption from physical packs, or in-game crafting using Credits (the dust-style currency you earn by recycling extra cards).
How do I get cards for free in TCG Live?
(1) Daily quests give Credits and the occasional pack. (2) Climb the ranked ladder for tier-up rewards. (3) Battle Pass equivalent ("Premium Pass". free track for everyone) gives steady drips. (4) Redeem codes from any physical TCG product you buy. (5) Craft any card directly using Credits earned from recycling duplicates.
Pokémon TCG Live is published by The Pokémon Company International. This is an unofficial fan guide. For official rules and account support, see tcg.pokemon.com.