The idea

Each player has a 60-card deck of Pokémon, Trainer and Energy cards. You put a Pokémon in the Active spot, attach Energy to it each turn, and attack. Knock out one of your opponent's Pokémon and you take one of your six Prize cards; take all six and you win.

Your first game

Start with a League Battle Deck: it is a complete, competitive deck with a play mat and damage counters. Shuffle, draw seven, put a Basic Pokémon face down as your Active, set six Prize cards aside, and go. A first game with someone showing you takes about twenty minutes.

What to buy next

Nothing, for a while. Play the deck a few times, then swap in singles from our Pokémon wall as you learn what you like. Booster packs are for fun, not for building a deck.