Pokemon Trading Card Game

I have a thing for good digital card games. I've downloaded and tried every free one that pops up on the Switch eShop. I played a good sixty or so hours of Lightseekers last year, and sometimes I still think about getting back into that one.

One of the first card games I ever got really into was Card Fighters Clash on NGPC. I loved that game, and for months it was the game I'd play in bed before falling asleep each night. I was obsessed. And given that Card Fighters Clash was pretty much a rip-off of Pokemon TCG, I always intended to get around to this one. I KNEW that it would be something I'd enjoy.

And I was totally right. The 3DS Virtual Console is a perfect way to play old GBC games. So using some leftover Amazon credit from Christmas, I started up Pokemon TCG this weekend. First I did the tutorial, which initially seemed tougher to wrap my head around than Card Fighters Clash. But before long I was out exploring gyms and doing battles and even winning a few.

Before I knew it, it was really time for me to get to bed and two hours had flown by. My goodness. Now the thing is I haven't even STARTED messing around with deck building. I'm still just using the Squirtle starter deck, and it's already starting to look a little weak. I've scored like four booster packs so I need to start looking at building my own deck. I'm really not sure where to start. I'm thinking about possibly trying to score a Nintendo Power strategy guide for this one.

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didn't have much time for gaming last night. Baby's started teething, poor thing. But I at least started working on a new deck, which began by culling the Squirtle & Friends deck a bit. I started out by cutting it down to just using Water and Fighting cards (and Meowth, which is a ANY energy Pokemon). I thought I'd start with a sort of balanced 20/20/20 template of Pokemon, Trainers, Energy. But it's a little off. I have more Water than Fighting Pokemon, so the Energy is split like 12 and 8 cards. I played a couple matches and it was okay. But I wasn't pulling enough Energy, and I felt like some of my Trainers were being wasted. So I skewed it more like 20/15/25, with 14 Water Energy, and 11 Fighting. That did a little better.

It's still not great, though I'm getting the hang of the deck building here. I play a match or two, and then make adjustments. There are def some Pokemon that I favor. I like the one that looks like a walrus (I'm terrible at remembering their names, sorry) and especially his evolution. I like the one that looks like Nessy as well. Meowth is straight RNG, but he's fun.

On the flip, I'm not super crazy about any of my Fighters. So I'm thinking about which other Pokemons I want to split this deck with. Water's a keeper for me. Maybe Water/Electric? Is that weird or cool? I'm not gonna lie, I like the idea of a Squirtle/Pikachu deck.

Certain Trainers I love having in the deck. Bill for sure. And Scoop. And Switch. And obviously some Potions/Full Heal/Revive. But there's lots that I'm just not using. I need less Evolutions in there, too.

Anyway, I'm having a really good time with this game. I spent a lot of time on Lightseekers last year, and really got into the deck building there, so it's fun to have another card game that I'm actually enjoying crafting decks.

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Okay, I re-tweaked the deck into a Water/Electric combo. I like this one way more. And it seems to be working a lot better. I managed to get THREE medals already: Fighting, Water and Science. Good stuff! I'm about 7 hours in at this point.

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This has been one of the best $4 in Amazon credit I've ever spent on a game. I've put in a solid thirteen or so hours now. I've enjoyed the deck-building immensely, often tweaking between battles for something close to optimal. At least for my own play-style. I've experimented with a purely Water deck; a Fire/Water deck; and other variations, but I keep settling back on a Water/Lightning combo. Though of my twenty-ish Pokemon, I tend to do like two-thirds Water and one-third Lightning/Any.

I've really had a great time with this game. I now have all eight of the medals, and am in the hall to take on the gauntlet of Masters so I might get a crack at those Legendary cards. This is tough, though. You need to beat all four Masters without losing, else you're sent back to the start. I'm not really sure that my fairly basic deck is up to the task. But we'll see.

I have to wonder - why wasn't Pokemon TCG a bigger series of video games? The card game was huge, right? I can't believe we didn't get sequels on GBA, DS, 3DS, and Switch. Imagine this game on Switch! I'm envisioning a free-to-play game where you can earn cards through playing... like, y'know, all those other games on the eShop. If it went the Lightseekers route and allowed you to import your physical cards... wow. I'd be in trouble.