Rough Draft – Last Printed 3 June 2019, Last Updated 3 June 2019 A Basic Guide to Deck Building in the Standard Format (SUM-UNB) Reading this guide in print? To always get the latest version of this guide and to make use of the various links and other resources in this guide, scan the QR code below or visit https://www.reddit.com/r/pkmntcg/comments/bqycau. 1 Pokémon and its trademarks are ©1995-2019 Nintendo, Creatures, and GAMEFREAK. Related media appearing in this guide are the property of The Pokémon Company International, Inc. This is an unofficial guide produced by reddit user JustInBasil who is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, or The Pokémon Company International, Inc. Introduction - What is the "Standard Format"? ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Rotation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Reasons for Rotation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 The Idea of a Deck .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Basic Deck Strategy ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Aggression.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Control ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Stall ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Mill .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Basic Deck Structure .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Limits - What You Can and Can't Put into Your Deck ......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The Rule of 4 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The Exceptions - Basic Energy and Prism Star Cards ................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Banned Cards ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Fake Cards, Proxies, World Championship Cards, and Cards in Other Languages ....................................................................................................... 10 Fake Cards ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Proxies ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Recent Releases or, When do New Cards Become Legal? .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Errata – When What Cards Say and What Cards Do Differ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 The Deck Skeleton ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Pokémon .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Main Attacker ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Secondary Attacker ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Utility Pokémon ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Trainers ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Setup Engines................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Lillie-Nest Ball ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Professor Elm's Lecture ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Draw Engines ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Supporter-Based Draw Engines ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 Pokémon-Based Draw Engines ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Draw Support Supplements........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18 Pokémon Search .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Energy .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Energy Acceleration Engines .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................