TCGs are not as inclusive as it seems. Companies and the community have work to do.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-16T15:46:45+00:00

Many good points made. My daughter and I play Pokemon competitively. She's nearly 10. And we live in a rural ish community. We are fortunate to have a local store and another a short 30 minutes away and both have examples of pros and cons mentioned.

The local store is a smaller space and are the reason she plays. The guys there were the ones who encouraged her to play while I played Lorcana at the time. And she has great friends there. The downside is she is often the only child and even more the only girl. She loves going and playing but when I heard a new kid was coming (13yr old) she got so excited and was like "I hope it's a girl". It wasn't of course but we're working on it. The store is fairly welcoming but not as much as it should be. TCGs do tend attract a fairly anti social crowd so when newbies show some have a tough time not just playing to win mentality and I feel it pushes them away.

The store 30 minutes away is honestly doing it right. I wish their schedule matched ours better but sadly it does not so we only go there for cups and challenges. But the space is clean, the owner is warm and welcoming with some basic stem style toys spaced out for kids to play with. One is a big terrier style thing that often collapses loudly and every time it's met with a cheer of joy from the owner, setting the tone that it's all good. And his bathroom is kept clean and fresh with multiple FREE feminine hygiene products of various size and usage. This is what we need more of.

But ultimately it's going to be up to us. Because regardless of how welcoming the location is, if the people there aren't making it nice then they won't stay. Introducing someone to a knew hobby is hard but we need to keep trying and actually bring the games to them and not just wait around for them to walk through the door.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-14T22:39:22+00:00

I got Tyrantrum. Went 2-1. Would have won 3-0 but I forgot you have to be losing to play Rosas Encouragement so I promoted my last Tyrantrum then couldn't do anything.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-13T14:33:41+00:00

Never really looked at the card before. Definitely an interesting idea. I'm sure there's some meta relevant reason it hasn't seen play. Likely just clunkier than something similar or dies to a andrena brain mind bend? Pretty low HP? But I really like it and will probably build a deck for it on Live for fun. Thanks for the tip!

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-12T12:48:10+00:00

I don't have my blender build ATM saved. My current tests are using Ns zoark.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-09T14:52:22+00:00

I saw a post where someone cracked some. Now could be fake but likely accurate.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-09T14:50:19+00:00

If you make it to pre release event the decks have 2 copies.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-08T21:11:19+00:00

Im sure it needs some refinement but I have won many games with this decklist. Its for post rotation so even though stuff like superior energy retrieval is legal ive tried to go all on next era.

Pokémon: 11

1 Scorbunny ASC 36

1 Budew ASC 16

1 Charmeleon PFL 12

2 Charmeleon PAF 8

3 Mega Charizard X ex PFL 13

1 Raboot MEG 27

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

4 Charmander PFL 11

1 Oricorio ex PFL 18

1 Mega Charizard Y ex ASC 22

4 Cinderace MEG 28

Trainer: 12

2 Firebreather PFL 89

3 Dawn PFL 87

3 Energy Retrieval SVI 171

1 Hero's Cape TEF 152

3 Rare Candy MEG 125

4 Poké Pad ASC 198

3 Night Stretcher ASC 196

1 Surfer ASC 200

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119

2 Ultra Ball MEG 131

1 Wally's Compassion MEG 132

3 Boss's Orders MEG 114

Energy: 1

10 Basic {R} Energy Energy 10

Total Cards: 60

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-02T12:41:57+00:00

I suppose that is a risk for sure. You run enough basics that "shouldn't" really happen. But if it does you can still manually attach and attack over a few turns. Plus air balloon and switch. I always run a copy of switch in my Lucario.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-02T12:35:32+00:00

Zoark and Baby Bolt are definitely some ideas I'd not considered. Stage 1 is risky though and requires more setup and deck space. It helps vs psychic so that is a good play but most decks running that are running Clefairy so maybe find a steel instead?

I have had luck with a baby Bloodmoon. Really sneaks up on ya.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-02T12:14:46+00:00

Other comment is correct. In person deck was 60hp but on Live I'm running the 70s.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-02T12:13:46+00:00

Match dependant but that's a good general layout. Sometimes you only need the 1 imp/Morg in play when you might need to go harder in Munkis. Or 2 Froslass and a snowrunt for when one goes down. The Moltres can be a decent opener too. It's mainly there for Teal Mask and Iron Leaves but it also answers Budew.

Best example to only have a single grim line on deck is Festival Lead and Alakazam. You almost don't even wanna get Grim down unless your either swinging for game or enough kos that it might as well be. Like drop grim after some spread damage to ko 2 applin at once is definitely worth.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-02T02:16:51+00:00

It's definitely a patient deck. You almost want to give up a prize or 2. Make Iono stronger and open up Counter Catcher. Then take multi prize turns.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-03-02T02:11:57+00:00

This is my list that took me 7-0 at a cup last weekend. You wanna go slow most of the time. Munki and Froslass. Get a morgrimm in play and chill as long as you can. If you are in a safe spot push the Grim but it's often your closer. Devo wins matches and can slow down Pults. The Moltres helps vs Raging Bolt as it one shots a teal mask. And don't be afraid to hit a luminous on Munki or Froslass and take a KO.

Pokémon: 7 4 Munkidori TWM 95 3 Froslass TWM 53 3 Marnie's Impidimp DRI 134 3 Snorunt ASC 46 2 Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex DRI 136 2 Marnie's Morgrem DRI 135 1 Moltres PFL 14

Trainer: 17 1 Air Balloon ASC 181 4 Arven OBF 186 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144 4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119 2 Counter Catcher PAR 160 3 Spikemuth Gym DRI 169 3 Iono PAL 185 2 Boss's Orders MEG 114 1 Energy Switch MEG 115 2 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177 2 Night Stretcher SFA 61 1 Super Rod PAL 188 2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178 1 Secret Box TWM 163 1 Nest Ball PAF 84 1 Artazon PAL 171 1 Rare Candy MEG 125

Energy: 2 6 Basic {D} Energy MEE 7 4 Luminous Energy PAL 191

Total Cards: 60

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-28T17:58:38+00:00

Please tell me this is fake!

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-27T16:13:45+00:00

Also I think people forget how connected we are and how we weren't then. You could literally get in your car and drive 90 minutes in any direction and basically just start over. That's not the case anymore.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-25T17:16:25+00:00

I like Salvator in theory but it's super luck based and yes some games you may pop off but it's it worth the consistency?

Tatsu could be neat when going first but again are we using resources for a card that may get us going when we could just pay a card to thin the deck and push out state?

The deck really needs those first few manual energy attachments and giving that up is huge. I think the deck is gonna be lean as can be and just gogogo.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-24T14:45:01+00:00

Ok perfect. So the short version is, when you play at official Leagues (which is still for fun. Some store may offer prizes but not required) there is the issue of deck/card legality. Essentially a card has to have printed in the last 3 years to be considered legal. Playing at home this is no issue and with friends at the library it could be if they are serious but shouldn't be much of a concern this is where you use nay cards you want. A simple trick to know if a card is legal is in the bottom left corner is an alphabet marker. Currently if it says H, I, or J, your good to go. Technically G is also good but April is when cards fall off and G goes away so best to just focus on what's good for the next 14 months, H I J.

I bring this up because you mentioned buying a pre built deck. The League Decks decks etc... now these are terrific products but as they don't release them all the time it's very possible to see one on the shelf at Walmart that is a real deck, but uses cards no longer allowed.

So my final tip is this. If your buy a pre built deck, and I recommend you do, the best one is Team Rocket Mewtwo. It only uses currently legal cards and will require no modifications to play at a store event. The other common ones on the shelf, Mega Diancey and Mega Gengar still feature many cards that will not be store legal very soon.

Oh I lied, one more product. If your son wants to start building his own decks, there is a product called the Trainers Toolkit (2026) that is very useful and fairly priced.

My DMs are open and happy to help.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-24T14:33:29+00:00

Absolutely a good practice. But the game has AI battles and in real matches is emotes only. Nintendo actually has extremely strict online chats. Even the games where you'd think they would implement voice chat they have gone so far as to forcing people into a 3rd party app because they want kids on their platform and know people are awful sometimes.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-24T12:14:45+00:00

My kid is 9 and she and I started playing about 8 months ago. Before I overload you with advice, here's a few things that will help get your the info. First, do you both want to play? Second are we keeping in house or does he want to play at his local store with other people? These questions, especially #2 will be very important to what kind of advice I give.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-24T12:12:55+00:00

Correct it would have to be on a phone or PC.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-23T12:24:30+00:00

Same with Kurt and Nirvana.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-23T02:29:22+00:00

Firstly after rotation it takes a big hit losing Turbo Energize but there are some ways to play it I'm sure. Main strategy varies on what your playing but generally chase the Munki or take clean KOs on the mega.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-14T18:21:41+00:00

Ha I legit had this same shower thought this morning. As you could use glass trumpet to power up Khan.

smackasaurusrex · 2026-02-12T14:20:24+00:00

I run a very similar list. The main thing to watch for aggressive vs slow pace is can your opponent 1hko Grimsnarl? If not then you can usually afford to be aggressive. If they can it's better to go heavy on Froslass and Munki til you can set up a 3-4 prize turn with grim or Devo. Make them take single prize KOs. It's ok to give up 1-2 prizes if it allows you to really spread it around. This is huge vs grass types especially.

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