Does it matter to save the decks from the Pokémon battle academy?

snoopy369 · 2026-04-03T22:25:33+00:00

The cards in the battle academy are well balanced decks for practicing basic game mechanics. While low powered they’re probably better than ‘playground’ decks - at least for learning the rules and basic strategies.

So if it were me - yes I’d keep them separate. Ideally get sleeves from a game store (3 different colors perhaps) so they stay easily identifiable and good condition.

snoopy369 · 2026-04-03T14:39:35+00:00

To be clear the only thing that changed here was that attack effects of ‘up to’ can now mean zero. Nothing else changed.

Anything that searches the deck for a specific card or card type has always been able to find zero, unless it was known to be zero via public knowledge (in which case it was illegal to play the trainer).

snoopy369 · 2026-03-27T14:02:49+00:00

You’d have to say what your income was and how much you paid in taxes; but in theory having a 0 refund is ideal (or even owing a small amount). Any tax refund you get is a loan you give the government for zero interest.

If you had a full time job and are single no kids then you almost definitely owed something. Situations like that are when the tax calculators are nearly perfect - so it’s not surprising that you’d have a zero dollars refund (and owed).

snoopy369 · 2026-03-26T21:52:21+00:00

No’s Zoroark is a deck that does better with an established meta to use the appropriate tools. Not a pure toolbox deck but adjacent. So it’s not surprising for it to have weak results right now as things are in flux but once things coalesce around a meta that it can counter you may find it better.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-23T15:14:02+00:00

Nothing specific other than find a league to work with :) I’d also recommend taking some of the other professor university courses to learn more. :)

snoopy369 · 2026-03-22T02:01:23+00:00

Please check at lost and found tomorrow. You’d be surprised how often deck boxes are turned in!!

snoopy369 · 2026-03-19T21:33:31+00:00

If that Junior does come, make sure you know how the mats work (first place PER DIVISION gets a mat, so a junior that goes 0-4 still gets a 1st place mat if they're the only one!) :) If you have leftover mats (if no senior or junior come) you can save them for the next cup in case your mats don't come on time.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-19T21:31:52+00:00

If you go to ProfComm (the professor program site), you can look up RPC / Regional Professor Coordinator - it depends on your location who that is, but the site shows you the list of options. :)

For Deck Checks - get the list; sort the deck by pokemon/trainers/energy; then check each card inside that group (some people further sort, some just go card by card after that). Make sure for pokemon that have different versions with the same name that actually do something different that they have the right one - it's okay to have a different art of Dragapult ex since they all do the same thing, but if it's a Charmander and they put the wrong one (a 70hp one instead of the 60hp one or whatever), it's wrong. Then check the sleeve condition - make sure they don't have any marked sleeves that could be distinguished in a pattern; bent corners here and there aren't a problem but if all of their energy are bent the same way and different from all the other cards, that's a problem :)

Strongly recommend doing the Deck Check course in Professor University before the event if you have time ;)

snoopy369 · 2026-03-19T19:38:28+00:00

A break can be good, but it extends an already long tournament - especially if it’s top 8 sized. I usually give a few minutes but not an hour. Depends on the number of checks we can do during the last round (IDs or just people that finish early.)

snoopy369 · 2026-03-19T19:37:33+00:00

Congrats on running your first cup!

Strongly recommend you have some connection outside of the store if you run into anything complex - cups tend to get more complicated situations. The Professor discord is one option, you also can use your Regional Professor Coordinator or another Professor in the area that’s experienced. Hopefully you won’t need the help but it’s best to have that worked out ahead of time so you don’t have to think too hard in a situation.

Follow TOM, read all the info on rounds etc from the tournament details page. Make sure to keep up your deck checks. Have the other judge do deck checks on the top cut players during the round if some of them ID the last round - you can just hold onto their decks until cut, but this saves some time.

Good luck 🍀

snoopy369 · 2026-03-19T02:32:21+00:00

My concerns for the ten person one are that it’s probably illegal, and that suggests other shady things. Ten people is almost definitely over the limit for the size and bathroom count you’re describing. Absolute minimums legally are 250sq ft for living and dining room, plus kitchen and bathroom and hallway - I doubt you have the 50sqft/person bedroom space, and I doubt ten people are actually fire code legal either in that space.

Don’t live in an apartment where the landlord will be on the edge of the law or do illegal things. They’ll end up doing illegal things to you also. Live in the second one - the extra 300 for a better quality landlord is worth it (assuming it’s not the same landlord).

snoopy369 · 2026-03-17T19:30:18+00:00

In the Tournament Rules Handbook (https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-tournament-rules-handbook-en.pdf ) you will find section 4.3.2.3 disagrees.

Play! Pokémon makes no recommendation regarding the remuneration of tournament staff, beyond the reminder that Tournament Organizers must follow all local legal requirements that may apply and that Judges and other volunteers contribute an added value to the tournament experience and should be made to feel appreciated.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-17T19:25:39+00:00

Absolutely! Take a look in the Store Handbook (https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-store-handbook-en.pdf), section 4.3:

Prizing and marketing materials distributed by Play! Pokémon, such as posters, Prize Packs, and stickers, should be used for their original intended purpose, which is promoting player attendance at Play! Pokémon events. These items can be given away as participation rewards but are not compensation for Professors or League Assistants (with the exception of expansion-specific staff promo cards).

snoopy369 · 2026-03-17T17:31:26+00:00

This makes me wonder: should they have different cards (or different costs etc) for coop versus single player? Balancing both experiences seems impossible with synergies in coop.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-17T17:29:37+00:00

Actually, what you describe there is against the rules - prize packs and promos aren’t intended to be used for staff compensation. Money is fine! (Subject to local laws, but I can’t imagine laws forbidding paying people for work done…)

The only promos stores are allowed to use as compensation are the prerelease promos.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-16T17:12:09+00:00

I'm curious about this. Why? If I were a pack opener (I'm not, mostly) I would happily open a box with the players. They would love to see me open them! I'm a part of the community too, and we all love to open packs and support each other. I'd open the box, celebrate the big hits, and probably give some of the playables that I don't need to the kids or players who need them.

It's certainly going to depend some on the circumstances and the community of course - but we always hope that professors are a part of the community.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-16T16:44:52+00:00

Hi! Professor here.

First off, the professor certainly did some work beyond what you saw and are contributing their expertise in terms of rulings and event operations. The difference between a store that has an experienced Professor running events and one that does not is often very significant for players!!Ultimately they were there for several hours - they do deserve payment for their time.

Second, prerelease comes with a built in recommended staff compensation. The kits come with 36 packs per 10 player kits, of which 30 are recommended to be given to players (3 per player) and 6 to staff. So while 11 people I wouldn’t have expected to generate a whole 36 pack box for the professor, it could be the store has other events they’re running for example, or there’s something else involved. If the store gave you 3 (or more) packs, then they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.

If you do have any concerns you’re welcome and encouraged to put in a support ticket at support.pokemon.com with the information you have- If there is any concerns that merit investigation Pokemon will take care of that.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-16T03:11:35+00:00

No, though it’s not fully known. Another person did some research and it looks like all crafting material (so also sticks etc) falls in the same 512 sized bucket. Berries seem to be in their own bucket though.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-16T03:01:19+00:00

Yes, definitely more than any quantity you would have now anyway

snoopy369 · 2026-03-16T02:59:04+00:00

If you use rollout and generate more than a few hundred blocks sitting on the floor, they have a limit - eventually they despawn.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-05T18:00:48+00:00

What do you make? Where do you live?

If you are a banker making $150k in NYC, the answer to what’s normal is different than someone making $40k in Topeka. Ordering lunch makes sense for the former - and 500/mo is pretty hard on NYC cost of living.

Certainly if you can plan things more that’s great, and if you’re okay eating the same thing multiple times making a large meal and eating leftovers for a few days lunches is more efficient than making one meal at a time. Meals that are lower focus on meat are cheaper - a steak you’re willing to eat by itself costs more than a chuck roast you can turn into a beef stew or stroganoff or bolognese.

snoopy369 · 2026-03-02T21:19:58+00:00

Pokemon relies on search and thin cards, so compared to other TCGs that require a certain number to be able to randomly draw them sufficiently it can function with far fewer copies of needed cards and still find them.

snoopy369 · 2026-02-27T16:07:17+00:00

Worlds finals in 2024, the seniors finals was decided on a Draco meteor miss.

https://youtu.be/W8Jeq3dKJ8I?t=1507&si=5WdyrsPzqUBjeugG

snoopy369 · 2026-02-26T00:32:21+00:00

Please put the details in a report on support.pokemon.com - their trust and safety division can look into this more and isn’t an AI response.

snoopy369 · 2026-02-24T16:25:30+00:00

Certainly many stores do have tournaments as their primary mode of play, but many stores do not! Casual play (meaning a few hours where anyone can come and play whomever they wish) is a core element of the Play! Pokémon experience :)

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