April 11, 2024
Pokemon Trading Card Game | Best Decks for Beginners (2024 Updated)
Are you a Pokefan? If yes, then you’re in luck! In this guide, we have rounded up 6 of the best decks in the Pokémon Trading Card Game for 2024!
Buy: Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Decks, Tins, Booster Boxes & Packs
Buy: Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Decks, Tins, Booster Boxes & Packs
Table of Contents +
Calling all Pokéfans! Are you tired of playing Pokémon Go and Let’s Go Pikachu on your mobile device all day long? Do you want to give your eyes a rest from the screen without letting go of Pokémon? If yes, then grab a friend, some Pokemon Trading Card Game starter decks, and get going!
Over 53 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been made to date, and this year, you will find a lot of exciting changes with them! New decks are being designed, strategies are evolving, and powerful Pokémon are ready to battle!
In this guide, we have rounded up the top six best decks for the Pokemon Trading Card Game that will dominate the competition and take you to the very top!
This buying guide will help you browse through various deck options and find the perfect one:
Pokemon TCG Beginner Deck Comparison Table
Name | Featured Pokémon |
Pokémon [Let's Play Pikachu!] - Pikachu Theme Deck | Pikachu & Raikou |
Pokémon [Let's Play Eevee!] - Eevee Theme Deck | Eevee & Moltres |
Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu Trainer Kit | Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu |
Mewtwo Mayhem Deck | Mewtwo |
Blastoise V Deck | Blastoise V |
Dreadnaw Deck | Drednaw |
1. Pokemon TCG - Best Pikachu Deck for Beginners
Our Rating: 5/5 Stars
Let’s start our list with one of our favorite and best Pokemon Trading Card decks: The Let's Play Pikachu! Theme Deck. It is the perfect introductory starter deck for new trainers to enter the exciting world of Pokémon battles!
The deck comes ready-to-play, with all the cards you need to jump into battle. It includes basic Pokémon like Pikachu and its Alolan Raichu evolution, making it easy to learn the basics of attacking, defending, and evolving your Pokémon.
Along with Pikachu, other friendly Pokémon are also included to create a strong team.
It is one of the best Pokémon Trading Card Game starter decks, as it adds strategic twists, letting you heal your Pokémon, search your deck for specific cards, or make your opponent's strategy fail.
Where you can order this:
Why Do We Like It?
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Perfect for Beginners: The deck is pre-constructed, so there’s no complex deck building, allowing new players to focus on learning the game.
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Fast-Paced Gameplay: This theme deck is designed for quick and exciting matches, keeping young trainers engaged.
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Collectible Fun: The deck includes a Pikachu deck box to store your cards, a coin, and a playmat to make gameplay fun.
Pros | Cons |
Featuring the beloved Pikachu and its Alolan Raichu evolution | The Pikachu evolution line is narrow (only Pikachu into Raichu) |
Strong deck synergy | |
Comes with Pikachu-themed accessories |
2. Pokemon TCG - Best Eevee Deck for Beginners
Our Rating: 5/5 Stars
The next Pokemon Trading Card Game's best starter deck on our list is the Let's Play Eevee! Theme Deck. It is the perfect entry game for young trainers and beginners.
This deck features Eevee, the adorable evolution Pokémon, along with some of its fiery friends like Charizard and Moltres. It focuses on Fire-type Pokémon, known for their strong attacks that can quickly knock out opponents. Although Eevee has many different evolution possibilities, this deck uses Flareon for Eevee's evolution!
The deck comes with everything you need to start playing, including 60 Pokémon cards, damage counters to track HP, an Eevee coin to flip for heads or tails, a handy playmat showing you how to set up the game, and even a deck box to store your cards in style!
Where you can order this:
Why Do We Like It?
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Ideal for Newbies: The Let's Play Eevee deck is an excellent choice for new players because it's easy to learn and play. You'll be battling like a pro in no time!
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It Has Everything You Need: This deck has everything ready to go right out of the box. So, there is no need to buy extra packs or hunt for specific cards.
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Featuring Fire-type Pokémon: Fire-type Pokémon are known for their powerful attacks, making the gameplay exciting and fast-paced. A perfect deck if you're the kind of gamer who picks the fire starter Pokémon in the video games!
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Comes with the Adorable Eevee: Who can resist the charm of Eevee? This deck lets you play with this cute Pokémon and its fiery friends.
Pros | Cons |
Great for Beginners | Very weak to water decks |
Has the cute Eevee and the super-cool Charizard | |
Comes with a ton of accessorieis |
3. Pokemon TCG - Best Trainer Kit to Learn to Play
Our Rating: 5/5 Stars
If you’re looking for the best starting deck Pokemon Trading Card Game, we suggest getting The Pokémon Sun & Moon Trainer Kit - Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu deck bundle. It is one of the best starter kits for aspiring trainers or those looking to refresh their skills!
This kit includes everything you need to get started with the Pokémon battles. It contains two ready-made 30-card decks, one featuring the fiery Lycanroc and the other with the electric surfer Alolan Raichu. Plus, you get a playmat, damage counters, a coin, a deck box, and even instructional manuals to guide you through the game.
Where you can order this:
Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu Trainer Kit
Why Do We Like It?
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Perfect to Learn & Play The Game: Whether you're a complete novice or a seasoned trainer looking to introduce a friend, this kit is fantastic. It includes booklets that guide you through the basics, explaining card types, attacks, and how to win the game. It comes with everything you need to start playing (except a friend to play against).
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Double Fun with Double The Decks: The kit comes with two unique decks, allowing you to play against a friend. One deck focuses on Lycanroc, while the other on Alolan Raichu. This lets you experience different strategies and see which style suits you best.
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Online Tournaments: The best part about this deck is that it comes with a code card that unlocks a special "Midnight Surfer" theme deck in Pokémon TCG Online. This lets you test your skills against trainers worldwide and participate in online tournaments!
Pros | Cons |
Duel deck design means it's ready to play with 2 people right away | Very basic power level |
Perfect for learning the game | |
Comes with a variety of strategies between the two decks |
4. Pokemon TCG - Best Mewtwo Deck for Beginners
Our Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Next up on the list of the best Pokémon decks is the Pokémon [XY: Evolutions] - Mewtwo Mayhem Theme Deck.
This Pokémon Trading Card Game revolves around the legendary Psychic-type Pokémon, Mewtwo. It features two Mewtwo cards, including a coveted Cracked Ice Holofoil version, allowing you to unleash your psychic powers on your opponent.
This pre-constructed deck includes 60 cards specifically designed to work together. Apart from Mewtwo, it also features a mix of Psychic-type Pokémon like Drowzee and Haunter, along with Fighting-type allies like Machop and Hitmonchan, providing a balanced strategic gameplay.
Where you can order this:
Why Do We Like It?
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It Includes a Step-by-Step Guide: This game comes with a rule booklet that offers clear instructions on how to play the game, making it perfect for beginners. You'll learn about card types, attacks, Hit Points, and how to win the match.
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Replayability: Even though the deck is pre-constructed, it offers some room for customization. As you gain experience and level up in the game, you can swap in a few stronger Psychic-type cards from booster packs to enhance your deck's power.
- Comes with Mewtwo: The deck is designed around one of the coolest 151 original Pokémon, Mewtwo!
Pros | Cons |
Metwo is super cool | Weak to Dark and Flying decks |
Has collectible value - comems with the Cracked Ice Holofoiil Mewtwo | |
Balanced gameplay between Psychic-type Pokémon and Fighting-type Pokémon |
5 . Pokemmon TCG - Best Blastoise Deck for Beginners
Our Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
The Pokémon V Battle Deck - Blastoise V is the best starter deck for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. As a pre-constructed deck, it is ideal for new trainers or those looking for a water-themed deck to win against their opponents.
This 60-card deck comes with everything you need to start battling right away. It includes a powerful Blastoise V, its evolution line, Chewtle, and Drednaw, supporting Pokémon like Sharpedo and Carvanha, and Trainer cards to lead your team to win strategically!
Where you can order this:
Why We Like It?
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Features Blastoise V: Blastoise V is the star of the show! This Pokémon can unleash devastating attacks like Hydro Pump that can knock out opposing Pokémon in a single blow. The deck also features plenty of Water-type energy to fuel Blastoise V's powers.
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Strategic Gameplay: Even though Blastoise V is a pre-constructed deck, it offers an impressive amount of strategic gameplay. Trainer cards like Hop and Bede help you draw the cards you need, while Capacious Bucket lets you retrieve used energy for continuous attacks.
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Easy to Learn: The deck comes with a guide and reference cards that explain the basics of the game, making it perfect for beginners.
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Evolve and Expand: As you gain experience, you can customize the deck further. The provided deck box lets you store your deck while you can get additional booster packs to introduce new Pokémon and strategies to this deck.
Pros | Cons |
A perfect deck for players who think Blastoise is cool | Too reliant on Blastoise V - the deck is weak if it is knocked out early |
The inclusion of Trainer cards adds depth to the deck | |
Very thematic as the deck is completely Water-type |
6. Pokemon TCG - Best Water-type Deck
Our Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Let’s move on to the next best starter deck for the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Sword & Shield: Vivid Voltage - Dreadnaw Theme Deck!
Like all the other beginner-friendly decks, this one also ditches the deck-building hassle and comes with a complete preconstructed 60-card deck right out of the box.
It features Drednaw, a tough Water-type turtle Pokémon, as the main attacker, supported by other Water-type Pokémon like Samurott and Barraskewda. The focus on a single type makes it easy to understand and play the deck.
Where you can order this:
Why We Like It?
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Strategic Gameplay: The deck focuses on strategic and powerful attacks without being overly complex. Dreadnaw packs a punch with its "Shell Hammer" attack while supporting Pokémon like Nessa, and Professor's Research help you find the cards you need to gain the upper hand during the game.
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Has All the Essential Items: The theme deck includes everything you need to start a Pokémon battle! You'll find a damage counter sheet to track your opponent's Pokémon's health, a coin for coin flips used during gameplay, a playmat depicting very cool art of Dreadnaw, and a deck box to keep your cards organized. Plus, there's a handy rule book that explains the basics of the game.
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Customization: As you gain experience, you can customize your deck further. You can swap in a few stronger Water-type cards from booster packs (not included) to enhance your deck's power.
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Online Play: The deck comes with a code card that unlocks a special Dreadnaw theme deck in the Pokémon TCG Online. With this card, you can practice against trainers worldwide and take part in online tournaments!
Pros | Cons |
Drednaw’s "Shell Hammer" attack offers strong offensive capabilities | The deck is limited in depth for advanced players |
Focusing entirely on Water-types makes it easier to learn how to play | |
Includes a deck code for Pokémon TCG Online |
Bonus! - Pokemon TCG - Best Booster Pack for Beginners
Our Rating: 5/5 Stars
While it’s not a complete deck in itself, but rather a pack of random cards, it can be used to enhance your existing Pokémon TCG decks that you just got!
Each booster pack contains 10 random Pokémon Trading Card Game cards. You're guaranteed to get at least one rare card and three uncommon cards, with the others being common. But the real thrill comes with the chance to find coveted holofoil cards, reverse holos, EX cards, Mega EX cards, and more!
To use these booster cards, all you need is a 60-card playing deck. The booster pack adds excitement by letting you expand your collection and get a chance to score powerful or rare cards to improve your strategies.
Where you can order this:
Why Do We Like It?
- A Pack of Surprises: Opening a booster pack is like a mini adventure! You never know what you'll find, and the chance of scoring a rare or powerful card keeps trainers coming back for more.
- Improve Your Deck's Power Level: New cards mean new strategies! You might find that perfect card to supercharge your deck and take down your opponents.
- Collect and Trade: Building a collection of cool Pokémon cards is a big part of the Trading Card Games. Booster packs can help you fill out your collection, and you can even trade unwanted cards with friends to get the ones you need.
Pros | Cons |
Possibility to get high powered cards | Might not get any good cards |
Booster packs are always fun to open | |
Booster packs are individually relatively cheap for a quick bit of fun |
Guide for the Best Pokemon Trading Cards to Buy
If you are looking to buy the Pokémon Trading Card Game's best decks, here are some tips for you!
Decide Your Playstyle
Before diving in, consider what kind of trainer you want to be:
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Do you want fast-paced matches with hard-hitting attacks? Look for decks with strong offensive Pokémon like Fire-types or Lightning-types.
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If you enjoy tactics and resource management, try decks with Psychic-types or Steel-types Pokémon.
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And if you want a mix of offense and defense, Grass-type or Dragon-type decks offer a well-rounded approach.
Explore Your Options
There are several ways to build the best deck for the Pokemon TCG:
Theme Decks
Ideal for beginners, these pre-constructed decks (like the Dreadnaw Theme Deck) come ready to play with a focus on a specific Pokémon type and strategy.
Build & Battle Boxes
These offer a middle ground. You get two pre-constructed decks with some booster packs to add a touch of customization.
Elite Trainer Boxes
Packed with booster packs, these are specifically for experienced trainers who want to build their own decks from scratch.
Consider Your Budget
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Theme Decks are the most affordable option and are great for beginners.
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Build & Battle Boxes offer more customization at a slightly higher price.
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Elite Trainer Boxes are the most expensive option but allow complete deckbuilding freedom.
Age and Experience
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If your team consists of younger players, ages 6 and up, get Theme Decks and Build & Battle Boxes with easy-to-understand strategies.
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If you’ve been a Pokefan for over a decade, get Elite Trainer Boxes for experienced players who understand deckbuilding concepts.
Final Thoughts & Wrapping Up
Whether it's video games or card games, Pokémon has taken the world by storm! In this guide, we have rounded up 6 of the best theme decks for beginners in the Pokémon Trading Card Game!
Although most of the decks may be a bit low power level if you're a veteran of the game, they are still great to play against one another for a fun and balanced gamenight! So, get these decks and get your game on!
If you’re looking for more complex decks for seasoned trainers, or booster packs and tins to spice up your existing decks, check out our Pokémon Trading Card Game collection!
Buy: Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Decks, Tins, Booster Boxes & Packs
Buy:Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Decks, Tins, Booster Boxes & Packs
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Pokémon TCG starter decks suitable for all ages?
+Yes, most of these decks are suitable for ages 6 and above, making them ideal for both young trainers and adults who are new to the game.
What makes the Let's Play Pikachu! Theme Deck interesting?
+The Let's Play Pikachu! Theme Deck is perfect for beginners due to its pre-constructed nature, fast-paced gameplay, and collectible elements like a Pikachu deck box, coin, and playmat.
Why should I consider the Let's Play Eevee! Theme Deck?
+This deck is great for newcomers as it requires no additional purchases, features Fire-type Pokémon known for their strong attacks, and includes everything needed to start playing right away.
What's unique about the Pokémon Sun & Moon Trainer Kit - Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu?
+This kit is perfect for learning the game as it includes two ready-made decks, instructional booklets, and additional items like a playmat and damage counters.
Why is the Blastoise V Theme Deck recommended for new trainers?
+Featuring the powerful Blastoise V and a focus on water-themed gameplay, this deck offers strategic gameplay, ease of learning, and the potential for customization as players gain experience.
What makes the Dreadnaw Theme Deck from Sword & Shield: Vivid Voltage appealing?
+This deck provides strategic yet straightforward gameplay with its focus on water-type Pokémon led by Drednaw, along with all essential items included for immediate play.
Are Pokémon TCG theme decks suitable for competitive play or just casual gaming?
+While these decks may not be as competitive as custom-built decks, they offer balanced gameplay and are suitable for both casual gaming and friendly competitions among beginners.
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