Rule Box (TCG): Difference between revisions

A Rule Box is a box featured on certain Pokémon cards that is labeled a "rule" and contains an addtional rule that applies to that Pokémon card. ^[1] The term and its mechanical relevance were introduced in Battle Styles, but Rule Boxes first appear on Pokémon-EX in Next Destinies.

Effects care about if certain Pokémon have Rule Boxes. Usually they exclude Pokémon with Rule Boxes from positive effects and include Pokémon with Rule Boxes in negative effects. Exclusion examples include Pot Helmet, which reduces the damage a Pokémon that it is attached to takes from attacks by 30 as long as the Pokémon does not have a Rule Box, and Gloria, which searches the deck for three Basic Pokémon without Rule Boxes and puts them onto the Bench. An example of inclusion is Path to the Peak removing the Abilities of Pokémon with Rule Boxes. This pattern does not always hold true. For example, Empoleon V also removes Abilities from Pokémon, but only from Basic Pokémon without a Rule Box. In some cases, use of the term Rule Box replaces templating that used to name specfic mechanics. For instance, the older card Brigette has a similar effect to Gloria except that excludes Pokémon-EX from its triple search option and instead has a second option that searches for a single Pokémon-EX.

Rule Boxes generally do one of two things. They either increase the number of Prize cards the opponent takes when the Pokémon is Knocked Out, or they restrict the number of that card that can be in the same deck. The three rules relating to evolution are exceptions: the Mega Evolution rule, Primal Reversion rule, and BREAK Evolution rule.

Positon

On most cards that have a Rule Box, the Rule Box is positioned in one of two places: In the bottom right corner of the card where the Pokédex entry is normally located or just below the art of the card where Pokédex number, category, height, and weight are located. If a Rule Box takes up one of these spaces, the card will not have the Pokédex entry or Pokédex information that would go in that space. (Many cards exclude Pokédex information even if they do not have a Rule Box taking up that space, because the art is either popping out of the art box, extended over the area of the card, or because the card is a Full Art card. These practices take up the Pokédex information space.) This has gameplay ramifications because some cards refer to a card's given height. Such cards cannot be used with cards that do not have a listed height due to a Rule Box.

Exclusion

There are other cases where Pokémon cards have additional rules on them that are separated from the main card text in a graphical manner. These are not Rule Boxes.^[2] For example, Ancient Traits and the "How to play a Pokémon V-UNION" section on Pokémon V-UNION are not Rule Boxes. As a result, no cards released before Next Destinies have Rule Boxes.

Non-Pokémon cards

While Prism Star Trainer cards and Energy cards have the Prism Star rule printed on them, only Pokémon cards have ever been described as having Rule Boxes. However, the rules for the [[Gym Leader Challenge format, an unofficial format created by community members, consider Prism Star Trainer and Energy cards to have a Rule Box for the purposes of card legality.

Cards with Rule Boxes

Rule Boxes are found on the following cards. Accompanying each entry is the associated rule or rules.

• Pokémon-EX
  • Pokémon-EX rule: When a Pokémon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
• Mega Evolution Pokémon
  • Pokémon-EX rule: When a Pokémon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
  • Mega Evolution rule: When 1 of your Pokémon becomes a Mega Evolution Pokémon, your turn ends.
    • Displaces Pokédex information
• Primal Reversion Pokémon
  • Pokémon-EX rule: When a Pokémon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
  • Primal Reversion rule: When 1 of your Pokémon becomes [Name of Pokémon], your turn ends.
    • Displaces Pokédex information
• Pokémon BREAK
  • BREAK Evolution rule: [Name of Pokémon] retains the attacks, Abilities, Weakness, Resistance, and Retreat Cost of its previous Evolution.
• Pokémon-GX
  • Pokémon-GX rule: When your Pokémon-GX is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
• TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX
  • TAG TEAM rule: When your TAG TEAM is knocked out, your opponent takes 3 Prize Cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
• Prism Star
  • ◇ (Prism Star) rule: You can’t have more than 1 ◇ card with the same name in your deck. If a ◇ card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.
    • Displaces Pokédex information
• Pokémon V
  • V rule: When your Pokémon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
• Pokémon VMAX
  • VMAX rule: When your Pokémon VMAX is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
• Pokémon V-UNION
  • V-UNION rule: When your Pokémon V-UNION is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards.
    • Displaces Pokédex information
    • Since Pokémon V-UNION cannot have characteristics aside from name, card type, and type referenced while not in play, Pokémon V-UNION do not have a Rule Box while not in play. ^[3]
• Pokémon VSTAR
  • VSTAR rule: When your Pokémon VSTAR is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry
• Radiant Pokémon
  • Radiant Pokémon rule: You can’t have more than 1 Radiant Pokémon in your deck.
    • Displaces Pokédex information
• Pokémon ex
  • Pokémon ex rule: When your Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
    • Displaces the Pokédex entry

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