Pokémon Trading Card Game Online: Difference between revisions

Pokémon Trading Card Game Online
Logo of Pokémon Trading Card Game Online
Basic info
Platform:	PC, Mac, and iPad
Category:	Strategy
Players:	1-2, with unlimited in chat
Connectivity:	Internet
Developer:	Electrified Games, Sleepy Giant Entertainment, Plexipixel, Inversoft
Publisher:	The Pokémon Company International
Part of:	Generation IV misc/V/VI
Ratings
CERO:
ESRB:	E
ACB:	N/A
OFLC:	G
PEGI:
GRAC:	N/A
GSRR:	N/A
Release dates
Japan:	N/A
North America:	March 24, 2011 (TC beta)
Australia:	March 24, 2011 (TC beta)
Europe:	March 24, 2011 (TC beta)
South Korea:	N/A
Hong Kong:	N/A
Taiwan:	N/A
Websites
Japanese:	N/A
English:	Game site

Pokémon TCGO site icon

Pokémon Trading Card Game Online (sometimes referred to as Pokémon TCG Online, PTCGO, or TCGO) is a downloadable game, and the first Pokémon game of the MMOTCG (massively-multiplayer online trading card game) genre. The game originally released on 24 March 2011 as a browser-based game before becoming a downloadable game in May 2012 for PC, in November 2012 for Mac, and in September 2014 for iPad. The game officially emerged from open beta testing in February 2015, but it continues to be refined and improved upon on a continual basis. The game is based on the Pokémon Trading Card Game or TCG aspect of the Pokémon franchise and follows the same rules. The game is also free to download and use. Experience with the trading card game is not required. It is accessible to both beginners and experienced players alike. It is also intended to be used by both children and adults. Players do not need to purchase physical Theme Decks or Booster pack from a store in order to play. Players are provided with everything they need to begin playing, and there are multiple means of earning new cards and other rewards as the game is played.

Plot

Players begin their adventure at a virtual Game Store, where Trainers Zach and Ella welcome them. Player are provided three Starter Theme decks, each representing one of three Starter Pokémon types — Fire , Grass , and Water . The game initially revolves around playing a few tutorials before competing against computer-controlled Trainer characters from the Trainer Challenge.

Tutorial

After being welcomed to the Game Store, players face Zach and Ella in tutorial Pokémon Trading Card Game matches designed to teach players the basics of game play. After completing the tutorials, players are presented with a full match against a random computer-controlled Trainer from the Trainer Challenge. If players "Play as a Guest", they may repeat but will not advance beyond this stage. Players will, however, be encouraged to create a User Name and Password after each match. Finally, players are directed through the first few matches in the Trainer Challenge's Gold League.

• In order to help new players learn the mechanics of the game, they are directed through the tutorials and initial matches before unlocking all game features. Players already familiar with the game may bypass this directed phase by disabling the New User Experience under Options.
• Players who create a User Name and Password in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online may also use that same User Name and Password on the official Pokémon.com website.

NOTE: For those seeking additional tutorials outside of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online itself, a brief description of How to play appears on the Pokémon Trading Card Game page. The Glossary also defines most of the Pokémon Trading Card Game terminology. Finally, there are browser-based step-by-step TCG tutorials on Pokémon.com.

Play Modes

There are 4 different play modes available. These are Quick Match, Trainer Challenge, Versus Mode, and Tournament Mode.

Quick Match

This is a single player mode using a randomly selected Theme deck that the player has unlocked. Players battle against another randomly selected player. The match does not count toward Player rank, earn Trainer Tokens, or a Bonus Wheel spin. This mode is currently only accessible through the initially Landing page. Players may re-access the Landing page by clicking on the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online logo in the upper center of most TCGO screens.

Trainer Challenge

In the Trainer Challenge, players face various computer-controlled Trainer characters using only Theme decks, including Online-exclusive Starter Theme decks (BW Basic Red, BW Basic Green, and BW Basic Blue), those unlocked by Redemption codes from code cards, and those purchased with Trainer Tokens or Gems from the in-game Shop. Code cards are obtained through purchase of physical Theme decks from the Black & White Series onwards.

Players battle in three leagues: Gold League, Platinum League, and City Championship. Players have the option of adjusting the match difficulty between: Easy, Medium, and Hard. Changing the difficulty setting changes the composition of the opponent's deck. Players must defeat a given Trainer once before unlocking the next. Players must also defeat a given league once before unlocking the next, starting with Gold League and ending with City Championship. Unlike more traditional Pokémon Trading Card Game Tournaments such the multi-player Tournament Mode, defeat on the part of players in these Trainer Challenge league "tournaments" does not result in players changing their standing.

There are also 12 circles at the bottom of the "Select A Trainer" screen before a Trainer Challenge match, which correspond to each of the 12 Trainers in that league. By clicking on the corresponding circle, players may quickly select that Trainer. A padlocked circle means that the corresponding Trainer has not yet been unlocked. An open grey circle indicates that the Trainer has been unlocked but has not been beaten with any of the player's Theme decks. A dark green check mark over a grey circle means that the Trainer has not yet been defeated with the player selected Theme deck. A light green check mark indicates that the Trainer it corresponds to has already been defeated with the player selected Theme deck. Each Theme deck has its own set of check marks for each league.

Unlocking decks

Players must defeat 7 Trainers with the same Starter Theme decks to fully unlock all the cards in that deck. Certain cards are replaced automatically with each Trainer beaten. Beating the same Trainer in a different spot in a league or in a different leagues counts toward the 7 successes. Beating a Trainer in the same spot in a league more than once does not count toward the 7 successes.

• NOTE: The 02 October 2013 update retired a feature that also gradually unlocked redeemable or purchased Theme decks over the course of 11 successful wins as described above. All redeemed or purchased Theme decks are now fully "unlocked" immediately upon redeeming or purchasing them in the in-game Shop.

Earning stars

Players also earn up to four stars for each of the 36 Trainer opponents in the Trainer Challenge. Whether players win or lose, points are calculated at the end of a match. These points are added to the current point total for that individual Trainer in that spot in a given league. Based on that cumulative total, players earn the following four stars and game rewards:

• 1 Star (at 1,000 points) = 1 Trainer Token (per Trainer opponent)
• 2 Stars (at 5,000 points) = 3 Trainer Tokens (per Trainer opponent)
• 3 Stars (at 14,000 points) = 10 Trainer Tokens (per Trainer opponent)
• 4 Stars (at 30,000+ points) = 1 non-tradable, 10-card Booster pack from the current Standard format (per Trainer opponent)
• Additionally, players obtain 3 more non-tradable, 10-card Booster packs from the current Standard format by earning 4 Stars with every Trainer in each league for 9 more Booster packs.

These Trainer Tokens and 45 total Booster packs may only be obtained once per account.

Scoring points in a Trainer Challenge match is based on various player performance criteria and on the difficulty level chosen, with a higher difficulty level earning more points per match:

• Easy = 1/2 the point bonus (x0.5)
• Medium = normal point bonus (x1)
• Hard = triple the point bonus (x3)

Versus Mode

Players are allowed to choose one of three Opponent types (Random Battle, Friend Battle, or Play Testing), one of four Play types or Deck formats (Theme, Standard, Expanded, or Unlimited) and a deck appropriate to the above. This feature was reintroduced on 21 August 2012, and Deck formats were reintroduced on 12 December 2012.

Opponent types

Ranked Battle

Found under Random Battle. This featuer allows players to play against another randomly selected player. Rewards are earned if the match lasts at least 2 minutes (5 minutes prior to the 3 April 2014 update). The minimum amount of time was increase in the 22 December 2014 update for players forfeiting a match early (actively leaving a match or remaining inactive for an extended period of time) while guaranteeing rewards for players whose opponent forfeited a match. This change was designed to discourage players for only playing long enough to earn a Bonus Wheel or Trainer Token reward. Players earn a single Trainer Token for each match played (Expert Matchmaking Reward) plus 2 Trainer Tokens if they win a match versus a player who was ranked by TCGO as having an advantage based on the player's play history (Game Advantage Upset Reward). The Bonus Wheel provides an opportunity to receive Trainer Tokens, Tournament Tickets, or a Mystery Box reward. Trainer Tokens and the Bonus Wheel are provided to both players regardless of the outcome of the match, although as of the 4 February 2015 update there are now two Bonus Wheels: a Victor's Bonus Wheel and a regular Bonus Wheel, with the Victor's Bonus Wheel having significantly better prizes (such as 2 Mystery Box slots instead of 1 and higher values of Trainer Tokens).

• NOTE: Little is known about the mechanics of the TCGO's Player ranking system or exactly when and why a player is identified as having an Advantage in a Ranked Battle or Tournament match (which was a notification feature added with the 02 October 2013).

Friend Battle

This mode allows players to play against another player who is on their Friends List. Trainer Token and the Bonus Wheel cannot be earned in this mode.

Play Testing

This mode allows players to practice using their chosen deck against a random computer-controlled Trainer from the Trainer Challenge and does not count toward player rank or earn Trainer Tokens and a Bonus Wheel spin.

Play types

Theme

Only pre-constructed Theme decks are allowed in this play type. Apart from the Online-exclusive Starter Theme decks, Theme decks are obtained by either using a Redemption code or by purchase with Trainer Tokens or Gems in the in-game Shop.

Standard

Only decks composed entirely of cards from expansion or sets officially sanctioned for Play! Pokémon events for the Standard format are allowed in this play type. The list of allowed expansions is updated with a game patch shortly after as the official Rotation is announced. Expansions are added to the Standard format as they are released (typically four a year), and the oldest legal expansions are rotated out of the Standard format on an annual basis. The Standard format was previously called the Modified format.

Expanded

Only decks composed entirely of cards from expansions or sets officially sanctioned for Play! Pokémon events for the Expanded format are allowed in this play type. This format was added in the 2014-2015 season to allows a greater number of expansions than the Standard format but is not as unpredictable in card combinations as the Unlimited format. The list of allowed expansions is updated with a game patch shortly after as the official Rotation is announced. Expansions are added to the Expanded format as they are released.

Unlimited

Any deck composed of cards currently available in the game are allowed in this play type (including Standard format decks and Theme decks). Currently, only HeartGold & SoulSilver, Black & White, and XY sets and their expansion are available in the game.

Tournament Mode

Entry into tournaments verses other players require either Tournament Tickets or Trainer Tokens. Players may use one of four Deck formats or Play types (Theme, Standard, Expanded, or Unlimited), though not all Deck formats are always available. Playing in tournaments with other players provide the opportunity to gain a single Trainer Token and a spins on the Bonus Wheel at the end of each match as well as the opportunity to earn Trainer Tokens, Tournament Tickets, and 5-card Booster packs based on the player's placement in a given tournament.

Each tournament is composed of three-round single elimination matches between 8 players. Upon selecting a deck format with either the Tournament Ticket or Trainer Token entry requirements, players are placed into a queue until 8 players join. Once that queue is full, the tournament will begin and a new queue will be created. The maximum duration of a tournament is 1 hour and 18 minutes with up to 25 minutes minutes per match (12 and 1/2 minutes per player) and one minute between rounds.

Continuously running tournaments

Continuously running tournaments started on 24 February 2015 featuring two Deck formats — one requiring a Tournament Ticket entry fee and the other a Trainer Token entry fee. On weekends, two additional Deck formats are added — again one of each entry fee type. The selection of available Deck formats rotates on a weekly basis.

Tournament special event

The first non-trial Tournament special event premiered on 5 February 2015 as a weeklong tournament in which players battled in all four Deck formats for special themed rewards based on Team Magma and Team Aqua from the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire video games. Other Tournament special events occur from time to time, just as trial Tournament special events occurred from time to time after this game feature was first introduced on 28 March 2014.

Tournament rewards

Entry costs and rewards vary widely for Tournament special events. Continuously running tournament entry costs and rewards are standardized:

Currency

There are three currencies available in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. These are Trainer Tokens, Tournament Tickets, and Gems. Only Trainer Tokens and Tournament Tickets are currently obtainable worldwide.

Trainer Tokens

Main article: Trainer Token

Trainer Tokens may be used to redeem non-tradable, 5-card Booster packs (95 Trainer Tokens) from Expanded format expansions of the game and Theme decks (500 Trainer Tokens) from Standard format expansions of the game, as well as Avatar and Gameplay items. They are obtained through various means, including the Daily Challenges, Trainer Challenges, Ranked Battle/PvP matches in the Versus Mode and Tournament Mode, and the Bonus Wheel.

Trainer Tokens are also be obtained by playing various browser-based games or by earning Stamps and reading articles on Pokémon.com. They may also be spent on various items for a player's Pokémon.com Trainer Avatar. This is similar to but distinct from the Pokémon TCG Online Avatar within the game itself.

• NOTE: 5-card booster packs are unique to the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. They contain at least 3 common (), 1 uncommon (), and the chance for 1 rare () cards from a given expansion. Most Booster packs typically contain 10 cards and have a higher percentage of common cards in them, including those received as rewards in the TCGO game and redeemed with Redemption codes in the in-game Shop. They were first introduced with the 25 July 2013 update.

Tournament Tickets

Tournament Tickets are currently available as Daily Challenge rewards or by spinning the Bonus Wheel. They are used to gain access to tournaments in Tournament Mode by redeeming a certain amount of tickets needed to enter a given tournament.

Additionally, Tournament Tickets my be purchased by clicking on the Ticket icon in upper right of many screens such as Tournament Mode of the Shopping Mode or by going directly to www.pokemontcg.com/us/purchase.

• 9.99 USD for 10 Tournament Tickets
• 24.99 USD for 25 Tournament Tickets
• 49.99 USD for 50 Tournament Tickets
• 99.99 USD for 100 Tournament Tickets

Gems

Gems are currently only available to adult players in Canada for testing and are purchased from the in-game Shop. Similar to Trainer Tokens, Gems may be used to purchase Booster packs, Theme decks, Avatar items, and Gameplay items in the Shop or used as a currency for trading with other players.

• NOTE: A Gem is typically equal to 2 Trainer Tokens.

Daily Challenge

The Daily Challenge reward players for playing the Trading Card Game Online on a daily basis. It was implemented on 25 March 2015 replacing the former Daily Login Bonus, the Daily Match Bonus, and the Achievements reward systems. Players are presented with a specific card game related challenge starting at midnight GMT each day. Players may initially only accept a single challenge at a time. The challenge does not need to be completed before the end of a given day. However, at the start of a new day, players will have the choice to either accept a new challenge or continue their current challenge.

Successfully completing challenges earn rewards such at Trainer Tokens. Because each Daily Challenge has an Energy type associated with it, completion also earns the player Experience Points (or XP) that apply to that given Energy type, eventually unlocking special Energy themed Coins, Card sleeves, and Deck boxes. Experience Points also allow players to increase their overall Player Level. Every player starts at a Player Level of Zero (0). Increasing Player level will eventually allow players to save and pursue up to three Daily Challenges at one time.

• NOTE: Player level should not be confused with Player rank, by which TCGO tracks player skill level when matching players for Versus Mode games.

A popup window usually introduced the Daily Challenge to players following their logging into the game. Afterwards, the specifics of the challenge may be viewed in the Active Challenge and Level Progress icon/tab under Profile.

The full variation in the nature of Daily Challenges are not yet clear. Challenges known to be presented so far include:

• Win a match with a Theme Deck that contains Water Pokémon. Completion earns 25 Trainer Tokens and 2 Experience Points (XP)
• Win a match with a Theme Deck that contains Fire Pokémon. Completion earns 25 Trainer Tokens and 2 Experience Points (XP)
• Win a match with a Theme Deck that contains Grass Pokémon. Completion earns 25 Trainer Tokens and 2 Experience Points (XP)

Theme decks

Main article: List of Pokémon Trading Card Game Online decks

Currently, new players have access to five Online-exclusive Theme decks unique to the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online available for use in multiplayer mode matches. These Theme deck are composed of cards from various Black & White and XY expansions of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

• BW Basic Red, BW Basic Green, and BW Basic Blue are the current Starter Theme decks that are slowly unlocked for use in the Versus Mode by beating seven different computer-controlled Trainers in the Trainer Challenge with each deck. This automatically replaces certain cards per Trainer beaten.

• Mental Might is given as the first Daily Login Bonus and is only playable in the Versus Mode.

• Rallying Cry is unlocked by entering non-exclusive Redemption codes (e.g. "plasmablast") in the in-game Shop. It is playable both in the Trainer Challenge and in the Versus Mode.

• Basic Orange was formally unlocked as the first Daily Login Bonus prior to the 13 August 2014 update. It can no longer be unlocked. It is still accessible to players who have already obtained it. It is only playable in the Versus Mode.

• Power Relay was formally unlocked by entering a special Redemption code (e.g. "plasmablast") in the in-game Shop prior to the 2 October 2013 update. It can no longer be redeemed. It is playable both in the Trainer Challenge and in the Versus Mode if one has already redeemed it.

• Four other Starter Theme decks — Basic Red, Basic Yellow, Basic Green and Basic Blue — were available to players prior to the 18 April 2013 update. These decks are composed of cards from the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series expansions. Players with accounts created prior to this update may access these Starter Theme decks as well as the Black & White series Starter Theme decks.

Theme decks corresponding to those of physical decks in the Black & White Series expansion onwards may also be unlocked in Pokémon Trading Card Game Online by redeeming the deck-access Redemption codes included in the Theme deck box. Alternatively, newer Theme decks may also be purchased with Trainer Tokens or Gems in the in-game Shop. Players obtain a single Trainer Token for beating each of the 36 Trainers in the Trainer Challenge once per Theme deck. Additionally, players also obtain a non-tradable, 10-card Booster pack from the current Standard format by beating 12 Trainers once per Theme deck. These Trainer Tokens and Booster packs can only be obtained once per account.

Other Features

Bonus Wheel

The Bonus Wheel provides an opportunity to receive special bonus rewards such as Trainer Tokens, 1 Tournament Ticket, or a Mystery Box. Spins on the Bonus Wheel are earned through participation in a Ranked Battle in Versus Mode or a tournament match in Tournament Mode against another player.

This feature was added with the 24 June 2014 update. The 4 February 2015 update implemented two Bonus Wheels: a Victor’s Bonus Wheel and a regular Bonus Wheel. The Victor’s Bonus Wheel includes greater Trainer Token amounts and additional opportunities to receive a Tournament Ticket or a Mystery Box.

• Regular Bonus Wheel: one Tournament Ticket x1, Mystery Box x1, one Trainer Token x4, three Trainer Tokens x2, five Trainer Tokens x1, and eight Trainer Tokens x1
• Victor's Bonus Wheel: one Tournament Ticket x2, Mystery Box x2, three Trainer Tokens x2, ten Trainer Tokens x2, fifteen Trainer Tokens x2, twenty-five Trainer Tokens x2
• The original, now retired Bonus wheel contained 1 to 5 Trainer Tokens, 1 Tournament Ticket, or a Mystery Box.

Coins

Coins are items that are used in-game when a move, status effect or ability requires a coin flip. The different coins have no special effects; their only difference is their appearance. Players start out with the Red Arceus coin. The Blue Energy coin was given to players by completing certain in-game achievements (currently unavailable to newer players). Additional coins are made available when players redeem a purchased Theme deck, access Redemption code or event code in the in-game Shop or when purchasing a Theme deck through Trainer Tokens or Gems.

Collection

This section shows cards, unopened booster packs and Theme decks, and Avatar and Gameplay items in a player's collection as well as those the player has tagged for trade, wanted or for review. This feature was reintroduced on 21 August 2012.

Deck Manager

This allows the players to view, clone, edit or create decks using obtained cards and items. Decks may be created in either the Standard or Unlimited format Play types. Selecting a Standard format deck filters out cards not sanctioned for official Pokémon Trading Card Game events. After selecting a set of 60 cards, a Deck box, Coin, Card sleeve, and playmat may be selected. These Gameplay items may be obtained by Redemption codes from code cards or event codes in the in-game Shop or purchased with Trainer Tokens or Gems. This feature was reintroduced on 21 August 2012.

Game notifications

Game notices are posted via two methods: 1.) the Game Information section at the bottom of the TCGO log-in screen, and 2.) Pop-up Windows that appear shortly after logging into the game. Notices include Daily Challenges announcements as well as announcements concerning future special tournament events, server maintenance that will make the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online unplayable for a few hours, information about a recent program upgrade or patch, etc.

Landing page

The Landing page is what players see immediately immediately after logging into a game. Its layout of game features is different from the rest of the game. All game features may be accessed on the Landing page except for Options, Profile, and Social Menu. The Quick Match play mode is only accessible on the Landing page. Players may re-access the Landing page by clicking on the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online logo in the upper center of most TCGO screens.

Mystery Box

Mystery Box rewards are earned on Bonus Wheel spins. Rewards include both static rewards (25 Trainer Tokens, 4 Tournament Tickets, a 5-card Booster pack from the current Standard format expansion or randomly selected from current Standard format expansions, or items that are updated weekly such as single expansion or promo cards, Coins, and Card sleeves). The 4 February 2015 update increased the rewards in a Victor’s Mystery Box to include 50 Trainer Tokens, a larger Tournament Ticket amount, tradable single cards, and tradable 10-card Booster packs.

Options

Accessible on the Landing page or via the Full Game Menu (orange arrow icon) in the upper righthand corner of most TCGO screens. This feature allows players to change various game settings such as Game Play, Video, and Audio. Multiple players using the same Pokémon Trading Card Game Online program have individual/per-account settings.

• NOTE: Turning off Tool Tip Hints may negatively affect game play by making certain in-game information inaccessible, such as how many cards are left in the player's or an opponent's deck.

Some game settings are inaccessible in the TCGO game itself and can only be found by signing into Pokémon.com and viewing a player Profile. Adult players may adjust all available settings by selecting "Pokémon TCG Online Settings" under the adult player's Profile.

While TCGO strives to be child friendly, parents may further restrict access to certain in-game features by signing into the parent's account on Pokémon.com, selecting the child's account under the parent account, and selecting Pokémon TCG Online Settings. Parents should be certain to select "Pokémon TCG Online Settings" under the child's account, not the parent's account. Parents may then restrict some in-game features such as Friend Chat, Game Chat, Shopping, and Trading.

• NOTE: Some in-game features are inaccessible for child accounts, such as Public Chat and Private Messaging, while other in-game features are restricted by limiting available options. Adult accounts do not have such restrictions.

Profile

Accessible on the Landing page or via the Full Game Menu (orange arrow icon) in the upper righthand corner of most TCGO screens. It includes Daily Challenge, Statistics, and Avatar Creator. This feature was initially introduced on 21 August 2012.

Statistics

Game Stats

The Game Stats page allows game statistics to be viewed. The following statistics are currently shown:

• Total cards drawn
• Total damage dealt
• Total damage taken
• Total games played
• Game points
• Total hours played
• Tournament Points
• Total upset wins

Collection Stats

• Percent Complete — percentage of cards obtained out of all cards available in the game
• Different Cards Owned — number of different cards in a player's collection
• Total Cards Owned — total number of cards in a player's collection
• Set Nearest to Completion — expansion or set with the highest percentage of total cards are in a player's collection
• Complete Sets — enumeration of expansions or sets of which all cards are in a player's collection
• Most of One Card
• Foil Cards Owned — number of holofoil and reverse-holofoil rare cards

Active Challenges/Level Progress

All active Daily Challenges are shown here after they are first presented to players in a popup window. Additionally, player progress toward achieving specific Energy type rewards and overall Player level are viewable here.

Avatar Creator

Players may customize their online Avatars' gender, face, and body (clothes) with the Avatar Creator. Players may select from several skin and hair colors, hair styles, facial features, and clothes. Players may also unlock various Avatar items (clothes) by purchasing them with Trainer Tokens or Gems in the in-game Shop, redeeming codes in the shop, or by Trading with other players. Trainer Tokens may also be used to unlock clothing items on Pokémon.com by going to Customize Trainer. Avatar and/or Trainer clothing items available for purchase in one, are not always available for purchase in the other. Items added in one are not always available in the other. Like Pokémon cards, Avatar items cannot always be traded. Items purchased on Pokémon.com typically cannot be traded.

The Avatar Creator in the TCGO, officially reintroduced with the 29 June 2013 update, adopt changes made by players on Pokémon.com to their Customize Trainer the next time that players logs back in to the TCGO, and visa versa.

Redemption codes

Redemption codes are unique codes that allow players to unlock Theme decks, Booster packs and more. They are only be found on specially marked packs and decks. "Contains 1 code card" is found on the back of Booster packs which contain a Redemption code card. Only Theme decks that are clearly marked "Play This Deck Online" will contain Redemption codes. These unique Redemption codes can only be used once.

However, there are generic Redemption codes which may be used by all Pokémon TGCO players. The following are confirmed codes which unlock Theme decks, Booster packs, and Avatar items (all of which are non-tradabe):

• PlasmaFreeze - Rallying Cry deck
• PlasmaBlast - Rallying Cry deck
• PlasmaStorm - Rallying Cry deck
• BoundariesCrossed - Rallying Cry deck
• LegendaryTreasures - Rallying Cry deck
• Flashfire - Rallying Cry deck
• FuriousFists - Rallying Cry deck
• PhantomForces - Rallying Cry deck
• DragonsExalted - Pokémon-EX Hat (Avatar Item)
• DarkExplorers - Pokémon-EX Hat (Avatar Item)
• NextDestinies - Pokémon-EX Hat (Avatar Item)
• PokemonTCG - Black Cap (Avatar Item)

Shop

This in-game feature, reintroduced on 21 August 2012, allows players to purchase Theme decks, Booster packs, Gameplay items (Card sleeves, Deck Boxes, etc.), and Avatar items with either Trainer Tokens or Gems. The Shop also allows adult players to purchase Gems and Tournament Tickets with real currency. Redeeming Redemption codes, often found with the physical purchase of the above items, is also done through this in-game Shop.

The shop initially allowed for Code Redemption and Booster packs purchases through the now retired Booster Credit until Trainer Token purchases were added with the 25 July 2013 update and Gems purchases with the 19 Apr 2013 update. More recent updates to the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online game frequently add and remove items available for purchase, often without prior warning. Older Theme decks and Booster packs are removed following the start of a new Rotation usually after the Trading Card Game World Championships in August of each year. New Theme decks and Booster packs are typically introduced following the release of a new expansion. Other items are added and removed on a weekly basis starting on 13 March 2015. These weekly rotated items will like rotate back in at some point. There are also exclusive items available for time to time that may be available for a limited period only.

• Theme decks cost 500 Trainer Tokens.
• Booster packs cost 95 Trainer Tokens.
• Single Blister packs cost 200 Trainer Tokens or 100 Gems and contain 1 Booster pack, 1 Promotional card, and a coin.
• 3-pack Blister packs cost 600 Trainer Tokens or 300 Gems and typically contain 3 Booster packs, 1 Promotional card, and a coin.
• Card Sleeves cost
• Deck boxes cost

Social Menu

Accessible via the Social Menu (orange arrow icon) in the upper lefthand corner of most TCGO screens. Inaccessible on the Landing page. This feature allows players to search for Friends, participate in Public Chats, and review in-game Notifications. This feature was reintroduced on 21 August 2012.

Trade

This feature allows players to view and create public and private trade offers. Players may trade one or several items, cards, and packs in each transaction. Items, cards, and packs obtained from Daily Challenges, the Trainer Challenges, redeeming the multiple-use Redemption codes or with Trainer Tokens are not available for trade with other players (appeared as "Trade Locked") to prevent players from accumulating these items by creating multiple accounts. This feature was reintroduced with the 24 October 2012 update.

Unavailable features

The following are features still unavailable worldwide:

• Gems (Canada only)
• Leaderboards
• Account History

Retired game features

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Online has been in continual development since its initial inception. Often updates involves the addition of new rules and card as new expansion sets are released, the resolution of program errors, player interface changes improving usability (including a second complete update to the user interface from mid-2013 to mid-2014), and the addition or re-addition of new game features. Occasionally, updates to the game involve the removal of previously existing game features.

Professor Tutorials

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Online underwent a ground up transformation from its original released as a browser-based game on 24 March 2011 to its initially open beta release as a downloadable game utilizing the Unity (game engine) on 15 May 2012. This rewrite temporarily removed all game features except for the Trainer Challenge and the Redemption codes and now retired Booster Credits features of the in-game Shop. Features such as the Avatar Creator, Collection viewer, Deck Builder, Trading interface, Social Menu, and Versus Mode were added afterwards. The dedicated set of tutorials taught by the Professor in the original browser-based release were never moved to the downloadable game, though a new set of Tutorials has since been added to the beginning of the game for first time players. The original tutorials continue to exist as a stand-alone browser-based program found on the Traking Card Game section of the Pokémon.com website.

Tournament Keys

Early expectation for the Tournament Mode envisioned Tournament Keys as the in-game Currency used to access special Tournament events. Tournament Keys were never implemented in Open Beta testing, which instead utilized Tournament Tickets.

Diamond League

A high difficulty, fourth Diamond League existed in the Trainer Challenge prior to the 07 February 2014 update.

Booster Credits

This former in-game Currency was originally used with Redemption code cards found in physical Booster packs. Booster Credits could be redeemed for Booster packs of the player’s choice in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online from HeartGold & SoulSilver through Boundaries Crossed expansions. This Redemption code cards method ended with the release of the Plasma Storm expansion when codes from a specific Expansion Booster pack became redeemable for a virtual version of that specific Booster pack. The Booster Credit system officially ended in July 2013. From July 2013 to December 2013, players with Booster Credits redeemed before July 2013 could redeem these credits for any pack from Next Destinies to Boundaries Crossed expansions. Players who still had Booster Credits after the 07 February 2014 update automatically had any remained credits redeemed for Boundaries Crossed Booster packs.

Practice Battle

Practice Battle was originally an Opponent types in Versus Mode found under Random Battle. This mode allowed players to practice using their chosen deck against another randomly selected player. This battle did not count toward a player’s rank or earn Trainer Tokens or Bonus Wheel spins. The Practice Battle option was retired on 25 March 2015.

Daily Login Bonus

This feature was retired on 25 March 2015 in favor of a new Daily Challenges reward system. It was first introduced in the 17 January 2013 update as an award system to allow players to collect #Trainer Tokens and Booster packs. The Daily Login Bonus provided a reward for playing Pokémon Trading Card Game Online on a daily basis simply by logging into the game. It consisted of an initial track designed to help new players get started in the game, and a track that provided recurring rewards to existing players. Each bonus reward unlocked the first time players logged in each day based on GMT and did not require players to log in on consecutive days to maintain progress on the track. Once players completed the introductory New Player track, they were migrated to the recurring Existing Player track. There was no limit to the number of times players could complete the Existing Player track, as they were cycled back to the beginning of the track after receiving the bonus reward for the fifth day.

New Player Track

• Day 1 - 1 Online-exclusive Theme deck (currently Mental Might)
• Day 2 - 25 Trainer Tokens
• Day 3 - 5 non-tradable, 10-card Booster pack (randomly selected from Standard format expansions)

Existing Player Track

• Day 1, 2, 4 - 15 Trainer Tokens
• Day 3 - 1 Tournament Ticket (Prior to the 03 April 2014 update, Day 3 also awarded 15 Trainer Tokens.)
• Day 5 - 1 non-tradable, 10-card Booster pack (randomly selected from Standard format expansions)

Daily Match Bonus

<hide> This feature was also retired on 25 March 2015 in favor of the new Daily Challenges reward system. It was first introduced in the 17 January 2013 update and was designed to reward players for completing the first Ranked Battle/PvP match each day with 10 Trainer Tokens, regardless of whether they won or lost, and in addition to any other rewards from that match. The match had to last at least 2 minutes for this bonus to be awarded (5 minutes prior to the 3 April 2014 update).

Achievements

This reward feature was another feature retired on 25 March 2015, though it had not been actively updated for some time prior to its retirement. Players earned Achievements for completing various tasks. These Achievements had no special effect on the game. TCGO has announced the intention to reward players who completed a significant number of Achievements in the original Achievement feature before it was retired, such as the bonus gift of special Card sleeves to commemorate given Achievements. Specific details are not yet known.

Misc. Achievements

• All Dressed Up. Customize your avatar
• Evolver. Play a Stage 2 Evolution card
• Legendary. Earn 6,000 or more points in a single game in the Trainer Challenge
• Legendary Trainer. Play a Legendary Pokémon, which are found in HeartGold & SoulSilver Series expansions
• Studious. View all Tutorials (currently unavailable to newer players)
• Technician. Play 3 Trainer - Item cards in one turn
• Trader. Trade a card

Trainer Challenge Achievements

• Blade of Grass. Win 8 games with the Basic Green deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Firestarter. Win 8 games with the Basic Red deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Breaking Wave. Win 8 games with the Basic Blue deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Rallying Cry. Win 12 games with the Rallying Cry deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Verdant Frost. Win 12 games with the Verdant Frost deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• Royal Guard. Win 12 games with the Royal Guard deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• Daybreak. Win 12 games with the Daybreak deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• Nightfall. Win 12 games with the Nightfall deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• Green Tornado. Win 12 games with the Green Tornado deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Red Frenzy. Win 12 games with the Red Frenzy deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Blue Assault. Win 12 games with the Blue Assault deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Night Hunter. Win 12 games with the Night Hunter deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Power Play. Win 12 games with the Power Play deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Toxic Tricks. Win 12 games with the Toxic Tricks deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Fast Daze. Win 12 games with the Fast Daze deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Furious Knights. Win 12 games with the Furious Knights deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Explosive Edge. Win 12 games with the Explosive Edge deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Voltage Vortex. Win 12 games with the Voltage Vortex deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Raiders. Win 12 games with the Raiders deck in the Trainer Challenge
• Shadows. Win 12 games with the Shadows deck in the Trainer Challenge

• Covering The Basics. Win one game with each color the three Basic decks
• Gold League Champ. Win all the games in the Gold League
• Platinum League Champ. Win all the games in the Platinum League
• Diamond League Champ. Win all the games in the Diamond League (currently unavailable to newer players)
• City Champion. Win all the games in the City Championship
• Triple Crown Champ. Win the Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Leagues (currently unavailable to newer players)
• Game Mastery. Earn four stars in a single game in the Trainer Challenge
• League Mastery. Earn four stars in all 12 games in a single League in the Trainer Challenge
• Trainer Challenge Mastery. Earn four stars in all 12 games in three different Leagues in the Trainer Challenge

Status-based Achievements

• Imperishable Night. Take no Damage from an opponent attack while playing the Nightfall deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• Into That Good Night. Apply two simultaneous special conditions while playing the Nightfall deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• All-Around Conditioning. Inflict all 5 special conditions on opposing Pokémon while playing the Daybreak deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• Healing Light. Heal 60 or more Damage in a single turn while playing the Daybreak deck (currently unavailable to newer players) in the Trainer Challenge
• Baffling. Confuse 5 opposing Pokémon in the same game.
• Incendiary. Burn 5 opposing Pokémon in the same game.
• Stunning. Paralyze 5 opposing Pokémon in the same game.
• Soporific. Put 5 opposing Pokémon to sleep in the same game.
• Venomous. Poison 5 opposing Pokémon in the same game.

Knock Outs based on history Achievements

• 50th Knockout. Knock Out 50 of your opponents' Pokémon
• 500th Knockout. Knock Out 500 of your opponents' Pokémon
• 1000th Knockout. Knock Out 1000 of your opponents' Pokémon
• 5000th Knockout. Knock Out 5000 of your opponents' Pokémon
• The Win of the Century. Win 100 games
• Triple Threat. Complete wins with all 3 victory conditions

Knock Outs based on a single match Achievements

• KO!. Knock Out a Pokémon
• Too Easy. Knock Out a previously uninjured Pokémon in a single attack
• Two for One. Knock Out 2 Pokémon with one attack
• Hat Trick. Knock Out 3 Pokémon with one attack
• Quad Damage. Knock Out 4 Pokémon with one attack
• Full House. Knock Out 5 Pokémon with one attack
• Clean Sweep. Knock Out 6 Pokémon with one attack

• Eyes on the Prize. Win by drawing the last Prize card
• Patient. Win by opponent running out of cards
• Merciless. Win a game by knocking out your opponent's last Pokémon
• Perfectionist. Win a game without your opponent getting a single Prize card

Damage dealt or healed in a single match Achievements

• First Blood. Deal 50 damage
• Super Effective. Deal 100 or more damage in a single attack
• Overwhelming. Deal 200 or more damage in a single attack
• Devastation. Deal 300 or more damage in a single attack
• Healer. Heal 100 or more damage in a single game

See also

• Pokémon Trading Card Game or TCG
• Glossary of TCG terms
• Category:Pokémon Trading Card Game for a categorized list of all articles related to the TCG

On Bulbagarden forums:

• Pokémon Tabletop Games discussion forum

External links

• Pokémon Trading Card Game Online
• Download Pokémon Trading Card Game Online
• Pokémon Trading Card Game Online official forums
• Step-by-step Web Browser TCG Tutorials

This article is part of both Project Sidegames and Project TCG, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames and TCG, respectively.