Retreat Cost (TCG)

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Retreat Cost (Japanese: にげる retreat) is the amount of Energy attached to a Pokémon that must be discarded in order to retreat to the Bench, bringing up a new Active Pokémon from the Bench. A Pokémon's innate Retreat Cost, which is printed on its card (typically on the bottom right corner), ranges from 0 Energy (often called a "free retreat") all the way up to 5 Energy, although there was no card with a Retreat Cost of 5 since Stormfront Mamoswine. Retreat Costs are marked by Colorless ( ) Energy symbols.

Prior to the release of EX Ruby & Sapphire, a player could retreat Pokémon as often as they liked during the same turn, discarding Energy each time, if necessary. If the Pokémon is Confused, the player had to discard energy cards then flip a coin. If heads, the retreat was successful. If tails, the energy cards were wasted and the Pokémon remained in play. Since the release of EX Ruby & Sapphire, the player can retreat Pokémon only once per turn, and is no longer required to flip a coin to retreat if their Pokémon is Confused.

Pokémon cards by Retreat Cost

Main article: Category:Pokémon cards by Retreat Cost

Effects that alter Retreat Costs

Several Pokémon are capable of altering a Pokémon's Retreat Cost, usually through Pokémon Powers or Abilities. Trainer cards such as Pokémon Tools and Stadiums can also alter a Pokémon's Retreat Cost. In most cases, increases in the Retreat Cost are done by fixed amounts, while reductions may be either by fixed amounts or by setting to 0 (referred to as having "no Retreat Cost").

Increases are calculated first, then reductions. If a Pokémon has no Retreat Cost due to an effect, it overrides all effects that increase its Retreat Cost.

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 撤回費用 Chèhuí Fèiyòng
France Flag.png French Coût de retraite
Germany Flag.png German Rückzugskosten
Italy Flag.png Italian Costo di ritirata
South Korea Flag.png Korean 후퇴 Hutoe
Poland Flag.png Polish Koszt wycofania się
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Custo para Recuar
Russia Flag.png Russian Отступление Otstupleniye
Spain Flag.png Spanish Coste de retirada
Thailand Flag.png Thai หนี Ni


Project TCG logo.png This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.