User:C.Ezra.M/Colloquial terms (TCG)

Please feel free to edit this page.
Major changes to this page should be discussed on the talk page.

This is a list of colloquial terms used in Pokémon TCG contexts. These terms are mostly used by players and have been coined by them.

A

accelerate Energy

To perform Energy acceleration.

B

BDIF

Abbreviation of Best Deck In Format.

Big Basic

A Basic Pokémon with high HP and relatively strong attacks. These are typically Pokémon that do not evolve, such as those with certain Rule Boxes.

board

The Pokémon cards a player has in play.

C

card advantage

A state in which one player has more cards available to use throughout their turn than their opponent does during theirs.

consistency

The ability for a player to enact a desired strategy with regularity throughout multiple matches.

D

deck out

(noun) A situation when either player's deck runs out of cards, making them lose the game upon attempting to draw at the beginning of their turn. Sometimes formatted as deckout.
(transitive verb) To cause a player to be in that situation.

donk

(noun/adjective) A deck that aims to win as quickly as possible using a specific combo of cards.
(transitive verb) To cause the opponent to lose to such a deck.

E

Energy acceleration

Attachment of additional Energy to a Pokémon beyond the once-per-turn attachment stipulated by the game rules.

engine

A card or group of cards that, when played together, allow a player draw from or search their deck for cards multiple times throughout the match.

G

GLC

Abbreviation of Gym Leader Challenge.

gust

(transitive verb) To choose a Pokémon from the opponent's Bench and switch it into the Active Spot.
(noun) A card that does that, e.g. Gust of Wind from the Base Set.
(noun) Any effect that does that, which can also be an attack or an Ability.

The legacy of Gust of Wind led to this term.

Gym Leader Challenge

Main article: Gym Leader Challenge format (TCG)

A format based on the Expanded format, in which all Pokémon in a deck must be the same type, cards with a Rule Box and ACE SPEC cards are not allowed, and only one card with the same name, except Basic Energy cards, is permitted. Despite being based on the Expanded format, it has its own banlist.

L

Library Out

Abbreviated as LO, the Japanese equivalent term for mill. A reference to the term library from Magic: The Gathering, which refers to the draw pile.

LO

Abbreviation of Library Out.

lock

An effect that prevents a player from taking actions of a certain kind, such as using Abilities or playing Trainer cards of a specific category.

M

mill

A strategy in which the player discards cards from their opponent's deck, leading to a deck out.

mirror match

A match where both matched decks use the same archetype.

N

Narode format

A format in which each player has the same deck, designed by Simon Narode (hence the name, Narode format), to remove most of the luck-based aspects of the game. Games in this format take longer mostly because it is decision-intense. The deck list used in the Narode format is as follows.^[1]

Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
1×	Shaymin
1×	Slugma
1×	Magcargo
1×	Lapras
1×	Crawdaunt ex
2×	Holon's Magnemite
1×	Holon's Magneton
1×	Electrode
1×	Zapdos
1×	Gastly
1×	Gengar
1×	Gengar LV.X
1×	Mew ex
1×	Unown E
1×	Unown Q
1×	Spiritomb
1×	Azelf
1×	Ditto
1×	Lucario
1×	Absol
1×	Darkrai & Cresselia
1×	Darkrai & Cresselia
1×	Bronzong
1×	Dialga
1×	Pidgey
1×	Pidgeot
1×	Ditto
1×	Ditto
1×	Ditto
2×	Holon's Castform
1×	Herdier
2×	Holon Mentor	T [Su]
1×	Bebe's Search	Su
1×	Gladion	Su
1×	Hugh	Su
1×	Korrina	Su
1×	Marley's Request	Su
1×	Morty	Su
1×	Rival	Su
1×	Scott	T [Su]
1×	Seeker	Su
1×	Twins	Su
2×	Holon Transceiver	T
1×	Computer Error	T [R]	—
1×	Erika's Kindness	T
1×	Friend Ball	I
1×	Mystery Plate β	T [TM]
1×	Pokémon Breeder	T
1×	Pokémon Communication	I
1×	Pow! Hand Extension	T [R]
1×	Swoop! Teleporter	T [R]
1×	Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain	T [PT]
1×	Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray	T
1×	Warp Point	T
1×	Cursed Stone	T [St]
1×	Lost World	St

O

OTK

Abbreviation of One-Turn Kill. In Japanese, this term is sometimes applied to donk decks.

P

package

A group of cards designed to be played in the same deck with a mechanical synergy other than Evolution. A package may include an engine.

pivot

A Pokémon that can be placed the Active Spot following a Knock Out that the player is able that may easily be removed from the Active Spot during the player's turn, such as by retreating without a Retreat Cost.

prize

A Prize card. (In official contexts, this term is capitalized as Prize.)
- Example: Each player starts with 6 prizes.
To end up with a certain card in the Prize cards, typically at the beginning of the game.
- Example: I prized my Prime Catcher!

prized

A specific card placed in the player's Prize cards.
- Example: My Prime Catcher is prized.
The past tense and past participle of prize.

prize map

A player's estimation of their strategy to Knock Out opposing Pokémon over upcoming turns that will allow them to take all of their remaining Prize cards to win the game.

R

rogue deck

A deck archetype that is not common in the metagame, yet with high results in metagame tournaments.

S

snipe

An attack that does damage to one opposing Pokémon, specifically Benched Pokémon.
To use such an attack.

spread

An attack that does damage to the opponent's Active Pokémon as well as their Benched Pokémon.
To use such an attack.
A deck that focuses on using such attacks.

staple

A card used frequently in many decks and deck archetypes.

T

tank

A Pokémon with high HP that can withstand multiple strong attacks before it is Knocked Out.

tech

A card included in a deck that is effective against a certain deck archetype but is less effective when played against other decks.

tutor

An effect that allows a player to search their deck for a card or cards.
To use such an effect.

From the Magic the Gathering card Demonic Tutor.

References

↑ Virbank City Gym post by Simon Narode

[1] Virbank City Gym post by Simon Narode

[1]