Philadelphia Pokemon

How to..  
Build a Standard Constructed Deck

Players bring their decks with them. Each deck needs to have exactly 60 cards, with no more than 4 of any card except basic energy cards. Note that as of the XY set release, you may not play with both Professor Juniper and Professor Sycamore in your deck. 


Each September the card sets that will be allowed in standard constructed tournaments for the upcoming year are announced.  Each new set released during the year becomes tournament legal after it has been officially released.  

The Standard format for the 2015 season will consist of the following expansions:

  • Black & White—Boundaries Crossed
  • Black & White—Plasma Storm
  • Black & White—Plasma Freeze
  • Black & White—Plasma Blast
  • Black & White—Legendary Treasures
  • XY—Kalos Starter Set
  • XY
  • XY—Flashfire
  • XY—Furious Fists
  • XY- Phantom Forces
  • XY - Primal Clash
  • McDonald’s Collection
  • XY: Trainer Kit
  • Black Star Promo Cards: BW55 and higher, XY01 and higher
  • Additional expansions become legal three weeks after they are released in the United States.

Build an Expanded Constructed Deck


Players bring their decks with them. Each deck needs to have exactly 60 cards, with no more than 4 of any card except basic energy cards. Note that as of the XY set release, you may not play with both Professor Juniper and Professor Sycamore in your deck. 


Starting on September 3, the new Expanded format will be joining the familiar Standard format as a legal option for sanctioned Pokémon TCG events of all sizes. This new format will allow players to use all expansions from Black & White on, so players will have even more options when designing a winning deck! Players should double-check what format is being used before deciding which deck to bring to their local events.

The Expanded format for the 2015 season will consist of the following expansions:

  • Black & White
  • Black & White—Emerging Powers 
  • Black & White—Noble Victories
  • Black & White—Next Destinies
  • Black & White—Dark Explorers
  • Black & White—Dragon Vault
  • Black & White—Dragons Exalted
  • Black & White—Boundaries Crossed
  • Black & White—Plasma Storm
  • Black & White—Plasma Freeze
  • Black & White—Plasma Blast
  • Black & White—Legendary Treasures
  • BW: Trainer Kit
  • XY—Kalos Starter Set
  • XY
  • XY—Flashfire
  • XY—Furious Fists
  • McDonald’s Collection 2011
  • McDonald’s Collection 2012
  • McDonald’s Collection 2014
  • XY: Trainer Kit
  • Black Star Promo Cards: BW01 and higher, XY01 and higher.
  • Additional expansions become legal three weeks after they are released in the United States.
  • Older cards (from prior sets) 
    can only be used if they have been reprinted in one of the sets listed above. For Example the following BW Promos can be used: Reshiram BW04, Zekrom BW05, Zoroark BW09, Serperior BW20, Emboar BW21, Reshiram BW23, Zekrom BW24, Tropical Beach BW28

Write down your decklist

You will need a decklist of the cards you are including in your deck.  You can save time and complete your decklist before the event ( blank decklists will be available at the event for you to complete if you cannot prepare one ahead of time).

For standard - Get a Decklist
For extended - Get a Decklist

You can build a decklist online and then print it out through
Get a Pokemon Player ID  (also called a POP id) 
First you need to have a Trainer Club Id  and then with the trainer club Id (and the password) you can get a Player Id

Go to the sign up page on www.pokemon.com
Get a Trainer Club ID -
  1. You will be asked  - Do you already have a Trainer Club ID from the www.pokemon.com website?
  • If you already have an account, please log in now.
  • If no, click “Join Now” and join the Trainer Club!
  • Note1: IF YOU ARE UNDER 13 HAVE YOUR PARENT JOIN FIRST, then create your account and have your parent join it to their account. All instructions for this should be on the site.
  • Note2: FINISH the process to join the Trainer Club, including finding and using the activation link in the registration email. Otherwise you can go no farther!
Get a Player ID - Once you have joined the Trainer Club, and you know your password, then You Can Log on.  This is a link on the upper right corner of the page.  
https://www.pokemon.com/us/account/upgrade2/
You will be asked to log in again using the Trainer club id and Password you just activated.
After logging on you will be asked if you have a Player ID.   Select the Continue button under I do not have a Player ID (check the accept the terms of service).  You will go to a screen where you can change your email or any other information. At the bottom of the screen you should check that you want to participate in championship and play points. Click Save
Click the “My Play! Pokemon” tab (top middle of screen) and jot down your Player ID:
Now, if you have a printer, click the red “Print a Player ID Card!” button. (see above). You will get to choose from several designs and end up with a Player ID card.