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Release Date: March 24, 2011 (Browser)
Developer: Dire Wolf Digital
Publisher: The Pokémon Company
Platforms: Browser (discontinued), PC, Mac, iPad, Android
Price: Free to Play
Overview
Pokémon Trading Card Game Online is the official online version of the famous Pokémon TCG that was launched in 1996 quickly after the first video games came out.
Since 2011, players can enjoy the card game online and use codes they find inside their real life booster packs to get a free booster pack in the online game.
PTCGO is always up to date with the latest expansions and features of the real life variant.
Play Tab
Here you will find all the menus to play the game!
Trainer Challenge
Compete against the AI with three free themed decks that earn new cards after each victory! Trainer Challenge is the perfect way to get introduced to the Pokémon TCG as the opponents use only basic decks and minimal strategies.
Versus
If you wanna be the very best, you'll have to compete in Versus mode! In here, you will play against real opponents. But don't worry, you will not be crushed for hours on end as a new player, because there a multiple formats to play in.
Versus Formats
Themed Decks
Play in a mode where only Themed Decks are allowed! Themed Decks are usually build upon one major Pokémon and a easy to play strategy. In this mode, you will face your first real opponents and learn more about strategy and combos.
Play in a mode where only Themed Decks are allowed! Themed Decks are usually build upon one major Pokémon and a easy to play strategy. In this mode, you will face your first real opponents and learn more about strategy and combos.
Standard
Standard is the main format you should focus on after learning the basics and getting some better cards. Only cards from the last two majors expansions are allowed in this format which limits the possibilities but allowes the Meta to be easier to understand.
Standard is the main format you should focus on after learning the basics and getting some better cards. Only cards from the last two majors expansions are allowed in this format which limits the possibilities but allowes the Meta to be easier to understand.
Extended
As its name suggests, Extended is a format that uses cards from more expansions than Standard. New players will have trouble finding a lot of cards from previous expansions, which is why they should only play this format if they are prepared to invest a lot of money into the game.
As its name suggests, Extended is a format that uses cards from more expansions than Standard. New players will have trouble finding a lot of cards from previous expansions, which is why they should only play this format if they are prepared to invest a lot of money into the game.
Events
Play tournaments with 7 other players to compete for tradable prizes! Tournaments exist in 3 formats aswell: Themed, Standard and Extended. To be able to enter a tournament, you need to spend the needed amount of tickets. Players earn tickets by playing the Versus mode
Cards Tab
In here you'll find everything related to your cards.
Collection
Browse your collection and tag cards as favorites, for want or for sale. Not the best interface when you have large collections, but at least the filter and search options are decent enough when you're looking for something specific.
Deck Manager
In here you will find all you existing decks that you made as well as any Themed Deck you own.
Trading
Trade you cards to other players worldwide for a small coin fee! Only cards and packs that you bought in real life, or won in events, are tradable.
Shop & Redeem Tab
Buy new packs and Themed decks and redeem your codes to get new cards and Themed decks!
Shop
Buy booster packs, Themed Decks and accessories with Trainer Coins. Those items are not tradable!
Redeem Codes
Redeem your code from you real life purchases! This is basically the Pokémon TCGO equivalent to microtransactions.
Profile Tab
Check your daily challenges and modify the look of your avatar in here.
Avatar
Change the gender, look and clothes of your avatar. New clothing can be won through promo codes and items from the ingame shop.
Challenges
Check your daily challenge in here. Challenges allow you to earn Experience Points.
At level 5, you will be able to unlock a second daily challenge! If you don't like the challenge, you can drop it and get a new one once per day.
Statistics
Take a look at some basic statistics on your matches and your collection.
Will be expanded later.
Free to Play players:
- Play against all trainers in Trainer Challenge at least once.
- Once you have 500 Trainer Coins, buy the Mach Strike Themed Deck in the Shop. It is currently the best Themed Deck.
- Play against all trainers in Trainer Challenge again but using different decks. If you win with 4 different Themed Decks against a single trainer, you will earn a free booster!
- Once you feel comfortable with your new Themed Deck, try out some Themed Deck Versus!
- Grind the Versus Mode for daily unlocks. You will earn Trainer Coins, Event Tickets and even some boosters for up to 12 wins per day!
- Once you have enough cards, start creating a Standard Deck. You might lose a bit in the beginning but with the hidden MMR (Matchmaking statistics) you should quickly play against people that have your skill and Deck quality.
- Repeat the last two steps!
- Play Events to earn tradable cards.
- Follow the same steps as above to earn some free boosters but feel free to try out Standard Versus sooner!
To be continued.
Q: I can't download the game on my smartphone!
A: For mobile devices, the game is only available for Tablets. Fortunately, you can download the .apk (for Android smartphones) on websites like apkmirror. Of course, you'll need to download the newest version manually after each update.
Q: I'd like to buy cards, but I don't want to spend money on real cards. What can I do?
A: You can buy extremely cheap codes on eBay (about 25cents/booster) or websites like Professor Oak. (I am in no way affiliated to that website and won't guarantee that you won't be scammed, but a lot of people use it without any issue despite its very 90's look.)
Will be completed.
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