Questions about the game from a noob

[ReapR]

I just started up again and I was wondering what cards are staples.(Cards every deck should have) and what sets are they in

[BondiBorg]

Well, it really depends on what format you plan on playing. Modified (Nintendo's tournament format) uses only the six (soon to be seven) latest sets; Unlimited uses every card ever released, with the exceptions of ____'s Pikachu and Ancient Mew.

For Unlimited, the basic Trainer engine in a tournament-style deck looks something like this:

Trainers
4 Computer Search (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/computer_search.jpg)
4 Item Finder (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/item_finder.jpg)
3 Professor Oak (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/professor_oak.jpg)
3 Rocket's Sneak Attack (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/teamrocket/rocketssneakattack.jpg)
3 Lass (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/lass.jpg)
3 Super Energy Removal (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/super_er.jpg)
2 Energy Removal (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/energy_removal.jpg)
2 Gust of Wind (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/gust_of_wind.jpg)
1 Switch (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/ex_ruby_sapphire/switch92.jpg)
1 Town Volunteers (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/aquapolis/136town_volunteers.jpg)

Once you've got those, you can continue adding Trainers to compliment the deck. Depending on Pokémon choices, for healing you could have Gold Berry, (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/genesis/gold_berry.jpg) or Focus Band. (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/genesis/focus_band.jpg) Then you need at least two Stadiums; common choices are Sprout Tower, (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/genesis/sprout_tower.jpg) Ecogym, (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/genesis/ecogym.jpg) and No Removal Gym. (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/heroes/no_removal_gym.jpg) It continues on, from there.

If you need further tips, just look around in the Modified and Deck Discussion forums, and see what appears to be popular.

[Polalion]

Don't forget Chaos Gym (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/challenge/chaos_gym.jpg) , Bondi. Especially with Slowking. I heard you don't really like Chaos Gym (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/challenge/chaos_gym.jpg) so much.

Trainers like Switch (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/ex_ruby_sapphire/switch92.jpg) and Double Gust (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/genesis/double_gust.jpg) are considered as healing as they can heal their Pokemon of Special Conditions, like a Full Heal (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/expedition/154%20fullheal.jpg) with extra effects. Similarly, Scoop Up (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/base/scoop_up.jpg) and Mr. Briney's Compassion (http://www.pokeschool.com/tcg/scans/ex_dragon/mrbrineyscompassion.jpg) are used for healing as well.

[BondiBorg]

Don't get me started on Chaos Gym, it wouldn't be pretty... ¬_¬

Honestly, I'd be more likely to use Warp Point than Double Gust, in any Unlimited deck that has more than one critter with a Retreat Cost. Double Gust is best reserved for free Retreat decks, much easier to get out of trouble that way. If you can find enough free Retreat Pokémon to make a deck from, ReapR, then drop the Switch and two Gusts for two Double Gusts, and you'll have one extra space to fill.

Good Luck!

[mob2099]

reapr,
there is really only 3 cards that i can think of that meet staple requirements in the modified format now: dunsparce, prof. oak reseach, town volunteers.

in the old modified format it was like cleffa, elm, copycat, town volunteers, poketrader, tyrogue

but other then those for the fomat now, other cards used commonly, depending on deck or player are copycat, desert shaman, materball, fastball,tv reporter, bills maintainence, mr. briney compassion

[ReapR]

Thanks I am planing on buying a large amount of cards and was wondering which were best. That really helps out.

[Thundachu]

IMO, every Neon deck should have Tyrogue and Cleffa :p