Rules Updates

Pokémon Origins is designed to be fully compatible with the Official Pokémon TCG Rules. However, a few rules updates are recommended for an optimal gameplay experience.

Legendary Pokémon

Legendary Pokémon are indicated in brackets in the card description or symbol next to the name (with a rarity symbol). You can only have up to 1 of any Legendary Pokémon in your deck. You can only have up to 4 Legendary Pokémon total in your deck. When a Legendary Pokémon is put into your discard pile from anywhere, it is instead removed from the game.

Ultra Beasts, Ancient Pokémon, and Future Pokémon

Ultra Beasts, Ancient Pokémon, and Future Pokémon are subsets of Legendary Pokémon indicated in brackets in the card description or the respective flair. Each has an additional downside:

  • To play an Ultra Beast, you must also choose a Pokémon card of the same type from your hand and remove it from the game.
  • When an Ancient Pokémon attacks, you must choose an Energy card attached to it and return it to your hand.
  • You can’t attach Energy cards to Future Pokémon until your third turn with it in play.

Stadiums

In this game, Stadium Trainer cards function to Legendary Pokémon in that: you can only have up to 1 of any Stadium card in your deck, you can only have up to 4 Stadium cards total in your deck, and a discarded Stadium card is removed from the game. They also have the symbol next to their name.

Baby Pokémon

Baby Pokémon (some are indicated with a Ditto icon on the bottom-left) are Basic Pokémon which can evolve into their corresponding evolution(s) from the video games. Note those evolutions are indicated as Basic Pokémon and can also be played normally as such.

If the evolution is played this way, it counts as a Stage 1 (instead of a Basic) and its evolution counts as a Stage 2 (instead of a Stage 1).

Removal of Fairy Type

Fairy () does not exist as a Pokémon type, but Fairy () is an Energy type. While no attacks have explicit Energy costs, some attacks with additional effects based on attached Energy.

Classic Confusion Rules

If a Confused Pokémon tries to attack and the player flips tails, put 2 damage counters it instead of 3. Also, in order to retreat, the player must pay the Retreat Cost then flip a coin. If tails, the Pokémon does not get to retreat (this can only be attempted once per turn).

Continuous Effects

Continuous Effects are all effects outside of Abilities and Special Conditions that do not have a stated duration or endpoint (e.g., “during your opponent’s next turn”, “until your next turn”, etc.).

If the effect is on a specific Pokémon (sometimes noted by counters), by default the effect will be removed once that Pokémon retreats or evolves—just like with other non-continuous effects. If the effect is on a player or game overall, by the default the effects is permanent. Any exceptions for either are stated explicitly on the card.

By default, only one instance of a continuous effect can apply at a time. If multiple instances can apply at a time, it will be stated explicitly.

Damage Mechanics

An effect that states “attacks [Pokémon] for [X] damage” is considered an attack (even on Benched Pokémon) and Weakness and Resistance is applied. An effect that states “do [X] damage to [Pokémon]” is not considered an attack (even on Active Pokémon) and Weakness and Resistance is not applied. Exceptions are stated explicitly.

Effects that modify “base damage” of an attack apply before Weakness and Resistance; all other effects that modify attack damage apply after.

By default, all damage modifications (to attacks or non-attack effects) apply to the damage that’s done to all Pokémon affected—including Benched Pokémon. If the modification only applies to damage to the Defending Pokémon, it will be stated explicitly.

Timing of Effects

All effects that state “at the beginning of [player’s] turn” are applied before a card is drawn. All effects that state “at the end of [player’s] turn” are applied after the attack but before Pokémon Checkup.

The timing of the Pokémon Checkup step (e.g., Poison damage, Sleep check, Paralysis removal) is thus shorthanded as “between turns” on the cards.

Some “instant-speed” effects (including damage) can be applied in response to an action but occur before the action occurs. If this Knocks Out a Pokémon before a card gets attached to or put on it, the card is discarded to no effect and counts toward any limits (e.g. one Energy per turn). Same for a Pokémon Knocked Out before retreating.

For effects that give the player an option to do something before their next turn, their last window to do is during Pokémon Checkup (even if there are no Special Conditions).

Multiple Attacks

If multiple attacks occur at the same time, whether they’re by the same or different Pokémon, by default each attack is a separate action.

The player chooses the order of the attacks. If an attack Knocks Out a Pokémon, then a Benched Pokémon must be switched in before the next attack occurs.

Real-World Conditions

If an attack refers to a specific time of day or weather condition, refer to the specific time or weather condition when the attack is declared. For online play, the applicable city and time zone must be specified before the game begins. (Tournament organizers have the discretion to standardize and announce these variables before the start of each match or the event itself.) Also:

  • The Weather Network is the standardized source for weather conditions.
  • Online play is considered indoors by default.
  • Moon Giant is the standardized source for moon conditions.

Miscellaneous Clarifications

  • If an attack that states a non-conditional action (e.g., discard an Energy card) and that action cannot be fulfilled, then the attack has no effect.
  • If an attack or its effect requires simultaneous decisions by both players, the player whose turn it is must make all their decisions first.
  • All numbers are rounded appropriately unless stated otherwise, with 5 and 0.5 rounded up. Damage must be in increments of 10.
  • For effects that reference specific types of Energy card, Special Energy cards are considered Energy cards of any type of Energy they’re providing.
  • Unless stated otherwise, if at any time you have more Pokémon on your Bench than the maximum, choose and discard (Knock Out) your Benched Pokémon until you satisfy the maximum.
  • The status of “removed from the game” is equivalent to the Lost Zone.
  • “Playing” a Pokémon card refers to both putting a Basic on the Bench and evolving.
  • All Pokémon that a Pokémon is evolved form is considered “attached” to it.
  • If an Ability can be used “during your turn”, the default is it must be done before you attack.
  • Resistances are still assumed to be -30 unless stated otherwise.