Gameplay - Page 7 of 15 - Pokémon Rulings Compendium

How many of each half of the Pokemon LEGEND cards can I have in my 60 card deck? Is it 4 total or 4 of each half?: You can put up to 4 total halves of each Pokemon LEGEND in your deck (e.g. 4 Ho-Oh LEGEND halves and 4 Lugia LEGEND halves), but you cannot put 4 of each half of a Pokemon LEGEND in your deck (e.g. you couldn't have 4 Lugia LEGEND top half and 4 Lugia LEGEND bottom half). (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Source: HeartGold & SoulSilver FAQ (2010-02-11), PUI Rules Team (2010-02-11)

Can I put three halves of one Pokemon LEGEND card and one of the other half in my deck?: Yes, that is legal if you wish. You do not need to have the same number of each half in your deck.

Source: HeartGold & SoulSilver FAQ (2010-02-11), PUI Rules Team (2010-02-11)

Can I put 4 each of the Unown with the "RETURN" Poke-POWER and the Unown with the "FLASH" Poke-POWER in a 60 card deck?: No, you can't. In the case of cards like "Unown G" and "Unown R" where the Unown's letter is in its name, they are considered different names, and you can have 4 of each in your deck. When only "Unown" is written these are cards with the same name, so you can only put up to 4 copies of any with that exact name in a 60 card deck.

Source: HeartGold & SoulSilver FAQ (2010-02-11), PUI Rules Team (2010-02-11)

Do Pokemon LEGEND count as one Pokemon or two for purposes of bench space, prizes taken, attack effects, Poke-POWERs, Poke-BODYs, and calculating damage?: A Pokemon LEGEND is made up of two Pokemon cards each consisting of 1 half of the Pokemon, but it counts as a single Pokemon while in play; one bench space, one prize per KO [unless noted otherwise on the card] , etc.

Source: HeartGold & SoulSilver FAQ (2010-02-11), PUI Rules Team (2010-02-11)

Is LEGEND part of the Pokemon name? Can I have 4 Lugia and 2 Lugia LEGEND sets in a 60 card deck?: LEGEND is part of the name, similar to past sets that contained Pokemon with "Dark" or "-ex" as part of their name. They are not considered the same as their normal counterpart, so yes you can have 4 "Lugia" and 4 "Lugia LEGEND" halves in your deck.

Source: HeartGold & SoulSilver FAQ (2010-02-11), PUI Rules Team (2010-02-11)

Can I use cards that search for a Pokemon, like "Bebe's Search" or "Poke Ball" to get a Pokemon LEGEND card from my deck?: Any effect that lets you search your deck or discard pile or do something from your hand with "a Pokemon" will let you use that effect on one half of a Pokemon LEGEND set, but not both halves.

Source: HeartGold & SoulSilver FAQ (2010-02-11), PUI Rules Team (2010-02-11)

Can I use "Pokemon Collector" to choose Pokemon LEGEND cards as part of the 3 Basic Pokemon I search for in my deck?: No, because Pokemon Collector only lets you choose Basic Pokemon. Pokemon LEGEND are considered "Unevolved Pokemon" when in play, but they are not considered "Basic Pokemon".

Source: HeartGold & SoulSilver FAQ (2010-02-11), PUI Rules Team (2010-02-11)

How many Shellos/Gastrodons of the East Sea or West Sea variety can you have in a deck?: You may have four of each. "Shellos East Sea" and "Shellos West Sea" are different Pokemon.

Source: PUI Rules Team (2009-04-30)

I like to keep my deck and discard pile sideways to help me keep them separate from my bench. Is that OK?: Your deck must be oriented vertically, to avoid revealing information during handling or cuts. You may turn your discard pile 'sideways', to help you distinguish it from your bench.

Source: PUI Rules Team (2008-10-16)

Can I separate my discard pile in two stacks to make it easier to count energy?: No, you have to have a single neatly stacked discard pile. You may sort or turn cards neatly in that pile if it helps the game go more quickly, but they must all be touching.

Source: PUI Rules Team (2008-10-16)