- Evolution effects may take place on the first turn of the game, unless specifically stated on the card. This will affect Trainer cards, Poké-Powers, and effects of attacks. In the past, it was ruled that such an effect would have to state "This may be used on the first turn of the game." The correct usage is the card would have to specifically state "This may not be used on the first turn of the game."
Source:
PUI Rules Team (2004-07-22), PUI Rules Update (2004-07-30)
- At a recent tournament, the TO ruled that if a Pokémon has resistance to a particular type, and a dual-type Pokémon is that type and something else, it doesn't affect that Pokémon's attack at all. Is this true?
- No. If a Pokémon has more than one type, each type still counts against the Defending Pokémon's Weaknesses or Resistances.
Source:
PUI Rules Team (2004-05-20)
- Is a player allowed to count the number of cards in his/her deck during a game, provided he/she doesn't change the order of the cards? And if so, is it permissible to count your opponent's deck as well?
- Yes, the number of cards in both your and your opponent's deck are public information. Although it is recommended that the player counts his or her cards during their opponent's turn, in a manner that doesn't disrupt or slow down the game.
Source:
PUI Rules Team (2004-05-06)
- I play an Oracle, and search for two cards. While I am searching, I find that I have a HUGE energy pocket coming up. So I break it up and add some trainers in between them. I then shuffle and put 2 cards on top. Is that legal?
- As long as you shuffle sufficiently afterward.
Source:
PUI Rules Team (2004-03-25)
- Team Aqua Hideout increases the Retreat Cost for certain types of Pokémon - how does this affect a Pokémon that has a Poké-BODY that reduces the cost to zero, or a Pokémon that doesn't have a cost to retreat?
- If a Pokémon doesn't have a Retreat Cost, it now has a cost of one. If a Poké-BODY reduces the cost to zero, the cost remains zero.
Source:
Team Magma vs Team Aqua FAQ (2004-03-04)
- Can you mix Team Magma and Team Aqua cards in the same deck?
- Yes. There is no rule preventing you from playing rival teams in the same deck. The cards generally work better within the same team, but it's up to the player how they build their decks.
Source:
Team Magma vs Team Aqua FAQ (2004-03-04)
- A guiding rule for evolving Pokémon... If it's not in play at the start of that player's turn, it can't be evolved normally. And effects that say "this counts as evolving the Pokémon" count against being able to evolve a Pokémon normally afterward. So, you can use Wally's Training after evolving normally, but you can't use Wally's Training then evolve.
Source:
PUI Rules Team (2003-10-30)
- In the new Tournament rules, it is said that when time is called, the active player is allowed to finish his or her turn. After this, do players still check for Burn, Poison, and other relevant Special Conditions, or is the game over before the Special Conditions can take place?
- When time is called, the end of the game would trigger at the end of the current player's turn after resolving all of the effects that occur during that player's turn, but before addressing any actions that happen between turns such as Special Conditions.
Source:
PUI Rules Team (2003-10-16)
- What does "This counts as evolving that Pokémon" mean, in game terms?
- It counts towards the one evolution per turn for that Pokémon (with exceptions for Trainers and Pokémon Powers that break that rule) and removes Special Conditions on that Pokémon.
Source:
PUI Rules Team (2003-09-26)