Balloon Berry    (Balloon Berry - Neo: Revelation; EX: Dragon)

* In the Japanese card, there is a text saying "If Balloon Berry is attached to one of your Pokémon., the Pokémon.'s retreat cost is 0". So, you should play Balloon Berry as if it negates the Pokémon.'s retreat cost while attached to that Pokémon., not just when it actually attempts to retreat. For example, Muk-EX's "Slimy Water" attack damage will be reduced to only 40 against a Pokémon. with Balloon Berry attached to it. (Nov 13, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Blaze Roar    (Entei - DP:Secret Wonders)

Entei's "Blaze Roar" attack should say "discard 2 Fire Energy CARDS" rather than just "discard 2 Fire Energy". (Nov 16, 2007 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Brick Smash    (Machamp - EX: Hidden Legends)

* EX Hidden Legends Machamp is receiving errata for its "Brick Smash" attack to bring it in line with the Japanese version of the card. Weakness should be applied to the damage that Machamp deals. It should read, "This attack's damage isn't affected by Resistance, Poké-Powers, Poké-Bodies, or any other effects on the Defending Pokémon." (Aug 21, 2004 Pokémon World Championships Announcements)

Buffer    (Jumpluff - EX: Team Rocket Returns; Skiploom - EX:Team Rocket Returns; Hoppip - EX:Team Rocket Returns)

* The Poké-BODY "Buffer" found on Hoppip, Skiploom, and Jumpluff should read, "If Hoppip/Skiploom/Jumpluff would be Knocked Out by damage from an opponent's attack, flip a coin...". So only attacks that do damage (not "place counters") would cause Buffer to be invoked. (Apr 5, 2005 PUI Announcements; Apr 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Claw Fossil    (Ex: Sandstorm)

* While in play, Mysterious Fossil, Claw Fossil, and Root Fossil, count as both Trainer cards and as Pokémon. Previous rulings did not consider them to be "Trainer cards" while in play. (Apr 5, 2005 PUI Announcements; Apr 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Cold Crush    (Articuno EX - EX:Fire Red / Leaf Green; Dark Golduck - EX:Team Rocket Returns)

* Blastoise-EX and Articuno-EX each have an attack that discards an Energy card from the Defending Pokémon. The player using those attacks is also the player who chooses the Energy card to be discarded. (Jul 25, 2006 PUI Announcements)

Craggy Face    (Glalie - Mysterious Treasures)

* Some abilities referring to "Stage 2 Evolved Pokémon" are receiving errata. These cards do not care if the Pokémon is evolved or not, only if it is a Stage 2 Pokémon. So, Stage 2 Pokémon put into play with abilities like Garchomp LV.X's "Restore" attack still count for these abilities. Glalie's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Body) Craggy Face - As long as Glalie is your Active Pokémon, any damage done by attacks from your opponent's Stage 2 Pokémon is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)". (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Crush and Burn    (Electrode EX - EX:Fire Red / Leaf Green)

* Electrode-EX's "Crush and Burn" attack does extra damage based on the number of Energy cards discarded, not the amount of Energy provided. Official Wording: You may discard as many Energy cards as you like attached to your Pokémon in play. If you do, this attack does 30 damage plus 20 more damage for each Energy card you discarded. (Dec 16, 2004 PUI Announcements)

CURE    (Unown - Triumphant)

* Unknown's "CURE" Poke-POWER should read, "Once during your turn, when you put Unown from your hand onto your Bench, you may remove all Special Conditions from your Active Pokémon." Use of this Poke-POWER is optional. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Darkness Chant    (Banette - EX: Hidden Legends)

Q. Does Darkness Chant require the owning player to count either Basics OR Evolutions in the discard pile, or can both be counted together?
A. The attack is intended to count both Basics AND Evolutions, not one or the other. (Jun 17, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Defender   

* The wording of Defender is now as follows, "Attach Defender to 1 of your Pokémon. Discard this card at the end of your opponent’s next turn. Any damage done to the Pokémon Defender is attached to by attacks is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)." Defender now protects against all attacks, even ones not made by the opponent. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Dialga    (Platinum)

* Dialga from the Platinum expansion is receiving errata to address an incorrect card template for the parallel holo version of the card. Dialga (Platinum, 23/127) should use the Metal-type card template, rather than the Colorless-type card template. (Feb 26, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Discharge    (Electivire - DP: Secret Wonders)

* Electivire's "Discharge" attack should say "for each Electric Energy CARD" rather than just "for each Electric Energy". (Nov 16, 2007 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Double Rainbow Energy    (EX:Team Magma/Team Aqua)

* Double Rainbow Energy should be applied *before* applying Weakness and Resistance. This brings it in line with the Japanese version of the card. (Oct 1, 2004 PUI Announcements)

Drowzee    (EX:Fire Red / Leaf Green)

* For purposes of proper Pokémon names, treat all cards referring to "Drowsee" as "Drowzee". For example, you cannot have four "Drowsee" plus four "Drowzee" in your deck. (Sep 2, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Healer    (Onix - Unleashed)

* Three cards have been added to the list of errata for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. [...] The text below reflects what the card should say, not what was originally printed. "When you attach an Energy card from your hand to Onix, remove a damage counter from Onix." This Poké-Body only works when you attach an Energy card to Onix. (May 6, 2010 PUI Rules Team; May 7, 2010 TPCi TCG Errata Update)

Energy Shift    (Electrode - DP:Secret Wonders)

* Electrode is receiving errata for the card to reflect that its Poké-Power can trigger when any attack Knocks Out Electrode, not just during its owner's turn. "If Electrode would be Knocked Out by damage from an attack, you may use this power. Electrode isn’t discarded. Instead, attach it as an Energy card to 1 of your Pokémon. While attached, this card is a Special Energy card and provides every type of Energy but provides only 1 Energy at a time. (Has no effect other than providing Energy.)" (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team; Jan 29, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Evolutionary Gas    (Skuntank - Stormfront)

* Skuntank is receiving errata for its "Evolutionary Gas" Poké-Power. Evolutionary Gas's effect ends when the Defending Pokémon is no longer the opponent's Active Pokémon. The correct card text should read, "Once during your turn (before your attack), when you play Skuntank from your hand to evolve 1 of your Active Pokémon, you may choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon. If that Pokémon tries to attack during your opponent's next turn, that attack does nothing. (If the Defending Pokémon is no longer your opponent's Active Pokémon, this effect ends.)" (Feb 26, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Fainting Spell    (Gengar - Stormfront)

* Gengar is receiving errata for its Poke-POWER, "Fainting Spell". Fainting Spell affects your opponent's Attacking Pokemon, not your Defending Pokemon. The correct card text should read, "Once during your opponent's turn, if Gengar would be Knocked Out by damage from an attack, you may flip a coin. If heads, the Attacking Pokémon is Knocked Out." (Nov 7, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Flame Bluster    (Magmortar Lv.X - Mysterious Treasures)

* Magmortar LV.X's "Flame Bluster" attack should say "discard 2 Fire Energy CARDS" rather than just "discard 2 Fire Energy". (Nov 16, 2007 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Ghost Head    (Banette - DP:Secret Wonders)

* Banette is receiving errata for its first attack, Ghost Head. Ghost Head can't cause Banette to Knock Out itself ... the attack has to leave Banette with at least 10 HP. "Put as many damage counters as you like on Banette. (You can't Knock Out Banette.) Put that many damage counters on the Defending Pokémon." (Jan 29, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Great Ball   

* The wording of Great Ball is now as follows, "Look at the top 7 cards of your deck. You may reveal a Pokémon you find there and put it into your hand. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck." This card works very differently now; it can no longer search the entire deck for a Pokémon and put it directly onto Bench. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

GUARD    (Unown G - Great Encounters)

Q. Does Unown G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER prevent effects from attacks that the Unown G is attached to?
A. No, the Poke-POWER only prevent effects from an opponent's attacks, not your own. Unown-G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER should say, "As long as Unown G is attached to a Pokemon, prevent all effects of attacks, excluding damage, done to that Pokemon by your opponent's Pokemon". (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Hidden Poison    (Roserade - Stormfront)

* Roserade is receiving errata for its Poke-BODY, "Hidden Poison". Hidden Poison affects your opponent's Attacking Pokemon, not your Defending Pokemon. The correct card text should read, "If Roserade is your Active Pokemon and is damaged by an opponent's attack (even if Roserade is Knocked Out), the Attacking Pokemon is now Poisoned." (Nov 7, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Holon Energy WP    (EX:Delta Species; EX:Dragon Frontiers)

* Holon Energy WP and Ancient Technical Machine [Ice] only prevent effects that come from attacks, not all effects in play. Trainer cards, Poké-Powers, and Poké-Bodies are not prevented by those cards. (Jul 25, 2006 PUI Announcements)

Hyper Whirlpool    (Blastoise EX - EX:Fire Red / Leaf Green; Kingdra - EX:Team Rocket Returns)

* Blastoise-EX and Articuno-EX each have an attack that discards an Energy card from the Defending Pokémon. The player using those attacks is also the player who chooses the Energy card to be discarded. (Jul 25, 2006 PUI Announcements)

Ice Generator    (Ancient Technical Machine [Ice] - EX:Hidden Legends)

* Holon Energy WP and Ancient Technical Machine [Ice] only prevent effects that come from attacks, not all effects in play. Trainer cards, Poké-Powers, and Poké-Bodies are not prevented by those cards. (Jul 25, 2006 PUI Announcements)

Iron Shell    (Forretress - Legends Awakened)

* Forretress's "Iron Shell" Poke-BODY is not optional; you *MUST* flip a coin whenever attaching a Basic Energy Card to Forretress. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Knockout Gas    (Koffing - EX:Team Rocket Returns)

* The Poké-BODY "Knockout Gas" found on Koffing should read, "If Koffing is your Active Pokémon and is Knocked Out by damage from an opponent's attack, the Attacking Pokémon is now Confused and Poisoned." So only attacks that do damage (not "place counters") would cause Knockout Gas to be invoked. (Jun 23, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Lightning Twister    (Manectric - Mysterious Treasures)

* Manectric's "Lightning Twister" attack should say, "Does 20 damage times the amount of Energy from basic Energy cards attached to Manectric." (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News; Mar 13, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Lucky Egg    (Arceus)

* Three cards have been added to the list of errata for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. [...] The text below reflects what the card should say, not what was originally printed. "When the Pokémon this card is attached to is Knocked Out by damage from an opponent's attack and put into your discard pile, draw cards until you have 7 cards in your hand." If the Pokémon does not go to the discard pile (for example, if it goes to the Lost Zone, etc.), you do not get to draw the cards. (May 7, 2010 TPCi TCG Errata Update)

Magnemite    (Magnemite - EX: Dragon)

Q. I got a Reverse Holo Magnemite, and the resistance symbol is an empty white circle (like the colorless symbol without the star in the middle).
A. It's just a grey circle (means nothing) where the foil is normally cut out for Resistance. However for clarification, there should not be any Resistance on that particular card - the non-foil of that version doesn't have a Resistance either. (Nov 20, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Marill    (Maril - EX: Sandstorm)

Q. In the EX:Sandstorm set, there are 2 identical versions of Marill, but one has a retreat cost and one does not. Which one is the correct version and how shall the 2 different versions be played?
A. This appears to be a fairly common mistake in the set. Play the card as written; if you have the Marill with the free retreat you may play it as such. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Mt. Moon    (EX:Fire Red / Leaf Green)

* Mt. Moon should read: "Any Pokémon (both yours and your opponent's) with maximum HP of 70 or less can't use any Poké-Powers." This errata replaces text of "less than 70" with "70 or less". If a Pokémon has a maximum HP of 70, that Pokémon cannot use a Poké-POWER while this Stadium card is in play. (Oct 1, 2004 PUI Announcements)

Mysterious Fossil    (Fossil Expansion; Legendary Collection; EX:Sandstorm)

* While in play, Mysterious Fossil, Claw Fossil, and Root Fossil, count as both Trainer cards and as Pokémon. Previous rulings did not consider them to be "Trainer cards" while in play. (Apr 5, 2005 PUI Announcements; Apr 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

PlusPower    (Unleashed)

* Three cards have been added to the list of errata for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. [...] The text below reflects what the card should say, not what was originally printed. "If the Pokémon PlusPower is attached to attacks, the attack does 10 more damage to the Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance)." This is to match past versions of the card. Also, if the Pokémon uses an attack that would damage itself, PlusPower would also affect that damage. (May 6, 2010 PUI Rules Team; May 7, 2010 TPCi TCG Errata Update)

* The wording of PlusPower is now as follows, "During this turn, your Pokémon's attacks do 10 more damage to the Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance)." This card no longer attaches to a Pokémon when used. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Pokemon Reversal    (Expedition; EX:Ruby/Sapphire)

Q. The wording on the "Pokémon. Reversal" trainer changed significantly between the Expedition version and the EX:Ruby/Sapphire version. How should we play this card? Do we play each one "as written", or should we play them all the way the latest (or older) version of the card says?
A. It should read like the Expedition version, with a slight tweak to make it 2-on-2 applicable. "Choose 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent switches that Pokémon. with 1 of his or her Defending Pokémon." The opponent chooses the defending, but the person playing the card chooses the benched. (Apr 8, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Potion   

* The wording of Potion now heals 30 damage from 1 of your Pokémon instead of 20 damage. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Power Whip    (Tangrowth - Great Encounters)

* Tangrowth's "Power Whip" attack should say, "This attack does 10 damage for each Energy from basic Energy cards attached to Tangrowth to that Pokemon." (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Protect Wing    (Staraptor - Stormfront)

* Some abilities referring to "Stage 2 Evolved Pokémon" are receiving errata. These cards do not care if the Pokémon is evolved or not, only if it is a Stage 2 Pokémon. So, Stage 2 Pokémon put into play with abilities like Garchomp LV.X's "Restore" attack still count for these abilities. Staraptor's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Body) Protect Wing - As long as Staraptor is your Active Pokémon, any damage done by attacks from your opponent's Stage 2 Pokémon is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)". (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Guard    (Alakazam - Mysterious Treasures)

* Some abilities referring to "Stage 2 Evolved Pokémon" are receiving errata. These cards do not care if the Pokémon is evolved or not, only if it is a Stage 2 Pokémon. So, Stage 2 Pokémon put into play with abilities like Garchomp LV.X's "Restore" attack still count for these abilities. Alakazam's correct card text should read: "Psychic Guard (50) - During your opponent's next turn, any damage done to Alakazam by attacks from your opponent's Stage 2 Pokémon is reduced by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)." (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Rare Candy   

* The wording of Rare Candy is now as follows, "Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have a Stage 2 card in your hand that evolves from that Pokémon, put that card on the Basic Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) You can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this turn." So now it can't be used on your first turn, and it can't be used on a Pokémon played this turn. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Ripples    (Mantine - EX:Team Rocket Returns)

* Mantine's Poké-POWER only works when it is the player's Active Pokémon. Official Wording: Once during your turn (before your attack), if Mantine is your Active Pokémon, you may remove 1 damage counter from 1 of your Pokémon (excluding Mantine). This power can't be used if Mantine is affected by a Special Condition. (Dec 16, 2004 PUI Announcements)

Root Fossil    (EX:Sandstorm)

* While in play, Mysterious Fossil, Claw Fossil, and Root Fossil, count as both Trainer cards and as Pokémon. Previous rulings did not consider them to be "Trainer cards" while in play. (Apr 5, 2005 PUI Announcements; Apr 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Sandy Cloak    (Wormadam Sandy Cloak - Secret Wonders)

* Wormadam's "Sandy Cloak" Poke-BODY should say, "Prevent all effects of attacks, excluding damage, done to Wormadam Sandy Cloak by your opponent’s Pokemon". (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Seed Flare    (Shaymin Lv.X - Platinum)

* Shaymin LV.X is receiving errata for its "Seed Flare" attack. Seed Flare does additional damage for each Grass Energy card attached during the attack, rather than each Grass Energy attached during the attack. The correct card text should read, "Choose as many Grass Energy cards from your hand as you like and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. If you do, this attack does 40 damage plus 20 more damage for each Grass Energy card attached in this way." (Feb 26, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Sharpedo    (EX:Ruby/Sapphire)

Q. I have an Italian-language Sharpedo, and it's Poké-BODY says it puts 1 damage counter if it's hurt in an attack. English-language Sharpedo's say 2 counters. How do I play the card?
A. Play the Sharpedo as if it did 2 damage counters. It didn't get weaker as it swam the Atlantic. (Feb 26, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Steven's Advice    (EX:Hidden Legends)

* Steven's Advice should read: "Draw a number of cards up to the number of your opponent's Pokémon in play. If you have 7 or more cards (including this one) in your hand, you can't play this card." This errata replaces text of "more than 7" with "7 or more". If a player has 7 cards in his or her hand (including Steven's Advice), they cannot play the card. (Oct 1, 2004 PUI Announcements)

Sticky    (Ariados - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If I have an Ariados with "Sticky" Poke-BODY on the bench and another one as my Active Pokemon, does the Active Ariados have +1 added to its Retreat Cost or not?
A. Ariados' "Sticky" Poke-BODY should say, "The Retreat Cost for each player's Pokemon (excluding any Ariados) is {C} more". So Sticky prevents adding +1 to *ANY* Ariados' Retreat Cost, including your opponent's Ariados. Keep in mind that this does NOT include "Dark Ariados", just any Pokemon named "Ariados". (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Strength Charm    (Expedition; EX:Team Magma/Team Aqua)

* Strength Charm should read: "Whenever an attack from the Pokémon that Strength Charm is attached to does damage to the Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance), the attack does 10 more damage. At the end of the turn in which the player attacks with the Pokémon that this card is attached to, discard Strength Charm." This errata replaces text of "after applying Weakness and Resistance with before applying Weakness and Resistance". It is also clarified that it is removed after ANY attack that the Pokémon makes, not just attacks that do damage. (Oct 1, 2004 PUI Announcements)

String Bomb    (Exeggutor - Mysterious Treasures)

* Exeggutor's "String Bomb" attack should say, "Flip a coin for each Energy from basic Energy cards attached to Exeggutor and to the Defending Pokémon." (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Supreme Command    (Empoleon LV.X - Diamond & Pearl)

Empoleon LV.X from Diamond & Pearl contains an error. Its Poké-POWER symbol was printed with the Poké-Body symbol. In all cases, play Empoleon's effect as a Poké-Power. The game play of the effect remains unchanged. (May 25, 2007 PUI Announcements)

VACATION    (Unown V - Legends Awakened)

* Poké-Powers that end your turn are receiving errata to make it clear that you still end your turn if the Poké-Power is canceled, such as with Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray or by Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poké-Power. Unown V's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Power) Vacation - Once during your turn (before your attack), you may use this power. If you do, your turn ends. Remove 2 damage counters from each of your Pokémon. This power can't be used if Unown V is affected by a Special Condition". (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Waterlog    (Blastoise - Secret Wonders)

* Poké-Powers that end your turn are receiving errata to make it clear that you still end your turn if the Poké-Power is canceled, such as with Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray or by Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poké-Power. Blastoise's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Power) Waterlog - Once during your turn (before your attack), you may use this power. If you do, your turn ends. Attach as many basic {W} Energy cards from your hand to any of your Pokémon in any way you like. This power can't be used if Blastoise is affected by a Special Condition." (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Meta-Rulings are based on the underlying rules of the Game which cannot be bypassed by a card or card effect. All meta-Rulings in the Compedium LVX have been reviewed and approved by the PUI Rules Team.  (top)

Meta-Rulings   

• Effects on the Attacking Pokemon cannot add to damage done to a Benched Pokemon. Examples: PlusPower, Darkness Energy (special), and Strength Charm. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• An attack has to do "some" damage before an effect can add "more" damage to it. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• Placing damage counters is not the same as doing damage. Things that add to or subtract from damage done do not affect placing counters. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• If an attack requires the discard of an Energy card attached to the Attacking Pokemon, that discard must be fulfilled or the attack fails. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• You cannot have more than 6 Pokemon in play, including Active and Benched Pokemon. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• If a Retreat Cost is set to zero by an effect, it cannot be increased. Note this is different than a Retreat Cost that was reduced to zero by subtraction. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• You cannot play a card if it is public knowledge that it will have no game effect. Paying a cost does not satisfy the requirement that the card has a game effect. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Mar 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)
• Mandatory game actions cannot be forgotten or missed; they must be done. Examples: Drawing a Prize card, checking for Asleep, etc. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• A player must always have an Active Pokemon. There is no time in which they don't, not even after a KO. Replacement must be done immediately. (Apr 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• Weakness and Resistance never apply to Benched Pokemon. (Apr 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• Benching a Pokemon removes all Special Conditions on that Pokemon including Poisoned and Burned, and all Attack effects on that Pokemon that do not place a Marker (such as Imprison). (Apr 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• An attack that copies another Pokemon's attack can only copy attacks printed on that Pokemon, not other attacks that the Pokemon may use due to Poke-POWERs, Poke-BODYs, Stadiums, etc. (with the exception of Lv.X Pokemon since they are considered "extensions" of the original Pokemon). (Apr 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• When a Pokemon refers to itself by name, interpret that card as though the text reads "this Pokemon". This has the practical effect of not including other Pokemon of the same name. If a Pokemon copies that text, it refers to itself, not the original Pokemon. (Apr 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• The game has no knowledge of the contents of your deck. For example, if you search your deck for something and fail, you can still use other cards or effects to search for the exact same thing. (Apr 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• The contents of your deck are technically unknown. If an effect calls on you to search your deck for a specific card or category of card, you may choose not to find a card, even if it is present in the deck. (Worlds 2006 PCL Announcement; May 8, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
• A Pokemon is considered an evolved Pokemon if it has a Pokemon card with a different name underneath it; this does not include Pokemon cards that are attached (e.g. tool cards, energy cards, etc.). (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)
• Effects on the attacking Pokemon are applied before weakness and resistance. Effects on the defending Pokemon are applied after weakness and resistance. (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)
• Effects of Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies do not end when a Pokemon is moved from Active to Bench and vice-versa. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Official rulings on Pokemon Attacks  (top)

* Attacks in General   

Q. What's the exact definition of "Defending Pokémon"?
A. It is your opponent's Active Pokemon when you are attacking. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q40)

Q. Can I attack with a Pokémon if I just played it?
A. Yes, as long as it's your Active Pokémon (only your Active Pokémon can attack) and as long as it has the required amount of Energy for the attack. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. When I attack, do I discard the Energy card(s) I used to power the attack?
A. Energy is not used up by an attack. Unless that attack specifically says to discard an Energy, it stays attached to the Pokémon. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Moves that have a Pokémon's own name in the attack, like Scyther's Swords Dance, does it mean ALL Scythers you have in play at the moment? Or does it only affect the Scyther that used it?
A. Those particular attacks only affect the Pokémon that used it, not all Pokémon of the same name. (Jan 20 WotC Chat)

Q. Do you have to attack if you have enough Energy cards attached to your Pokémon?
A. No, you always have the choice whether to attack on your turn or not. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. I have a question. Let's say a Charmander is battling a Bulbasaur. If Charmander uses scratch does that do 20 damage? Or is it 10 damage since the energy needed is colorless?
A. It does 20. It's the type of Pokémon that affects Weakness and Resistance, NOT the type of energy that the attack uses. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q119)

Q. Say you are using a Golduck (from the Fossil set) and you use his Psybeam. Would this be a Psychic or Water attack?
A. A Water attack as Psyduck is a Water Pokémon. [Ed. Note: This answer can be generalized further: When a Pokémon attacks, that attack is considered to be an attack of that Pokémon's type; it's not dependent on the energy requirement.] (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q76)

Q. When a card's attack "does damage to itself", is this damage considered to be an ATTACK against the Defending Pokémon? Let's say you had an Electabuzz versus a Team Rocket Porygon and Team Rocket Porygon switched Electabuzz's Weakness to Lightning. You Thunderpunched with Electabuzz and flipped tails. Would Electabuzz receive 10 or 20 damage? Furthermore, would Defender prevent this damage? (Defender prevents damage from attacks).
A1. Well, assuming it was an attack that did damage to itself then defender would help with that damage. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q4)

A2. 20, it is considered an attack. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q81)

• It has been ruled that W/R does not apply to the bench unless specificly mandated by the card. Period. That is a meta-game rule. It was never intended that the W/R would apply to the bench unless specificly stated. Yes we do know that some Pokemon say not to apply W/R to the Bench. [But] if it doesn't say then you wouldn't apply Weakness and Resistance (the default for benched Pokemon is to NOT apply Weakness and Resistance). This has been verified. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements & Q44)
• ANY Pokemon attack or Power that can only be used once per turn, is reset if that Pokemon evolves or devolves or leaves play and that power or attack could be used again if that Pokemon came into play again that same turn. The "can't use this attack next turn" sets up a status effect that can be ended through the normal means: benching, leaving play, evolving or devolving. With Pokemon Powers though, you can't get around the once per turn by benching. Benching a Pokemon does NOT get around these effects as they are still the same Pokemon and still in play. [Ed.Note: This does not apply to Tentacool Lv.10 (Fossil) which specifically states in the text of the power that it cannot be used on the same turn it comes into play.] (Sep 27, 2001 WotC Chat, after-Q53; Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18; May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q266)
• Once you have declared an attack, you cannot leave the attack step without your opponent's permission. If you declare an "illegal" attack (e.g., you don't have the proper energy required to perform the attack), you may ask your opponent's permission to back out of the attack step. If he or she says "yes", you can go back and take any actions that you could have taken prior to the attack step. If he or she says "no", you may either select an attack that is legal or you may pass. (Mar 14, 2007 POP Announcement, POP Professor Forums; Mar 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)
• Damage effects applied by the attacker (i.e. Nidoking's "Power Gene" adding +10 to Nidoqueen) are handled before weakness and resistance. Damage effects applied by the Defending Pokémon are handled after weakness and resistance. (Sep 23, 2004 PUI Rules Team)
• If an attack has an energy discard requirement, a Pokémon copying that attack must also be able to do that discard in order to copy the attack. (Mar 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)
• If an attack has an *optional* effect triggered by a discard, a Pokémon copying that attack must be able to do that discard in order to get the additional effect; if they cannot perform the optional discard, it still gets the base effect and damage. (Mar 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)
• If a Pokémon attack copies another attack that says "discard all [X] Energy", then you must be able to discard at least one energy card of that type in order to use that effect or attack requirement. (Mar 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I've noticed that some cards say "Does 10 damage to the Defending Pokémon", whereas others say "Put 1 damage counter on the defending Pokémon". Is there any reason for the different wording? I've spoken to someone who says that you do not apply weakness or resistance for attacks where it specifies Damage Counters; is this the case?
A. There is a difference. As you mention, weakness and resistance are not applied when placing counters. Also, things like Defender and Metal Energy will not block Placing Damage Counters. It will not trigger things like Base Set Machamp's Strike Back. In the steps of resolving an Attack, "placing Damage Counters" counts as an Effect of the attack, it is not part of "doing damage". (Sep 18, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Some attacks, like Exploud's "Knock Back" and Staraptor [FB]'s "Whirlwind", say "Your opponent switches the Defending Pokemon...", while other attacks like Swampert's "Drag Off" and Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" say, "Switch the Defending Pokemon...". Who gets to choose which Pokemon gets switched?
A. If it says, "Your opponent switches..." then your opponent gets to choose. Otherwise you get to choose. (Supreme Victors FAQ; Aug 20, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Agility    (Pikachu - Nintendo Black Star Promos; Ponyta - Stormfront; Metang - Legends Awakened; Others)

Q. Does Fearow's Agility attack block Kangaskhan's Fetch?
A. Actually it does not; Fearow's Agility says stops damage done to Fearow, and the Fetch just draws a card. This is the new ruling from R&D. (Feb 3, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. If my Pokémon uses Agility and get heads then on my opponent's next turn he benches his Pokémon, does that [Ed. Note: Agility's effect] end? If that Pokémon was Knocked Out, would Agility still be on the next Pokémon that he sends up?
A. Since the Agility Attack references Rapidash, only Benching or Evolving him ends the effect. Also since it only refers to Rapidash it would still be in effect if the other player benched. (6-30-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If a Raichu (or whatever) does Agility and flips heads, does an attack that would do damage to benched pokemon, or some other effect that does NOT do damage or something to Raichu work?
A. Yes it would, while all attacks are considered against the defending Pokemon (which is why something that prevents attacks would stop it in this case), Agility only prevents the effects of that attack if they affect Raichu only. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q83)

Q. When using Raichu's Agility attack it states that if heads, Raichu will not receive damage until after the opponent's turn. If Raichu is poisoned and then gets heads, will he take damage from poison at the end of his turn?
A. Yes, Agility is referring to effects of attacks on Raichu during your opponent's next turn. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q87)

Q. If I flipped heads on Seadra's Agility attack, would that prevent Cradily's Spiral Drain from removing damage counters?
A. Agility only prevents damage and effects done to Seadra, not other effects that may extend to other Pokémon. (Mar 25, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Player A attacks and flips a heads for "Agility". Then Player B uses Machamp's "Brick Smash" attack; would this ignore Agility?
A. In this case, Agility would be considered an "effect on the Defending Pokémon" and therefore Brick Smash would be able to overcome Agility. (Feb 17, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Amnesia    (Bibarel - Stormfront; Gulpin - Legends Awakened; Slowbro - Great Encounters; Others)

Q. If Wooper uses Amnesia on Scyther's Slash, then Scyther retreats for another Pokémon, then that Pokémon [is Switched] for Scyther again, can Scyther use Slash? There's a ruling in the Compendium right now that seems to contradict the general effects interpretation.
A. Amnesia references the defending Pokemon, when that Pokemon is benched the effect ends. (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q269)

Q. Can you use "Amnesia" on an attack not on the defending Pokémon's card? For example, could you use it against one of the earlier stage's attacks if "Meteor Falls" stadium was in play, or against "Feint Attack" with Rocket's Tricky Gym in play or against "Stone Generator" that your opponent may play on the next turn?
A. No, you can only use Amnesia on the attacks that are present on the opponent's card at the time of your attack. (Mar 10, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you select to prevent the opponent's attached Technical Machine G's "Damage Porter" attack when using "Amnesia"?
A. No, Amnesia can't prevent attacks provided by Technical Machines, because it is an attack the opponent's active "can use" but it isn't one of its attacks. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Bidoof uses "Amnesia" on Murkrow's own "Feint Attack". Can Murkrow then use Honchkrow LV.X's "Feint Attack" instead?
A. No. Amnesia blocks all attacks of the same name. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Anger Revenge    (Bastiodon - OP Series 6; Bastiodon - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. Does "Anger Revenge" still work if Bastiodon was a Shieldon when it was attacked?
A. No. It must be a Bastiodon when it was attacked. (Mysterious Treasures FAQ; Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Antigravity   

Q. If I use Bronzong's "Antigravity" attack and make its Retreat Cost zero until the end of my next turn, what happens if my opponent uses Warp Point on their next turn?
A. Unfortunately when Bronzong is no longer active its Retreat Cost will return to its original value. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Bronzong's "Antigravity" attack and make its Retreat Cost zero until the end of my next turn, what happens if my opponent does something that increases my Pokemon's Retreat Cost?
A. Once a Pokemon's Retreat Cost is set to zero it stays at zero until that particular effect wears off. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Ascension    (Silcoon - Platinum; Cascoon - Platinum; Shuppet - Crystal Guardians; Others)

Q. Can I use Vulpix's or Feebas' "Ascension" attack on the first turn of the game?
A. Yes. This attack can evolve a Pokémon, even during the first turn of the game. (Jun 17, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Balloon Tackle   

Q. If I attach Defender to Drifblim and do "Balloon Tackle", does Defender prevent the 20 self damage from that attack?
A. Yes. Play Defender as if the damage prevention wording was printed, "Any damage done by attacks to the Pokémon Defender is attached to is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)." (Aug 19, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Black Fire    (Houndoom - Great Encounters)

Q. When using Houndoom's "Black Fire" attack, what happens if I discard an Energy card that provides multiple types of Energy at the same time?
A. If the Energy card you discarded provides all types (for example, Rainbow Energy), then both effects would trigger - the "Black Fire" attack would to 70 damage AND apply the Burned Special Condition to the Defending Pokemon. (DP:Great Encounters FAQ; Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Houndoom's "Black Fire" attack says 'Discard a fire energy or a Dark Energy attached to Houndoom'. Can I discard a DRE, Holon's Castform, Scramble Energy, etc. that provides more than one energy unit?
A. Yes, you can. (Mar 13, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Blast Burn    (Charizard - Secret Wonders)

Q. What happens if I have only two Double Rainbow Energy on Charizard and try to attack with "Blast Burn" and flip tails?
A. Since the tails flip requires you to discard four energy CARDS (not "four energies"), if you cannot discard four cards the attack does not do any damage. But if you flip heads, then you would be okay with discarding the two DRE cards. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Blaze Roar    (Entei - Secret Wonders)

* Entei's "Blaze Roar" attack should say "discard 2 Fire Energy CARDS" rather than just "discard 2 Fire Energy". (Nov 16, 2007 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Blindside    (Murkrow - Skyridge)

Q. For Mandibuzz's "Blindside" attack, who chooses which of the opponent's Pokemon receives the damage?
A. The attacking player chooses which of the opponent's Pokemon receives damage from the attack, but remember the opponent's Pokemon must already have damage counters on it first. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Brick Smash    (Machamp - Power Keepers; Hariyama - Delta Species; Dark Marowak - Team Rocket Returns; Others)

Q. For Machamp's "Brick Smash" attack, do trainers on the Defending Pokémon (like "Buffer Piece") or Metal Energy affect the amount of damage done?
A. No, trainers & Metal Energy would be considered as "effects on the Defending Pokémon" for the purposes of this attack and would not get factored into damage calculation. (May 19, 2005 PUI Rules Team; Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Bring Down    (Gardevoir Lv.X - Secret Wonders)

Q. What happens if Gardevoir LV.X uses "Bring Down", but the lowest HP Pokemon is protected by some effect like Holon Energy WP?
A. The Pokemon with Holon Energy WP attached can still be attacked with Bring Down, but it will not get Knocked Out because the protection of Holon Energy WP prevents all effects (including automatic KO) except damage done to that Pokemon. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent uses "Bring Down" on the 'wrong' Pokemon, can they take it back or do they have to use "Bring Down" no matter what – even if it means Knocking Out their own Pokemon?
A. Your opponent must use the Bring Down attack once announced. If they called an invalid target, they must choose a valid one, even if that is one of their own Pokemon. (Feb 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Broken-Space Blow   

Q. If my Pokémon that has Unown-G attached to it is Knocked Out by my opponent's Giratina's "Broken-space Blow" attack or by my opponent's Giratina Lv.X's "Darkness Lost" attack, do I have to put the Pokémon in the Lost Zone?
A. No, the effect of going to the Lost Zone is prevented and you discard the KO'd Pokémon that had Unown-G attached. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If a Water type Pokemon is KO'd by Giratina's "Broken Space Blow" attack, can Floatzel GL Lv.X's "Water Rescue" Poke-BODY save it from going to the Lost Zone?
A. No. Water Rescue takes the cards from the discard pile, but the Water type Pokemon's cards aren't there to get. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Bulk Up    (Combusken - Great Encounters)

Q. Combusken's "Bulk Up" attack says "during your next turn, each of Combusken's attacks does 30 more damage to the Defending Pokemon". Does that mean the effect of "Bulk Up" only works if both Combusken AND the Defending Pokemon remain active?
A. The effect of Bulk Up only resides on Combusken's attacks. If the Defending Pokemon retreats, evolves, etc. the effect still remains on Combusken. (May 8, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Call for Family    (Dunsparce - Platinum; Weavile [G] - Platinum; Exeggcute - Legends Awakened; Others)

Q. If my bench if full can I still use "Call for Family" to search my deck?
A. Yes, you could search your deck, but not put out any Pokemon. (Supreme Victors FAQ; Aug 27, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Eevee's "Call for Family" to search through my deck if I already have four Eevee's in play or in the discard pile?
A. Yes you could use Call for Family, because contents of a deck search cannot be deduced, even on the basis of public knowledge. As long as you meet the requirements to use an attack, you follow what it does (in this case, searching your deck). (Jul 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can an attack which looks for Basic Pokemon, such as Stantler's "Call for Family", get LEGEND Pokemon cards from the deck?
A. Neither the LEGEND halves in the deck nor the LEGEND cards in play are Basic Pokemon. They are LEGEND Pokemon. You cannot select them with any effect that is looking for Basic Pokemon. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Call for Friends    (Treecko - Stormfront; Mantyke - Diamond and Pearl; Wobbuffet - Holon Phantoms; Others)

Q. Can you use Strike and Run, or Call for Friends type attacks to retrieve Fossils from your deck? What about using Pokémon Retriever to get them from your discard pile?
A. No, you cannot search for a Fossil trainer with any Pokémon searching technique. (Jul 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Calling Wave    (Gastrodon East Sea - Rising Rivals)

Q. If I use Gastrodon East Sea's "Calling Wave" attack, can I get a Gastrodon West Sea with it?
A. Yes, Calling Wave refers to any Pokemon with Gastrodon in its name. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Chain Lightning    (Manectric - Mysterious Treasures; Electrode - Legendary Collection; Electrode - Jungle; Others)

Q. If Manectric uses "Chain Lightning" and the Defending Pokemon or a Benched Pokemon is multiple types, do all of the types have to match or just one?
A. It can match any of the types. If the Defending Pokemon is multiple types, Benched Pokemon of multiple types can also be affected, as long as they share at least one type with the Defending Pokemon. (Mysterious Treasures FAQ; Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Circle Throw   

Q. When Throh attacks with "Circle Throw", who chooses which of the opponent's Benched Pokemon get brought forward?
A. The attack says "Your opponent switches the Defending Pokemon..." so the opponent gets to choose. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Constant Rattle   

Q. Maractus' "Constant Rattle" attack says what to do if you flip 1, 2, or all heads, but what happens if you flip no heads?
A. If you flip no heads, the attack does nothing. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Counter Punch    (Hitmonchan - Legends Awakened)

Q. My opponent uses Hitmonmchan's "Counter Punch" attack against my Active Pokemon. Then on my turn I attach an Unown-G to my Active Pokemon and attack the Hitmonchan. Since Unown-G was not on my Pokemon when it was attacked by "Counter Punch", does "GUARD" prevent the placing of damage counters or not?
A. The effect of Counter Punch resides on Hitmonchan, not on the Pokemon that Hitmonchan attacked. So regardless of when the Unown-G is attached the effect on Hitmonchan is not prevented, meaning that you take the damage counters. (Jul 30, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Counting Song    (Duskull - Stormfront)

Q. If my Duskull only has 10hp remaining, can I use it's "Counting Song" attack and place three damage counters on itself to do maximum damage to my opponent?
A. Yes, you may. Just because Duskull only has 10hp left doesn't mean you can't place more damage counters on it during Counting Song's attack. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Crash Chant    (Mismagius - Stormfront)

Q. My confused Mismagius attacks with "Crash Chant". Do I still discard the tools if I flip tails for confusion?
A. No. You do not perform any effects of an attack when the confusion flip fails. (Nov 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Unown-G is attached as a tool to a Pokemon and the opponent uses Mismagius' "Crash Chant" attack, would Unown-G be discarded or not?
A. Well, it depends on which player's Unown-G is being discarded. If Mismagius tries to discard Unown-G attached to an opponent's Pokemon, GUARD would prevent it from being discarded and you don't get to add +20 damage for that tool to Crash Chant's damage either. However, since GUARD only protects against attacks done by your opponent [see Errata], you can discard an Unown-G attached to your own Pokemon and add +20 damage for that tool. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Mismagius' "Crash Chant" attack against a Defending Pokemon with the Bubble Coat tool attached to it, does the effect of Bubble Coat apply before I discard it or not?
A. The effect of Bubble Coat would not apply since it is being discarded before the damage calculation process has completed. (Sep 10, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Critical Move    (Slaking - Power Keepers; Slaking - RubySapphire)

Q. If I use Slaking's "Critical Move" attack, and on my next turn I use Switch and then retreat for the same Slaking, can I then use his "Critical Move" attack again? Does the effect of "Slaking can't attack during your next turn" get removed when he goes to the bench?
A. Effects like this go away when the active goes to the bench. So if Slaking goes to the bench and becomes active once again, he can then use Critical Move on that turn. (Feb 12, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a R/S Slaking that is confused, and try to attack with "Critical Move" but flip tails, can I try "Critical Move" again on my next turn or not?
A. Since the flip for confusion was tails, the normal function of the attack did not occur. So in this situation you could try Critical Move again on your next turn. (Sep 15, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Crunch    (Sharpedo - Rising Rivals; Houndoom - Neo Discovery; Houndoom - Neo Discovery)

Q. On neo 2 's Houndoom, does the Crunch effect go away if the defending pokemon is benched and then comes back?
A. Correct the effect would go away. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. If Houndoom does "Crunch", the +20 effect ends when the defending pokemon is benched. However, what happens if the Houndoom gets benched? Does the effect reside on the Defending pokemon only, or does it require that the Houndoom stay active too?
A. Benching Houndoom does not end the effect. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q265)

Q. Houndoom's attack Crunch when I use it does my opponent's next attack increase by 20?
A. No. Only if they attack themselves. (Jun 21, 2001 WotC Chat, Q22; Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q32)

Q. Since Houndoom's Crunch lasts "until end of my next turn", I get to add 20 if I damage them this turn, the opponent adds 20 for any self-damage on their turn, and then I still get to add 20 on my following turn as long as they're still active. Right?
A. You are partially correct. You do NOT add extra damage on the turn you do Crunch as all text from an attack takes place AFTER damage is already applied. But you are correct about self damage and attacking on your next turn. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q12)

Q. If you use Houndoom's Crunch attack, and your opponent uses a self-damaging attack during their turn (while Crunch is in effect), a) will the self-damage be increased by 20? B) will you still get the +20 effect during your next turn if you do damage to that Pokémon?
A. a) Yes. B)Yes. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q51)

Q. Does Sharpedo's "Crunch" effect add the 40 extra damage to the "Crunch" attack the first time it's used?
A. No, it adds to any attack done on the following turn. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Sharpedo's "Crunch" attack to damage the Defending Pokemon, and then Sharpedo is knocked out or goes to the bench does that Defending Pokemon still take 40 more damage from my attack next turn?
A. Yes, the extra damage effect is on the Defending Pokemon. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Sharpedo's "Crunch" attack, and then on the opponent's turn the Pokemon that was attacked by "Crunch" does an attack that damages itself, does it take extra damage?
A. Yes, the Crunch effect lasts "until the end of your next turn", which includes during your opponent's turn too. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Crushing Punch   

Q. What happens if I use Machamp's "Crushing Punch" attack, but the opponent does not have any Special Energy cards attached to the Defending Pokemon?
A. You still get to do the damage, you just don't get to discard any energy cards from the Defending Pokemon. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Machamp's "Crushing Punch" attack and decide to discard a Special Metal energy card attached to a Metal Pokemon, will I do 50 damage or 60?
A. 50 damage. The energry card is discarded after the damage is applied. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Cursed Drop   

Q. If I use Gengar's "Cursed Drop" attack, can I put damage counters on more than one of my opponent's Pokemon, or do I have to put all four counters on one Pokemon?
A. You can put the 4 damage counters on their Pokemon in any way that you like. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Damage Breakdown   

Q. If Weezing does not have any damage counters on it when using its "Damage Breakdown" attack, does Weezing still become Confused?
A. No, if you don't put any damage counters onto the Defending Pokemon Weezing does not become Confused. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Damage Porter    (Team Galactic's Invention G-107 Technical Machine G - Rising Rivals)

Q. If I have "Team Galactic's Invention G-107 Technical Machine G" attached to a SP Pokemon and also "Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain", can I use the attack "Damage Porter" if I just have two energy attached to my SP Pokemon?
A. Yes, Energy Gain reduces the attack cost of Damage Porter by one colorless energy. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you select to prevent the opponent's attached Technical Machine G's "Damage Porter" attack when using "Amnesia"?
A. No, Amnesia can't prevent attacks provided by Technical Machines, because it is an attack the opponent's active "can use" but it isn't one of its attacks. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Dark Roar   

Q. Which player chooses the card to discard with the effect of Houndoom's "Dark Roar" attack, the owner of the Houndoom who used the attack, or the opponent?
A. The opponent gets to choose which card they will discard. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Dark Slumber    (Darkrai - Majestic Dawn)

Q. Say I use Darkrai's "Dark Slumber" attack which puts the Defending Pokemon to sleep at the end of my opponent's next turn. But then on their next turn they attach an Unown-G to that Pokemon. Would "GUARD" prevent it from going to sleep?
A. No, it would not be prevented. The Dark Slumber effect was already on the Pokemon prior to the attachment of Unown-G. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Dark Wing Flaps    (Giratina - Platinum; Honchkrow - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If Murkrow is taking advantage of Honchkrow's "Dark Genes" Poke-BODY to copy its "Dark Wing Flaps" attack, does it do any added or reduced damage if the Honchkrow has a Darkness Special Energy or a Double Rainbow Energy attached?
A. No, the added/reduced damage only applies when attached to the Pokemon performing the attack. So if the active Murkrow has a Darkness Special Energy attached, then you would get to add +10 damage extra to the attack. But you would not receive any benefit/drawback from Special Energy cards attached to the benched Honchkrow. (Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has no cards left in their hand, and I use Honchkrow's "Dark Wing Flaps" attack, does my opponent shuffle his or her deck?
A. No, because the instruction is to shuffle a "card" into their deck. If the instruction had been to shuffle their "hand" in, then they would shuffle even with a hand of zero cards. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Darkness Grace   

Q. If you have no Pokemon in play that can evolve, can you still use Spiritomb's "Darkness Grace" attack to search through your deck?
A. Yes. As long as you can pay the attack cost of an attack, you can use it and do as much of it as you can. (Dec 10, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Darkness Lost    (Giratina Lv.X - DP Promos; Giratina Lv.X - Platinum)

Q. If my Pokémon that has Unown-G attached to it is Knocked Out by my opponent's Giratina's "Broken-space Blow" attack or by my opponent's Giratina Lv.X's "Darkness Lost" attack, do I have to put the Pokémon in the Lost Zone?
A. No, the effect of going to the Lost Zone is prevented and you discard the KO'd Pokémon that had Unown-G attached. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens to Dusknoir Lv.X when it is KO'd by Giratina Lv.X's "Darkness Lost" attack? Does it go to the Lost Zone, or does "Ectoplasm" allow it to become a Stadium?
A. When Dusknoir Lv.X would be Knocked Out, it becomes a Stadium instead of being discarded. Since it is not going to the discard pile, it is not sent to the Lost Zone. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Darkness Wing    (Honchkrow Lv.X - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I attack Machamp Lv.X with Honchkrow Lv.X's "Darkness Wing" attack, but Machamp Lv.X survives with a heads flip for "Strong-Willed", would I get to put a card from my Discard Pile into my hand or not? After all, Machamp Lv.X "would have been KO'd", right?
A. Yes, Machamp Lv.X would have been KO'd from the attack (regardless of whether it was saved or not by Strong-Willed), so you would get to put a card from your Discard Pile into your hand. (Jul 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Deep Sea Swirl   

Q. What happens if I have no cards in my hand and use Manaphy's "Deep Sea Swirl" attack?
A. You always have a hand, even it you have zero cards in it. So you shuffle your deck and draw 5 cards. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Delta Reduction    (Meganium δ - Dragon Frontiers; Deoxys (Defense)δ - Holon Phantoms)

* The correct wording for the "Delta Reduction" attack should be, "During your opponent's next turn, any damage done by attacks from the Defending Pokémon is reduced by 30 (before applying Weakness and Resistance)." This means that the effect of Delta Reduction resides on the Pokémon being attacked by Delta Reduction, not on the one performing Delta Reduction. (Jan 18, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can a Pokémon that was attacked with Meganium's "Delta Reduction" use "Feint Attack" to do full damage to Meganium?
A. Feint Attack ignores effects on the Defending Pokémon, but the Delta Reduction effect is on the Pokémon that was attacked by Delta Reduction, the one now using Feint Attack. Therefore, Feint Attack's damage will be reduced since it does not get to ignore Delta Reduction. (Apr 5, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Derail    (Drapion - Stormfront; Exploud ex - Crystal Guardians; Machamp - Legend Maker; Others)

Q. If my Exploud-EX uses its "Derail" attack against a Pokémon with a Metal Energy attached, does the Metal get to reduce damage by -10 before being discarded or not?
A. The -10 for Metal Energy is calculated in before it gets discarded by Derail. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Destiny Bond    (Froslass - Legends Awakened; Gastly - Legendary Collection; Gastly - Base)

Q. On Destiny Bond, if the opponent uses it can't I just use Gust Of Wind or pass for my turn? Then the Gastly would be basically useless.
A. Yes. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q137)

Q. If my Gastly is poisoned, charred, etc. and Gastly uses Destiny Bond, and is not KOd by the opponent's attack but rather the effects, will the opponent still be KOd too?
A. Nope. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q78)

Q. If my opponent's Froslass attacks with "Destiny Bond", can I retreat and attack with a new Pokemon without Knocking my own Pokemon out?
A. No, the effect of Destiny Bond is on Froslass. If it remains Active, the Destiny Bond effect is still there. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can Unown-G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER prevent the effect of my opponent's Froslass's "Destiny Bond" attack last turn?
A. The effect of Destiny Bond is on Froslass. The Unown-G's Poke-Power GUARD prevents the effect of your opponent's attacks, so it will protect your Pokemon that has Unown-G attached to it from being Knocked Out by Destiny Bond. (Sep 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent used Froslass' "Destiny Bond" attack, then on my turn I use Starmie's "Star Boomerang" to Knock Out Froslass, would I get to put Starmie into my hand before the "Destiny Bond" effect can knock it out?
A. If you put Starmie back into your hand with Star Boomerang, the attack completes first and Destiny Bond cannot return the knockout. (Dec 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Destructive Jaw   

Q. If the Defending Pokemon has no Energy attached to it, can it still be Paralyzed by the effect of Mawile's "Destructive Jaw" attack if the coin flip is heads?
A. Yes, it can. Even if Energy can't be discarded from the Defending Pokemon, it can still become Paralyzed as long as no other effects are preventing it. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Detour    (Jirachi - Rising Rivals; Magby - Team Rocket Returns)

Q. If I use Magby's "Detour" attack to use the effect of a Supporter card in play, do I have to meet all the requirements of that Supporter? For instance, if I want to Detour a Steven's Advice do I have to have less than 7 cards in my hand at that time? Or do I have to shuffle in a card when Detour'ing Bill's Maintenance?
A. You can use Detour, but you must still meet all requirements that are necessary to play the card normally (except for the supporter rule). If you don't or can't meet those restrictions, the effect fails. (Dec 15, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say you played a Supporter this turn and recovered it to your hand with VS Seeker. Would you be able to use that Supporter for Jirachi's "Detour" attack or not?
A. Even though the Supporter is no longer in the Discard Pile, Detour can use its effect since it was played during the turn. (Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Devoluter    (Technical Machine TS-2 - Legends Awakened)

Q. Technical Machine TS-2's "Devoluter" attack says to choose an opponent's evolved pokemon (excluding Lv.X). Does this mean I remove the Stage 2 but leave the Level X card?
A. No. It means that you cannot target any Pokemon that has a Level X Pokemon attached to it. You can't use Devoluter against it at all. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Dirge    (Shiftry ex - Power Keepers)

Q. If Shiftry-EX uses "Dirge" against a LV.X Pokemon, does it also damage any regular non-leveled-up Pokemon of the same name?
A. Yes. Leveled up Pokemon have the same name as their regular counterparts, so if you use Dirge to attack one then the others also get damaged. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Discharge    (Electivire - Secret Wonders; Lightning Cube 01 - Aquapolis; Flaaffy - Neo Genesis; Others)

* Electivire's "Discharge" attack should say "for each Electric Energy CARD" rather than just "for each Electric Energy". (Nov 16, 2007 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Doom News   

Q. When I use Absol [G]'s "Doom News" attack, is my opponent's Pokemon still Knocked Out if they retreat it during their next turn?
A. Since it is an attack effect on the Defending Pokemon, it is removed if that Defending Pokemon is no longer Active. (Supreme Victors FAQ; Aug 27, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Drag Off    (Regigigas - DP Promos; Feraligatr δ - Dragon Frontiers; Blaziken ex - Crystal Guardians; Others)

Q. What happens if I use Regigigas' "Drag Off" attack and choose to bring up a benched Pokemon that has an Unown-G attached to it?
A. You may target the Benched Pokemon with Unown-G attached, but since the Unown-G's GUARD would prevent the effect of switching out that Pokemon the switch is prevented. Damage is not done to the Benched or Defending Pokemon, since the chosen target cannot switch. (Jan 21, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Feraligatr uses "Drag Off" against an Active Pokémon with Cessation Crystal attached, does it get to use its "Battle Aura" Poké-BODY to do +10x to the Pokémon brought up from the bench (assuming it does not have a Cessation Crystal attached)?
A. Yes, when the Cessation Crystal Pokémon goes to the bench, the Battle Aura turns on before the damage is done. Drag Off delays doing damage until the switch is made; therefore, Battle Aura can take effect. (Apr 19, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Dragon Finish    (Salamence - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I use Salamence's "Dragon Finish" attack, can I discard 2 Fire Energy cards and 2 Water Energy cards for both effects?
A. No. You have to choose either 2 Fire Energy cards or 2 Water Energy cards; you can't choose to discard both sets. (DP:Secret Wonders FAQ; Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Dragon Rush   

Q. If Garchomp [C] Lv.X has Special Energy cards attached and discards all of them when using its "Dragon Rush" attack, can it do damage to a Scizor that has the "Red Armor" Poke-BODY?
A. No. First choose which two energies to discard, then do the damage (before any other effects), then you actually discard the energy at the end of the attack. So it will still be attached at the point when damage would be done, but the damage will be blocked. (Aug 19, 2010 PUI Rules Team; Sep 2, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Dragon Steam   

Q. How much damage does Kingdra's "Dragon Steam" attack do if a LEGEND Pokemon with Entei is in play?
A. Since Entei's Fire type applies to the types on the card, Dragon Steam's damage is reduced to 20. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Drain Punch    (Breloom - Secret Wonders)

Q. If the Defending Pokemon has just a single Scramble Energy attached, how many damage counters can Breloom remove with its "Drain Punch" attack?
A. Drain Punch is based on amount of Energy, not Energy cards. So if the opponent is behind on prizes then Breloom removes three counters, otherwise it only removes one counter. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Drought    (Groudon - Legends Awakened)

Q. If I use Groudon's "Drought" attack to attach two Basic Fighting Energy cards from my hand onto one of my Pokemon, but my opponent has Electivire Lv.X with "Shocking Tail" active, how many damage counters do I take, 2 or 4?
A. Each energy attached with Shocking Tail activated places 2 damage counters, so you would place a total of 4 damage counters for Shocking Tail in this situation. (Sep 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Dual Draw   

Q. When using Misdreavus' "Dual Draw" attack, do the players have to draw all 3 cards, or can they just draw 1 or 2 (or none)?
A. You must draw all three if you are able to (or as many as you can if you have less than three). The attack does not say "up to 3 cards". (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Dual Stream    (Salamence ex δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. Can Salamance-EX use "Dual Stream" to do 40 damage to a Benched Pokémon if a Pokémon with "Safeguard" or Mysterious Shard is active?
A. The phrase "if you do" in the Dual Stream attack is the equivalent of "if you make this choice, then you can do this". You can still do 40 to the Bench. (Jan 4, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Eeeeeeek    (Cleffa - Unseen Forces; Cleffa - Neo Genesis)

Q. Can I use the effect of Cleffa's "Eeeeeeek" attack to put Cleffa to sleep when I don't have any cards in my deck or in my hand?
A. Yes, Eeeeeeek will still put Cleffa to sleep. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use the effect of Cleffa's "Eeeeeeek" attack to draw cards from my deck when I don't have any cards in my hand?
A. Yes, but you must shuffle your deck first before you draw. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use the effect of Cleffa's "Eeeeeeek" attack to shuffle cards into my deck when I don't have any cards in my deck?
A. Yes, but you must draw 6 cards after you shuffle in your hand. After shuffling, if you have 6 or fewer cards in your deck, draw them all. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Electric Current    (Flaaffy - Neo Genesis; Lt. Surge's Electabuzz - Gym Heroes)

Q. If you have no benched Pokemon and you do Electivire [FB]'s "Electric Current" attack, what happens?
A. You do as much as you can. So you do the 40 damage and do not move an energy card. (Supreme Victors FAQ; Aug 27, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Electromagnetic Jam    (Electrike - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. Where does the effect of Electrike's "Electromagnetic Jam" reside, on the Defending Pokemon or on the opposing player? If the opponent retreats after being attacked by "Electromagnetic Jam", can they attach an energy card to the new Active Pokemon?
A. The effect of Electromagnetic Jam resides on the opposing player. So retreating, evolving, etc. makes no difference; they cannot attach any energy cards from their hand to the Active Pokemon, period. (Oct 11th, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Electromark    (Tyranitar ex δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. What ways can a Pokémon get rid of an attached "Imprison" marker or "Shock-wave" marker?
A. Evolving, devolving, leveling up (i.e. LV.X), leaving play, and Tropius' "Tropical Heal" Poké-POWER are currently the only ways to get rid of an Imprison or Shock-wave Marker. Retreating or benching does NOT get rid of the marker. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Antics   

Q. May I use Smoochum's "Energy Antics" attack if my opponent only has an Active Pokemon and no Benched Pokemon?
A. Yes you can, although it won't move or discard the energy. There must be a Pokemon on the bench or you can't move the energy off the defending Pokemon. (Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Smoochum's "Energy Antics" attack work like Ambipom [G]'s "Tail Code" attack in regards to Unown-G? That is, if you try to move an energy from one Pokemon to another Pokemon who has Unown-G attached, you discard the energy instead?
A. Yes, that is correct. (Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Flare    (Shaymin Lv.X - DP Promos; Shaymin Lv.X - Platinum)

Q. If I use Shaymin Lv.X's "Energy Flare" attack, but the Defending Pokemon is Garchomp with the "Dragon Intimidation" Poke-BODY, which effect comes first? The moving of energy from "Energy Flare" or the return of energy into the hand from "Dragon Intimidation"?
A. You would complete all the moving around of energies with "Energy Flare" first, and then if there are any energy cards still attached to the Attacking Pokemon you return one of them to the hand from "Dragon Intimidation". (Jan 14, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Entangle Tackle   

Q. When using Swalot's "Entangle Tackle" attack, can I target Old Amber with the "Hard Amber" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with "Bench Shield" attached on my bench and prevent the bench damage from that attack?
A. Yes, you can choose Old Amber or a Pokemon with Bench Shield attached as your benched Pokemon to receive Entangle Tackle's bench damage and it will be prevented. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Errand-Running    (Pachirisu - DP Promos; Munchlax - Rising Rivals; Mareep - Platinum; Others)

Q. If I use Budew's "Errand-Running" attack to search for a Trainer, can I search for any Pre-D/P Supporters or Stadiums?
A. No. Since this is a "D/P era" attack it refers to the newer definition of "Trainer cards", and therefore you may not search for a Supporter or Stadium card. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Even Game    (Luvdisc - Crystal Guardians)

Q. If I attack with Luvdisc's "Even Game" and I have more than the number of my opponent's Pokémon in play, what happens?
A. You still get to search for up to as many Basic Pokémon as your opponent has Pokémon in play, regardless of which player has more of them. (Nov 30, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I attack with Luvdisc's "Even Game", what happens if I already have a full bench? Do I get to search anyway and put the extra basics into my hand?
A. No, if your bench is full you cannot even do the search part. And no, any "extras" do not go into your hand either; you can only search for as many Basic Pokémon as you have open slots on your bench. (Nov 30, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Evoluter    (Technical Machine TS-1 - Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I use Technical Machine TS-1's "Evoluter" attack to search through my deck if I don't have any Pokemon in play that can evolve any further?
A. Yes you could use Evoluter, because contents of a deck search cannot be deduced, even on the basis of public knowledge. As long as you meet the requirements to use an attack, you follow what it does (in this case, searching your deck). (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Evolution Wish    (Phione - Majestic Dawn)

Q. When using Phione's "Evolution Wish" attack, can I put a Stage 2 evolution card on one of my Basics (like Rare Candy)?
A. No, you can only place the next stage higher; you cannot skip a stage with this attack. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Fake Tears    (Bonsly - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. What happens if I use Teddiursa's "Fake Tears" attack and flip tails?
A. Fake Tears does nothing at all if you flip tails. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Feint    (Nuzleaf - Rising Rivals; Gallade [4] - Rising Rivals; Persian - Legends Awakened; Others)

Q. If I use Lucario's "Feint" attack that says "this attack's damage isn't affected by Resistance" against a Venomoth who attacked the previous turn with "Disturbance Dive" which "prevents all effects" of the next turn's attack, do I calculate Resistance for Lucario's "Feint" or not?
A. Ignoring resistance is part of the damage calculation. It is not an effect on Venomoth, so the damage is not reduced. (Feb 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Feint Attack    (Nuzleaf - Rising Rivals; Persian - Legends Awakened; Murkrow - Secret Wonders; Others)

Q. If Mukrow has 2 Darkness Energy attached, and attacks the Defending Pokémon with Feint Attack, how much damage does the Defending Pokémon receive? And if Mukrow attacks a benched Pokémon with Feint Attack, how much damage does that Pokémon receive?
A. 40 HP damage [if attacking a Defending Pokémon]; 20 [if attacking a Benched Pokémon]. Darkness will only add extra if you attack the Defending Pokémon with the attack. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9 & Q12 & Q101)

Q. If the player using Feint Attack to attack a benched AQ Jumpluff that has one damage on it, does the player need to flip for Jumpluff's Poke-Body Fluff?
A. No. [ED NOTE: This particular answer is in reference to Aquapolis Houndour's Feint Attack which DOES ignore effects on benched pokemon; Neo Genesis Murkrow's & Neo Discovery Umbreon's Feint Attack only ignores effects on the Defending Pokemon.] (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q223; Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q276 & Q287)

Q. If you use Feint attack on a Giovanni's Machamp with a focus band, and knock it out, does it flip for Fortitude and Focus Band?
A. Yes, it would. (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q11)

Q. If Shiftry uses "Feint Attack" against Whiscash with "Submerge" Poké-BODY on the bench, which one prevails? The attack or the Poké-BODY?
A. Feint Attack ignores ANY effect on that Pokémon which attempts to prevent its damage; the attack itself specifically states that the attack's damage isn't affected by Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies (and other things as well). (Jan 8, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Shiftry uses "Feint Attack" against a Pokémon that successfully used "Agility" the previous turn, would Agility prevent the Feint Attack or not?
A. No, the Feint Attack ignores any effects on the Defending Pokémon, including Agility, Wonder Guard, etc. (Jan 8, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Shiftry uses "Feint Attack" against a Pokémon that used "Smokescreen" the previous turn, would it have to flip for Smokescreen or not?
A. Yes it would have to flip. The effect of Smokescreen lies on the Shiftry, and Feint Attack only ignores effects on the DEFENDING Pokémon (Jan 8, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Double Rainbow Energy reduce Cacturne's Feint Attack?
A. Yes. Feint Attack refers to ignoring effects on the opponent's Pokémon, not yours. (Mar 25, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If an opponent's Rhydon with "Power Diffusion" is active and my "Feint Attack" targets the bench, the Poké-BODY trying to prevent the damage is not on the Pokémon being attacked. So would Rhydon stop any Feint Attack damage to the bench or not?
A. The active Rhydon's "Power Diffusion" is considered "an effect on the benched Pokémon", so in this case Feint Attack would ignore it. (Mar 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can a Pokémon that was attacked with Meganium's "Delta Reduction" use "Feint Attack" to do full damage to Meganium?
A. Feint Attack ignores effects on the Defending Pokémon, but the Delta Reduction effect is on the Pokémon that was attacked by Delta Reduction. Therefore, Feint Attack's damage will be reduced. (Apr 5, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Flame Bluster    (Magmortar Lv.X - Mysterious Treasures)

* Magmortar LV.X's "Flame Bluster" attack should say "discard 2 Fire Energy CARDS" rather than just "discard 2 Fire Energy". (Nov 16, 2007 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Flame Dance    (Monferno - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. Can I use Monferno's "Flame Dance" attack if I don't have any fire energy in my discard pile?
A. Yes you can. It is an effect, not a requirement. (Jun 28, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Flare Bonus   

Q. If I can't discard a Fire energy from my hand, can I attack with Numel's "Flare Bonus"?
A. Yes, but the attack does nothing. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Flare Destroy   

Q. When I use Typhlosion's "Flare Destroy" attack, which player chooses the Energy card to discard from the Defending Pokemon?
A. The player that used the attack gets to choose which Energy cards get discarded from both the Active and Defending Pokemon. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If the Defending Pokemon doesn't have any Energy cards attached to it, does Typhlosion's "Flare Destroy" attack still require Typhlosion to discard an Energy from itself?
A. Yes, if the attacking Pokemon has any Energy cards attached, it must discard one of them. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Flash Cannon    (Dialga - DP Promos; Dialga - Great Encounters; Dialga - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. If I use Dialga's "Flash Cannon" to attack my opponent's Infernape LV.X, what happens?
A. Dialga's Flash Cannon attack would remove the highest Stage Evolution card, in this case, the regular Infernape. You would also remove Infernape LV.X too since the Pokémon is no longer an Infernape. The LV.X goes wherever the Stage 2 goes. (Diamond & Pearl FAQ; May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Dialga's "Flash Cannon" against a Basic Pokemon, can I still return the energy cards into my hand?
A. Yes you can. There is no pre-condition that the Defending Pokemon must be evolved in order to return the energy cards into your hand. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Focus Punch    (Poliwrath - Legends Awakened)

Q. If Poliwrath was damaged by an attack during its previous turn, would switching or retreating remove the effect and allow Poliwrath to use its "Focus Punch" attack?
A. The fact does not change that Poliwrath was damaged during the previous turn, regardless of whether it was moved to/from the bench or not. You could use Focus Punch, but the attack would do nothing under those conditions. (Sep 25, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Foul Play   

Q. Do I have to meet the energy requirements for the attack I choose with Zoroark's "Foul Play"?
A. No, you do not have to meet the energy requirements for the attack. However, if the attack says you must do something or the attack does nothing, that part still has to be done. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Zoroark uses "Foul Play" to copy Reshiram's "Blue Flare" attack, what happens if I don't have have any Fire Energy attached to Zoroark?
A. The damage amount is done regardless of whether Zororark has any Fire Energy attached to it or not, but if you have one or two Fire Energy attached to Zoroark you must discard them. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Zoroark uses "Foul Play" to copy Blastoise's "Hydro Launcher" attack, do I have to be able to return 2 Water Energies to my hand in order to do the 100 damage?
A. No, the attack does not say "in order to" so you do as much of the attack text as you can. (Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Frenzy Plant    (Torterra - Majestic Dawn)

Q. If I use Torterra's "Frenzy Plant" this turn, can I use it again next turn if I level up to Torterra Lv.X?
A. According to the rule book, leveling up a Pokemon removes all effects and status. So yes you would be able to use Frenzy Plant after leveling up to Torterra Lv.X. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Gadget Bolt   

Q. What happens if I have Luxray with an "Expert Belt" attached, use its "Gadget Bolt" attack and discard the Expert Belt to KO my opponent's Gengar, but my opponent flips heads for Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER? Does my opponent take two prizes or just one?
A. The tool was discarded as part of the attack prior to the check for Fainting Spell. So the opponent only gets to take one prize. (Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Get Help    (Mothim - Majestic Dawn)

Q. Mothim's "Get Help" attack does 30 damage times the number of different types of Wormadam on your bench. Does this mean color, or type of "cloak"?
A. 30 damage for each energy type; the "cloak" form is actually part of the card's name. The name of the Wormadam doesn't matter, just its color. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Jul 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have two Wormadam Sandy Cloaks on your bench and one of them has a Crystal Shard attached, how much damage does Mothim's "Get Help" attack do?
A. The Crystal Shard changes its type from Fighting to Colorless, so Get Help would now do 60 damage instead of 30. (Jul 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Giga Drain    (Turtwig [GL] - Rising Rivals; Beautifly - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. If Beautifly does "Giga Drain" and the Defending Pokémon only has 10 HP left, does Beautifly still heal itself for 50 damage?
A. Yes, because the 50 damage is still done, even though it is more than enough to KO the Defending Pokémon. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Gravity Wave    (Dusclops - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. Dusclops' "Gravity Wave" attack does 10 damage to each Benched Pokémon with no Retreat Cost. What does that include?
A. It includes Fossils with no Retreat Cost at all, Pokémon with a Retreat Cost of zero, and Pokémon that have a game effect which sets their Retreat Cost to zero. (Jun 28, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Grind    (Trapinch - Rising Rivals; Lapras - Platinum; Tyranitar - Stormfront; Others)

Q. If I have a Double Colorless Energy attached to Tangrowth, will its "Grind" attack do an extra 20 or 40 damage for that energy card?
A. It will do an extra 40 damage. Grind looks at the total amount of energy attached, not energy cards. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Group Swim   

Q. Can I use Mantine's "Group Swim" attack to put one half of a Lugia LEGEND card in my hand?
A. Yes. Either half of the Lugia LEGEND card is still considered "a Water-type Pokemon", so you can search for it with Group Swim. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Happy Chance    (Blissey - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. Say I attack with Dusknoir's "Night Spin", then on the opponent's next turn they use Blissey's "Happy Chance" attack. If Blissey started its attack with only two energy on it, would "Night Spin" protect Dusknoir if "Happy Chance" attaches a third energy from the discard pile onto Blissey?
A. No, the attachment of energy is done before damage, so at the point when damage is done Blissey has three energies on it and therefore gets past Night Spin. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Harden    (Seedot - Rising Rivals; Onix - Stormfront; Cascoon - Diamond and Pearl; Others)

Q. If I use Cascoon's "Harden" attack which prevents any attack damage that is 30 or less during the opponent's next turn, does that come before or after calculating for Weakness/Resistance?
A. Weakness & Resistance are factored in before determining whether Harden blocks it or not. So if a fire Pokémon's attack does 20 damage to Casoon and then +20 more is added for Cascoon's Weakness, Harden would not prevent the damage. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Head Smash    (Rampardos - Platinum)

Q. If I use Rampardos' "Mold Breaker" attack which reduces damage done to Rampardos by -20 until the end of my next turn, and then on the next turn I use Rampardos' "Head Smash" attack which can possibly do +40 damage to itself, would the effect of "Mold Breaker" reduce the self-damage from "Head Smash"?
A. Yes, that is correct; it would reduce the self-damage by -20. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Hidden Power / E   

Q. Can you use Illumise's "Scent Conduct" Poke-POWER if Unown-E's "Hidden Power" attack's effect is ongoing (all flips are tails)?
A. Yes, you can still use the Poke-POWER, but the effect of any coin flips done will be tails. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Hurl into Darkness   

Q. If I use Gengar's "Hurl into Darkness" attack, can I put a LEGEND Pokemon card (the top or bottom half) in the Lost Zone?
A. Yes, you can. Each half of a LEGEND Pokemon is treated as 1 Pokemon card. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Hydro Launcher   

Q. If Zoroark uses "Foul Play" to copy Blastoise's "Hydro Launcher" attack, do I have to be able to return 2 Water Energies to my hand in order to do the 100 damage?
A. No, the attack does not say "in order to" so you do as much of the attack text as you can. (Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Hydro Wave    (Salamence ex - Power Keepers)

Q. Can you use Salamence-EX's "Hydro Wave" attack if the opponent has no Benched Pokemon?
A. Yes. Salamence-EX would simply discard all attached Water Energy and that's all. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Ice Barrier    (Latios ex δ - Dragon Frontiers; Regice * - Legend Maker)

Q. My opponent attacks with Latios-EX's "Ice Barrier" attack. If I can send their Latios-EX to the bench and bring it active again (e.g. Cyclone Energy & Pokémon Reversal), can I attack it with my Pokémon-EX?
A. Yes. Ice Barrier's effect resides on Latios-EX and is cleared by moving it to the bench. (Apr 5, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Ice Bind    (Glaceon - Rising Rivals; Walrein - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. For Glaceon's "Ice Bind" attack, does the opponent *have to* discard a card from their hand?
A. No, it is the opponent's choice. But if they choose not to discard, the Defending Pokemon becomes Paralyzed. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Impersonate    (Sableye - Stormfront)

Q. If I have no hand, can I use Sableye's "Impersonate" attack to get & discard a Bebe's Search? I can't use the effect of Bebe's Search because I can't put a card on top of the deck before I search, Does this also mean that I can't select Bebe's Search to begin with?
A. You can use Impersonate to search for the card, discard it, then shuffle your deck. But since you don't meet the requirements for using Bebe's Search you cannot use its effect. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Sableye's "Impersonate" attack to search for a supporter and I find "Charon's Choice" and use its effect, does Charon's Choice go back into my hand at the end of my turn or do I discard it per Sableye's attack?
A. When using Impersonate, the Charon's Choice card goes to the discard pile rather than next to the Active Pokemon. Since it is already in the discard pile, you cannot bring the Charon's Choice card back into your hand. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Inviting Trap    (Trapinch - Secret Wonders)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power active, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of their benched Pokemon?
A. Yes, it can. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so even if the Defending Pokemon has a condition that prevent effects of attacks the switch can still occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY on their bench, or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power on their bench, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of those on the bench?
A. No, you cannot. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so if the Benched Pokemon has a condition that prevents effects of attacks excluding damage done, the switch cannot occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Keen Eye    (Furret - Secret Wonders)

Q. Furret's "Keen Eye" attack says to search your deck for up to 2 cards. Does this mean I can voluntarily fail and choose zero cards if I want to?
A. No. A voluntary fail happens when you are searching for a specific card that might or might not be in your deck. Since Keen Eye has you search for any card (not a specific card) you must choose at least one card when using this attack. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Knuckle Down   

Q. Machoke's "Knuckle Down" attack says the amount of damage is "not affected by Poke-Powers, Poke-Bodies, or any other effects on the Defending Pokemon". Does that mean it ignores Weakness & Resistance too?
A. Weakness & Resistance are not considered as effects on the Defending Pokemon, so they are not ignored. (Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Land Shake    (Torterra - Stormfront)

Q. On Player-A's turn, Torterra used "Land Shake". Then on Player-B's turn they play a Toxicroak-G from his or her hand. Does Toxicroak-G receive 2 damage counters from "Land Shake's" effect? Or does Toxicroak-G's "Anticipation" Poke-BODY prevent the effect?
A. The effect of placing two damage counters is one that resides on Player-B and is no longer "part of the attack" during the opponent's next turn. Anticipation would therefore not block the placing of damage counters in this situation. (May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Leaf Hurricane    (Wormadam Plant Cloak - Secret Wonders)

Q. For Wormadam Plant Cloak's "Leaf Hurricane" attack, do you check the Defending Pokemon's remaning HP before or after doing damage?
A. If the Defending Pokemon has fewer remaining HP *before doing damage*, then the Defending Pokemon is confused. (Jul 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Leaf Storm    (Torterra - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. If my Torterra uses its "Leaf Storm" attack against Electrode, does "Leaf Storm's" healing effect resolve before or after Electrode's "Radiance" Poke-BODY places damage counters?
A. Radiance does not activate until the Leaf Storm attack is complete. So the "remove 2 damage counters" part of Leaf Storm goes first, and then Radiance places a damage counter on each of your Pokemon afterward. (Dec 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Leech Life    (Nincada - Dragon; Golbat - Fossil; Zubat - Fossil; Others)

Q. If I attack with Venonat's Leech Life and do 10 damage, how many damage counters do I remove from Venonat?
A. You remove one damage counter, which equals 10 damage. (Jungle FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If Ariados' "Leech Life" attack does 30 damage but the opponent's Active Pokemon has only 10 HP remaining, how many damage counters will be removed from Ariados?
A. Leech Life does 30 damage, which is not affected by the fact that the KO only required 10 damage. Therefore, Ariados will remove 3 damage counters, or all if there are less than 3. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Legend Ceremony   

Q. If I use Bronzong's "Legend Ceremony" attack, can I choose halves from different Pokemon LEGENDs?
A. No, both halves must be from the same Pokemon LEGEND. (Feb 3, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Bronzong's "Legend Ceremony" attack, can I search my deck for only one Pokemon LEGEND half?
A. No. If you cannot find both halves, you can't get any Legend pieces. It's both halves or nothing. (Feb 3, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Life Drain    (Gengar - Diamond and Pearl; Kirlia - RubySapphire; Sabrina's Kadabra - Gym Challenge)

Q. Would Sabrina's Kadabra's Life Drain be an instant Knock Out if it has a Plus Power attached?
A. No, Life Drain doesn't do damage, it just places damage counters. Plus Power only works when damage is done. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q136)

Q. If a Defender [or Buffer Piece] is attached to the defending Pokémon, and you do Life Drain and it works, do they have 30 damage left instead of 10?
A. No, because Life Drain [places] damage counters and Defender doesn't stop that. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q12)

Q. Sabrina's Kadabra's Life Drain attack would not worry about Weakness and Resistance, right?
A. Correct sir! (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q36)

Q. If Sabrina's Kadabra attacks with Life Drain on a Rocket's Scyther after it used Shadow Images last turn, would the amount of damage counters put on Scyther depend on the 2nd coin flip or both coin flips?
A. Life Drain is not damage so that wouldn't be stopped by Shadow Images. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. If Sabrina's Kadabra does Life Drain against an undamaged Mr. Mime, how many damage counters are placed on Mr. Mime?
A. 3 damage counters, the Invisible Wall does not prevent the placememnt of damage counters, only damage. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. Since "Life Drain doesn't do damage, it just places damage counters," does this mean that Life Drain will place damage counters equal to 110 on Chansey, even if Chansey has successfully done Scrunch?
A. Correct!!! (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q31)

Lightning Twister    (Manectric - Mysterious Treasures)

* Manectric's "Lightning Twister" attack should say, "Does 20 damage times the amount of Energy from basic Energy cards attached to Manectric." (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News; Mar 13, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Luring Flame    (Slugma - Dragon)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power active, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of their benched Pokemon?
A. Yes, it can. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so even if the Defending Pokemon has a condition that prevent effects of attacks the switch can still occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY on their bench, or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power on their bench, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of those on the bench?
A. No, you cannot. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so if the Benched Pokemon has a condition that prevents effects of attacks excluding damage done, the switch cannot occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Mach Wind   

Q. A Vespiquen that used its "Mach Wind" attack on my previous turn was hit by Grimer's "Sticky Liquid" attack during my opponent's turn. In this instance, what is Vespiquen's retreat cost during my next turn?
A. It has no Retreat Cost. When effects that increase something like Retreat Cost by a particular amount are stacked on top of effects that make something like Retreat Cost vanish, the vanishing effect takes priority. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Magical Step    (Grumpig - Legends Awakened)

Q. If Grumpig uses "Magical Step" to confuse the Defending Pokemon, do you put six damage counters on it right away? Or does it act like a double confusion where you only put six damage counters if the flip for Confusion is tails?
A. Magical Step does not place any damage counters when it attacks. The effect is that the Confused Pokemon puts six damage counters if the flip for Confusion is tails. (Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Metronome    (Clefable - Diamond and Pearl; Togepi - Team Rocket Returns; Clefable ex - Fire Red Leaf Green; Others)

Q. Please explain Metronoming attacks where the attack mentions the specific name of the opponent's Pokémon.
A. Anytime an attack is self referencing (meaning it mentions itself) and you copy that attack with Metronome or Ditto, you replace the self-referenced name with the name of the Clefable/Clefairy/Ditto, etc. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q66)

Q. Can Clefable copy Pokémon Powers?
A. No, only attacks. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q264)

Q. Suppose Clefairy uses Metronome to copy Chansey's Double-edge attack (which does 80 damage and has the text "Chansey does 80 damage to itself"). Does that mean Clefairy does 80 damage to Chansey plus Chansey does 80 damage to itself, for a total of 160 damage to Chansey?
A. No, Clefairy will do 80 damage to Chansey and Clefairy will do 80 damage to itself. In general, if Pokémon A copies an attack from Pokémon B, any copies of Pokémon B's name in Pokémon B's attack should be replaced by Pokémon A's name. (Think of Pokémon A's name, when written on Pokémon A's card, as really being "this Pokémon.") (Base Set WotC FAQ)

Q. How much damage would Metronome do when the damage of the attack copied is dependent on the amount of Energy discarded?
A. Ok. Here we go: the Metronome attack copies the attack and negates the cost (a.k.a. the Energy cost of the attack). However on cards like Blastoise and any other card that has any added attack bonus for extra Energy or attached cards you have to follow those rules as normal. Example: if Clefable copied Hydro Pump he would do 40 points of damage unless he had extra Water Energy on him, the same holds true for discarding for extra effects. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. When Clefable Metronomes Big Eggsplosion how much damage does it do... and what is needed?
A. You would flip a coin for each Energy card attached to CLEFABLE (not Exeggutor). For each heads that comes up it would do 20 damage. (Mar 2, 6-22-00 Q37 WotC Chat)

Q. If I use Clefable's Metronome copying Lapras' Water Gun attack (Lapras having 3 Water on him)... how much would the attack do?
A. The base damage is 10; it would do 10 more for each additional Water Energy on CLEFABLE, not on Lapras. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. So to Clarify, Clefable with any 3 energy could do the "extra" damage in a Hydro Pump? They would not have to be water energy?
A. Nope! You could use any kind of energy to pay for the metronome attack, THEN energy PAST that would have to be water energy to do the extra Water Pump damage. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q74)

* Whenever Metronome is used to copy an attack that "refers to itself" like Chansey's Double Edge, (does 80 to defending Pokémon AND does 80 damage to Chansey), you would replace the self reference with Clefable or Clefairy. So the attack would read "does 80 damage to defending Pokémon and 80 damage to itself (i.e., Clefable or Clefairy). If an attack does refer to other Pokémon, like Bellsprout's Call for Family attack (Search your deck for a Basic Pokémon named Bellsprout and put it onto your Bench), you would NOT replace the reference with Clefable or Clefairy. So if you used Metronome to copy this attack, you could only search your deck for Bellsprouts. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. If you Metronome Haunter's "Dream Eater" does the Defending Pokémon have to be Asleep or not to work?
A. Yes, it does. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. How would it go if it Metronome'd Swords Dance? Next turn, would it will deal twice as much according to the Japanese Text? Or would it state in the US Text.
A. You would have to Metronome the Sword Dance the first turn and then Metronome the Slash the next and it would be doubled for your Clefable. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. Clefable CAN use MP Moltres's Hyper Flame if the Clefable had a Fire energy, right? What about a Rainbow energy?
A. That would work too. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q113)

Q. If a Clefable uses Metronome and it copys TR Zapdos' Electroburn does it take any damage if it has 0 lightning energies on it?
A. Right-o [Ed.Note: No, it does not take any damage]. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q15)

Q. If Clefable metronomes Latias-EX's "Power Crush" attack, what happens if there are no Fire Energies attached to Clefable?
A. Clefable can copy the Power Crush attack without having any Fire Energy to discard as long as the Defending Pokémon is not Knocked Out by the attack. If the Defending Pokémon was Knocked Out and you cannot discard 2 Fire Energies, then this attack does nothing. (Jul 19, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Mimic    (Chatot - Majestic Dawn; Mew * δ - Dragon Frontiers; Sudowoodo - Aquapolis; Others)

Q. Can I use Jynx's "Mimic" attack to draw cards from my deck when I don't have any cards in my hand?
A. Yes, but you must shuffle your deck first before you draw. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Jynx's "Mimic" attack to shuffle my hand into my deck when my opponent has no cards in his or her hand?
A. Yes, but you won't draw any cards after you shuffle it in. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Mining    (Mawile - Crystal Guardians)

Q. Mawile's "Mining" attack says to search your deck for a Trainer. Can it also get a Supporter or Stadium?
A. Yes, since Mawile is a pre-Diamond and Pearl card, when it says "Trainer" it includes all Trainers, Supporters and Stadiums, regardless of set. (Oct 25, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Mawile's "Mining" attack let's you search your deck for a Trainer and put it in your hand, or if its a Pokemon Tool attach it to one of your Pokemon. Can you use "Mining" to attach a Strength Charm to Mawile?
A. Yes, but it will be discarded from the attacking Pokemon at the end of the turn. If you attach it to another Pokemon, it is not discarded, because that Pokemon did not attack. (Oct 25, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use "Mining" to attach a Buffer Piece to one of my Pokemon, is it still discarded at the end of my opponent's turn, even though I didn't 'play' it?
A. Yes, the attachment via the attack is handled as if it was played on the turn of the attack. (Oct 25, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Miraculous Light    (Latias - OP Series 7; Latias - Great Encounters; Latios * - Deoxys)

Q. Latias' attack, "Miraculous Light" does damage and heals 2 damage counters. Sharpedo's "Rough Skin" Poke-BODY is activated when damage is done, and places two damage counters. In what order do these effects take place?
A. The attack damage and effect are applied, then the effect of "Rough Skin" is applied. (Apr 16, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Mirror Shot    (Magnezone - DP Promos)

Q. If my opponent uses "Mirror Shot" on my Active Pokemon, would I still have to flip a coin for my attack if I retreat?
A. No, retreating would clear the effect of Mirror Shot. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Mold Breaker    (Rampardos - Platinum)

Q. If I use Rampardos' "Mold Breaker" attack which reduces damage done to Rampardos by -20 until the end of my next turn, and then on the next turn I use Rampardos' "Head Smash" attack which can possibly do +40 damage to itself, would the effect of "Mold Breaker" reduce the self-damage from "Head Smash"?
A. Yes, that is correct; it would reduce the self-damage by -20. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Moon Skip    (Cresselia Lv.X - Great Encounters)

Q. If Cresselia Lv.X uses its "Moon Skip" attack to KO a confused Weezing that has the "Camouflage Gas" Poke-BODY, how many Prize Cards would be taken (if any)?
A. None. Camouflage Gas says that the attacking player "can't take a Prize card" if Weezing is Confused when it gets KO'd. (Jul 23, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Moon's Invite   

Q. When using Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND's "Moon's Invite" attack, can you move damage counters to/from more than one Pokemon?
A. Yes. Basically the attack let's you rearrange your opponent's damage counters any way you want, as long as other effects, Poke-POWERs, Poke-BODYs, etc. will allow. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When using Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND's "Moon's Invite" attack, can you put more damage counters on a Pokemon than it has HP left?
A. Yes, you can put as many on a Pokemon as you want to, as long as you have enough to move, of course. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Mountain Eater    (Larvitar - Aquapolis)

Q. My Larvitar is poisoned with 10 HP left. My opponent has one prize remaining and no cards in the deck. Can I attack with "Mountain Eater" and win the game?
A. You can attack, but if you can't discard the card you don't get to remove two damage counters. Larvitar will be KO'd between turns and your opponent will take the last prize. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Needle Shock    (Beedrill - Rising Rivals)

Q. Beedrill's "Needle Shock" attack says to ignore the effect part if any of my Pokemon used "Needle Shock" last turn. So what happens if the Pokemon that used "Needle Shock" last turn is KO'd, scooped up, in the Lost Zone, or something like that?
A. This particular effect is on the player, not on the Pokemon. If you had a Pokemon in play last turn that used Needle Shock, you must ignore the effect portion of Needle Shock this turn. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Night Spin    (Dusknoir - Stormfront)

Q. Say I attack with Dusknoir's "Night Spin", then on the opponent's next turn they use Blissey's "Happy Chance" attack. If Blissey started its attack with only two energy on it, would "Night Spin" protect Dusknoir if "Happy Chance" attaches a third energy from the discard pile onto Blissey?
A. No, the attachment of energy is done before damage, so at the point when damage is done Blissey has three energies on it and therefore gets past Night Spin. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Rampardos' "Head Smash" attack with only one energy attached against Dusknoir who used its "Night Spin" attack on the previous turn, would Rampardos' "Iron Skull" Poke-BODY allow me to ignore the "Night Spin" effect that prevents all effects of attacks from Pokemon with 2 or less energy attached?
A. The Iron Skull Poke-BODY says its attack's damage is not affected by "any other effects on the Defending Pokemon", so yes it would ignore the Night Spin effect residing on Dusknoir. (Apr 9, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Ninja Fang   

Q. If the damage dealt by Gliscor's "Ninja Fang" attack is reduced to 0 by damage-reducing effects like Special Metal Energy or the Trainer card "Defender", does the Defending Pokemon become Paralyzed or not?
A. No, it does not. The Defending Pokemon can only be Paralyzed if Ninja Fang does 10 damage or more after all other affects have been evaluated. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Octazooka    (Octillery - Platinum; Octillery - Neo Revelation)

Q. How long does "Octazooka's" effect remain on the Defending Pokemon?
A. Octazooka's effect lasts on the Defending Pokemon until it is no longer active, or if it evolves, levels up, etc., regardless of how many turns go by. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. On Octillery, if you flip heads for Octazooka, then the Defending Pokémon must flip heads when attacking to do damage or effects. This is true as long as the Defending Pokémon remains active, regardless of whether Octillery remains active or in play, and regardless of whether you flip heads next turn when using Octazooka, correct?
A. Correct. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If I [Knock Out] a pokemon with Octazooka and flip a head, does that mean the pokemon the opponent brings in has to flip to do its move?
A. The effect from that attack goes onto that Defending Pokemon which is then Knocked out. You would NOT do the effect on the next one that comes up. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q555)

Q. Say my Misty's Horsea Lv. 16 (Gym:C) attacks with "Ink Spurt", and then the following turn I retreat it for Octillery and do "Octazooka". Does the opponent have to flip twice if they try to attack, or only once?
A. They would have to flip twice because those are two separate effects. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1266)

Parallel Drain    (Butterfree - Great Encounters)

Q. Does Butterfree's "Parallel Drain" attack take Weakness & Resistance into account before or after removing the damage counters on my own Pokemon?
A. Anything that adds to (Weakness, PlusPower) or removes from (Resistance, etc.) the final amount of damage done affects the number of damage counters you may remove. It's simple - if the final result of the attack does 60 damage to the Defending Pokemon, then you remove six damage counters from one of your Pokemon. (Mar 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Butterfree's "Parallel Drain" attack, may I choose to remove fewer damage counters than the amount of damage done by the attack?
A. You may choose a Pokemon with fewer damage counters on it and remove all of them, but you cannot choose to remove fewer damage counters if the Pokemon already has as many or more damage counters on it than the attack damage did. For example, if you did 30 damage and have 50 damage on the Pokemon you choose, you cannot remove less than three damage counters from that Pokemon. (Mar 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Perish Song    (Altaria - Platinum; Misdreavus - Neo Revelation)

Q. If I use Misdreavus' Night Eyes attack on my turn and the Defending Pokémon wakes up between turns, can I put it to sleep with Rocket Drowzee or a Sleep! trainer in order to knock the Defending Pokémon out with Perish Song on my next turn?
A. Yes you could, it just has to be Asleep and have been attacked by Night Eyes last turn. It doesn't matter if it is asleep from another effect or not. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. If a Pokemon that was attacked by Night Eyes last turn goes to the bench, could I Gust it up, put it to sleep (with the Sleep! trainer or TR Drowzee), and then KO it with Perish Song?
A. Yes it would. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. Regarding the Perish Song Attack - Is there any way to clear the effect between the Night Eyes Attack and the Perish Song Attack next turn. Benching doesn't seem to as long as the conditions are met.
A. There is no effect to clear; it's a check of the Game State. Evolving, Devolving, or leaving play alters the Game State such that it is no longer the same Pokemon that got attacked by Night Eyes. But not benching. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q33; Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

* When a Pokemon evolves or devolves it is NO longer considered to be the same Pokemon. So if Misdreavus used Night Eyes against a Squirtle last turn and then that Squirtle evolves to Wartortle, Misdreavus could NOT use Perish song (even if Wartortle was asleep) as it is NOT the same Pokemon! (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Say I use Altaria's "Midnight Eyes" on an active Infernape. On my opponents turn, they level their Active up to Infernape Lv.X. On my next turn I put the active Infernape Lv.X back to sleep and use "Perish Song". Will this KO the active Infernape Lv.X?
A. Although evolving or devolving would not allow Perish Song to be used (since it is no longer the same Pokemon), a Leveled Up Pokemon is still the same Pokemon as it was before and in this case the Infernape Lv.X would get KO'd by Perish Song. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Pickup    (Rapidash [4] - Rising Rivals; Plusle - EX Trainer Kit 2; Meowth - Delta Species; Others)

Q. Can I pick up old pre-Black & White style Trainers, Supporters, or Stadiums with Lillipup's "Pickup" attack?
A. You can get pre-Black & White "Trainer" cards, but not "Supporter" nor "Stadium" cards. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Plasma Arrow   

Q. When using Rotom's "Plasma Arrow" attack, I get to choose one of the opponent's Pokemon and do 20 damage for each Energy attached to it; but do I do the damage to the Defending Pokemon, or to the Pokemon I chose?
A. To the Pokemon that was chosen. If the damage were to be done to the Defending Pokemon, there would be a "20x" value in the damage field of the attack. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Playground   

Q. If my opponent uses Pichu's "Playground" attack on the first turn of the game, and I am going second, can I evolve the Pokemon I put onto my Bench with "Playground" since I did not put them in play on my turn?
A. It is a basic game rule that neither player can normally evolve any Pokemon on their first turn of the game, even if they are going second. (Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If neither player puts any Basic Pokemon onto their Bench as an effect of Pichu's "Playground" attack, does Pichu fall Asleep?
A. Yes. The phrase "Pichu is now Asleep" is activated at the end of the attack, independent of the other results of the attack. The corresponding phrase acts the same way for the attacks of all the HGSS set's Pokemon with the "Sweet Sleeping Face" Poke-BODY (e.g. Cleffa's "Eeeeeeek", Smoochum's "Energy Antics", etc.). (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Plunder    (Meowth - Nintendo Black Star Promos; Skuntank - Stormfront; Mightyena - Power Keepers; Others)

Q. Say Murkrow uses "Plunder" on a Pokémon that has Energy Root attached and 10 HP left (including the extra HP from Energy Root). When the Tool is discarded, is the Defending Pokémon KO'd right away and does the new Defending take the attack damage?
A. The Pokémon is KO'd immediately, but is not removed from play until all of the attack effects are finished; so the original Defending takes the attack damage before the other Pokémon comes up. (Sep 22, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. The effect text of "Plunder" says: "Before doing damage, discard all Trainer cards attached to the Defending Pokémon." So what happens to Fossils in this case?
A. Fossils are not "attached" to themselves, so they are not discarded by Plunder. (Feb 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Power Claw   

Q. The damage from Tyranitar's "Power Claw" attack isn't affected by Poke-POWERS, Poke-BODIES, or any other effects on the Defending Pokemon. Would you apply weakness and resistance to its damage?
A. Yes, weakness or resistance to Tyrantitar's type would be applied where appropriate. These are game rules and not considered effects on the Defending Pokemon. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Power Whip    (Carnivine [G] - DP Promos; Tangrowth - Great Encounters)

* Tangrowth's "Power Whip" attack should say, "This attack does 10 damage for each Energy from basic Energy cards attached to Tangrowth to that Pokemon." (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Q. How does the Tangrowth errata affect "Power Whip" with Sceptile's "Wild Growth" in play?
A. Tangrowth does 10 damage for each Energy from basic Energy cards – 1 basic Grass Energy card provides 2 Energy, so it would do 20 total damage. (Feb 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Primal Breath    (Aerodactyl [GL] - Rising Rivals)

Q. Does Aerodactyl GL's "Primal Breath" attack prevent my opponent from using Rare Candy on their next turn? Or what about using the Broken Time-Space stadium?
A. Yes, Primal Breath prevents the use of both of those because it prevents the Evolution Card from leaving your hand. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Aerodactyl GL's "Primal Breath" attack, and on my opponent's turn they switch the Defending Pokemon for a different one, can they then evolve the Pokemon that was attacked by "Primal Breath"?
A. Yes. The Primal Breath attack is an effect on the Defending Pokemon, the one that was attacked. If another Pokemon takes its place the effect is cleared. (Aug 6, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Cut    (Gallade - OP Series 7; Gallade - Secret Wonders)

Q. When I attack with Gallade's "Psychic Cut", do I have to announce how many prizes I'm flipping over ahead of time?
A. Yes, you must announce how many prize cards you're going to flip before revealing any prize cards or doing any damage. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If the Defending Pokemon has a Holon Energy WP and a basic Water energy attached, does it prevent the prize flipping portion of Gallade's "Psychic Cut"?
A. No. You can still flip up the prize cards and increase the amount of damage, as flipping is part of the damage calculation and is not an effect done to directly to the Pokemon with the Water and Holon WP energies attached. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Guard    (Alakazam - Mysterious Treasures)

* Some abilities referring to "Stage 2 Evolved Pokémon" are receiving errata. These cards do not care if the Pokémon is evolved or not, only if it is a Stage 2 Pokémon. So, Stage 2 Pokémon put into play with abilities like Garchomp LV.X's "Restore" attack still count for these abilities. Alakazam's correct card text should read: "Psychic Guard (50) - During your opponent's next turn, any damage done to Alakazam by attacks from your opponent's Stage 2 Pokémon is reduced by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)." (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Lock    (Gardevoir - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I attack with Gardevoir's "Psychic Lock", can my opponent use any Poké-POWERs if they evolve their Pokémon on the following turn?
A. The effect of Psychic Lock is on your opponent, not on their Pokémon. So no matter what happens to their Pokemon, the opponent cannot use any of their Poké-Powers. That also means there is no way to clear the effect. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If the Defending Pokémon has a Holon Energy WP and a basic Water energy attached, what happens to the "your opponent can't use any Poké-Powers" part of Gardevoir's "Psychic Lock" attack?
A. The effect of Psychic Lock is on your opponent, not on their Pokémon. So since the Holon Energy WP only protects the Pokémon, the opposing player is still unable to use any of their Poké-Powers. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I knock out Ho-Oh with Gardevoir's "Psychic Lock" attack, does the disabling of Poke-Powers happen before or after Ho-Oh's "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER?
A. Psychic Lock says they can't use any Poke-Powers "during your opponent's next turn". Phoenix Turn starts and finishes during the attack, before "your opponent's next turn," so Psychic Lock does not stop Phoenix Turn. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Restore    (Uxie - Legends Awakened)

Q. If I use Uxie's "Psychic Restore" attack to KO my opponent's Pokemon, then place Uxie back onto the bottom of my deck, who replaces their Active Pokemon first?
A. Uxie is gone before KO's are checked, so the Uxie player replaces first. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Uxie's "Psychic Restore" attack where it does 20 and puts itself into the deck, but Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER would knock out Uxie, what happens?
A. If you choose to put Uxie in the deck with Psychic Restore the attack completes first, and Gengar cannot return the knockout. However, if you do not put Uxie in the deck, then Gengar's Fainting Spell would Knock Out Uxie if the coin flip is heads. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Strategy    (Exeggutor - Legends Awakened)

Q. If I have no cards in my hand, can I use Exeggutor's "Psychic Strategy" attack where each player counts the number of cards in his or her opponent's hand, shuffles his or her hand into the deck, and draws a number of cards up to the number of cards the opponent's hand?
A. Yes, you can have a hand of zero cards and use this attack. The opponent would not get to draw any cards. (Sep 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Exeggutor's "Psychic Strategy" attack is used and my opponent has any cards in their hand, can I choose to draw no cards?
A. No, you must draw at least one card if the opponent has any cards in their hand. (Sep 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Pulse Barrier    (Electivire Lv.X - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If Electivire Lv.X's "Pulse Barrier" attack is used, does its effect prevent damage and effects from all sources, or just from attacks?"
A. It only prevents effects or damage caused by attacks. Any affects or damage caused by Poke-POWERs, Poke-BODYs, trainers, supporters, etc. still happens. (Aug 30, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Electivire LV.X's "Pulse Barrier" attack is used against a Defending Pokemon with Holon Energy WP and a basic Water Energy attached, I know you would not discard any tools attached to the Defending Pokemon, but you would discard your opponent's stadium. Does the attack's protective effect still apply in this situation?
A. Pulse Barrier does not check to see if all the cards are discarded. It checks if ANY cards were discarded, in order to start the protective effect. (Oct 25, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Electivire Lv.X uses "Pulse Barrier" to discard tools against a Defending Pokemon with Unown-G's "GUARD" attached, does the Unown-G get discarded or does "GUARD" prevent that effect?
A. The Unown-G would prevent Pulse Barrier's effect of discarding tools, so it would stay attached. But Unown-G does not prevent any tools attached to other Pokemon from being discarded. (Mar 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Raging Thunder    (Zapdos - Majestic Dawn; Rocket's Zapdos ex - Team Rocket Returns)

Q. Can I direct the bench damage from Zapdos' "Raging Thunder" attack to my Old Amber and have it prevented by Old Amber's "Hard Amber" Poke-BODY?
A. Sure, that will work. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Raid    (Absol - Secret Wonders)

Q. If you put Absol on your Bench or as your Active Pokémon during the set-up for the game, does Absol's "Raid" attack do 40 damage or 10 damage?
A. It does 10. If you place Absol during the set-up for the game, you are not playing Absol from your hand during your turn. (DP:Secret Wonders FAQ; Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Rambunctious Party   

Q. When using Slowpoke's "Rambunctious Party" attack, can I choose no Basic Pokemon even if some are in the top 5 cards I drew?
A. Yes, you can choose as many or as few (including zero) as you like. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Slowpoke's "Rambunctious Party" attack if my Bench is full?
A. Yes you can perform the attack, but all you get to do is look at the top 5 cards and then shuffle them all back into your deck. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Reaper Pulse    (Dusknoir - DP Promos)

Q. If I use Dusknoir's "Reaper Pulse" attack, but the opponent's only benched Pokemon has Unown-G with "GUARD" attached to it, can I still remove 2 damage counters from Dusknoir?
A. No, the damage counters have to be able to be moved to one of your opponent's benched Pokemon, or else they cannot be moved at all. (Dec 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Reflect Energy    (Electrode [G] - Rising Rivals; Ampharos - Platinum; Rotom - Majestic Dawn; Others)

Q. If I have no bench, what happens when I use Lanturn's "Reflect Energy" attack?
A. Since there is no bench, you can't move the energy, but the damage is still done. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Remove Lost    (Dialga [G] Lv.X - Platinum)

Q. If the Defending Pokemon is Knocked Out by Dialga-G Lv.X's "Remove Lost" attack, is a coin still flipped to see if the Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon will be sent to the Lost Zone?
A. Yes, you calculate the damage dealt first, then flip for the energies to go to the Lost Zone, and finally remove any Pokemon that are knocked out. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Restore    (Uxie - Legends Awakened; Garchomp Lv.X - Majestic Dawn)

Q. When using Garchomp Lv.X's "Restore" attack, do I have to attach a basic Energy card from my discard pile if I have any?
A. No. It says you "may" search your discard pile for the energies. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Garchomp Lv.X's "Restore" attack, even if I don't have an open spot on my Bench?
A. Yes you could do the attack, but it would have no effect (other than perhaps to get rid of Holon Circle, etc.). (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Return    (Aggron - Rising Rivals; Mismagius [GL] Lv.X - Rising Rivals; Team Galactic's Invention G-105 Poke Turn - Platinum; Others)

Q. Can I use Dunsparce's "Return" attack with 6 or more cards in my hand?
A. Yes, it will do 10 base damage and you will not draw any cards. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Return Blow    (Aggron - Rising Rivals)

Q. Is Aggron's "Return Blow" attack damage affected by Weakness & Resistance?
A. Yes, you apply Weakness & Resistance to the amount of damage that Return Blow deals. It does not state on the card to ignore Weakness & Resistance. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Revenge    (Shaymin Lv.X - DP Promos; Toxicroak [G] - DP Promos; Kricketune - Platinum; Others)

Q. When using Machamp's "Revenge" attack, does it have to be in play at the time the Pokémon was Knocked Out, or can it evolve on my turn and still get the extra 50 damage?
A. Machamp does not have to be in play on the previous turn. It is known to both players that a Pokémon was Knocked Out on the previous turn. (Diamond & Pearl FAQ; May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Rock Hurl    (Swampert - Crystal Guardians; Donphan - Holon Phantoms; Quagsire - Unseen Forces; Others)

Q. If the Defending Pokemon is currently protected from effects of attacks, do I apply Resistance to Donphan's "Rock Hurl" attack or not?
A. No, because the phrase "Don't apply Resistance" is part of the damage calculation, not an effect of the attack. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Roost    (Swablu - Platinum)

Q. If Spearow has less than 4 damage counters can I use its "Roost" attack?
A. Yes. You do as much as you can to perform the effect of the attack; in this case remove all the damage counters. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Rushing Flames    (Infernape - Platinum; Dark Typhlosion - Neo Destiny)

Q. When using Infernape's "Rushing Flames" attack, do I have do discard all the energies first and then flip, or can I do them one at a time?
A. You must choose how many Fire energies to discard first before doing any coin flips. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Sand Sonic    (Flygon - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I attach a Fighting Energy from my hand to Flygon, and then later that same turn level it up to Flygon Lv.X, does the "Sand Sonic" attack get to add the bonus damage or not?
A. The effect of "attaching a Fighting Energy from your hand to Flygon" is not removed when leveling up; it is a game state check, and the Pokemon is still named Flygon. So in this case, you do get to add the bonus damage for Sand Sonic. (Jun 18, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Sand Wall    (Flygon - Rising Rivals)

Q. Flygon uses its "Sand Wall" attack to discard an Opponent's Stadium card. The next turn, Raichu Levels Up and attacks twice due to its "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY. Is Flygon protected against both attacks?
A. Yes. Sand Wall would protect Flygon against both of Raichu Lv.X's attacks during the opponent's next turn. (Sep 3, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Dusknoir Lv.X in play as a Stadium card and the opponent uses Flygon's "Sand Wall" attack to return the Dusknoir Lv.X card to my hand, does the opponent's active Flygon still get to prevent all effects of an attack including damage during their next turn?
A. Yes, Flygon is still protected. (Jan 28, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Scrunch    (Chansey - Mysterious Treasures; Shelgon - Dragon; Chansey - Base)

Q. I attack my opponent's Shelgon (who used "Scrunch" successfully last turn) with Electrode's "Mass Destruction". Does Scrunch save Shelgon?
A. No. Scrunch only protects against damage. (Jun 16, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Seal Off    (Shiftry - Rising Rivals)

Q. Say I just attacked the defending Dialga-G Lv.X with RR Shiftry's "Seal Off" attack, thus shutting down its "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY. On my opponent's turn, he/she retreats Dialga-G Lv.X, however I have a Dugtrio on my bench. Does Dugtrio's "Sinkhole" Poke-BODY put any damage counters on Dialga?
A. Yes, Sinkhole would place damage counters. Sinkhole is triggered and resolved before the Seal Off effect is cleared. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Seed Flare    (Shaymin Lv.X - Platinum)

* Shaymin LV.X is receiving errata for its "Seed Flare" attack. Seed Flare does additional damage for each Grass Energy card attached during the attack, rather than each Grass Energy attached during the attack. The correct card text should read, "Choose as many Grass Energy cards from your hand as you like and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. If you do, this attack does 40 damage plus 20 more damage for each Grass Energy card attached in this way." (Feb 26, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Q. If I have Sceptile with "Wild Growth" in play, do the Grass Energy cards I attach for Shaymin Lv.X's "Seed Flare" attack add +20 or +40 (twenty times two) each?
A. Seed Flare has been errata'd to calculate damage based on the number of Grass Energy CARDS, so each card would only add +20 regardless of how many Grass energies that card provides. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Shaymin Lv.X's "Seed Flare" attack let's me attach Grass Energy from my hand to as many Pokemon as I as I like. If I have Dawn Stadium in play, and 3 heavily damaged Grass Pokemon, and I attach 2 Grass Energy cards to each one with Shaymin's attack, how much damage do I remove?
A. Dawn Stadium's effect is activated once for each time you attach an energy card to a Grass or Water Pokemon. In this case, you'll remove one damage counter for each energy card you attach to these Grass Pokemon. (Mar 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Mar 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Send Back    (Omastar - Majestic Dawn)

Q. For Omastar's "Send Back" attack, do you switch the opponent's Pokemon before or after doing the damage?
A. You do the damage first, then switch the Defending Pokemon with one of the opponent's Benched Pokemon. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Shadow Force    (Giratina - Legends Awakened)

Q. If I use Giratina's "Shadow Force" attack but my opponent has no Benched Pokemon, can I still flip a coin to see if I can prevent all effects of attacks done to Giratina during my opponent's next turn?
A. Yes, the coin flip portion of this attack is not dependent on whether your opponent has any Benched Pokemon or not. (Sep 25, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Shadow Room    (Gengar - Stormfront)

Q. If Gengar uses "Shadow Room" against a Lv.X Pokemon that has no Poke-POWER, but the card underneath the Lv.X *does* have a Poke-POWER, does "Shadow Room" place three or six damage counters?
A. The Lv.X Pokemon has the Poke-POWERs and Poke-BODYs from the card underneath it, so Shadow Room would place six damage counters in this situation. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Shock-wave    (Tropius δ - Dragon Frontiers; Tyranitar ex δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. If a Pokémon has the anti-Pokémon-EX Poké-Body "Safeguard", can it be Knocked Out by Tyranitar-EX's "Shock-wave" attack?
A. No. As long as the Pokémon could still use Safeguard, the Shock-wave marker could not be placed on that Pokémon, and it could not be Knocked Out by the Shock-wave attack. (EX:Dragon Frontiers FAQ; Oct 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Silver Wind    (Mothim - OP Series 7; Mothim - Secret Wonders; Dustox ex - Legend Maker; Others)

Q. Which Pokémon is the Silver Wind effect attached to?
A. The effect is attached to the Defending Pokémon that was attacked by Masquerain's Silver Wind. If the Defending Pokémon retreats to the Bench, that effect is removed. (EX:Hidden Legends FAQ)

Q. If I use Silver Wind once, then I use it again on my next turn, it would do 60 damage (assuming there's no weakness or resistance, and that neither active Pokémon is switched out). On the third turn would it do +30 more damage (bringing it up to 90), and on the fourth 120 damage, and so on?
A. Sorry, but Silver Wind only adds 30 to the base damage done by the attack; it is not cumulative in the manner you suggest. (Jun 17, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say that on one turn you use Masquerain's "Silver Wind" which does +30 on your next attack. However, you switch Masquerain for a Pokémon that attacks with "Swift"; after resolving Swift's effects, does the +30 from Silver Wind get tacked on to do the extra damage (providing the Defending Pokémon was not Benched during your opponent's turn of course)?
A. Silver Wind is an effect that is attached to the Defending Pokémon. So unfortunately for you the Swift attack would ignore that and not get the +30 bonus. (Jul 29, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Dustox-EX's "Silver Wind" this turn, and next turn I attack with Dark Tyranitar's "Spinning Tail", does that mean that Spinning Tail now does 50 damage to all my opponent's Pokémon?
A. No, the Silver Wind effect only applies to the Defending Pokémon, not to benched Pokémon. So the Defending Pokémon would take 50 damage, but the benched Pokémon would only take 20 damage. (Feb 9, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Skill Copy    (Alakazam * - Crystal Guardians)

Q. If I use Alakazam*'s "Skill Copy" attack and discard a Banette with "Spiteful Pain" on it, would it do 40 damage (before Banette is in the discard pile) or would it do 80 damage (after Banette is in the discard pile)?
A. The discard is a requirement of the Skill Copy attack and takes place before the damage calculation. So Banette will be in the discard pile and Skill Copy will do 80 damage. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if I use Alakazam*'s "Skill Copy" attack but discard a Pokemon that has no attacks on it (i.e. the Snorlax that only has a Poke-POWER and a Poke-BODY)?
A. In this case the Pokemon would stay in the discard pile and nothing else happens. (Jul 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Alakazam*'s "Skill Copy" attack to discard a Pokemon but then choose to not use one of its attacks?
A. No, you must pick one of the discarded Pokemon's attacks and use it if you are able to. However, if you pick one of the attacks that you do not have the proper energy requirements for, the attack does nothing. (Jul 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if I use Alakazam*'s "Skill Copy" and pick an attack that cannot be completed, such as Shuppet's "Ascension" which has you search your deck for an evolution of that Pokemon?
A. You may pick the "Ascension" attack in this scenario, but you would not get to search your deck because Alakazam* cannot evolve higher. Refer to the "Metronome" section for other possible scenarios that cannot be copied. (Jul 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Skill Hack    (Shiftry ex - Power Keepers)

Q. If I use Shiftry-EX's "Skill Hack" attack and find that my opponent's Pokémon don't have any attacks I want, can I choose to not do any attack?
A. No, if you find any Pokémon with attacks in your opponent's hand you MUST choose one of them. (Feb 22, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Shiftry-EX's "Skill Hack" attack and copy an attack like Salamence-EX's "Hydro Wave" or Steelix-EX's "Mudslide", do I have to have any Water energy or Fighting energy attached to Shiftry-EX or not?
A. Basically when it comes to statements like "discard X Energy", they are considered necessary to use that attack. So for Hydro Wave Shiftry-EX would need to have at least one Water energy to discard, and for Mudslide Shiftry-EX would need to have two Fighting energy to discard. If you can only choose an attack that has requirements and you don't have the correct energy cards attached, then the Skill Hack attack does nothing. (Mar 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Shiftry-EX's "Skill Hack" attack and find that my opponent also has a Shiftry-EX's with "Skill Hack", can I choose to use one of the attacks in MY own hand?
A. No, when you copy an opponent's attack you copy it from the point of view of the Pokémon doing the "copying" attack. So if you copied your opponent's Skill Hack, you would simply get to look at their hand AGAIN! But to do this in a recursive, infinite fashion would result in delay-of-game penalties or "unsportsmanlike conduct". (Feb 22, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Sludge Drag   

Q. When Muk attacks with "Sludge Drag", who chooses which of the opponent's Benched Pokemon get brought forward?
A. The attacking player gets to choose. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Smash Short    (Pachirisu - Great Encounters)

Q. When attacking with Pachirisu's "Smash Short" against a Pokemon with Unown G attached as a Pokemon Tool, would I still get to discard Unown G and look at my opponent's hand?
A. No. Pachirisu's Smash Short attack would do 40 damage, but Unown G prevents itself from being discarded. Because Unown G is not discarded, you do not get to look at the opponent's hand. (Feb 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Smokescreen    (Skuntank [G] - Platinum; Horsea - Legends Awakened; Charmander - Power Keepers; Others)

Q. When Smokescreen stops an attack, does it stop all effects of the attack, even those that might be done to the attacking Pokémon?
A. Yes, it stops all effects. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q123)

Q. What about cards that do not state when the effect ends? Like Fossil Magmar's Smokescreen? I think for only one turn (the opponent's next turn), but some Apprentice people say it lasts until Magmar is Benched!
A. The effect says tries to attack during your opponent's next turn, so it only works on the next turn after you use the attack. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q131)

Q. If you use Smokescreen then retreat the Pokémon that is Smoke screened or if Magmar Retreats is it still in effect?
A. Smokescreen references the defending Pokémon, so if you bench that Pokémon the effect ends. If you bench Magmar then Smokescreen is in effect. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q11)

Q. If your Pokémon has been Smokescreened on the previous turn, and you choose an attack that requires you to do something (such as discarding Energy) in order to use the Attack, do you pay the attack costs before you flip for the Smokescreen Effect?
A. Yes before, you still attempt the attack; the Smokescreen might just stop it from having any effect. (Apr 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20; Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q27)

Q. If Magmar's Smokescreen Knocks Out the Defending Pokémon, does the new Active have to flip to see if its attack is effective?
A. No, it only effects the Defending Pokémon the attack was done against. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Does Magmar's Smokescreen affect end if the Defending Pokémon evolves?
A. Since Magmar's Smokescreen attack references the Defending Pokémon, by it evolving, it removes that effect. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. Would Magmar's Smokescreen stop Kangaskhan's Fetch?
A. Yes, it would, since Fetch is an attack. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. If a Gloom Confused you, and next turn a Magmar Smokescreened you, do you flip for Confusion or Smokescreen first?
A. You flip for Smokescreen first. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q328)

Q. My Koffing used its "Smokescreen" attack on the Defending Pokemon which was already Confused. If that Pokemon attacks during my opponent's next turn, do they flip 2 coins and the attack fails if both coins aren't heads?
A. No, your opponent must flip each coin separately. First, flip a coin for the effect of Smokescreen; if the flip is tails the attack ends. If the first flip is heads, then flip a second time for the effect of Confusion. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Solar Suggestion   

Q. When using Espeon's "Solar Suggestion" attack, do I have to move all four damage counters from one of my Pokemon to one of my opponent's Pokemon, or can I split the damage counters from multiple different Pokemon on each player's side?
A. You can choose up to 4 counters from as many of your own Pokemon as you like, and can split them up on your opponent's Pokemon in any way you want. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I choose 4 damage counters on my Pokemon with Espeon's "Solar Suggestion" attack, can I then place 3 or fewer damage counters on my opponent's Pokemon?
A. No, you can't. You must place the same number of damage counters on your opponent's Pokemon as you removed from your own Pokemon. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can Espeon's "Solar Suggestion" attack place damage counters onto a Jolteon that can't be hit by effects due to a successful coin flip during its "Agility" attack, or onto a Toxicroak [G] with its "Anticipation" Poke-BODY enabled? If I can't place them, what do I do with the damage counters I removed from my Pokemon?
A. You cannot place damage counters onto that Jolteon or Toxicroak [G], but you can still remove damage counters from your own Pokemon. If you select a Pokemon under the status of not receiving effects, the damage counters that would be placed onto that Pokemon simply disappear from play. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Sonic Blade    (Gallade - OP Series 7; Gallade - Secret Wonders)

Q. If a Defending Pokemon has 50 HP or less remaining, does Gallade's "Sonic Blade" attack still switch the Defending Pokemon?
A. No. That effect of Sonic Blade only happens if you put 1 or more damage counters on the Defending Pokemon. (DP:Secret Wonders FAQ; Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Active Pokemon is attacked with "Sonic Blade", can I choose a Pokemon on my bench with Unown-G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER attached to it and prevent the switching portion of "Sonic Blade"?
A. Yes, you may do this. (Sep 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Gallade's "Sonic Blade" attack against a Pokemon with an extra +20hp due to Espeon's "Sunlight Veil" Poke-BODY, does that +20 get factored in to the number of damage counters?
A. When the +20hp is added to the Pokemon's total HP, you must take that into account when placing damage counters for Sonic Blade. The attack would leave the Pokemon with 50hp remaining, not 70hp. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Spacial Rend    (Palkia - DP Promos; Darkrai - DP Promos; Palkia - Great Encounters; Others)

Q. If Palkia's "Spacial Rend" attack fails to find a Stadium card in your deck, do you still get to discard any Stadium card in play?
A. No, if you don't take a Stadium card from your deck, you don't get to discard a Stadium card in play. (Mar 27, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Speed Evolution   

Q. Can I use Weedle's "Speed Evolution" attack on my first turn of the game or the turn it comes into play?
A. Yes. An attack can override the normal rules for evolution. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Weedle's "Speed Evolution" attack to search my deck for Beedrill and place it on Weedle?
A. No, you can't choose Beedrill from the deck. Beedrill states it evolves from Kakuna, so it is not a card that evolves from Weedle. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Spike Armor    (Sandslash - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If my opponent uses Sandslash's "Spike Armor" attack, but then on my turn I attack Sandslash with a Pokemon having Unown-G attached with its "GUARD" Poke-POWER, would Sandslash's "Spike Armor" be able to place any damage counters on my Pokemon or not?
A. The effect of Spike Armor is on Sandslash. The Unown-G's Poke-Power GUARD will prevent the effect of your opponent's attacks, so you don't put damage counters on your Active Pokemon that has Unown-G attached to it after doing damage to Sandslash. (Sep 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Spine Missile    (Cloyster - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I have a Double Rainbow Energy attached to Cloyster and then use it's "Spine Missile" attack, do I have to reduce -10 damage for each successful coin flip or is it -10 per each Pokemon I do damage to?
A. You add up the damage to each Pokemon first and then apply the effects of DRE after. So it would be -10 per each Pokemon you do damage to. (Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. For Cloyster's "Spine Missile" attack, can I flip four coins and then choose how to deal the damage? Or do I have to flip a coin, then choose, then flip the second coin, then choose, etc.?
A. You resolve all of the coin flips first, before choosing targets. Then if you choose the same Pokemon more than once, the flips are combined together into the base damage, before applying any other effects such as Double Rainbow Energy, Weakness, Resistance, etc. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Spiteful Pain    (Banette - Secret Wonders)

Q. How does Banette's "Spiteful Pain" attack work if a Pokemon copies that attack? A. It is not a self-referencing attack, so you would need to have a Banette in your discard pile to do the increased damage as well as the other effect. (DP:Secret Wonders FAQ; Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Star Boomerang    (Starmie - Legends Awakened; Misty's Staryu - Gym Challenge)

Q. If my opponent used Froslass' "Destiny Bond" attack, then on my turn I use Starmie's "Star Boomerang" to Knock Out Froslass, would I get to put Starmie into my hand before the "Destiny Bond" effect can knock it out?
A. If you put Starmie back into your hand with Star Boomerang, the attack completes first and Destiny Bond cannot return the knockout. (Dec 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Static Electricity    (Mareep - Neo Genesis)

Q. If I attach Memory Berry to Mareep, evolve it to Ampharos, then attack with "Static Electricity", would I search my deck for energies based on the number of Mareep or the number of Ampharos in play?
A. In the latter part of the Static Electricity attack Where the English card says "attach them to Mareep", the Japanese card actually says "attach them to this Pokemon". So, you would count the number of Mareep in play and attach that many Lightning energy to Ampharos. (Jul 15, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Sticky Liquid   

Q. A Vespiquen that used its "Mach Wind" attack on my previous turn was hit by Grimer's "Sticky Liquid" attack during my opponent's turn. In this instance, what is Vespiquen's retreat cost during my next turn?
A. It has no Retreat Cost. When effects that increase something like Retreat Cost by a particular amount are stacked on top of effects that make something like Retreat Cost vanish, the vanishing effect takes priority. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

String Bomb    (Exeggutor - Mysterious Treasures)

* Exeggutor's "String Bomb" attack should say, "Flip a coin for each Energy from basic Energy cards attached to Exeggutor and to the Defending Pokémon." (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Strong-Willed    (Machamp Lv.X - Stormfront)

Q. If I use Torterra's "Crash Impact" attack to knock out Machamp Lv.X which used "Strong-Willed" on its previous turn, what would happen? Does "Crash Impact" switch Machamp Lv.X to the bench first before it knocks it out, meaning "Strong-Willed" will not take effect? Or does Machamp Lv.X get to flip for "Strong-Willed" first before going to the bench?
A. If Machamp Lv.X is no longer the Active Pokemon, the Strong-Willed effect is cleared. So the damage is done to Machamp Lv.X first, then it is switched to the bench, then the attack is over and Machamp Lv.X does not get to check for Strong-Willed. (May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I attack Machamp Lv.X with Honchkrow Lv.X's "Darkness Wing" attack, but Machamp Lv.X survives with a heads flip for "Strong-Willed", would I get to put a card from my Discard Pile into my hand or not? After all, Machamp Lv.X "would have been KO'd", right?
A. Yes, Machamp Lv.X would have been KO'd from the attack (regardless of whether it was saved or not by Strong-Willed), so you would get to put a card from your Discard Pile into your hand. (Jul 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Supreme Blast    (Mesprit Lv.X - Legends Awakened)

Q. I used "Supreme Blast" but didn't have the right Pokemon in play to do 200 damage. Do I still have to discard all energy attached to Mesprit Lv.X?
A. No. You can do the attack without Azelf Lv.X and/or Uxie Lv.X in play. In that case, the attack "does nothing," so you don't do damage or discard the energy either. (May 28, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Surprise    (Duskull - Stormfront; Gible - OP Series 6; Altaria - Power Keepers; Others)

Q. Would we be able to use Murkrow's "Surprise" attack even when your opponent has no hand, just to screw up your opponent's Oracle or PokéNav, or whatever...?
A. Sorry, but if you can't choose a card from your opponent's hand, there would be nothing for you to shuffle in. (Jan 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Swift    (Grovyle - Nintendo Black Star Promos; Staryu - Rising Rivals; Jirachi - Rising Rivals; Others)

• Swift and Feint attacks (against the Defending Pokemon) ignore ANY effect attempting to reduce their damage. This also means that a colorless Pokemon using a Swift or Feint attack is NOT reduced by a Sprout Tower either. These attacks cannot have their damage reduced by any game effect. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)
  
• The SWIFT attack ignores all Pokémon Powers, Weaknesses, Resistances, or ANY other effects that attempt to alter the amount of damage done by this attack. SWIFT does NOT prevent anything that prevents the attack from actually occurring however like Smokescreen or Transparency. So SWIFT will ignore a Defender that is attached to the Defending Pokémon as it is an affect that is attempting to alter the amount of damage done by the attack. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Does Misty's Staryu's Swift hit through Scrunch? Transparency? How about Barrier?
A. It hits through ALL Pokémon Powers or attack effects or Weakness or Resistance. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q69)

Q. When you use Misty's Staryu's Swift, do you still have to flip for Sand-attack?
A. Any effect that PREVENTS attacks must still be checked. Swift (if allowed to go off) basically ignores anything that tries to effect the amount of damage done. [Ed. Note: Sand-attack reads "If tails, this attack does nothing." This text can be interpreted as "If tails, the attack is prevented (including effects and damage)." Since Swift ONLY ignores effects that modify damage, one still needs to flip the coin for Sand-attack's effect.] (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q39)

Q. Could you use Swift when your Asleep?
A. Nope (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q247)

Q. Would Misty's Stayu's (the one that does damage regardless of Weakness/Resistance/Pokémon Powers/effects of attack) do damage to a Raichu/Rapidsah/Seadra/Fearow/Blaine's Ponyta that got a heads on Agility? Cause Agility says prevent all effects of attacks, and the game text of the Staryu's attack IS an effect.
A. Yes it would still do damage, it ignores the effect from the Agility as stated on the card. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q165)

Q. If base set Mewtwo used it's Barrier attack and if a pokemon used Swift, would Swift cause damage?
A. Yes it would. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q263)

Q. If I use Misty's Staryu's Swift attack or Neo: Genesis' Electabuzz's Swift attack and I attach PlusPowers, will it go through Invisible Wall?
A. The Swift attack ignores Invisible Wall regardless of the PlusPower being added on. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q85; Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q111 & Q112)

Q. If I use the Swift attack and the opponent has a Metal Energy attached to the defending Pokémon, does the Metal Energy reduce the amount of damage or do the conditions of the Swift attack override the Metal Energy effect?
A. Swift will override the Metal energy card effect [on the opponent]. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q68b; Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If a Darkness or Metal Energy is attached to an active Pokémon using the Swift attack, would Swift negate the added/reduced damage that the energy card normally provides? I would think not because the text on Swift refers to the *defending* Pokémon.
A. Right. Swift only ignores effects on the defending Pokémon, not your own. So it will still reduce [or add to] the damage you do. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q20 & Q75)

Switcheroo    (Linoone - Great Encounters)

Q. Can I use Murkrow's "Switcheroo" attack to move an opponent's "Energy Gain" to a non-SP Pokemon?
A. Yes you can, but if the Pokemon you move the Energy Gain to is not a Pokemon-SP then the tool would be discarded after it gets moved. (Nov 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Synchro Removal   

Q. Spinda has a Cyclone Energy attached, which counts as a colorless energy, and uses its "Synchro Removal" attack. Can it discard an Upper Energy from the defending Gallade?
A. Yes, it may be discarded by this attack, because the type of energy attached to Spinda is the same as that of Upper Energy on Gallade. (Sep 3, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Spinda has a Rainbow Energy attached, which counts as every type of energy, and uses its "Synchro Removal" attack. Can it discard a Call Energy from the defending Luxray [GL]?
A. Yes, Call Energy may be discarded by this attack, because the types of energy attached to Spinda includes colorless, the same type as that of Call Energy. (Sep 3, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Tail Code    (Ambipom [G] - Rising Rivals; Flaaffy - Platinum)

Q. If I use Ambipom [G]'s "Tail Code" attack to move an energy card from the Defending Pokemon to one of my opponent's Pokemon that has an Unown-G attached to it, what happens?
A. While Unown-G prevents the attachment of the energy to the protected Pokemon, it does not prevent the removal of the energy card from the Defending Pokemon. The energy card is discarded. (Jan 14, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. May I use Ambipom [G]'s "Tail Code" attack if my opponent only has an Active Pokemon and no Benched Pokemon?
A. Yes you can, although it won't move or discard the energy. There must be a Pokemon on the bench or you can't move the energy off the defending Pokemon. (Jan 28, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Take Away    (Erika's Dragonair - Gym Heroes)

Q. What happens if one of the players doesn't have a benched Pokemon when using Drifblim's "Take Away" attack?
A. There is no restriction on using the attack if there is no benched Pokemon. If a player has no Benched Pokemon, that player loses. If neither player has Benched Pokemon, then it is a tie and a game of Sudden Death must be played. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Take Out    (Machamp - Stormfront)

Q. If I have an unevolved Active Pokemon with Unown-G attached to it, and my opponent uses Machamp's "Take Out" attack, would it do nothing at all, or would it do 40 Damage?
A. It would do nothing. Since it is an unevolved Pokemon, the Knock Out effect replaces the 40 damage and that effect is blocked. (Nov 6, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Taunt    (Grimer - Team Rocket Returns; Brock's Mankey - Gym Heroes)

Q. When Liepard attacks with "Taunt", who chooses which of the opponent's Benched Pokemon get brought forward?
A. The attack says "Switch the Defending Pokemon..." so the attacking player gets to choose. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Tentacle Strike    (Tentacruel - Legends Awakened)

Q. If Tentacruel's "Tentacle Strike" attack attaches a Special Metal Energy to one of your opponent's Metal-type Pokemon, does the damage reduction kick in immediately, reducing Tentacruel's damage to that Pokemon by 10?
A. Yes, it would. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Time Control   

Q. When using Palkia & Dialga LEGEND's "Time Control" attack, can you place more prizes than your opponent started the match with?
A. Yes, you can. The prize pile is not limited to any maximum amount. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If the opponent has already drawn 2 prizes in the game, and then I use Dialga & Palkia LEGEND's "Time Control" attack to add two more prizes, how much damage would my Mismagius [GL]'s "Grudge" attack do on the following turn?
A. Even though the Time Control attack added two prizes to your opponent's pile, they have still taken two prizes during the game. So Grudge would do 20 damage plus 10 more for each of the prize cards they have already taken. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. In a game that goes to time and is tied, if I add prizes to my opponent's field with Palkia & Dialga LEGEND's "Time Control" attack on my next turn, do I win?
A. Yes. After regulation time (plus any additional turns) is completed, once you have fewer prizes remaining than your opponent, you win. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. In a Sudden Death game, if I add prizes to my opponent's field with Palkia & Dialga LEGEND's "Time Control" attack, is the game won by the next player to take a prize, or the first player to take their last prize?
A. A Sudden Death match is complete when a player has taken all of their prizes, regardless of whether there is more than one or not. So adding prizes in this scenario makes it more difficult for the opponent to win. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Time Hollow   

Q. Can I apply Jirachi's "Time Hollow" attack to a Stage 2 Pokemon and also the Stage 1 underneath it?
A. No. You only remove the highest stage evolution from the Pokemon you choose at the start of the attack. You cannot choose the same Pokemon more than once in order to remove additional Stages. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Time Spiral    (Haunter - Legend Maker; Lileep - Sandstorm)

Q. What happens if I use Omastar's "Time Spiral" attack and choose an Evolved Pokemon that has been leveled up?
A. The Pokemon Lv.X is returned into their deck as well. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Top Drop   

Q. If Primeape's "Top Drop" attack reveals a LEGEND Pokemon card with no HP printed on it, how much damage does it do (if any)?
A. No damage is done regardless of which LEGEND half is revealed by Top Drop, because even the half with HP written on it is not considered "a Pokemon" while in the Discard Pile. (Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team; Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Transback    (Palkia - DP Promos; Palkia - Great Encounters; Palkia - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. If Palkia's "Transback" attack does enough damage to KO the Defending Pokémon, can I still choose to flip the coin and if heads return the Defending Pokémon and its attached cards back into the deck instead?
A. Well, the order of attack rules say to "do any damage first, then do any other effects, and finally Knock Out any Pokémon that have damage greater than or equal to their Hit Points". So yes, you can choose to try the coin flip effect before the Defending Pokémon is KO'd by the Transback attack's damage. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Volcanic Flame    (Salamence ex - Power Keepers)

Q. Salamence-EX's "Volcanic Flame" attack says to discard the top 5 cards from your deck. What happens if you have less than five cards? Or even zero cards?
A1. You still get to do the damage even if you have no cards left in your deck, but if you do have five or less cards in your deck you must discard all of them. (Oct 11th, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Wake-Up Punch   

Q. Vigoroth has the attack "Wake-Up Punch" which does 60 damage instead of 10 damage if Vigoroth evolved from an asleep Slakoth during this turn. If I use Broken Time-Space stadium to evolve from Slakoth to Vigoroth to Slaking all in one turn, then attach a Memory Berry to Slaking and use Vigoroth's "Wake-Up Punch", how much damage does it do?
A. Using Memory Berry substitutes "this Pokemon", i.e. Slaking, in the Wake-Up Punch attack, by the self-referencing rule. In that case, Slaking did not evolve from Slakoth this turn, but rather from Vigoroth. Therefore, the attack does only 10 damage. (Mar 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Official rulings on Pokemon Items  (top)

* Items in General   

Q. Are berry (non-tool) items considered an effect on the Defending Pokemon? What turns them off?
A. It is considered an effect on the Defending Pokemon, but the Item can't be turned off; however, it could be ignored by Feint Attack, Swift, and similar attacks. (Mysterious Treasures FAQ; Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I level up a Pokemon that has an Item on it (like Dialga's "Adamant Orb" or Palkia's "Lustrous Orb"), does the Lv.X Pokemon also get to take advantage of that item?
A. Yes, items must still be used when a Pokemon levels up. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Dusk Stone    (Murkrow - Secret Wonders)

Q. Does Duskull's "Reaper Cloth" item, or Clefairy's "Moon Stone" item, or Murkrow's "Dusk Stone" item let you evolve on the first turn of the game?
A. Yes, they do. Duskull, Clefairy, and Murkrow can be evolved during the first turn of the game, even if you put them on your Bench or as your Active Pokemon during setup. (Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Moon Stone    (Clefairy - Secret Wonders)

Q. Does Duskull's "Reaper Cloth" item, or Clefairy's "Moon Stone" item, or Murkrow's "Dusk Stone" item let you evolve on the first turn of the game?
A. Yes, they do. Duskull, Clefairy, and Murkrow can be evolved during the first turn of the game, even if you put them on your Bench or as your Active Pokemon during setup. (Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I start with Cleffa then use its "Baby Evolution" to evolve into Clefairy with the "Moon Stone" item; can I then immediately use the "Moon Stone" to evolve into Clefable, all on the same turn?
A. Wow, yes you can! (Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Reaper Cloth    (Duskull - Secret Wonders)

Q. Does Duskull's "Reaper Cloth" item, or Clefairy's "Moon Stone" item, or Murkrow's "Dusk Stone" item let you evolve on the first turn of the game?
A. Yes, they do. Duskull, Clefairy, and Murkrow can be evolved during the first turn of the game, even if you put them on your Bench or as your Active Pokemon during setup. (DP:Secret Wonders FAQ; Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Official rulings on Pokemon Powers (which includes Poke-BODYs, Poke-POWERs and older Pokemon Powers).  (top)

* Pokémon Powers in General   

Q. If I intend to use a Poke-POWER, do I have to announce its name or can I just take the action specified?
A. You have to clearly communicate your intent to use a Poke-POWER by some method other than just performing its game effect. Show or tell your opponent which Pokémon is going to use what Power. (Nov 13, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use the "Pokémon Power" of a Benched Pokémon?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can Pokémon Powers be used all the time?
A. Each Power tells you specifically when or how often it can be used. (Feb 17, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. If I have 2 of the same Pokémon in play that have a Pokémon Power, can I use that power twice? What powers wouldn't be useable twice, or more for that matter?
A. Sure, depends on the particular power though. If you had two Muks for example, then only one power is necessary. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q60 & Q81)

Q. Can you use Pokémon Powers that can be used "anytime" while the effect of another power is in progress?
A. No. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q96)

Q. [There is] Some confusion on the Boards about Pokémon Power, Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies. Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies are sub categories of Pokémon Powers.
A. Correct. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1670)

Q. Do older effects that target "Pokémon Powers" also affect both the new "Poke-POWERs" and "Poke-BODYs"?
A. Yes they do. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1658)

Q. For the E-cards that target only Poke-POWERS, do they also target Pokémon Powers? What about E-cards that target only Poke-BODYs? Do they also target the older PokémonPowers?
A. No they do not. As previously stated, anything that effects Pokémon Powers (like Sputter) affects both Poke-POWERs and Poke-BODYs. It does NOT work in reverse. (May22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1680)

* Unless specifically stated on the card, all Poké-Powers are optional and may or may not be used. However, Poké-Bodies are not optional unless specifically stated on the card. (Nov 30, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Something that affects Pokémon Powers in general, affects both "Poké-Powers" and "Poké-Bodies", right? So also, does something that affects both "Poké-Bodies" and "Poké-Powers" affect older style "Pokémon Powers" too?
A. Pokémon Powers are the general term for Poké-Bodies & Poké-Powers. Older cards that reference Pokémon Powers include both 'Bodies and 'Powers. Newer cards that affect both 'Powers AND 'Bodies affect older "Pokémon Powers" (as if "Pokémon Powers" read "Poké-Powers & Poké-Bodies"). (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Afterburner   

Q. Can Typhlosion's "Afterburner" Poke-POWER be used if there is no Energy in the discard pile, just to place a damage counter on one of my Pokemon?
A. No. Since you can't attach an Energy from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon, you can't use the rest of the power. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Allergy Flower   

Q. Can I still play Supporters or Stadiums while Vileplume's "Allergy Flower" Poke-BODY is in effect?
A. Yes. They are not Trainers. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Anticipation    (Toxicroak [G] - Platinum)

Q. On Player-A's turn, Torterra used "Land Shake". Then on Player-B's turn they play a Toxicroak-G from his or her hand. Does Toxicroak-G receive 2 damage counters from "Land Shake's" effect? Or does Toxicroak-G's "Anticipation" Poke-BODY prevent the effect?
A. The effect of placing two damage counters is one that resides on Player-B and is no longer "part of the attack" during the opponent's next turn. Anticipation would therefore not block the placing of damage counters in this situation. (May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power active, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of their benched Pokemon?
A. Yes, it can. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so even if the Defending Pokemon has a condition that prevent effects of attacks the switch can still occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY on their bench, or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power on their bench, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of those on the bench?
A. No, you cannot. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so if the Benched Pokemon has a condition that prevents effects of attacks excluding damage done, the switch cannot occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Aqua Reaction    (Helix Fossil - Majestic Dawn)

Q. What happens if Ampharos with the "Conductivity" Poke-BODY is in play and I attach the appropriate energy card to my Dome Fossil or Helix Fossil to activate their "Rock Reaction" or "Aqua Reaction" Poke-BODY?
A. Attaching an Energy card to Dome Fossil or Helix Fossil causes its Poke-BODY and Ampharos' Conductivity to trigger at the same time, so the player can resolve them in the order of their choosing. If you resolve Conductivity first, the Fossil Pokemon takes a damage counter and then evolves. However, if you resolve Rock Reaction or Aqua Reaction first, the Fossil's Poke-BODY searches for a card and evolves, but Conductivity no longer sees the Pokemon that triggered it, so no damage counter is placed. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Aqua Skin    (Manaphy - Majestic Dawn)

Q. If I use Manaphy's "Fountain" attack, could I trigger "Aqua Skin" on a Benched Manaphy?
A. Yes. The Water Energy cards are coming from your hand, which is the trigger for Aqua Skin. If you attach 2 Water Energy cards that way, you would remove 4 damage counters from the Benched Manaphy. (DP:Majestic Dawn FAQ; May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Baby Evolution    (Mime Jr. - DP Promos; Pichu - OP Series 9; Munchlax - Rising Rivals; Others)

Q. For the Pokémon with the power "Baby Evolution", can I use this power to attach its evolved form on the same turn it comes into play?
A. Baby Evolution can be played on the first turn that Pokémon is in play, even if it is the first turn of the game. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Jul 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use "Baby Evolution" to evolve Pichu into Pikachu, or Wynaut into Wobbuffet, is the resulting Pokémon. (Pikachu, Wobbuffet, etc.) considered an "Evolved Pokémon.", or is it still considered as a "Basic Pokémon."?
A. Any time you evolve a Pokémon. into another stage, it is considered to be an "Evolved Pokémon.", even if the words written on the card say "Basic". (Jan 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If EX-Sandstorm Pichu's "Baby Evolution" power is turned off by Muk's "Toxic Gas" power, does that mean that it cannot evolve into Pikachu?
A. Pichu's Baby Evolution is the only way it evolves to Pikachu. If that is turned off, Pichu can't evolve. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can Elekid evolve into "Electabuzz EX" since Quilava can evolve into "Typhlosion EX"?
A. Elekid's Baby Evolution states it can evolve into Electabuzz. Electabuzz and Electabuzz EX are two different names, thus considered two different Pokémon. So the answer to this question is "no". (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Mt. Moon shut off the "Baby Evolution" Pokémon Power?
A. Yes, it does. (Dec 9, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If a Pokémon uses "Baby Evolution", does it trigger Shiftry-EX's "Dark Eyes"?
A. No. The Pokémon that used "Baby Evolution" is actually no longer in play. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does the "Baby Evolution" Poké-POWER get turned off when affected by a Special Condition? It doesn't say so on the card.
A. Poké-POWERs are not turned off by Special Conditions unless it says so on the card. So Baby Evolution still works when poisoned, asleep, etc. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Balloon Sting    (Qwilfish - Secret Wonders)

Q. Say a Pokemon attacks Qwilfish with an attack that causes the attacking Pokemon to be switched to the bench (i.e. Murkrow's "Hide Crowd" attack). Does Qwilfish's "Balloon Sting" Poke-POWER poison the new Pokemon or not?
A. The "attacking Pokemon" would get poisoned, but since it immediately goes to the bench (which removes the effect) no damage is taken due to poison. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Battle Aura    (Feraligatr δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. If my Feraligatr uses "Drag Off" against an Active Pokémon with Cessation Crystal attached, does it get to use its "Battle Aura" Poké-BODY to do +10x to the Pokémon brought up from the bench (assuming it does not have a Cessation Crystal attached)?
A. Yes, when the Cessation Crystal Pokémon goes to the bench, the Battle Aura turns on before the damage is done. Drag Off delays doing damage until the switch is made; therefore, Battle Aura can take effect. (Apr 19, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Battle Rush    (Salamence - Stormfront)

Q. Is Snowpoint Temple's +20hp towards Basic Pokemon factored in when calculating whether or not Salamence's "Battle Rush" Poke-BODY works or not?
A. Yes, it is. Effects that add to a Pokemon's HP are counted when calculating its Maximum HP. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Burning Coat    (Entei - Secret Wonders)

Q. If my Entei KO's two of the opponent's Pokemon with its "Blaze Roar" attack, does Entei's "Burning Coat" Poke-BODY force them to discard six cards from their deck, or just three cards no matter how many Pokemon were KO'd?
A. Burning Coat has your opponent discard three cards per KO'd Pokemon, but only if they are knocked out by an attack. So that would be six cards in this case. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

CALL    (Unown C - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. Can Unown-C's "Call" Poké-POWER be used to search for an older, pre-D/P (non-D/P) Unown?
A. Yes, it can. If a card refers to "Unown" it refers to all Unown, both D/P and older. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Camouflage Gas    (Weezing - Rising Rivals)

Q. What happens if Weezing is confused and KO'd by an attack that also sends it to the Bench? Does "Camouflage Gas" prevent my opponent from taking a prize or not?
A. Camouflage Gas only works if Weezing is confused at the time the KO is resolved. It is not confused when it goes to the Bench, so therefore your opponent gets a prize. (Jul 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Cresselia Lv.X uses its "Moon Skip" attack to KO a confused Weezing that has the "Camouflage Gas" Poke-BODY, how many Prize Cards would be taken (if any)?
A. None. Camouflage Gas says that the attacking player "can't take a Prize card" if Weezing is Confused when it gets KO'd. (Jul 23, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Catastrophe   

Q. If an opponent's evolved Pokemon is Knocked Out while Gengar is Active, does the "Catastrophe" Poke-BODY put all of the evolution stage cards and Basic Pokemon card in the Lost Zone, or just the highest stage Evolution card?
A. The evolved Pokemon and any of its pre-evolved stages and Lv.X cards go to the Lost Zone, and all attached Energy, Tools, etc. go to the Discard Pile. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Active Pokemon does an attack that Knocks Out an opponent's Pokemon, but also switches my Active Pokemon to the Bench, would the Knocked Out Pokemon go to the Lost Zone if I bring up Gengar with the "Castastrophe" Poke-BODY?
A. Yes. Gengar is active at the end of the attack when Knock Out conditions are evaluated. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use an attack that Knocks Out a defending Gengar with the "Castastrophe" Poke-BODY, but it also knocks itself out, does the attacking Pokemon go to the Lost Zone, or is "Catastrophe" no longer in effect when Gengar is KO'd?
A. Since both Pokemon are KO'd at the same time, Gengar's Catastrophe Poke-BODY is still working at the point when Knock Outs are evaluated. So the attacking Pokemon would go to the Lost Zone. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Gengar with the "Catastrophe" Poke-BODY knocks out Dialga [G] Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY, does "Catastrophe" turn on in time for send Dialga [G] Lv.X to the Lost Zone rather than to the Discard Pile?
A. Time Crystal shuts off Poke-BODY's until it is out of play, in this case when Dialga [G] Lv.X goes to the Discard Pile. By that time it is too late for Catastrophe to send it to the Lost Zone. (Mar 24, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Celebration Wind   

Q. When I use Shaymin's "Celebration Wind" Poke-POWER, can I move my energy cards in play around to any and all of my Pokemon that I want, or just to one Pokemon?
A. You can move the energy cards from more than one Pokemon and move them to more than one Pokemon, as desired. However, once you have taken another action, like playing a Pokemon card onto your bench, attaching an energy card from your hand, retreating your Active Pokemon, etc. you can no longer move any energy cards around. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Cheerful Voice    (Ludicolo - Platinum)

Q. Does Ludicolo's "Cheerful Voice" Poke-POWER work if the opponent switches or evolves their Active Pokemon during their turn?
A. Yes, it works. The effect of Cheerful Voice resides on Ludicolo, not on the Defending Pokémon. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Ludicolo uses "Cheerful Voice" and then before or during the player's following turn Ludicolo retreats or is switched to/from the Bench, does the effect of Cheerful Voice go away?
A. Cheerful Voice's effect remains on Ludicolo until the end of the player's next turn regardless of whether Ludicolo switches or Retreats. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you use Ludicolo's "Cheerful Voice" Poke-POWER and your opponent then plays "Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray", is your turn over?
A. Yes, your turn is over because it still counts as using the power. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Oct 29, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Chilling Breath    (Walrein ex - Power Keepers)

Q. If Walrein-EX uses "Chilling Breath" and then KO's the Defending Pokémon, does the effect go away?
A. No, this affect resides on the opposing player, not on any Pokémon in play. (EX:Power Keepers FAQ; Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Chilly Breath    (Glaceon Lv.X - Majestic Dawn)

Q. What happens if I Knock Out my opponent's Gengar using some kind of hit & run attack, but I bring up Glaceon Lv.X with the "Chilly Breath" Poke-BODY that shuts down Poke-Powers?
A. The Chilly Breath would shut off Gengar's Fainting Spell before it would have a chance to be used. (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If your opponent has an Active Glaceon Lv.X with the "Chilly Breath" Poke-BODY (prevents use of Poke-Powers), and you knock it out with Moltres' "Scorching Wing" attack (discard all Fire energy attached to Moltres), would you be allowed to use Heatran Lv.X's "Heat Wave" Poke-POWER to reattach up to two of those energy after the Glaceon Lv.X is KO'd?
A. Yes, you could use Heat Wave in this scenario. Glaceon Lv.X is Knocked Out by the attack during the turn, so Poke-POWERs would come back on before the end of the turn when Heat Wave is checked. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Chlorophyll    (Venusaur - Crystal Guardians)

Q. Does Venusaur's "Chlorophyll" Poké-BODY turn Boost Energy into one Grass Energy, three Grass Energy, or not affect it at all?
A. It would provide three Grass Energy as long as the Boost is attached to a grass-type Pokémon. It does not matter how many energies the card is providing, as long as the energy is only colorless. (Jan 18, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Cloudy Sky   

Q. If I have multiple Cherrim in play, can I use all of their "Cloudy Sky" Poke-BODYs or only one of them?
A. Cloudy Sky is cumulative, so you must use them all. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Cold Feet    (Mightyena - Platinum)

Q. Does Mightyena's "Cold Feet" Poke-BODY ignore the extra damage that Special Darkness Energy provides (if Mightyena is affected by a Special Condition)?
A. Cold Feet says to "ignore all Energy necessary to use Mightyena's attacks". This only pertains to the energy cost required for the attack; it does NOT ignore the extra damage that Special Darkness Energy provides for Dark type Pokemon. (Sep 24, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Colorful Body    (Kecleon - Rising Rivals)

Q. If Kecleon with the "Colorful Body" Poke-BODY is played while Miasma Valley is in play, does Kecleon take two damage counters?
A. No. Kecleon immediately counts as all types, including Grass and Psychic, and so does not take any damage. (Jul 23, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Kecleon with "Colorful Body" attacks a Pokemon which has both Weakness and Resistance?
A. Since Colorful Body makes Kecleon more than one type, you calculate both Weakness and Resistance, weakness first. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Floatzel GL Lv.X with "Water Rescue" on the Bench and my Kecleon is knocked out, does it return to my hand because of Kecleon's "Colorful Body" making it a Water Type Pokemon?
A. Yes, Kecleon would return back to your hand. The check for Water Rescue happens when a Pokemon is KO'd, even though the rescue is from the discard pile. It is still the same Pokemon in the discard pile, even if it isn't Water type any more. (Jun 18, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Conductivity    (Ampharos ex - Dragon; Dark Ampharos - Neo Destiny)

Q. Would Flygon's "Energy Shower" attack set off Ampharos-EX's "Conductivity" power? Like if I set down 6 energy, it would do 60 Damage (however I set down the energy)? And if yes, would the damage be done to Flygon or to each separate Pokemon. that I attach an energy to?
A. Yes, Flygon would indeed trigger Ampharos-EX's Conductivity; it also works the same way for Azumarill's "Drizzle" attack. And the damage would be done to each individual Pokemon that gets an energy attached to it. (Jan 29, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Pachirisu's "Self-Generation" Poke-POWER is used to attach two Lightning Energy to Pachirisu, and the opponent has 4 Ampharos Primes with "Conductivity" in play, what is the result?
A. Pachirisu would be have 8 damage counters placed on it due to Conductivity. (Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Quagsire and my opponent has Ampharos-EX in play and I attach an energy card to my Quagsire from my hand, which Poke-POWER gets applied first, Saturation or Conductivity?
A. Conductivity and Saturation happen at the same time, so the player attaching energy would get to decide which effect to apply first. (Mar 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Ampharos with the "Conductivity" Poke-BODY is in play and I attach the appropriate energy card to my Dome Fossil or Helix Fossil to activate their "Rock Reaction" or "Aqua Reaction" Poke-BODY?
A. Attaching an Energy card to Dome Fossil or Helix Fossil causes its Poke-BODY and Ampharos' Conductivity to trigger at the same time, so the player can resolve them in the order of their choosing. If you resolve Conductivity first, the Fossil Pokemon takes a damage counter and then evolves. However, if you resolve Rock Reaction or Aqua Reaction first, the Fossil's Poke-BODY searches for a card and evolves, but Conductivity no longer sees the Pokemon that triggered it, so no damage counter is placed. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Conversion    (Porygon-Z - Great Encounters; Porygon - Team Rocket; Gastly - Fossil; Others)

Q. If I use Porygon-Z's "Conversion" Poke-POWER to change it to a different energy type, does it stay that type when it levels up to Porygon-Z Lv.X?
A. According to the rule book, leveling up a Pokemon removes all effects and status. So Porygon-Z Lv.X would revert back to Colorless at that point. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Cosmic Power    (Claydol - Great Encounters)

Q. Can I use Claydol's "Cosmic Power" Poke-POWER if I already have more than 6 cards in my hand?
A. Yes, you can. If you have 6 or more cards in your hand after putting 1 or 2 on the bottom of your deck, you simply do not draw anything at that point. (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Craggy Face    (Glalie - Mysterious Treasures)

* Some abilities referring to "Stage 2 Evolved Pokémon" are receiving errata. These cards do not care if the Pokémon is evolved or not, only if it is a Stage 2 Pokémon. So, Stage 2 Pokémon put into play with abilities like Garchomp LV.X's "Restore" attack still count for these abilities. Glalie's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Body) Craggy Face - As long as Glalie is your Active Pokémon, any damage done by attacks from your opponent's Stage 2 Pokémon is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)". (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have Glalie with the "Craggy Face" Poke-BODY Active, would an opponent's Benched Pokemon take any damage on a tails flip for their Empoleon's "Surf Together" attack?
A. No. Even damage done to the opponent's own Pokemon is reduced, so their Benched Pokemon would take no damage in that situation. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Staraptor's "Protect Wing" attack and Glalie's "Craggy Face" Poke-BODY have similarly worded effects, yet Glalie has the protection from 20 damage "before applying Weakness and Resistance" while Staraptor has it "after applying weakness and resistance". What is going on here?
A. Based on the Japanese wording of those cards, both effects should be understood as being applied on the attacking Pokemon, and therefore preventing 20 damage "before applying weakness and resistance." (Mar 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

CURE   

* Unknown's "CURE" Poke-POWER should read, "Once during your turn, when you put Unown from your hand onto your Bench, you may remove all Special Conditions from your Active Pokémon." Use of this Poke-POWER is optional. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Cursed Eyes    (Absol ex - Power Keepers)

Q. When using Absol-EX's "Cursed Eyes", do I have to move all three counters or can I choose to move less than three (like if I only need to move one counter to KO another Pokémon and wished to leave the other two where they are)?
A. You must move 3 from that Pokémon if there are 3 that can be moved. (EX:Power Keepers FAQ; Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has a Pokémon with only 2 damage counters on it, can I still use Absol-EX's "Cursed Eyes" Poké-POWER on it?
A. Yes, you can. If you use this power, you move the 2 damage counters to another one of your opponent's Pokémon. (EX:Power Keepers FAQ; Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has more than one Pokémon with damage on it, can I use Absol-EX's "Cursed Eyes" Poké-POWER on one that has less than 3 damage counters even if they have another Pokémon with 3 or more damage counters on it?
A. You may choose to use Absol-EX's power against any Pokémon with damage counters, but if it has less than three you would move all of the damage counters off of it. (Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Cursed Glare    (Dusclops - Crystal Guardians; Cacturne ex - Emerald)

Q. If my opponent has Cacturne-EX in play, does the "Cursed Glare" Poké-Body stop me from attaching a Rainbow Energy from my hand to my Active Pokémon?
A. Yes. It prevents you from attaching a range of Special Energy cards from your hand - R Energy, Dark Metal Energy, and Rainbow Energy, just to name a few. The only Special Energy cards it can't stop are the actual Darkness and Metal Energy cards. (May 5, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Dusclops with "Cursed Glare" active, can my opponent attach a Holon's Castform from their hand as an energy card?
A. No, Cursed Glare prevents all Special Energy cards other than Darkness and Metal from being attached, and Holon's Castform counts as a Special Energy card when being played as Energy. (Oct 5, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Flygon's "Delta Supply" Poké-POWER let you attach a Delta Rainbow Energy against Cacturne-EX's "Cursed Glare" Poké-BODY or not?
A. Cacturne-EX's Poké-BODY spefically prevents any energy placement from the hand to the Active Pokémon (other than Darkness or Metal), so Delta Supply would not work in this situation. (Feb 22, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Damage Bind    (Ampharos - Platinum)

Q. Say Ampharos with the "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY is in play on the opponent's side and a stadium such "Galactic HQ" or "Miasma Valley" is in play. If I evolve a Pokemon with a Poke-POWER or put a Basic Pokemon with a Poke-POWER from my hand onto the bench, would I be able to use that Poke-POWER before the damage counters from the stadium are placed?
A. No, you could not. Before declaring the Poke-POWER, the damage counters from the stadium are placed. The Pokemon then becomes affected by Ampharos' "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY and therefore cannot use its Poke-POWER. (Apr 9, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If an undamaged Gengar receives enough damage from an attack to knock it out, does Ampharos' "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY cancel out Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER?
A. Yes, Damage Bind prevents Gengar's Fainting Spell because Gengar has the damage counters placed onto it before it gets KO'd. (Jun 18, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Damage Swap    (Alakazam - Legendary Collection; Alakazam - Base)

Q. Can I use Reuniclus' "Damage Swap" ability to move all of my damage counters onto one Pokemon and then knock it out?
A. You can only move one damage counter at a time with Damage Swap (even though you can re-use the ability many times), so as soon as the number of damage counters on the Pokemon equals its HP, it would be KO'd immediately. In other words, you cannot move ten damage counters onto a Pokemon with only 50 HP and then knock it out. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Dark Engage    (Weavile - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I use a benched Weavile's "Dark Engage" Poke-POWER to change the type of the Active Pokemon to Dark, and then I place a Cessation Crystal on the Active Pokemon, is his type still Dark?
A. Yes it stays Dark. Cessation Crystal does not cancel the effects of a Poke-POWER that was used prior to Cessation Crystal becoming active. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I have a Charizard with "Energy Burn" active with 4 Basic Dark Energies attached to it. My benched Weavile uses its "Dark Engage" Poke-POWER to turn my Charizard to Darkness type for the rest of the turn. I also have a Heatran Lv.X with "Heat Wave" on the bench. Charizard uses its "Fire Spin" attack, discarding two Basic Darkness Energies. So can Heatran LV X's "Heat Wave" Poke-POWER bring two of the energies back to Charizard?
A. Dark Engage is still activated at the point when the energy is discarded; since the energy is being discarded by a Darkness type Pokemon, Heat Wave would not be able to be used in this scenario. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Dark Eyes    (Shiftry ex - Crystal Guardians)

Q. Is Shiftry-EX's "Dark Eyes" Poké-BODY cumulative?
A. Yes, if you have multiple Shiftry-EX's in play, each one can use its "Dark Eyes" whenever an opponent's Pokémon uses a Poké-POWER. (Sep 14, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does the Poké-Body "Dark Eyes" take effect when you return your opponent's Shiftry-EX by using the Poké-Power "Splash Back"?
A. No, it doesn't. Since Shiftry-EX isn't in play after the effect of the Poké-Power "Splash Back", the Poké-Body "Dark Eyes" doesn't work. (Oct 12, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Shiftry-EX is Knocked Out from the effect that would also trigger "Dark Eyes"?
A. Dark Eyes activates prior to the Shiftry-EX leaving play; when Damage is enough to KO a Pokémon, all effects are resolved prior to the KO. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Shiftry-EX leaves play from an effect that would normally trigger "Dark Eyes" (i.e. Crawdaunt-EX's "Splashback")?
A. Since Shiftry-EX is no longer in play, Dark Eyes has no effect. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if a Pokémon uses a Power while Shiftry-EX is in play, but the Pokémon that used the power leaves play or evolves as a result of that Power?
A.Dark Eyes affects the Pokémon that uses a Power, so if the Pokémon has somehow left play or evolved as a result of that Power Dark Eyes has no effect. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if a Pokémon uses a power to shut down Shiftry-EX's "Dark Eyes"? Would "Dark Eyes" get to put 2 damage counters on it or not?
A. If Dark Eyes is shut down by a power, then it would not get to place any damage counters. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If a Pokémon uses "Baby Evolution", does it trigger Shiftry-EX's "Dark Eyes"?
A. No. The Pokémon that used "Baby Evolution" is actually no longer in play. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Gardevoir-EX uses "Imprison" against Shiftry-EX? Would "Dark Eyes" get to put 2 damage counters on Gardevoir-EX, or would it already be shutdown by the Imprison marker?
A. Imprison shuts down Shiftry-EX's Dark Eyes before Gardevoir-EX would take the damage. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Shiftry-EX with "Dark Eyes" is in play. If an opponent's Pokémon uses its Poké-POWER but the 2 damage counters from "Dark Eyes" KO's that Pokémon, does that Poké-POWER take effect?
A. Dark Eyes' wording begins, "After, your opponent uses..." so the damage counters happen after the effect is resolved. (Jan 18, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Dark Genes    (Honchkrow - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If Murkrow is taking advantage of Honchkrow's "Dark Genes" Poke-BODY to copy its "Dark Wing Flaps" attack, does it do any added or reduced damage if the Honchkrow has a Darkness Special Energy or a Double Rainbow Energy attached?
A. No, the added/reduced damage only applies when attached to the Pokemon performing the attack. So if the active Murkrow has a Darkness Special Energy attached, then you would get to add +10 damage extra to the attack. But you would not receive any benefit/drawback from Special Energy cards attached to the benched Honchkrow. (Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)


Q. If I play Honchkrow LV.X on top of Honchkrow with the "Dark Genes" Poke-BODY, does that allow my Murkrow to use the attacks of Honchkrow LV.X as well?
A. Yes, it does. Honchkrow LV.X is still the same Honchkrow after all, and it has the Attacks & Powers of both Honchkrow cards.

Darkness Drive    (Tyranitar - Stormfront)

Q. If my opponent uses a Poke-POWER to discard some cards into my discard pile, and if one or more of those cards happens to be a basic Darkness Energy, can I use Tyranitar's "Darkness Drive" Poke-BODY to attach one of them to Tyranitar?
A. Darkness Drive does not interrupt Poke-POWERS, it occurs AFTER all effects of a Poke-POWER completes. So if you discarded a basic Darkness Energy, it would be a valid selection for Darkness Drive. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Dig Well    (Blastoise - Platinum)

Q. If you use Blastoise's "Dig Well" Poke-POWER and reveal any Water Energy cards, can you choose to discard them all and not attach any?
A. Yes, you can choose to discard them all. (May 28, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Disturbance Dive    (Venomoth - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I use Lucario's "Feint" attack that says "this attack's damage isn't affected by Resistance" against a Venomoth who attacked the previous turn with "Disturbance Dive" which "prevents all effects" of the next turn's attack, do I calculate Resistance for Lucario's "Feint" or not?
A. Ignoring resistance is part of the damage calculation. It is not an effect on Venomoth, so the damage is not reduced. (Feb 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Ditto DNA    (Ditto - Legends Awakened)

Q. Say Ditto is Active against a Ralts with 60 HP printed on it and Snowpoint Temple stadium is in play. Does the "Ditto DNA" Poke-BODY give it 60+20 HP, or does it copy Ralts' adjusted Maximum HP which is 80 and then also get the bonus from the Stadium giving it a total of 100 HP?
A. Ditto copies Ralts' 60 HP for a total of 80 HP with Snowpoint Temple in play. In other words, Ditto is always copying the Defending Pokemon's HP as written on its card. (Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say Ditto is Active against a Pokemon with 60 HP printed on it plus an Expert Belt attached to the Defending Pokemon. Does the "Ditto DNA" Poke-BODY give it 60HP, or does it copy the adjusted Maximum HP which is 80?
A. Ditto copies the 60 HP only; it does not copy the added benefit of the opponent's Expert Belt. In other words, Ditto is always copying the Defending Pokemon's HP as written on its card. (Mar 24, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Ditto is active against a Lv.X Pokemon, does it have access to the lower level Pokemon's attacks?
A. Yes, it does. The underlying Pokemon's attacks are part of the Lv.X and are therefore copied by Ditto DNA. (Sep 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can "Ditto DNA" copy an opponent's Technical Machine's attacks?
A. No, Ditto DNA can't copy attacks provided by an opponent's Technical Machines, because it is an attack the opponent's active "can use" but it isn't one of its attacks. (Jun 18, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. My opponent has Ditto active with 70 damage on it against my Gardevoir with 110 HP. I have Palkia Lv.X and use its "Restructure" Poke-POWER. If my opponent brings up a pokemon with 70 or less HP before I bring up a different pokemon, would the Ditto be KO'd?
A. Even though each action takes place one by one in reality, in game terms Ditto is not checked for KO until the Poke-POWER has been fully resolved. (Mar 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When Ditto with the "Ditto DNA" Poke-BODY is attacked with something that makes it go to the bench, is the damage applied before or after the switch takes place? For example, let's say the attack does enough damage to KO Ditto with his current state of HP, but the switch to a new bench would give him enough HP to remain alive. Is he KO'd before the switch or does he switch first and not get KO'd?
A. All attack effects are done before checking for KO's, so Ditto would get switched to the bench first and then the check for KO takes place after the attack is finished. (Jul 30, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Double Fall   

Q. Can I use Salamence Lv.X's "Double Fall" Poke-POWER every turn?
A. No, you can only use it on the turn when you put Salamence Lv.X from your hand onto your Active Pokemon. It does not carry over from turn to turn. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I play Salamence Lv.X with "Double Fall" this turn, and then use Salamence's "Shoot Through" attack to KO two Pokemon, does that mean I get to take four prizes (two for each KO'd Pokemon)?
A. Wow, yeah! (Nov 19, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Downer Material    (Azelf - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If my opponent has a Technical Machine attached to his Active Pokemon, but I have Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit in play, would Azelf's "Downer Material" Poke-BODY add to the attack cost of the Technical Machine?
A. Yes, it would. (Jan 14, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit with the "Downer Material" Poke-BODY in play, and my opponent has a Legend Pokemon in play, do they have to pay more for the Legend Pokemon's attacks?
A. No, they don't. Downer Material looks at the actual type of Pokemon printed on the card; it has to say "Basic Pokemon" on the card, and Legend Pokemon are not considered Basics. (May 27, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit with the "Downer Material" Poke-BODY in play, and my opponent has a Snorlax evolved from a Munchlax in play, do they have to pay more for the evolved Basic Pokemon's attacks?
A. Yes, they do. While Snorlax is evolved it is still a Basic Pokemon card, and that is what Downer Material is looking at. (May 27, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Dragon DNA    (Gyarados - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If an undamaged Gyarados uses "Flail" due to its "Dragon DNA" Poke-BODY, does it do zero or 30 damage?
A. Dragon DNA will add to any damage done, but there has to be at least some damage done to start with. So if Flail does zero damage, then Dragon DNA will NOT add anything to it. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Garchomp Lv.X uses "Restore" to bring back Gyarados as a basic Pokemon, does Gyarados' "Dragon DNA" Poke-BODY then apply to itself to give its "Enrage" attack +30 damage?
A. No, the intent of Dragon DNA is to give +30 damage to attacks from Gyarados' previous stage. You cannot apply Dragon DNA if Gyarados is not an evolved Pokemon. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Dragon Intimidation   

Q. If I use Shaymin Lv.X's "Energy Flare" attack, but the Defending Pokemon is Garchomp with the "Dragon Intimidation" Poke-BODY, which effect comes first? The moving of energy from "Energy Flare" or the return of energy into the hand from "Dragon Intimidation"?
A. You would complete all the moving around of energies with "Energy Flare" first, and then if there are any energy cards still attached to the Attacking Pokemon you return one of them to the hand from "Dragon Intimidation". (Jan 14, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Ectoplasm    (Dusknoir Lv.X - Stormfront)

Q. If Dusknoir Lv.X is Knocked Out by an effect of an attack that places damage counters (such as "Damage Even"), would "Ectoplasm" trigger?
A. No, placing Damage Counters is an effect and would not trigger Ectoplasm. The attack has to do Damage in order for Ectoplasm to work. (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have an Expert Belt attached to Dusknoir Lv.X and it would be knocked out from damage, is Expert Belt discarded before prize cards are taken? In other words, would the opponent take 1 or 2 prize cards as Dusknoir Lv.X moves into a stadium due to its "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER?
A. Dusknoir is still a Knocked Out Pokemon and Expert Belt is attached at the time the Knock Out is checked for, so the opponent would draw 2 prize cards. (Dec 10, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have an active Dusknoir Lv.X with a Rescue Energy attached and he is knocked out by damage from my opponent's attack, will Dusknoir's "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER allow it to become a stadium?
A. Ectoplasm happens just before the point when Dusknoir Lv.X is KO'd, and since it's an optional Poke-POWER you can choose to use it or not. So Rescue Energy would only return Dusknoir Lv.X and the other Pokemon cards to your hand if Ectoplasm was not used. (Nov 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team; Mar 24, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When Dusknoir Lv.X is acting as a stadium due to its "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER, do both players' Pokemon have damage counters placed on them between turns, or only the opponent of the owner of the stadium?
A. Only the opponent of the owner of the stadium takes damage between turns for Ectoplasm. (Nov 6, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Dusknoir Lv.X is in play as a Stadium, would Luxray's "Rivalry" Poke-BODY be triggered and add 50 to the damage done from its attacks?
A. No. Dusknoir Lv.X does not count as a Pokemon Lv.X while in play as a Stadium. (Nov 13, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Dusknoir Lv.X in play acting as a stadium due to its "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER, then I Knock Out my opponent's active Dusknoir Lv.X that also has "Ectoplasm", would the opponent's Dusknoir Lv.X follow standard stadium rules about not being able to replace another stadium of the same name while in play? Or would it replace my Dusknoir Lv.X because the card has no reference to the same name rule?
A. Since placing Dusknoir Lv.X as a stadium is the effect of a Poke-POWER, it does not follow the standard stadium rules and therefore would replace the current Dusknoir Lv.X stadium in play. (Nov 6, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Dusknoir Lv.X in play acting as a stadium due to its "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER, and another one of mine gets Knocked Out by my opponent, does my new Dusknoir Lv.X replace the old one acting as a stadium which then in turn goes into my hand?
A. That is correct. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Dusknoir Lv.X in play as a Stadium card and the opponent uses Flygon's "Sand Wall" attack to return the Dusknoir Lv.X card to my hand, does the opponent's active Flygon still get to prevent all effects of an attack including damage during their next turn?
A. Yes, Flygon is still protected. (Jan 28, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens to Dusknoir Lv.X when it is KO'd by Giratina Lv.X's "Darkness Lost" attack? Does it go to the Lost Zone, or does "Ectoplasm" allow it to become a Stadium?
A. When Dusknoir Lv.X would be Knocked Out, it becomes a Stadium instead of being discarded. Since it is not going to the discard pile, it is not sent to the Lost Zone. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have a Lucky Egg attached to Dusknoir Lv.X with the "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER and it would be knocked out from damage, is Lucky Egg discarded before you get to draw until you have 7 cards?
A. Since the Dusknoir LV.X is not discarded due to Ectoplasm, you do not get to draw any cards for Lucky Egg. (May 27, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I have a Dusknoir Lv.X active with 10 HP left. My opponent attacks Dusknoir Lv. X with an attack like "Whirlwind" that does 10 damage and "your opponent switches one of his Active Pokemon with one of his benched Pokemon". So does its "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER work because Dusknoir Lv.X was Active when it was first attacked, or does it fail because it is KO'd while on the Bench?
A. Dusknoir Lv.X was active when it was attacked, so Ectoplasm may be used. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Electric Barrier    (Manectric - Platinum)

Q. If Manectric with "Electric Barrier" is knocked out by an attack that also would damage the bench, does it protect the bench even though it is KO'd?
A. When attacking you apply damage first, then all other effects, then check for KO's. The Poke-BODY is still there when the damage is done, so the bench is protected. (May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Emerge    (Metapod - Great Encounters; Cascoon - Legend Maker; Flygon ex - Legend Maker; Others)

Q. If I use Caterpie's "Pupate" Poke-POWER to successfully evolve into Metapod, can I then immediately use Metapod's "Emerge" Poke-POWER to attempt to evolve into Butterfree, all on the same turn?
A. Yes, you can. (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Emperor Aura    (Empoleon - Stormfront)

Q. If I use Empoleon's "Emperor Aura" Poke-POWER during my turn, can my opponent use an attack like "Drizzle" to attach energy cards during their turn?
A. Drizzle attaches two energy cards from the player's hand, so that would be prevented if Emperor Aura was in effect. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Empoleon uses its "Emperor Aura" Poke-POWER when it evolves, does it only prevent the once-per-turn energy attachment, or does it also prevent attaching as the effect of an attack or power such as Shaymin Lv.X's "Seed Flare", Groudon's "Drought", or Blastoise's "Waterlog"?
A. Emperor Aura says "your opponent can't attach ANY energy cards from his/her hand...", so this would include preventing attachments from their hand due to Attacks, Powers, etc. as well. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Draw    (Latios - OP Series 7; Latios - Great Encounters; Delcatty - Power Keepers; Others)

Q. Delcatty's "Energy Draw" Poké-POWER states: "Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard 1 energy card from your hand. Then draw up to 3 cards from your deck." Can you discard the energy and not draw because it states "draw UP TO 3 cards"?
A. No. If you discard an Energy card, you must draw at least 1 card from your deck if you can. When a card says "draw up to X cards", it addresses a range of 1 to X. If you don't have any cards left in your deck you may still use this power to discard a card from your hand, it just won't do anything else. (Jul 19, 2007 PUI Rules Team; Mar 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When using Delcatty's "Energy Draw" power (or ANY card that lets you draw cards and says 'up to'), must you declare how many you are going to draw first, or can you draw one card to see if it's the one you need, and if not draw another, and another, etc.?
A. Technically speaking you must declare how many cards you are going to draw before you draw them. If you do not announce, then you must take the maximum number allowable, no less. (Aug 12, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Grounding    (Lanturn - Power Keepers; Lanturn - Hidden Legends)

Q. If I KO one of my opponent's Pokémon, and he or she does not use "Energy Grounding" Poké-POWER before but instead draws a card to start the turn, at that point can Energy Grounding still be used for the KO'd Pokémon?
A. Once their turn has started, no. They can either move the Energy card before discarding the KO'd Pokémon, or discard the KO'd Pokémon and immediately take the energy card from the discard pile and attach it. (Jul 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When a Pokémon that Cessation Crystal is attached to is Knocked Out, can I move basic Energy cards attached to that Pokémon to Lanturn using its Poké-Power "Energy Grounding"?
A. No, you cannot. The effect of Cessation Crystal goes away at the same time when the KO'd Pokémon gets discarded. At that point, Lanturn cannot retreive any Energy from that Pokémon. (Oct 12, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Ho-Oh with "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER is KO'd by damage from an attack, but you also have a Lanturn with "Energy Grounding" Poke-POWER in play too, how does this resolve?
A. You would flip for Ho-Oh's "Phoenix Turn" first. If you flip heads, the energy stays attached to Ho-Oh and you cannot do "Energy Grounding" because no energies were discarded. If you flip tails, then you would have the option to use "Energy Grounding" to recover one of the energies from the discarded Ho-Oh. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Healer   

* Three cards have been added to the list of errata for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. [...] The text below reflects what the card should say, not what was originally printed. "When you attach an Energy card from your hand to Onix, remove a damage counter from Onix." This Poké-Body only works when you attach an Energy card to Onix. (May 6, 2010 PUI Rules Team; May 7, 2010 TPCi TCG Errata Update)

Energy Recycle    (Swampert ex - Crystal Guardians; Cleffa - Skyridge)

Q. I try to use Electivire [FB] Lv.X's "Energy Recycle" Poke-POWER, but my opponent uses Power Spray. Does my turn end?
A. Yes, your turn is over because it still counts as using the power. (Oct 29, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Refresh    (Leafeon - Rising Rivals)

Q. If I attach a Rainbow Energy to Leafeon with the "Energy Refresh" Poke-BODY, does it take the damage from Rainbow Energy before or after the Poke-BODY heals 2 damage counters?
A. Since both effects have the same trigger (attaching the Rainbow energy), you may choose the order in which to apply them. (Sep 3, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Shift    (Electrode - Secret Wonders)

• Electrode's "Energy Shift" Poke-POWER works on either player's turn; it should not say, "once during YOUR turn". (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I use Electrode's "Ion Blast" attack to KO both the Defending Pokemon plus Electrode, however the Defending Pokemon has a Cessation Crystal attached to it. Does Electrode's "Energy Shift" Poke-POWER get to work or not?
A. The effect of Cessation Crystal was on during the period that Electrode was in play. Since Electrode is no longer in play, it no longer can use its Poke-Power. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I use Electrode's "Ion Blast" attack and it KO's itself. If I bring up a Pokemon from my bench with Cessation Crystal attached, is Electrode's "Energy Shift" Poke-POWER shut off before it can activate?
A. No, the new Pokemon is not even brought up until after all effects from the KO (including "Energy Shift") have been resolved. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Electrode gets Knocked Out and does "Energy Shift" to attach itself as an energy instead of getting discarded, does the opponent get to draw a Prize card or not?
A. Yes, Electrode is still considered Knocked Out even though it doesn't go to the discard pile. (DP:Secret Wonders FAQ; Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Signal   

Q. What happens if I attach a Rainbow Energy to Roserade with the "Energy Signal" Poke-POWER? Do I get to use both effects?
A. If the Energy card you attached provides all types (for example, Rainbow Energy), then both effects would trigger. Energy Signal would both Confuse and Poison the Defending Pokemon. (Sep 30, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Trans    (Sceptile - Stormfront; Sceptile - OP Series 4; Venusaur ex - Fire Red Leaf Green; Others)

Q. Can Venusaur put other energies on Fire Pokémon?
A. Only other grass energy. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q13)

Q. If Porygon2 has changed a Grass energy to Lightning, would it be fair to say that Venusaur could not Energy Trans it (for the rest of the turn)?
A. Correct. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1384)

Q. Can you "Energy Trans" or "Dark Trance" a Rainbow Energy, Multi Energy, or any
other special energy cards?
A. As long as they are providing the proper energy type and don't violate any other
restrictions written on the card, then yes you may. (May 6, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Nov
17, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use "Energy Trans" or "Dark Trance" to move a Double Rainbow Energy to my own Basic Pokémon, would the DRE get discarded if I do this?
A. Yes, it would. (Dec 1, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Energymite   

Q. If I try to use Electrode's "Energymite" Poke-POWER but my opponent uses Power Spray to stop it, is Electrode still Knocked Out?
A. Yes, it is. This is a game state check that the Power was used, it is not an effect of the Power. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Enthusiasm    (Politoed - Legends Awakened)

Q. If I have an evolved Poliwrath in play, is that enough to trigger Politoed's "Enthusiasm" Poke-BODY? After all, I have a Poliwhirl and a Poliwag underneath it.
A. No. The Poliwhirl and Poliwag are not counted when they are underneath another card. (Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Equip   

Q. Does Unown-E's "EQUIP" Poke-POWER follow the normal rules for attaching Pokemon Tools (only 1 tool per Pokemon)?
A. Yes. You cannot attach it to a Pokemon that already has a Pokemon Tool, and you cannot attach a Pokemon Tool to the Pokemon that Unown-E is already attached to. (Mysterious Treasures FAQ; Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Evolutionary Gas    (Skuntank - Stormfront)

* Skuntank is receiving errata for its "Evolutionary Gas" Poké-Power. Evolutionary Gas's effect ends when the Defending Pokémon is no longer the opponent's Active Pokémon. The correct card text should read, "Once during your turn (before your attack), when you play Skuntank from your hand to evolve 1 of your Active Pokémon, you may choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon. If that Pokémon tries to attack during your opponent's next turn, that attack does nothing. (If the Defending Pokémon is no longer your opponent's Active Pokémon, this effect ends.)" Skuntank is an exception to the rule about effects of Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies remaining when a Pokemon is moved from Active to Bench and vice-versa, because the card's text specifically states that the effect ends (similar to "Stance", on Lucario Lv.X). (Feb 26, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Extra Liquid    (Sceptile ex δ - Crystal Guardians)

Q. Rayquaza-EX's "Rage Aura" Poké-BODY lets him ignore all coloress attack costs if you're behind on prizes. But Sceptile-EX's "Extra Liquid" Poké-BODY adds +1 colorless cost to attacks by -EX Pokémon. Which Poké-BODY prevails?
A. The effect of Rage Aura removes all colorless attack costs from Rayquaza-EX's "Special Circuit" and "Sky-high Claws" attacks, including effects that would add to its colorless attack costs. Therefore, Rayquaza-EX would still attack for less, despite Sceptile-EX's Extra Liquid. (Apr 26, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Extra Smoke    (Kingdra ex δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. Say I have a Kingra-EX with "Extra Smoke" on the bench and a Stage 2 Pokémon-EX Active (other than Kingdra-EX). If my opponent attacks with "Swift" does it ignore "Extra Smoke" or not?
A. The effect of Extra Smoke is always attached to whatever Pokémon that the opponent attacks with, not on the Defending Pokémon nor even on the benched Kingdra-EX. And since Swift only ignores effects on the Defending Pokémon (not the player or Pokémon attacking with Swift), it does NOT ignore Extra Smoke and damage is reduced by -10. (Feb 22, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Fainting Spell    (Gengar - Stormfront)

* Gengar is receiving errata for its Poke-POWER, "Fainting Spell". Fainting Spell affects your opponent's Attacking Pokemon, not your Defending Pokemon. The correct card text should read, "Once during your opponent's turn, if Gengar would be Knocked Out by damage from an attack, you may flip a coin. If heads, the Attacking Pokémon is Knocked Out." (Nov 7, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Q. Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER says when it's KO'd by damage from an opponent's attack to flip a coin and if heads "the Defending Pokemon is Knocked Out". But since Gengar was acting as the "Defending Pokemon" when it was attacked what does this mean?
A. To clarify, if the coin flip is heads, Fainting Spell causes the opponent's Attacking Pokemon, which KO'd Gengar, to be Knocked Out. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Gengar with Rescue Energy is KO'd by damage from my opponent's attack, do I get to use its "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER and then recover it with Rescue Energy, or does Rescue Energy go first and then I can't use "Fainting Spell"?
A. Fainting Spell happens just before the point when Gengar is KO'd, and since it's an optional Poke-POWER you can choose to use it or not. Then after the Poke-POWER has been used (or not), Rescue Energy kicks in and returns Gengar to your hand. So if you forgot to use Fainting Spell, it is too late to use it after Rescue Energy has occurred. (Mar 24, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Uxie's "Psychic Restore" attack where it does 20 and puts itself into the deck, but Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER would knock out Uxie, what happens?
A. If you choose to put Uxie in the deck with Psychic Restore the attack completes first, and Gengar cannot return the knockout. However, if you do not put Uxie in the deck, then Gengar's Fainting Spell would Knock Out Uxie if the coin flip is heads. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Gengar is KO'd by a Pokemon using some kind of hit & run attack, does Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER target the new Defending Pokemon or the one that just attacked?
A. The one that attacked and went to the bench would be KO'd if Gengar flips heads. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if I Knock Out my opponent's Gengar using some kind of hit & run attack, but I bring up Glaceon Lv.X with the "Chilly Breath" Poke-BODY that shuts down Poke-Powers?
A. The Chilly Breath would shut off Gengar's Fainting Spell before it would have a chance to be used. (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If an undamaged Gengar receives enough damage from an attack to knock it out, does Ampharos' "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY cancel out Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER?
A. Yes, Damage Bind prevents Gengar's Fainting Spell because Gengar has the damage counters placed onto it before it gets KO'd. (Jun 18, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if I have Luxray with an "Expert Belt" attached, use its "Gadget Bolt" attack and discard the Expert Belt to KO my opponent's Gengar, but my opponent flips heads for Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER? Does my opponent take two prizes or just one?
A. The tool was discarded as part of the attack prior to the check for Fainting Spell. So the opponent only gets to take one prize. (Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Fan Shift    (Fan Rotom - Rising Rivals)

Q. If one of my Rotoms from the Rising Rivals set is affected by a special condition, can it use its Poke-POWER?
A. Yes. In general, you may use a Poke-POWER when your Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition, unless the power specifically says you cannot do so. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Fighting Tag   

Q. Can I use Machamp's "Fighting Tag" Poke-POWER to switch him with the Active Pokemon if the current Active has no Fighting Energy attached to it?
A. No, if you don't move any Fighting energy you cannot switch Machamp with the Active Pokemon. (Nov 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Fin Luster    (Lumineon - Stormfront)

Q. When using Lumineon's "Fin Luster" Poke-POWER, may I voluntarily fail to choose a Basic Pokemon from their hand if I want to?
A. No, the power says "you may look" (optional) but it does not say "you may choose", so if you find a Basic Pokemon in their hand you must choose one of them and you must switch it with the Defending Pokemon. (Nov 6, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Lumineon's Poke-POWER "Fin Luster" to place a basic fire type pokemon from my opponent's hand onto his or her bench would Miasma Valley place 2 damage counters on it?
A. Yes, you would place the 2 damage counters for Miasma Valley. Despite the wording of Fin Luster, it is still the opponent putting their own Pokemon onto their own Bench. (Apr 16, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Final Wish    (Jirachi - Rising Rivals)

Q. If my Jirachi has a "Lucky Egg" Pokemon Tool attached, what happens when it is knocked out from damage so that both the "Final Wish" Poke-POWER and the "Lucky Egg" tool are triggered?
A. Final Wish is resolved first. Effects that happen when the Pokemon "would be knocked out" are resolved before effects that happen when it "is knocked out". (Nov 19, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Firestarter    (Typhlosion - Mysterious Treasures; Blaziken - Power Keepers; Blaziken - RubySapphire)

Q. Is Blaziken's "Firestarter" Poké-POWER cumulative? For example, if I get three of them in play, can I take three fire energies out of my discard pile and attach them?
A. That is correct. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Blaziken's "Firestarter" power do I still get to do my normal once-per-turn energy attachment?
A. Sure. It does not replace your normal once-per-turn placement of Energy. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Flame Body    (Magmortar - Secret Wonders)

Q. When I attach a Fire energy to my Magmortar while it's facing an Electivire LV.X, which Poke-BODY is applied first, "Flame Body" which removes two damage counters, or "Shocking Tail" which places two damage counters?
A. Since both Bodies are triggered by the same event (attaching the Fire energy), the person controlling the Pokemon receiving the energy decides in which order they are applied. (May 8, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Flare Condition    (Arcanine - Rising Rivals)

Q. What happens if Walrein's "Cold Crush" attack discards the only Fire Energy attached to Arcanine? Does Weakness then apply to its "Flare Condition" Poke-BODY?
A. No. Damage is done first, then other effects such as discarding an opponent's energy. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Fossil Armor    (Armaldo - Legends Awakened)

Q. Does Armaldo's "Fossil Armor" Poke-BODY take things like Weakness and Buffer Piece into account?
A. Yes. Poke-Bodies on the Defending Pokemon are taken into account during the last step of Damage Calculation after things like Weakness, Tools, etc. (Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say Armaldo has a Memory Berry attached and uses Anorith's "Guard Claw" attack. The opponent then uses an attack that does 70 damage. How much damage would end up on Armaldo? Would "Guard Claw" first reduce it to 50, causing it to be prevented by Armaldo's "Fossil Armor" Poke-BODY (resulting in no damage)? Or would the attack get through "Fossil Armor" first before being reduced by "Guard Claw" (resulting in only 50 damage)?
A. The text of Fossil Armor says "if Armaldo would be damaged by an attack...", so this indicates that it happens after all damage calculations have been finished. Therefore, in this scenario the Guard Claw reduction happens first, and then the Fossil Armor evaluation happens last bringing the resulting damage down to zero. (Jul 30, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Frost Shift    (Frost Rotom - Rising Rivals)

Q. If one of my Rotoms from the Rising Rivals set is affected by a special condition, can it use its Poke-POWER?
A. Yes. In general, you may use a Poke-POWER when your Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition, unless the power specifically says you cannot do so. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Gravity Change    (Lunatone - Great Encounters)

Q. For Lunatone's "Gravity Change" Poke-POWER, can I always discard a card from my hand even if I do not have a Solrock in play? Or what if I have no cards left in my deck?
A. As long as you have one or more cards in your hand you may use Gravity Change. If Solrock is in play you may then draw a card from your deck. If your deck is empty you draw zero cards. (Oct 2, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Green Breath   

Q. If I have Sceptile with "Wild Growth" in play, do I get to remove 4 damage counters when I attach a Basic Grass Energy card to a Sceptile with the "Green Breath" Poke-BODY?
A. No, Green Breath only allows you to remove 2 damage counters when attaching a Grass Energy CARD, not per the number of energy that card provides. (Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

GUARD    (Unown G - Great Encounters)

Q. Does Unown G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER prevent effects from attacks that the Unown G is attached to?
A. No, the Poke-POWER only prevent effects from an opponent's attacks, not your own. Unown-G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER should say, "As long as Unown G is attached to a Pokemon, prevent all effects of attacks, excluding damage, done to that Pokemon by your opponent's Pokemon". (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Q. What happens if I use Regigigas' "Drag Off" attack and choose to bring up a benched Pokemon that has an Unown-G attached to it?
A. You may target the Benched Pokemon with Unown-G attached, but since the Unown-G's GUARD would prevent the effect of switching out that Pokemon the switch is prevented. Damage is not done to the Benched or Defending Pokemon, since the chosen target cannot switch. (Jan 21, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power active, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of their benched Pokemon?
A. Yes, it can. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so even if the Defending Pokemon has a condition that prevent effects of attacks the switch can still occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has a Toxicroak [G] with the "Anticipation" Poke-BODY on their bench, or a Pokemon with Unown-G attached as a tool with its "GUARD" Poke-Power on their bench, can I use my Trapinch's "Inviting Trap" attack or Blaziken [FB]'s "Luring Flame" attack and choose to switch the Defending Pokemon with one of those on the bench?
A. No, you cannot. The intended wording of Trapinch's Inviting Trap and Blaziken [FB]'s Luring Flame place an effect on the Benched Pokemon, so if the Benched Pokemon has a condition that prevents effects of attacks excluding damage done, the switch cannot occur. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Unown-G is attached as a tool to a Pokemon and the opponent uses Mismagius' "Crash Chant" attack, would Unown-G be discarded or not?
A. Well, it depends on which player's Unown-G is being discarded. If Mismagius tries to discard Unown-G attached to an opponent's Pokemon, GUARD would prevent it from being discarded and you don't get to add +20 damage for that tool to Crash Chant's damage either. However, since GUARD only protects against attacks done by your opponent [see Errata], you can discard an Unown-G attached to your own Pokemon and add +20 damage for that tool. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Unown-G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER to attach it as a Tool to one of my Pokemon, does it get discarded at the end of the turn?
A. When attached at a Tool, Unown-G stays attached until that Pokemon is Knocked Out or leaves play. (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Electivire Lv.X uses "Pulse Barrier" to discard tools against a Defending Pokemon with Unown-G's "GUARD" attached, does the Unown-G get discarded or does "GUARD" prevent that effect?
A. The Unown-G would prevent Pulse Barrier's effect of discarding tools, so it would stay attached. But Unown-G does not prevent any tools attached to other Pokemon from being discarded. (Mar 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Active Pokemon is attacked with "Sonic Blade", can I choose a Pokemon on my bench with Unown-G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER attached to it and prevent the switching portion of "Sonic Blade"?
A. Yes, you may do this. (Sep 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can Unown-G's "GUARD" Poke-POWER prevent the effect of my opponent's Froslass's "Destiny Bond" attack last turn?
A. The effect of Destiny Bond is on Froslass. The Unown-G's Poke-Power GUARD prevents the effect of your opponent's attacks, so it will protect your Pokemon that has Unown-G attached to it from being Knocked Out by Destiny Bond. (Sep 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent uses Sandslash's "Spike Armor" attack, but then on my turn I attack Sandslash with a Pokemon having Unown-G attached with its "GUARD" Poke-POWER, would Sandslash's "Spike Armor" be able to place any damage counters on my Pokemon or not?
A. The effect of Spike Armor is on Sandslash. The Unown-G's Poke-Power GUARD will prevent the effect of your opponent's attacks, so you don't put damage counters on your Active Pokemon that has Unown-G attached to it after doing damage to Sandslash. (Sep 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I use Darkrai's "Dark Slumber" attack which puts the Defending Pokemon to sleep at the end of my opponent's next turn. But then on their next turn they attach an Unown-G to that Pokemon. Would "GUARD" prevent it from going to sleep?
A. No, it would not be prevented. The Dark Slumber effect was already on the Pokemon prior to the attachment of Unown-G. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Dusknoir's "Reaper Pulse" attack, but the opponent's only benched Pokemon has Unown-G with "GUARD" attached to it, can I still remove 2 damage counters from Dusknoir?
A. No, the damage counters have to be able to be moved to one of your opponent's benched Pokemon, or else they cannot be moved at all. (Dec 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Ambipom [G]'s "Tail Code" attack to move an energy card from the Defending Pokemon to one of my opponent's Pokemon that has an Unown-G attached to it, what happens?
A. While Unown-G prevents the attachment of the energy to the protected Pokemon, it does not prevent the removal of the energy card from the Defending Pokemon. The energy card is discarded. (Jan 14, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Pokémon that has Unown-G attached to it is Knocked Out by my opponent's Giratina's "Broken-space Blow" attack or by my opponent's Giratina Lv.X's "Darkness Lost" attack, do I have to put the Pokémon in the Lost Zone?
A. No, the effect of going to the Lost Zone is prevented and you discard the KO'd Pokémon that had Unown-G attached. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Hard Amber    (Old Amber - Majestic Dawn)

Q. Can I direct the bench damage from Zapdos' "Raging Thunder" attack to my Old Amber and have it prevented by Old Amber's "Hard Amber" Poke-BODY?
A. Sure, that will work. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When using Swalot's "Entangle Tackle" attack, can I target Old Amber with the "Hard Amber" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with "Bench Shield" attached on my bench and prevent the bench damage from that attack?
A. Yes, you can choose Old Amber or a Pokemon with Bench Shield attached as your benched Pokemon to receive Entangle Tackle's bench damage and it will be prevented. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Heat Metal    (Heatran Lv.X - DP Promos; Heatran Lv.X - Stormfront)

Q. If I have Heatran Lv.X in play and I use "Devoluter" to devolve the opponent's Active Burned Pokemon, does the "Heat Metal" Poke-BODY prevent the Special Condition from being removed?
A. Heat Metal is intended to prevent any evolving/devolving from removing the Special Condition, regardless of who initiated the evolution/devolution action. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I level-up a burned Dialga-G, does Dialga-G Lv.X's Poke-BODY "Time Crystal" turn off Heatran Lv.X's "Heat Metal" Poke-BODY and remove the burn?
A. No, the effect of Time Crystal is not applied until after Dialga-G Lv.X is in play. (Apr 16, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Heat Shift    (Heat Rotom - Rising Rivals)

Q. If one of my Rotoms from the Rising Rivals set is affected by a special condition, can it use its Poke-POWER?
A. Yes. In general, you may use a Poke-POWER when your Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition, unless the power specifically says you cannot do so. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Heat Wave    (Heatran Lv.X - DP Promos; Heatran Lv.X - Stormfront)

Q. If I use an attack that discards only one basic energy card, can Heatran Lv.X's "Heat Wave" bring two energy cards back or only the one?
A. Heat Wave says to "attach up to 2 of *those* Energy cards to that Pokemon". This means that the only choices you have are from what you discarded, and since you only discarded one energy card you may only choose from that one energy card. (Jun 18, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I have a Charizard with "Energy Burn" active with 4 Basic Dark Energies attached to it. My benched Weavile uses its "Dark Engage" Poke-POWER to turn my Charizard to Darkness type for the rest of the turn. I also have a Heatran Lv.X with "Heat Wave" on the bench. Charizard uses its "Fire Spin" attack, discarding two Basic Darkness Energies. So can Heatran LV X's "Heat Wave" Poke-POWER bring two of the energies back to Charizard?
A. Dark Engage is still activated at the point when the energy is discarded; since the energy is being discarded by a Darkness type Pokemon, Heat Wave would not be able to be used in this scenario. (Nov 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If your opponent has an Active Glaceon Lv.X with the "Chilly Breath" Poke-BODY (prevents use of Poke-Powers), and you knock it out with Moltres' "Scorching Wing" attack (discard all Fire energy attached to Moltres), would you be allowed to use Heatran Lv.X's "Heat Wave" Poke-POWER to reattach up to two of those energy after the Glaceon Lv.X is KO'd?
A. Yes, you could use Heat Wave in this scenario. Glaceon Lv.X is Knocked Out by the attack during the turn, so Poke-POWERs would come back on before the end of the turn when Heat Wave is checked. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent used Mesprit's "Psychic Bind" to shut off any Poke-POWERs used during my next turn, would I be able to use Heatran Lv.X's "Heat Wave" Poke-POWER since it happens "at the end of your turn"?
A. No, Psychic Bind covers the entirety of the opponent's next turn, including the end of the turn. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Hidden Poison    (Roserade - Stormfront)

* Roserade is receiving errata for its Poke-BODY, "Hidden Poison". Hidden Poison affects your opponent's Attacking Pokemon, not your Defending Pokemon. The correct card text should read, "If Roserade is your Active Pokemon and is damaged by an opponent's attack (even if Roserade is Knocked Out), the Attacking Pokemon is now Poisoned." (Nov 7, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Q. If Swalot uses "Damage Roller" to put damage counters onto Haunter, would Haunter's "Hidden Poison" Poke-BODY trigger or not?
A. No, Swalot's attack places counters, it does not "do damage". An attack must do damage and not just place counters in order to activate Hidden Poison. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Holon Veil    (Ampharos δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. When Ampharos' "Holon Veil" is in effect, does it even affect Fossils?
A. Yes, to a limited degree. Any time the Fossils are considered Pokémon, they would be Delta Species Pokémon. If a Fossil is in the Trainer-card-only state, it is not a Pokémon, and couldnít be affected by Holon Veil. (EX:Dragon Frontiers FAQ; Oct 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Imprison    (Tropius δ - Dragon Frontiers; Gardevoir ex δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. I realize that Imprison markers remain if Garvevoir-EX leaves play, but does the effect of "Imprison" still remain in that the Pokémon cannot use any Poké-POWERS or Poké-BODIES?
A. Yes, even if Gardevoir-EX leaves play the effects of "Imprison" still apply to any Pokémon that have Imprison markers on them. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Gardevoir-EX uses "Imprison" against Shiftry-EX? Would "Dark Eyes" get to put 2 damage counters on Gardevoir-EX, or would it already be shutdown by the Imprison marker?
A. Imprison shuts down Shiftry-EX's Dark Eyes before Gardevoir-EX would take the damage. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What ways can a Pokémon get rid of an attached "Imprison" marker or "Shock-wave" marker?
A. Evolving, devolving, leveling up (i.e. LV.X), leaving play, and Tropius' "Tropical Heal" Poké-POWER are currently the only ways to get rid of an Imprison or Shock-wave Marker. Retreating or benching does NOT get rid of the marker. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Insight   

Q. When Yanmega tries to attack, do you evaluate the number of cards in your hand for the "Insight" Poke-BODY before or after discarding a card for Giratina Lv.X's "Invisible Tentacles" Poke-BODY?
A. The Insight Poke-BODY is evaluated before your attack even begins; therefore it is checked before discarding any cards for Invisible Tentacles. (Nov 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Intense Voltage    (Electivire - Diamond and Pearl)

Q. Can I use Electivire's "Intense Voltage" to move non-basic Electric energy like Rainbow, Multi, etc.?
A. The lightning-bolt symbol in the text of Intense Voltage indicates Electric energy in general, not "Basic Electric Energy". Intense Voltage can move Rainbow, etc. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If an Electivire uses "Intense Voltage" to move multiple energies to itself while Shiftry-EX with "Dark Eyes" is in play, it takes 2 damage counters per energy moved, correct?
A. Right. Many players take the shortcut of moving energy cards all at once, but the Intense Voltage Poké-POWER is technically moving only one energy each time, thus invoking the Dark Eyes Poké-BODY each time it is used. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Intimidating Roar    (Infernape [4] Lv.X - Rising Rivals)

Q. When I use Infernape 4 Lv.X's "Intimidating Roar" Poke-POWER, who gets to choose which Pokemon comes up from the Bench, me or my opponent?
A. It says "you may have your opponent switch his or her Active Pokemon...", so the opponent gets to choose which one comes up from the Bench. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Invisible Tentacles    (Giratina Lv.X - DP Promos; Giratina Lv.X - Platinum)

Q. If my Pokemon does "Smokescreen" on the previous turn and I also have Giratina Lv.X with the "Invisible Tentacles" Poke-BODY in play, when the opponent tries to attack do they have to discard a card for "Invisible Tentacles" even if the attempted attack is blocked by the "Smokescreen" effect?
A. Yes, the Invisible Tentacles Poke-BODY occurs regardless of whether the flip for Smokescreen is successful or not. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has Giratina Lv.X with "Invisible Tentacles" in play, and I use an attack that put cards back into my deck (i.e. "Upthrow" which puts all Fighting energy cards back into the deck), do I get to put the card I discarded for "Invisible Tentacles" if it meets the criteria?
A. Yes, the discard for Invisible Tentacles is done before you do any part of the attack. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When Yanmega tries to attack, do you evaluate the number of cards in your hand for the "Insight" Poke-BODY before or after discarding a card for Giratina Lv.X's "Invisible Tentacles" Poke-BODY?
A. The Insight Poke-BODY is evaluated before your attack even begins; therefore it is checked before discarding any cards for Invisible Tentacles. (Nov 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Iron Shell    (Forretress - Legends Awakened)

* Forretress's "Iron Shell" Poke-BODY is not optional; you *MUST* flip a coin whenever attaching a Basic Energy Card to Forretress. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Blastoise's "Waterlog" Poke-POWER to attach a bunch of Basic Water energies onto a Forretress with the "Iron Shell" Poke-BODY, can I attach an energy, then flip for "Iron Shell", then attach another energy, then flip again, etc.?
A. No, when using Waterlog you attach all the energies first, and then after that you perform the Iron Shell flips for each of the energies that got attached to Forretress. (Apr 14, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Iron Skull    (Rampardos - Platinum)

Q. If I use Rampardos' "Head Smash" attack with only one energy attached against Dusknoir who used its "Night Spin" attack on the previous turn, would Rampardos' "Iron Skull" Poke-BODY allow me to ignore the "Night Spin" effect that prevents all effects of attacks from Pokemon with 2 or less energy attached?
A. The Iron Skull Poke-BODY says its attack's damage is not affected by "any other effects on the Defending Pokemon", so yes it would ignore the Night Spin effect residing on Dusknoir. (Apr 9, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Rampardos attacks a Pokemon with Bubble Coat attached, does the "Iron Skull" Poke-BODY ignore Bubble Coat's "no weakness" effect or not?
A. Yes, Rampardos ignores Bubble Coat's effect and applies Weakness. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent has Lucario-GL with "Boundary Aura" in play, but my Rampardos with "Iron Skull" Poke-BODY attacks a Pokemon with Weakness, is the Weakness x2 or not?
A. Lucario-GL's Boundary Aura Poke-BODY would be ignored. In this case Iron Skull ignores doubling Weakness, so the original Weakness value is applied. (Jul 30, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Jamming    (Ampharos - OP Series 7; Ampharos - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I play a supporter that takes a Pokemon out of play (like "Mr. Briney's Compassion"), does Ampharos' "Jamming" Poke-BODY place the damage counter before or after the Pokemon leaves play?
A. You complete the action of the supporter first, and then apply Ampharos' Jamming afterwards. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Jumbo Fin    (Mantine - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If I have more than one Mantine in play, can I use each of their "Jumbo Fin" Poke-POWERs cumulatively?
A. Yes, Jumbo Fin is stackable. (Mar 27, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Lazy Paunch    (Slaking - Platinum)

Q. If my Slaking with the "Lazy Paunch" Poke-BODY attacks, then on my next turn I switch Slaking to the Bench and back to the Active position again, is Slaking then able to attack?
A. No, the Lazy Paunch Poke-BODY does not place an effect that can be removed by benching; it is checking for a previous game state. (Nov 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Level Down   

Q. If I use Gengar Lv.X's "Level Down" Poke-POWER and the opponent has zero remaining HP, is it knocked out immediately?
A. Yes it is. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Link Lightning    (Raichu Lv.X - Stormfront)

Q. Raichu Lv.X's "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY says if I level up and use "Voltage Shoot" in the same turn, I can attack with another of Raichu's attacks. Can I use "Voltage Shoot" again?
A. Yes, you may choose Voltage Shoot again as your second attack. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When using Raichu Lv.X's "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY, if I Knock Out the Defending Pokemon when using "Voltage Shoot" as my first attack, is a new Defending Pokemon promoted before I do my second Attack?
A. As the Defending Pokemon is Knocked Out, your opponent has to choose and set their new Active Pokemon before Raichu's Link Lightning Poke-BODY works. You take a Prize card after your opponent brings up a new Active Pokemon, and Raichu uses an attack one more time. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Raichu Lv.X uses its "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY and the first attack it does knocks out a Pokemon with a recoil effect that makes Raichu paralyzed (or poisoned, asleep, etc.)? Does Raichu get to use its second attack, or is "Link Lightning" shut off because of the Special Condition?
A. If Raichu Lv.X is affected by a Special Condition as a result of its first attack, Link Lightning would shut off and you could not use a second attack. (Dec 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Raichu Lv.X uses its "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY plus its "Voltage Shoot" attack to knock out Gengar, if Gengar successfully flips Heads for its "Fainting Spell Poke-POWER does Raichu Lv.X get KO'd before or after doing the second attack for "Link Lightning"?
A. The Fainting Spell Poke-POWER has to be resolved before the second attack can begin, so the second attack would be lost since it has to be an attack from the Raichu Lv.X that was KO'd. (Dec 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Raichu Lv.X comes into play and uses "Voltage Shoot" to KO an opponent's Dialga-G Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY, does Raichu Lv.X's "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY turn on and allow Raichu Lv.X to attack again?
A. Yes, once the Pokemon with Time Crystal is KO'd, Link Lightning can then activate and allow Raichu Lv.X a second attack (as long as Link Lightning's conditions are met). (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Flygon uses its "Sand Wall" attack to discard an Opponent's Stadium card. The next turn, Raichu Levels Up and attacks twice due to its "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY. Is Flygon protected against both attacks?
A. Yes. Sand Wall would protect Flygon against both of Raichu Lv.X's attacks during the opponent's next turn. (Sep 3, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Lost Cyclone    (Palkia [G] Lv.X - Platinum)

Q. If Palkia-G Lv.X uses its "Lost Cyclone" Poke-POWER to put one or more of my benched Pokemon into the Lost Zone, do those Pokemon count as being KO'd and the opponent takes a prize for each one?
A. No, they do not. (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Lost Link   

Q. Can Mew's "Lost Link" Poke-BODY use the attack of a Lv.X card in the Lost Zone?
A. Yes it can, providing that Mew has the appropriate types and number of Energy required for that attack attached to it. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can Mew's "Lost Link" Poke-BODY use the attack of one half of a LEGEND Pokemon if its card is in the Lost Zone? Or what if both halves of the LEGEND Pokemon are in the Lost Zone?
A. No, you cannot. If a LEGEND Pokemon's cards are not in play, you cannot reference its attacks, Poke-POWER, Poke-BODY, etc. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Magnetic Field    (Magneton - Power Keepers; Magneton - Dragon)

Q. With EX:Dragon's Magneton, could you discard say a Lightning energy, and call it "#1", then if you have 2 other Lightning energies in your discard pile, "#2" and "#3", could you get those?
A. As long as either of those cards are not the one you just discarded, you can retrieve them even if they are the same type. (Nov 20, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Magneton's "Magnetic Field" Poké-POWER states: "Once during your turn (before your attack), if you have basic energy cards in your discard pile, you may discard any 1 card from your hand. Then search for up to 2 basic Energy cards from your discard pile, show them to your opponent, and put them into your hand." Can you discard the energy and choose none because it states "search for UP TO 2 cards"?
A. You cannot play a card to no effect when failure of the effect is known in advance. In this case, since you know there is energy in the discard, you must take at least 1 to play the card. (Mar 18, 2004 PUI Rules Team; September 18, 2007)

Metal Gravity    (Skarmory ex - Power Keepers)

Q. If my opponent retreats a Pokémon with Cessation Crystal attached, would my Skarmory-EX's "Metal Gravity" get to place any damage counters on that Pokémon or not?
A. No. By the time Cessation Crystal is inactive, the retreated Pokémon is already on the bench. (Feb 8, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if my opponent retreats their Active Pokémon for one that has Cessation Crystal attached, but I have Skarmory-EX with "Metal Gravity"? Would my Skarmory-EX's "Metal Gravity" get to place any damage counters on that Pokémon or not?
A. Yes. By the time Cessation Crystal is active, the Metal Gravity Poké-BODY has already been set in motion and is not shut off. (Apr 26, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Mischievous Trick   

Q. When I switch a Prize card and a card from my Deck with Rotom's "Mischievous Trick" Poke-POWER, can I look at either card?
A. No, you cannot. Keep both cards face-down when you switch them. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rotom's "Mischievous Trick" Poke-POWER when I have no cards in my deck, to put a Prize card into my deck?
A. No, you can't. That would be far too mischievous. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Moonlight Veil    (Umbreon - Majestic Dawn)

Q. Does the Pokemon have to have Eevee beneath it in order to receive the benefits from Espeon's "Sunlight Veil" or Umbreon's "Moonlight Veil" Poke-BODIES?
A. No. Let's say you brought in an Umbreon using Garchomp Lv.X's "Restore" attack— it's still a Pokemon that “Evolves from Eevee,” even though it didn't evolve that way to get into play. (DP:Majestic Dawn FAQ; May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Glaceon Lv.X, Leafeon Lv.X, etc. get the benefits from "Sunlight Veil" and "Moonlight Veil" Poke-BODIES?
A. Since the underlying Pokemon below the Lv.X evolves from Eevee, you do get the benefits of Sunlight Veil and Moonlight Veil. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Mow Shift    (Mow Rotom - Rising Rivals)

Q. If one of my Rotoms from the Rising Rivals set is affected by a special condition, can it use its Poke-POWER?
A. Yes. In general, you may use a Poke-POWER when your Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition, unless the power specifically says you cannot do so. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Multitype   

Q. If I place Arceus Lv.X with the "Multitype" Poke-BODY on top of a Fighting type Arceus, does that make it both Fighting *and* Colorless type?
A. No, it does not make it a dual-type Pokemon. It simply replaces Colorless with the type of the previous level, in this example Fighting only. But if the Multitype Poke-BODy is somehow shut off or ignored, then Arceus Lv.X would be Colorless only, not the color of its previous level. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Nurse Call    (Blissey - Platinum)

Q. Can I use Blissey's "Nurse Call" Poke-POWER to discard a card from my hand even if I have no damaged Pokemon in play?
A. Yes, you can. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Opponent's Choice   

Q. When using Slowking's "Opponent's Choice" Poke-POWER, do you have to show your opponent what the cards are since it says 'you may reveal the top 2 cards'?
A. Of course you have to show the opponent what the cards are. The "you may" refers to using the power, not to being able to use it without showing them the cards. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Overeager    (Sableye - Stormfront)

Q. In a best-of-3 match, if I lose the previous round and decide to go first and my opponent starts with a Sableye with the "Overeager" Poke-BODY, does that override my choice to start first?
A. Yes, since Overeager is a Poke-BODY it overrides who starts the game. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Overzealous    (Machamp - Power Keepers; Ludicolo δ - Crystal Guardians; Machamp - Hidden Legends)

Q. Machamp's "Overzealous" Poké-POWER adds 30 more damage to its attacks; is this 30 done before or after Weakness/Resistance?
A. Overzealous adds +30 to the attack, but does not change the attack's base damage (for purposes of other Pokémon copying Machamp's attacks). It is figured in at Step [b], when you add damage effects on the Attacking Pokémon. (Jul 1, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have more than one HL Machamp in play, would their "Overzealous" Poké-BODIES be cumulative upon all the Machamps? For example, if I had three Machamps in play would that add a total of +90 to their attacks?
A. No, Overzealous is a self-referencing power and only counts for the card that contains it. It is not cumulative. (Jan 6, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does "Overzealous" take effect when Meteor Falls is in play and Machamp uses an attack from Machop or Machoke?
A. Yes, if your opponent is playing a Pokémon-EX. Machamp is still attacking, even though it is using its pre-evolution's attacks. (Feb 24, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Perfect Metal   

Q. You have Dialga [G] Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY on the bench, and have confused the opponent's Steelix. If you use Poke-Turn on Dialga [G] Lv.X, does Steelix's "Perfect Metal" Poke-BODY instantly de-confuse it?
A. Yes, that is correct. The wording of "Perfect Metal" indicates the check is continual. So once Dialga's "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY is gone and all other Poke-Bodies are restored, "Perfect Metal" will cure Steelix's confusion. (Sep 16, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Phoenix Turn    (Ho-oh - Secret Wonders)

Q. If Ho-Oh gets KO'd and uses its "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER and gets heads on the coin flip, does Ho-Oh stay active, or go back to the owner's hand, or what?
A. If the coin flip is heads Ho-Oh is still considered knocked out, but it stays in the active spot after removing all damage counters, special conditions, etc. (DP:Secret Wonders FAQ; Nov 15, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Ho-Oh with "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER is KO'd by damage from an attack, but you also have a Lanturn with "Energy Grounding" Poke-POWER in play too, how does this resolve?
A. You would flip for Ho-Oh's "Phoenix Turn" first. If you flip heads, the energy stays attached to Ho-Oh and you cannot do "Energy Grounding" because no energies were discarded. If you flip tails, then you would have the option to use "Energy Grounding" to recover one of the energies from the discarded Ho-Oh. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I knock out Ho-Oh with Gardevoir's "Psychic Lock" attack, does the disabling of Poke-Powers happen before or after Ho-Oh's "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER?
A. Psychic Lock says they can't use any Poke-Powers "during your opponent's next turn". Phoenix Turn starts and finishes during the attack, before "your opponent's next turn," so Psychic Lock does not stop Phoenix Turn. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Ho-oh has "Lucky Egg" attached and would be KO'd by damage from an attack, but the coin flip for its "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER comes up heads, do I get to draw until I have 7 cards in my hand due to "Lucky Egg" or not?
A. Since Ho-Oh is not discarded you can't use the drawing effect of Lucky Egg. (Nov 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent's Ho-oh has "Expert Belt" attached and would be KO'd by damage from an attack, but the coin flip for its "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER comes up heads, do I get to draw two prize cards or only one?
A. You draw 1 prize. Phoenix Turn is resolved after fully processing the attack but before processing Knock Outs. Expert Belt's extra prize effect only applies if it is in play when the Pokemon is removed from play due to Knock Out (or would be removed, in Ho-Oh's case). Since it was discarded prior to this by Phoenix Turn, you don't get the extra prize. (Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Portrait   

Q. Can I use Smeargle's "Portrait" Poke-POWER if I have already used a Supporter this turn?
A. Yes, you are not playing a second Supporter, you are just using the Supporter's effect as the effect of the power. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When I use Smeargle's "Portrait" Poke-POWER to look at my opponent's hand, can I terminate the power's effect without choosing a Supporter card?
A. No, you cannot. You must choose a Supporter card when you use the effect if the opponent has one in their hand. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When using Smeargle's "Portrait" Poke-POWER, can I choose a Supporter that will have no effect?
A. You cannot pick a supporter you couldn't normally use; for example you can't choose "Twins" unless you are behind on prizes at that time, nor Aaron's Collection if you don't have anything in your Discard Pile. You would have to choose a different Supporter if one is available. (Dec 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if I use Smeargle's "Portrait" Poke-POWER, but I cannot satisfy the conditions of any of my opponent's Supporters?
A. You get to look at the opponent's hand, and that's all. (Dec 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Smeargle's "Portrait" Poke-POWER and find "Engineer's Adjustments" in my opponent's hand, do I have to use it if I have an Energy card in my hand?
A. Yes, if you have an energy card and you choose Engineer's Adjustments, you have to discard the energy and draw 4 cards. (Dec 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team; Mar 17, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Smeargle's "Portrait" Poke-POWER and choose "Buck's Training" in the opponent's hand, would I get the added +10 attack bonus or not, since "Buck's Training" is not actually next to my Active Pokemon?
A. Yes, it will still work. The intent is that the effect works during the turn when the Supporter was played. So even though Buck's Training is in the opponent's hand, each of your Active Pokemon's attacks does 10 more damage to the Active Pokemon. (Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Power Cancel    (Alakazam - Mysterious Treasures)

* Poké-Powers that end your turn are receiving errata to make it clear that you still end your turn if the Poké-Power is canceled, such as with Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray or by Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poké-Power. (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say my opponent has two Gardevoirs in play and one of them uses its "Telepass" Poke-POWER, but I block it with my Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poke-POWER. Can the opponent then use the "Telepass" from their other Gardevoir in this case?
A. The first Telepass counts as having been used. You cannot use a second Telepass on the same turn. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I try to use Electivire's "Intense Voltage" Poke-POWER but my opponent's Alakazam uses its "Power Cancel" to negate it, does Power Cancel shut down the whole power and render Electivire unable to move energies at all for the rest of the turn? Or does "Power Cancel" only cancel one energy transfer and then Electivire is free to use "Intense Voltage" as often as I like after that?
A. You can use Electivire's Intense Voltage as often as you like; so using Alakazam's Power Cancel once does not entirely shut down the power, just the first attempt of using it. (Oct 2, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use a Poke-POWER that says something like "choose two of your opponent's benched Pokemon...", but the opponent has Alakazam with "Power Cancel" that can optionally negate my Poke-POWER, do they have to use "Power Cancel" before I declare which two Pokemon or can they wait until after that point?
A. Power Cancel is tricky as it interrupts the typical flow of things. If you are activating the Poke-POWER described above, you may request whether or not the opponent wishes to "Power Cancel" it prior to declaring which two Benched Pokemon are being chosen. On the other hand, if you rushed through and said "I activate Power-XXX and choose these two Pokemon" before the opponent has had enough time to Power Cancel it, the opponent may still invoke the Power Cancel up until the Poke-POWER is deemed unrewindable (i.e. searching or shuffling deck, etc.). But once the opponent says they are not going to use Power Cancel, they cannot change their mind until the next Poke-POWER gets activated. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Primal Shell    (Kabutops - Majestic Dawn)

Q. Does Kabutops' "Primal Shell" Poke-BODY prevent playing Fossils?
A. Yes. Fossil cards are still Trainer cards and would be prevented from being played. (DP:Majestic Dawn FAQ; May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Primal Stare    (Kabutops - Power Keepers; Omastar - Skyridge)

Q. Does Kabutops' "Primal Stare" Poke-POWER prevent your opponent from leveling up to a LV.X?
A. No, because "leveling up" is not the same thing as "evolving". Once a LV.X is placed, it takes on the stage of the Pokemon from which it leveled up. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Primal Swirl    (Omastar - Majestic Dawn)

Q. What happens if I use Omastar's "Primal Swirl" Poke-POWER and my opponent has an Evolved Pokemon Lv.X in play?
A. The Pokemon Lv.X is returned to the hand as well (Pokemon Lv.X keep the evolution state of the original - Darkrai Lv.X is still considered a Pokemon that isn't Evolved). (DP:Majestic Dawn FAQ; May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Protect Wing    (Staraptor - Stormfront)

* Some abilities referring to "Stage 2 Evolved Pokémon" are receiving errata. These cards do not care if the Pokémon is evolved or not, only if it is a Stage 2 Pokémon. So, Stage 2 Pokémon put into play with abilities like Garchomp LV.X's "Restore" attack still count for these abilities. Staraptor's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Body) Protect Wing - As long as Staraptor is your Active Pokémon, any damage done by attacks from your opponent's Stage 2 Pokémon is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)". (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Staraptor's "Protect Wing" attack and Glalie's "Craggy Face" Poke-BODY have similarly worded effects, yet Glalie has the protection from 20 damage "before applying Weakness and Resistance" while Staraptor has it "after applying weakness and resistance". What is going on here?
A. Based on the Japanese wording of those cards, both effects should be understood as being applied on the attacking Pokemon, and therefore preventing 20 damage "before applying weakness and resistance." (Mar 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Staraptor's "Protect Wing" Poke-BODY reduce damage done to benched Pokemon as well as to Staraptor?
A. Protect Wing says, "any damage done by attacks from your opponent's Stage 2 Evolved Pokemon is reduced by 20". Since it does not say "any damage done to Staraptor...", this implies that it will reduce damage done to your benched Pokemon as well. (Jan 22, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Psy Shadow    (Gardevoir - Power Keepers; Gardevoir - RubySapphire)

Q. Is Gardevoir's Poké-POWER cumulative? Like, if you have 3 in play, can you attach 3 [P] Energy cards, and still have your "free" energy attachment for the turn?
A. Yes, Gardevoir's "Psy Shadow" is cumulative. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What is the proper thing to do if you use Gardevoir's "Psy Shadow" Poké-POWER, and there are no psychic energies left in the deck? Do you still take the damage for searching through your deck, or do you NOT take damage for NOT attaching an energy?
A. Since you did not place a Psychic Energy on any Pokémon, you cannot place any damage counters. You might want to, but you cannot. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Psybarrier    (Mewtwo Lv.X - DP Promos; Mewtwo Lv.X - Legends Awakened)

Q. Would Mewtwo Lv.X's "Psybarrier" Poke-BODY prevent damage from an attack by a Stage 2 that was put in play by Garchomp Lv.X's "Restore"?
A. If the Pokemon has no other Pokemon cards beneath it (other than cards acting as Tools, etc.), it is treated as a Basic Pokemon and Psybarrier would prevent all effects of attacks from that Pokemon. (Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Aura    (Azelf Lv.X - Legends Awakened)

Q. If I have Azelf Lv.X with the "Psychic Aura" Poke-BODY, would it remove one or both weaknesses of my Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND?
A. Both weaknesses are removed because Psychic Aura affects Psychic Pokemon, and Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND's type is Psychic and Colorless. (Jan 6, 2011 PUI Rules Team; Jan 13, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Bind    (Mesprit - Legends Awakened)

Q. If my opponent used Mesprit's "Psychic Bind" to shut off any Poke-POWERs used during my next turn, would I be able to use Heatran Lv.X's "Heat Wave" Poke-POWER since it happens "at the end of your turn"?
A. No, Psychic Bind covers the entirety of the opponent's next turn, including the end of the turn. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Protector    (Flygon ex - Power Keepers)

Q. Can I discard 3 cards for Flygon-EX's "Psychic Protector" Poké-BODY even if it is only being attacked for 10 damage?
A. Yes, you can discard more cards than you are being damaged for (up to four). (EX:Power Keepers FAQ; Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Flygon-EX's "Psychic Protector" effect trigger before Weakness & Resistance, or after?
A. The effect triggers after Weakness & Resistance have been applied to the damage. (EX:Power Keepers FAQ; Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Mightyena uses "Pull Away" against Flygon-EX, can I use Flygon-EX's "Psychic Protector" Poké-BODY before the discarding effect of "Pull Away"?
A. Yes, Psychic Protector is invoked at the point when damage is done. The latter part of the attack which checks for cards in the opponent's hand is done later after the damage calculation steps. (Feb 22, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Will attacks that ignore effects on the defending Pokémon, like "Fastwave", prevent Flygon-EX from using its "Psychic Protector" Poké-BODY?
A. Fastwave's damage is not affected by Poké-Bodies. Psychic Protector is a Poké-BODY that takes effect DURING the attack, not after. You could discard the cards (since only damage is prevented), but the damage reduction is nullified by Fastwave. (Apr 5, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Shift    (Xatu - Secret Wonders)

Q. If I use Xatu's "Psychic Shift" Poke-POWER to transfer my Pokemon's Paralyzed condition to my opponent's Active Pokemon, does the paralysis end after my turn is over or after my opponent's next turn?
A. Regarding "Paralyzed", the rulebook says that the Pokemon "recovers after its player's next turn". So after your turn is over, your opponent remains Paralyzed until after the end of their next turn. (Sep 25, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Xatu's "Psychic Shift" Poke-POWER to transfer an increased Special Condition like "Toxic" (Poisoned for 2 damage counters instead of 1) or "Torrid Wave" (Burned for 3 damage counters instead of 2), does the Defending Pokemon also receive the increased damage?
A. No. It just moves the Special Condition, not the "improved" version of the Special Condition. (Jan 24, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Psychic Vision    (Mew ex - Holon Phantoms)

Q. If I use Mew-EX's "Psychic Vision" to look at an opponent's hand, are they allowed to rearrange their hand before I pick a card to discard when I attack with Hariyama-EX's "Knock Off" attack?
A. Yes, as soon as you're finished looking at their hand with Psychic Vision, the opponent may rearrange those cards if they want to. (May 25, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Radiance    (Electrode - Stormfront)

Q. If my Torterra uses its "Leaf Storm" attack against Electrode, does "Leaf Storm's" healing effect resolve before or after Electrode's "Radiance" Poke-BODY places damage counters?
A. Radiance does not activate until the Leaf Storm attack is complete. So the "remove 2 damage counters" part of Leaf Storm goes first, and then Radiance places a damage counter on each of your Pokemon afterward. (Dec 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Rage Aura    (Rayquaza ex δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. What happens if Rayquaza-EX with "Rage Aura" is affected by something that could increase the cost of its "Special Circuit" or "Sky-high Claws" attacks?
A. Rage Aura sets Rayquaza-EX's attacks to specific costs, similar to when an effect sets a Pokémon's Retreat Cost to 0. Special Circuit would remain {L} and Sky-high Claws would remain {L}{L}.

Q. If a Pokémon copies Rayquaza-EX's "Special Circuit" or "Sky-high Claws" attacks while Rayquaza-EX's "Rage Aura" Poké-BODY is in effect, does it get the cheaper attack cost?
A. No. Rayquaza-EX's Rage Aura ONLY affects Rayquaza-EX if a Pokémon copies the attack, it's as if that attack was photo-copied and placed on that copying Pokémon it didn't copy anything else.

Q. Rayquaza-EX's "Rage Aura" Poké-BODY lets him ignore all coloress attack costs if you're behind on prizes. But Sceptile-EX's "Extra Liquid" Poké-BODY adds +1 colorless cost to attacks by -EX Pokémon. Which Poké-BODY prevails?
A. The effect of Rage Aura removes all colorless attack costs from Rayquaza-EX's "Special Circuit" and "Sky-high Claws" attacks, including effects that would add to its colorless attack costs. Therefore, Rayquaza-EX would still attack for less, despite Sceptile-EX's Extra Liquid. (Apr 26, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Rain Dish    (Ludicolo - Nintendo Black Star Promos; Ludicolo - Secret Wonders; Lombre - Sandstorm; Others)

Q. Ludicolo's Rain Dish Poké-BODY says "at any time between turns remove 1 damage counter...", so does this mean I can remove 1 damage counter more than once between turns?
A. You are allowed to use its ability at any time between each players turn, but just once. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Rainbow Scale    (Garchomp - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If a Pokemon has multiple Weaknesses, does Garchomp's "Rainbow Scale" do 40 more damage for each Weakness?
A. No. It only matters that the Defending Pokemon has ANY Weakness to the basic Energy attached to Garchomp. More than 1 type of Weakness won't change the damage bonus. (DP:Mysterious Treasures FAQ; Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Red Armor   

Q. If Garchomp [C] Lv.X has Special Energy cards attached and discards all of them when using its "Dragon Rush" attack, can it do damage to a Scizor that has the "Red Armor" Poke-BODY?
A. No. First choose which two energies to discard, then do the damage (before any other effects), then you actually discard the energy at the end of the attack. So it will still be attached at the point when damage would be done, but the damage will be blocked. (Aug 19, 2010 PUI Rules Team; Sep 2, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Regi Cycle    (Regirock - Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I use Regirock's "Regi Cycle", or Registeel's "Regi Heal", or Regice's "Regi Move" Poke-POWER if I only have one card in my hand?
A. No, you must be able to discard two cards in order to use Regi Cycle, Regi Heal, or Regi Move. (Sep 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Regi Heal    (Registeel - Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I use Regirock's "Regi Cycle", or Registeel's "Regi Heal", or Regice's "Regi Move" Poke-POWER if I only have one card in my hand?
A. No, you must be able to discard two cards in order to use Regi Cycle, Regi Heal, or Regi Move. (Sep 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you discard 2 cards from your hand with Registeel's "Regi Heal" Poke-POWER even if Registeel doesn't have any damage on it?
A. Yes, you can, but no effect gets triggered. (Sep 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Regi Move    (Regice - Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I use Regirock's "Regi Cycle", or Registeel's "Regi Heal", or Regice's "Regi Move" Poke-POWER if I only have one card in my hand?
A. No, you must be able to discard two cards in order to use Regi Cycle, Regi Heal, or Regi Move. (Sep 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you discard 2 cards from your hand with Regice's "Regi Move" Poke-POWER even if the opponent's Defending Pokemon is not a Basic Pokemon? Or what if they have no Benched Pokemon?
A. Yes, but then you cannot switch the opponent's Defending Pokemon. (Sep 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Jan 22, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Relaxing Shower   

Q. If I have more than one Lopunny in play, can each of them use their "Relaxing Shower" Poke-POWER or only one of them?
A. Yes, each one is allowed to use its Poke-POWER once per turn. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Restructure    (Palkia Lv.X - DP Promos; Palkia Lv.X - Great Encounters)

Q. Say I use Palkia LV.X's "Restructure" Poke-POWER, but then my opponent brings up one of my benched Pokemon with a Cessation Crystal attached. It is now my turn to choose one of their Pokemon to bring up, but does the Cessation Crystal negate the second part of "Restructure" now that it is active?
A. No. Restructure would finish resolving, as Cessation Crystal does not prevent a Poke-POWER's effect that has already been started. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. My opponent has Ditto active with 70 damage on it against my Gardevoir with 110 HP. I have Palkia Lv.X and use its "Restructure" Poke-POWER. If my opponent brings up a pokemon with 70 or less HP before I bring up a different pokemon, would the Ditto be KO'd?
A. Even though each action takes place one by one in reality, in game terms Ditto is not checked for KO until the Poke-POWER has been fully resolved. (Mar 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Rivalry    (Luxray - Legends Awakened)

Q. If Dusknoir Lv.X is in play as a Stadium, would Luxray's "Rivalry" Poke-BODY be triggered and add 50 to the damage done from its attacks?
A. No. Dusknoir Lv.X does not count as a Pokemon Lv.X while in play as a Stadium. (Nov 13, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Roast Reveal   

Q. Can I use Ninetales' "Roast Reveal" Poke-POWER when I have no cards in my deck?
A. Yes, you do as much of the power as you are able; discard 1 Fire Energy card from your hand, then the Poke-POWER's effect ends, without drawing any cards. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Rock Reaction    (Dome Fossil - Majestic Dawn)

Q. What happens if Ampharos with the "Conductivity" Poke-BODY is in play and I attach the appropriate energy card to my Dome Fossil or Helix Fossil to activate their "Rock Reaction" or "Aqua Reaction" Poke-BODY?
A. Attaching an Energy card to Dome Fossil or Helix Fossil causes its Poke-BODY and Ampharos' Conductivity to trigger at the same time, so the player can resolve them in the order of their choosing. If you resolve Conductivity first, the Fossil Pokemon takes a damage counter and then evolves. However, if you resolve Rock Reaction or Aqua Reaction first, the Fossil's Poke-BODY searches for a card and evolves, but Conductivity no longer sees the Pokemon that triggered it, so no damage counter is placed. (Aug 5, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Rough Skin    (Sharpedo - Secret Wonders; Carvanha - Power Keepers; Carvanha - RubySapphire; Others)

Q. If an attack "places damage counters" on Sharpedo or Carvanha, does "Rough Skin" get to work?
A. Damage counters are typically phrased that way to mean something other than damage. So, Rough Skin does not trigger on damage counters. (Feb 26, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Latias' attack, "Miraculous Light" does damage and heals 2 damage counters. Sharpedo's "Rough Skin" Poke-BODY is activated when damage is done, and places two damage counters. In what order do these effects take place?
A. The attack damage and effect are applied, then the effect of "Rough Skin" is applied. (Apr 16, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Royal Heal   

Q. Do I have to use Serperior's "Royal Heal" ability if I don't want to?
A. Royal Heal is not an optional ability. You must use this ability at some point in between turns. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Sacrifice    (Regigigas Lv.X - DP Promos; Regigigas Lv.X - Stormfront)

Q. If I use Regigigas Lv.X's "Sacrifice" Poke-POWER but there are no Basic Energy in the discard pile, can I still remove 8 damage counters?
A. Yes, you can. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Regigigas Lv.X's "Sacrifice" Poke-POWER and choose to knock itself out?
A. Yes, it can knock itself out with Sacrifice; but you would not be able to do anything with the energy since Regigigas Lv.X is no longer in play. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Regigigas Lv.X's "Sacrifice" Poke-POWER to Knock Out one of my Pokemon with energy attached to it, may I attach some of that energy from the discard pile to Regigigas Lv.X for the second part of the "Sacrifice" Poke-POWER?
A. Yes, you can. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. For Regigigas Lv.X's "Sacrifice" Poke-POWER, do I have to attach at least one energy from the discard pile if there are any, or can I choose to attach no energy if I want?
A. It does not say "you may", so you must attach at least one energy if you are able. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Safeguard    (Ninetales - Power Keepers; Wobbuffet - Power Keepers; Banette - Crystal Guardians; Others)

Q. What if I put up a Mewtwo EX against Wobbuffet and try to use Energy Absorbtion? Would that trigger Wobbuffet's "Safeguard" Poké-BODY?
A. No, Mewtwo EX's "Energy Absorption" is not doing any effects to Wobbuffet, so Safeguard would not prevent it. (Dec 4, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say Shedinja or Wobbuffet is my active Pokémon and my opponent uses Kingdra EX's Genetic Memory attack and chose Seadra's Water Arrow to attack my benched Pokémon Is Genetic Memory blocked by Shedinja's Wonder Guard and Wobbuffet's Safeguard when attacking something on the bench?
A. The wording of Shedinja's "Wonder Guard" and Wobbuffet's "Safeguard" are very similar to Neo Revelation Suicune's "Crystal Body" power. So basically anything that is not being directly done to Shedinja or to Wobbuffet does not get ignored. (Dec 4, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Aggron-EX uses "Metal Surge" VS. an active Wobbuffet? Does Wobbuffet take no damage and all benched Pokémon take 20 damage? Or does the "Safeguard" Poké-Body prevent damage and effects done to the benched Pokémon too?
A. Sorry, Wobbuffet's Safeguard only protects itself. The benched Pokémon would be damaged by Aggron-EX. (Jan 8, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Wobbuffet vs. Ninetales-EX... I try to use "Intense Glare" (switch 1 your opponent's Benched Pokémon with 1 of the Defending Pokémon...) on Wobbuffet. Does Wobbuffet's Safeguard Poké-BODY prevent the switch?
A. Yes it would prevent the switch. In addition, you could not do Intense Glare to bring up a Wobbuffet from the bench either, as that would be an "effect being done to Wobbuffet by a Pokémon-EX." (Feb 24, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Sand Damage    (Flygon ex δ - Dragon Frontiers; Dark Tyranitar - Team Rocket Returns)

Q. If Dark Tyranitar has 10 HP left and is Poisoned, would it be Knocked Out before "Sand Damage" took place?
A. No. Even if a Pokémon receives more damage counters from Special Conditions, Poké-Bodies, or Poké-Powers than its remaining HP, that Pokémon isn't Knocked Out until "between turns" is over. (Feb 24, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. My Active Pokémon got Knocked Out between turns because it was poisoned and Dark Tyranitar now becomes the Active Pokémon; does the Poké-BODY "Sand Damage" work?
A. No, because you wouldn't replace your KO'd Pokémon until the between turn phase is over. When the Dark Tyranitar comes up, it's too late for Sand Damage at that time. (Feb 24, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Sand Reset    (Hippowdon Lv.X - Rising Rivals)

Q. Can you explain how Hippowdon Lv.X's "Sand Reset" Poke-POWER works?
A. As stated on the card, each player removes all cards in play, excluding Pokemon and Supporter cards. This means that all energy, Tools, Stadiums, etc. are shuffled back into yours and your opponent's deck. Prizes, the Discard Pile, and any cards in the Lost Zone don't count as being in play, so they are not shuffled back in. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent used the Hippowdon Lv.X's "Sand Reset" Poke-POWER, does that prevent me from using it with my Hippowdon Lv.X in the same game?
A. Each player may use Sand Reset for their own Hippowdon Lv.X once during the game. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I try to use Hippowdon Lv.X's "Sand Reset" Poke-POWER but my opponent uses Power Spray or "Power Cancel" can I try to use it again on my next turn?
A. No, you cannot. Once Sand Reset is used, even if it was blocked, you cannot use it again for the rest of the game. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Sandy Cloak    (Burmy Sandy Cloak - Majestic Dawn; Wormadam Sandy Cloak - OP Series 7; Burmy Sandy Cloak - OP Series 7; Others)

* Wormadam's "Sandy Cloak" Poke-BODY should say, "Prevent all effects of attacks, excluding damage, done to Wormadam Sandy Cloak by your opponent’s Pokemon". (Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Second Sight   

Q. If my opponent has less than 3 cards in his or her deck, so that I can't reorder the top 3 cards, can I still use Slowking's "Second Sight" Poke-POWER to look at the remaining cards in the deck?
A. Yes, you look at your opponent's remaining cards, then put them back in the deck in any order. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Self-Generation   

Q. If Pachirisu's "Self-Generation" Poke-POWER is used to attach two Lightning Energy to Pachirisu, and the opponent has 4 Ampharos Primes with "Conductivity" in play, what is the result?
A. Pachirisu would be have 8 damage counters placed on it due to Conductivity. (Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Set Up    (Uxie - Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I use Uxie's "Set Up" Poke-POWER if I already have 7 or more cards in my hand?
A. No, you cannot. (Mar 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Sep 24, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Shadow Command    (Dusknoir - Stormfront)

Q. If I have no cards left in my deck, can I use Dusknoir's "Shadow Command" Poke-POWER and put two damage counters on Dusknoir?
A. No, if you can't draw any cards, you can't use its Power. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When using Dusknoir's "Shadow Command" Poke-POWER, do you always put two damage counters on Dusknoir or only if you had to discard cards from your hand?
A. Yes, you always have to put 2 damage counters on Dusknoir when using Shadow Command. (Oct 30, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Sharing    (Milotic δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. If I use Milotic's "Sharing" Poké-POWER to use one of my opponents Supporters, can I also play my own Supporter during the same turn?
A. Yes you may. Milotic's Poké-POWER does not use up your normal "one Supporter per turn" condition. (Jan 4, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I go first and play Rare Candy to evolve to Milotic and then use its "Sharing" Poké-POWER, can I use a supporter from my opponent's hand on the first turn of the game?
A. Yes, you can; "using a Supporter" as the effect of a Poké-POWER is treated differently than "playing a Supporter card". Of course, you must still meet all requirements that are necessary to use that Supporter normally (except for the Supporter rule). (Dec 7, 2006 PUI Rules Team; Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Shocking Tail    (Electivire Lv.X - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. When I attach a Fire energy to my Magmortar while it's facing an Electivire LV.X, which Poke-BODY is applied first, "Flame Body" which removes two damage counters, or "Shocking Tail" which places two damage counters?
A. Since both Bodies are triggered by the same event (attaching the Fire energy), the person controlling the Pokemon receiving the energy decides in which order they are applied. (May 8, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Groudon's "Drought" attack to attach two Basic Fighting Energy cards from my hand onto one of my Pokemon, but my opponent has Electivire Lv.X with "Shocking Tail" active, how many damage counters do I take, 2 or 4?
A. Each energy attached with Shocking Tail activated places 2 damage counters, so you would place a total of 4 damage counters for Shocking Tail in this situation. (Sep 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Sinkhole    (Dugtrio - Platinum; Dark Dugtrio - Team Rocket; Dark Dugtrio - Team Rocket)

Q. Can Dugtrio use "Sinkhole" if the opponent uses Switch or Warp Point instead of retreating? Or what happens if I attack with Dugtrio's "Push Down" to send the Defending Pokemon to the Bench?
A. Only the game action of Retreat triggers the Body's effect. Switch and other effects that move the Active Pokemon to the bench do not trigger Sinkhole. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I just attacked the defending Dialga-G Lv.X with RR Shiftry's "Seal Off" attack, thus shutting down its "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY. On my opponent's turn, he/she retreats Dialga-G Lv.X, however I have a Dugtrio on my bench. Does Dugtrio's "Sinkhole" Poke-BODY put any damage counters on Dialga?
A. Yes, Sinkhole would place damage counters. Sinkhole is triggered and resolved before the Seal Off effect is cleared. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Space Virus   

Q. If Deoxys & Rayquaza LEGEND knocks out a Dialga [G] Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY, does Deoxys & Rayquaza LEGEND's "Space Virus" Poke-BODY turn on in time for it to take two prizes?
A. When Dialga [G] Lv.X is KO'd and discarded, the Space Virus Poke-BODY turns back on and allows the player to take 1 more prize card. (Sep 23, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Stages of Evolution    (Jynx δ - Dragon Frontiers; Magmar - Legend Maker; Wobbuffet - Legend Maker; Others)

Q. Several Basic Pokémon have a Poké-Body called "Stages of Evolution" that says, "As long as {name of Basic Pokémon} is an Evolved Pokémon...". What does this mean?
A. Each of those Pokémon have a corresponding Basic Pokémon that "evolve" into those Pokémon. For example, Elekid has a special "Baby Evolution" Poké-POWER that allows Elekid to evolve into Electabuzz, therefore allowing the evolved Electabuzz to use its "Stages of Evolution" Poké-BODY. (Aug 11, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is Wobbuffet's "Stages of Evolution" Poké-BODY cumulative? Like, if I have three evolved Wobbuffets the Defending Pokémon would have to add +3 to its Retreat Cost?
A. Yes, this is correct. But it only works for evolved Wobbuffets that have the "Stages of Evolution" Poké-BODY. (EX:Legend Maker FAQ; Feb 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have an evolved Wobbuffet on my bench with the "Stages of Evolution" that has your opponent pay one more energy to retreat his/her Active Pokémon, and I also have Dark Ariados active and attack my opponent's benched pokemon with "Breaking Impact", how much damage will it do?
A. Wobbuffet only increases the retreat cost for Active Pokémon, not for Benched Pokémon. So it would not add to any damage done to Benched Pokémon by Breaking Impact. (May 25, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Stance    (Lucario Lv.X - DP Promos; Lucario Lv.X - Mysterious Treasures)

Q. Does Lucario LV.X's "Stance" Poke-POWER prevent attacks like "Swift" that ignore effects on the Defending Pokemon?
A. Stance is an effect on Lucario Lv.X, so Swift ignores it and does full damage. (Aug 30, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. My Lucario LV.X comes into play, uses its Poke-POWER "Stance". If I play Cessation Crystal on it, or if my opponent plays a Cessation Crystal on his or her turn, does the "Stance" effect end?
A. No. Cessation Crystal does not cancel the effects of a Poke-POWER that was used prior to Cessation Crystal coming into play. (PUI Rules Team, Sep 18th, 2007)

Sticky    (Gastrodon East Sea - Rising Rivals; Silcoon - Platinum; Ariados - Mysterious Treasures; Others)

Q. If I have an Ariados with "Sticky" Poke-BODY on the bench and another one as my Active Pokemon, does the Active Ariados have +1 added to its Retreat Cost or not?
A. Ariados' "Sticky" Poke-BODY should say, "The Retreat Cost for each player's Pokemon (excluding any Ariados) is {C} more". So Sticky prevents adding +1 to *ANY* Ariados' Retreat Cost, including your opponent's Ariados. Keep in mind that this does NOT include "Dark Ariados", just any Pokemon named "Ariados". (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Feb 28, 2008 Pokemon Organized Play News)

Q. If I have three Ariados with the "Sticky" Poke-BODY in play, what would the Active Ariados' Retreat Cost be?
A. It would have a retreat cost of one energy. No Ariados is affected by any of the other's Poke-Bodies. (Feb 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Strikes Back    (Vigoroth - Power Keepers; Rocket's Hitmonchan ex - Team Rocket Returns; Machoke - Hidden Legends; Others)

Q. Does Machamp do damage if he is hit by a Stretch Kick?
A. Yes, his Pokémon power Strikes Back would damage the other Pokémon even if Machamp is hit when he is on the bench. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. Can Strikes Back trigger Strikes Back (if two base Machamps face each other)?
A. No it's not an attack. Make sure you check the wording on the cards. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q410)

* When Rocket's Hitmonchan-EX's "Strikes Back" occurs, the damage counters it gives out is resolved before establishing a win. If the 2 damage counters would KO the Attacking Pokémon, both would be considered KO'd at the same time. (Jun 23, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Player-A's Pokémon is 10 hp from being knocked out, has two prizes left. Player-B has a Rocket's Hitmonchan-EX active with only one prize left. Player-A KO's Player-B's EX for the two prize win. My question is if Player-B's Hitmonchan can use its "Strikes Back" Poké-BODY to damage the attacking Pokémon letting Player-B take his/her last prize also winning the game for Player-B? And if so, would this result in a Sudden Death or does Player-A KO the Hitmonchan before its power gets to strike back?
A. The "Strikes Back" Poké-BODY would get to go off as part of resolving Player-A's attack. This scenario would go to Sudden Death. (Mar 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Sunlight Veil    (Espeon - Majestic Dawn)

Q. Does the Pokemon have to have Eevee beneath it in order to receive the benefits from Espeon's "Sunlight Veil" or Umbreon's "Moonlight Veil" Poke-BODIES?
A. No. Let's say you brought in an Umbreon using Garchomp Lv.X's "Restore" attack— it's still a Pokemon that “Evolves from Eevee,” even though it didn't evolve that way to get into play. (DP:Majestic Dawn FAQ; May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Glaceon Lv.X, Leafeon Lv.X, etc. get the benefits from "Sunlight Veil" and "Moonlight Veil" Poke-BODIES?
A. Since the underlying Pokemon below the Lv.X evolves from Eevee, you do get the benefits of Sunlight Veil and Moonlight Veil. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Gallade's "Sonic Blade" attack against a Pokemon with an extra +20hp due to Espeon's "Sunlight Veil" Poke-BODY, does that +20 get factored in to the number of damage counters?
A. When the +20hp is added to the Pokemon's total HP, you must take that into account when placing damage counters for Sonic Blade. The attack would leave the Pokemon with 50hp remaining, not 70hp. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Sunny Heal   

Q. If I have multiple Cherrim in play, can I use more than one "Sunny Heal" Poke-POWER?
A. Yes, you can. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Sunshine Song    (Torterra - Stormfront)

Q. Can I evolve Treecko to Grovyle and then use Torterra's "Sunshine Song" Poke-POWER to evolve that Grovyle into Sceptile all on the same turn?
A. Yes, you can; effects like this get to ignore the normal timing rules for evolution. However, if you had used Sunshine Song to evolve Treecko into Grovyle first, you would NOT be allowed to evolve that Pokemon any further on this turn. (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Supreme Command    (Empoleon Lv.X - DP Promos; Empoleon Lv.X - Diamond and Pearl)

* Empoleon LV.X from Diamond & Pearl contains an error. Its Poké-Power symbol was printed with the Poké-Body symbol. In all cases, play Empoleon's effect as a Poké-Power. The game play of the effect remains unchanged. (May 25, 2007 PUI Announcements)

Q. My opponent used Empoleon LV.X's "Supreme Command" on his last turn, and during my turn I attach a Cessation Crystal to my Pokémon. Do I get my 2 cards back?
A. No. The Poké-POWER has already been used, and you will not get your cards back until the end of your turn. (Diamond & Pearl FAQ; May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have 8 cards in my hand and my opponent uses Empoleon LV.X's "Supreme Command" on me, can I play Steven's Advice on my turn?
A. The two face down cards do not count as being in your hand during your entire next turn. So with only six cards in your hand you may use the Steven's Advice. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent uses Empoleon LV.X's "Supreme Command" to place two cards face down from my hand, am I allowed to look at them during my turn?
A. No, you cannot. Once they are out of play they cannot be looked at until they return to your hand. (Jan 24, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Sweet Sleeping Face   

Q. Does Mime Jr's "Sweet Sleeping Face" Poke-BODY also stop Damage Counters from being placed on Mime Jr?
A. No, because placing Damage Counters does not count as damage done to a Pokemon. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is it possible to evolve Pichu from the "Heart Gold/Soul Silver" expansion into Pikachu or Raichu?
A. No, because Pikachu would need to have "Evolves from Pichu" printed on the card in order to do this. Pichu cards from other sets with the "Baby Evolution" Poke-POWER provide a way to bypass this requirement, but this isn't possible with Pichu from "Heart Gold/Soul Silver". None of the HGSS set's Pokemon with the "Sweet Sleeping Face" Poke-BODY can evolve without a corresponding card that says it evolves from them. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If neither player puts any Basic Pokemon onto their Bench as an effect of Pichu's "Playground" attack, does Pichu fall Asleep?
A. Yes. The phrase "Pichu is now Asleep" is activated at the end of the attack, independent of the other results of the attack. The corresponding phrase acts the same way for the attacks of all the HGSS set's Pokemon with the "Sweet Sleeping Face" Poke-BODY (e.g. Cleffa's "Eeeeeeek", Smoochum's "Energy Antics", etc.). (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Telepass    (Gardevoir - Secret Wonders)

Q. Say my opponent has two Gardevoirs in play and one of them uses its "Telepass" Poke-POWER, but I block it with my Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poke-POWER. Can the opponent then use the "Telepass" from their other Gardevoir in this case?
A. The first Telepass counts as having been used. You cannot use a second Telepass on the same turn. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if you have exactly 6 cards in your hand and you want to use Gardevoir's "Telepass" Poke-POWER to use a Steven's Advice in my oponent's discard pile? You have six cards in hand but Steven's Advice says "including this one", but you don't actually have that card in your hand...
A. You can NOT use the effect of Steven's Advice. If you have 6 cards in your hand when you try this, you cannot choose your opponent's Steven's Advice. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Aug 15, 2008 Pokémon World Championships Announcements)

Teleportation    (Kirlia - Platinum; Gardevoir Lv.X - Secret Wonders; Mesprit - Mysterious Treasures; Others)

Q. The wording on Gardevoir LV.X's "Teleportation" Poke-POWER makes it seem that it is mandatory; so do I have to use "Teleportation" every turn when possible?
A. No. All Poke-POWERs are optional effects, so you don't have to use Teleportation if you do not want to. (Dec 6, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Temper Tantrum    (Banette - Platinum)

Q. When using Banette's "Temper Tantrum" Poke-POWER, am I allowed to discard more than enough cards to knock out Banette if I want to?
A. Yes, you may. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Time Crystal    (Dialga [G] Lv.X - Platinum)

Q. If I level-up a burned Dialga-G, does Dialga-G Lv.X's Poke-BODY "Time Crystal" turn off Heatran Lv.X's "Heat Metal" Poke-BODY and remove the burn?
A. No, the effect of Time Crystal is not applied until after Dialga-G Lv.X is in play. (Apr 16, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. You have Dialga [G] Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY on the bench, and have confused the opponent's Steelix. If you use Poke-Turn on Dialga [G] Lv.X, does Steelix's "Perfect Metal" Poke-BODY instantly de-confuse it?
A. Yes, that is correct. The wording of "Perfect Metal" indicates the check is continual. So once Dialga's "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY is gone and all other Poke-Bodies are restored, "Perfect Metal" will cure Steelix's confusion. (Sep 16, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Raichu Lv.X comes into play and uses "Voltage Shoot" to KO an opponent's Dialga-G Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY, does Raichu Lv.X's "Link Lightning" Poke-BODY turn on and allow Raichu Lv.X to attack again?
A. Yes, once the Pokemon with Time Crystal is KO'd, Link Lightning can then activate and allow Raichu Lv.X a second attack (as long as Link Lightning's conditions are met). (Apr 2, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Deoxys & Rayquaza LEGEND knocks out a Dialga [G] Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY, does Deoxys & Rayquaza LEGEND's "Space Virus" Poke-BODY turn on in time for it to take two prizes?
A. When Dialga [G] Lv.X is KO'd and discarded, the Space Virus Poke-BODY turns back on and allows the player to take 1 more prize card. (Sep 23, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Gengar with the "Catastrophe" Poke-BODY knocks out Dialga [G] Lv.X with the "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY, does "Catastrophe" turn on in time for send Dialga [G] Lv.X to the Lost Zone rather than to the Discard Pile?
A. Time Crystal shuts off Poke-BODY's until it is out of play, in this case when Dialga [G] Lv.X goes to the Discard Pile. By that time it is too late for Catastrophe to send it to the Lost Zone. (Mar 24, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I just attacked the defending Dialga-G Lv.X with RR Shiftry's "Seal Off" attack, thus shutting down its "Time Crystal" Poke-BODY. On my opponent's turn, he/she retreats Dialga-G Lv.X, however I have a Dugtrio on my bench. Does Dugtrio's "Sinkhole" Poke-BODY put any damage counters on Dialga?
A. Yes, Sinkhole would place damage counters. Sinkhole is triggered and resolved before the Seal Off effect is cleared. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Time Walk    (Azelf - Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I rearrange the order of my prize cards after using Azelf's "Time Walk" Poke-POWER?
A. Yes, you can. (Oct 16, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I rearrange the order of my opponent's prize cards after they use Azelf's "Time Walk" Poke-POWER?
A. No, you may not. (Dec 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can Azelf's "Time Walk" Poke-POWER let you choose any of your prizes that have already been turned face-up due to Gallade's "Psychic Cut" or Mawile's "Pick Out" attacks?
A. No, Time Walk let's you look and choose from your face-down prize cards only. (Jan 28, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you perform Azelf's "Time Walk" with no cards in your hand just to look at your prizes and rearrange them?
A. The word "may" is used in the wording of Time Walk, so you can choose to look without switching. Since not switching is a legal choice, you can also choose to look even if you cannot switch. (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Toxic Virus    (Weezing - Great Encounters)

Q. If I have more than one Weezing in play, can I use its "Toxic Virus" multiple times?
A. Yes, you put one additional damage counter on each poisoned Pokemon for each Toxic Virus Poke-BODY in play. (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Trade Off    (Uxie Lv.X - Legends Awakened)

Q. Can you use Uxie Lv.X's "Trade Off" Poke-POWER when there's only 1 card left in your deck?
A. Yes. You would put the one card you drew into your hand, but nothing goes back into the deck. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Trick Reveal   

Q. If I don't have any cards in my hand, can I use my Mr. Mime's "Trick Reveal" Poke-POWER to look at my opponent's hand?
A. Yes. You still have a hand, it just has no cards in it. Show your (empty) hand when your opponent shows their hand. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Trump Card    (Slowking - Great Encounters)

Q. If I had two Pokemon KO'd during my previous turn, would Slowking's "Trump Card" Poke-POWER allow me to draw two cards?
A. No, "Trump Card" only allows you to draw one card regardless of how many Pokemon got Knocked Out the previous turn. (Mar 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have two Slowkings with the "Trump Card" Poke-POWER in play, would I get to use both of them during the turn after my opponent KO's one of my Pokemon?
A. Yes, in that situation you would get to draw one card for each "Trump Card" Poke-POWER you have in play. (Mar 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Undevelop    (Vaporeon - Rising Rivals; Jolteon - Rising Rivals; Flareon - Rising Rivals)

Q. If I use the "Undevelop" Poke-POWER to devolve Flareon, Jolteon, or Vaporeon, can I then use that same card (or another) to re-evolve Eevee again in the same turn?
A. No, you must wait until the following turn before you can evolve that Eevee again, unless you use Rare Candy, Broken Time-Space, etc. to bypass the normal evolutionary rules. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Unlucky Wind    (Shiftry - Rising Rivals)

Q. Shiftry's "Unlucky Wind" Poke-BODY says, "as long as Shiftry is your Active Pokémon, whenever your opponent flips a coin during his or her turn, treat it as tails". Does this apply to checking for Sleep?
A. No, checking for sleep "in between turns" is not the same as "during his or her turn". So if the flip for sleep is heads, the Pokemon will wake up. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

VACATION   

* Poké-Powers that end your turn are receiving errata to make it clear that you still end your turn if the Poké-Power is canceled, such as with Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray or by Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poké-Power. Unown V's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Power) Vacation - Once during your turn (before your attack), you may use this power. If you do, your turn ends. Remove 2 damage counters from each of your Pokémon. This power can't be used if Unown V is affected by a Special Condition". (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Volunteer    (Ninetales δ - Dragon Frontiers)

Q. Could I use Ninetales' "Volunteer" Poké-Power to get multiple Ninetales?
A. If the next Ninetales you brought into play also had the Volunteer Poké-Power, that Ninetales could use its Poké-Power Volunteer as well. (EX:Dragon Frontiers FAQ; Oct 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say a card is attached to Ninetales that can only be attached to an evolved Pokémon. If Ninetales then uses "Volunteer", does that card get discarded while Vulpix is in play?
A. Yes, it would get discarded since it has temporarily devolved into a Basic Pokémon. (Dec 7, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Garchomp Lv.X uses its "Restore" to bring up Ninetales (Delta Species) from the discard pile, can Ninetales use its "Volunteer" Poke-POWER to find another Ninetales or Ninetales-EX?
A. No. The Volunteer Poke-POWER must be able to leave a Vulpix in play. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Wash Shift    (Wash Rotom - Rising Rivals)

Q. If one of my Rotoms from the Rising Rivals set is affected by a special condition, can it use its Poke-POWER?
A. Yes. In general, you may use a Poke-POWER when your Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition, unless the power specifically says you cannot do so. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Water Rescue    (Floatzel [GL] Lv.X - Rising Rivals)

Q. If a Water type Pokemon is KO'd by Giratina's "Broken Space Blow" attack, can Floatzel GL Lv.X's "Water Rescue" Poke-BODY save it from going to the Lost Zone?
A. No. Water Rescue takes the cards from the discard pile, but the Water type Pokemon's cards aren't there to get. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Water-type Pokemon gets KO'd and sent to the Lost Zone, can Floatzel [GL] Lv.X's "Water Rescue" Poke-BODY recover any cards that were attached to it but not sent to the Lost Zone?
A. No, since the Pokemon never reached the Discard Pile, the other cards that were attached to it cannot be recovered. (Nov 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Water-type Pokemon with Rescue Energy attached gets KO'd, can Floatzel [GL] Lv.X's "Water Rescue" Poke-BODY recover the non-Pokemon cards that were attached to it?
A. No, since the Pokemon never reached the Discard Pile due to Rescue Energy, the other cards that were attached to it cannot be recovered. (Nov 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Floatzel GL Lv.X with "Water Rescue" on the Bench and my Kecleon is knocked out, does it return to my hand because of Kecleon's "Colorful Body" making it a Water Type Pokemon?
A. Yes, Kecleon would return back to your hand. The check for Water Rescue happens when a Pokemon is KO'd, even though the rescue is from the discard pile. It is still the same Pokemon in the discard pile, even if it isn't Water type any more. (Jun 18, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If an active Water Pokemon with Lucky Egg on it were to be Knocked Out while Floatzel [GL] Lv.X was on the bench, what would happen first - would you draw from Lucky Egg first, or would you return the cards to your hand with "Water Rescue" first?
A. It would be the player's choice whether to draw for Lucky Egg first or to return the cards to your hand first. (Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Waterlog    (Blastoise - Secret Wonders)

* Poké-Powers that end your turn are receiving errata to make it clear that you still end your turn if the Poké-Power is canceled, such as with Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray or by Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poké-Power. Blastoise's correct card text should read: "(Poké-Power) Waterlog - Once during your turn (before your attack), you may use this power. If you do, your turn ends. Attach as many basic {W} Energy cards from your hand to any of your Pokémon in any way you like. This power can't be used if Blastoise is affected by a Special Condition." (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Blastoise's "Waterlog" Poke-POWER to attach a bunch of Basic Water Energy cards to a Water or Grass type Pokemon, how many damage counters do I get to remove if Dawn Stadium is in play?
A. You get to remove one damage counter per each energy card that you attach, since Dawn Stadium triggers "whenever" you attach an energy card from your hand. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Mar 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Mar 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Blastoise's "Waterlog" Poke-POWER to attach a bunch of Basic Water energies onto a Forretress with the "Iron Shell" Poke-BODY, can I attach an energy, then flip for "Iron Shell", then attach another energy, then flip again, etc.?
A. No, when using Waterlog you attach all the energies first, and then after that you perform the Iron Shell flips for each of the energies that got attached to Forretress. (Apr 14, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Wild Growth    (Sceptile - Great Encounters; Meganium - Neo Genesis)

Q. If I have Sceptile with "Wild Growth" in play, do the Grass Energy cards I attach for Shaymin Lv.X's "Seed Flare" attack add +20 or +40 (twenty times two) each?
A. Seed Flare has been errata'd to calculate damage based on the number of Grass Energy CARDS, so each card would only add +20 regardless of how many Grass energies that card provides. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Sceptile with "Wild Growth" in play, do I get to remove 4 damage counters when I attach a Basic Grass Energy card to a Sceptile with the "Green Breath" Poke-BODY?
A. No, Green Breath only allows you to remove 2 damage counters when attaching a Grass Energy CARD, not per the number of energy that card provides. (Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Official Rulings on Trainer, Supporter and Stadium Cards.  (top)

* Fossils in General   

Q. Pokemon Breeder cannot be used on a Mysterious Fossil, since it is not a Basic Pokémon, correct?
A. It can. It counts as a basic Pokémon while in play. Omastar and Kabutops are Stage 2 Pokemon; you could use Breeder on Mysterious Fossil to skip to them. (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q208 & Q238)

Q. Can you put a Defender on Mysterious Fossil; likewise can you use Revive on a discarded Mysterious Fossil?
A. While the Fossil is in play it acts as a Basic so the Defender would work, however Revive says that it can bring back a Basic card, which the Fossil is not [when it's in the Discard Pile]. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. I assume that if Dark Vileplume is Active [which stops the play of Trainers], Mysterious Fossil cannot be played?
A. Correct. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q57)

Q. Can you use Strike and Run, or Call for Friends type attacks to retrieve Fossils from your deck? What about using Pokémon Retriever to get them from your discard pile?
A. No, you cannot search for a Fossil trainer with any Pokémon searching technique. (Jul 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

* While in play, Mysterious Fossil, Claw Fossil, and Root Fossil, count as both Trainer cards and as Pokémon. Previous rulings did not consider them to be "Trainer cards" while in play. (Apr 5, 2005 PUI Announcements; Apr 7, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. At the beginning of the game, can I start with a Mysterious/Claw/Root Fossil as my Active Pokémon even if I have another "real" Pokémon on the bench?
A. Yes, you can start with a Fossil Trainer card as your Active Pokémon, at the start of the game. (Oct 2, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can cards like Multi Technical Machine 01 or the various Mystery Plates be used by Mystery/Claw/Root Fossil to provide a usable attack?
A. Mysterious/Claw/Root Fossil states that it "has no attacks of its own" which does not preclude you from giving one to the Fossil which it can attack with. (Sep 18, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

* A Pokemon that evolves from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber" cannot evolve from "Mysterious Fossil". Likewise, a Pokemon that evolves from "Mysterious Fossil" cannot evolve from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber". (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

* Trainers in General   

• Any Diamond & Pearl or later cards that mention "Trainers" do not include any Supporters or Stadiums, even those that used to be labeled as Trainers in older sets. Pre-Diamond & Pearl cards that mention "Trainers" do include all Supporters and Stadiums from any set. (May 3, 2007 PUI Rules Team; Aug 30, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play more than one Trainer card on my turn?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Is there a difference between "trading" your cards such as Energy Retrieval and "discarding" your cards such as an Item Finder? Say that I only have one Energy in my discard pile, and I use Energy Retrieval using Energy to trade, You only are able to retrieve the Energy in your discard pile, not the card you traded. Right? Cause it would make sense about "trading".
A. Yes, that's right. (Mar 2, 2000 WotC Chat)

* When you use a Trainer card, first you pay the cost (if any), then you resolve the effect of the Trainer card, then you discard that Trainer card. So you could NOT use Item Finder to bring itself back from the discard pile (you would discard 2 other cards from your hand, then pull a Trainer card from your discard pile to your hand, THEN you would discard the Item Finder). (Mar 2, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. Can a Pokémon Tool be attached to a Pokémon that already has another trainer card (Defender,Plus Power,etc...) attached to it?
A. Yes you could attach a tool to a Pokémon that had another trainer on it (as long as it isn't a Tool as well). (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q29 & Q184)

Q. If I have one of the Unowns with a Poke-POWER that lets me attach it as a Tool, can I use it if there is already a Tool card attached?
A. No, you cannot have more than one Tool attached to a Pokemon; therefore you could not use Unown's Poke-POWER to make it a second Tool card. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Do Pokémon Tools stay attached to the Pokémon when it evolves?
A. Yup. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q24)

Q. Can you play 2 TM's together on your active Pokemon?
A. Yup. One attack per turn, doesn't matter if you have two copies of it. You can only use one cube to attack. You don't have two attacks. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q970 & Q992)

Q. As far as Supporters go, when you play one it tells you to lay it next to your active, first, does it stay attached to that active you put it on, or does it come back when they're benched, 2nd, Can you play down a Supporter, and use the effect for later in your turn, like laying one down, Elm'ing and then using it, or does the card go into effect immediately?
A. The Supporter is not actually attached to your active Pokemon. It's just used as a marker to show that you have already played a Supporter that turn. You use the Supporter when you play it. You merely lay it down next to the Active Pokemon so you don't forget that you played one that turn. (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q415 & Q473)

Q. Is there a clarification on the supporters as i have heard 3 different rulings of when you can USE the card? I mean like when do you do what the supporter card says, before your attack, at the end of your turn?
A. You can play 1 supporter at any point during your turn (before your attack). You play the effect immediately just as playing ANY trainer. You have to leave the supporter out though to indicate that you already played one this turn. At the end of the turn you discard it but you would have used its effect when you actaully played it from your hand. (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q7 & Q25)

Q. Last week you said that many cards (Lass, etc.) don't require shuffling their deck if they don't have any cards in their hand (Nov 30, 2000, Q4 & Q15). But, a previous ruling for Gambler said that you DO have to shuffle (May 11, 2000, Q131). Please clarify & confirm. Thanks.
A. Read every card...on Gambler it specifically states 'shuffle your hand into your deck'. Since your 'hand' can be a 'hand' of zero cards you could shuffle if you had no cards in your hand in this case. However, cards that say trade a card in your hand for one in your deck, and you don't have one to trade; you can't shuffle in that case. Lass says 'shuffle all Trainer cards in your hand back into your deck. If you have no trainers, you can't shuffle your deck. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. When you use a Trainer that requires you to shuffle your hand into your deck does that Trainer get shuffled back into the Deck too or does it go to the Discard Pile?
A. No, the trainer that you play doesn't go back into your deck. {When you played it, you put it down on the table. It is no longer in your hand] (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q190 & Q207)

Q. If I use Pokémon Trader or Energy Search and there aren't any Pokémon or Energy in my deck, do I have to show my deck to my opponent? If there isn't any in my deck, do I get to put the Pokémon Trader or Energy Search back in my hand either?
A. You don't have to show your deck and you don't put the trainer back in your hand [Ed. note: It goes into the discard pile]. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q80)

Q. Can Pokemon be Knocked Out partway through completing the Trainer card?
A. A Pokemon cannot be Knocked Out partway through the Trainer card. You must complete all of the actions of a Trainer card BEFORE you check for game state checks (to see if a Pokemon is Knocked out for example). (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

Q. Could I use the effect of a Stadium card already in play, then play a Stadium card from my hand to remove the old stadium, and still be able to use my new stadium's effect?
A. Yes, provided you have not already played a Stadium card that turn [and the new one has a different name]. (Nov 6, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Could I play a trainer if it's obvious that it will have no effect (i.e. Life Herb on a Pokémon without any damage and with no Special Conditions on it)?
A. No, you cannot play a card if it is obvious that you cannot do what the card is supposed to do at that moment. (Sep 22, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I have never had this come up and I can't find anything saying you can't, but can you attach 2 Technical Machines to the same Pokémon at the same time?
A. There are no restrictions on TM's that say you cannot, so yes you can. (Jan 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you attach multiple copies of the same TM to the same Pokémon?A. Sure. (Feb 23, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. The new Technical Machine cards [TS-1 and TS-2] don't say that they are discarded at the end of the turn. The rule book says that TMs do get discarded. Do these get discarded or does the rule book need updating?
A. No, they do not get discarded. This is correct for TM TS-1 and TM TS-2; there are some TM cards that get discarded and others remain attached to your Active Pokémon after using an attack. The current [Legends Awakened & Stormfront] rule book needs to be updated. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Alph Lithograph Four   

Q. Can I rearrange the order of my prize cards after using Alph Lithograph (number 4)?
A. Yes, you can. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Battle Frontier    (Power Keepers; Emerald)

Q. If I have a Dual-type Pokémon, say Darkness + Psychic, would Battle Frontier prevent it from using any "Poké-POWER" or "Poké-BODY"?
A. If one of the Pokémon's two types is Colorless, Darkness, or Metal, then yes its powers would be prevented. (May 5, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Battle Frontier prevent old-style "Pokémon Powers" from older sets (i.e. Base Set thru Neo Destiny)?
A. Yes, "Poké-POWER" and "Poké-BODY" cover all types of "Pokémon Powers, and the intent of Battle Frontier is to prevent all powers. (May 5, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Battle Tower   

Q. If you play Level Max to level up one of your benched Pokemon while the Battle Tower stadium is in play, do you get to remove 4 damage counters from that Pokemon or not?
A. No, you cannot remove any damage counters. Level Max has you search your deck for the Lv.X Pokemon, but Battle Tower only works when you play the Lv.X card from your hand. (Sep 24, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Bebe's Search    (Rising Rivals; Secret Wonders; Mysterious Treasures)

Q. Can I play Bebe's Search with no cards in my deck?
A. Yes. When you put a card on your deck as the first step, you will be able to do the search in the second step. (May 8, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. 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?
A. 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. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Beginning Door   

Q. Can I use Beginning Door to search for Arceus Lv.X?
A. Yes. Arceus Lv.X counts as being named "Arceus". (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Bench Shield   

Q. When using Swalot's "Entangle Tackle" attack, can I target Old Amber with the "Hard Amber" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with "Bench Shield" attached on my bench and prevent the bench damage from that attack?
A. Yes, you can choose Old Amber or a Pokemon with Bench Shield attached as your benched Pokemon to receive Entangle Tackle's bench damage and it will be prevented. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Bill's Maintenance    (OP Series 5; Crystal Guardians; Fire Red Leaf Green; Others)

Q. Can I use Bill's Maintenance if it is the only card in my hand? In other words, do I have to be able to shuffle a card into my hand in order to use it?
A. Nope. If you can't put a card into your deck then you don't get to draw three. (Nov 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q307)

Black Belt   

Q. If I have more prizes remaining than my opponent and I play Black Belt, but then I KO one or more of my opponent's Pokemon before I attack, would I still be able to use the effect of Black Belt if I'm no longer behind on prizes?
A. Yes, you can. The requirement of being behind on prizes is just for playing the card, and once it's in play you can use its effect even if you are no longer behind. (Jan 27, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Broken Time-Space    (Platinum)

Q. If the "Broken Time-Space" stadium is in effect, can I evolve a Pokemon on the same turn it comes into play? And what if the Pokemon comes into play first, and then I play the stadium?
A. Whenever "Broken Time-Space" is in play as a stadium you can evolve your Pokemon as much as you like, regardless of when it comes into play. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I go second, can I use "Broken Time-Space" stadium to evolve a Pokemon that was already in play as part of my pre-game setup?
A. Yes, you may. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If the Broken Time-Space stadium is in play, can I use Rare Candy on a Basic Pokemon that just came into play this turn?
A. No, the wording of Rare Candy specifically says "you can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this turn". Broken Time-Space does not allow you to override that. (Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Buck's Training    (Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I use Buck's Training if there are no cards left in my deck? And if so, would I still get the +10 attack bonus?
A. No, you have to be able to draw at least one card from your deck in order to play Buck's Training. (Sep 25, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I forgot to discard Buck's Training at the end of my turn and it is still next to my active on the following turn, do I get 10 more damage to my attack?
A. No. Discarding the Supporter at the end of your turn is not optional. If you forgot to do it, you have to correct the game state and discard it. It does not count as being in play for the next turn. (Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Under the new Black & White rules, Supporters go to the Discard Pile when played. So does that mean that the part on Buck's Training which says "As long as Buck's Training is next to your Active Pokemon..." won't work any more?
A. Yes, it will still work. The intent is that the effect works during the turn when the Supporter was played. So even though Buck's Training is in the Discard Pile, each of your Active Pokemon's attacks does 10 more damage to the Active Pokemon. (Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Smeargle's "Portrait" Poke-POWER and choose "Buck's Training" in the opponent's hand, would I get the added +10 attack bonus or not, since "Buck's Training" is not actually next to my Active Pokemon?
A. Yes, it will still work. The intent is that the effect works during the turn when the Supporter was played. So even though Buck's Training is in the opponent's hand, each of your Active Pokemon's attacks does 10 more damage to the Active Pokemon. (Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Gardevoir's "Telepass" to copy an opponent's "Buck's Training", would I get the added +10 attack bonus or not, since "Buck's Training" is not actually next to my Active Pokemon?
A. Yes, it will still work. The intent is that the effect works during the turn when the Supporter was played. So even though Buck's Training is in the opponent's Discard Pile, each of your Active Pokemon's attacks does 10 more damage to the Active Pokemon. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Buck's Training says, "as long as Buck's Training is next to your Active Pokemon, each of your Active Pokemon's attacks does 10 more damage to the Active Pokemon". Does this mean that your Pokemon can damage itself???
A. Well, if either your Active Pokemon or your opponent's Active Pokemon receive damage by an attack in this situation, that Pokemon receives 10 more damage while Buck's Training is in play. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Castaway    (Crystal Guardians)

Q. If I use Castaway, can I voluntarily choose to not take one or all of the cards mentioned even if they are in my deck? Like can I take a Supporter and a Tool, but skip the Basic Energy? Or can I choose to take nothing at all?
A. The game has no knowledge of the contents of your deck, so you can choose to not take any of those cards. But you must still search through your deck and shuffle afterwards regardless. (Apr 24, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Celio's Network    (Crystal Guardians; EX Trainer Kit 2; Fire Red Leaf Green)

Q. Can I use Celio's Network to search my deck for a Pokémon LV.X?
A. Yes, you can. Earlier card references of "Basic Pokémon or Evolution card" refers to Pokémon in general, which includes Pokémon LV.X. (May 10, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Cessation Crystal    (Crystal Guardians)

Q. Does Cessation Crystal stop "Pokémon Powers" on older cards (like "Rain Dance")?
A. Yes, since it stops both Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies, it also stops older Pokémon Powers too. (Oct 5, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I my Active Pokémon with Cessation Crystal attached gets KO'd, and I bring up another Pokémon with Cessation Crystal attached, does the second Cessation Crystal activate instantaneously so that there isn't a gap in the effect of the Cessation Crystal? Or is there a small slice of time that Cessation Crystal isn't active, allowing the use of Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies?
A. Nope, the replacement is instantaneous so there is no "time" when there is not a Cessation Crystal in effect. (Feb 8, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if my opponent retreats their Active Pokémon for one that has Cessation Crystal attached, but I have Skarmory-EX with "Metal Gravity"? Would my Skarmory-EX's "Metal Gravity" get to place any damage counters on that Pokémon or not?
A. Yes. By the time Cessation Crystal is active, the Metal Gravity Poké-BODY has already been set in motion and is not shut off. (Apr 26, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I use Palkia LV.X's "Restructure" Poke-POWER, but then my opponent brings up one of my benched Pokemon with a Cessation Crystal attached. It is now my turn to choose one of their Pokemon to bring up, but does the Cessation Crystal negate the second part of "Restructure" now that it is active?
A. No. Restructure would finish resolving, as Cessation Crystal does not prevent a Poke-POWER's effect that has already been started. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I use Electrode's "Ion Blast" attack and it KO's itself. If I bring up a Pokemon from my bench with Cessation Crystal attached, is Electrode's "Energy Shift" Poke-POWER shut off before it can activate?
A. No, the new Pokemon is not even brought up until all effects from the KO (including "Energy Shift") have been resolved. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have Cessation Crystal attached to an Eevee, and evolve it to an -EX evolution with a Poké-POWER that activates when it comes into play (i.e. Flareon-EX with "Evolutionary Flame), can you use that power [since you have to discard the Cessation Crystal when you evolve into the EX]?
A. Since these actions both happen at the same time, it would be player's choice to resolve it in the order that they want. (Apr 19, 2007 PUI Rules Team; Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Feraligatr uses "Drag Off" against an Active Pokémon with Cessation Crystal attached, does it get to use its "Battle Aura" Poké-BODY to do +10x to the Pokémon brought up from the bench (assuming it does not have a Cessation Crystal attached)?
A. Yes, when the Cessation Crystal Pokémon goes to the bench, the Battle Aura turns on before the damage is done. Drag Off delays doing damage until the switch is made; therefore, Battle Aura can take effect. (Apr 19, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Scenario: Player A has a Stantler with Cessation Crystal with 40 damage; Player B has a Gengar with Cursed Powder with 80 damage. Player A attacks for 20 damage to KO the Gengar, then Cursed Powder on Gengar is triggered to KO Stantler at the same time. Would Gengar's "Shadow Curse" Poké-POWER trigger because Stantler is KO'd from the Cursed Powder? Or does it all happen at the same time?
A. Gengar's Shadow Curse would be turned off by Cessation Crystal during the period in which the Poké-POWER could be triggered. At the point when Cessation Crystal is no longer in play, Gengar would have already gone to the discard pile. (Apr 26, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. My Lucario LV.X comes into play, uses its Poke-POWER "Stance". If I play Cessation Crystal on it, or if my opponent plays a Cessation Crystal on his or her turn, does the "Stance" effect end?
A. No. Cessation Crystal does not cancel the effects of a Poke-POWER that was used prior to Cessation Crystal coming into play. (PUI Rules Team, Sep 18th, 2007)

Charon's Choice    (Rising Rivals)

Q. If I shuffle Rotom into my deck using "Charon's Choice", but I don't find any other Rotom, can I choose the same one and put it back?
A. Actually, you search your deck first, then when you find a Rotom you put your original Rotom on the deck to be shuffled. If you don't take a Rotom from your deck, your original Rotom stays in play, including any effects or Special Conditions it may have. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use "Charon's Choice", can I get the same type of Rotom as I currently have in play, or does it have to be different?
A. Yes, it can be the same type. For example, if you have a Mow Rotom in play, using Charon's Choice you may choose any Rotom from your deck, even another Mow Rotom. When you switch, remove effects and Special Conditions from the new Rotom, but keep all damage counters and cards attached. (PL:Rising Rivals FAQ; May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Sableye's "Impersonate" attack to search for a supporter and I find "Charon's Choice" and use its effect, does Charon's Choice go back into my hand at the end of my turn or do I discard it per Sableye's attack?
A. When using Impersonate, the Charon's Choice card goes to the discard pile rather than next to the Active Pokemon. Since it is already in the discard pile, you cannot bring the Charon's Choice card back into your hand. (Jun 11, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Copycat    (Dragon Frontiers; Team Rocket Returns; Expedition)

Q. Can I use the Supporter "Copycat" when my opponent has no cards in his or her hand?
A. Yes, you can. Shuffle your hand into your deck, but don't draw any cards. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play the Supporter "Copycat" when it's the only card in my hand?
A. Yes, you can. Shuffle your deck, then draw cards equal to the number of cards in your opponent's hand. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Crystal Beach    (Crystal Guardians)

Q. Will Crystal Beach also shut off the special effects of double and triple Energy cards?
A. Crystal Beach only changes the Energy produced; it does not change any of the other extra effects of the Energy card (card name, discarding Boost, damage reduction of DRE, etc.). (Dec 7, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Crystal Shard    (Crystal Guardians; Deoxys; Skyridge)

Q. If I have a Kecleon with several basic Energy cards attached and I attach a Crystal Shard to it, does its Type change back to Colorless or does its Power override the Tool? Would it be 100% Colorless or would one of its Types become Colorless (and you would get to choose which Type now is Colorless)?
A. Crystal Shard does override the Poké-BODY, and a Pokémon Crystal Shard is attached to becomes "Colorless" only. (Jan 29, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Darkness Energy attached to a Darkness-type Pokémon, and then I attach a Crystal Shard to that Pokémon, does it get to use the Darkness Energy card's +10 bonus damage or not?
A. When you attach a Crystal Shard the Pokémon becomes Colorless, so you would no longer get the +10 bonus for that. (Apr 15, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you attach Crystal Shard to a colorless Pokemon?
A. Yes, you can. It may not change its type, but it does change the fact that it now has a Tool card attached to it. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. So if I put Crystal Shard on TM's Groudon, it becomes Colorless. But would it do 4 X damage to a Colorless Weak Pokémon? Do Dual Types have 2 types or are they only 1 type that consists of 2 umm errrr types?
A. Just because a Pokémon starts out with two types doesn't mean that Crystal Shard makes it a "double colorless" type. Only one colorless; it would not do 4x damage. (Apr 15, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you use Crystal Shard on a dual-type Pokémon (like TM Groudon), would it become "competely colorless" or can you choose only one of the types to be replaced?
A. It would become a single-type colorless Pokémon as long as the Crystal Shard is attached. (Feb 17, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Crystal Shard attached to a confused pokemon and flip tails, do I have to discard Crystal Shard or can I keep it?
A. A failed confusion flip is still considered an attack. So you would have to discard the Crystal Shard. (Sep 15, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you attach Crystal Shard to Salamence-EX and then later during the same turn use its "Type Shift" Poké-POWER, what color would Salamence-EX become?
A. As long as Crystal Shard is attached, Salamence-EX's type remains colorless. (Feb 8, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Cynthia's Guidance   

Q. If I play Cynthia's Guidance, can I choose to not take a card?
A. Not if you have any cards in your deck. It is known that you have cards in your deck, you are not searching for a specific type of card. (Supreme Victors FAQ; Aug 27, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Dawn Stadium    (Majestic Dawn)

Q. If I use Blastoise's "Waterlog" Poke-POWER to attach a bunch of Basic Water Energy cards to a Water or Grass type Pokemon, how many damage counters do I get to remove if Dawn Stadium is in play?
A. You get to remove one damage counter per each energy card that you attach, since Dawn Stadium triggers "whenever" you attach an energy card from your hand. (May 29, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Mar 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Mar 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Shaymin Lv.X's "Seed Flare" attack let's me attach Grass Energy from my hand to as many Pokemon as I as I like. If I have Dawn Stadium in play, and 3 heavily damaged Grass Pokemon, and I attach 2 Grass Energy cards to each one with Shaymin's attack, how much damage do I remove?
A. Dawn Stadium's effect is activated once for each time you attach an energy card to a Grass or Water Pokemon. In this case, you'll remove one damage counter for each energy card you attach to these Grass Pokemon. (Mar 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Mar 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Defender    (Base)

* The wording of Defender is now as follows, "Attach Defender to 1 of your Pokémon. Discard this card at the end of your opponent’s next turn. Any damage done to the Pokémon Defender is attached to by attacks is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)." Defender now protects against all attacks, even ones not made by the opponent. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I attach Defender to Drifblim and do "Balloon Tackle", does Defender prevent the 20 self damage from that attack?
A. Yes. Play Defender as if the damage prevention wording was printed, "Any damage done by attacks to the Pokemon Defender is attached to is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)." (Aug 19, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Dome Fossil    (Majestic Dawn)

* A Pokemon that evolves from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber" cannot evolve from "Mysterious Fossil". Likewise, a Pokemon that evolves from "Mysterious Fossil" cannot evolve from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber". (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Dual Ball    (Crystal Guardians; Delta Species; Team Aqua-Team Magma; Others)

Q. If I flip two heads with "Dual Ball" can I choose both halves of a LEGEND Pokemon?
A. No, because LEGEND are not Basic Pokemon, you cannot choose them with Dual Ball. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Exchanger   

Q. Can I use Energy Exchanger to trade a Basic Energy for a Special Energy card?
A. Yes, the Trainer does not restrict its effect to only Basic Energy cards. (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Recycle System    (Power Keepers; Unseen Forces; Dragon)

Q. With Energy Recycle System, do you have to shuffle 3 energies in or can you do only 2? Or what happens if you only have 2 in your discard pile; can you shuffle the two in or not? The card doesn't say "up to" like some other cards do.
A. If there are less than 3 basic energy cards in the discard pile, you would return all of them to your deck if you chose that option. (Sep 21, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Are you allowed to play Energy Recycle System if you have no basic energy cards in your discard pile?
A. No, you are not allowed. "Search" is used here as a general term. (Mar 18, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Returner   

Q. If I have less than 4 energy cards in my discard pile, can I play "Energy Returner"?
A. Only if you have at least one energy in your discard. If you have less than 4 energy, return all of them to your deck. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Energy Search    (Majestic Dawn; DP Trainer Kit 1 (Gold); DP Trainer Kit 1 (Blue); Others)

Q. If you use an Energy Search and don't find any Basic Energy, do you still discard the Energy Search?
A. Yes, you would still discard it. (Jan 15, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you use an Energy Search and don't find any Basic Energy, can you then play another Energy Search even though you know it will fail?
A. Yes, you can search for energy cards even if you know you won't find them. They exist as legal cards, therefore they can be searched for. (Jan 15, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Jan 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Engineer's Adjustments   

Q. If I don't discard an energy, can I play "Engineer's Adjustments"?
A. No. You must be able to discard an energy to play the card. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Expert Belt   

Q. If a Pokemon with "Expert Belt" attached is Knocked Out by Poison damage, does the opponent take an additional Prize card?
A. Yes he must. (Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Active Pokemon with "Expert Belt" attached knocks out Gengar and the coin flip result on "Fainting Spell" is heads, Does my opponent get to draw 2 prize cards or just one?
A. Expert Belt says, "When the Pokemon this card is attached to is Knocked Out, your opponent takes one more prize card." It doesn't matter how that Pokemon is knocked out, so even with Fainting Spell the opponent would get to draw 2 prizes for KO'ing a Pokemon with Expert Belt attached. (Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if I have Luxray with an "Expert Belt" attached, use its "Gadget Bolt" attack and discard the Expert Belt to KO my opponent's Gengar, but my opponent flips heads for Gengar's "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER? Does my opponent take two prizes or just one?
A. The tool was discarded as part of the attack prior to the check for Fainting Spell. So the opponent only gets to take one prize. (Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Luxray has "Expert Belt" attached and uses the attack "Gadget Bolt" for 100, does it receive the +20 damage bonus for "Expert Belt" even though the effect of "Gadget Bolt" discards the "Expert Belt"?
A. Yes, it gets to add the +20 bonus because attack damage is calculated before effects of the attack are performed. (Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have "Expert Belt" attached to Rampardos and knock out my opponent's Pokemon with "Head Smash", does Rampardos deal 40 or 60 damage to itself?
A. It only deals 40 damage to itself. Expert Belt only adds to damage done to the opponent's Active Pokemon. (Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have "Expert Belt" attached to Mismagius and discard it using its "Crash Chant" attack, does it deal 40 or 20 damage?
A. It only does 20 damage. Crash Chant's attack text specifies that you discard the Tools/TMs as soon as they are chosen and then calculate the attacks damage based on the number of Tools/TMs discarded. By the step where you modify that damage for the effect of Expert Belt, it is no longer attached to Mismagius. (Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Mismagius' "Crash Chant" attack to discard an "Expert Belt" attached to the Defending Pokemon and Knock it out, do I get to draw two prize cards or only one?
A. You only get one prize. Since the check for Knock Out happens after the Pokemon Tool is discarded by the effect of the Crash Chant attack, the Expert Belt's effect is gone. (Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my opponent's Ho-oh has "Expert Belt" attached and would be KO'd by damage from an attack, but the coin flip for its "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER comes up heads, do I get to draw two prize cards or only one?
A. You draw 1 prize. Phoenix Turn is resolved after fully processing the attack but before processing Knock Outs. Expert Belt's extra prize effect only applies if it is in play when the Pokemon is removed from play due to Knock Out (or would be removed, in Ho-Oh's case). Since it was discarded prior to this by Phoenix Turn, you don't get the extra prize. (Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have "Expert Belt" attached to a Weezing with the "Camouflage Gas" Poke-BODY and it's Confused, does my opponent get to take any prizes when Weezing is knocked out?
A. No. Since they don't take the first prize due to Weezing's Poke-BODY, they can't draw an extra one for Expert Belt. (Nov 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I were to knock out my opponent's Pokemon with "Expert Belt" attached using Electivire Lv.X's "Pulse Barrier" attack, do I take two prizes?
A. No, since the Expert Belt is discarded before the KO check. (Nov 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have an Expert Belt attached to Dusknoir Lv.X and it would be knocked out from damage, is Expert Belt discarded before prize cards are taken? In other words, would the opponent take 1 or 2 prize cards as Dusknoir Lv.X moves into a stadium due to its "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER?
A. Dusknoir is still a Knocked Out Pokemon and Expert Belt is attached at the time the Knock Out is checked for, so the opponent would draw 2 prize cards. (Dec 10, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Felicity's Drawing    (Great Encounters)

Q. Can I discard 0 cards from my hand when playing Felicity's Drawing?
A. No. You may either discard 1 or 2 cards; there is not an option to discard 0 cards. (DP:Great Encounters FAQ; Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Fisherman    (Skyridge)

Q. When I use the Supporter "Fisherman," can I put less than 4 Basic Energy cards from my discard pile into my hand?
A. If you have 4 or more Basic Energy cards in the discard pile you must put exactly 4 of them into your hand. But if there are less than 4 Basic Energy cards in the discard pile, you must take them all. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Flower Shop Lady   

Q. When using "Flower Shop Lady", do I have to put all 3 Pokemon and all 3 Basic Energy cards into my deck, or can I choose to return only 1 or 2 (or none) of each?
A. You must return all three of each if you are able to (or as many as you can if you have less than three). The card does not say "up to 3". (HS:Undaunted FAQ; Sep 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Fossil Excavator    (Majestic Dawn; Mysterious Treasures)

Q. Can I use Fossil Excavator to retrieve Old Amber or Aerodactyl?
A. No, because Old Amber does not contain the word "Fossil" in its name, and an Aerodactyl that evolves from Old Amber cannot
be retrieved by Fossil Excavator either. But you can still retrieve an Aerodactyl that evolves from "Mysterious Fossil".
(May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Galactic HQ    (Platinum)

Q. Say Ampharos with the "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY is in play on the opponent's side and a stadium such "Galactic HQ" or "Miasma Valley" is in play. If I evolve a Pokemon with a Poke-POWER or put a Basic Pokemon with a Poke-POWER from my hand onto the bench, would I be able to use that Poke-POWER before the damage counters from the stadium are placed?
A. No, you could not. Before declaring the Poke-POWER, the damage counters from the stadium are placed. The Pokemon then becomes affected by Ampharos' "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY and therefore cannot use its Poke-POWER. (Apr 9, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Good Rod   

Q. If you have don't have a Pokemon or a Trainer in your discard pile, can you play "Good Rod"?
A. No. You can't play a trainer or supporter if it's public knowledge that it won't have any game effect. If you have at least one Trainer or Pokemon in your discard pile, you can play Good Rod. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Great Ball    (Stormfront; Power Keepers; Delta Species; Others)

* The wording of Great Ball is now as follows, "Look at the top 7 cards of your deck. You may reveal a Pokémon you find there and put it into your hand. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck." This card works very differently now; it can no longer search the entire deck for a Pokémon and put it directly onto Bench. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Helix Fossil    (Majestic Dawn)

* A Pokemon that evolves from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber" cannot evolve from "Mysterious Fossil". Likewise, a Pokemon that evolves from "Mysterious Fossil" cannot evolve from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber". (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Holon Circle    (Crystal Guardians)

* Holon Circle works like this: You announce the attack - before ANYTHING else, the attack ends. No "Smokescreen", no Spinda, no discarding cards...nothing. (Nov 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I announce an attack but cannot meet the energy requirements for that attack, is Holon Circle discarded or not?
A. No, if you don't meet the energy requirements for the attack, you cannot discard the Holon Circle stadium. (Jul 17, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Interviewer's Questions   

Q. When I use "Interviewer's Questions" and I don't want to choose some or all of the energy I find, do I show those energy cards to my opponent?
A. Show only the energy cards you chose to your opponent. Don't reveal any cards you will shuffle back in. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Island Hermit    (Dragon Frontiers)

Q. Island Hermit states "Choose up to 2" can I choose not to reveal any of my Prize cards?
A. No. If you have any face-down Prize cards, you must put at least one of them face-up. But if all of your Prize cards are face-up, you can still play this Trainer card and draw 2 cards. (EX:Dragon Frontiers FAQ; Oct 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Judge   

Q. What happens if a player has no hand when "Judge" is played?
A. The player shuffles his or her deck and draws 4 cards (or as many cards as possible if the deck contains less than 4 cards). (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Junk Arm   

Q. Can I use Junk Arm if there aren't any trainer cards already in the Discard Pile?
A. No, you cannot play Junk Arm unless there is at least one Trainer card already in the Discard Pile beforehand. (Dec 9, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When the Junk Arm trainer says "you can't choose Junk Arm", does it mean any Junk Arm already in the Discard Pile, or just this specific card?
A. It means you can't get any Junk Arm cards from the Discard Pile. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Lake Boundary    (Mysterious Treasures)

Q. How does "Lake Boundary" affect Pokemon that have had their Weakness removed or reduced to zero?
A. It only affects Pokemon that have Weakness, changing the modifier for that Weakness to x2 instead of whatever other modifier that Pokémon may have had. If the weakness has been reduced to zero, then zero times two is still zero. (Mysterious Treasures FAQ; Aug 23, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Legend Box   

Q. On the part of Legend Box where it talks about "you can play only 1 Pokemon LEGEND in this way", is that just for the play of the card, or for the entire game?
A. It only lasts for as long as the Trainer is being used. It just means that if you reveal two or more complete Pokemon LEGENDs that you can only put one of them onto your bench for that trainer card played. (Sep 23, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Level Max    (Platinum)

Q. Can I use Level MAX to level up a Benched Pokemon?
A. Yes, you can. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Level MAX on a Pokemon that I just put into play or evolved this turn?
A. Yes, you can. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you play Level Max to level up one of your benched Pokemon while the Battle Tower stadium is in play, do you get to remove 4 damage counters from that Pokemon or not?
A. No, you cannot remove any damage counters. Level Max has you search your deck for the Lv.X Pokemon, but Battle Tower only works when you play the Lv.X card from your hand. (Sep 24, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Looker's Investigation    (Platinum)

Q. If player a uses Looker's Investigation and decides that they want to draw the cards, can they choose zero as their up to amount?
A. No, the player must draw at least one card if they are able to. (Feb 19, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Lost World   

Q. If my opponent has 6 or more Pokemon cards in his or her Lost Zone after my Pokemon uses its attack, but prior to the start of my opponent's turn, can I declare myself the winner with the effect of the "Lost World" Stadium?
A. No, you can't. You can only declare victory with the effect of Lost World prior to your Pokemon using an attack. Once you begin your attack, you cannot use Lost World's effect. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Let's say I have no cards left in my deck when my opponent's turn ends, the "Lost World" Stadium is in play and my opponent has 6 Pokemon cards in the Lost Zone. Can I declare myself the winner at the beginning of my turn, before drawing a card from my deck?
A. No you can't. You can only declare yourself the winner with the effect of Lost World during your turn, but since you can't draw a card from your Deck you cannot start your turn, and therefore you lose. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If a Stage 2 Pokemon or Leveled Up Pokemon is put in the Lost Zone, does that count as one Pokemon towards the 6 Pokemon needed for a player to declare themselves a winner when "Lost World" is in play?
A. No. Each Pokemon card counts toward the 6, including Basic, Stage 1, Stage 2, and Level Up Pokemon cards. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Do the individual pieces of LEGEND Pokemon count toward the 6 Pokemon needed for a player to declare themselves a winner when "Lost World" is in play?
A. Yes, each LEGEND Pokemon card counts as one Pokemon toward the requirement. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If an Unown-Q is put into the Lost Zone while it is attached to a Pokemon as a Tool, would it count toward the 6 Pokemon needed for a player to declare themselves a winner when "Lost World" is in play?
A. Yes. Once it is no longer in play, it reverts to being a Pokemon card again. (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Lucky Egg   

* Three cards have been added to the list of errata for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. [...] The text below reflects what the card should say, not what was originally printed. "When the Pokémon this card is attached to is Knocked Out by damage from an opponent's attack and put into your discard pile, draw cards until you have 7 cards in your hand." If the Pokémon does not go to the discard pile (for example, if it goes to the Lost Zone, etc.), you do not get to draw the cards. (May 7, 2010 TPCi TCG Errata Update)

Q. If my Jirachi has a "Lucky Egg" Pokemon Tool attached, what happens when it is knocked out from damage so that both the "Final Wish" Poke-POWER and the "Lucky Egg" tool are triggered?
A. Final Wish is resolved first. Effects that happen when the Pokemon "would be knocked out" are resolved before effects that happen when it "is knocked out". (Nov 19, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When a Pokemon with "Lucky Egg" attached gets KO'd, do you draw cards before replacing the knocked out Pokemon?
A. Replacing your Active Pokemon is part of the KO action, so you need to complete that first before drawing. You promote your new Active Pokemon first, then draw your cards for Lucky Egg. (Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have a Lucky Egg attached to Dusknoir Lv.X with the "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER and it would be knocked out from damage, is Lucky Egg discarded before you get to draw until you have 7 cards?
A. Since the Dusknoir LV.X is not discarded due to Ectoplasm, you do not get to draw any cards for Lucky Egg. (May 27, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Ho-oh has "Lucky Egg" attached and would be KO'd by damage from an attack, but the coin flip for its "Phoenix Turn" Poke-POWER comes up heads, do I get to draw until I have 7 cards in my hand due to "Lucky Egg" or not?
A. Since Ho-Oh is not discarded you can't use the drawing effect of Lucky Egg. (Nov 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Jun 3, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If an active Water Pokemon with Lucky Egg on it were to be Knocked Out while Floatzel [GL] Lv.X was on the bench, what would happen first - would you draw from Lucky Egg first, or would you return the cards to your hand with "Water Rescue" first?
A. It would be the player's choice whether to draw for Lucky Egg first or to return the cards to your hand first. (Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Miasma Valley    (Platinum)

Q. Say Ampharos with the "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY is in play on the opponent's side and a stadium such "Galactic HQ" or "Miasma Valley" is in play. If I evolve a Pokemon with a Poke-POWER or put a Basic Pokemon with a Poke-POWER from my hand onto the bench, would I be able to use that Poke-POWER before the damage counters from the stadium are placed?
A. No, you could not. Before declaring the Poke-POWER, the damage counters from the stadium are placed. The Pokemon then becomes affected by Ampharos' "Damage Bind" Poke-BODY and therefore cannot use its Poke-POWER. (Apr 9, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Lumineon's Poke-POWER "Fin Luster" to place a basic fire type pokemon from my opponent's hand onto his or her bench would Miasma Valley place 2 damage counters on it?
A. Yes, you would place the 2 damage counters for Miasma Valley. Despite the wording of Fin Luster, it is still the opponent putting their own Pokemon onto their own Bench. (Apr 16, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If a LEGEND Pokemon is played down from your hand and a Miasma Valley stadium card is in play, do you put 2 damage counters on the LEGEND Pokemon (assuming that it isn't a Grass or Psychic type), or not?
A. No, you would not. Miasma Valley looks at the actual type of Pokemon printed on the card; it has to say "Basic Pokemon" on the card, and Legend Pokemon are not considered Basics. (Jul 15, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Moomoo Milk   

Q. Do I need to have a current version of "Moomoo Milk" outside my deck if I'm playing the older versions of the card in Modified Format?
A. Technically speaking the "Heart Gold/Soul Silver" version is a different card and it does not do the same thing as the older versions used to (it removes more damage counters now). So you cannot play "Moo-Moo Milk" from "Neo Genesis" nor "Expedition" in the current 2009-2010 Modified Format. (Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Mr. Stone's Project    (Dragon Frontiers; Holon Phantoms; Emerald)

Q. When using Mr. Stone's Project, if I choose to look for basic Energy cards in my deck and can't find the ones I want, is it okay to get some from my discard pile?
A. No. When you play the Supporter card, you must choose either your deck or your discard pile. But remember, you can look through your discard pile at any time during the game. (May 5, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Mysterious Fossil    (Power Keepers; Holon Phantoms; Legend Maker; Others)

Q. The new Mysterious Fossil trainer from EX:Legend Maker now has 50hp rather than the old 10hp versions. Does this mean that I now play the older versions as 50hp too?
A. Yes it does. Treat all Mysterious Fossil cards as if they have 50hp. (EX:Legend Maker FAQ; Feb 16, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

* A Pokemon that evolves from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber" cannot evolve from "Mysterious Fossil". Likewise, a Pokemon that evolves from "Mysterious Fossil" cannot evolve from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber". (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Night Teleporter   

Q. When using Night Teleporter, can the card I put in my hand be one of the cards that I put on top of my deck?
A. Yes. (Supreme Victors FAQ; Aug 27, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Old Amber    (Majestic Dawn)

* A Pokemon that evolves from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber" cannot evolve from "Mysterious Fossil". Likewise, a Pokemon that evolves from "Mysterious Fossil" cannot evolve from "Dome Fossil", "Helix Fossil", or "Old Amber". (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play Old Amber as a Basic Pokemon during setup, like we do with other Fossil cards?
A. Old Amber is considered part of the fossil group in general, but not as a Fossil by name. So you may play it as a Basic Pokemon during setup, and you must play it if you have no other Basic Pokemon or other Fossil cards in your hand. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Fossil Excavator to retrieve Old Amber or Aerodactyl?
A. No, because Old Amber does not contain the word "Fossil" in its name, and an Aerodactyl that evolves from Old Amber cannot be retrieved by Fossil Excavator either. But you can still retrieve an Aerodactyl that evolves from "Mysterious Fossil". (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I direct the bench damage from Zapdos' "Raging Thunder" attack to my Old Amber and have it prevented by Old Amber's "Hard Amber" Poke-BODY?
A. Sure, that will work. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When using Swalot's "Entangle Tackle" attack, can I target Old Amber with the "Hard Amber" Poke-BODY or a Pokemon with "Bench Shield" attached on my bench and prevent the bench damage from that attack?
A. Yes, you can choose Old Amber or a Pokemon with Bench Shield attached as your benched Pokemon to receive Entangle Tackle's bench damage and it will be prevented. (PL:Arceus FAQ; Nov 5, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Phoebe's Stadium    (Power Keepers)

Q. Phoebe's Stadium says, "Each player pays {C}{C} less to retreat his or her {P} Pokémon." Does this count as reducing the Pokémon's Retreat Cost?
A. Yes. If another Pokémon has an attack that does damage based on the Psychic Pokémon's Retreat Cost, that attack would do damage based on the modified retreat cost (subtract {C}{C}). (EX:Power Keepers FAQ; Feb 1, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

PlusPower    (Platinum; Secret Wonders; Diamond and Pearl; Others)

* Three cards have been added to the list of errata for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. [...] The text below reflects what the card should say, not what was originally printed. "If the Pokémon PlusPower is attached to attacks, the attack does 10 more damage to the Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance)." This is to match past versions of the card. Also, if the Pokémon uses an attack that would damage itself, PlusPower would also affect that damage. (May 6, 2010 PUI Rules Team; May 7, 2010 TPCi TCG Errata Update)

* The wording of PlusPower is now as follows, "During this turn, your Pokémon's attacks do 10 more damage to the Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance)." This card no longer attaches to a Pokémon when used. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you attach more than one PlusPower to a Pokémon? 2,3,4?
A. Well you can have up to 4 in your deck, so if you had all 4 in your hand you could use them all at once yes. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q157)

Q. Can I play a PlusPower then a Gambler, and play another PlusPower I got from the Gambler?
A. Yes, you can. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Situation: Hitmonchan vs. Mime. Hitmonchan has 2 PlusPowers attached. He Jabs Mr. Mime for 20. Is this considered a KO, or do the PlusPowers add 20 to the attack itself (for 40) and so fail due to Mr. Mime's Invisible Barrier?
A. Trainer card effects are added before Pokémon Powers are figured, so the attack would do 40 total, which Mr. Mime's Pokémon Power would negate. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. If you attach a PlusPower to your active Pokémon and then [Switch] and then advance that Pokémon, will the PlusPower still be in effect?
A. Yes, it will. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I put a PlusPower on my Pokémon and evolve do I discard the PlusPower?
A. Nope. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q132)

Q. If you use a PlusPower on a attack that does 0 damage, will it do 10 damage? Like for example, Kangaskhan's Fetch will it do 10 damage with a PlusPower?
A. No, PlusPower will only add 10, *if* damage is done. Fetch doesn't do damage. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. Does a PlusPower work with Hitmonlee's Stretch Kick attack?
A. It does not. Pluspower only adds to the total if the attack does damage to the [Active] Pokémon only. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q87)

Q. If you attach a PlusPower to Scyther and then retreat for Hitmonchan and do Jab, will Hitmonchan do 30 instead of 20?
A. The Plus Power will stay attached to the Pokémon you put it on. It will not be in effect for the Hitmonchan. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q45 & Q47)

Poke Ball    (Platinum; Majestic Dawn; Diamond and Pearl; Others)

Q. 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?
A. 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. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Poke Drawer +    (Stormfront)

Q. Poke Drawer + says to search your deck for up to 2 cards. Does this mean I can voluntarily fail and choose zero cards if I want to?
A. No. A voluntary fail happens when you are searching for a specific card that might or might not be in your deck. Since Poke Drawer + has you search for any card (not a specific card) you must choose at least one card when using this trainer. (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Pokedex HANDY910is    (Platinum)

Q. Can you use "Pokedex HANDY910is" if there's only 1 card left in your deck?
A. Yes, you can. It says to draw two cards, but you do as much as you can since you only have one card in your deck. Then, you choose one to keep, so you keep the one you drew. Now, you're supposed to put the other card back, but since there is no other card you simply don't put anything back. (Jan 15, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Pokemon Circulator   

Q. Can I play "Pokemon Circulator" if my opponent doesn't have any benched Pokemon?
A. Since Pokemon Circulator requires your opponent to switch with a benched Pokemon, you can't play it unless your opponent has a Pokemon on the bench. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Pokemon Collector   

Q. Can I use "Pokemon Collector" to choose Pokemon LEGEND cards as part of the 3 Basic Pokemon I search for in my deck?
A. 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". (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Pokemon Communicator   

Q. If I use Pokemon Communicator to put a Pokemon into my deck, am I allowed to voluntarily fail and choose to take no Pokemon out of my deck?
A. The contents of your deck is not public knowledge so the deck search can fail, even if you've just put a pokemon into the deck. (Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Potion    (Stormfront; DP Trainer Kit 1 (Gold); DP Trainer Kit 1 (Blue); Others)

* The wording of Potion now heals 30 damage from 1 of your Pokémon instead of 20 damage. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Professor Elm's Training Method    (Dragon Frontiers; Unseen Forces; Expedition)

Q. Can I use Professor Elm's Training Method to search my deck for a Pokémon LV.X?
A. No. Pokémon LV.X are not considered Evolution cards. (May 3, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Professor Juniper   

Q. Can I play Professor Juniper if it is the only card in my hand, and then draw 7 cards?
A. Yes, you basically discard your remaining hand of zero cards, then you draw 7 cards from your deck. (Black & White FAQ; Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Professor Oak's Visit    (Secret Wonders)

Q. If I have no cards left in my deck, can I use Prof. Oak's Visit to put one card from my hand back into my deck pile so I don't run out of cards the next turn?
A. No, since you are unable to draw any cards you cannot play Professor Oak's Visit. (Feb 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Professor Rowan    (Secret Wonders; Diamond and Pearl)

Q. If I only have two cards in my hand and play Professor Rowan then I keep the one remaining card in my hand, but do I shuffle my deck or not (since I put zero cards from my hand into it)?
A. Shuffling is a must when playing Professor Rowan regardless of whether you put any cards back into your deck or not. (Apr 3, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Quick Ball    (Majestic Dawn; DP Trainer Kit 1 (Gold); Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If I use Quick Ball and the very first card revealed is a Pokemon, do I still have to shuffle my deck?
A. If the first revealed card is a Pokemon then the deck is not shuffled as there are no "other revealed cards" to shuffle back in. (Oct 25, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Rare Candy    (OP Series 8; Great Encounters; OP Series 5; Others)

* The wording of Rare Candy is now as follows, "Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have a Stage 2 card in your hand that evolves from that Pokémon, put that card on the Basic Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) You can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this turn." So now it can't be used on your first turn, and it can't be used on a Pokémon played this turn. (Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Could you Rare Candy a Pokémon and NOT play an evolution on it just to get rid of the Rare Candy?
A. No, you cannot discard a card for free. You must be able to attach the Stage 2 card, or you cannot use the Rare Candy. (Oct 30, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Dec 4, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy on [my] first turn of a game (when Pokémon are not normally allowed to evolve)?
A. No, this is no longer permissible [per BW rules changes]. (Jul 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy on a Pokémon's first turn in play? For example, can I place down a Wurmple and then use Rare Candy on the same turn to evolve it into Dustox or Beautifly?
A. No, this is no longer permissible [per BW rules changes]. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Jul 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy on a Pokémon that has already evolved normally that turn?
A. No you cannot, because Rare Candy can only evolve Basic Pokémon If you evolved a Pokémon already this turn, it would not be a Basic any more. (Oct 23, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy on a Pokémon that was devolved on that same turn (i.e. Devolution Spray, Hyper Devolution Spray, etc.)?
A. No, you cannot. A Pokemon must be in play since the beginning of the turn in which you are using Rare Candy. A devolved Pokemon counts as just coming into play. (Jun 3, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Rare Candy override evolution-preventing effects such as Fossil Aerodactyl's "Prehistoric Power"?
A. Yes, you can use Rare Candy when Aerodactyl's Prehistoric Power is in play. (Sep 18, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Jul 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I use my Pichu's "Baby Evolution" power to evolve Pichu into Pikachu, which is now an "evolved Basic Pokémon". Can I then play Rare Candy on my Pikachu to evolve it into Raichu or Raichu-EX during the same turn?
A. Since Pikachu would be considered an "Evolved Pokémon" at that point, Rare Candy cannot be used on that Pikachu. Rare Candy can only be used on "non-Evolved" Pokémon. (Apr 14, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I have a Team Aqua's Sealeo (Stage 1) that I Archie'd into play. Can I use a Rare Candy to evolve it to Team Aqua's Walrein on that same turn?
A. Yes, you could. Rare Candy bypasses the normal rules of Evolution, and since you Archie'd it the Team Aqua's Sealeo would count as a Basic Pokémon. (Apr 14, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you use Rare Candy to evolve a Pokémon, and the evo card has a "Coming into Play" Pokémon Power (such as Dark Crobat), does that coming into play power get activated?
A. Using Powers, Attacks, or Trainers that let you put a Pokémon in the game from your hand will allow coming into play Powers to activate. This is a reversal from previous rulings. (Oct 23, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Apr 14, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play Rare Candy on a Basic Pokémon to evolve it into a Stage 1 even though that Pokémon could evolve that turn normally?
A. No, this is no longer permissible [per BW rules changes]. (Jan 5, 2006 PUI Rules Team; Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If the Broken Time-Space stadium is in play, can I use Rare Candy on a Basic Pokemon that just came into play this turn?
A. No, the wording of Rare Candy specifically says "you can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this turn". Broken Time-Space does not allow you to override that. (Jun 9, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What does "This counts as evolving that Pokémon" mean, in game terms?
A. 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. (Sep 26, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you use Rare Candy to evolve a Mysterious Fossil into an Omastar or Kabutops, or use it on a Root/Claw Fossil to evolve into Cradily/Armaldo?
A. It can. It counts as a basic Pokémon while in play. Omastar, Kabutops, Cradily, and Armaldo are Stage 2 Pokémon; you could use Rare Candy on the Fossil trainer to skip to them. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy to evolve from Dome Fossil to one of the Kabutops from older expansions that evolve from Mysterious Fossil?
A. Since Kabutops can evolve from Kabuto of any expansion, you may use Rare Candy to evolve either Dome Fossil or Mysterious Fossil into any Kabutops, regardless of expansion. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy to evolve a Baby Pokémon into its next stage? What about the newer forms of babies that are considered "Basic Pokémon" but have the "Baby Evolution" Poké-POWER?
A. Rare Candy states if you have a card that "Evolves From" your Pokémon There are currently no cards with text saying "evolves from" its baby form, so Rare Candy will not work on any form of baby Pokémon (Oct 23, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy to evolve Pichu into Raichu EX?
A. No, Rare Candy states if you have a card that "Evolves From" your Pokémon Pikachu does not say that it "Evolves From" Pichu, so Rare Candy will not work in this situation. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Rare Candy on my Pokémon to go to their evolutions if either Kabutops or Omastar from Skyridge is in play (with the powers/bodies that stop evolution)?
A. You could not use a Pokémon's attack or play a Trainer card to evolve your Benched or Active Pokémon, unless the Evolution card you would be putting into play comes from somewhere other than your hand. So Rare Candy cannot be used, but Wally's Training can (when referring to the Active Pokémon). (Aug 5, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Aug 12, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I evolved Torchic into Combusken using Rare Candy. Can I then do my "regular" evolution for Combusken into Blaziken?
A. No. "(This counts as evolving that Pokémon)" means that it counts as a normal evolution in this case. (Sep 26, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can someone play a Retro Energy on an Espeon, discard the Espeon, and then use Rare Candy to evolve the Eevee into a Vaporeon all in the same turn?
A. No, this is no longer permissible [per BW rules changes]. (Mar 18, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Apr 11, 2011 TPCi Announcements; May 5, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I evolve Dratini in play to Dark Dragonite by using Rare Candy?
A. Yes. [This is true as long as there is a normal evolutionary path between the basic and the Stage 2 "Dark" Pokémon.] (Feb 10, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use Rare Candy to put an Empoleon on my Piplup, can I then immediately put Empoleon LV.X on top of that?
A. No, you may not. Just like you cannot use Rare Candy to attach a Stage 1 then evolve it into a Stage 2 on the same turn, you cannot place a LV.X Pokémon on top of a Pokémon that used Rare Candy on that same turn. (May 31, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Research Record   

Q. Can I place all 4 cards that I looked at with the Trainer card "Research Record" at the bottom of my deck? Or can I place all 4 cards on top of my deck?
A. Yes, you can put as many of the four cards on the top or on the bottom any way you like (except face-up). (Call of Legends FAQ; Feb 10, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Roseanne's Research    (OP Series 8; Secret Wonders)

Q. Can you use Roseanne's Research to search for a Lv.X Pokemon that levels up from a Basic (i.e. Mewtwo Lv.X)?
A. No, you cannot. Until they are put in play Lv.X Pokemon are not considered to be Basics nor Evolution cards. (Sep 25, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Seeker   

Q. Can I use Seeker if either player has no Benched Pokemon, or do both players need to have at least one Pokemon on the Bench?
A. If there's a Pokemon on either player's Bench, Seeker can be used. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Sidney's Stadium    (Power Keepers)

Q. If my Darkness Pokémon is already affected by a Special Condition and then I play Sidney's Stadium during my turn, will the Special Condition be removed?
A. Yes, similar to Holon Energy GL rulings the Special Conditions will be removed. (Apr 5, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Snowpoint Temple    (Legends Awakened)

Q. Does Snowpoint Temple add +20 HP to a Darkrai Lv.X?
A. Yes, a Lv.X Pokemon is consided the same evolution stage as the card that it Leveled Up from. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have a Stage 1 or Stage 2 Pokemon in play with no Basic underneath it (i.e. due to Garchomp Lv.X's "Restore" attack), does it get +20 HP from Snowpoint Temple?
A. Yes, since it is being treated as a Basic, it gets the bonus. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is Snowpoint Temple's +20hp towards Basic Pokemon factored in when calculating whether or not Salamence's "Battle Rush" Poke-BODY works or not?
A. Yes, it is. Effects that add to a Pokemon's HP are counted when calculating its Maximum HP. (Jan 8, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Steven's Advice    (Power Keepers; Hidden Legends)

* Steven's Advice should read: "Draw a number of cards up to the number of your opponent's Pokémon in play. If you have 7 or more cards (including this one) in your hand, you can't play this card." This errata replaces text of "more than 7" with "7 or more". If a player has 7 cards in his or her hand (including Steven's Advice), they cannot play the card. (Oct 1, 2004 PUI Announcements)

Q. Steven's Advice says, "Draw a number of cards up to the number of your opponent's Pokémon in play." If you choose to draw less than the total number of your opponent's Pokémon in play, do you have to specify how many you will draw before you start drawing?
A. You must choose a number before you start to draw cards. (Jun 10, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Could you use Chimecho's "Chime" attack and use a Steven's Advice from your opponent's discard pile if you have more than 7 cards in your hand? Steven's Advice says "you can't play this card if you have 7 or more cards in your hand", but you're technically not really playing the card, just using it as an attack.
A. You can use Chime, but you must still meet all requirements that are necessary to play the card normally (except for the supporter rule). If you don't or can't meet those restrictions, the effect fails. (Dec 15, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Strength Charm    (Dragon Frontiers; Deoxys; Team Aqua-Team Magma; Others)

* Strength Charm should read: "Whenever an attack from the Pokémon that Strength Charm is attached to does damage to the Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance), the attack does 10 more damage. At the end of the turn in which the player attacks with the Pokémon that this card is attached to, discard Strength Charm." This errata replaces text of "after applying Weakness and Resistance with before applying Weakness and Resistance". It is also clarified that it is removed after ANY attack that the Pokémon makes, not just attacks that do damage. (Oct 1, 2004 PUI Announcements)

Q. In 2-on-2 Play, if I use an attack that damages both defending Pokémon, would Strength Charm do +10 to both of the opponent's Active Pokémon?
A. Yes, that is correct. (March 11th 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I attach a Strength Charm, then use Kirlia's Life Drain, can I one-hit-KO the Defending Pokémon?
A. No. Kirlia's Life Drain doesn't strictly do damage [it "places damage counters"] - Strength Charm only affects things that do damage. (Mar 25, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Strength Charm affect self damage, like Wobbuffet's flip over attack?
A. Yes - it affects damage done by the Attacking Pokémon. (Mar 25, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Switch    (Stormfront; Secret Wonders; Diamond and Pearl; Others)

Q. Can the Switch card be used to retreat a Paralyzed, Confused, or Sleeping Pokémon?
A. Yes, you can use a Switch card to retreat a Confused, Asleep or Paralyzed Pokémon. (Feb 3, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. The new modified rules state you may only retreat once per turn. If you use a trainer to Switch your Pokémon, can you still retreat that Pokémon? Or does the Switch count as your one retreat per turn?
A. Switch does not count as your one retreat per turn. If it did affect it, I would imagine it being written as "(This counts as retreating your Pokémon)". (Jun 3, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain    (Platinum)

Q. Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain reduces attacks' Energy costs by 1 Colorless Energy. What happens if the attack requires energy to be all of a particular color?
A. It only reduces a colorless energy cost; if the attack requires nothing but specific energy types, then there is no reduction. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have "Energy Gain" attached to one of my SP Pokemon, can I use an attack that only costs one energy without having any energy attached to that Pokemon?
A. Yes, as long as that attack costs one Colorless energy. If the attack costs only one non-colorless energy (i.e. one Fire Energy), then you would not be able to use that attack. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have "Team Galactic's Invention G-107 Technical Machine G" attached to a SP Pokemon and also "Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain", can I use the attack "Damage Porter" if I just have two energy attached to my SP Pokemon?
A. Yes, Energy Gain reduces the attack cost of Damage Porter by one colorless energy. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Murkrow's "Switcheroo" attack to move an opponent's "Energy Gain" to a non-SP Pokemon?
A. Yes you can, but if the Pokemon you move the Energy Gain to is not a Pokemon-SP then the tool would be discarded after it gets moved. (Nov 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray    (Platinum)

* Poké-Powers that end your turn are receiving errata to make it clear that you still end your turn if the Poké-Power is canceled, such as with Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray or by Alakazam's "Power Cancel" Poké-Power. (May 1, 2009 Pokemon Organized Play News; May 7, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If it is the very first turn of the game and my opponent tries to use a Poke-POWER, can I use "Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray" to block it?
A. Yes. Only the player going first is restricted from playing Trainers, Supporters, and Stadiums. The opponent is not restricted. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you use Ludicolo's "Cheerful Voice" Poke-POWER and your opponent then plays "Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray", is your turn over?
A. Yes, your turn is over because it still counts as using the power. (Feb 26, 2009 PUI Rules Team; Oct 29, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I try to use Electivire [FB] Lv.X's "Energy Recycle" Poke-POWER, but my opponent uses Power Spray. Does my turn end?
A. Yes, your turn is over because it still counts as using the power. (Oct 29, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Team Galactic's Invention G-107 Technical Machine G    (Rising Rivals)

Q. If I have "Team Galactic's Invention G-107 Technical Machine G" attached to a SP Pokemon and also "Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain", can I use the attack "Damage Porter" if I just have two energy attached to my SP Pokemon?
A. Yes, Energy Gain reduces the attack cost of Damage Porter by one colorless energy. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you select to prevent the opponent's attached Technical Machine G's "Damage Porter" attack when using "Amnesia"?
A. No, Amnesia can't prevent attacks provided by Technical Machines, because it is an attack the opponent's active "can use" but it isn't one of its attacks. (Jun 4, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Team Galactic's Mars    (Secret Wonders)

Q. Can Team Galactic's Mars be played when your deck consists of zero cards?
A. No, you must be able to draw at least one card from your deck in order to play this card. (Mar 27, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if you play Team Galactic's Mars, but your opponent has no cards in their hand?
A. You would draw two cards and your opponent would do nothing. (Mar 27, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Team Galactic's Wager    (Mysterious Treasures)

Q. If I play Team Galactic's Wager can I choose to draw zero cards, or must each player draw at least one card since it says "UP TO 3" for losing or "UP TO 6" for winning?
A. Each player must draw at least one card if they are able to. (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play Team Galactic's Wager if I or my opponent have no hand after playing the card... or no deck?
A. Yes, both players do as much as they can of the required actions. A player with no hand will shuffle then draw and a player with no deck will shuffle in and draw. (Sep 18, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If no one has any cards left in their deck, and no cards in their hand except for a single Team Galactic's Wager, can I play Team Galactic's Wager or not?
A. No. At least one player must be able to draw a card. (Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is it OK to roll a dice to randomize my Rock-Paper-Scissors choice?
A. No. R-P-S is a game of strategy. You must not appear to be randomizing your choice by any method. (Oct 16, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I found some cool cards and dice to indicate my throw in Rock-Paper-Scissors. Can I use them?
A. You may not use dice to indicate your choice, as it is to easy to manipulate the dice while it is covered. The requirements for R-P-S cards are that they must have identical backs, that they clearly say “Rock” or “Paper” or “Scissors” on the front and that all themes on the cards be appropriate for a Pokemon Event as determined by the Head Judge. (Oct 16, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is Rock-Paper-Scissors played by pumping my arm 2 times then throwing my choice, or pumping 3 times then throw?
A. Players should agree on this between themselves before playing. If they can’t agree, the default to be used will be a three-count priming and then the simultaneous throw of the choice, for example, "Rock-Paper-Scissors-Shoot" with the choice thrown on "shoot". (Oct 16, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Technical Machine TS-1    (Legends Awakened)

Q. Can I use Technical Machine TS-1's "Evoluter" attack to search through my deck if I don't have any Pokemon in play that can evolve any further?
A. Yes you could use Evoluter, because contents of a deck search cannot be deduced, even on the basis of public knowledge. As long as you meet the requirements to use an attack, you follow what it does (in this case, searching your deck). (Dec 4, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Technical Machine TS-2    (Legends Awakened)

Q. Technical Machine TS-2's "Devoluter" attack says to choose an opponent's evolved pokemon (excluding Lv.X). Does this mean I remove the Stage 2 but leave the Level X card?
A. No. It means that you cannot target any Pokemon that has a Level X Pokemon attached to it. You can't use Devoluter against it at all. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Twins   

Q. Do I have to choose 2 cards when I play Twins and search my deck?
A. Yes, since the card says "any 2 cards" and not "up to 2 cards". And if you only have 1 card remaining in your deck, you must take that card. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Volkner's Philosophy    (Rising Rivals)

Q. Do you *have* to discard a card in order to use Volkner's Philosophy?
A. No, the discard portion of Volkner's Philosophy is optional. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play Volkner's Philosophy if I already have more than 6 cards in my hand? Or what if I don't have any cards in my deck?
A. You have to be able to draw at least one card from your deck, regardless of whether you discard a card first or not. If you cannot draw any cards, due to having too many in your hand or zero in your deck, you cannot play this card. (May 21, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

VS Seeker    (Fire Red Leaf Green)

Q. Under the new Black & White rules a Supporter goes to the Discard Pile after it has been played. Can I use VS Seeker to retrieve a Supporter that was played during this turn or do I have to wait until my next turn?
A. You can use VS Seeker whenever a Supporter card is in the Discard Pile, even if it was played during this turn. (Apr 28, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Warp Point    (Majestic Dawn; Diamond and Pearl; Crystal Guardians; Others)

Q. Can you use Warp Point if you and your opponent both have only one Pokémon in play each?
A. You may use Warp Point if either player would be affected by it, but if NEITHER player is affected you cannot use it. (Jan 4, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Windstorm    (Crystal Guardians)

Q. What if you play Windstorm and your opponent only has a stadium in play? Can you play Windstorm and not discard the stadium?
A. No. You must discard at least 1 card in play, or you can't play the card. (Sep 21, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Official rulings on Energy Cards  (top)

* Energy Cards In General   

Q. Can I attach Energy cards to Benched Pokémon?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can I lay a Double Colorless Energy and another Energy down on the same turn?
A. No, you can only attach 1 Energy card per turn. (2-10-00 & 6-30-00 WotC Chats)

Q. Do you have to add Energy to a Pokémon and attack with your active Pokémon if you have Energies in your hand?
A. No, you don't have to. (Feb 17, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. Can players mark the energies in their deck by turning them all upside-down?
A. No, all cards should be facing the same way. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q81)

• A Special Energy Card remains a Special Energy card regardless of what happens to it. A Fire Burned Rainbow Energy may only produce Fire energy but it would still be considered a Special Energy card as well.(Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)
• If a card gives off Energy of any type then that card COUNTS as an Energy card of that type. This means a Buzzap'd Electrode that was chosen to give 2 Grass Energy COUNTS as a Grass Energy Card and can be Energy Transferred by Venusaur's Pokémon Power. (Mar 30 WotC Chat)
• Any card that provides Energy is considered an Energy card of the type it provides. So if you were to Energy Burn a DCE, it counts as a Fire Energy card that provides 2 fire Energy until the end of the turn. So it could be Gathered by Team Rocket Charmander but would only provide 1 coin flip for the Continuous Fireball attack on Dark Charizard. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)
• The [default or normal] amount of energy an Energy card provides is equal to the number of energy symbols in the upper right or left corner of the card, regardless of how many different types of energy is provided. (Apr 8, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Boost Energy    (OP Series 5; Dragon Frontiers; Unseen Forces; Others)

Q. Boost Energy says, "the Pokemon Boost Energy is attached to cannot retreat". But you can still use Switch, DoubleGust, etc. on it, right?
A. Correct. (Mar 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q575)

Q. Can I play a Boost Energy on an "Evolved" Basic Pokémon (such as a Wobbuffet that has evolved from Wynaut)?
A. Yes, you can. It states on Boost Energy you can only play it on Evolved Pokémon and Wobbuffet is considered an "Evolved" Pokémon in this case. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Call Energy    (Majestic Dawn)

Q. Call Energy card says "Once during your turn..." Can I use this while my Active Pokemon is attacking?
A. No. Once you start your attack, that's all you're doing for the turn. It's not something that can be interrupted, and after the attack is over your turn is over as well. (DP:Majestic Dawn FAQ; May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use "Call Energy" if my Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition or anything else that would normally prevent it from attacking?
A. Yes, you can use Call Energy even if you are unable to attack. Call Energy is not considered an attack, Poke-POWER, Poke-BODY, etc. and is not stopped by effects that prevent those things. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my bench if full can I still use "Call Energy" to search my deck?
A. Yes, you could search your deck, but not put out any Pokemon. (Feb 17, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Darkness Energy (Special)    (Rising Rivals; Majestic Dawn; Secret Wonders; Others)

Q. I noticed that the wording of Darkness Energy has changed beginning with the TCG:EX Ruby/Sapphire expansion. Can you elaborate on this?
A. Beginning with the TCG:EX Ruby/Sapphire expansion, the +10 extra damage for Darkness Energy is now applied *BEFORE* Weakness & Resistance rather than after W/R. Also, the extra benefits only apply if the Pokémon it's attached to is a Darkness type Pokémon or has the word "Dark" in the Pokémon's name (i.e. "Dark Blastoise"). Finally, the -10 self-damage attribute has been removed; so if attached to a non-Dark Pokémon, it will no longer take any damage to itself as it did in previous expansions. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. The wording on Darkness Energy from the EX:Ruby/Sapphire expansion says, "if the Pokémon Darkness Energy is attached to attacks, the attack does 10 more damage to the Active Pokémon" Does this mean that you get to add +10 even if an attack does no damage at all to the Defending Pokémon (i.e. EX:Sandstorm Murkrow's "Surprise" attack)?
A. No, it still applies only if there was initial damage to add to. So in other words, you still have to do some damage in order to have "10 more" done. (Sep 18, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Double Rainbow Energy    (OP Series 5; Crystal Guardians; Emerald; Others)

Q. Double Rainbow Energy says, "can be attached only to an Evolved Pokémon (excluding Pokémon-ex)". Does that mean that I can attach it to a Pokémon-EX that is a basic (like Scyther-EX)?
A. Sorry, but that means that you cannot attach it to ANY -EX Pokémon whether it's evolved or basic. (Mar 4, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Double Rainbow says, "Damage done to your opponent's Pokémon... is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance)." Does this reduction apply if the attack is "placing damage counters" rather than "doing damage"?
A. No, reduction does not apply if the attack "places damage counters". (Mar 4, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Double Rainbow Energy reduce the amount of damage done to an opponent's benched Pokémon, or only to their Active Pokémon?
A. The reduction applies to both their Active and Benched Pokémon (Mar 4, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Double Rainbow Energy still take 10 damage off of bench damaging attacks?
A. Yes, DRE can reduce damage done to the Bench. (Mar 25, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have to discard a Double Rainbow Energy as part of an attack that says to discard all cards of a chosen energy type, do I still have to take the -10 penalty for DRE or not?
A. Yes you would still apply the -10 penalty. In the attack step, when you make choices, you state which cards you'll be discarding. In the damage calculation step, you figure out the damage first, and then discard the Energy required after damage has been dealt. (Apr 15, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Double Rainbow Energy states that it can only be attached to an Evolved Pokémon. What happens if I play a card, or attack, or Pokémon Power, etc. that lets me move it to a Basic Pokémon? Or can I move it to an evolved -EX Pokémon (like Swampert-EX)?
A. If a Double Rainbow Energy gets moved to a Pokémon that cannot have it attached, the DRE gets discarded. (Jul 19, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Double Rainbow Energy attached to my Kirlia and then it somehow gets devolved back into Ralts, do I have to discard the DRE or does it get to stay?
A. Yes, you have to discard DRE whenever the Pokémon devolves into a basic Pokémon (May 20, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Double Rainbow Energy attached to my Kirlia and then I evolve it into Gardevoir-EX, do I have to discard the DRE or does it get to stay?
A. If the Double Rainbow Energy was already attached to a non-EX-Pokémon, then you have to remove it when the Pokémon evolves into an EX-Pokémon. (Mar 25, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I have Wobbuffet with a Double Rainbow Energy and I use Flip Over. I know it will do 40 damage because of DRE's effect, but will Wobbuffet still receive the 10 self-damage, or does that get erased because of DRE's effect?
A. The wording on DRE says "Damage done to your OPPONENT's Pokémon..." gets reduced. So in this case the Wobbuffet will still damage itself. (Apr 8, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Lets say I have like a Kirlia active with a DRE on it, and then use "Suprise! Time Machine" for a different Kirlia. Would the DRE get discarded because it is devolved back into Ralts?
A. Yes, once it becomes a Ralts, it is discarded. It doesn't matter that it will evolve again. (Jan 13, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use attacks, powers, etc. to move an opponent's Double Rainbow Energy to a Basic Pokémon?
A. Yes, and if you do so the Double Rainbow Energy would have to be discarded since it cannot be attached to a Basic Pokémon. (Nov 17, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Holon Energy FF/GL/WP   

* Holon Energy WP and Ancient Technical Machine [Ice] only prevent effects that come from attacks, not all effects in play. Trainer cards, Poké-Powers, and Poké-Bodies are not prevented by those cards. (Jul 25, 2006 PUI Announcements)

Q. Several Pokémon reference Holon Energy cards in their text; for example, Rayquaza's "Delta Guard" Poké-BODY says that if a Holon Energy is attached, it doesn't take 7 damage counters for using his "Lightning Storm" attack. My question is: if I've attached one of Holon's Pokémon (e.g. Holon's Voltorb), as an energy card, is it considered a Holon Energy?
A. Attaching a Holon's Pokémon as energy does not count as having a Holon Energy attached. (Nov 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Pokémon with basic Grass Energy attached that is affected by one or more Special Conditions, when I attach Holon Energy GL is it cured of those conditions?
A. Yes, it would remove Special Conditions on that Pokémon. (Nov 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is the reduction of damage done from Pokémon-EX's cumulative if I have more than one Holon Energy GL attached?
A. Yes it is. (Nov 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have more than one Holon Energy GL attached, do I need to have one basic Lightning Energy card per Holon Energy GL in order to use its effect?
A. No, one basic Lightning Energy card is enough to cover all of the Holon Energy GL attached to that Pokémon. (Nov 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you attach Holon Energy GL to a Benched Pokémon, does it reduce damage done from Pokémon-EX's even if that damage is not being done to that Pokémon?
A. No, Holon Energies only protect the Pokémon that they are actually attached to. (Nov 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Holon Energy WP prevent effects (excluding damage) done by an opponent's Pokémon powers (i.e. Machoke's "Strikes Back")? Or does it only prevent the effects from an opponent's attacks?
A. It only prevents the effects (excluding damage done) from an opponent's attacks. Effects from Trainer cards, Poké-Powers, and Poké-Bodies are not prevented. (Nov 17, 2005 PUI Rules Team; Jul 25, 2006 PUI Announcements; Jul 27, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. For Holon Energy GL with a basic Lightning energy attached, is the 10 damage reduced before or after Weakness/Resistance?
A. It's reduced after Weakness/Resistance. (Dec 8, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if I try to use "Drag Off" to bring up a benched Pokémon that has a Holon Energy WP attached ("prevent all effects excluding damage done...")
A. Since the Holon Energy WP would prevent the effect of switching out that Pokémon, you cannot target it with Drag Off. You will have to choose a different target. (Mar 23, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Do I get to remove any Special Conditions (i.e. Poison, Asleep, etc.) when I attach Holon Energy WP to that Pokémon?
A. No, Holon Energy WP doesn't remove Special Conditions, but it prevents them from being placed by attacks made after it has been attached. (May 18, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Holon Energy WP prevent an opponent's attack from placing damage counters onto that Pokémon?
A. Yes, "placing counters" is not the same as "damage done", so Holon Energy WP prevents placing counters onto that Pokémon. (May 18, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Wobbuffet attacks an opponent using its "Shadow Tag" attack. During the next turn a Holon Energy WP is attached to that Pokémon. Will this prevent the Shadow Tag effect from taking place at the end of the turn?
A. The Shadow Tag effect is a pre-existing condition on the Active Pokémon that was attacked by Wobbuffet. Holon Energy WP only prevents effects from new attacks during the time while it was actually attached; it does not remove effects already on a Pokémon. So in this scenario the Shadow Tag effect would still work. (May 18, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Holon Energy WP and a basic Water energy card attached, when my opponent performs an attack that involves discarding a tool attached to that Pokémon, does the tool get discarded or not?
A. Holon Energy WP would prevent discarding of the tool by an opponent's attack. (Sep 21, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Holon Energy WP and Ancient Technical Machine [Ice] only prevent effects that come from attacks, not all effects in play. Trainer cards, Poké-Powers, and Poké-Bodies are not prevented by those cards. (Jul 25, 2006 PUI Announcements)

Q. If the Defending Pokemon has a Holon Energy WP and a basic Water energy attached, does it prevent the prize flipping portion of Gallade's "Psychic Cut"?
A. No. You can still flip up the prize cards and increase the amount of damage, as flipping is part of the damage calculation and is not an effect done to directly to the Pokemon with the Water and Holon WP energies attached. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If the Defending Pokemon has a Holon Energy WP and a basic Water energy attached, what happens to the "your opponent can't use any Poke-Powers" part of Gardevoir's "Psychic Lock" attack?
A. The effect of Psychic Lock is on your opponent, not on their Pokemon. So since the Holon Energy WP only protects the Pokemon, the opposing player is still unable to use any of their Poke-Powers. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if Gardevoir LV.X uses "Bring Down", but the lowest HP Pokemon is protected by some effect like Holon Energy WP?
A. The Pokemon with Holon Energy WP attached can still be attacked with Bring Down, but it will not get Knocked Out because the protection of Holon Energy WP prevents all effects (including automatic KO) except damage done to that Pokemon. (Jan 31, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Metal Energy (Special)    (Rising Rivals; Majestic Dawn; Secret Wonders; Others)

Q. Does special Metal Energy reduce damage done to me from attacks by my own Pokemon?
A. Yes, as long as it is attached to a metal type Pokemon. But keep in mind that Metal Energy does NOT prevent the "placing of damage counters" (not same as "damage done"). (Sep 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Multi Energy    (Mysterious Treasures; Power Keepers; Holon Phantoms; Others)

Q. The wording for Multi Energy is a bit confusing; does it mean that if I have Multi Energy already attached, and then I attach a special energy card, does the "rainbow effect" of Multi Energy disappear at that time?
A. Yes. Multi Energy provides colorless energy when any other Special Energy card is present on the Pokémon (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have one Multi Energy attached and then I attach a second one, do they cancel each other out and both become colorless?
A. Yes, since they are both Special Energy cards, each one cancels out the other. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Multi Energy and a special energy card both attached, and then I remove the special energy card (i.e. retreating, etc.), does the "rainbow effect" of Multi Energy then turn back on?
A. Yes. It will provide the "rainbow" effect when it is the only Special Energy card on that Pokémon (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have say 2 Lightning and 1 Multi on an Expedition Raichu, his attack says "discard all Lightning energy cards"; would you have to discard the Multi Energy too?
A. Yes. It is providing Lightning Energy at the time, so it gets discarded. (Dec 18, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say Charizard-EX has a Boost Energy and a Multi Energy card attached to it. All of this energy is converted to Fire due to Charizard-EX's "Energy Flame" Poké-POWER, and can be used for the attack and is discarded at the end of the turn. The fact that Multi Energy being considered Colorless due to it being attached with other special energies is overcome by the "Energy Flame" Poké-POWER, right?
A. Yes, that is correct. (Apr 21, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Say I have Lanturn with both a Double Rainbow Energy and a Multi Energy. When I have to "discard all Lightning Energy", would I have to discard the Multi Energy or not?
A. At the time when this portion of the attack is being evaluated, it would not be a Lightning Energy and would not get discarded when the DRE is discarded. (May 12, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have an attack that says to discard a Fire Energy and a Water Energy, may I discard a single Rainbow Energy card or Multi Energy card to satisfy that requirement?
A. No, even though Rainbow and Multi provide all energy types simultaneously, they only provide one unit of energy. You can discard it for either the Fire or the Water, but you would still need to discard at least one additional card of the required type. (Dec 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Rainbow Energy    (Platinum; Legend Maker; RubySapphire; Others)

Q. Can you have more then 4-rainbow energies since it changes into a basic energy?
A. No, since it's not a basic energy you can only use 4 in a deck. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q124)

Q. If an attack says to discard a specific type of energy card to use that attack, can a Rainbow Energy be used to pay that cost? There a few new cards that that would be important to based on the wordings.
A. Yes, you can. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. If I have an attack that says to discard a Fire Energy and a Water Energy, may I discard a single Rainbow Energy card or Multi Energy card to satisfy that requirement?
A. No, even though Rainbow and Multi provide all energy types simultaneously, they only provide one unit of energy. You can discard it for either the Fire or the Water, but you would still need to discard at least one additional card of the required type. (Dec 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Mewtwo "Energy Absorbs" a Rainbow Energy and then Venusaur "Energy Trans" it, does the receiving Pokémon take damage?
A. Nope, it only does [places] the damage [counter] when you play the card from your hand. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. Can you Energy Trans a Rainbow Energy?
A. Sure. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q228)

Q. Can you Rain Dance Rainbow Energy?
A. No. Because it does not count as any type while in your hand. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q247)

Q. Can movie promo Pikachu use Recharge to get a Rainbow Energy from the deck, or does it have to be a basic Electric Energy card? (If Rainbow Energy is OK, I assume it does not cause damage, since it is not played from the hand?)
A. That would not work. Rainbow Energy only counts as all-basic energy types WHILE IN PLAY. This is not the case when it is in the deck. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q6)

Q. If I have two Rainbow energy attached to a Dark Charizard and I flip two heads, can I discard the Rainbow Energy or do I have to have Fire Energy cards?
A. You could discard the Rainbow Energy as they do count as all basic energy types. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q227)

Q. When Neo comes out, will Rainbow Energy count as Darkness and Metal energy???
A. For the purposes of paying the cost of an attack, yes. Though the additional effects will not be provided. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q669)

Rescue Energy   

Q. If an evolved Pokemon is Knocked Out with Rescue Energy attached to it, do you get to put all of the evolution stage cards and Basic Pokemon card back into your hand, or just the highest stage Evolution card?
A. All of them go to back into your hand. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have Unown-Q and Rescue Energy attached to one of my Pokemon that is knocked out, does the Unown-Q go back to my hand since it is a Pokemon?
A. No, since Unown-Q is attached to your Pokemon it is counted as a Tool and not a Pokemon, so it would go to the discard pile. (Jan 6, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What happens if a Pokemon with Rescue Energy attached is Knocked Out by an attack that normally sends cards to the Lost Zone?
A. The order of resolution for the effects can be decided by the owner of the Pokemon with Rescue Energy attached to it. So the Pokemon can either go to the Lost Zone and stay there, or use Rescue Energy to return the Pokemon to your hand. Any other cards such as Energy, Tools, etc. would still go to the Lost Zone if the attack specifies. (HS:Triumphant FAQ; Nov 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Gengar with Rescue Energy is KO'd by damage from my opponent's attack, do I get to use its "Fainting Spell" Poke-POWER and then recover it with Rescue Energy, or does Rescue Energy go first and then I can't use "Fainting Spell"?
A. Fainting Spell happens just before the point when Gengar is KO'd, and since it's an optional Poke-POWER you can choose to use it or not. Then after the Poke-POWER has been used (or not), Rescue Energy kicks in and returns Gengar to your hand. So if you forgot to use Fainting Spell, it is too late to use it after Rescue Energy has occurred. (Mar 24, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have an active Dusknoir Lv.X with a Rescue Energy attached and he is knocked out by damage from my opponent's attack, will Dusknoir's "Ectoplasm" Poke-POWER allow it to become a stadium?
A. Ectoplasm happens just before the point when Dusknoir Lv.X is KO'd, and since it's an optional Poke-POWER you can choose to use it or not. So Rescue Energy would only return Dusknoir Lv.X and the other Pokemon cards to your hand if Ectoplasm was not used. (Nov 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team; Mar 24, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If my Water-type Pokemon with Rescue Energy attached gets KO'd, can Floatzel [GL] Lv.X's "Water Rescue" Poke-BODY recover the non-Pokemon cards that were attached to it?
A. No, since the Pokemon never reached the Discard Pile due to Rescue Energy, the other cards that were attached to it cannot be recovered. (Nov 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Scramble Energy    (Dragon Frontiers; OP Series 4; Deoxys)

Q. How much energy (and what kind) does Scramble Energy produce if both players have the SAME number of prizes remaining?
A. Scramble Energy only provides one Colorless if both players have the same number of prizes. It only provides three "rainbow" if you have MORE prizes remaining than your opponent. (Feb 10, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Official rulings on General Gameplay  (top)

Bench   

Q. Dark Dragonite's Pokémon Power does not have the "you cannot use this Power if your bench is already full" text like most other Bench-building powers and attacks do. Does this mean that by using Dark Dragonite you can bypass the normal five-Pokémon limit to your bench?
A. C'mon. That's silly. There isn't room to put the reminder text on every single card. The rule is the bench can only have 5 max (EVER). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q43)

Cards in General   

Q. Are Promos legal in tourney and league play?
A. Promo cards are legal in tourney and league play [As long as they have been released in the local area]. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. When the text for a previously released card changes in a new set, how are the older cards played?
A. You will need to start using the new text as soon as the set is released. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q185)

Q. What is a marked card?
A. A card that you can tell what it is by a glance (without seeing the front). It might have a different back, be scratched or written on in some way, be more worn out than the other cards, etc." (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q186)

Q. Can people have more then one card in a sleeve, I have caught people trying to cheat this way. Will you get DQ'ed for it ?
A. Having 2 cards in a sleeve counts as a marked card. There are rules and punishments for this infraction listed on the tournament floor rules. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. What is an opaque card sleeve?
A. An opaque card sleeve is one that has a backing you cannot see through...common opaque [sleeves] are red and/or black (7-27-00 WotC Chat)

Deck   

Q. Can I have say 4 Blaine's Arcanine and four regular Arcanine?
A. In one deck? Sure, they have different names. (Jun 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q10)

Q. Can I have 4 Deoxys Attack Forme and 4 Deoxys Speed Forme in my deck?
A. Yes, the "Forme" is part of the name, so you can have 4 of each. (Aug 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. How many Shellos/Gastrodons of the East Sea or West Sea variety can you have in a deck?
A. You may have four of each. "Shellos East Sea" and "Shellos West Sea" are different Pokemon. (Apr 30, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Are you allowed to have as many DCE as you want in a deck like normal Energy or only four like any other card?
A. Only 4 maximum, it is NOT a basic Energy card (the only type you can have more than 4 of in your deck). (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you have more than 4 Metal [Special] energy cards in a deck legally?
A. No. [Ed. Note: Same rule applies to Darkness [Special] Energy too.] (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q253)

Q. Can I have an English Dark Blastoise on the side while having a water energy with Dark Blastoise written on it in my deck and play it in a tournament?
A. No, you'll have to use the Dark Blastoise. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q98)

Q. Can you play 4 English cards and 4 Japanese cards that do the same thing if the name does not translate directly? Like, Brock has a different name in Japanese ["Takeshi"].
A. No you could not, they are the same card. (Mar 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q275)

Q. If using foreign language cards, do you need an English copy for each card you use? Say if I use four Japanese Item Finders, do I need four English Item Finders or just one?
A. Just one would be fine. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q211)

Q. Is it required to have a Basic Pokémon in your deck? For example, could I make a deck with just the fossils and no other Basic Pokémon in it?
A. Starting with EX:Delta Species, there is now a requirement to have at least 1 Basic Pokémon in a deck in order to be considered a legal deck. (Jan 12, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you have 4 Electabuzz and 4 Electabuzz-EX in the same deck?
A. Yes, you can play 4 Electabuzz and 4 Electabuzz EX in the same deck, as they are considered different cards (similar to the ruling for Trainer Pokémon). (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you have 4 Electivire and 4 Electivire Lv.X in the same deck?
A. No, Lv.X Pokemon are considered the same as other pokemon with the same name. You may only have a maximum of 4 combined in your deck (i.e. 3 Electivire, 1 Electivire Lv.X). (Sep 25, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. 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?
A. 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. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you have Japanese or other foreign cards in your deck and if so, do you have to have an English equivalent of each different foreign card outside your deck?
A. Yes, foreign cards are allowed. However, you must have an English or local-language version of the card, outside the deck, for reference purposes [or a print out of the official Card-Dex text]. (Jan 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Mar 31, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can you mix Team Magma and Team Aqua cards in the same deck?
A. 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. (Team Magma vs Team Aqua Prerelease FAQ, Q2)

Q. Can a World Championship deck card be used as a local language reference?
A. Yes, it can be used. The card is not being played in a deck, it is being used as a reference. (Feb 3, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I like to keep my deck and discard pile sideways to help me keep them separate from my bench. Is that OK?
A. 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. (Oct 16, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Discard Pile   

Q. Some players freely examine their own discard pile (or their opponent's) whenever they want. Is this allowed? Or can a discard pile only be examined when you have official business there (like after playing Item Finder).
A. Discard piles are open knowledge (either player could look through them). (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q97)

Q. During a game is it legal to count your Discard pile? Is it also legal to count your deck as long as you do not look at the cards front?
A. Sure, though if you do it too often during a timed tournament it could be deemed stalling. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q154)

Q. Can I separate my discard pile in two stacks to make it easier to count energy?
A. 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. (Oct 16, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Evolving   

Q. How do I evolve a Pokémon?
A. You just play the evolved version of that Pokémon on top of the Pokémon you want to evolve. In other words, you have to have the unevolved version already on the table and the evolved version in your hand, and then you just put the evolved version on top of the unevolved version. You can evolve an Active or a Benched Pokémon. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. So, after reading Research and Development's ruling from last week, the only way a Pokémon can evolve on the first turn is through either Eevee's Chain Reaction or Team Rocket Magikarp's Rapid Evolution? Otherwise, the normal "Pokémon must be in play for at least one turn" is still in effect?
A. Yes, essentially, though I don't know a single way you could do Team Rocket Magikarp's Rapid Evolution on the first turn. (July 27 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. You ruled that Team Rocket's Magikarp's Rapid Evolution can be used the turn those Pokémon come into play [Ed.Note: see also "Rapid Evolution" (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)]. Does that mean that if I had played TR Magikarp down on the first turn of the game, I could evolve him (I know that this is not possible, i.e., I cannot get 3 [W] Energy on Magikarp but if we ignore this limitation) ... would it be possible since Rapid Evolution ignores the normal evolution rule?

A. Yes, *if* you could get three water energy on Team Rocket Magikarp. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q141)

• It is possible for you to have a Pokémon evolve BEFORE your 2nd turn but NOT on your first turn. An example, your opponent plays first, on your turn you play or already have promo Eevee out. On his second turn he evolves a Pokémon, you could now use promo Eevee's Chain Reaction to pull out an evolution card and put it on Eevee. This is BEFORE your second turn but AFTER your first turn. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, mid-point Announcement [Q149])
• Certain attacks & powers (like Erika's Clefairy's Lunar Power attack, Koga's Kakuna's Emerge Pokémon Power, or TR Magikarp's Rapid Evolution attack), can break the standard "can't evolve turn 1 or the turn it was played" rule. You CAN play them on the first turn and you can sometimes even choose a Pokémon on your Bench that you just played this turn. To make it easier to understand, the standard evolution rules ("can't evolve turn 1 or the turn it was played") deal with the standard means of evolving; meaning taking the next Stage Pokémon from your hand and placing it on a Pokémon. Since these attacks and powers have you take a card from your deck and place it, they are NOT stopped by the standard evolution limits. This also falls under the term "played". Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power "Prehistoric Power" says No more Evolution cards can be played. The above attacks and powers would NOT be affected by this as those cards are not "played" (meaning played from your hand). (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)
• Dark Pokémon evolve from Basic Pokémon. Once you evolve a Basic Pokémon into a Dark Stage 1 Pokémon, it CANNOT evolve into a non-Dark Stage 2 Pokémon, only a Dark Stage 2. "Once you walk down the Dark Path, forever will it dominate your destiny" - Yoda the non-Pokémon. (Apr 13 WotC Chat)

Q. Can I still use the abilities of the Basic Pokémon after I've evolved it?
A. No. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. In the Team Rocket set does a Stage 2 Dark Pokémon have to evolve from a Dark Pokémon or can I put it on a plain one?
A. It has to evolve from a Dark Stage 1 Pokémon (unless you use Breeder of course). (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q52)

Q. Can I evolve a Dratini from the rocket set into a Dragonair from the first set of Pokémon?
A. Yes. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q117)

Q. Could you evolve the special Birthday Pikachu into a Raichu or Dark Raichu?
A. Nope. If there was ever a Birthday Raichu then ok. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q96)

Q. If a Baby Pokémon evolves into a basic Pokémon (for example, Pichu to Pikachu), is the Basic Pokémon now considered an Evolved Pokémon?
A. Yes, it is, though you can still play any Basic Pokémon by itself, without having its Baby Pokémon in play. (Neo Genesis FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can a Baby Pokemon evolve into a Gym Leader's Pokemon (Ex: Cleffa into Erika`s Clefairy)?

A. No, you can't. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q24)

• 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." (Jul 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Jul 30, 2004 PUI Rules Update)
• 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. (Oct 30, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play a LV.X Pokémon on one of my Benched Pokémon?
A. No, you can only attach a LV.X card to a Pokémon when it is Active. It says so on the card. (May 10, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What does "This counts as evolving that Pokémon" mean, in game terms?
A. 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. (Sep 26, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use "Baby Evolution" to evolve Pichu into Pikachu, or Wynaut into Wobbuffet, is the resulting Pokémon (Pikachu, Wobbuffet, etc.) considered an "Evolved Pokémon", or is it still considered as a "Basic Pokémon"?
A. Any time you evolve a Pokémon into another stage, it is considered to be an "Evolved Pokémon", even if the words written on the card say "Basic". Alternatively, the quick and dirty way to figure this out is...is there a Pokémon underneath it? If yes, then it's evolved. Likewise, when you use an attack like Kabuto's & Omanyte's "Team Assembly" to bring other Kabutos and/or Omanytes onto the bench, they are to be treated as "Basic Pokémon", even though the words written on the card say "Stage 1". Is there a Pokémon underneath it? If not, then it's basic. (Jan 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is it possible to evolve Pichu from the "Heart Gold/Soul Silver" expansion into Pikachu or Raichu?
A. No, because Pikachu would need to have "Evolves from Pichu" printed on the card in order to do this. Pichu cards from other sets with the "Baby Evolution" Poke-POWER provide a way to bypass this requirement, but this isn't possible with Pichu from "Heart Gold/Soul Silver". None of the HGSS set's Pokemon with the "Sweet Sleeping Face" Poke-BODY can evolve without a corresponding card that says it evolves from them. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Game Actions   

* If an action is mandatory (e.g., draw a card at the beginning of your turn, take a prize for knocking out a Pokémon, place damage counters for an attack, etc.), and you forget to take that action, you do not need your opponent's permission to do it. However, you should immediately call a judge so that things don't get muddled. (Mar 14, 2007 POP Announcement, POP Professor Forums)

* If an action is *optional* (e.g., playing a Trainer, attaching an Energy, attacking your opponent's Pokémon, etc.), and you forget to take that action, you must ask your opponent for permission to take that action. For example, if you attach a Grass Energy to your Pokémon, and you wanted to attach a Fire Energy, you must ask your opponent's permission to take back the Grass Energy and attach the Fire energy instead. If he or she says no, you're stuck with the Grass Energy. (Mar 14, 2007 POP Announcement, POP Professor Forums)

Hand   

Q. How many cards can I have in my hand?
A. You can have as many cards as you draw. There is no limit to hand size. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Is there any penalty for accidentally seeing your opponents hand?
A. As long as you both agree it was accidental, then no. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q183)

Knock Outs & Prizes   

Q. If I Knock Out my own Pokémon, does my opponent still get to take a Prize?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. When you Knock Out more than one of your opponent's Pokémon in a turn (i.e. using Selfdestruct or Raichu's Gigashock attack) do you receive a Prize for each Knocked Out enemy Pokémon?
A. Yes you do. And if you knock out some of your own, your opponent gets to draw prizes as well. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. When both active Pokémon are knocked out, who places a new active first?
A. The player whose turn would be next. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q220)

Q. If Gastly (Fossil) uses Lick and Knocks Out the other Pokémon, does your opponent bring out another Pokémon and then you do the status effect?
A. No, a Pokémon is SLATED to be removed when it has sufficient damage assigned to it. Attack effects resolve BEFORE a replacement Pokémon is brought up. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q232)

Q. Do you apply Pokémon Powers before status effects?
A. Check under 'How do you figure damage' in the Pokémon rules. Existing status effects are applied first, then Pokémon powers, then damage is assigned, then lastly new status effects from the attack are applied (basically). (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q62)

Q. If one of your Pokémon was Poisoned, and a few turns later it is KO'd by the Poison, does your opponent take a Prize card although the Poison KO'd the Pokémon, and not your opponents Pokémon?
A. Yes, he would still draw a Prize card. Whenever a Pokémon is Knocked Out, the other player gets Prize cards -- even if you Knock Out your own. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. This is probably an incredibly silly question, but I can't find the answer to it anywhere. If an opponent knocks out one of my Pokémon, and they forget to draw a prize, are they entitled to it if they remember later?
A. Technically yes. It is the responsibility of BOTH players to make sure everything is done correctly. If you spot it and he forgets you can BOTH get a warning in a tournament if you don't catch it. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q102)

LEGEND Pokemon   

Q. 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. 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, etc. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Do the LEGEND cards with two Pokemon on them (i.e. "Entei & Raikou LEGEND", etc.) count as two Pokemon while in play?
A. No, they only count as a single Pokemon when in play, even if your opponent takes 2 Prize cards when they are knocked out. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If "Raikou & Suicune LEGEND" attacks "Suicune & Entei LEGEND", how is weakness calculated?
A. Since "Suicune & Entei LEGEND" is weak to both of "Raikou & Suicune LEGEND's" types (Electric and Water), you would multiply the damage x4. (HS:Unleashed FAQ; May 13, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. 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?
A. 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. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use "Pokemon Collector" to choose Pokemon LEGEND cards as part of the 3 Basic Pokemon I search for in my deck?
A. 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". (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Mantine's "Group Swim" attack to put one half of a Lugia LEGEND card in my hand?
A. Yes. Either half of the Lugia LEGEND card is still considered "a Water-type Pokemon", so you can search for it with Group Swim. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. 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?
A. 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)

Q. Can I put three halves of one Pokemon LEGEND card and one of the other half in my deck?
A. Yes, that is legal if you wish. You do not need to have the same number of each half in your deck. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Is LEGEND part of the Pokemon name? Can I have 4 Lugia and 2 Lugia LEGEND sets in a 60 card deck?
A. 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. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play a Pokemon LEGEND as my Active Pokemon or on my Bench during setup?
A. No. Since a Pokemon LEGEND is not a Basic Pokemon you cannot play it during setup, even if you have both halves. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What if during setup the only Pokemon cards in my hand are Pokemon LEGEND halves?
A. Since you have no Basic Pokemon to place Active you will let your opponent look at your hand, then shuffle and redraw your hand as described in the rulebook. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Primeape's "Top Drop" attack reveals a LEGEND Pokemon card with no HP printed on it, how much damage does it do (if any)?
A. No damage is done regardless of which LEGEND half is revealed by Top Drop, because even the half with HP written on it is not considered "a Pokemon" while in the Discard Pile. (Feb 4, 2010 PUI Rules Team; Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I choose one or both halves of Lugia LEGEND with Garchomp Lv.X's "Restore" attack, and play it on my Bench?
A. Restore cannot put either of these on the bench. It can't bench both halves of a Pokemon LEGEND with Restore, because it is searching for "a Pokemon". A single Pokemon LEGEND half is considered "a Pokemon" in your discard, so you could only choose one of the two Lugia LEGEND halves. However, one half of a Pokemon LEGEND cannot be brought into play alone, so you couldn't put it on your bench. (Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I use Mew's "Re-creation" attack to choose a Lugia LEGEND card with the attack "Elemental Blast" written on it from my opponent's discard pile, and use that attack?
A. No, you can't use any attacks from a Pokemon LEGEND unless both pieces are in play. (Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Leveling Up   

Q. Can I play a LV.X Pokémon on one of my Benched Pokémon?
A. No, you can only attach a LV.X card to a Pokémon when it is Active. It says so on the card. (May 10, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I Level Up a Pokemon Prime, such as Gengar Prime?
A. Of course you can. "Prime" is not part of the Pokemon's name, so for gameplay purposes it's just plain old "Gengar". (Feb 17, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does leveling up remove Special Conditions such as poison, asleep, confusion, etc.?
A. When a Pokemon Lv.X is played, it removes all Special Conditions and other effects from that Pokemon. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use an attack this turn that says I cannot use it again next turn, does leveling up to a Lv.X remove that condition?
A. According to the rule book, leveling up a Pokemon removes all effects and status. So yes you would be able to use that attack again after leveling up. (Aug 28, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I use a Poke-POWER that can normally be used only once during my turn by that Pokemon, but then I level up that Pokemon, can I use that Poke-POWER again on the same turn?
A. No, you cannot. The Lv.X is still considered the same Pokemon as it was before leveling up. (Dec 11, 2008 PUI Rules Team; Jan 22, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I level up a Basic Pokemon, is it still considered a Basic Pokemon?
A. Yes, the Lv.X Pokemon has the same evolutionary stage as the card beneath it. (Jul 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I know you can't level up a Pokemon on the same turn as it evolves, but what about leveling up a Basic Pokemon (like Darkrai) on same turn as it is played?
A. No, similar to evolving the Pokemon cannot level up on the same turn it comes into play, nor on your first turn of the game. (Mar 20, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I have a Shaymin Lv.X (land forme) in play, can I level it up by placing a different Lv.X (sky forme) on top of it?
A. No, once a Pokemon has reached Lv.X it cannot level up any higher. (Feb 12, 2009 PUI Rules Team)

Q. When you level up to a LV.X Pokemon that is a different type than its predecessor, is the Pokemon considered the new type or dual type?
A. Only Attacks, Poke-POWERs, Poke-BODYs, and Stage classifications are inherited when a Pokemon levels up. The leveled up Pokemon is considered only the new type specified on the LV.X card. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If I level up a Pokemon that has an Item on it (like Dialga's "Adamant Orb" or Palkia's "Lustrous Orb"), does the Lv.X Pokemon also get to take advantage of that item?
A. Yes, items must still be used when a Pokemon levels up. (May 22, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Does Kabutops' "Primal Stare" Poke-POWER prevent your oppponent from leveling up to a LV.X?
A. No, because "leveling up" is not the same thing as "evolving". Once a LV.X is placed, it takes on the stage of the Pokemon from which it leveled up. (Jan 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Markers   

* Imprison & Shock-wave Markers are special markers that were introduced in EX: Dragon Frontiers and will be included in theme decks for that expansion instead of the regular Burned and Poisoned Special Condition markers. After one these markers has been attached to a Pokémon, they are removed ONLY when the Pokémon evolves or devolves. Pre-existing cards such as Double Full Heal or Heal Energy do not remove these new markers an effect would specifically have to mention Imprison or Shock-wave markers for that effect to remove these markers. (EX:Dragon Frontiers FAQ; Oct 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Notes   

Q. Since notes must be confined to game state, what actually consitutes "game state"?
A. Any notes you take during a tournament must be confined to changes in the game state and taking those notes must not slow down the game. Game State includes things such as number of Prizes remaining, number of cards in hand, whether or not a Supporter has been played, whether or not a Power has been used, how many of a specific card an opponent has in his/her discard pile (this does not include listing the entire contents of the discard, just a simple "2x Rare Candy"), etc. Game State does NOT include which cards are in your hand, which cards are in your opponent's hand, which cards are in your Prizes, which cards aren't in your deck because they are in your Prizes, how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, etc. (Dec 18, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I take notes in code or make deceptive notes during a match?
A. Per the Tournament Rules, your notes must be taken timely, restricted to changes in game state and open to review by the other player. Codes hinder both review and timeliness, because you have to explain them to the opponent. Of course, dubious game actions intended to deceive the opponent may earn a disqualification for unsporting conduct (i.e., no deceptive notes). (Oct 16, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Randomizers (Coins, Dice, etc)   

Q. Will the Coin Flipper on the Chansey E-Card (when used with the E-Reader) be legal for gameplay purposes?
A. Nope, the e-reader technology is fun but not tournament legal. It's too distracting to other players, takes too long to actually flip and hard to see by both players at the same time. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q202; Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q293 & Q300)

Q. Is it allowable for a player in a tourney to refuse to let someone use their randomizer (coin)?
A. Nope. This is done to keep players form gaining an edge with a possibly unblanaced randomizer. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q80 & Q115)

Q. A Judging question -- a pokemon that has 5 or 6 cards attached to it is on the table. A player throws a six sided dice and it lands half on the table and half sitting on this big stack of cards at about a 25 or 30 degreee tilt. Is this similiar to the "flat coin ruling where the coin flip counts even if it lands in the damage counter or half on cards. What do we do? An experienced player gently pushed the cards out from under the dice to see if they stayed put. Two new players started debating just where the dice actually landed -- under a lot of cards or just a few???
A. Anything less then a 45 degree angle is fine. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q76)

Q. In sanctioned tournaments, if you use dice instead of a coin for heads/tails, do you have to use a D6? In our pre-release yesterday, a couple players were using D8's and D10's, and I wasn't sure if those were legal or not.
A. As long as it is random, and clearly defined for the match, it doesn't matter. Random is random, as long as it's random. [But the Head Judge gets the final say on what dice are legal](Dec 4, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. In a sanctioned tournament, can the player object to the flipping device of the opponent and get it changed?
A. If there is any question about the accuracy of the flipping device, call for a judge. The judge can decide if a device is sufficiently random or not. (Dec 4, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Retreating   

Q. If I have Zubat (no retreat cost) as my Active and retreat him, can I bring him back as Active or do I have to bring up another Benched Pokémon?
A. When you retreat a Pokémon, you are swapping it (a switch) with another on the bench. So in this case, Zubat goes to the bench, and you bring up a different Pokémon from your bench. (Feb 17 WotC Chat; May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q31)

Q. When I retreat my Pokémon, do I discard the Energy from my hand or from the Pokémon?
A. From the Pokémon. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can you over pay retreat cost? I mean like if you wanted to get rid of a Darkness Energy from a free retreat pokemon, could you discard the darkness anyway when you retreat?
A. No. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q311)

Q. If my Active Pokémon has taken damage and I retreat it, does the damage go away?
A. No. Retreating does not remove damage. (But it does remove Poison, Confusion, Sleep, or anything else that's the result of a Pokémon's attack, including special attacks like Porygon's Conversion.) (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can I retreat my Active Pokémon if my bench is full?
A. Yup, when you retreat you are switching your active for one on your bench. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q222)

Q. 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?
A. 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. (Team Magma vs Team Aqua Prerelease FAQ, Q8)

Q. If I retreat or switch to make a Pokémon LV.X no longer active, do I have to remove the LV.X card?
A. No, benching a Pokémon LV.X retains its leveled-up status. (May 10, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Searching (Deck or Discard)   

Q. 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?
A. 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. (May 6, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Could I use a Poké-POWER, Poké-BODY, Attack, or Trainer to search through my deck for a particular card if I already know that card is not in my deck (i.e. using Energy Search if you know there are no basic Energy left in the deck due to previous unsuccessful searches)?
A. Yes you may, but if done repeatedly a judge may evaluate whether it's being used legitimately or merely as a stalling tactic. (Dec 8, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Shuffling   

Q. I was playing with this guy and he rearranged the order of the cards in his deck prior to shuffle it, would this be allowed in a tournament?
A. Yes but you would have the right to shuffle it yourself or cut it as well if you were uncomfortable with his shuffling method. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q125)

Q. At any time during a battle, are you or your opponent allowed to shuffle your deck?
A. NO! [Ed. Note: This references shuffling at random times, not when appropriate] (6-29-00 WotC Chat)

Q. Is it illegal to randomly shuffle your deck, and if yes what are the penalties from doing so?
A. Yes it is illegal. The penalties depend on the tournament rules. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q166)

Q. 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?
A. As long as you shuffle sufficiently afterwards. (Mar 25, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Special Conditions   

Q. In the rules it states that when a Pokémon evolves it becomes free of Poison, Sleep, Confusion, Paralysis, or anything else that may be the result of an attack. Does this mean that damage is also taken off of it when it evolves?
A. No. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q49)

Q. Do I flip a coin to see if my Asleep Pokémon wakes up at the end of the same turn that it fell Asleep?
A. Yes. You also [place] Poison damage at the end of the same turn a Pokémon got Poisoned. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If you use an attack that puts your opponent's Pokémon to Sleep (like Haunter's Nightmare), and the Defending Pokémon was already Asleep before you attacked, do you still have to flip a coin after the attack to see if it wakes up?
A. Yes, they get to flip at the end of each player's turn. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. If my Pokémon fell asleep and it wakes up next turn will it be able to attack on that turn or the next?
A. You flip at the end of each player's turn. If it wakes up after the other players turn, BEFORE yours then it would act normal on your turn. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q135)

Q. If your Active Pokémon is Asleep, do you have to flip at the end of each turn, or can you stay Asleep if you wish?
A. You have to flip. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q121)

Q. When a Pokémon is put to Asleep who flips the coin at the end of the turn?
A. The person whose Pokémon is asleep. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q123)

Q. When both active Pokemon are asleep, who tries to wake up first?
A. Umm, we have no idea why it would matter. Usually you do them at the same time. If for some future reason it would matter, then the player whose turn is next would flip first. (Nov 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q105)

Q. If the Defending Pokémon has a status change (like Poison) but an attack requires you to flip to see if the same condition is afflicted, do you still have to flip? (Eg - Weedle's poison sting reads "Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is Ö.) No?
A. Yes, you have to though I can understand why you would consider it redundant. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q118)

Q. My opponent attacks my Active, which causes 20 damage and Poisons it. Her turn is over. Do I then have to put 1 more damage [counter] on it because it is still Poisoned?
A. Yes. (Feb 24, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. How long does Poisoning last?
A. Until the Pokémon is Benched, Evolved, or Knocked Out. (Mar 30, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. If an opponent already has Nidoking's Toxic double-poison, then next turn I use a "normal-poison" attack, does the opponent retain Toxic's double-poison condition or does it now become a single-poison condition?
A. It would gain a single poison effect (the new effect replaces the old one). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q19)

Q. Does Benching a Pokémon end ALL effects, including those of attacks? For example, if I have a Scyther against a Magmar, and Magmar Smokescreens me, I then retreat Scyther and put up another Pokémon. I then [Switch] that one and return my original Scyther. Does Smokescreen no longer apply?
A. Benching a Pokémon removes the effects of any attacks that reference them. In this case, benching Scyther removed the Smokescreen effect. (Feb 3, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you explain the process of Paralysis for me?
A. I paralyze your Pokémon on MY TURN. On YOUR TURN its Paralyzed, and at the end of YOUR turn it is UNPARALYZED. Back on MY TURN, it is NOT PARALYZED, comprendez? (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q112)

Q. In the card game if you "Paralyzed" your partners Active Pokémon and then use an attack that says "10 + Flip a coin, if heads confused" is that attack a forced check or optional?
A. It is a forced check. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q297)

Q. Does benching ALWAYS 'reset' the Pokémon completely?
A. Benching always reset attack effects. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q43)

Q. 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?
A. 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. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Starting the Game   

Q. Do you have to draw [a] card when your opponent Mulligans?
A. No, you don't. You MAY draw [an]extra card. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

* Beginning with the "Diamond & Pearl" expansion, the player who goes first now draws a card at the beginning of his or her turn. That player may not play ANY Trainer cards (including Fossils), Supporter cards, nor Stadium cards from his or her hand on his or her first turn. (May 3, 2007 PUI Rules Team)

Q. The WOTC Floor Rules for determining who goes first was a) Flip a coin, b) Winner decides who gets to go first, c) First Player resolves Mulligans, d) Second Player resolves Mulligans. However, the EX-rulebook says "Flip a coin to decide who goes first", and goes on to describe how Mulligans are to be resolved simultaneously. My question is twofold: 1> Does the winner of the coin flip HAVE to go first, or do they have a choice? 2> Should Mulligans now be resolved simultaneously, or is this "just for beginners"?
A. At this time you play as it is written in the rulebook, unless the pre-game instructions in the the POP Floor Rules say otherwise. So now the winner of the coin flip DOES have to go first, and Mulligans are no longer handled one player at a time. (Sep 18, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Apr 22, 2004 PUI Rules Team; Jan 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. In a sanctioned Tournament, does the player have to show his hand in the event they have no Basics at the start of the game? The Floor Rules don't explicitly say that they have to.
A. Yes, you still reveal your hand before you shuffle it back into your deck. The rules from the rulebook still apply unless specifically stated otherwise. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Jan 26, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. I've just opened the two Dragons theme decks; however there is no mention in the new Rulebook of the Fossil trainers cards being basics for the purposes of starting the game. So are we back to the Fossil Trainers being just that? You can no longer start with a lone Fossil? Does the latest rulebook supercede the previous rulebook?
A. No, there was no mention of Fossil Trainers simply because there aren't any in the EX:Dragon set. You still can play them as basics at the start [during setup] like you did in EX:Sandstorm. (Dec 4, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Before starting the game, Player-A has a Basic Pokémon but Player-B does not. On Player-A's draw 1 card for mulligan, say they draw a better choice for starting Pokémon; are they allowed to switch it out with the one they chose to be their 1st active before the mulligan? And if they choose to switch, must it stay on the field and not allowed to be put back into hand?
A. Player A continues his or her setup and can choose to draw an extra card after setting aside his or her Prize cards. Once placed, the active cannot be changed during setup, but a mulligan card can be placed onto the bench. (May 5, 2005 PUI Rules Team; Feb 9, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have a basic and one or more fossil cards, can you treat any or all fossils in your opening hand as Basic Pokémon?
A. Yes, you can start the game with a Fossil Trainer card as your Active Pokémon, and put a normal Basic Pokémon on your Bench (or vice-versa). (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If you have basic and fossil Pokémon in your hand at startup, can you choose to play only the fossils and not the basic?
A. Yes. You can play "just" the Fossil Trainer cards, if you have fossils and a basic. If your opening hand has Fossil Trainers only, but no Basic Pokémon cards, you must choose a Fossil Trainer to place active. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team; Jul 27, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. My opponent MUST put their basic down first before they draw 1 card for my mulligan, right? Say my opponent draws a better choice starter Pokémon when I mulligan, are they allowed to switch it out with another from their hand?
A. They must place their active Pokémon and their prizes before optionally drawing a card for the mulligan. Once placed, the active cannot be changed during setup; but you are allowed to add a new Pokémon to your bench, if there is room. (Jun 16, 2005 PUI Rules Team; Feb 9, 2006 PUI Rules Team; Jul 27, 2006 PUI Rules Team)

Q. Can I play a Pokemon LEGEND as my Active Pokemon or on my Bench during setup?
A. No. Since a Pokemon LEGEND is not a Basic Pokemon you cannot play it during setup, even if you have both halves. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Q. What if during setup the only Pokemon cards in my hand are Pokemon LEGEND halves?
A. Since you have no Basic Pokemon to place Active you will let your opponent look at your hand, then shuffle and redraw your hand as described in the rulebook. (GS:Heart Gold/Soul Silver FAQ; Feb 11, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Weakness and Resistance   

Q. 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?
A. No. If a Pokémon has more than one type, each type still counts against the Defending Pokémon's Weaknesses or Resistances. (May 20, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Kecleon has several types of energy attached and the Defending Pokémon is both Weakness and Resistance to these types, does Kecleon have to apply both W & R or not?
A. Apply them in order. Weakness, then Resistance. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Kecleon has two different colored basic energies attached, and it attacks a Pokémon with weakness to both of those colors (i.e. Kabutops-EX), is the weakness calculation doubled because Kecleon is both types?
A. Sure. Damage would be up to x4 for the appropriate double Weakness. (Sep 11, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. If Kecleon has two different colored basic energies attached, and it attacks a Pokémon with resistance to both of those colors (i.e. Salamence is resistant to both Fire & Fighting), is the Resistance calculation doubled because Kecleon is both types?
A. Yes. Just like double-Weakness would result in x4 damage, double-Resistance would result in -60 damage (-30 times two). (May 13, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Win States   

Q. How do I win?
A. You win when you draw your last Prize or when your opponent loses his or her Active Pokémon and doesn't have a Pokémon on the Bench to replace it. You also win if your opponent can't draw a card at the beginning of his or her turn because his or her deck ran out of cards, but this doesn't happen very often. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If I draw my last card. It is an Electric Energy so I use Raichu's Gigashock and it kills all of my opponents. Who wins?
A. You do, because you won't actually lose for being out of cards until the beginning of your next turn. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. If my opponent had 3 cards left in his deck and I used Wildfire to discard the three cards, on his/her next turn do I win?
A. Yup, you would, if someone cannot draw a card at the start of their turn like they are supposed to, they lose. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. At the end of a long match, I Selfdestruct Magneton. My opponent and I both take our last Prize cards. Who wins?
A. Well, if one of you has a Benched Pokémon to replace your Active Pokémon and the other player doesn't, then the person who can replace his or her Active Pokémon wins. Otherwise, you play Sudden Death. This is explained in the Pokémon rules in the Expert Rules section under "What Happens if Both Players Win at the Same Time?" (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Scenario: It's down to one prize each, your turn with 10HP left, and you're poisoned. You attack and KO your opponent to draw your last prize. But you take poison damage and would be KO'd now too. Do you win or does it go to Sudden Death?
A. You win, you must complete the rest of the combat sequence, but then if you win BEFORE the end of the turn, you win, period. Poison doesn't happen until after the end of your turn. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. What happens if I use Professor Oak and have less than 7 cards left in my deck? Do I lose immediately, or do I draw out the remainder of my deck and lose at the beginning of my next turn (if I don't do anything to replenish the deck like Recycle, Mr.Fuji,
A. You only lose when you don't have any cards to draw on; the card draw you must do on the start of your turn. So you would lose on your next turn if you didn't somehow get some cards back into your [draw] deck. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q43)

Q. I have Hidden Legends Electrode and use "Mass Destruction" to knock out Electode and the defending Pokémon. If I have only one prize left and my opponent has more, but I have no bench and my opponent has a bench, do I still win?
A. No, in this situation it would go to Sudden Death. However, if the opponent did not have any Pokémon on their bench, the Electrode player would have two win conditions vs. one, and would therefore win the game. (Mar 10, 2005 PUI Rules Team)

Official rulings for the Two on Two format  (top)

Attacking   

Q. In 2-on-2 Play, if one of the Defending Pokémon is a Baby Pokémon with the "Baby Rule" printed on it (not one of the newer ones with the "Baby Evolution" Poké-POWER), would the attacker have to flip a coin regardless of which of the Defending Pokémon they are attacking? Or would they only have to flip when attacking the Baby Pokémon?
A. It only counts if the Baby Pokémon itself is attacked. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. In 2-on-2 Play, if both of the Defending Pokémon are Baby Pokémon with the "Baby Rule" printed on it (not one of the newer ones with the "Baby Evolution" Poké-POWER), would the attacker have to flip two coins in order to attack (one for each baby)?
A. No, you would only have to flip only one coin. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Q. In 2-on-2 Play, if you are facing two babies and you use an attack that does something to BOTH Defenders, do you have to flip twice, once for each Baby?
A. When you attack, you choose a single Defending Pokémon to attack. Even if the attack says "each". So you would only have to flip once. (Oct 16, 2003 PUI Rules Team)

Strike and Run    (Dunsparce - EX:Sandstorm)

Q. If I use Dunsparce's "Strike and Run" in 2 on 2 play and Dunsparce is my only Pokémon, do I have to move a Pokémon up from the bench first before you choose to use the switch effect of the attack?
A. You would resolve Dunsparce's attack completely, before handling other game rules such as adding a second Active Pokémon (Mar 18, 2004 PUI Rules Team)

Tongue Reel    (Lickilicky - Secret Wonders)

Q. In two vs. two battle, if I attack my opponent's benched Pokemon with Lickilicky's "Tongue Reel" attack, who chooses which of the Defending Pokemon to switch?
A. Lickilicky's owner chooses the Pokemon that will be attacked, as well as the Defending Pokemon to be switched, if any. (Feb 7, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Q. In two vs. two battle, when using Lickilicky's "Tongue Reel" attack can I do the damage to one Pokemon but flip to paralyze the other Active Pokemon?
A. No, the Paralyze check is done against the Pokemon chosen at the beginning of the attack. (Apr 10, 2008 PUI Rules Team)

Official rulings for the Team format  (top)

Agility    (Pikachu - Nintendo Black Star Promos; Ponyta - Stormfront; Metang - Legends Awakened; Others)

Q. In Team Play, when an attack like Kakuna's "Secrete Poison" or "Agility" specifies the phrase "during your opponent's next turn", does that count for both opponents or do you have to choose one of the opponents to have the effect during their turn only?
A. You would have to specify which opponent. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q303)

Q. When using Agility in Team Play, can you specify which of the opposing team's Active Pokemon is affected by the Agility effect, or does it HAVE to be the Defending Pokemon that you are attacking with Agility?
A. It does have a you or your in it, so you would be able to select which opponent's active Pokemon it affects. (Jul 18, 2002 WotC Chat, Q22)

Energy Trans    (Sceptile - Stormfront; Sceptile - OP Series 4; Venusaur ex - Fire Red Leaf Green; Others)

Q. In team battle, can I use my Venusaur to switch grass energy between my teammate's pokemon (not moving them between owners)?
A. Yes. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q71)

Lost World   

Q. When using the Lost World stadium in Team Gameplay, can you check if the entire opposing team has 6 Pokemon in both of their Lost Zones combined? Or does it have to be 6 Pokemon in either of your opponent's individual Lost Zones?
A. Since each player has their own individual Lost Zone, you would have to have all 6 Pokemon in one opponent's Lost Zone in order to declare your team the winner. (Feb 3, 2011 PUI Rules Team)

Team Galactic's Wager   

Q. How do we play Team Galactic's Wager in Team Battle, when it says, "Each player shuffles..."?
A. For this card, treat the text "each player" like "you and your opponent". Under POP team play rules, this means: pick someone on your team and someone on the other team. Then only each of those players shuffle their hand, etc. (Feb 18, 2010 PUI Rules Team)

Team Gameplay in General   

• Team Gameplay is restored as a Fun Format, for both Limited and Constructed tournaments (Pokémon Organized Play, Tournament Formats 2007-2008, Sept 1, 2007).

Q. In TMP, if I play a Supporter on my opponent...since it's played on him I cannot use any more supporters my turn...but he can use them on his turn correct?
A. Correct. [Ed. Note: Just for clarification, the supporter action itself must be played during the current turn; it cannot be held over until the opponent's turn. The answer here indicates that the other player may play a Supporter on their turn if they wish.] (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q427)

Q. We cannot attack our partner in Team Battle - I had somebody try that at Worlds while I was judging team. They didn't want to flip to use an Eeeeeeek attack so they aimed at their patner.
A. Correct, you cannot attack your teammate. (Jun 12, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1902)

Warp Point   

Q. When you play a Warp Point in Team Multiplay, how does it work?
A. Play the card as written. The player who uses the card gets to decide which opponent it affects and which member of his or her team it affects. Each of those players gets to choose which Pokemon they switch up from their own bench. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 15)

Alphabetical index