Pokemon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (Pokémon TCG) is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998. It was initially published by Wizards of the Coast (wizards), the company that produces Magic: the Gathering. Although Wizards of the Coast lost the licence to publish the game in July 2003, sets continue to be published under the jurisdiction of Nintendo and Pokémon USA, Inc. (PUI).

The game is centered on the concept of the Pokémon battle. All Pokémon cards have attacks and Hit Points (HP); by doing damage to the opponent's Pokémon equal to their Hit Points, the player can knock them out and send them to the discard pile.