Can you briefly imagine and tell yourself how you got in touch with the Pokémon TCG?

My name is Joshua, owner of Ancient Cards, formerly known as Ancient Lugia.

When the Silver Tempest set came out, I started to open and collect more Pokémon products. Through various online platforms I came in contact with someone who was Gym Leader and occasionally was judge at a local Play! Pokémon store: Playourgames in Uden.

As a result I got to know other players, including even a judge who lived near me. Eventually I started playing online via Pokémon TCG Live, which I can really recommend. I regularly streamed my matches online, but found it exciting to finally participate in an official tournament.

After a lot of doubts I signed up for a Challenge tournament at Playourgames in Uden. That was actually my first real step in the competitive side of Pokémon TCG

Many people know Pokémon cards mainly as a collectible. What makes the actual card game so fun?

The community is actually very cozy, tight and sometimes also a bit uncomfortable and that makes it fun. Everyone's welcome.

For me, of course, it started with Lugia. Silver Tempest was mostly about Lugia, my favorite Pokémon, and my first real deck was also a Lugia deck. I still kept it for memory.

In addition, Pokémon TCG is quite accessible compared to Yu-Gi-Oh!, which I used to play in high school

How would you explain Pokémon TCG to someone who's never played it before?

. Pokémon TCG is one of the easier trading card games to learn. If you like strategy and turn-based gameplay, then it is highly recommended.

But in the end, the funniest thing just keeps playing real with other people

What does an average game look like?

An average game doesn't actually exist anymore, because there are many different decks currently.

However, almost every match starts the same: a coin flip or dice roll to determine who starts, wish each other luck, and then as a player you try to get all six of your Prize Cards first.

You can also win because your opponent no longer has cards in his deck, or has no Pokémon left on the playing field

You often hear terms such as "meta" or "archetype." What exactly do they mean?

A deck is simply the 60 cards you play with.

Meta refers to the decks that currently perform best based on tournament results.

An archetype is actually the strategy around which a deck is built. For example, a Lugia deck that Archeops uses to quickly get a lot of Special Energy into play

What makes a deck really good?

Consistent.

Strong cards are important, but ultimately it pertains to how reliable a deck works and how often you can win with it. The combination of Pokémon, Trainer cards and Energy cards ultimately makes the difference

Do you have a favorite deck?

I'm currently testing a variant based on Tera Box, a deck that I played a lot for the last rotation.

What I like about that deck is that you have a possible counter against almost every other deck. It is just not easy to play and requires a lot of exercise

How much is Pokémon TCG about happiness and how much is skill?

Happiness is always a factor in card games, because you depend on which cards you draw.

But competitive decks are so tested and optimized nowadays that there are almost always possibilities. Especially on larger tournaments skill really plays a big role

What mistakes do beginners often make?

Get used to the basic rules.

When do you get to play what card? What exactly do certain cards do? That kind of thing takes time, but that's perfectly normal. Everybody's had that

How do you get better in Pokémon TCG?

Practice. A lot of practice.

I played a lot online myself via Pokémon TCG Live and I regularly streamed matches. Repetition is ultimately the best way to get better

Would you rather play online or physically?

Both.

Online is ideal to quickly test and adapt decks. But in real life playing is still different. Online rules are applied automatically, while you need to keep track of everything including good shaking

Has playing changed your view of cards?

Yes, absolutely.

You're suddenly going to value cards that are playable, like Trainer cards or certain commons. Not just rare or expensive cards

Does playing give more meaning to a collection?

Not necessarily. Everyone experiences Pokémon in their own way.

There are almost no wrong reasons to be working on it with emphasis on almost

How do you view the current state of Pokémon TCG?

Actually, very positive.

Pokémon is receiving enormous attention, both positive and negative, but as a result the game is growing enormously. It remains accessible to almost any age

What advice would you give to someone from the Stockmonster community who wants to start playing?

Start online with Pokémon TCG Live and then visit a local Play! Pokémon store.

That's really the best way to get to know the community

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Bonus Questions

What's your favorite Pokémon to play with?

That was of course Lugia... duh. But right now, that's Wellspring Ogerpon

What was the most frustrating moment?

Making a mistake during a tournament that ultimately costs you the winnings. Official tournaments are pretty strict

Ever had a perfect moment during a game?

Sure. That really makes you feel euphoric

Biggest misunderstanding about Pokémon TCG?

That it would be boring or just for children. It is accessible to all ages

What does Pokémon TCG mean to you personally?

Especially enjoy a wide community, the excitement of the game and of course the urge to win.

Unfortunately, my company and family life give me a little less time to play