The game is pretty easy. Some of my friends and I got into the game for a while recently. You pick 60 cards, split between Pokémon cards, Support Cards, and Energy cards. You typically want to use Pokémon that use the same energy. I split my deck into 20 Pokémon, 20 Support, and 20 Energy. When you start the game, shuffle your deck, then draw 7 cards to use, then 6 prize cards. Decide who goes first. Make a Pokemon your active, then bench any others you have. They just be a basic (it says that in the top left corner). If you don’t have basics reveal your hand and reshuffle your hand into your deck, then draw 7 again. On turn 1, the player going first cannot attack, turn 2 the player going second can attack. Turn to turn you draw a card, attach 1 energy, use 1 trainer, any about of item cards, and attack. After you attack your turn ends. When you KO the Opponent’s Pokemon card, take 1 prize card (prize cards stay flipped over). To win the game take all your prizes, or your Opponent decks out (can’t draw any more cards), or they have no more Pokémon on the field.

It’s pretty simple, but the strategy comes from the V,GX,EX cards you use, the energy type that you pick, and how you use your trainer cards. I recommend if you want to start buy a theme deck or some premade deck. They are typically about 5-12 dollars and come with everything you need. After that make a deck using cards you have. You may need more cards of course, then I would recommend either buy packs so you get a bulk of cards, or buy individual cards from a local store or online (TCG player is pretty good)

I would recommend watching a video by the Pokémon company on how to play as I’m sure I made mistakes. Currently you can play standard or unlimited. Standard allows only recent sets, while unlimited is all. I only play the game with friends and we do unlimited, and change some rules too.

Overall, Pokemon is an easy game, just seems complex because they never made people care or want to know about it until recently. (Sorry for any spelling grammar errors I missed, I hope this helps you out).