Attacking & Retreating

Attacking & Retreating

Mastering the art of attacking and knowing when to strategically retreat are fundamental to success in Pokémon TCG Live. Your active Pokémon is your primary offensive and defensive unit, and understanding its capabilities and limitations is key to victory.

Initiating an Attack

Each turn, after you've performed your initial actions (drawing a card, playing Basic Pokémon, attaching Energy, playing Trainer cards), you'll have the opportunity to attack with your Active Pokémon. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Check Energy Requirements: Look at your Active Pokémon's attacks. Each attack lists specific Energy costs (e.g., , , ). Ensure your Active Pokémon has the required amount and type of Energy cards attached to it.
2. Select an Attack: On the game board, click on your Active Pokémon. A menu will appear displaying its available attacks. Attacks that you have enough Energy for will be highlighted and selectable.
3. Target Your Opponent's Active Pokémon: Once you select an attack, the game will automatically target your opponent's Active Pokémon. Some attacks may have additional effects that target Benched Pokémon or other game elements, which will be prompted by the game.
4. Confirm Attack: A confirmation prompt will appear, detailing the attack's name, damage, and any special effects. Confirm your choice to execute the attack.
5. Resolve Effects: The game will automatically resolve the attack, applying damage, status conditions (e.g., Burned, Poisoned), and any other effects as described on the card. Remember to account for Weakness and Resistance!

Strategy Tip: Always consider your opponent's Active Pokémon's Weakness and Resistance before attacking. Hitting for Weakness can often lead to a quick Knock Out, while attacking into Resistance can be a waste of Energy.

Strategic Retreating

Sometimes, your Active Pokémon might be in a precarious position, low on HP, or simply not the best choice for the current matchup. This is where retreating comes in. Retreating allows you to swap your Active Pokémon with one of your Benched Pokémon.

1. Check Retreat Cost: Every Pokémon card has a "Retreat Cost" indicated by a series of symbols in the bottom right corner. This is the number of Energy cards you must discard from your Active Pokémon to retreat it.
2. Ensure Bench is Not Empty: You can only retreat if you have at least one Pokémon on your Bench to swap in.
3. Select Retreat Option: During your turn, before attacking, click on your Active Pokémon. In the menu that appears, you'll see a "Retreat" option. Click this.
4. Discard Energy: The game will prompt you to discard the required number of Energy cards from your Active Pokémon to pay its Retreat Cost. Drag and drop the specified Energy cards to the discard pile.
5. Choose New Active Pokémon: After discarding the Energy, you'll be presented with your Benched Pokémon. Select the Pokémon you wish to move to the Active Spot.
6. Confirm Retreat: Confirm your choice, and your new Active Pokémon will take its place.

Strategy Tip: Retreating is a powerful tool for managing damage, setting up new attackers, or avoiding a Knock Out. Cards like Switch (Trainer - Item) or Escape Rope (Trainer - Item) can allow you to switch your Active Pokémon without paying a Retreat Cost, providing crucial flexibility. Some Pokémon abilities, like "Float Stone" (Tool Card), can also reduce or eliminate Retreat Costs.

Remember, you can only attack once per turn, but you can retreat multiple times if you have the Energy and the strategic need. However, each retreat costs Energy, so use it wisely!