Pokémon TCG vs Yu Gi Oh – which should you play?

Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! are two of the largest card games in the world. Both card games are a part of what’s known as the big three, which also includes Magic: The Gathering. While both Pokémon TCG and Yu Gi Oh! are trading card games, they play drastically different. The speed of games, the overall tempo of a match, and even the way basic deckbuilding is structured are all vastly different. There are things to like and dislike about both of them, and this guide will go over the differences of Pokemon vs Yu-Gi-Oh! So you can see what card game is right for you.

Pokémon TCG vs Yu Gi Oh!

Pokemon doesn’t have life points like most traditional TCGs, and instead has prize cards you get to put into your hand by knocking out opposing Pokemon. This is one of the ways to win. You can also knock out all your opponent’s Pokemon on the field. You can also win if your opponent runs out of cards to draw from their deck when their turn starts.

The decks of the Pokemon meta are very fast, and can get to any Pokemon with ease. Generally, decks are built around a small handful of Pokemon, usually about one or two major Pokemon with a small handful of utility Pokemon to help support the strategy of your deck. In general, they use Pokemon between one or two types, sometimes three depending on the deck. 

Yu-Gi-Oh! matches go by quickly, and the only way to win is by bringing your opponent’s life points to zero or getting rid of all the cards of their deck. Most decks can play cards that make it trivial to take out all of your opponent’s life points in one turn, ensuring decks are even in that regard. 

Pokémon rewards you for building decks, while Yu Gi Oh! reward in-game tactics

Pokemon is a game that is heavily focused on playing your own deck rather than playing your opponent’s. While what they do matters, since Pokemon has no way to interact with the opponent during their turn, what you do with your deck is much more important compared to other TCGs.

Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the fastest TCGs on the market. It’s not uncommon for the game to end on the first turn, and it is possible you may not even be able to play the game. However, this is a part of the game’s charm. Mechanically, the game is very strong with long-winded combos being the heart and soul of modern Yu-Gi-Oh! You can still interact with your opponent thanks to disruptions you can use from your hand, and timing it right can cut the opponent off in the middle of a combo leading them to have to just pass their turn.

Another feature of Yu-Gi-Oh! decks is that they are built around archetypes. These are cards that share a naming convention (for example “Blue-Eyes,” “Sky Striker,” or “HERO” to name a few) and often combo with each other. Because of this, Yu-Gi-Oh! decks don’t really splash archetypes together unless there is a small number of them that can work more as an engine than a dedicated deck. Most decks will just be one singular archetype, though a handful of decks reach the top of the meta splashing multiple small archetypes together.

✓ Johnny’s Annotation:

Pokemon’s collectibility sets it apart

While both Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! can be collected, Pokemon’s brand recognition to a wider audience makes rare cards much more valuable compared to Yu-Gi-Oh!, which often reprints cards with the same art whereas Pokemon will have special arts for the most popular cards, making it a much more collectible game if you’re interested in more than just playing the actual game.

Structurally, Pokémon and Yu Gi Oh are totally different

Pokemon uses a resource system in the way of Energy cards. Most attacks require Energy attached to them to attack. You can only play one Energy card a turn, though there are other cards that let you get around that restriction. Almost every Pokemon has a weakness and resistance, which will take either more or less damage depending on the type of Pokemon attacking. 

One thing to note about Yu-Gi-Oh! is how common negates are. Many decks are built around getting as many negates on the field as possible so that you can prevent anything your opponent tries to do. There are a handful of cards that can be blowouts, but they have become a necessity in order for decks that have to play second to even stand a chance. 

The board of Pokemon has one active Pokemon on each side, and up to five Pokemon on the bench. If a Pokemon is knocked out, it goes to the discard pile and is replaced by a Pokemon on the bench. While you can use the abilities of Pokemon on the bench, it can be a danger as there are cards that bring Pokemon to the active Pokemon zone to get a free knock out.

✓ Amaar’s Advice

Which of the two is easier to get started with?

I’ll be honest, I don’t play Yu Gi Oh as well as Johnny does. My experience is pretty limited, having walked into my local table top shop and asked for help starting. I was given a Structure Deck, and there I was. Pokémon on the other hand, is a lot harder to get started with. Bare this in mind!

Which TCG should I play: Pokémon or Yu Gi Oh?

Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! are vastly different games, so the one you will enjoy more depends on what you want out of a card game. 

For Pokemon, the game is much simpler and the introductory battle decks are rather straightforward. However, there is depth to using your Pokemon to help push your advantage while keeping them from being knocked out. Since there is no way to interact on your opponent’s turn, everything you do on your turn matters, and you have to let whatever your opponent does happen. 

Yu-Gi-Oh! is very fast and in-depth when it comes to memorizing combo lines. There are many variables that come with combo lines, including if you ever get interrupted and have to change what you are doing on the fly. As such, decks are generally much harder to learn compared to other TCGs, but just as rewarding figuring out how to get yourself out of a bind. 

If you want a more balanced card game with more consistent back and fourth, Yu-Gi-Oh! isn’t the TCG for you, and you’ll have more fun in Pokemon. But if you want a TCG where things get wild with combos and go by quickly, Yu-Gi-Oh! is perfect for you, and you may find yourself growing bored with Pokemon’s more laid-back gameplay.