Some knockouts are worth more because the card itself says so. Strong Pokémon trade extra Prize cards for extra power, so one knockout can pay one, two, or three Prizes. Prize cards are bonus cards set aside at the start and collected by knocking out opposing Pokémon. A standard game uses six Prizes, and taking all six usually wins.
Table of Contents
- How Prize cards normally work
- Why do Pokémon ex give up two Prizes?
- Which Pokémon give up three Prizes?
- How does the Prize trade shape deck choice?
How Prize cards normally work
A standard game uses 60-card decks and six Prize cards per player. According to the Pokémon Company International glossary, a player normally takes one Prize into hand for each opposing Pokémon Knocked Out (Pokémon TCG Glossary).
Prizes come from the top of each player's own deck and sit face-down during setup. Because neither player knows what is prized, key cards can stay unreachable until late in the game.
Why do Pokémon ex give up two Prizes?
Current Pokémon ex are built stronger, with higher HP, stronger attacks, and useful Abilities. The balance is a printed rule: the opponent takes two Prize cards when one is Knocked Out, as shown in the Pokémon TCG Card Database (Pokémon ex listing).
That rule changes deck math. Lose three Pokémon ex and the opponent has six Prizes and the game.
Which Pokémon give up three Prizes?
Mega Evolution Pokémon ex are a higher-risk tier with boosted HP and damage. According to a Pokémon Company press alert, they award three Prizes when Knocked Out (Mega Evolution announcement).
Losing one can decide half the six-Prize race at once. Earlier cards used the same scaling: VMAX, TAG TEAM-GX, and V-UNION lines were worth three Prizes, while V and VSTAR were worth two.
How does the Prize trade shape deck choice?
The Prize trade is simple: cheap single-Prize attackers need fewer knockouts to win. A single-Prize attacker that knocks out three Pokémon ex takes six Prizes, while the ex
Switching: What a New Player Needs to Know”>player needs
- Single-Prize decks risk less per knockout and stay steady when behind.
- Two-Prize ex decks hit harder but lose two Prizes per mistake.
- Three-Prize Mega decks hit hardest but can lose in two knockouts.
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