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Pokemon-e TCG EX: Ruby and Sapphire Rules
PokePop, Pokesensei, GymLeaderPhil

June 16, 2003

Most of these new rules are provided by PokePop and Pokesensei from Team Compendium who attended the Pokemon EXtreme event on Saturday. This is official and verified by myself and others who have seen or heard about the new set. Please note that these new rules do not apply to any Wizards of the Coast Tournaments or Sanctioned Events! These rules are only to be used in Nintendo/The Pokemon Company/Pokemon USA Sanctioned Events and Organized Play. It is your choice at this point to play these rules in casual unsanctioned play. Just understand that these will be the rules that are official after Wizards of the Coast is finished with the game.
  • Most EX will be basics but there are "legends" (their words) of evolved forms. Since "ex" pokemon are different, they do not evolve into the "normal" stage 1 & 2 versions of the line. This is because they have "ex" in their name and the Stage 1 or Stage 2 Card would have to say "Place this card on top of Mewtwo ex" for instance. Also, do not forget the rule for "ex Pokemon": You get two prizes instead of 1 for knocking it out.
  • When you start the game and you mulligan, your opponent can choose to draw 1 card.
  • The player who goes first skips their draw card step.
  • If you are confused, you can now retreat normally. You still flip for the attack when confused (if you choose to attack) but now on tails, you place 3 damage counters on that pokemon. Obviously, that means weakness and resistance do not apply, as well as anything that blocks damage because you are placing the counters (not dealing damage).
  • You can only retreat once per turn (this means once only, not once per pokemon).
  • Darkness and Metal Energy are now easier to play. They only have their beneficial effects (add 10 damage for darkness or block 10 damage for metal) on pokemon of the appropriate type. No negatives from them if played on Non-dark or non-metal pokemon. They would still provide the color of energy (Darkness/Metal) but not the effects of the card (Plus or Minus 10).
  • This is the new text to be used with Darkness and Metal Energy Cards:
    • Darkness Energy - Special Energy Card
      If the Pokemon Darkness Energy is attached to attacks, the attack does 10 more damage to the Active Pokemon (before applying Weakness and Resistance). Ignore this effect unless the Attacking Pokemon is {D} or has Dark in its name. Darkness Energy provides {D}. (Doesn't count as a basic Energy card.)
    • Metal Energy - Special Energy Card
      Damage done by attacks to the Pokemon that Metal Energy is attached to is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Ignore this effect if the Pokemon that Metal energy is attached to isn't {M}. Metal Energy provides {M}. (Doesn't count as a basic Energy card.)
  • You can only play 1 stadium card per turn.
  • Since some Pokemon have "ex" in their name, they do not count as normal Pokemon. For example: I could run 4 Mewtwo and 4 Mewtwo ex in a deck along with 4 Team Rocket's Mewtwo. Different names do not count as the same Pokemon.
  • There is a new format to play now with this new expansion called 2 on 2 Battles:
    • You may place up to two (but no less than one) Pokemon in the Active Position
    • You can only have four Pokemon on the Bench.
    • During your turn you may choose to attack with one of the Active Pokemon. Damage and effects of that attack is dealt to the one of the opponent's Defending Pokemon. If it says both Defending Pokemon in the attack, you deal damage to both. If the attack says otherwise, go with the attack's text.
    • If both of your Active Pokemon are affected by a Special Condition, you can try to remove the effect in any order.
    • When a card refers to the Active Pokemon, you must choose one of your Active Pokemon. You cannot split the effect. This also applies to cards that effect the Defending Pokemon.
    • You can still only retreat one Pokemon per turn in 2 on 2 Battles.
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