Pokemon TCG Tournament Etiquette & Preparation Guide
Your first tournament can feel a little nerve-wracking. This guide covers everything from what to pack in your bag to how to handle a judge call, so you can focus on playing your best.
1. What to Bring
Pack your bag the night before. Forgetting your deck list or damage counters is a rough way to start your day. Here's what you'll need:
Essential Items
- Your deck, in a deck box, sleeved, exactly 60 cards
- Printed deck list. Required at sanctioned events. Bring two copies just in case.
- Dice or a coin for coin flips. Most players use dice (even = heads, odd = tails)
- Damage counters. Acrylic sets are the easiest to read and manage
- GX/VSTAR/Tera markers to track once-per-game abilities
- Condition markers. Burn and poison markers are required
- Playmat. Not required, but it really helps keep your board organized
- Photo ID. Required for age-division verification at sanctioned events
- Pen and paper for tracking damage, noting game state, or signing match slips
Playmats, Counters & Accessories
Ultra Pro Pokemon Playmat
RecommendedOfficial-size playmat with printed zones. Keeps your board organized and protects cards from the table surface
JEPISADI Pro TCG Tournament Kit
Best ValueAll-in-one kit with damage counters, dice, GX markers, and more. Everything you need in one box
JEPISADI 33-Piece Damage Counter Set
Acrylic damage counters that are easy to read and won't roll off the table like dice
Tournament Bags & Backpacks
You need something to carry your deck boxes, binder, playmat, and accessories. A good TCG backpack keeps everything organized and protected during travel.
Pokemon TCG Backpack (Charmander/Squirtle/Bulbasaur)
Fun PickPokemon-themed backpack with compartments for deck boxes, binders, and accessories
ENHANCE Designer TCG Backpack
Top PickCustomizable compartments, padded laptop sleeve, fits multiple deck boxes and playmats
ARCAVALT TCG Backpack
Water-resistant, reinforced, dedicated card storage compartments. Built for tournament travel
These are affiliate links, and purchasing through them helps support Professor's Research at no extra cost to you.
2. Before the Tournament
Tournaments start on time, with or without you. Show up early, get your admin stuff done, and walk in relaxed instead of scrambling.
- Register on time. Most events close registration 15-30 minutes before round 1. If you're late, you'll get a round-1 loss or get turned away entirely.
- Know your format. Standard, Expanded, and GLC all have different card pools. Double-check which format the event uses and make sure your deck is legal.
- Have your deck list ready. Fill it out completely: card names, set codes, quantities. Incomplete lists can get you a penalty.
- Eat before you play. Tournaments run 4-8 hours and you won't get long breaks between rounds. Eat a real meal beforehand and bring a water bottle.
3. During Games: Etiquette Rules
Good etiquette keeps games smooth and fair. These aren't just suggestions, either. Some of these are enforced by judges and can get you warnings if you ignore them.
- Say what you're doing out loud. Call out stuff like "I'm attaching energy," "I'm using Boss's Orders," "I'm attacking for 120." Your opponent needs to know what's happening.
- Ask before touching your opponent's cards. Just say "Can I read that?" before picking up their card. Don't grab cards off their board without asking.
- Shuffle gently. When cutting your opponent's deck, use an overhand shuffle or a simple cut. Don't riffle shuffle someone else's cards. You can damage their sleeves.
- Keep your discard pile visible. Stack it neatly, face up, where your opponent can see it. They have the right to look through your discard at any time.
- Keep food and drinks off the play table. Spills destroy cards. Put your water bottle on the floor or a side table.
- Phone face down or put away. Having your phone out can make it look like you're getting outside help. Just keep it tucked away during games.
4. The Handshake Rule
Win or lose, offer a handshake (or fist bump) at the end of every game. Say "good game" and mean it. It's one of the oldest traditions in competitive Pokemon and it goes a long way.
Why It Matters
Good sportsmanship is tracked. At sanctioned events, judges and organizers notice players who are respectful. Repeated unsportsmanlike behavior can hurt your standing, get you penalties, or even get you disqualified. And honestly, the Pokemon TCG community is pretty small. Your reputation follows you from event to event.
5. Slow Play
Slow play is when a player takes way too long to make decisions. It's one of the most common penalties at tournaments, and most players don't even realize they're doing it.
How Judges Handle It
A judge can issue a caution on first offense, then escalate to warnings and eventually a prize penalty or game loss for repeated slow play. If your opponent is playing slowly, just call a judge. Don't try to argue about it yourself.
Tips to Play Faster
- Know your deck inside and out. You should know every card, every combo, and every line of play before you sit down. Tournament day isn't the time to learn your deck.
- Plan during your opponent's turn. Think about your next move while they're playing. Don't wait until your turn starts to figure things out.
- Practice at home with a timer. Give yourself 90 seconds per turn in practice games. It'll build good habits for timed rounds.
6. Calling a Judge
Calling a judge isn't confrontational. It's just part of the game. Judges are there to help, so don't feel bad about raising your hand.
When to Call a Judge
- Rule disputes: you and your opponent disagree about how a card works
- Unclear interactions: you're not sure how two cards interact
- Suspected cheating: stacking the deck, drawing extra cards, misrepresenting game state
- Slow play: your opponent is taking way too long
Raise your hand clearly and say "Judge!" Stay calm, explain what happened, and accept their ruling. If you disagree, you can appeal to the Head Judge, but don't argue with a floor judge.
7. After the Game
The game isn't over until the paperwork is done. Getting results handled correctly prevents disputes and keeps the tournament running on time.
- Sign the match slip correctly. Double-check the result before you sign. Make sure the win/loss/tie is right for both players.
- Turn in results right away. Hand in the match slip as soon as you're done. Delayed results hold up pairings for the next round.
- Don't argue after signing. Once you both sign the match slip, the result is final. If something was wrong, that's what judges are for during the game.
8. Online Tournament Etiquette
Webcam battles follow the same sportsmanship rules as in-person events, with a few extra things to keep in mind for online play.
- Keep your camera on the whole time. Turning off your camera during a match can get you a game loss in most online tournaments.
- Don't alt-tab or switch windows. Browsing during a game makes it look like you're looking up cards or getting outside help. Stay on the game screen.
- Communicate clearly. Call out every action just like you would in person. Your opponent is reading your board through a camera, so extra clarity really helps.
- Don't disconnect when you're losing. Rage-quitting an online match is basically flipping the table. Take the loss, say GG, and move on.
Need help setting up your webcam? Read our Webcam Battle Setup Guide.
9. First Tournament Checklist
Print this out or screenshot it. Go through it the night before and again the morning of your event.
The Night Before
- Deck is sleeved and exactly 60 cards
- Deck list is printed (two copies)
- Damage counters, dice/coin, markers packed
- GX/VSTAR/Tera marker included
- Burn and poison condition markers packed
- Playmat packed
- Photo ID in your bag
- Pen and notepad packed
- Water bottle and snacks ready
Morning of the Event
- Eat a full meal before leaving
- Arrive 30+ minutes before registration closes
- Register and submit your deck list
- Confirm your division and format
- Find your seat and set up your board
- Introduce yourself to your first opponent
During the Tournament
- Announce all actions out loud
- Ask before touching opponent's cards
- Shuffle opponent's deck gently (no riffle)
- Keep discard pile neat and visible
- Phone face down or put away
- Shake hands (or fist bump) after every game
- Sign match slips and report results immediately
- Stay respectful, win or lose
Ready to Give It a Shot?
Practice your deck online before heading to an in-person event. Jump into a webcam battle on Professor's Research and get some reps in.
Find a Battle