Did you just recently learn the basics of Pokemon TCG? You must be curious about what a mulligan means.
Mulligan in Pokemon TCG basically had the same concept as the other card games, such as Magic: The Gathering. You might not need to mulligan at all times, but you still need to do it occasionally to make it possible for you to play.
So, to enlighten you with all the information you need about mulligan, here’s a definitive guide about the term, as well as other tips and tricks that you need to consider.
Also, if you want other guides about Pokemon TCG rules, we have lots of content for you so you can master everything about our favorite card game, such as building a proper deck and rules involving Pokemon ex.
Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
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What Does a Mulligan Mean in Pokemon TCG?
In Pokemon TCG, a mulligan refers to the action of returning the seven cards you’ve drawn from your deck at the start of the game, shuffling your deck and drawing a new batch of seven cards.
Why do you need to redraw your cards, you ask? Well, players mulligan in Pokemon TCG in case they don’t have any Basic Pokemon cards in their hand at the beginning of the game.
Remember that in Pokemon TCG, each player must always have an Active Pokemon available; otherwise, they lose the game. This rule obviously applies in any phase of the game, especially before you take your first turn.
Since you’re not allowed to play Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokemon cards right away, your only choice is to start the game with a Basic Pokemon, which is if you don’t have one the moment you draw seven cards, you’ll need to perform a mulligan.
How to Do a Mulligan in Pokemon TCG?
To mulligan, here are the exact actions you have to do in accordance with the official Pokemon TCG rules:
Step 1: You Announce Your Intention to Mulligan
Let your opponent know you need to mulligan and check if they need to mulligan as well. In case both of you will do a mulligan, please refer to the next section about the mulligan rules.
On the other hand, if you’re the only one who needs a mulligan, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Reveal Your Hands to Your Opponent
Have your opponent check your cards to confirm that you really don’t have any Basic Pokemon cards in your hand.
Step 3: Put All the Cards You Revealed in Your Deck and Shuffle It
After shuffling your deck, let your opponent shuffle it as well.
Step 4: Draw Seven Cards
Check if you finally have at least one Basic Pokemon in your hand. If you got one, your opponent (who didn’t need to do a mulligan) draws an extra card. But if you’re still unlucky enough to not draw a Basic Pokemon card, repeat the process again until you get one, and begin the game.
For each mulligan you take, your opponent draws an extra card from their deck. For example, if you mulligan three times, your opponent will draw three extra cards. Since they already have their original seven cards, they will have a total of 10 cards in their hand.
Mulligan Rules to Remember
Since you already knew how to do a mulligan, here are other essential things you need to take note of, especially when dealing with certain situations involving the action:
- In the event that you and your opponent have to mulligan, both of you shall reveal your hands, return them to your decks, shuffle your decks, and draw seven cards again. No one shall draw an extra card in this situation.
- You can do as many mulligans as you can as long as you fail to get a Basic Pokemon card. However, the more you mulligan, the more extra cards your opponent can draw (as long as your opponent doesn’t need to mulligan).
- Unlike in Magic: The Gathering, you cannot mulligan just because you don’t like the cards you’ve drawn. Mulligan is only reserved for the sole reason of not having a Basic Pokemon card to play at the start of a game.
- Drawing Trainer cards that let you take a Basic Pokemon in your hand like a Poke Ball doesn’t exempt you from taking a mulligan; you still need a Basic Pokemon to play before you use any Trainer card.
Final Thoughts
Mulligan in Pokemon TCG is basically a penalty to a player for not building a stable deck.
Remember that the mulligan rules also apply to your opponent, so if you keep on playing Pokemon TCG long enough, you’ll eventually encounter situations where your opponent might mulligan multiple times, giving you a significant advantage because of the sheer number of cards in your hand.
To prevent yourself from taking mulligans, always build a deck with enough Basic Pokemon cards. Relying on strong and powerful Stage 2 Pokemon ex might backfire if you don’t have any Basics to support you in the early game.
For more Pokemon TCG-related guides, tips, and tricks, check out more of our contents here at PokecardHQ.
