Pokemon TCG: What Is Gym Leader Challenge? (2024)

Gym leaders are among the most skilled trainers in the Pokemon world. These specialists focus on a single type of Pokemon and train them to their fullest potential in order to test young trainers on their way to challenge the Pokemon League.

In the Gym Leader Challenge format for the Pokemon TCG, you can embrace your inner Gym Leader to build a unique deck with special restrictions in order to test your local play group. Focusing on a single type (and single copies of your cards) is the ultimate test of your deckbuilding and playing skills. A test fit for a Gym Leader.

What Is Gym Leader Challenge?

The Gym Leader Challenge is a casual format where you and your opponent master a single type of Pokemon using an extended list of legal cards beyond the standard format. This restriction to a single type emulates the Gym Leaders in the video games and anime, each of whom specializes in a single type.

Each 60-card deck is built with the following restrictions:

• Singleton format, using only one copy of a card with a specific name.
• Each deck may only contain one type of Pokemon.
• Extended set list, allowing all cards printed since Black & White.
• Pokemon with a Rule Box, such as GX, ex, and V Pokemon, are not permitted.
• No ACE SPEC cards are allowed.

While not maintained by The Pokemon Company International, most players of the format also recognize a short banned list, which includes the following cards:

• Lysandre’s Trump Card
• Oranguru (UPR 114)
• Forest of Giant Plants
• Chip-Chip Ice Axe
• Hiker
• Kyogre (SHF 21)
• Pokémon Research Lab

Why Play Gym Leader Challenge?

Players frustrated with the prevalence of rule box Pokemon and repetitive play lines in the Standard format will find Gym Leader Challenge to be much more flexible and forgiving, forcing players to play around the fact that each deck only contains single-prize Pokemon and limited access to powerful Trainer cards. This creates a more dynamic game, with greater variability in each match.

Some game stores may also offer Gym Leader Challenge leagues where they reward players for winning matches with as many different type decks as possible over a period of time. This encourages players to dig deep, building decks outside their preferred colors, and using Pokemon that they might otherwise overlook.

Gym Leader Challenge has also been offered as a side event at some major tournaments, including the 2022 and 2023 Pokemon World Championships. Having a deck prepared could be what puts you over the top at the prize wall!

Sample Decklists

If you want to get started with the Gym Leader format, but don't know where to begin, give these sample decks a whirl.

Bulky Arcanine

Like the popular Bulky Arcanine archetype in the video games, this deck seeks to make Arcanine difficult to Knock Out by equipping it with a Burning Scarf and a Heat Energy for a 120 HP boost, along with burning your opponent's Pokemon.

Amazing Raikou

Amazing Raikou has an amazing attack in Amazing Shoot, which deals 120 damage to both your opponent's Active Pokemon and one of their Benched Pokemon. With the restriction against rule box Pokemon, which tend to have much more HP than single-prize Pokemon, this attack can be absolutely devastating to your opponent's strategy.