How many Prize cards do you start with?

Six. During setup each player puts the top 6 cards of their deck face down to the side; those are their Prize cards.

How many Prize cards is a Pokémon ex worth?

Two. Knocking Out a Pokémon ex gives the other player 2 Prize cards. A Mega Evolution Pokémon ex gives 3.

What happens if both players take their last Prize card at once?

Both players win at the same time, so play a short sudden death game: set up a new game with 1 Prize card each, and whoever takes it first wins.

Can you win without taking all your Prize cards?

Yes. You also win if your opponent has no Pokémon left in play, or if they have no cards to draw at the start of their turn.

Do you pick which Prize card to take?

Yes, you choose which of your face-down Prize cards to take, without looking at them first, and put them into your hand.

Pokémon TCG Prize Cards and How to Win

Six to start

During setup, after both players have placed their first Pokémon, each player puts the top 6 cards of their deck face down. Those are your Prize cards. Every Knock Out lets you take one or more and put them in your hand, so Prize cards are also extra cards to play with.

How many a Knock Out gives

Knocked Out Pokémon	Prize cards
Most Pokémon (Basic, Stage 1, Stage 2)	1
Pokémon ex (including Tera Pokémon ex)	2
Mega Evolution Pokémon ex	3
Older cards: Pokémon EX, GX, V and VSTAR	2
Older cards: VMAX, TAG TEAM and V-UNION	3

That's why decks built on single-Prize Pokémon can trade well against big ex Pokémon: your opponent needs more Knock Outs to take all six. The single prize deck guide is built on exactly that.

Three ways to win

Take your last Prize card.
Your opponent has no Pokémon in play after a Knock Out (no Active and nothing on the Bench to replace it).
Your opponent can't draw a card at the start of their turn because their deck is empty.

If both players win at the same moment, play sudden death: a new game with 1 Prize card each.

Tracking Prize cards

Prize cards stay face down, so it's easy to lose count mid-game. The GameShuffle TCG Companion keeps both players' count, takes the right number on a Knock Out (it knows an ex is worth 2 from the card), and ends the game when someone takes their last one. See also when a Pokémon is Knocked Out.

Keep track at the table

The free GameShuffle TCG Companion tracks damage counters, Special Conditions, Energy and Prize cards on one phone, knows whose turn it is, and reminds you of the rules without stopping play. No download.

Questions players ask

How many Prize cards do you start with?: Six. During setup each player puts the top 6 cards of their deck face down to the side; those are their Prize cards.
How many Prize cards is a Pokémon ex worth?: Two. Knocking Out a Pokémon ex gives the other player 2 Prize cards. A Mega Evolution Pokémon ex gives 3.
What happens if both players take their last Prize card at once?: Both players win at the same time, so play a short sudden death game: set up a new game with 1 Prize card each, and whoever takes it first wins.
Can you win without taking all your Prize cards?: Yes. You also win if your opponent has no Pokémon left in play, or if they have no cards to draw at the start of their turn.
Do you pick which Prize card to take?: Yes, you choose which of your face-down Prize cards to take, without looking at them first, and put them into your hand.

Written in our own words from the current Pokémon TCG rules, checked October 11, 2026. Card effects can change any rule; the card wins. Pokémon and the Pokémon TCG are trademarks of their owners; GameShuffle isn't affiliated with them.