Can a Pokémon have more than one Special Condition?

Yes, with a limit. Asleep, Confused and Paralyzed are shown by turning the card, so a Pokémon can only have one of those at a time (a new one replaces the old). Poison and Burn use markers, so a Pokémon can be Poisoned, Burned and one of the other three all at once.

How do you get rid of a Special Condition?

Move the Pokémon to the Bench (by retreating or a switching card) or evolve it, and every Special Condition goes away. Some cards also heal them. Asleep, Burned and Paralyzed can also wear off between turns.

Can a Benched Pokémon have a Special Condition?

No. Only the Active Pokémon can be affected, and conditions come off as soon as a Pokémon goes to the Bench.

What order is the Pokémon Checkup done in?

Between turns, in this order: Poison, Burn, Asleep, then Paralyzed. Check both players' Active Pokémon. If a Pokémon is Knocked Out during Checkup, the other player takes Prize cards as usual.

Can a Confused Pokémon retreat?

Yes. Confusion only matters when it attacks. Asleep and Paralyzed Pokémon are the ones that can't retreat.

Pokémon TCG Special Conditions Guide

At a glance

Poison: 10 damage between every turn until it's removed.
Burn: 20 damage between turns, then flip a coin; heads cures it.
Asleep: can't attack or retreat; flip between turns, heads wakes it.
Paralyzed: can't attack or retreat; wears off at the end of its owner's next turn.
Confused: flip before attacking; tails, the attack fails and it takes 30 damage.

These are the icons the GameShuffle companion uses: squares for conditions, so they never look like Energy.

Poison

Put a Poison marker on the Pokémon. Between every turn (yours and your opponent's), put 1 damage counter (10 damage) on it. Some cards make Poison stronger, so check the attack. It stays until the Pokémon goes to the Bench, evolves, or is healed. Poison puts counters on, so Weakness and Resistance don't change it.

Burn

Put a Burn marker on the Pokémon. Between turns, put 2 damage counters (20 damage) on it, then its owner flips a coin: heads, the Burn is removed; tails, it stays for the next Checkup. Burn and Poison can be on the same Pokémon at once.

Asleep

Turn the card sideways (counterclockwise). An Asleep Pokémon can't attack or retreat. Between turns, its owner flips a coin: heads, it wakes up; tails, it stays Asleep. Moving it to the Bench with a card effect or evolving it wakes it too.

Paralyzed

Turn the card sideways (clockwise). A Paralyzed Pokémon can't attack or retreat. Paralysis wears off on its own during the Checkup after its owner's next turn, so in practice it costs that player one turn of attacking. The companion clears it at the end of its owner's turn.

Confused

Turn the card upside down. A Confused Pokémon can still retreat. When it tries to attack, flip a coin first: heads, the attack goes ahead normally; tails, the attack does nothing and you put 3 damage counters on your own Confused Pokémon.

Pokémon Checkup: between every turn

After each turn ends, before the next player starts, both Active Pokémon go through Checkup in this order: Poison, Burn, Asleep, Paralyzed. Apply the damage, flip the coins, and if a Pokémon is Knocked Out, the other player takes their Prize cards.

The companion runs this for you: press End turn and it lists every condition on both players' Pokémon, applies the damage and flips the coins. You can also keep track by hand with markers and card rotation; see how a turn goes.

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

Can a Pokémon have more than one Special Condition?: Yes, with a limit. Asleep, Confused and Paralyzed are shown by turning the card, so a Pokémon can only have one of those at a time (a new one replaces the old). Poison and Burn use markers, so a Pokémon can be Poisoned, Burned and one of the other three all at once.
How do you get rid of a Special Condition?: Move the Pokémon to the Bench (by retreating or a switching card) or evolve it, and every Special Condition goes away. Some cards also heal them. Asleep, Burned and Paralyzed can also wear off between turns.
Can a Benched Pokémon have a Special Condition?: No. Only the Active Pokémon can be affected, and conditions come off as soon as a Pokémon goes to the Bench.
What order is the Pokémon Checkup done in?: Between turns, in this order: Poison, Burn, Asleep, then Paralyzed. Check both players' Active Pokémon. If a Pokémon is Knocked Out during Checkup, the other player takes Prize cards as usual.
Can a Confused Pokémon retreat?: Yes. Confusion only matters when it attacks. Asleep and Paralyzed Pokémon are the ones that can't retreat.

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.