Competitive Pokémon players from across the world often congregate at Regional Championships and International Championships in the pursuit of Championship Points, prizes, and the glory of the Champion title itself. In addition to the heated battles in the main event, there are even more things to enjoy as you wander the hall, either as a spectator or as a competitor who has exited the tournament early.

Some of the most fun that any Trainer can have at these events is through playing in side events—casual events that are perfect for having lighthearted fun with other Trainers in the community. These events encompass small, fun tournaments in the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video game, Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, and even classic games like Pokémon Stadium and Pokkén Tournament DX.

In this series, we’ll break down popular side events that you can expect to see at most tournaments, and we’ll start with one of the most popular ways to play the Pokémon TCG right now—Gym Leader Challenge.

Gym Leader Challenge 101

Gym Leader Challenge is a fan-made Pokémon TCG format created by Pokémon TCG competitor and Pokémon: Trainer Tour host Andrew Mahone. If you’ve ever imagined what it would be like to put together a type-specific team like the Gym Leaders in the Pokémon video games, Gym Leader Challenge is a perfect way to live out that dream while also enjoying the Pokémon TCG!

As far as the rules go, they’re simple—you can only include one Pokémon type in your deck; Pokémon with a Rule Box (Pokémon ex, Pokémon V, etc.) are banned; ACE SPEC cards are banned; and you’re limited to a single copy of each card name that you include (this is known as singleton in the Pokémon TCG community). Gym Leader Challenge also uses the Expanded format, which features cards released from the Black & White Series onward. This combination of rules is perfect for allowing you to experiment with a wide variety of decks that can create almost limitless game states and interactions as you play against other Trainers.

There is one last thing to consider, though—the community maintains a list of banned cards to promote a healthy format where everyone can have fun. You are not permitted to include these cards in your Gym Leader Challenge deck when playing at events:

• Lysandre’s Trump Card

• Oranguru

• Forest of Giant Plants

• Chip-Chip Ice Axe

• Hiker

• Kyogre

• Pokémon Research Lab

What does a Gym Leader Challenge deck look like?

We all love limitless possibilities, but if you aren’t sure where to start, we have a couple of deck lists ready for play. Building a Gym Leader Challenge deck has unique parameters, but ultimately, you’ll want to focus on the same tenets of classic deckbuilding: consistency, combinations, and win conditions.

Take this Water-type deck list, for example. It features Sobble, Drizzile, and Inteleon—as well as Remoraid and Octillery—along with Item cards to ensure that you see the right cards at the right time. You’ll also see that between Frosmoth and Baxcalibur, there are plenty of ways to get Water Energy into play, and cards like Capacious Bucket and Energy Retrieval will get that Water Energy into your hand in the first place. The big-time attacker will usually be Wailord (and the deck list features Special Energy to strengthen its Special Wave attack), but one of the fun parts about Gym Leader Challenge is that almost all your Pokémon can chip in at the right time.

• Water-type Deck List

Water-type Deck List

Pokémon

• 1

  Frigibax

  57/193

  sv02 57
• 1

  Arctibax

  59/193

  sv02 59
• 1

  Baxcalibur

  60/193

  sv02 60
• 1

  Remoraid

  33/182

  sv04 33
• 1

  Octillery

  33/162

  xy8 33
• 1

  Snom

  29/72

  swsh45 29
• 1

  Frosmoth

  30/72

  swsh45 30
• 1

  Sobble

  41/198

  swsh6 41
• 1

  Drizzile

  56/202

  swsh1 56
• 1

  Inteleon

  58/202

  swsh1 58
• 1

  Staryu

  25/122

  xy9 25
• 1

  Starmie

  31/108

  xy12 31
• 1

  Wailmer

  31/159

  swsh12pt5 31
• 1

  Wailord

  38/195

  swsh12 38
• 1

  Alolan Vulpix

  21/145

  sm2 21
• 1

  Kyogre

  36/159

  swsh12pt5 36

Energy Cards

• 6

  Water Energy

  nrg1 28
• 1

  Recycle Energy

  sm11 212
• 1

  Reversal Energy

  sv02 192
• 1

  Splash Energy

  xy9 113

Trainer Cards

• 1

  Arezu

  swsh11 153
• 1

  Arven

  sv03 186
• 1

  Ball Guy

  swsh45 57
• 1

  Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)

  sv02 172
• 1

  Colress

  bw8 118
• 1

  Cynthia

  sm5 119
• 1

  Guzma

  sm3 115
• 1

  Iono

  sv4pt5 80
• 1

  Irida

  swsh10 147
• 1

  N

  xy10 105
• 1

  Nessa

  swsh12pt5 136
• 1

  Raihan

  swsh12pt5 140
• 1

  Teammates

  xy5 141
• 1

  Buddy-Buddy Poffin

  sv05 144
• 1

  Capacious Bucket

  swsh2 156
• 1

  Dive Ball

  xy5 125
• 1

  Energy Retrieval

  sv01 171
• 1

  Escape Rope

  swsh5 125
• 1

  Evolution Incense

  swsh1 163
• 1

  Field Blower

  sm2 125
• 1

  Hisuian Heavy Ball

  swsh10 146
• 1

  Level Ball

  swsh5 129
• 1

  Nest Ball

  sv4pt5 84
• 1

  Professor’s Letter

  xy8 146
• 1

  Quick Ball

  swsh8 237
• 1

  Rare Candy

  sv4pt5 89
• 1

  Rescue Stretcher

  sm2 130
• 1

  Scoop Up Net

  swsh2 165
• 1

  Switch Raft

  sm75 62
• 1

  Ultra Ball

  sv4pt5 91
• 1

  VS Seeker

  xy4 109
• 1

  Luxurious Cape

  sv04 166
• 1

  Pot Helmet

  swsh9 146
• 1

  U-Turn Board

  sm11 211
• 1

  Brooklet Hill

  sm2 120

More Info Copy Deck List ****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ****** Pokémon - 16 1 Frigibax PAL 57 1 Arctibax PAL 59 1 Baxcalibur PAL 60 1 Remoraid PAR 33 1 Octillery BKT 33 1 Snom SHF 29 1 Frosmoth SHF 30 1 Sobble CRE 41 1 Drizzile SSH 56 1 Inteleon SSH 58 1 Staryu BKP 25 1 Starmie EVO 31 1 Wailmer CRZ 31 1 Wailord SIT 38 1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21 1 Kyogre CRZ 36 Trainer Cards - 35 1 Arezu LOR 153 1 Arven OBF 186 1 Ball Guy SHF 57 1 Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172 1 Colress PLS 118 1 Cynthia UPR 119 1 Guzma BUS 115 1 Iono PAF 80 1 Irida ASR 147 1 N FCO 105 1 Nessa CRZ 136 1 Raihan CRZ 140 1 Teammates PRC 141 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144 1 Capacious Bucket RCL 156 1 Dive Ball PRC 125 1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171 1 Escape Rope BST 125 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163 1 Field Blower GRI 125 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146 1 Level Ball BST 129 1 Nest Ball PAF 84 1 Professor’s Letter BKT 146 1 Quick Ball FST 237 1 Rare Candy PAF 89 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130 1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165 1 Switch Raft DRM 62 1 Ultra Ball PAF 91 1 VS Seeker PHF 109 1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166 1 Pot Helmet BRS 146 1 U-Turn Board UNM 211 1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120 Energy - 9 6 Water Energy NRG 28 1 Recycle Energy UNM 212 1 Reversal Energy PAL 192 1 Splash Energy BKP 113 Total Cards - 60 ****** Deck list generated on Pokemon.com ******

If you’re more of a Grass-type or Fire-type Pokémon fan, we have a few additional deck lists that you can reference when starting your journey into this one-of-a-kind format. This Grass-type deck has a lot of inherent consistency with Grotle to search for Pokémon and Beautifly to draw cards, while the Fire-type deck can take quick revenge Knock Outs with Chi-Yui and Entei.

• Grass-type Deck List

Grass-type Deck List

Pokémon

• 1

  Bulbasaur

  1/18

  det 1
• 1

  Ivysaur

  2/78

  pgo 2
• 1

  Venusaur

  3/73

  sm35 3
• 1

  Grookey

  11/202

  swsh1 11
• 1

  Thwackey

  12/72

  swsh45 12
• 1

  Rillaboom

  14/202

  swsh1 14
• 1

  Rellor

  23/162

  sv05 23
• 1

  Rabsca

  24/162

  sv05 24
• 1

  Turtwig

  6/138

  sm5 6
• 1

  Grotle

  7/172

  swsh9 7
• 1

  Torterra

  8/172

  swsh9 8
• 1

  Wurmple

  6/196

  swsh11 6
• 1

  Silcoon

  7/196

  swsh11 7
• 1

  Beautifly

  8/196

  swsh11 8
• 1

  Heracross

  18/214

  sm8 18
• 1

  Zarude

  19/198

  swsh6 19

Energy Cards

• 9

  Grass Energy

  nrg1 26

Trainer Cards

• 1

  Arven

  sv03 186
• 1

  Ball Guy

  swsh45 57
• 1

  Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)

  sv02 172
• 1

  Brigette

  xy8 134
• 1

  Guzma

  sm3 115
• 1

  Iono

  sv02 185
• 1

  Klara

  swsh6 145
• 1

  Marnie

  swsh1 169
• 1

  Professor Kukui

  sm1 128
• 1

  Raihan

  swsh7 152
• 1

  Tate & Liza

  sm7 148
• 1

  Teammates

  xy5 141
• 1

  Buddy-Buddy Poffin

  sv05 144
• 1

  Bug Catching Set

  sv06 143
• 1

  Enhanced Hammer

  sv06 148
• 1

  Escape Rope

  swsh5 125
• 1

  Evolution Incense

  swsh1 163
• 1

  Evosoda

  xy1 116
• 1

  Field Blower

  sm2 125
• 1

  Hisuian Heavy Ball

  swsh10 146
• 1

  Level Ball

  swsh5 129
• 1

  Nest Ball

  sv01 181
• 1

  Net Ball

  sm8 187
• 1

  Rare Candy

  sv01 191
• 1

  Rescue Stretcher

  sm2 130
• 1

  Revitalizer

  g1 70
• 1

  Scoop Up Net

  swsh2 165
• 1

  Town Map

  xy8 150
• 1

  VS Seeker

  xy4 109
• 1

  Air Balloon

  swsh1 156
• 1

  Float Stone

  xy8 137
• 1

  Muscle Band

  xy1 121
• 1

  Technical Machine: Evolution

  sv04 178
• 1

  U-Turn Board

  sm11 211
• 1

  Turffield Stadium

  swsh2 170

More Info Copy Deck List ****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ****** Pokémon - 16 1 Bulbasaur DET 1 1 Ivysaur PGO 2 1 Venusaur SLG 3 1 Grookey SSH 11 1 Thwackey SHF 12 1 Rillaboom SSH 14 1 Rellor TEF 23 1 Rabsca TEF 24 1 Turtwig UPR 6 1 Grotle BRS 7 1 Torterra BRS 8 1 Wurmple LOR 6 1 Silcoon LOR 7 1 Beautifly LOR 8 1 Heracross LOT 18 1 Zarude CRE 19 Trainer Cards - 35 1 Arven OBF 186 1 Ball Guy SHF 57 1 Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172 1 Brigette BKT 134 1 Guzma BUS 115 1 Iono PAL 185 1 Klara CRE 145 1 Marnie SSH 169 1 Professor Kukui SUM 128 1 Raihan EVS 152 1 Tate & Liza CES 148 1 Teammates PRC 141 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144 1 Bug Catching Set TWM 143 1 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148 1 Escape Rope BST 125 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163 1 Evosoda XY 116 1 Field Blower GRI 125 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146 1 Level Ball BST 129 1 Nest Ball SVI 181 1 Net Ball LOT 187 1 Rare Candy SVI 191 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130 1 Revitalizer GEN 70 1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165 1 Town Map BKT 150 1 VS Seeker PHF 109 1 Air Balloon SSH 156 1 Float Stone BKT 137 1 Muscle Band XY 121 1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178 1 U-Turn Board UNM 211 1 Turffield Stadium RCL 170 Energy - 9 9 Grass Energy NRG 26 Total Cards - 60 ****** Deck list generated on Pokemon.com ******

• Fire-type Deck List

Fire-type Deck List

Pokémon

• 1

  Salandit

  27/159

  swsh12pt5 27
• 1

  Salazzle

  31/234

  sm10 31
• 1

  Slugma

  23/168

  sm7 23
• 1

  Magcargo

  24/168

  sm7 24
• 1

  Ponyta

  77/165

  sv3pt5 77
• 1

  Rapidash

  22/195

  swsh12 22
• 1

  Chi-Yu

  29/182

  sv04 29
• 1

  Moltres

  21/172

  swsh9 21
• 1

  Castform Sunny Form

  22/198

  swsh6 22
• 1

  Entei

  28/236

  sm12 28
• 1

  Ho-Oh

  1/25

  cel25 1
• 1

  Heat Rotom

  13/91

  sv4pt5 13
• 1

  Rainbow Energy

  151/168

  sm7 151
• 1

  Heat { Fire } Energy

  174/189

  swsh3 174

Energy Cards

• 8

  Fire Energy

  nrg1 27

Trainer Cards

• 1

  Blacksmith

  xy2 88
• 1

  Klara

  swsh6 145
• 1

  Iono

  sv4pt5 80
• 1

  Marnie

  swsh35 56
• 1

  Mela

  sv04 167
• 1

  Arven

  sv03 186
• 1

  Guzma

  sm3 115
• 1

  Professor Kukui

  sm1 128
• 1

  Welder

  sm10 189
• 1

  Bird Keeper

  swsh3 159
• 1

  Carmine

  sv06 145
• 1

  Guzma & Hala

  sm12 193
• 1

  Cynthia & Caitlin

  sm12 189
• 1

  VS Seeker

  xy4 109
• 1

  Nest Ball

  sv4pt5 84
• 1

  Evosoda

  g1 62
• 1

  Ultra Ball

  sv4pt5 91
• 1

  Hisuian Heavy Ball

  swsh10 146
• 1

  Level Ball

  swsh5 129
• 1

  Rescue Stretcher

  sm2 130
• 1

  Fire Crystal

  sm10 173
• 1

  Evolution Incense

  swsh1 163
• 1

  Field Blower

  sm2 125
• 1

  Pokégear 3.0

  sv01 186
• 1

  Town Map

  xy8 150
• 1

  Escape Rope

  swsh5 125
• 1

  Buddy-Buddy Poffin

  sv05 144
• 1

  Trainers’ Mail

  xy6 92
• 1

  Professor’s Letter

  xy8 146
• 1

  Tag Call

  sm12 206
• 1

  Earthen Vessel

  sv04 163
• 1

  Random Receiver

  xy10 109
• 1

  Muscle Band

  xy1 121
• 1

  Fighting Fury Belt

  xy9 99
• 1

  Float Stone

  xy8 137
• 1

  Magma Basin

  swsh9 144
• 1

  Giant Hearth

  sm11 197
• 1

  Artazon

  sv4pt5 76

More Info Copy Deck List ****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ****** Pokémon - 14 1 Salandit CRZ 27 1 Salazzle UNB 31 1 Slugma CES 23 1 Magcargo CES 24 1 Ponyta MEW 77 1 Rapidash SIT 22 1 Chi-Yu PAR 29 1 Moltres BRS 21 1 Castform Sunny Form CRE 22 1 Entei CEC 28 1 Ho-Oh CEL 1 1 Heat Rotom PAF 13 1 Rainbow Energy CES 151 1 Heat { Fire } Energy DAA 174 Trainer Cards - 38 1 Blacksmith FLF 88 1 Klara CRE 145 1 Iono PAF 80 1 Marnie CPA 56 1 Mela PAR 167 1 Arven OBF 186 1 Guzma BUS 115 1 Professor Kukui SUM 128 1 Welder UNB 189 1 Bird Keeper DAA 159 1 Carmine TWM 145 1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193 1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189 1 VS Seeker PHF 109 1 Nest Ball PAF 84 1 Evosoda GEN 62 1 Ultra Ball PAF 91 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146 1 Level Ball BST 129 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130 1 Fire Crystal UNB 173 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163 1 Field Blower GRI 125 1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186 1 Town Map BKT 150 1 Escape Rope BST 125 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144 1 Trainers’ Mail ROS 92 1 Professor’s Letter BKT 146 1 Tag Call CEC 206 1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163 1 Random Receiver FCO 109 1 Muscle Band XY 121 1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99 1 Float Stone BKT 137 1 Magma Basin BRS 144 1 Giant Hearth UNM 197 1 Artazon PAF 76 Energy - 8 8 Fire Energy NRG 27 Total Cards - 60 ****** Deck list generated on Pokemon.com ******

Have fun!

There are a lot of common and powerful ways to play any given type, but you can always do something different in Gym Leader Challenge. If you really want to include that favorite Pokémon, you can do everything in your power to make it shine, which is sometimes impossible due to legality in the Standard format. Gym Leader Challenge is popular at both Regional Championships and International Championships (as well as the World Championships), and there will usually be at least one or two larger Gym Leader Challenge side events on a given event weekend.

To sign up for one of these fun tournaments, you’ll want to find the event’s information desk, where they can direct you to the event’s sign-up method of choice. Gym Leader Challenge is often a paid side event that requires registration through RK9, so keep that in mind as you arrive at a big event with your Gym Leader Challenge deck in hand! If you ask around the Pokémon TCG event tables, you’re likely to find someone who wants to battle using single-type decks even outside of the major side events.

Good luck, Gym Leaders in training!