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.
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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:
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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.
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Water-type Deck List
Water-type Deck List
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6Water Energynrg1 28
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1Recycle Energysm11 212
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1Reversal Energysv02 192
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1Splash Energyxy9 113
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1Arezuswsh11 153
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1Arvensv03 186
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1Ball Guyswsh45 57
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1Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)sv02 172
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1Colressbw8 118
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1Cynthiasm5 119
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1Guzmasm3 115
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1Ionosv4pt5 80
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1Iridaswsh10 147
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1Nxy10 105
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1Nessaswsh12pt5 136
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1Raihanswsh12pt5 140
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1Teammatesxy5 141
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1Buddy-Buddy Poffinsv05 144
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1Capacious Bucketswsh2 156
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1Dive Ballxy5 125
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1Energy Retrievalsv01 171
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1Escape Ropeswsh5 125
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1Evolution Incenseswsh1 163
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1Field Blowersm2 125
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1Hisuian Heavy Ballswsh10 146
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1Level Ballswsh5 129
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1Nest Ballsv4pt5 84
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1Professor’s Letterxy8 146
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1Quick Ballswsh8 237
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1Rare Candysv4pt5 89
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1Rescue Stretchersm2 130
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1Scoop Up Netswsh2 165
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1Switch Raftsm75 62
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1Ultra Ballsv4pt5 91
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1VS Seekerxy4 109
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1Luxurious Capesv04 166
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1Pot Helmetswsh9 146
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1U-Turn Boardsm11 211
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1Brooklet Hillsm2 120
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.
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Grass-type Deck List
Grass-type Deck List
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9Grass Energynrg1 26
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1Arvensv03 186
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1Ball Guyswsh45 57
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1Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)sv02 172
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1Brigettexy8 134
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1Guzmasm3 115
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1Ionosv02 185
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1Klaraswsh6 145
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1Marnieswsh1 169
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1Professor Kukuism1 128
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1Raihanswsh7 152
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1Tate & Lizasm7 148
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1Teammatesxy5 141
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1Buddy-Buddy Poffinsv05 144
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1Bug Catching Setsv06 143
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1Enhanced Hammersv06 148
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1Escape Ropeswsh5 125
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1Evolution Incenseswsh1 163
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1Evosodaxy1 116
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1Field Blowersm2 125
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1Hisuian Heavy Ballswsh10 146
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1Level Ballswsh5 129
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1Nest Ballsv01 181
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1Net Ballsm8 187
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1Rare Candysv01 191
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1Rescue Stretchersm2 130
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1Revitalizerg1 70
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1Scoop Up Netswsh2 165
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1Town Mapxy8 150
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1VS Seekerxy4 109
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1Air Balloonswsh1 156
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1Float Stonexy8 137
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1Muscle Bandxy1 121
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1Technical Machine: Evolutionsv04 178
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1U-Turn Boardsm11 211
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1Turffield Stadiumswsh2 170
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Fire-type Deck List
Fire-type Deck List
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8Fire Energynrg1 27
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1Blacksmithxy2 88
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1Klaraswsh6 145
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1Ionosv4pt5 80
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1Marnieswsh35 56
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1Melasv04 167
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1Arvensv03 186
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1Guzmasm3 115
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1Professor Kukuism1 128
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1Weldersm10 189
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1Bird Keeperswsh3 159
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1Carminesv06 145
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1Guzma & Halasm12 193
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1Cynthia & Caitlinsm12 189
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1VS Seekerxy4 109
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1Nest Ballsv4pt5 84
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1Evosodag1 62
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1Ultra Ballsv4pt5 91
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1Hisuian Heavy Ballswsh10 146
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1Level Ballswsh5 129
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1Rescue Stretchersm2 130
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1Fire Crystalsm10 173
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1Evolution Incenseswsh1 163
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1Field Blowersm2 125
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1Pokégear 3.0sv01 186
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1Town Mapxy8 150
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1Escape Ropeswsh5 125
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1Buddy-Buddy Poffinsv05 144
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1Trainers’ Mailxy6 92
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1Professor’s Letterxy8 146
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1Tag Callsm12 206
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1Earthen Vesselsv04 163
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1Random Receiverxy10 109
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1Muscle Bandxy1 121
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1Fighting Fury Beltxy9 99
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1Float Stonexy8 137
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1Magma Basinswsh9 144
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1Giant Hearthsm11 197
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1Artazonsv4pt5 76
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Have fun!
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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!