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Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP)
How Do Retreat Costs Work?
★ Mega Rising (B1) introduces the Mega Evolutions!
☆ New Decks: Mega Blaziken ex | Mega Gyarados ex
Mega Altaria ex | Mega Absol ex | Greninja ex
★ Events: Wonder Pick | Anniversary Celebration
☆ Trading Board: A4b and B1 Available for Trading!
A Pokemon may leave the Active Spot and return to the Bench to save itself from getting knocked out in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCG Pocket). Read on to learn all about Retreat Costs and why a well-timed Retreat can lead you to victory!
List of Contents
How Do Retreat Costs Work?
Discard Energy From Your Active Pokemon to Return it to the Bench
You will find information about your Pokemon on the lower part of the card, namely its Weakness and Retreat Cost. Its Retreat Cost indicates how many Energies must be discarded for it to return to your Bench.
Basic Pokemon will usually have low Retreat Costs, while Evolved Pokemon will have higher Retreat Costs.
Pokemon Can Retreat Only Once per Turn
Pokemon can only withdraw once per turn. You cannot have a pokemon with no energy switch between the bench and the active spot.
Use the X Speed to Reduce the Retreat Cost
| Card | Description |
|---|---|
 X Speed
|
During this turn, the Retreat Cost of your Active Pokemon is 1 less. |
The X Speed can help reduce the retreat cost of a pokemon card by 1 energy. For example, if it costs 3 energy to retreat, then the X Speed can lower the retreat cost to 2.
There will be instances where you need to make a strategic retreat so an X Speed is a must-have card in your deck.
You Cannot Escape if You Are Paralyzed or Asleep
| Status | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sleep | A pokemon who is asleep is unable to attack or retreat. For every turn the pokemon is asleep, players will have to toss a coin. If it lands on Heads, the pokemon wakes up. Sleep can also be countered by evolving |
| Paralyzed | A pokemon who is paralyzed is unable to attack or retreat. Paralysis lasts for only 1 turn. Paralysis can also be countered by evolving |
If a pokemon is asleep or paralyzed, they will not be able to retreat until they pass a coin toss, wait for the turn to end, or evolve. If you have a Weezing or Muk on the battlefield, you can bypass both status effects using the supporter card Koga.
When to Use Retreat
Retreat When a Pokemon Has Low HP
Be sure to switch pokemon out of the Active Spot when they have low HP. If a pokemon has taken a super-effective hit, use retreat to deny points to your opponent.
Switch Out with Pokemon You Trained on the Bench
By retreating, you can switch out damaged pokemon for pokemon you have been building on the bench. Make sure you are building your bench along your active pokemon so you do not lose momentum when you retreat during battle!
Recover from Status Conditions
Retreating will help pokemon recover from the Poison status effect. This is the only status effect that can be cured through retreating in Pokemon TCG Pocket but more may be added in future updates.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides
Battle Guides
Status Effect Guides
| All Status Effects Explained | ||
|---|---|---|
 Poison |
 Sleep |
 Paralysis |
 Confusion |
 Burn |
|
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How Do Retreat Costs Work?
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