Revisiting Classic WotC-era TCG Sets with more Deck-Building Opportunity!

Update 2024.10.10: This blog has migrated to https://retrotcgs.com/wotc-retro-pokemon/ .

Please find my most up-to-date Prop 15/3 lists in the metagame page and my active lists page. Thanks!


Welcome to my little slice of Retro Pokemon Trading Card Game celebration! An off-hand comment and a search offering up Jason's blogs led me to jumping head-first into poking around the Wizards-of-the-Coast-era formats from the 2000s (and some newfound ways to play).

For now, the Prop 15/3 and a variation of Base-Fossil (Point-Buy format) are my primary interests, but I will dabble some in writing about other formats as I exhaust my topic list. :)  All unlinked topics have not yet been written.

General resources

These topics should be suitable for any format! The following are on my list to write (but most likely near the bottom of priority to be completed...):
  • Prizes, Probability, and Personal Tolerance to Risk
  • Managing the Math of Pokemon Combat
  • TCGOne - A Quick Tutorial on Playing (Most) Retro Anytime!
  • Links! - Resources for WotC-Era Pokemon Trading Card Game Formats

Prop 15/3

Prop 15/3 takes the Base-Gym format and adds restrictions to create an environment where many different decks could be viable and play patterns allow for evolutions to compete against the common-placed competitive Mon of the era.

Base-Fossil "Point Buy"

Point-Buy is a format similar to the "Hall of Fame" formats in Japan; players get a number of points which they can allot to play cards that cost points. See more in the following:
  • What is Point-Buy? Opening Up Base-Fossil so even Charizard Can Compete! 
  • A Recap of Fall 2024 Decks

WotC Gym Leader Challenge

An attempt to play Gym Leader Challenge with only cards released by Wizards of the Coast. Games are fun and very ...unserious.
  • WotC GLC "Rules"
  • WotC GLC Deck Lists/Pictures

WotC-20 Singleton

See format link but with only one of each distinct card allowed in a deck. Up to four of a single Pokemon could be played in a single deck so long as they are functionally different cards: a deck could play 4 Charmanders (1 Base Set, 1 Team Rocket, 2 different from Expedition).
  • No planned content as of yet! :(

Rocket-Legendary Collection (aka Rocket-On)

I've only ever played Giovanni's Machamp in this format, but the gameplay was interesting! I aim to explore this format without the Base Set Trainers in greater detail! 
  • No planned content as of yet! :(

Base-Team Rocket

The Team Rocket set shakes up Base-Fossil and has not been overly explored. It's been discussed that the format may play as an interesting alternative to Base-Fossil.
  • No planned content as of yet! :(

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