Pikachu
Basic · Lightning
P
PokémonCommon
Pikachu
Pokémon · Base Set · 1999
The TCG library
Explore the world of trading card games
A free, organized library of Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, expansions, rarities, mechanics and history. Original guides, no prices, no hype.
How the library is organized
Card Games
Hubs for each game, linking sets, cards and history.
Cards
Search and filter every card in the library.
Sets & Expansions
Landmark releases and why they matter.
Rarities
What the labels and foils mean in each game.
Card Types
Creatures, Trainers, Spells, Traps and more.
Mechanics & Keywords
The rules ideas that shape each game.
Archetypes
Deck styles and card families.
TCG History
A timeline from 1993 to today.
Collecting Guides
Practical, plain-language how-tos.
A few cards to start with
Featured articles
- How a Pokémon TCG Turn Works, Step by Step 10 min read · A plain-language walk through a Pokémon TCG turn: setup, drawing, Energy, evolving, attacking and Prize cards.
- How a Magic: The Gathering Turn Works 9 min read · Learn the phases of a Magic turn, how mana and lands work, and how spells use the stack, explained without jargon.
- How a Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Works: Zones and Phases 9 min read · A beginner's guide to a Yu-Gi-Oh! duel: the playmat zones, the turn phases, summoning and how Spells and Traps fit in.
- Pokémon vs. Magic vs. Yu-Gi-Oh!: How They Differ 10 min read · A fair side-by-side look at how Pokémon, Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh! differ in resources, card types, winning and feel.
- A Short History of the Trading Card Game Genre 9 min read · How Magic created the trading card game in 1993, and how Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! brought the idea to new audiences.
- How Trading Card Design Has Changed Over the Years 10 min read · From early card frames to modern full-art styles: how the look and layout of Pokémon, Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards evolved.
Collecting guides
- How to Read a Trading Card 10 min read
- Rarity and Finishes Explained 8 min read
- Storing and Protecting Your Cards 9 min read
- Card Condition Basics 10 min read
- Building a Themed Collection 9 min read
- How to Spot Fake Trading Cards: A Careful Checklist 10 min read
- How to Organize and Catalog a Card Collection 9 min read
- Buying and Trading Cards Safely: Habits That Protect You 10 min read
About this library
Cards Community is an independent editorial project. We write original descriptions, check facts against public sources, and leave out prices, market values and competitive rankings. Read our editorial policy to see how we work, or learn more about the site.