How to Use PTCG Sim to Play Old Pokemon TCG Formats
On December 25, a Twitter user going by Michael Long announced that he launched PTCG Sim, a completely free online Pokémon TCG simulator that “supports the last decade of expansions.” According to Long, PTCG Sim is his first big coding project and it will continue to expand over time.
hey pokemon peeps 🎅 i’ve been working on a pokemon tcg simulator and i’m happy to announce that PTCG-sim is now live! this tool is completely free and supports the last decade of expansions
— Xiao Xiao Long (@xxmichaellong) December 25, 2023
try it out here (best on desktop): https://t.co/vA9OYlb8X8
and yes. pvp is supported :) pic.twitter.com/7ey2A7MEj2
In the comments, competitive and casual players alike applauded Long for releasing PTCG Sim. Many trainers have issues with Pokémon TCG Live due to the bugs, how the ranked system works, and the lack of formats. Right now, Live only supports standard and expanded, meaning you can only play in matches with legal sets. PTCG Sim will allow players to upload decks and conduct matches that span the last 10 years of formats.
Some players have already asked if Long plans to add even more formats and he responded: “Yes, gonna have them all!”
While PTCG Sim supports the most recent sets, it will ultimately allow players to battle with decks all the way back to the beginning of the TCG. Right now Long confirmed that it only goes back to 2011 Worlds format, but this is just the start.
Even though it’s a bit buggy, trainers have commended Long for the effort and have started giving him some feedback and suggestions.
This is something that has been missing for years in the pokemon tcg community that I think YGO has down with Project Ignis. Great work! Do you plan to open source it or allow for people to make contributions?
— 99¢ taco tuesday (@Neal1231) December 26, 2023
How to Use PTCG Sim
Using PTCG Sim is pretty simple. Here’s how to build a deck and start playing a match.
Build a Deck on PTCG Sim
- Head to PTCG Sim
- Click on the Import tab
- Copy and paste a deck list from any of the formats back to 2011
- Alternatively, click on the Book button to check out popular decks from the past 10 years
- Once your deck is pasted, click Import
- The cards will load into the battlefield automatically
Play a Match on PTCG Sim
- Once your deck is on the battlefield, you’ll see it as a 60-card pile
- Click Set Up if you’re playing against a friend to draw cards and set up prizes
- Alternatively, click Set Up Both if you also want your opponent’s side to be set up
- Click on a ‘mon card in your hand and drag it onto the playmat area, either in the active spot or the bench
- From there, it plays exactly like Pokémon TCG Live, where you can attach one energy per turn, play items, attack, etc.
Can You Play PTCG Sim With Friends?
Yes, you can!
Playing online with friends is luckily also pretty straightforward. Head to the 2P tab and you’ll find Online Multiplayer Mode. Enter a name and then a Room ID, which can also be randomly generated. Then, send both to a friend so they can join your room.
Olivia is a long-time esports journalist and editor who covers just about every game but has a deep love for the FGC. Her goal is to find community-driven stories that bring a new perspective to the esports scene. In the past, she has worked for Team Liquid, Rogue, Inven Global, Dot Esports, Upcomer, and more. Outside of esports, Olivia enjoys Kirby, Pokemon TCG, Fallout, and writing science fiction. She can be found trying out new foods, traveling, or hanging out with her two orange cats. Fun fact: Olivia can do some video game and cartoon impressions!