The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a battle of strategy, luck, and deck-building mastery. While most games revolve around dealing damage and knocking out your opponent’s Pokémon, there’s a sneaky way to take control of the battlefield—Special Conditions.
All Pokémon TCG Special Conditions
Pokémon TCG Special Conditions affect a Pokémon’s ability to attack, retreat, and survive in battle. Unlike normal damage, these status effects in the Pokémon Trading Card Game can completely alter the flow of a game, disrupting strategies and forcing tough decisions. There are five core Special Conditions that have appeared consistently throughout the game’s history:
| Special Condition | Effect |
|---|---|
| Asleep | Prevents attacking and retreating. Removed by a coin flip at the end of each turn. |
| Burned | Deals extra damage between turns. Can be removed by flipping heads. |
| Confused | Requires a coin flip before attacking; tails results in self-inflicted damage. |
| Paralyzed | Prevents attacking and retreating for one turn. Automatically removed after that turn. |
| Poisoned | Deals 10 or more damage between turns. Lasts until the Pokémon retreats or is healed. |
Some older sets also introduced rare Special Conditions like Imprisoned and Shock-wave, but these are not part of modern gameplay.
Special Conditions only affect Active Pokémon, meaning Benched Pokémon are completely safe. If a Pokémon with a Special Condition retreats, evolves, or devolves, it will immediately recover.
Now, let’s break down each Special Condition in detail and explore the best ways to use—or counter—them.
How Special Conditions work in PTCG
Asleep
A Pokémon afflicted by the Asleep condition is completely unable to attack or retreat until it wakes up. To indicate this condition, the Pokémon’s card is turned counterclockwise.
At the end of each turn, the player controlling the Asleep Pokémon flips a coin. If it lands on heads, the Pokémon wakes up and the effect is removed. If it lands on tails, the Pokémon stays Asleep and remains vulnerable.
Strategies and Counters
- Best used against: Fast attackers that rely on quick moves.
- Weaknesses: Easily cured with a successful coin flip or by retreating.
Some common attacks that inflict Sleep include moves like Lick or Pokémon Abilities like Hypnotic Stare. Cards like Pokémon Center Lady or Full Heal can quickly remove Sleep if your Pokémon is affected.
Burned
Burned Pokémon take damage over time, making it one of the most dangerous Special Conditions if left unchecked. When a Pokémon is Burned, it takes 20 damage (or two damage counters) between turns. At the end of each turn, the affected player flips a coin.
- If heads, the Pokémon is cured.
- If tails, the Pokémon remains Burned and continues to take damage.
In past versions of the game, Burned dealt only 10 damage and was much easier to ignore, but modern mechanics have made it a more serious threat.
Strategies and Counters
- Best used against: Tanky Pokémon that rely on longevity.
- Weaknesses: Can be removed by flipping heads or using healing cards.
To counter Burned, you can use cards like Potion, Heal Powder, or simply retreat to the Bench.
Confused
Confusion is one of the trickiest Special Conditions in the game because it adds an element of risk to every attack. When a Pokémon is Confused, its card is placed upside down. Before attacking, the player must flip a coin:
- Heads: The attack proceeds as normal.
- Tails: The attack fails, and the Pokémon takes 30 damage instead.
Confused Pokémon can still retreat to remove the effect, but in older versions of the game, they had to discard Energy before attempting a retreat.
Strategies and Counters
- Best used against: High-damage attackers that rely on powerful moves.
- Weaknesses: Can be removed by retreating, evolving, or using Trainer cards.
Confusion is a great way to stall powerful Pokémon or force your opponent into risky decisions. However, a lucky coin flip can let them attack as normal, making it a bit unpredictable.
Paralyzed
Paralyzed Pokémon are completely immobilized for one turn. They cannot attack or retreat, and their card is turned clockwise to indicate the condition.
Unlike other Special Conditions, Paralysis automatically wears off at the end of the turn after it was inflicted.
Strategies and Counters
- Best used against: Fast attackers that rely on constant pressure.
- Weaknesses: Only lasts one turn, so it’s a temporary effect.
Paralysis is a great way to buy time and disrupt your opponent’s strategy, especially if you’re setting up for a bigger play. However, since it only lasts for one turn, it’s not as oppressive as some of the other conditions.
Poisoned
A Poisoned Pokémon takes damage at the end of each turn, making it one of the best ways to apply consistent pressure. A Pokémon that is Poisoned will have a Poison Marker placed on it and will take 10 damage between turns.
Some effects, like Seviper’s Ability, can increase the damage Poison deals. In certain decks, this makes Poison one of the most effective long-term Special Conditions.
Strategies and Counters
- Best used against: Tanky Pokémon that rely on healing over time.
- Weaknesses: Can be removed by retreating or using healing cards.
Poison is particularly effective when stacked with other effects, like Burn.
Competitive Strategies in Pokémon TCG for Special Conditions
Certain decks are built around inflicting Special Conditions to wear down opponents. Poison decks, for example, focus on maximizing damage over time, while Paralysis decks try to stall and set up for big plays. Some decks could also include Pokémon like Aromatisse to apply Special Conditions easily.
However, if you’re looking to counter Special Conditions, you might want to throw a Pokémon Center Lady, Full Heal, or Virizion EX into your deck.
How to remove Special Conditions efficiently in Pokémon TCG
Most Special Conditions can be removed in the same ways:
| Method | Removes |
|---|---|
| Retreating | All Special Conditions |
| Evolving/Devolving | All Special Conditions |
| Trainer Cards (like Full Heal) | All Special Conditions |
| Coin Flip (for Asleep and Burned) | Asleep, Burned |
Now let’s look at some of the best Cards for inflicting Special Conditions in Pokémon TCG:
Best Pokémon for inflicting Sleep
Sleep can be unreliable since it’s removed with a coin flip at the end of each turn, but some cards make Sleep harder to cure or inflict it alongside other conditions.
| Pokémon | Abilities/Attacks | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Darkrai V (Astral Radiance) | Dark Void (Attack) | Deals damage and puts the opponent’s Active Pokémon to Sleep. |
| Musharna (Sword & Shield Base Set) | Sleepy Pulse (Attack) | Puts the opponent’s Active Pokémon to Sleep. Pokémon remains asleep as long as the opponent keeps flipping tails on a coin. |
| Hypno (Furious Fists) | Hypnoblast (Attack) | Puts the opponent’s Active Pokémon to Sleep. |
| Jigglypuff (Paldea Evolved) | Sing (Attack) | Puts the opponent’s Active Pokémon to Sleep. |
Sleep is most effective when combined with other Special Conditions, such as Poison, to force the opponent into tough decisions.
Best Pokémon for inflicting Burn
Burn is particularly dangerous because it deals 20 extra damage between turns and stays until the opponent flips heads. Burn is best used with cards that manipulate coin flips, increasing the chances that your opponent remains Burned longer.
| Pokémon | Abilities/Attacks | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Volcarona V (Evolving Skies) | Surging Flames (Ability) | Can increase Burn damage from 20 to 40 per turn. |
| Heatmor (Burning Shadows) | Searing Flame (Attack) | Deals damage and Burns the opponent’s Active Pokémon. |
| Torkoal (Lost Origin) | Singe (Attack) | Burns the opponent’s Active Pokémon. |
| Magmortar (Ultra Prism) | Incandescent Body (Ability) | Burns an attacking Pokémon. |
Best Pokémon for inflicting Confusion
Confusion forces the opponent to flip a coin before attacking, making it a great disruption tool. Confusion works best when forcing the opponent to attack instead of switching out, so Pair it with cards that block retreating, like Boss’s Orders.
| Pokémon | Abilities/Attacks | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Galvantula (Plasma Storm) | Signal Beam (Attack) | Confuses the Defending Pokémon after flipping a coin. |
| Salazzle (Battle Styles) | Perplex (Attack) | Confuses the opponent’s Active Pokémon. |
| Malamar V (Rebel Clash) | Brain Shake (Attack) | Confuses the opponent’s Active Pokémon. |
| Drowzee (Evolutions) | Confuse Ray (Attack) | Confuses the opponent’s Active Pokémon. |
Best Pokémon for inflicting Paralysis
Paralysis is one of the best stall effects, as it prevents the opponent from attacking or retreating for a turn. Paralysis is best paired with Energy denial (such as Crushing Hammer) so that even when the opponent recovers, they struggle to attack.
| Pokémon | Abilities/Attacks | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Raichu (Lost Origin) | Thunder Shock (Attack) | Deals damage and can Paralyze your opponent’s Active Pokémon after flipping a coin. |
| Togedemaru (Sun & Moon Promo) | Nuzzle (Attack) | Deals damage and can Paralyze your opponent’s Active Pokémon after flipping a coin. |
| Luxray (Astral Radiance) | Radiating Pulse (Attack) | Paralyzes your opponent’s Active Pokémon after discarding two Energy. |
| Galvantula (Vivid Voltage) | Stun Needle (Attack) | Deals damage and can Paralyze your opponent’s Active Pokémon after flipping a coin. |
Best Pokémon for inflicting Poison
Poison is one of the most effective Special Conditions, as it continuously deals damage between turns. Some Pokémon can increase Poison damage, making it even deadlier.
| Pokémon | Abilities/Attacks | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Brute Bonnet (Paradox Rift) | Toxic Powder (Ability) | Poisons your opponent’s Active Pokémon. |
| Toxicroak ex (Scarlet & Violet Base Set) | Toxic Ripper (Attack) | Poisons the target. |
| Seviper (Burning Shadows) | More Poison (Ability) | Increases Poison damage by 10 each turn. |
| Salazzle (Battle Styles) | Perplex (Attack) | Confuses the opponent. |
Best Pokémon for inflicting multiple Special Conditions
If you’re looking for a Pokémon that can inflict multiple Special Conditions at the same time, I’d suggest getting your hands on a Butterfree. For example, a Butterfree V from Darkness Ablaze has the attack Dizzying Poison—which makes your opponent’s Active Pokémon both Confused and Poisoned. There’s also the Butterfree from Rebel Clash, with the Rebel Clash Panic Poison attack—this causes your opponent’s Active Pokémon to be Burned, Confused, and Poisoned.
For a Butterfree with an Ability, check out the Butterfree from Fusion Strike. This one has the ability Tricolored Scales, which allows you to choose between Burned, Confused, and Poisoned. Pick one and inflict it onto your opponent’s Active Pokémon when you play Butterfree from your hand to evolve one of your Pokémon!
What is the most powerful Special Condition in PTCG?
The most powerful Special Condition in Pokémon TCG depends on the situation, but Paralysis is generally the strongest because it completely prevents the opponent from attacking or retreating for a turn. Unlike Poison or Burn, which deal damage but still allow movement, Paralysis locks the opponent in place, forcing them to either evolve, switch, or use a Trainer card to recover.
Some Pokémon have abilities that make them immune to Special Conditions or remove them automatically. For example, Virizion V from Astral Radiance has Verdant Wind, which is an ability that lets any of your Pokémon with Grass Energy attached to them recover from all Special Conditions.
There are also Pokémon tools that can provide protection or cure Special Conditions automatically. Big Parasol is a great Trainer card to have in your deck because it prevents all effects from the attacks of your opponent’s Pokémon from being inflicted on any of your Pokémon. All you need to do is ensure that the Pokémon with the Big Parasol card attached is in your Active spot.
Another way to counter Special Conditions is just to switch your Pokémon to the Bench or evolve them. Doing so makes all Special Conditions disappear.
If you’re more of a collector than a player, take a look at our list of the top 20 Pokémon cards of all time!
