Custom Formats

The card pool is defined using up to four mechanisms that execute in the following order:

1. Pool Query — A search query (Lucene syntax) that defines the base set of legal cards. Examples: filter by format, set/expansion, card type, rarity, HP range, or combine multiple formats with OR clauses.
2. Randomized Banner — A deterministic random filter using a seed and threshold (0–100%) that bans a percentage of card families. Cards in the same evolution line are always banned together; basic energy is never affected.
3. Include List — Specific cards to add on top of the filtered results, useful for curated card selections that are hard to express as a search query.
4. Ban List — Specific cards to remove from the pool, applied last.

Validation filters enforce deck-building constraints beyond the card pool. Available filter types:

• GroupCountFilter — Count cards matching a query (e.g. "type:supporter") and enforce min/max limits. Example: limit Supporter cards to 4 per deck.
• UniqueColorsFilter — Restrict Pokémon types (colors) in a deck. Used for formats like Gym Leader Challenge where only one Pokémon type is allowed.
• Hall of Fame Filter — Assign star values to powerful cards and limit the total star count per deck. Used for Palace/Hall format-style restrictions.
• ThemeDeckFilter — Restrict decks to match the exact contents of pre-selected theme decks.
• AllPassFilter / AnyPassFilter / OnlyOnePassFilter — Combine multiple filters using AND, OR, or exclusive-one logic for complex constraints.
• YouShallNotPassFilter — Negate any filter to invert its condition.

By default, new formats include the standard validation rules (max 4 copies per card name, at least 1 basic Pokémon, Ace Spec limit, etc.). Authors can disable these defaults for fully custom rule sets.

Custom formats use a tiered access model based on Patreon support:

• Free — Access the format builder, keep up to 3 drafts and 3 published formats, create decks for any published format, join games created by others, and create/host games of sponsored formats.
• $5/month — Up to 7 drafts and 7 published formats, play any published format in solo mode.
• $20/month — Create multiplayer games with any published format, up to 20 drafts and 20 published formats, and set environment effects.
• $50/month — Sponsor 1 custom format so that any player (including free users) can create and host games with it. Additional sponsor slots scale with contribution ($50 per slot).

Free for all players:

• Browse all published and sponsored custom formats
• Use the custom format builder (up to 3 drafts, 3 published)
• Create decks for any published custom format
• Join custom format games created by other players
• Create and host games of sponsored formats

Requires subscription:

• Solo mode play ($5/month+)
• Creating multiplayer games for non-sponsored formats ($20/month+)
• Environment effects on published formats ($20/month+)
• Sponsoring formats for the community ($50+/month)
• Higher draft and published format limits ($5/month+)

Environment effects are global gameplay modifiers that apply to both players throughout an entire game. They alter fundamental game mechanics to create unique experiences. Effects are organized into categories:

• Type Arena — Restrict which Pokémon types can attack (e.g. Inferno Arena: only Fire-type Pokémon can attack).
• Boosts — Extra draws, additional energy attachments, double Supporters, or multiple attacks per turn.
• Energy — Modify energy costs, yields, or mechanics (e.g. Simplified Energy, Double Energy Yield, Free Retreat).
• Evolution — Alter evolution rules (e.g. Rapid Evolution lets Pokémon evolve same-turn, Mutant Evolution lets any same-type Pokémon evolve into each other).
• Weather — Ongoing effects like Hailstorm (1 damage counter between turns), Healing Oasis (heal 20 between turns), or Sunny Day (+50% Fire damage).
• Resistance/Weakness — Global changes to damage modifiers (e.g. Glass Cannon: all Pokémon weak to each other by +20).
• Resource — Restrict gameplay options (e.g. Item Lockdown, Rule Box Ban, Rooted Stance preventing retreats).
• Conditions — Enhanced special conditions (e.g. Toxic Surge: +20 poison damage, Lasting Paralysis: 2 turns to clear).

Some effects are mutually exclusive (e.g. you can only have one Type Arena or one coin manipulation effect active). Environment effects require a $20/month subscription to include in published formats.

The custom format builder is flexible enough to create a wide variety of format types. Here are some examples that players have proposed or created:

• Gym Leader Challenge (GLC) — BW-on card pool, single-copy only (except basic energy), one Pokémon type per deck, no rule box Pokémon. Uses UniqueColorsFilter and GroupCountFilter.
• Single-Prize Only — Any era format but excluding multi-prize Pokémon (GX, V, EX, etc.). Uses a pool query with negative type filters.
• Gameboy TCG Format — Only the 228 cards available in the original Gameboy TCG game, including 18 game-exclusive cards. Uses an include list for the specific card set.
• Gameboy GR2 TCG Format — The 441 cards from the Japanese-only Gameboy TCG sequel, including Team Rocket, Vending Machine cards, Intro Pack cards, and game-exclusive cards.
• Palace / Hall of Fame Format — DP-on with a star-based restriction system where powerful cards cost 1–3 stars and each deck has a 4-star budget. Uses the Hall of Fame Filter.
• Theme Deck-Only — Players can only use pre-built theme decks. Uses the ThemeDeckFilter to restrict to specific deck contents.
• Prop 15/3 — Base-Gym era with max 15 Trainers per deck and max 3 copies per card. Uses GroupCountFilter and a custom max_copies setting.
• Anything Goes — All cards from all eras legal in one format. Uses pool query "*:*" to include everything.
• Unrestricted — Similar to Anything Goes but with relaxed deck size and copy limits for testing combos with friends.
• 40-Card Cube Format — 40-card decks, 4 prizes, with mutant evolutions enabled via environment effects. Ideal for draft-style play.
• Base-Fossil + Vending Machine — Extends an existing format with additional sets using an OR clause in the pool query.
• Base-Neo (Babyless) — A subset of Base-Neo with Baby Pokémon and specific un-fun cards removed for a more enjoyable classic experience.
• Common Cards Only — Any format restricted to common-rarity cards using a rarity filter in the pool query.
• Randomized Formats — Use the Randomized Banner with a seed to deterministically ban ~50% of card families, creating a unique meta that changes with each seed.