Why Put Pokémon on Bench?
If you’re new to playing Pokémon Trading Card Game or struggling to understand the roles of your Pokémon, learning how to effectively use them is crucial to winning the game. One of the fundamental strategies is to keep a balanced bench, filling it with Pokémon that compliment each other. But why and when should you put specific Pokémon on the bench, and how does it make a difference in the overall game?
What Pokémon Go to the Bench and Why
Pokémon may retreat to the bench through various means, such as retreating a Pokémon yourself or knocking out an opposing Active Pokémon. When deciding which Pokémon to put on the bench, consider its abilities, HP, strengths, weaknesses, and purpose within the game.
Eradicating Special Conditions
When a Pokémon retires to the Bench, all its Special Conditions, including Asleep, Burned, Confused, Paralyzed, and Poisoned, are naturally removed. This creates opportunities for a fresh slate of abilities and effects once that Pokémon is re-centered on the field.
Key Factor: Evolving a Pokémon
Evolving your Pokémon removes the existing Special Conditions, turning an asset into a wasted one if left unmodified.
- Remove Negative Statuses
This could mean swapping out those sleep-prone Pokémon after using Sleep Powder or giving Burn a rest.Important points:
Consider how these Special Conditions and conditions from abilities can drastically affect the gameplay and whether there is an opportunity and space on the bench is left available.
Keep It Simple, Keep Them Stunned
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We suggest having at lest four more Pokemon to leave an opposing Active Pokemon is more. This means ### Your bench strategy:
16, For Example.