The instructions that come with the Theme/EX Battle decks are pretty bad. Also the way they design those decks are very limited: they're built to use the most basic mechanics of attaching energy and attacking. That's great for getting started, but when you see what "real" decks do, you see them playing 10 or more actions per turn, while you "attach, pass. attach, attack. attach, attack.". This makes you feel like you're WAY out of your depth - like experienced players are playing a different game... because to some extent they are. Once you get past the absolute basics, the theme decks are dull to play, limited in learning opportunies and you just loose games (which is less fun than wining them). Getting an experienced player to teach you to play a specific competitive deck is probably the only way to get past the Theme Deck level. (The league battle decks are great as they're top level decks. Also the Worlds promo decks are a great cheap way to play some classic decks and learn some great mechanics, even though they're not tournament legal, and sometimes aren't even the same list as the player played at worlds!).

Checklist item#1: deck. Never letting Alex forget time he was playing granbull to a cup on Isle of Wight. On the ferry to the island Alex realised he’d forgot his deck!!! Fortunately we had a car full of players from the local league and between us we put together 59 of his 60 on the ferry. No one had Alolan sandshrew, which was our own inclusion.

Gamers use the word ‘tilted’ when something upsets your mental balance. You’re thinking about the mistake that cost you the last game instead of the game you’re playing now. you’re tilted and you’ll keep making more mistakes until you can reset.

I’m Alex’s dad. I learned to play with him and we went to events together when he was younger. I don’t play competitive any more but still play online most days.