The official Japanese Pokémon TCG website has revealed that there will be new rules that will be coming into effect with the XY expansion which will be released in Japan on November 8th, 2013.

• The player that goes first cannot attack on their first turn. (先攻プレイヤーは、最初の番はワザを使うことができません。)
• A special rule that players can only have 1 Professor Araragi or Professor Platane in their deck. Both cards in a single deck is not allowed. (サポートの「アララギ博士」と「プラターヌ博士」は、枚数にかかわらず、1つのデッキにどちらかしか入れられません。 1つのデッキに両方入れることはできません。「アララギ博士」と「プラターヌ博士」だけの、特別なルールです。)
• The Pokémon Catcher card now requires players to flip a coin to Switch an opponent's Active Pokémon with 1 of their Benched Pokémon. (「ポケモンキャッチャー」は、コインを投げてオモテが出ないとポケモンを入れ替えることができなくなりました。)

Source: http://www.pokemon-card.com/howto/new-rule/#anc15

The XY Kalos Starter Set Deluxe Decks will be released on November 8th, 2013. Each deck features one of the three Kalos region Starter Pokémon: Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie. The decks contain 60 cards as well as one Black and White booster pack. Also revealed was the next TCG expansion: Pokémon TCG: Black and White — Legendary Treasures which will be released on November 8th, 2013 as well.

XY Kalos Starter Set Deluxe Deck

First appearances from long-awaited Pokémon and a brand-new battle strategy! Which Pokémon will you choose to begin this exciting journey: Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie? Pick your Pokémon and get ready to battle!

Chespin Deck — Show Your Strength!
Start your adventure in the Kalos region with the Grass-type Pokémon Chespin and this 60-card ready-to-play deck! With spikes, toughness, and resilient Grass-type moves, this new deck is perfect for the small but fierce competitor who never gives up! With quiet strength, it grows and grows to outperform and outlast the competition! Plant the seeds of your future victory start with the Chespin deck!

Fennekin Deck — Burn Up the Opposition!
Start your adventure in the Kalos region with the Fire-type Pokémon Fennekin and this 60-card ready-to-play deck! This new deck unlocks a world of exciting Pokémon battles and gives you the head start you need to battle and win in the Pokémon Trading Card Game! As a Fire-type deck, the Fennekin deck is full of powerful moves—grab it and blaze your path to victory!

Froakie Deck — One Easy Hop to Victory!
Start your adventure in the Kalos region with the Water-type Pokémon Froakie and this 60-card ready-to-play deck! This new deck leaps over the competition with Froakie’s unexpected powers, including all the shifting speed and thrilling moves that Water-type Pokémon are famous for! Move like a roaring river and carve your channel to victory— grab the Froakie deck and get ready to play!

Pokémon TCG: Black and White — Legendary Treasures

Legends lost are recovered, buried treasures are found, and in the Pokémon TCG: Black and White — Legendary Treasures expansion, Pokémon as you’ve never seen them will dazzle you! Discover new Pokémon-EX, as well as the return of mighty champions. Find new Trainer cards to revolutionize your battle strategy! Command your forces and drive onward to victory! Locate the scattered jewels of the Radiant Collection! And, above all, hunt for the golden glimmers that signify an amazing find…

Source: http://www.bantertoys.com.au/categories/brands/pokemon/pokemon-tcg-black-white-legendary-treasures-booster

The Pokémon Company International announced some major changes to the Play! Pokémon Program for the 2014 season. One of the changes includes a tournament entry fee which players of the Pokémon TCG Masters Division will have to pay in order to enter Premier Events. Below are the full details of the changes.

Play! Pokémon Program - 2014 Updates - Press Release

Exciting changes are coming to the Play! Pokémon program. Check out what you can look forward to throughout the 2014 season.

Battle Road Tournaments

New for the 2014 season, Pokémon TCG Battle Road tournaments will now be associated with Pokémon League locations worldwide, and will now be called League Challenges. Active Pokémon Leagues with a Tournament Organizer on staff will have the opportunity to run a League Challenge tournament at the end of each League season. League Challenge Championship Points awards and Best Finish Limits will not be affected.

This change will give more players an opportunity to test their mettle in a Premier Event, as well as give players more opportunities and flexibility to participate in League Challenge tournaments year-round.

League Challenge tournaments will continue to feature Swiss-only play with no top cut. Organizers of League Challenge tournaments will have the option to run best-of-three or single-game Swiss rounds.

Swiss Match Play and Single-Elimination Changes

Beginning in 2014, Play! Pokémon TCG Championship Events above the City Championships level will begin using best-of-three match play in Swiss rounds. Best-of-three Swiss rounds will have a time limit of 50 minutes plus three turns. As we make this move to match play, this also means that ties will be reintroduced into Pokémon TCG tournaments. Be sure to check the updated Tournament Rules documents for details.

Championship events will now also have a maximum top cut of eight players (Top 8). Some larger Premier Events will feature two-day splits, in which players with the top records from the first day’s Swiss rounds move on to play a second day of Swiss rounds prior to the Top 8 playoffs.

Pokémon Video Game Championship Series

Stay tuned for announcements following the release of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y on October 12th, 2013, for additional rules, format, and information regarding Pokémon video game tournaments. The Pokémon Autumn Regional Championships will be the final tournaments featuring Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 before transitioning to Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.

Tournament Entry Fees

Beginning in the 2014 tournament season, Pokémon TCG Masters Division players will pay for entry into Premier Events. Fees charged for entry will be determined by the event organizer and will be included in each tournament listing well in advance of the event. Junior and Senior Division players will still pay no entry fees for Premier Events (aside from Prerelease tournaments).

Players in Pokémon video game tournaments will continue to pay no entry fees.

Changes to Tournament Prize Structure

Play! Pokémon will be increasing prize support in the TCG Masters Division to coincide with the change to entry fees. Masters Division booster pack prizes will be increased at City Championships level and above, and prizes will be given to more players lower in the finish order. Four additional World Championships Travel Awards will also be added to the U.S. National Championships Masters Division. On top of that, Tournament Organizers may choose to award additional prizes to one or more age divisions. Be sure to check the tournament listings for details!

Also new for 2014, U.S. National Championships Travel Awards and Travel Stipends will now be awarded to the top TCG performers in the season’s Championship Point rankings. Travel Awards and Travel Stipends will be awarded as follows, based on Championship Point rankings at the end of Spring Regionals:

1st–16th: Travel Award and a $300 Travel Stipend

17th–30th: $750 Travel Stipend

31st–60th: $500 Travel Stipend

61st–100th: $300 Travel Stipend

Pokémon video game players will also earn U.S. National Championships Travel Awards and Travel Stipends based on their season’s Championship Point rankings at the end of the Spring Regional Championships. Pokémon video game Travel Awards and Travel Stipends are as follows:

1st–16th: Travel Award and $300 Travel Stipend

17th–32nd: $700 Travel Stipend

33rd–64th: $350 Travel Stipend

In addition, the 1st-place finisher in each video game division at each Regional Championships will win a Nintendo 3DS handheld system. Championship Points will also determine which players earn video game Travel Awards to the 2014 Pokémon World Championships. View the Video Game Championship Points page for more details.

Championship Points earned at the 2013 World Championships will not be factored into the rankings until after the U.S. National Championships.

Player Rewards Program

The Player Rewards Program will be discontinued in the 2014 season. We will be reallocating the funds from the Rewards Program into other Play! Pokémon programs throughout the year. Player Rewards for the 2013 season will be shipped out in the 4th quarter of 2013 to all eligible players.

Professor Program

All Tournament Organizer, League Organizer, and Judge roles will now be part of our new Professor Program. Professors will be ranked based on their tenure, activity throughout the year, and the exams they choose to take. Professor ranks will determine the rewards that can be earned and the opportunity provided to staff larger events, and will eventually dictate the prize support available for the events that they help organize and run.

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/op_2014_season_update-2013-08-21/

During the closing ceremonies of the Pokémon World Championships 2013, a new trailer featuring Mega Pokémon was first revealed. It was also revealed that Washington D.C. will be the location of the 2014 Pokémon World Championships.

Mega Pokémon Trailer

Pokémon World Champions 2013:

Pokémon Video Game Junior Division: Brendan Zheng (USA)
Pokémon Video Game Senior Division: Hayden McTavish (USA)
Pokémon Video Game Masters Division: Arash Ommati (Italy)
Pokémon TCG Junior Division: Ondrej Kujal (Czech Republic)
Pokémon TCG Senior Division: Kaiwen Cabbabe (Australia)
Pokémon TCG Masters Division: Jason Klaczynski (USA)

Source: http://www.pokemonworldchampionships.com/2013/updates/article/day3/thats-all-from-vancouver

The official Pokémon website has revealed that they will be hosting live coverage of the 2013 Pokémon World Championships from Vancouver, Canada on the Pokémon Worlds channel on Twitch all weekend long.

Head to http://www.twitch.tv/pokemon this weekend to catch live coverage of the Pokémon World Championships. There will be live matches, commentary, and scenes from the event floor Saturday and Sunday, including the final matches!

Live-Stream Schedule

August 10, 2013
5:00PM – 7:30PM PT: Video Game Top Cut
7:30PM – 12:00AM PT: Trading Card Game Top Cut

August 11, 2013
9:00AM – 12:00PM PT: Video Game Finals
12:30PM – 5:00PM PT: Trading Card Game Finals

*Times are approximate

Sources: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/op_worlds13_streaming-2013-08-06/ and http://www.twitch.tv/pokemon

The official Pokémon World Championships website for Vancouver 2013 has opened. The Pokémon World Championships are open to all spectators at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Players are required to have their badge in order to take advantage of the Player Only retail hours. Information and details regarding the events have been posted and are listed below.

Friday, August 9th, 2013

VG LCQ Registration: 8:00 A.M.–8:30 A.M.
TCG LCQ Registration: 8:00 A.M.–8:30 A.M.
VG Last Chance Qualifier: 9:30 A.M.
TCG Last Chance Qualifier: 9:30 A.M.
World Championships Competitor Check-In: 10:00 A.M.–1:00 P.M.
Retail Hours—Players Only: 10:00 A.M.–2:00 P.M.

Saturday, August 10th, 2013

Late Competitor Check-In: 8:00 A.M.
Opening Ceremony: 9:00 A.M.
Retail Hours: 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.
World Championships Players’ Meetings: 9:30 A.M.
Pokémon World Championships: 10:00 A.M.
Side Events: 10:00 A.M.–7:00 P.M.
Mini-League: 10:30 A.M.–7:00 P.M.

Sunday, August 11th, 2013

VG Final Matches Begin: 9:00 A.M.
TCG Prerelease Tournaments: 9:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
Retail Hours: 10:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
Side Events & Mini-League: 9:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
TCG Finals Begin: 12:30 P.M.
Special Character Distribution: 9:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
Closing Ceremony: 5:30 P.M.

Source: http://www.pokemonworldchampionships.com/2013/

The 7/11 Pokémon Stamp Relay 2013 (ポケモンスタンプリレー 2013) has been revealed and has begun its promoting through various outlets including a television commercial. Participants who collect the necessary stamps at participating 7/11 locations in Japan between July 13th, 2013 and August 15th, 2013 can receive a special Eievui TCG promo card (235/BW-P).

Eievui - 7/11 235/BW-P

Colorless - HP60 - Retreat: 1 Colorless - Illustration: Akira Komayama - Weakness: Fighting x2
Growl (なきごえ) - During your opponent's next turn, any damage done by attacks from the Defending Pokémon is reduced by 20 (before applying Weakness and Resistance). (次の相手の番、このワザを受けた相手が使うワザのダメージは、「-20」される。)
Quick Attack (でんこうせっか) - Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 more damage. (コインを1回投げオモテなら、10ダメージを追加。) - 10+

Commercial Screenshots

Click here to visit the imageboard thread for more images from the commercial.

Source: http://www.sej.co.jp/cmp/pokemon_rally1308.html

July 13th, 2013 Update

The official Japanese Pokémon website updated today with more details about the stamp relay. The stamp relay is part of the Pokémon Fair 2013 (ポケモンフェア2013) festivities. From July 15th, 2013 until July 31st, 2013, 24 different stamps featuring Pokémon from this year's 16th Pocket Monsters movie will be available. From August 1st, 2013 until August 15th, 2013, 24 different stamps featuring legendary and mythical Pokémon will be available.


Participants that collect 4 different stamps for 4 different shops can receive the Eievui/Pikachu promo TCG card. Those that collect 8 different stamps from 8 different shops can receive the Limited Edition Pokémon Stickers Sheet. Points are also awarded to participants to purchase other goods.

Source: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2013/07/130713_c02.html

The official Pokémon website has revealed that the first ever Pokémon Game Show （ポケモンゲームショー） will be held at Tokyo Big Site (東京ビッグサイト) August 17th, 2013 and August 18th, 2013. Admission is free to the event.

The event will also have playable demos of Pokémon X and Y. People can also play the Pokémon Trading Card game and Pokémon Tretta.

Source: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2013/06/130628_g01.html

The Pokémon TCG: Black & White Plasma Blast TCG expansion was released on August 14th, 2013. Pictures from this set have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Black & White Plasma Blast

The Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Plasma Blast expansion is in stores now! Challenges ring out, Pokémon duel, and the battle for Unova enters the next chapter in the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Plasma Blast expansion! With Virizion-EX by your side, you must lead the counterattack against the failing forces of Team Plasma as they mount their last stand behind the twinned might of Team Plasma Dialga-EX and Palkia-EX! Victory is within your grasp, when suddenly you face your greatest test...the mighty and mysterious Genesect-EX takes the battlefield, supported by devastating ACE SPEC cards that give it additional attacks! Trainers, it’s time to break the ice!


Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Plasma Blast is the latest expansion to the Pokémon Trading Card Game franchise and is available in stores now, bringing over 100 new cards to collect and play.


Key Features of the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Plasma Blast Expansion:

• Team Plasma cards—A unique blue border and Team Plasma shield adorn each Team Plasma card
• Six new Pokémon-EX cards and five full-art Pokémon-EX rare Ultra cards—New, powerful Pokémon-EX include Genesect-EX, Kyurem-EX, Palkia-EX, and Dialga-EX
• Four new ACE SPEC cards—Incredibly powerful Trainer cards. Only one ACE SPEC card is allowed in each player’s deck

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/black-white-plasma-blast

Black & White Plasma Blast Product Sheet

Unbroken, Unbowed, Undefeated - Unova Blasts Back! Challenges ring out, Pokémon duel, and the battle for Unova enters the next chapter in the Pokémon TCG: Black & White - Plasma Blast expansion! With Virizion EX by your side, you must lead the counterattack against the failing forces of Team Plasma as they mount their last stand behind the twinned might of Team Plasma Dialga EX and Palkia EX! Victory is within your grasp, when suddenly you face your greatest test...the mighty and mysterious Genesect EX takes the battlefield, supported by devastating ACE SPEC cards that give it additional attacks! Trainers, it’s time to break the ice!

• 4 powerful brand-new ACE SPEC Trainer cards!
• 11 new Pokémon EX including 5 full-card art Pokémon!
• Awesome all-new Team Plasma cards!
• Over 100 cards in all!

The Pokémon TCG Online has begun testing a new currency for purchases in game. Gems will allow players to purchase digital in game items. Currently the Gem's test is open to players in Canada only, but will expand to other countries after the testing phase. Players can purchase gems with PayPal or credit card.

Gems Testing Begins

posted: April 18, 2013 by: Prof_Mathis

In addition to the other exciting features released in this month’s Pokémon TCG Online game update, we are beginning the initial testing phase for Gems. For testing purposes, we are limiting the scope of this rollout to players in Canada. We’ve created the FAQ below to cover some of the basics of Gems.

What are Gems?
Gems offer players a new way to obtain digital items in the Pokémon TCG Online game. Working in tandem with the code cards found in physical Pokémon TCG products and booster packs received from the Daily Login Bonus, Gems offer players even more options to expand their online collection.

How can I get Gems?
As part of this test, players in Canada can purchase Gems with real money by visiting the Buy Gems page on the Pokémon TCG Online website.

What can I buy with Gems?
During this test, the Shop will contain digital booster packs and theme decks from the Pokémon TCG: Black & White series.

Who can buy Gems?
Gem purchases are only available to players in Canada during this testing phase. These players must have the “Shopping” option in their Pokémon.com Trainer Club account set to “Open.” These settings can be found on the Account Preferences page.

Why can’t I buy Gems in my country?
The introduction of Gems to the Pokémon TCG Online marks the first time that the online game has directly accepted real money from its players. Adding Gems is a significant and complex step for the game. We want to ensure we get it right. Limiting the testing of Gems to a single market allows us to evaluate and refine our systems in a more controlled live environment than would be available with a simultaneous global release.

Sources: http://www.pokemontcg.com/news/?p=527#more-527 and http://www.pokemontcg.com/buygems