Zach

Zach
"This is what I live for!"
Art from PTCGO
Gender	Male
Eye color	Violet
Hair color	Brown
Hometown	San Francisco
Region	USA
Trainer class	Trading Card Game Player

Zach works at the Game Store in Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. He greets new players at the entrance of the Game Store along with Ella. When players initially begin the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online, he is part of the first tutorial match. Afterwards, in the Trainer Challenge, he can be faced in the Gold League and the Platinum League for a total of two matches.

Official biography

"Zach got his job at the game store through Ella. Enthusiastic but a little hapless, he loves the Pokémon TCG and reads fantasy novels. His favorite part of his job is helping new players get acquainted with the store's regulars."

League Appearances

Zach uses a Colorless deck when players face him.

Gold League

Zach is the first opponent in the Gold League. After defeating Zach, players move on to face Mick.

Platinum League

Zach is the first opponent in the Platinum League. After defeating Zach, players move on to face Logan.

Diamond League

In the HeartGold and SoulSilver era, Zach appeared as part of the Diamond League. This league is no longer available for play.

Other appearances

Zach assists players when they access the "Help" feature, the Trainer Challenge mode, and the player versus player Versus Mode in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online.

Trainer Challenge

• Choose League — "To get started, select a league and difficulty from below. The selections will be added to the current option area on the right."

Gold — "Every player begins in the Gold League. Defeat each trainer in the Gold League and you will unlock the Platinum League!"

Platinum — "Great job beating the 12 Gold League trainers. Now for the next challenge! Defeat each trainer in the Platinum League and you will unlock the City Championship!"

City Championship — "Do you have what it takes to be the City Champion? Let’s find out!"

• Choose deck — "Select the Theme decks to use below in the Trainer Challenge."

"You have <number> overall wins with this deck."

"You have <number> overall wins with this deck. You have won <number> of <8 or 12> games necessary to unlock a booster pack."'

• Choose computer-controlled Trainer opponent — "Please select a trainer to challenge!"

Versus Mode

Random Battle

• "Play a game against a random online player."
• Choosing a deck — "Please choose one of your decks below."

Theme — "Both players can now use preconstructed theme decks in this format."

Standard — "Decks can only contain cards from current Standard legal expansions in their decks."

Expanded — "Deck can only contain cards that have been verified as Expanded legal."

Unlimited — "No cards are off-limits in this format! Play with your dream deck!"

• Now retired "Ranked Battle" option which was folded directly into Random Battle rather than "Random Battle" being an option under "Ranked Battle" — "Ranked games allow you to progress and play against better and better trainers. Players also earn trainer tokens for these matches."

Friend Battle

• "Play a game against one of your online friends."

"Now pick a friend to challenge."

<see Deck format selection in Random Battle above>

"Looks like none of our friends are available. You can only challenge friends who are currently online and aren't already in a match."

Play Testing

• "Play a game against the computer and test out a deck."

"Next select a difficulty for the computer."

Easy — "Easy is a good option if you are new to Pokémon TCG."

Medium — "Select Medium if you have experience with Pokémon TCG."

Hard — "Hard is better suited for an expert Pokémon TCG player."

"Please choose one of your decks below" <with Theme, Standard, and Expanded decks mixed together in the same list>

Practice

• Retired Practice Battle — "Practice games help you learn the basics of the game in a friendly match. If you are new to Pokémon TCG this is a good game type."

Zach's decks

Zach's XY decks

Easy deck Quantity Card Type Rarity 4× Bidoof 1× Bibarel 1× Dunsparce 1× Farfetch'd — 1× Furfrou 4× Lickitung 1× Lickilicky 1× Miltank — 4× Pidove 1× Tranquill 1× Skarmory 1× Snorlax 2× Acro Bike I 1× Repeat Ball I 1× Tool Retriever I 2× Trainers' Mail I 2× Exp. Share I 2× Sparkling Robe I 1× Professor Birch's Observations Su 1× Team Flare Grunt Su 1× Winona Su 2× Grass Energy E — 3× Fire Energy E — 3× Water Energy E — 3× Lightning Energy E — 3× Psychic Energy E — 3× Fighting Energy E — 3× Darkness Energy E — 3× Metal Energy E — 3× Fairy Energy E —

Medium deck Quantity Card Type Rarity 3× Bidoof 1× Bibarel 1× Dunsparce 1× Farfetch'd — 1× Furfrou 4× Lickitung 2× Lickilicky 1× Miltank — 4× Pidove 2× Tranquill 1× Skarmory 1× Snorlax 2× Acro Bike I 1× Repeat Ball I 1× Tool Retriever I 2× Trainers' Mail I 2× Exp. Share I 2× Sparkling Robe I 1× Professor Birch's Observations Su 1× Team Flare Grunt Su 2× Winona Su 2× Grass Energy E — 2× Fire Energy E — 2× Water Energy E — 3× Lightning Energy E — 3× Psychic Energy E — 3× Fighting Energy E — 3× Darkness Energy E — 3× Metal Energy E — 3× Fairy Energy E —

Hard deck Quantity Card Type Rarity 1× Bouffalant 1× Farfetch'd — 1× Dunsparce 1× Furfrou 4× Lickitung 3× Lickilicky 1× Miltank — 4× Pidove 3× Tranquill 1× Unfezant 1× Skarmory 1× Snorlax 2× Acro Bike I 1× Repeat Ball I 1× Tool Retriever I 2× Trainers' Mail I 2× Exp. Share I 2× Sparkling Robe I 2× Professor Birch's Observations Su 1× Team Flare Grunt Su 2× Winona Su 1× Double Colorless Energy E 2× Grass Energy E — 2× Fire Energy E — 2× Water Energy E — 2× Lightning Energy E — 3× Psychic Energy E — 2× Fighting Energy E — 3× Darkness Energy E — 3× Metal Energy E — 3× Fairy Energy E —

Zach's Tutorial deck

(As this match is scripted, Zach only uses the cards below)

Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
1×	Meowth
1×	Rattata
3×	Metal Energy	E	—

Zach's Retired decks

Zach's Early XY era decks

Easy deck (List missing 1 card) Quantity Card Type Rarity 4× Audino 3× Bouffalant 4× Chatot 4× Jigglypuff 1× Wigglytuff 4× Minccino 3× Rufflet 1× Braviary 2× Energy Retrieval I 2× Full Heal I 2× Great Ball I 1× Professor's Letter I 2× Revive I 1× Roller Skates I 1× Giant Cape I 2× Tierno Su — 22× Metal Energy E —

Medium deck (List missing 9 cards) Quantity Card Type Rarity 3× Audino 1× Bouffalant 2× Chatot 3× Jigglypuff 2× Wigglytuff 1× Minccino 4× Rufflet 2× Braviary 1× Crushing Hammer I 1× Great Ball I 1× Revive I 2× Roller Skates I 2× Giant Cape I 1× Rocky Helmet I 2× Aspertia City Gym St 1× Team Flare Grunt Su 1× Tierno Su — 22× Metal Energy E —

Hard deck Quantity Card Type Rarity 2× Audino 2× Bouffalant 2× Chatot 3× Jigglypuff 1× Wigglytuff 3× Minccino 3× Rufflet 2× Braviary 2× Crushing Hammer I 1× Energy Retrieval I 2× Escape Rope I 2× Great Ball I 2× Professor's Letter I 1× Revive I 2× Roller Skates I 1× Eviolite I 3× Giant Cape I 2× Rocky Helmet I 2× Aspertia City Gym St 1× Hugh Su 3× Team Flare Grunt Su 2× Tierno Su — 16× Metal Energy E —

Zach's Black & White era deck

Platinum League (List missing 30 cards)

Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
3×	Audino
1×	Bouffalant
2×	Jigglypuff
1×	Wigglytuff
2×	Rufflet
1×	Braviary
1×	Minccino
2×	Crushing Hammer	I
1×	Escape Rope	I
1×	Revive	I
1×	Super Rod	I
1×	Eviolite	I
1×	Rocky Helmet	I
1×	Aspertia City Gym	St
1×	Bianca	Su
1×	Hugh	Su
9×	Metal Energy	E	—

Zach's initial decks

During the HeartGold & SoulSilver era, Zach used a different deck for each appearance.

Gold League Quantity Card Type Rarity 3× Chansey 4× Doduo 1× Dodrio 3× Rattata 4× Spearow 2× Fearow 4× Starly 3× Staravia 1× Staraptor 1× Energy Returner I 1× Full Heal I 2× PlusPower I 2× Potion I 1× Switch I 2× Bill Su 1× Engineer's Adjustments Su 24× Grass Energy E

Platinum League Quantity Card Type Rarity 4× Eevee 1× Vaporeon 4× Horsea 2× Seadra 3× Squirtle 3× Teddiursa 4× Totodile 3× Croconaw 1× Feraligatr 2× Energy Switch I 1× Full Heal I 2× Pokémon Circulator I 2× Potion I 2× Bill Su 2× Engineer's Adjustments Su 24× Water Energy E

Diamond League Quantity Card Type Rarity 4× Cyndaquil 3× Quilava 1× Typhlosion 4× Eevee 2× Flareon 3× Magmar 3× Rattata 4× Vulpix 1× Ninetales 1× Energy Returner I 1× Full Heal I 2× PlusPower I 2× Potion I 3× Bill Su 2× Copycat Su 24× Fire Energy E

Zach's XY Tutorial deck

(As this match was scripted, Zach only used the cards below)

Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
1×	Eevee
1×	Fletchling
3×	Metal Energy	E	—

Quotes

• Tutorial match — "This is my favourite game. I hope you have fun!"
• Gold League, before a game — "Time to play, <player>! This is what I live for!"
• Platinum League, before a game — "Oh yeah! League Champion in the house! Let the games begin!"

Retired quotes

Tutorial Mode

Main article: Retired Tutorials

Match setup

"Welcome to the League and... ...Prepare to be trounced! Mwa-Ha-Ha! Good luck!"

"Welcome to the Platinum League, <player>! Let's see how you hold up under pressure!"

Player loss

"Nice try, <player>. But it looks like you met your match! Let's play again!"

"You fought well, <player>. But don't feel blue! It's time for a rematch!"

Player win

"Hey, great game! Looks like you'll fit right in! Say hi to Mick for me when you play!"

"Wow, you've come a long way. My Water Deck is... all washed up! Congratulations on your victory!"

Diamond League

Before a game — "'Grats on your victory in the Platinum League! Don't think you've got this one sewn up, though. No one's taking you lightly this time!"

Match setup — "Eager to throw your weight around? You'll have to take me down first. Good luck. <Player>!"

Player loses — "A noble effort, <player>. Unfortunately for you, I was on fire that game. Try again?"

Player wins — "Hello?! My Fire Deck was snuffed out! Great Job, <player>."

Game Store Players
Employees Zach • Ella Professor Professor Holly League contestants Mick • Calvin • Ali • Grayson • Juji • Kendall • Tyson • Penelope Cammie • Logan • Nathan • Brittney • Rika • Otis • Daniel

This article is part of both Project TCG and Project CharacterDex, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Trading Card Game and on each character found in the Pokémon games respectively.