Theme Deck (TCG)
A theme deck, previously known as a preconstructed theme deck, is a playing deck of Pokémon Trading Card Game cards sold pre-packaged alongside mainstream card sets. Most theme decks are designed with a specific strategy (such as Special Conditions) or theme (such as Starter Pokémon) in mind.
Theme decks are mostly seen only alongside English-language releases and are seldom released in Japan, released only alongside debut sets such as Base Set and Neo 1, as well as alongside the original Gym sets. The vast majority of Japanese decks released are half decks and are released alongside almost all sets.
For English-language set releases, most expansions are assigned two theme decks affiliated with the set, with the next most common number being four theme decks for releases such as Base Set, Base Set 2 and the two Gym sets. Only three sets have included three theme decks so far (EX Crystal Guardians, Diamond & Pearl and Great Encounters), and the only mainstream set to include no theme decks is Neo Revelation.
