Gym Challenge Strategy Guide (TCG)

Gym Challenge Strategy Guide
Gym Challenge Strategy Guide.png
ISBN: 0786917865
Published: August 2000
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Author: Teeuwynn Woodruff

Gym Challenge Strategy Guide is the official companion book to the Gym Challenge expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Published by Wizards of the Coast in August 2000, it was written by Teeuwynn Woodruff, who was also the creator of the Gym Heroes Strategy Guide published by Wizards of the Coast.

Contents

The World of Pokémon

After a brief foreword by Giovanni, there is an introductory section called "The World of Pokémon". This serves as a brief overview of the rules of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and an explanation of how to identify Energy symbols, Weakness, Resistance, etc.

The Challenges of the Gym

This section introduces the premise of the Gym Challenge expansion set and an overview of some of the new cards included. It also reviews concepts like Owner's Pokémon. The section closes with the writers' "10 Cards That WIll Challenge Your Opponents", which the author considers the best of the set.

Cool Decks You Can Build

This section focuses on "Cool Decks You Can Build", custom deck configurations focusing on the new Gym Challenge cards. There are two types of decks included - "hard-core" decks that use a variety of cards including Rare and Holo versions, and "easy to build" decks that contain mainly common and uncommon cards, which are easier for a beginning player to construct themselves.

List of decks

Hard-core decks
Easy-to-build decks

Gym Challenge Card Encyclopedia

This section provides an image, description and strategy guide for every card in the Gym Challenge expansion. All cards are presented in alphabetical order.

Complete Pokémon TCG Checklist

The closing section of the book is a collectors' checklist of all the Pokémon cards released in English up to the time of publication. This includes Base Set, Base Set 2, Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, Gym Heroes, Gym Challenge and Wizards Black Star Promos.

Trivia

Errors

  • In the deck list for Brock's Mining Crew, one of the listed cards is a Brock's Sandshrew card from the Gym Challenge expansion. This card does not actually exist. While there are two Brock's Sandshrew cards, they are both part of the Gym Heroes expansion (card 71 and card 72, respectively).
  • In the deck list for Jaws, one of the listed cards is Misty's Goldeen from the Gym Heroes expansion. However, the book fails to specify which Misty's Goldeen from the expansion - there are two, a Common one and a Rare one.
  • In the deck list for Erika's Weed Garden, one of the listed cards is Erika's Gloom from the Gym Heroes expansion. However, the book fails to specify which Erika's Gloom from the expansion - there are two, card 45 and card 46.
  • In the deck list for Saffron Pokémon Center, the book erroneously refers to a Lv. 10 Sabrina's Gastly as part of the Gym Heroes expansion. There is a Lv. 10 Sabrina's Gastly card, but it is part of the Gym Challenge expansion. The Sabrina's Gastly card from Gym Heroes is actually Lv. 16.


Publications relating to the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Strategy guides: Pokémon Trading Card Game Strategy GuideThe Official Pokémon Trading Card Game Guide
Pokémon Trading Card Game Player's GuidePokémon Trading Card Game Fossil Expansion Player's Guide
Pokémon Trading Card Game Volume 3: Team RocketPokémon Made Simple!Let's Play Pokémon
Team Rocket Strategy GuideGym Heroes Strategy GuideGym Challenge Strategy Guide
Platinum Player's GuidePlasma Storm Player's GuidePlasma Blast Player's GuideXY Player's Guide
Quick Guide to Fire-Type PokémonFurious Fists Player's GuidePhantom Forces Player's GuidePrimal Clash Player's Guide
Roaring Skies Player's GuideAncient Origins Player's GuideBREAKthrough Player's GuideBREAKpoint Player's Guide
Fates Collide Player's GuideGenerations Player's GuideSteam Siege Player's GuideEvolutions Player's Guide
Sun & Moon Player's GuideGuardians Rising Player's GuideBurning Shadows Player's GuideThe Making of Shining Legends
Crimson Invasion Player's GuideUltra Prism Player's GuideForbidden Light Player's GuideCelestial Storm Player's Guide
Dragon Majesty Player's GuideDragon Majesty: Dragons Then and NowLost Thunder Player's GuideTeam Up Player's Guide
Unbroken Bonds Player's GuideUnified Minds Player's GuideHidden Fates Player's GuideCosmic Eclipse Player's Guide
Sword & Shield Player's GuideRebel Clash Player's GuideDarkness Ablaze Player's GuideVivid Voltage Player's Guide
Shining Fates Player's GuideBattle Styles Player's GuideChilling Reign Player's GuideEvolving Skies Player's Guide
Celebrations Player's Guide
Collectors' guides: Beckett Unofficial Guide to Pokémon: 2008 Price GuideBeckett Unofficial Guide To Pokémon Diamond & Pearl
Collecting Pokémon: An Unauthorized Handbook and Price GuidePokémon Collector's Value Guide
Pokémon Unofficial Card Collector's GuideUnofficial Beckett Pokémon Collector Price Guide
Magazines: Beckett Pokémon Unofficial CollectorMonthly Coin Toss: Pokémon Card MagazinePokémon Official Magazine
PoJo's Unofficial Pokémon News & Price Guide MonthlyPokémon Card Fan Club
Manga: Pokémon Card GB The ComixHow I Became a Pokémon CardHimemaru: Pokémon Card ExplorerAim to Be a Card Master!!
Pokémon Card Game Battle ComicExciting Victory! Pokémon Card Game!!Let's Play the Pokémon Card Game XY!
Let's Play the Pokémon Card Game! Sun & Moon ArcLet's Play the Pokémon Card Game! Sword & Shield Arc
Let's Play the Pokémon Card Game! Scarlet & Violet Arc
Video game guides: Official Pokémon TCG Perfect GuidePokémon Card GB Final Tactical BookPokémon Card GB Official Guidebook
Pokémon Card GB2 Official GuidebookPokémon TCG: Official Nintendo Player's Guide
Pokémon TCG: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
Other: Pokémon Card Official Book 2000Pokémon Card Game BW National Illustrated Encyclopedia
Pokémon Card Game BW WorkbookIllust Story


  This article is part of both Project Merchandise and Project TCG, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Merchandise and TCG, respectively.