To Be A Fake Master
Game Text Grammar

Proper game text grammar on a card can REALLY make a difference when making fakes. The more realistic the attack or Power sounds, then the more realistic your ENTIRE card will be.

Here's the list. Text that include "..." refer to other text that have no real relevance to the examples.

Attacks:

• Stasis ailments are CAPITALIZED. If an attack puts a Pokémon to sleep, then the word "Asleep" will be capitalized in that manner. You do NOT leave it lowercased like "asleep", "paralyzed", etc. It should be "Asleep", and so forth.

• A MULTIPLIER attack (50x, 20+, 40-) that just does damage is typed: "Does XX damage..." (Example: Kingler's Flail attack is typed: Flail Does 10 damage...). This attack text goes straight to the damage, so this is what you type.

• A MULTIPLIER attack, or an attack that does extra damage apart from what damage it normally does, that does damage only after something else happened is typed: "This attack does XX damage..." (Exmaple: Beedrill's Twineedle attack is typed: Twineedle Flip 2 coins. This attack does...) This text is different than the one above because of the extra whatevers that happen before damage is done. (The above one goes straight to the damage)

• Coin flip attacks are typed: "Flip a coin. If heads, ....". There is a period seperating the "flip a coin" part and the "If heads" part. After "if heads", there is a comma. For attacks that do MULTIPLE coin flips, replace the "a" with the number you want (and add an "s" to coin for proper grammar). For attacks that do multiple coin flips based on something else (like Energy on the Defending Pokémon, etc), then the "Flip a coin" part will be: "Flip a number of coins equal to [something]. This attack....". Then replace [something] with anything you want.

• Coin flip attacks that have both a head and a tails effect are typed: "Flip a coin. If heads, XXX. If tails, ..." The same goes as the above attack with heads, however AFTER the "heads" effect goes through, it's followed by a period (.) (NOT a comma or semi-colon). The "If" in "If tails" IS capitalized.

• If one of those attacks does extra damage for a heads, then the attack should be: "Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does XX damage plus YY more damage; if tails, this attack does XX damage." (Example: Jungle Flareon's Quick attack.) Technically you're repeating yourself, however this is the way Wizards does it.

• If an attack does nothing on tails (or heads), then the attack should be: "Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing." (Example: Fossil Moltres' Dive Bomb attack.) That's how it's written out.

• Stasis ailment attack are: "(Flip a coin. If heads,) the Defending Pokémon is now..." The "flip a coin. if heads" part is optional (in that case, capitalize the T in "the". The word "Defending Pokémon" is capitalized in that manner. It is NOT supposed to be lower cased. A "then" may be added in front of "the Defenidng...", IF and ONLY IF the attack does not sound correct without a word "then". (Like if the attack was: During your opponent's turn, if your opponent attaches an Energy Card to the Defending Pokémon, then the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. Without the "then" part, the attack would sound awkward.)

• Attacks that don't do Weakness or Resistance to the Defending Pokémon are typed: "Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for this attack. (Any other effects that happen after applying Weakness and Resistance still happen.)" (Example: Sabrina's Drowzee's Mind Shock attack.) Notice the words Weakness and Resistance are capitalized in that manner. Also note that the part in parenthesis "( )", are in ITALICS.

• Attacks that don't do Weakness or Resistance to the BENCHED Pokémon are typed: "(Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)" (Example: Fossil Magneton's Self Destruct attack.) Notice the words Weakness and Resistance are capitalized in that manner. Also note that it's ALL in ITALICS and in parenthesis.

• If an attack as an effect AFTER you apply Weakness or Resistance, it shold be typed: "(after applying Weakness and Resistance)" (Example: Erika's Vileplume's Mega Drain attack.) Notice the words Weakness and Resistance are capitalized in that manner. Also note that it's ALL in ITALICS and in parenthesis, and that this phrase DOES NOT end with a period.

• Attacks that do damage or other effects to an unknown Pokémon are typed: "Choose X of your opponent's Pokémon. This attack does..." (Example: Dark Arbok's Stare attack.) First the attack tells you to choose X number of Pokémon (in that EXACT phrase). Then it used the "This attack does" phrase.

• Attacks that do damage or other effects to a BENCHED Pokémon are typed: "If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, choose X of them (or 1 if he or she only has 1). This attack does..." (Example: Erika's Venusaur's Wide Solarbeam attack.) The "if your opponent ...." phrase is added to the attack. If the attack tells you to specifically choose 2 or more Pokémon, then the "or 1 if he or she..." part of the attack is added. (Otherwise don't add in that part of the attack.)

• Attacks that do damage or other effects to a BENCHED Pokémon are typed: "If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, choose X of them (or 1 if he or she only has 1). This attack does..." (Example: Erika's Venusaur's Wide Solarbeam attack.) The "if your opponent ...." phrase is added to the attack. If the attack tells you to specifically choose 2 or more Pokémon, then the "or 1 if he or she..." part of the attack is added. (Otherwise don't add in that part of the attack.)

• Discarding attacks that tell you to discard something as a COST to use the attack are written: "Discard [something] attached to [one of your own Pokémon] in order to use this attack." (Example: Any Flamethrower attack.) Remember, this form of discarding is a COST in orde to use the attack.

• Discarding attacks that tell you to discard something as an EFFECT of using the attack are written: "Discard [something] attached to [a Pokémon]." (Example: Blaine's Ninetails attack.) Remember, this form of discarding is a EFFECT in orde to use the attack. You can still use the attack if you can't discard what's stated.

• Discarding attacks that tell you to discard something SPECIFIC in order to alter the final result of the attack are written: "You may discard (any number) of [something] attached to [one of your Pokémon] when you use this attack. If you do, ...." (Example: Fossil Moltres' Wildfire attack.) Since this is optional, the "you may" part has been added. "(Any Number)" could be 2, "up to 5", all, or anything else you can think of. Then after the sentence about discarding, it adds the "if you do" part. That's so if you did discard, then the effect happens, and if you did it, no special effect happens

• Attacks that allow you to search for something are written: "Search your deck for [xxxx] . Show that card to your opponent, then put it (into your hand)/(onto your Bench). Shuffle your deck afterward." (Example: Misty's Tentacool (rare) attack.) If you're searching for: • a Basic Pokémon, then the [xxxx] on the attack will be: "a Basic Pokémon card" • an Evolution Pokémon card, then the [xxxx] on the attack will be: "an Evolution card" • a SPECIFIC Basic Pokémon, then the [xxxx] on the attack will be: "a Basic Pokémon named [something]" • a SPECIFIC Evolution Pokémon card, then the [xxxx] on the attack will be: "an Evolution card named [something]" • any Pokémon card, then the [xxxx] on the attack will be: "a Basic Pokémon or Evolution card..." • a Basic Energy card, then the [xxxx] on the attack will be: "a Basic Energy card" And so on. If you can search your deck for ANY card, then you don't need to add in the "Show that card to your opponent" part.

• If an attack CHANGES the base damage of another attack, it is written: "During your next turn, [this Pokémon]'s [attack]'s base damage is [varies]" (Example: Fossil Scyther and Lt. Surge's Rattata's attack of that type.) The "varies" part... well... varies! On card like Scyther, it's specific, only if the damage done is specific. "....Base Damage is 60 instead of 30." For cards which damage is UNSPECIFIC, like Lt. Surge's Rattata's Quick attack, it only says doubled or tripled or whatever... but only because it's not specific on what the attack may do. "....Base Damage is doubled." It could do 10 base damage, or 30 base damage. To avoid confusion (and extra long game text), it's written as doubled.

• If an attack switches your opponent's Pokémon, it is written: If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with his or her Active Pokémon. (Do the damage before switching Pokémon.) (Example: Jungle Rhydon's Ram attack.) Note the "Do the damage before switching Pokémon." part, and also note it's in parenthesis "( )", and in italics. The same goes with if an attach has you switch the Pokémon with one on your bench.... just replace "his or her" or whatever with "your" and such.

Remember, never substitute this list with a REAL card. If you have any questions on any of this, try to find a releated Pokémon TCG card and read it off there.

COMMON Attacks:

Some attacks are seen all the time. This page will list all the different common attacks and how to write them. (NOTE: Replace all instances of [THIS POKÉMON] with the name of the Pokémon card you're making.)

One Time Use Attacks (like Hyper Needle and Pot Smash): "Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing. EIther way, you can't use this attack as long as [THIS POKÉMON] stays in play (even putting [THIS POKÉMON] on the Bench won't let you use it again.)"

Growth: "Flip a coin. If heads, you may attach up to 2 [certain] Energy cards from your hand to [THIS POKÉMON]."

Quick Attack: "Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage. If tails, this attack does 10 damage."

Flamethrower: "Discard 1 [FIRE] Energy card attached to [THIS POKÉMON] in order to use this attack."

Water Gun/Hydropump: "Does XX damage plus 10 more damage for each [WATER] Energy attached to [THIS POKÉMON] but not used to pay for thgis attack's ENergy costs. You can't add more than 20 damage in this way."

Thunderbolt: "Discard all Energy cards attached to [THIS POKÉMON] in order to use this attack."

Damage Prevention (like Growl and Pounce): "If the Defending Pokémon attacks [THIS POKÉMON] during your opponent's next turn, and damage done by the attack is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). (Benching either Pokémon ends this effect.)"

Selfdestruct: "Does XX damage to each Pokémon on each player's Bench. (Don't apply Weakness or Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) [THIS POKÉMON] does YY damage to itself." (Note: YY is generally the Pokémon's actual HP plus 20. So if the Pokémon's HP was 60, then YY would probably be 80... so 80 damage would be done to itself.)

Agility: "Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent's next turn, prevent all effects of attracks, including damage, done to [THIS POKÉMON]."

Flail: "Does XX damage times the number of damage counters on [THIS POKÉMON]."

Prophecy: "Look at up to 3 cards from the top of Either player's deck and rearrange them as you like."

Double-edge: "[THIS POKÉMON] does XX damage to itself." (Note: XX is ALWAYS the same number as how much damage it does. If the attack does 40 damage, then XX is 40 also.)

Energy Removal (like Hyper Beam): "If the Defending Pokémon has any Energy cards attached to it, choose 1 of them and discard it."

Other common attacks (like Metronome) are coming soon. ... Also remember the game text for attacks are always changing every so often, so check on the latest example for some of these attacks for a final say so.

Pokémon Powers:

• Unless the Pokémon Power can ONLY be used on the Bench (or for some other reason), Pokémon Powers always have the standard text. If the Pokémon Power is CONTINUOUS (meaning that it's "always on"), then the standard text is: "This power stops working if [this Pokémon] is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed." If the Pokémon Power is ACTIVATED (meaning that you have to use it for the effect to work), then the standard text is: "This power can't be used if [this Pokémon] is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed."

• If the Pokémon Power is activated by an attack that does damage, then the BEGINNING part of the Pokémon Power is typed: "If an opponent's attack does damage to [this Pokémon] (even if [this Pokémon] is Knocked Out), ...." (Example: Koga's Muk's Energy Drain Power). The "even if this Pokémon" is added as a ruling, just so that the power still will work if it's knocked out.

• If the Power ONLY works while the Pokémon is somewhere, then the BEGINNING part of the Power is typed: "As long as [this Pokémon] is (your Active Pokémon)/(Benched)..." (Example: Brock's Rhydon's Bench Guard power) If it's either the Active Pokémon OR Benched, it'll work, but not otherwise.

• If the Power can only be used ONCE a turn, then the BEGINNING part of the Power is typed: "Once during your turn (before you attack), ..." (Example: Fossil Dragonite's Step In power) Note the "before you attack" part is in ITALICS and in parenthesis "( )", and there is NO comma or anything seperating the two parts of the phrase.

Remember, never substitute this list with a REAL card. If you have any questions on any of this, try to find a releated Pokémon TCG card and read it off there.

Other:

Key words that can NOT be lowercased are: Bench* Knock Out* Evolve* Basic Pokémon Trainer Pokémon Power The Name of a Pokémon/Attack/Power/etc... Weakness Resistance Asleep Confused Poisoned Paralyzed Energy Prize "Defending Pokémon" "Active Pokémon" Stadium (* This also includes other words which are basically the same... like Bench, Benched, Benching, etc.)

Key words that can NOT be uppercased are: damage* counter cost pay attack* draw deck discard pile card attach* in play opponent* shuffle coin player* itself nothing (* This also includes other words which are basically the same... like attach, attaching, attached, etc.)

• The text on the TOP of an Evolved Pokémon is this: Stage 1 Pokémon: "Evolves from [Pokémon] Put [this Pokémon] on the Basic Pokémon" Stage 2 Pokémon: "Evolves from [Pokémon] Put [this Pokémon] on the Stage 1 card"

• Pokémon Tool game text is written: Attach [XXXXX] to 1 of your Pokémon that doesn't have a Pokémon Tool attached to it. [XXXXX] is replaced with the card's title.

Remember, never substitute this list with a REAL card. If you have any questions on any of this, try to find a releated Pokémon TCG card and read it off there.