Notice
This page has yet to be updated for the rotation effective 11 April 2025. Deck lists below may contain cards that are no longer legal in the current Standard format. Planned update: 18 April 2025.
What to Play - Budget Decks
BRS-SSP
These decks aren’t likely to win any big tournaments, but many of them offer a relatively cheap way to get into the Pokémon Trading Card Game and are steppingstones toward more competitive decks. Pricier cards like Prime Catcher from Temporal Forces and Forest Seal Stone from Silver Tempest are used sparingly in these lists but are present in several of them. As you continue your journey as a player of the Pokémon Trading Card game, you’ll often find it’s worth it to pick up these less-than-budget-friendly staples as they’re common components for many decks.
Decks with a star (☆) are the most competitively viable options—or can be upgraded to be competitive with relative ease.
Important Note: Before committing to purchasing the cards required for any of the decks below, it’s crucial to examine the decks on the Meta Decks page to see if a suitable archetype also fits your budget. Often, meta decks can be budget decks themselves!