Pokémon Trading Card Game Damage Calculation in 6 Steps: Attacker Effects Before Weakness, Defender Effects After Resistance

Damage from a single attack in the Pokémon Trading Card Game is finalized through 6 designated steps. South Korea's official 'Advanced Player's Rule Guide' (ver1.0) and Japan's official 'Advanced Player's Rule Guide' (Ver.3.4) outline the exact same order. The key point is that effects on the attacking side are factored in before weakness calculation, while effects on the receiving side are factored in after resistance calculation. The basics—weakness doubling damage and resistance reducing it by the specified amount—remain the same as explained on the official South Korean how-to-play page.

6-Step Calculation Order

| Step | Description | If damage becomes 0 or less | |---|---|---| | 1. Attack damage | The number to the right of the attack name. If "+", "×", or "-" is attached, adjust according to the text | Calculation ends | | 2. Effects acting on the Pokémon dealing damage | Apply damage-modifying effects on the attacking side to the value from step 1 | Calculation ends | | 3. Weakness | If the defending Pokémon's weakness type matches the attacking Pokémon's type, calculate the value from step 2 using the number next to the weakness | - | | 4. Resistance | If the resistance type matches, calculate the value from step 3 using the number next to the resistance | Calculation ends | | 5. Effects acting on the Pokémon receiving damage | Apply damage-modifying effects on the defending side to the value from step 4 | Calculation ends | | 6. Final damage | Place damage counters equal to the finalized damage | - |

The Korean guide cites the Pokémon Tool "Muscle Band" (deals "+10" damage to the opponent's Active Pokémon) as an example for step 2, and "Galarian Chestplate" (S5a, takes "-30" damage) for step 5. The value added in step 2 feeds into the 'damage at the time of step 2' baseline for step 3 weakness calculations. Conversely, step 5 effects apply to the value after weakness and resistance calculations are complete.

Tricky Points When Building Decks

The placement of an effect is determined by 'who it affects', not by its sign. Mareep's (S6K) "Growl" has an effect that reduces the damage of attacks used by the Pokémon that received it by "-20"; because this is an effect on the attacker, it is calculated in step 2. Toxicroak's (S10a) "Dive-and-Punch" is "+50", but since it increases the damage taken by self, it is calculated in step 5. If there are multiple effects within the same step 2 or step 5, add them all together.

The "+", "×", and "-" in attack text are part of step 1 calculations, not effects. If an "×" attack results in 0, the calculation ends even if a Muscle Band is attached (B-02). Even if an attack fails, damage cannot be added via step 2 effects.

The bench does not calculate weakness and resistance. Unless specifically instructed, damage dealt to Benched Pokémon skips steps 3 and 4. The same applies to attacks that state "do not apply weakness and resistance."

"Do not apply effects in play" only bypasses step 5 and damage immunity. Attacks like Hisuian Decidueye V's (S9a) "Close Range" ignore step 5 effects and "takes no damage from attacks" effects. However, Abilities that remove weaknesses and resistances are not considered effects in play. A Pokémon whose weakness was removed by Dunsparce's (S8) "Mysterious Cave" will not factor in weakness even if hit by Close Range.

"Takes no damage from attacks" becomes 0 in the final 6th step. A Pokémon that receives an effect like Hisuian Growlithe's (S10D) "Defensive Stance" ends up with a final damage of 0, concluding the calculation. If the calculation result is 0 or less, it does not fulfill the condition for "when damage is taken" effects either (E-03).

Self-Inflicted Damage

Damage dealt to one's own side, such as "This Pokémon also takes 10 damage," also calculates weakness, resistance, and effects in play unless otherwise specified. The Korean guide FAQ explains that if Mankey with an "Eviolite" (BW2) attached uses "Monkey Punch," the 10 damage it inflicts on itself is reduced by "-20" in step 5. On the other hand, "Full Face Guard" (S7D), which only reduces damage received "from opponent's Pokémon," does not apply to self-inflicted attack damage.

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Sources

• Pokémon Korea · Advanced Player's Rule Guide ver1.0 (PDF) (Retrieved 2026-11-10)
• Pokémon Korea · Pokémon Trading Card Game How to Play (Retrieved 2026-11-10)
• ポケモンカードゲーム公式 · 上級プレイヤー用ルールガイド Ver.3.4 (PDF) (2026-11-10確認)
• ポケモンカードゲーム公式 · ルール (2026-11-10確認)