From March 24 to 28, Codelearn centers will be hosting a new themed week, this time dedicated to two collectible card strategy games: Magic and Pokémon TCG. Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to learn how to play at least one of these games and experience the many cognitive and social benefits they offer.
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering is a strategy card game where players build decks featuring creatures, spells, and abilities, with the goal of reducing their opponent’s life points to zero. First published in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, the game was created by Richard Garfield with the idea of developing a collectible card game that incorporated strategy, social interaction, and creativity. Its launch introduced a completely new way to play card games, adding a strategic dimension and a level of gameplay variety that had never been seen before.
Magic is set within the concept of the Multiverse—a vast, interconnected network of planes of existence stretching infinitely across the cosmos. Each plane is a separate world with its own history, geography, population, and natural laws. These worlds range from classic fantasy settings to dystopian and futuristic realities. Within Magic’s universe, Planeswalkers are powerful mages who can manipulate mana to cast spells and travel between planes. They are central figures in the game’s lore and often play key roles in its storylines. The Multiverse is also defined by five colors, each representing different aspects of magic and personality: white (order and protection), blue (knowledge and control), black (ambition and power), red (emotion and chaos) and green (nature and growth).
The main objective of Magic is to bring the opponent’s life points down to zero. Each player starts with 20 life points, and the game ends when a player runs out of them. To play, each participant builds a deck of up to 60 cards, which can include creatures, spells, artifacts, lands, and other card types with unique abilities. The game is played in turns, which are divided into different phases (upkeep, draw phase, main phase, combat phase, and end phase). During these phases, players take various actions to strengthen their position and weaken their opponents.
Magic offers many benefits, from developing mathematical skills—since players must calculate probabilities, work with numbers, and perform quick mental calculations—to enhancing critical thinking and decision-making. Players must constantly assess situations, anticipate their opponent’s moves, and adjust their strategies accordingly. The game also fosters creativity, as players design and experiment with different deck combinations and strategies, and it encourages social interaction by bringing players together to compete with friends or participate in local events, helping develop teamwork and communication skills.
Pokémon TCG
Pokémon TCG is a competitive collectible card game for two players, based on the Pokémon video game franchise. Created by the Japanese company Media Factory under the license of Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak (the creators of the Pokémon franchise), the game was first released in Japan in 1996. It was designed to expand the Pokémon universe beyond video games, allowing fans to engage with their favorite Pokémon in a new way—by collecting and competing with cards.
Over the years, Pokémon TCG has evolved significantly. The main differences between early editions and modern versions lie in the complexity of attacks and abilities, which have become more varied and powerful. Additionally, Pokémon’s health points have increased significantly, and newer editions introduce new card types. The game’s rules have also evolved to maintain balance and introduce fresh mechanics, such as Supporter and Stadium cards.
Pokémon TCG is played between two players, each using a deck of 60 cards. There are several card types, including Basic Pokémon, Evolved Pokémon, Energy cards, Trainer cards, Stadium cards, Tool cards, and Supporter cards. The goal of the game is to defeat the opponent’s Pokémon and collect six Prize Cards. To start, each player draws seven cards and places an Active Pokémon on the battlefield, with up to five additional Pokémon on their bench. Players take turns playing Pokémon, attaching Energy (to power up attacks), using Trainer and Ability cards, and attacking with their Active Pokémon. When an opponent’s Pokémon is knocked out, the player earns a Prize Card. The first player to collect all six Prize Cards wins the game.
If you want to learn how to play Pokémon TCG, you can do so through its official app. The app includes several tutorials, allows you to build and manage your own decks, and lets you play against opponents from around the world. You can find the app at this link.