Trying Out A Pokemon Gym Leader Challenge Event
Published on HivePostify by @dkmathstats · Mon Sep 07 2026
Hi there. Another local tournament Pokemon TCG post here.
I try out a Gym Leader Challenge casual tournament event in Toronto. It is at A & C Games near Toronto's Chinatown and University of Toronto.
Gym Leader Challenge Format In Pokemon TCG ---
The [Gym Leader Challenge format](https://gymleaderchallenge.com/guide) is an alternate Pokemon TCG format with different rules compared to the Standard format and the Expanded format. Modern competitive tournaments run on a Standard format where the latest cards are legal and every year one block of cards gets removed from standard play. This rotating Standard format does have players buy new cards but it keeps the game fresh.
With the Gym Leader Challenge (GLC) format, you have an expanded card pool and these rules.
Only one of each card with the same name per deck (except Basic Energy)
No Rule Box cards or ACE SPEC cards
Only one type (color) of Pokémon per deck
Cards printed from Black & White–on
No cards on the [Ban List](https://gymleaderchallenge.com/ban-list)
There are no Pokemon ex, Pokemon V, Pokemon GX or Mega Pokemon ex, Radiant Pokemon, nor ACE SPECs in this format. This does reduce the power level in this format.
With an expanded card pool that goes back to 2011's Black and White, it takes time to get used to older cards. I started with Scarlet & Violet Paldea Evolved around 2023 and starting playing at Paradox Rift. There is a [guide](https://gymleaderchallenge.com/guide) but it still takes time to know what is good and which cards are similar.
There are some really good cards in the GLC format but they are expensive (8 CAD or more) or just hard to find. Instead of putting these in my decks I find alternatives or skip them.
| | | | | |---|---|---|---| | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/CEC/CEC189RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/CEC/CEC193RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/BKT/BKT137RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/UNM/UNM211RENLG.png | | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/PHF/PHF109RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/AOR/AOR075RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/PRC/PRC141RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/CEC/CEC204RENLG.png |
| | | | | | |---|---|---|---|---| | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/RCL/RCL165RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/PLS/PLS117RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/BKT/BKT150RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/PRC/PRC140RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/XY/XY121RENLG.png |
Decklist For Fighting Deck ---
A month ago, I took some time to figure out what I liked and what cards in my bulk section were available. Grass and Dragon were good but I settled on a Fighting deck. Even within the Fighting archetype, there are different Fighting attackers you can go with.
Fighting Pokemon can be weak to either Grass or Psychic so I wanted a different mix of Fighting attackers. There is also the modern Fighting cards like Solrock, Lunatone, Okidogi, Fighting Gong and Tarragon.
| | | | | | |---|---|---|---|---| | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/MEG/MEG075RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/MEG/MEG074RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/TWM/TWM111RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/MEG/MEG116RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/POR/POR085RENLG.png |
Here is my deck split into 2 images.
---
It is hard to test Gym Leader Challenge decks on your own. [Pokemon TCG Live, the free online game client](https://tcg.pokemon.com/en-us/tcgl/), does have a Trainer Trials mode where they do GLC decks. The problem is that I could not test cards like Korrina, Professor's Letter, Scorched Earth, Strong Energy and Focus Sash.
| | | | | | |---|---|---|---|---| | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/FFI/FFI095RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/BKT/BKT146RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/FCO/FCO110RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/FCO/FCO115RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/FFI/FFI091RENLG.png |
For testing, I had to use alternatives like Cycling Road, Earthen Vessel, Avery and Stone Energy
| | | | | |---|---|---|---| | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/MEW/MEW157RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/PAR/PAR163RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/CRE/CRE130RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/VIV/VIV164RENLG.png |
My Attackers + Grant
| | | | | |---|---|---|---| | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/MEG/MEG075RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/TWM/TWM111RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/POR/POR046RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/PAL/PAL126RENLG.png | | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/EVS/EVS081RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/SVI/SVI109RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/PAR/PAR107RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/ASR/ASR144RENLG.png |
Okidogi is the best attacker but there are some other good ones here.
Tournament Format ---
This free casual GLC tournament is 3 best of one rounds. Those who get 1 loss or 0 losses get Prize Packs.
https://www.pokebeach.com/news/2026/06/HKUZpFFXYAA137P.jpg
| | | | |---|---|---| | https://www.pokebeach.com/news/2026/06/ME04EN21.png | https://www.pokebeach.com/news/2026/06/ME04EN62.png | https://www.pokebeach.com/news/2026/06/ME2PT5EN155.png |
I have talked to store organizers and they mentioned that if attendance is good then they will likely host more Gym Leader Challenge events. This is to mixed things up. I also think that there are running out of Prize Packs, lol.
Round One Vs Water Deck ---
My first opponent played a water deck. I have played him once before in standard. He is a regular.
I take an early lead and find myself in a good position. In the mid game, my opponent gets a good board setup and mounts a comeback.
There were a few cards I was not familiar with. It was this Drizzile and Inteleon. Being able to search for Trainer cards upon evolution is pretty good.
| | | |---|---| | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/SSH/SSH056RENLG.png | https://limitlesstcg.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/tpci/SSH/SSH058RENLG.png |
Tags: #hive-140217#pokemon#challenge#tournament#blog#pictures#cards#photos#gymleader