Does a Benched Pokémon Automatically Become Active When a Pokémon is Knocked Out?
Understanding the mechanics of Pokémon knockouts in the Trading Card Game.
Knockout Mechanics in Pokémon TCG
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), when a Pokémon is knocked out, it does not automatically cause a benched Pokémon to become active. Instead, the player whose Pokémon was knocked out must choose a new active Pokémon from their bench to replace it. This choice is made at the beginning of the player's next turn.
What Happens After a Knockout?
After a Pokémon is knocked out, the player places the knocked-out Pokémon in the discard pile and may then select one of their benched Pokémon to become the new active Pokémon. If there are no benched Pokémon available, the player cannot replace the active Pokémon, and the game may end if the opponent has met their win condition.
Additional Considerations
It's important to note that certain game effects or abilities might influence how Pokémon are switched or how knockouts are handled, but the basic rule is that the player must manually select a new active Pokémon from their bench.
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