Retreating voluntarily replaces your Active Pokémon with one from your Bench. It does not end your turn, so the new Active Pokémon may still attack. However, retreating has a cost and a once-per-turn limit, and it is not the same as resolving a card effect that switches Pokémon.
Read the current Retreat Cost, apply modifiers, choose which attached Energy to discard and keep the resulting game state clear.
Where is Retreat Cost?
The cost appears in the lower-right corner of a Pokémon card. Each Colorless symbol requires one Energy to be discarded from the Active Pokémon. The Energy card itself does not need to be Colorless if it is currently providing Energy. No symbols means the Pokémon retreats for free.
| Situation | Question | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Printed cost | How many symbols? | Count the base cost |
| Effect in play | Does it raise or reduce the cost? | Calculate the current value |
| Special Energy | How much Energy does it provide now? | Read its text |
| No symbols | Is the cost empty? | Retreat without discarding |
Six-step procedure
- Choose a Benched Pokémon to become Active.
- Confirm that you have not retreated this turn.
- Calculate the current cost.
- Select enough Energy attached to the Active Pokémon.
- Discard the chosen payment.
- Move the old Active to the Bench and promote the replacement.
Payment comes from the retreating Pokémon, not your hand or another Pokémon. Damage counters and cards not used as payment stay with it.
What stays and what ends?
Damage counters, remaining Energy and Tools stay attached. Retreating does not heal damage. Special Conditions are removed when the Active Pokémon reaches the Bench, and some attack effects also end. Use our guide to Pokémon Special Conditions to track them precisely.
When is retreating impossible?
You need a Pokémon on your Bench and enough attached Energy to pay. The official rulebook also states that an Asleep or Paralyzed Pokémon cannot retreat normally. Other effects may forbid retreating or change the cost.
Check every active effect, including any relevant Stadium card, before discarding anything.
Retreat or switch effect?
A Trainer card, attack or Ability may tell you to switch your Active Pokémon. That instruction is not automatically a retreat. Unless the text says otherwise, it does not require the Retreat Cost and does not consume the retreat for the turn.
State whether you are taking the rules action or resolving an effect. Wording matters, just as it does when distinguishing an Ability from an attack.
Choosing Energy to discard
If several combinations work, consider your next turn. Preserve Energy that supports a future attack or is difficult to recover. Do not discard more than the exact cost by habit, and check how much a Special Energy currently provides.
Common mistakes
- Discarding Energy from the hand.
- Counting Energy cards instead of Energy provided.
- Removing damage counters on the Bench.
- Paying Retreat Cost for a switching effect.
- Treating every switch as the retreat for the turn.
- Retreating without a Benched Pokémon.
- Forgetting Asleep or Paralyzed restrictions.
Final checklist
Is a Benched Pokémon available? Have you retreated this turn? What is the modified cost? Which attached Energy pays it? Does an effect prevent the action? Is this truly a retreat or a switch effect?
Before attacking, announce the retreat, count the current cost, discard the chosen Energy, then clearly promote the new Active Pokémon.