Battle Mode Suggestions.
I decided to type out my thoughts just in case. But there is a high chance that many things I mention here could already be in the works by the developers or something similar to a degree.
A lot of people have talked about different game modes both outside and inside these forums. Based on others thoughts and my own experience with the game so far These are my suggestions on the topic. As I believe such things should be in a feedback category rather than a general discussion to possibly improve the games interactive experiences and playable content!
No-EX battles: That is a decent suggestion however I don't think it would be different enough to make a difference at all. There are plenty of cards (and will be more later) that are just as good as EX cards in terms of power and don't have the EX rule that an opponent takes 2 points instead of 1. For example: Alakazam!
Maybe you just dont have luck with collecting some EX cards and its frustrating to fight opponents who start the battle with 2 on their bench. This is can be intimidating. But part of the reason for that is the hidden rule that no player is allowed to start with 0 basics in their hands. And the game forces a basic into their hand which does include EX cards.
I also think a lot of people do want to pay with their cool shiny EX cards so instead of making a game mode to push players away; we should think of other things to do…
Suggested battle game modes:
TYPE ONLY: Battling player vs player with only 1 type of deck with only pokemon of that type in it (can't cheat the mode by putting 1 fire pokemon but 7 water). There is already a precedence for such a rule in the solo battles achievements/mission rewards. Such as defeating the AI deck with an opposite type. The missions are able to check your deck for types of cards and rarity (a deck with star types mixed in doesn't count as a 'type only' deck). In the long term, players with competitive sense to find the best pokemon cards of a certain type or even just to prove their favorites are the best would be very interesting to see.
(Perhaps it could be expanded upon for dual type decks as well!)
FULL/BIG/BOSS BATTLE MODE: Any TCG veterans should be aware that 3 point victories are very basic and that the game itself can be expanded to 6 point games where EX have a larger impact in many ways. I know the old pokemon pocket game had you do 3 point games until you got to a 'Gym Leader' where you had to play a 6 point game. The game does in fact take much longer if things don't go well on either side of the board. (This may also mean making the deck larder and having up to 5 pokemon on your bench instead of 3). (additionally im not sure how they would do such a thing. Some cards like Dragonite would be nerfed in such a game mode with how thier attack functions.)
Even better just make it a switch type function where you can play your solo matches or que with same minded players to play 6 point games instead of 3 as an addition to all game modes.
CUSTOM MATCHES: An addition to Private matches or a lobby where players can see what custom game modes others may be hosting.
Make a custom game mode! Determine how many cards are in a deck, how many points to win, what restrictions on rarity and type to use, or even enforce a specific pokemon/generation/region to use. (custom games would most likely not provide much in the way of rewards as to prevent players from abusing it) but it would add quite a bit of creativity and fun to your tcg gaming! ( I feel like this maybe more difficult for developers to some extend but definitely not impossible).
RANKED: There is most likely already a ranked battle mode in the works and I have no idea how it will be implemented. So I don't find it productive to talk about until we see it show up (I personally wouldn't care for it anyways).