List of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets
This is a list of expansion sets for the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast published the Pokémon TCG from 1998 until the release of Legendary Collection.
First Generation
Base Set
The Base Set, released in January 1999, was the first set to be released, and the only one so far not to have a set logo or symbol. It is one of few sets to include Fighting, Fire, Grass, Lightning, Psychic and Water Energy cards, now commonly known as basic Energy cards. The set also contained Double Colorless Energy, the first Special Energy card. The set is one of the more well-rounded sets available, with a mixed amount of Pokémon of all types, and includes Pokémon that were more popular at the time of release, such as Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Pikachu. The set's four main theme decks were represented by Ninetales, Mewtwo, Gyarados and Hitmonchan, and its starter set theme deck by Machamp.
Jungle
Jungle was the second set to come out; it comes after the Base Set and before Fossil. Its symbol is the rafflesia flower.
This set had only 64 cards, very small for an expansion set in the card game, with the exception of promotional sets (though "Fossil," the following set, would have even fewer cards). It also had the biggest emphasis on the Pokémon themselves, with room for only one Trainer card. It was the first set in which Wizards of the Coast made an identical "Rare" group of cards to the "Holographic Rare" group, something not practiced in the Japanese version. Though the Japanese version also possessed "Rare" and "Holographic Rare" segments, each rarity class contained different cards. This practice would continue until Nintendo bought back the rights to the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Fossil
Fossil was the third set to come out; it comes after the Jungle and before Base Set 2. Its symbol is the skeletal structure of an Aerodactyl's foot.
One intention of this set is to complete the 151 species of Pokémon from the first generation. This might explain why Fossil contains the fewest cards of any standard set in the card game. Future sets would often use a gimmick to differentiate its cards from other sets.
This set is named for the Pokémon that, in the video games, must be brought to life from fossils: Omanyte, Kabuto, and Aerodactyl. The card game follows a similar path in that the card "Mysterious Fossil" must be played before any fossil Pokémon can be played.
Base Set 2
The Base Set 2 is a set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This was the fourth set to come out; it comes after the Fossil set and before Team Rocket. Its symbol is a Poké Ball with a number 2 behind it to indicate that it is a sequel to previous sets in the card game, particularly the Base Set.
This set is a reprint of most of the cards in the Base Set and Jungle expansion set (but not the Fossil set), including the Energy cards. This is because by the time it was released, those two sets were considered "too old" and unusable in tournaments. Not every card was reprinted, excluding certain cards from competitive play, such as Mr. Mime. Also, since every card in this set has been previously printed, it lacks a special stamp reading "1st edition" during its initial run.
Team Rocket
There is a set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game named after Team Rocket, a trio (or organization, depending on one's definition) from the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Yellow. While it has some devotion to the trio known as Jessie, James, and Meowth, who relentlessly follow the protagonists in the anime, most of this set refers to the criminal organization they belong to. This is the fifth set, coming after Base Set 2 and before Gym Heroes. Its symbol is the R, which is the Team Rocket organization's symbol and can be seen on practically everything that comes from them.
This set introduced the Dark Pokémon, Pokémon controlled by the Team Rocket organization. Dark Pokémon in this set are able to use low amounts of Energy to attack but suffer from low hit points--that is, they're quick to power up but can just as quickly be brought down. This proved unpopular with competitive play, and Dark Pokémon would not show a strong presence until the set's sequel released many years later, Team Rocket Returns, with its Hit Points problem fixed.
This is also the first set to include a card exclusive to the English language version. As part of a promotion, an American-only Dark Raichu can be found in this set, though it is the rarest card. The card number for Dark Raichu states "83/82".
Gym Heroes
Gym Heroes is the sixth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Team Rocket and before Gym Challenge. Its symbol is an amphitheatre with a black stage and white tiers. Its name comes from the Gym Leaders it focuses around and how these Gym Leaders have relatively optimistic and carefree personalities compared to those featured in Gym Challenge.
This is the first set to have Owner's Pokémon, the owners being the Gym Leaders of the various Pokémon Gyms around Kanto. While all eight Gym Leaders are represented, the most attention is paid to the first four met in the video games: Brock, Misty, Lt. Surge, and Erika. Each of their Pokémon reflect their favorite Pokémon types, as well as Pokémon they have been seen carrying in the TV show. For example, Brock specializes in the Rock-type, so a lot of his cards in the card game would be Rock Pokémon. However, in the anime, he also carried a Vulpix, a Fire-type, which is also included in this set.
Owner's Pokémon must be evolved from a Pokémon of the same owner, which also proved to be unpopular, as the element of mixing and matching cards from different sets is lost. Additionally, some of the "Rare" cards had little or no value in play, such as Misty's Tentacool, which is incapable of doing damage and is overshadowed by a better version of "Uncommon" rarity. However, Owner's Pokémon have been sporadically released in Japan, though except for those within EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua, none have been translated into English.
Gym Challenge
Gym Challenge is the seventh set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Gym Heroes and before Neo Genesis. Its symbol is an amphitheatre with a white stage and black tiers. Its name comes from the Gym Leaders it focuses on. Unlike those featured in Gym Heroes, these Gym Leaders tend to have more serious personalities and more dubious intentions.
This is the second set to prominently feature Owner's Pokémon. It features the last four Pokémon Gyms in Kanto encountered in the video games and the Gym Leaders who own them: Sabrina, Koga, Blaine, and Giovanni, though all of that region's Gym Leaders have some degree of representation in this set. Each of their Pokémon reflect their favorite Pokémon types, as well as any other Pokémon they might be associated with. For example, Giovanni prefers the Ground-type, so many of Giovanni's Pokémon would be of the Ground type. However, he is often seen in the anime petting a Persian, which is also included in this set (as well as "Giovanni's Meowth," which it evolves from). This set also added "Rocket's Pokémon." While Team Rocket is not a Gym Leader, Giovanni runs the Team Rocket organization, which likely explains its presence in this set.
Owner's Pokémon must be evolved from a Pokémon of the same owner, which also proved to be unpopular, as the element of mixing and matching cards from different sets is lost. However, Owner's Pokémon have been sporadically released in Japan, though except for those within EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua, none have been translated into English.
Second Generation
Neo Genesis
Neo Genesis is the eighth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Gym Challenge and before Neo Discovery. Its symbol is a pair of stars, one in front of the other. Neo is Greek for "new", and Genesis is Greek for "beginning". Neo Genesis features second-generation Pokémon that come from the region of Johto and is the first set to do so. With it comes two new Pokémon types: Darkness and Metal, each with their own Energy cards.
The design on the cards have also changed, now looking closer to the Japanese version. The hit points displayed on the upper-right is now smaller, and its color has changed from red to black. The statistics on the bottom of the card now have dune-shaped indentations in the background immediately behind each stat. The text reading "Basic Pokémon" is now directly under the HP (Hit Points) instead of the upper-left corner. The information about the Pokémon directly below the illustration is now in a parallelogram instead of a rectangle.
Neo Discovery
Neo Discovery is the ninth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Neo Genesis and before Southern Islands. Its symbol is a Mayan temple. The Neo part of its name is Greek for "new," since this set features Pokémon considered new during its release. The Discovery part probably implies the discovery of the mysterious Unown in the Ruins of Alph in Johto. While the architectural structure of the ruins is ambiguous in the video games Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Crystal, in Pokémon 3: The Movie, they seem to be of Central or South American origin.
The Unown are a Pokémon themed on the English alphabet. At the time of Neo Discovery's release, there were 26 types, one for each letter. (Later, Unown ? and Unown ! would be introduced, bringing the total to 28.) Neo Discovery introduced these Pokémon into the card game with nine letters: A, D, E, F, I, M, N, O, and U. Each could affect the game in different ways related to a word starting with the letter the Unown represents. Unown "O" is associated with the word observe, and this application in the card game is done through "observing" the opponent's deck.
Neo Discovery also premieres many second-generation Pokémon into the card game, such as Smeargle, Politoed, and Wobbuffet. In a way, this makes it a counterpart to the Jungle set (which introduced another third of the original 150 Pokémon).
Southern Islands
Southern Islands is a set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Though it is often considered the tenth set, it was actually a promotional set, sold as a complete collection in the form of a specially-packaged box (rather than as booster packs). It comes after the Neo Discovery and before Neo Revelation. The mini-set only contained a total of 18 cards.
When arranged in the correct way, every illustration used in this set forms a single larger image.
This set's symbol is a palm tree.
Neo Revelation
Neo Revelation is the eleventh set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Southern Islands and before Neo Destiny. Its symbol is a representation of the departure of Suicune, Entei and Raikou from the Burned Tower. The Neo part of its name is Latin for "new," since this set features Pokémon considered new during its release. The Revelation part refers to the Bible's Book of Revelation, the final book, as this set completes the second-generation Pokémon's representation in the card game.
As of the release of this set, there would be at least one card of each of the 251 Pokémon, including the elusive Celebi. This set finishes the second generation with Pokémon like Porygon2, Misdreavus, and Raikou. In a way, this makes it a counterpart to the Fossil set (which rounded out the original set of 150 Pokémon). It also includes three more of the Unown introduced in Neo Discovery: B, K, and Y.
Most importantly, this set was the debut of the Shining Pokémon. Shining Pokémon are extremely powerful, but no more than one of each kind is allowed in a deck. This tradition was short-lived, however, as the Shining Pokémon were present only until the following set, Neo Destiny. However, Pokémon-star cards, which function almost identically to Shining Pokémon, were introduced in a later set known as EX Team Rocket Returns.
Neo Destiny
Neo Destiny is the twelfth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Neo Revelation and before Legendary Collection. Its symbol is a blue sparkle above a white sparkle, possibly referring to the Dark and Light Pokémon within this set. The Neo part of its name is Latin for "new," since this set features Pokémon considered new during its release. The Destiny part implies this set is beyond prophecy--that is, beyond Neo Revelation.
This set is the second set with an emphasis on Dark Pokémon, though unlike its predecessor, Team Rocket, these Dark Pokémon don't seem to have any influences. In this set and only this set, they are counterbalanced by Light Pokémon. Whereas Dark Pokémon have low hit points (health) and do a lot of damage, Light Pokémon have high Hit Points and have attacks and other abilities that revolve around support, such as healing damage.
Perhaps the reason why Light Pokémon have not seen an appearance after this set is because many of its moves benefit the user and the opponent equally, thus requiring the user to set the situation up for maximum gain while preventing the opponent from doing so. Also, Light Pokémon do not normally inflict much damage, a disadvantage in a game whose objective is to cause as much damage as possible. However, a counterpart to Dark Pokémon known as Delta Pokémon has recently been introduced and could be a descendant of Light Pokémon.
This set completes the Unown alphabet started in Neo Discovery with twelve letters: C, G, H, L, P, Q, S, T, V, W, X, and Z. (Unown "J" was released between sets.)
Legendary Collection
The Legendary Collection is the thirteenth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Neo Destiny and before the Expedition Pokémon-e base set.
The Legendary Collection is the sequel to Base Set 2: It is made up entirely of reprints from the first four sets: Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket. Its purpose is to make these cards legal in tourmanent play; otherwise, these cards would be considered "too old." Thus, some people call this "Base Set 3." The Legendary Collection is the first set to have a parallel set whose only difference is that shiny foil is printed on the entire front of the card except for its illustration. (This isn't done in the regular set.) Strangely, even though this set is an amalgamation of four sets, this set contains fewer cards than any of the following three.
This set is the last to be owned by Wizards of the Coast, due to Nintendo regaining the rights to the Pokémon TCG. However, they allowed Wizards to publish the following 3 sets (Expedition, Aquapolis, and Skyridge) before Nintendo began publishing the game in North America on their own.
Expedition
Expedition is the fourteenth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Legendary Collection and before Aquapolis. Its symbol is a Poké Ball drawn to look like a lower-case "e."
It is the first to use the e-Reader: By scanning a dot code found on the bottom of all of the cards and the sides of some, the e-Reader can display patterns, produce sounds, or other various novelties. (This may be the reason why cards in the Expedition set are noticeably thicker than previous sets.) However, none of these features are required for play. At 165 cards (330 if its parallel set is included), Expedition is the largest set ever in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Because of its completely new format, this was thought to be a good time to balance the card game with less powerful versions of previously printed cards. For example, Energy Removal 2 (pictured above) serves an identical purpose to Energy Removal from the Base Set, except a coin must be flipped to determine if the effects are successful. However, this set also introduces the Supporter card, a type of Trainer card that now dominates competitive play.
Aquapolis
Aquapolis is the fifteenth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Expedition and before Skyridge. Its symbol is a skyline within a water droplet.
This set is the second of three to extensively use the e-Reader: By scanning a dot code found on the bottom of all of the cards and the sides of some, the e-Reader can display patterns, produce sounds, or other various novelties. (This may be the reason why cards in the Aquapolis set are noticeably thicker than sets before Expedition.) However, none of these features are required for play. Aquapolis introduces minigames playable by scanning in dot codes from multiple cards (in any order). These mini-games will usually be very simple, and more often than not, each Pokémon whose card has been scanned in will play some role in the mini-game.
While Technical Machines were dabbled upon in Expedition, Aquapolis is the set to make use of them. Technical Machines would be released sparingly from this point onward.
The Aquapolis set was also the first Pokemon TCG set to utilize the "Crystal Type" Poke-power. This power was written on the Aquapolis cards Kingdra, Lugia, and Nidoking, all of which are holofoil. It essentially allows the player to attach a basic energy card to the pokemon and have it become that type for the turn. Note that this power does not allow the player to attach an additional energy card per turn.
Skyridge
Skyridge is the sixteenth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Aquapolis and before the EX Ruby and Sapphire. Its symbol is a pair of mountains with a halo around the taller one.
This set is the last of three to extensively use the e-Reader: By scanning a dot code found on the bottom of all of the cards and the sides of some, the e-Reader can display patterns, produce sounds, or other various novelties. (This may be the reason why cards in the Skyridge set are noticeably thicker than sets before Expedition.) However, none of these features are required for play. Skyridge continues Aquapolis's tradition of minigames playable by scanning in dot codes from multiple cards (in any order). These mini-games usually be very simple, and more often than not, each Pokémon whose card has been scanned in will play some role in the mini-game.
The Skyridge set was also the second and last set to contain Pokemon with the "Crystal Type" poke-power. Characters in this set to use it were Celebi, Charizard, Crobat, Golem, and Ho-oh. These cards normally carry a much higher trade value on eBay and other online retailers than normal cards from this set. This is the last set published by Wizards of the Coast.
Nintendo
In 2003 Nintendo took the place of Wizards of the Coast as publisher for the cards. The first set published by Nintendo was EX Ruby and Sapphire.
Third Generation
EX Ruby and Sapphire
EX Ruby and Sapphire is the seventeenth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after Skyridge and before the EX Sandstorm. Its symbol is a jewel with a brilliant cut, viewed from above. It is named after the video games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The EX part comes from the Pokémon-ex present in this set.
This set is the first set to be adapted into English by Nintendo after Nintendo bought the card game's rights back from Wizards of the Coast. This set introduces third-generation Pokémon and continues to be scannable by the e-Reader. However, the dot codes on the left side of the card is gone, replaced with a single dot code on the bottom. Unlike the cards in Expedition, Aquapolis, and Skyridge, however, this dot code produces only where to find the Pokémon in the video games instead of completely original Pokédex information. This set yet again changes the layout of the cards; except for the dot code at the bottom (which is now absent), it is exactly the same as the Japanese layout and is the format used up to this day.
This set is also the first to have Pokémon-ex, Pokémon who are stronger than usual, but the rewards are doubled if a player can take one down. During its release, these Pokémon were exceedingly useful, but as more cards were released, the card game became increasingly stacked against Pokémon-ex.
EX Sandstorm
EX Sandstorm is the eighteenth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after EX Ruby and Sapphire and before EX Dragon. Its symbol is a pair of fossils: The Claw Fossil and the Root Fossil from the video games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The EX part comes from the Pokémon-ex present in this set. The Sandstorm part comes from the fact that the player must retrieve these fossils in the video game from within a sandstorm.
This set brings back the Mysterious Fossil from the Fossil set and expands on it with the Claw Fossil, which can be made into Anorith, and the Root Fossil, which can be made into Lileep. Both of these Pokémon are from the third generation. The Mysterious Fossil plays the same role as before, which is to evolve it into Omanyte, Kabuto, or Aerodactyl. EX Sandstorm also continues to introduce third-generation Pokémon into the card game, with many desert-themed Pokémon, such as Cacnea and Vibrava, as well as completely unrelated Pokémon, such as Zangoose and Sableye. Pokémon from older generations return, such as Xatu from the second generation and Psyduck from the first.
EX Dragon
EX Dragon is the third Pokémon Trading Card Game set by Pokémon USA Inc. Its main emphasis is on Dragon Pokémon, which usually appear as Colorless-type Pokémon. However, they tend to use two or more different types of Energy (an example is Salamence, which uses Fire and Water Energy). The set's symbol is a crosshair.
Many of the Pokémon in EX Dragon made their debut in the set, which consists mainly of Dragon Pokémon. Salamence, Flygon and Altaria are three of the Dragon Pokémon in the set - others, such as Latios, Latias, Dragonite and Rayquaza appear as Pokémon-ex.
EX Dragon is the first set in the third generation of the Pokémon Trading Card Game to be based on Dragon Pokémon. The other set, EX Dragon Frontiers, is the penultimate set of the same generation.
EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua
EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua is the twentieth set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after EX Dragon and before EX Hidden Legends. Its symbol is a cross-shaped scar, half of it red (Groudon) and the other half blue (Kyogre). The EX part comes from the Pokémon-ex present in this set. The rest of its title refers to the ecoterrorist groups Team Aqua and Team Magma and how they are constantly in conflict with each other.
This set marks the return of Owner's Pokémon (Pokémon who belong to somebody or something) outside of the Japanese version, not seen since Gym Challenge. Almost all of the Pokémon in this set are owned by either Team Magma or Team Aqua. Introduced in this set are dual-type Pokémon, Pokémon with two different Pokémon types, though they are exclusively some of the stronger Pokémon in this set with the Darkness type mixed in. In a way, this is a sequel to the Team Rocket set early into the card game's history, as Team Aqua and Team Magma are Hoenn's equivalent to Team Rocket.
This is also the last set that had cards that could be scanned with the e-Reader.
EX Hidden Legends
EX Hidden Legends is the twenty-first set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua and before EX FireRed & LeafGreen. Its symbol is a large dot with six equally-spaced smaller dots surrounding it. This entire setup is within a solid white irregular hexagon. The EX part comes from the Pokémon-ex present in this set. The Hidden Legends part refers to Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, Legendary Pokémon hidden away in stone structures. Its symbol refers to Registeel's face, which is seven dots arranged in such a way.
This set revolves around three concepts: Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, as mentioned above; Jirachi, a Legendary Pokémon with the power of wishes; and Pokémon 4Ever with the presence of Dark Celebi. Dark Celebi is the first Dark Pokémon within the "EX" sets and the only one to be a basic Pokémon. This set also continues to introduce Pokémon into the card game. In addition to the Pokémon above, Beldum and its evolution line makes its debut.
EX FireRed & LeafGreen
EX FireRed & LeafGreen is the twenty-second set of cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after EX Hidden Legends and before EX Team Rocket Returns. Its symbol is a black Poké Ball with white outlines, possibly referring to the symbol of Base Set 2. The EX part comes from the Pokémon-ex present in this set. The FireRed & LeafGreen part refers to the video games Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
Because Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of Pokémon Red and Blue (the Blue version is called the Green version] in Japan, hence the "LeafGreen" portion), it follows that the cards in this set would be remakes of the cards during Pokémon Red and Blue's era. Every Pokémon from this set are from the first generation, completely ignoring the second and third. It also features Pokémon characters from the Red and Blue era, such as Professor Oak and Bill.
Most importantly, many of the cards in this set play alike, but never exactly alike their counterparts from the card game's first three sets: Base Set, Jungle, and Fossil. For example, Exeggutor in this set (see above) has the "Big Eggsplosion" attack, which it shares with its Jungle counterpart.
However, like the video games, it brings the first-generation Pokémon and characters up to date, possessing newer innovations like Supporter cards and Pokémon-ex. It also makes use of new characters, items, and places in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, such as Celio.
EX Team Rocket Returns
EX Team Rocket Returns is the twenty-third set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes after EX FireRed & LeafGreen and before EX Deoxys. Its symbol is an emblem of Team Rocket, a shield-like shape with a black bold R in the center. This emblem for Team Rocket is unusual as it appears nowhere else; the purpose of this emblem is probably to distinguish this set from the former Team Rocket set. The EX part of this set's title comes from the presence of Pokémon-ex in the set. Team Rocket as a criminal organization--its members, the Pokémon it controls, and the techniques it uses for world domination are all part of this set's theme. The Returns part is an indication that it's a sequel set to the Team Rocket set released four years earlier. This set introduced star pokemon, they are Pokémon that are shiny just like those of the Neo Revelations set. Only one of these Pokémon with the star symbol on the card next to the name may be present in a deck.
EX Deoxys
EX Deoxys is the eighth set by Pokémon USA, Inc., after the company took over from Wizards of the Coast in 2003. The set is features the Pokémon Deoxys and Rayquaza, and is named after the former. Both of these were the featured legendary Pokémon in the seventh Pokémon movie, Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys. While the Pokémon in this set have little, if anything, to do with either of these two Pokémon, the set's Trainer cards feature people and places involved with astronomy in the Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald video games. The set's symbol is a shooting star.
EX Emerald
EX Emerald is the ninth set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It is intended as the companion set for the Pokémon video game of the same name, Pokémon Emerald, released in North America in May 2005. The set's coincided with the release of the videogame in the US and Europe; however, the set was not released in Japan. Instead, Nintendo released six 15-card packs, known as Quick Construction Packs - one pack for each type of Basic Energy. Its symbol is a gemstone, presumably an emerald.
EX Unseen Forces
EX: Unseen Forces is the tenth set by Pokémon USA, Inc., after the company took over the Trading Card Game from Wizards of the Coast in 2003. The set, which in Japan was named "GoldenSky and SilverSea", is set in Johto, and is the first set by Pokémon USA to mainly consist of Pokémon from the Pokémon Gold and Silver games, released in 2001. The set's official symbol is a black silhouette of Ho-Oh's wing, superimposed on a white silhouette of Lugia's wing. EX Unseen Forces is known for having more Pokémon-ex than any other set to date, with a total of fourteen (including one box topper and one secret rare card).
EX Delta Species
EX Delta Species is the eleventh set by Pokémon USA, Inc., after the company took over the Trading Card Game from Wizards of the Coast in 2003. The set, which in Japan was named "Researching Tower of Holon", is set in the research centre, Holon. While this set was released after EX Legend Maker in Japan, it was released before Legend Maker, in February 2006, in English-language territories. Its logo is Holon Tower, a tower with a broad top floor.
This set introduces "delta species" Pokémon, which are unusual types. (For example, Tyranitar would typically be a dark- or fighting-type Pokémon, but Tyranitar δ is a metal/fire dual-typed Pokémon.) It also introduces the staff of Holon Tower and their Pokémon. The Holon staff appears in the form of Supporter cards, all of which require a card to be discarded in order for them to be used, and Holon's Pokémon, which can be used as either Pokémon or as Energy cards.
EX Legend Maker
EX: Legend Maker is the twelfth set by Pokémon USA, Inc., after the company took over the Trading Card Game from Wizards of the Coast in 2003. The set, which in Japan was named "Eidolon Forest", is set in a forest in the middle of nowhere. Due to a mix-up with translations, this was supposed to be released before EX Delta Species, but was delayed until February 2006 in English-language territories. This is considered by many to be a very good set, for several reasons - possibly for its similarity with Jungle and Fossil original expansions, or possibly for its exclusion of the complicated Delta Species Pokémon. Its symbol is a stylized forest, a white egg-shaped area with three black acute isosceles triangles to represent the trees (or possibly Regirock, Regice, and Registeel). It received the name Legend Maker due to the inclusion of Mew.
As of June 2007,, EX Legend Maker is the last set released to be deemed "too old" and thus unplayable in tournaments running the Modified Format starting September 1, 2007.[1]
EX Holon Phantoms
EX Holon Phantoms is the thirteenth set by Pokémon USA, Inc., after the company took over the Trading Card Game from Wizards of the Coast in 2003. The set, which in Japan was named "Holon Phantom", is set in an undeveloped area of Holon. It marks the return of Delta Species Pokémon, after they debuted in EX Delta Species. The set symbol is the Holon symbol, with three triangles around the sides.
EX Crystal Guardians
EX Crystal Guardians is the fourteenth set by Pokémon USA, Inc., after the company took over the Trading Card Game from Wizards of the Coast in 2003. The set, which in Japan was named "Miracle Crystal", is set on an unknown island inhabited by Pokémon and Delta Species Pokémon. It marks the return of Delta Species Pokémon, after they debuted in EX Delta Species, and then returned in EX Holon Phantoms. The set symbol is a crystal. This set was released on August 30, 2006 in North America and Europe.
EX Dragon Frontiers
EX Dragon Frontiers is the fifthteenth Pokémon Trading Card Game set released by Pokémon USA. The set is based on an unknown set of islands far away, inhabited primarily by Dragon Pokémon. This set marks the final appearance of delta species Pokémon, after they debuted in EX Delta Species and returned in EX Holon Phantoms and EX Crystal Guardians. The set symbol for this set is a pair of mountains against a circular white background.
This set introduces a new mechanic: Shockwave and Imprison markers. These markers are similar to special conditions, save that they can be applied to benched Pokémon and that they don't go away when the Pokémon retreats. Only three cards in the set use these markers, however: two Pokémon place the markers, and one Pokémon can remove them.
EX Power Keepers
EX Power Keepers is the sixteenth Pokémon Trading Card Game set released by Pokémon USA. It's also the first set since EX Emerald to be released only outside of Japan, and the first since EX Unseen Forces not to include Delta Species Pokémon. The set is loosely based on the Hoenn Elite Four, as all four members (Drake, Glacia, Phoebe and Sidney) have their own Stadium cards, and the Pokémon EX are all Pokémon owned by members of the Elite Four. The set also consists of several reprints of cards from older sets, and is the last third-generation set. The symbol for this set is a road leading to a vanishing horizon on which the sun is either rising or setting.
Fourth Generation
Diamond & Pearl
Diamond & Pearl is the seventeenth Pokémon TCG set released by Pokémon USA, released on May 23, 2007. The set is the first in English-language territories to include fourth-generation Pokémon; namely, those that first featured in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl video games on the Nintendo DS, for example, Dialga and Palkia. Several new rules have been introduced to the Pokémon Trading Card Game with the release of Diamond & Pearl in Japan, and several changes have been made to the format of the cards; some of these changes were included on previous card formats, and others are brand new.
Mysterious Treasures
Mysterious Treasures is the eighteenth Pokemon TCG set released by Pokemon USA released on August 22, 2007. The set contains 25 fourth-generation Pokémon previously unseen in the TCG, following on from Diamond & Pearl. The set introduces new "Pokémon with Berry" cards: Pokémon cards with integrated Pokémon Tools, which include Berries from the Diamond and Pearl games. The set also re-introduces Special Energy variations of Darkness and Metal Energy, as well as three new Pokémon Lv.X: Magmortar, Electivire and Lucario.
Secret Wonders
Secret Wonders is the nineteenth Pokemon TCG set released by Pokemon USA, released on November 7, 2007. The set contains more than 130 cards, including even more brand-new Pokémon for players to collect for the very first time. This set, like Mysterious Treasures, builds on the Diamond & Pearl release. The set includes more Pokémon with Items, alongside more Unown and new Pokémon Lv.X. Some confirmed cards are Charizard, Gallade, Gastrodon, Lugia, Raikou, Electivire, Magmortar and Weavile. for more information and pictures of the cards go to www.pokebeach.com
Promotional & Other Cards
Throughout the course of the Trading Card Game, there have been many promotional cards released. There have also been many error cards as well. Promotional cards have a star that indicates that they are promotional. The five-pointed black star has the word "PROMO" written across it in white ink.
The first promotional set consisted of 53 cards in all with a 54th being a holographic Ancient Mew but is not recognized as a promo card, the 53 cards vary between holographic and normal and encompass Pokemon and trainer cards alike. The second promotional set was released by Wizards of the Coast as well. This set was called Best of Series. It included reverse holographic reprints of Hitmonchan and Electabuzz from the Base Set, Rocket's Hitmonchan and Rocket's Mewtwo from Gym Challenge, and Professor Elm from Neo Genesis. In addition, there were four new cards, Rocket's Sneasel and Rocket's Scizor from the Vs. Series, and Dark Ivysaur and Dark Venusaur from the Pokemon WeB series.
Under Nintendo's publishing house, the third promotional set consisted of 39 cards, but is less well documented. The release of these cards coincided with the Pokemon Organized Play packs, and as a result, are less well documented.