List of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets
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This is a list of expansion sets for the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
[edit] Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast published the Pokémon TCG from 1998 until the release of Legendary Collection.
[edit] First generation
[edit] Base Set
The Base Set, released in January 1999, is the 1st set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game 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.
[edit] Jungle
Jungle, released in June 1999, is the 2nd set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. 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.
[edit] Fossil
Fossil, released in October 1999, is the 3rd set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is the skeletal structure of an Aerodactyl's foot. 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. 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.
[edit] Base Set 2
Base Set 2, released in January 2000, is the 4th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. 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.
[edit] Team Rocket
Team Rocket, released in April 2000, is the 5th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The title refers to a criminal organization from the video games Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, and also features the trio of Rockets known as Jessie, James, and Meowth, who relentlessly follow the protagonists in the anime. 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 their 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".
[edit] Gym Heroes
Gym Heroes, released in June 2000, is the 6th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. 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 are 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.
[edit] Gym Challenge
Gym Challenge, released in October 2000, is the 7th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. 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 Kanto's Gym Leaders have some degree of representation in this set. Like Gym Heroes, Owner's Pokémon reflect the Leaders' favorite Pokémon types, as well as any other Pokémon they might be associated with. 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.
[edit] Second generation
[edit] Neo Genesis
Neo Genesis, released in October 2000, is the 8th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. 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 Genesis is considered by some to be like a second Base Set, bringing in a new stable of Pokémon and a new feel to the game. It was particularly well liked among players for introducing many cards that helped reduce the amount of random luck involved with the game, such as Professor Elm and Cleffa. Neo Genesis is still considered by fans familiar with the history of the game to be one of the best sets ever released.[citation needed]
[edit] Neo Discovery
Neo Discovery, released in June 2001, is the 9th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is a Mayan temple. While the architectural structure of the ruins is ambiguous in the video games Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, in Pokémon 3: The Movie, they seem to be of Central or South American origin. Neo Discovery 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).
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 nine of these Pokémon into the card game. 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.
[edit] Southern Islands
Southern Islands is a set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. In Japan, it was released at the same time as Gym 2, while in America it came after Neo Discovery and before Neo Revelation. This set's symbol is a palm tree.
Though it is often considered the 10th 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). The mini-set only contains a total of 18 cards. When arranged in the correct way, every illustration used in this set forms a single larger image.
[edit] Neo Revelation
Neo Revelation, released in October 2001, is the 11th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is a representation of the departure of Suicune, Entei and Raikou from the Burned Tower.
As of the release of this set, there were 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.
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.
[edit] Neo Destiny
Neo Destiny, released in February 2002, is the 12th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is a blue sparkle above a white sparkle, possibly referring to the Dark and Light Pokémon within this set. This set almost completes the Unown alphabet started in Neo Discovery (R was left out, but was eventually given a card in another set years later).
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.[citation needed]
[edit] Legendary Collection
The Legendary Collection, released in May 2002, is the 13th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The set's symbol is a medal.
The Legendary Collection is the sequel to Base Set 2, 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."[citation needed] 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.
[edit] Expedition
Expedition, released in September 2002, is the 14th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is a Poké Ball drawn to look like a lower-case "e." At 165 cards (330 if its parallel set is included), Expedition is the largest set ever in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
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. Subsequent sets, up until EX Hidden Legends, would also be compatible with the e-Reader.
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.
[edit] Aquapolis
Aquapolis, released in January 2003, is the 15th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is a skyline within a water droplet.
This set is the second of three to extensively use the e-Reader. Aquapolis introduces minigames playable by scanning in dot codes from multiple cards (in any order). These mini-games are usually 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 Pokémon TCG set to utilize the "Crystal Type" Poké-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 Pokémon 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.
[edit] Skyridge
Skyridge, released in May 2003, is the 16th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is a pair of mountains with a halo around the taller one. This is the last set published by Wizards of the Coast.
This set is the last of three to extensively use the e-Reader. Skyridge continues Aquapolis's tradition of minigames playable by scanning in dot codes from multiple cards.
The Skyridge set was also the second and last set to contain Pokémon with the "Crystal Type" Poké-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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Third generation
All of the third generation sets have "EX" in their name; this comes from the Pokémon-ex present in these sets.
[edit] EX Ruby and Sapphire
EX Ruby and Sapphire, released in June 2003, is the 17th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This set was the first set to be adapted into English by Nintendo after Nintendo bought the card game's rights back from Wizards of the Coast. Its symbol is a jewel with a brilliant cut, viewed from above. It is named after the video games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
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.
[edit] EX Sandstorm
EX Sandstorm, released in September 2003, is the 18th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 2nd set released by Pokémon USA Inc. Its symbol is a pair of fossils: the Claw Fossil and the Root Fossil from the video games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The Sandstorm name comes from the fact that the player must retrieve these fossils in the video game from within a sandstorm.
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. 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. The Mysterious Fossil plays the same role as before, which is to evolve it into Omanyte, Kabuto, or Aerodactyl. Other Pokémon from older generations return, such as Xatu from the second generation and Psyduck from the first.
[edit] EX Dragon
EX Dragon, released in November 2003, is the 19th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 3rd set released by Pokémon USA. The set's symbol is a crosshair.
Its main emphasis is on Dragon Pokémon. These usually appear as Colorless-type Pokémon, but they tend to use two or more different types of Energy (an example is Salamence, which uses Fire and Water Energy). Many of the Pokémon in EX Dragon made their debut in the set. 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.
[edit] EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua
EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua, released in March 2004, is the 20th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 4th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is a cross-shaped scar, half of it red and the other half blue. 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.
[edit] EX Hidden Legends
EX Hidden Legends, released in June 2004, is the 21st set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 5th set released by Pokémon USA. 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 Hidden Legends part refers to Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, Legendary Pokémon hidden away in stone structures.
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.
[edit] EX FireRed & LeafGreen
EX FireRed & LeafGreen, released in August 2004, is the 22nd set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 6th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is a black Poké Ball with white outlines, possibly referring to the symbol of Base Set 2. The set is named after 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 from Pokémon Red and Blue. Every Pokémon from this set is 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.
[edit] EX Team Rocket Returns
EX Team Rocket Returns, released in November 2004, is the 23rd set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 7th set released by Pokémon USA. 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.
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 Pokémon, which 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.
[edit] EX Deoxys
EX Deoxys, released in February 2005, is the 24th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 8th set released by Pokémon USA. The set's symbol is a shooting star. The set is named after the Pokémon Deoxys and also features Rayquaza, both of which 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.
[edit] EX Emerald
EX Emerald, released in May 2005, is the 25th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 9th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is a gemstone, presumably an emerald. It is intended as the companion set for the Pokémon video game of the same name, Pokémon Emerald, and the set's release coincided with the release of the video game 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.
[edit] EX Unseen Forces
EX Unseen Forces, released in August 2005, is the 26th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 10th set released by Pokémon USA. The set's symbol is a black silhouette of Ho-Oh's wing, superimposed on a white silhouette of Lugia's wing. 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. 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).
[edit] EX Delta Species
EX Delta Species, released in October 2005, is the 27th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 11th set released by Pokémon USA. While this set was released after EX Legend Maker in Japan, it was released before Legend Maker in English-language territories. The set, which in Japan was named "Researching Tower of Holon", is set in the research centre, Holon. 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.
[edit] EX Legend Maker
EX Legend Maker, released in February 2006, is the 28th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 12th set released by Pokémon USA. The set, which in Japan was named "Eidolon Forest", is set in a forest in the middle of nowhere. Its symbol is a stylized forest, a white egg-shaped area with three black acute isosceles triangles. It received the name Legend Maker due to the inclusion of Mew.
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[citation needed], for several reasons - possibly for its similarity with Jungle and Fossil original expansions, or possibly for its exclusion of the complicated Delta Species Pokémon.
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]
[edit] EX Holon Phantoms
EX Holon Phantoms, released in May 2006, is the 29th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 13th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is the Holon symbol, with three triangles around the sides. 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.
[edit] EX Crystal Guardians
EX Crystal Guardians, released in August 2006, is the 30th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 14th set released by Pokémon USA. The set symbol is a crystal. The set, which in Japan was named "Miracle Crystal", is set on an unknown island inhabited by Pokémon and Delta Species Pokémon.
[edit] EX Dragon Frontiers
EX Dragon Frontiers, released in November 2006, is the 31st set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 15th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is a pair of mountains against a circular white background. 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.
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.
[edit] EX Power Keepers
EX Power Keepers, released in February 2007, is the 32nd set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 16th set released by Pokémon USA. The symbol for this set is a road leading to a vanishing horizon on which the sun is either rising or setting.
It is 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.
[edit] Fourth generation
[edit] Diamond & Pearl
Diamond & Pearl, released in May 2007, is the 33rd set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 17th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is a circle in an upside-down pentagon. 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. Several new rules were 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. One such change is the introduction of Pokémon LV.X, replacing the retired Pokémon-ex and Pokémon-"star" cards.
[edit] Mysterious Treasures
Diamond & Pearl: Mysterious Treasures, released in August 2007, is the 34th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 18th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is a ten-pointed star inside a circle. 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.
[edit] Secret Wonders
Diamond & Pearl: Secret Wonders, released in November 2007, is the 35th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 19th set released by Pokémon USA. Its symbol is a whirlpool. The set advances on "Pokémon with Berry" cards by introducing several "Pokémon with Item" cards: Pokémon cards with integrated Pokémon Tools, which include specific items from the Diamond and Pearl games, such as the Moon Stone and Reaper Cloth evolution items. The set also includes two new Pokémon LV.X.
[edit] Great Encounters
Diamond & Pearl: Great Encounters is the 36th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 20th set released by Pokémon USA, released on February 13, 2008, and is the second smallest Diamond & Pearl set to date, with 106 cards. Its symbol is a triskelion inside a hexagon. The set introduces Darkrai, an event Pokémon and legendary Pokémon featured alongside Dialga and Palkia in Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai. The set also features four more Pokémon LV.X.
[edit] Majestic Dawn
Diamond & Pearl: Majestic Dawn, to be released on May 21, 2008, is the 37th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 21st set that is going to be released by Pokemon USA. It is the smallest D/P set release, with 100 cards. This set introduces new cards like Leafeon, Glaceon, and four new Pokemon Lv.X. (Garchomp, Leafeon, Glaceon and Porygon-Z).
[edit] Legends Awakened
Diamond & Pearl: Legends Awakened, to be released on August, 2008, is the 38th set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the 22nd set that is going to be released by Pokemon USA.
[edit] Promotional 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.
