δ Delta Species (TCG)

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δ Delta Species (Japanese: δ-デルタ δ-Delta Species) are a special kind of Pokémon found in the TCG. The term is often shortened to δ, DS, or Delta. They first appeared in the EX Delta Species expansion, and were last released in the EX Dragon Frontiers expansion.

According to the backstory offered in EX Delta Species, Pokémon become δ Delta Species upon exposure to electromagnetic waves, which were produced by scientists in Holon attempting to locate Mew. Why the scientists chose to use Greek letter δ is debated. While it appears to come from the scientific use to denote a change, the uppercase Δ would have been more appropriate, as it determines a major change. Another common theory is that Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, and δ Delta Species are the fourth sort of Pokémon after normal Pokémon, Pokémon-ex, Pokémon Star, and Dark Pokémon in the EX series. Another possibility is that Delta Species has the same initials as the Nintendo DS, which was recently released at the time.

δ Delta Species are different than normal Pokémon, as their type is not what they would be expected to be. For example, Rayquaza δ becomes a dual-type Lightning/Metal Pokémon, as opposed to a Colorless-type. Dual type Pokémon δ always have Metal as their secondary type, and it is nearly always fully evolved Pokémon or legendary Pokémon that display this. However, with the release of EX Dragon Frontiers, no Pokémon δ displayed this Metal dual type, leading some to believe that these Pokémon became δ Delta Species naturally or the trait was outbred on the island habitats in which they live.

In EX Delta Species, if a Delta Species Pokémon had one of its types changed to something other than Metal, it was always either to Fire or Lightning. This is likely due to the fact that, since these two types are based upon one of the game types each, whereas others are based on more, all cards of those two types shared a single weakness among them: Water and Fighting, respectively. Thus, Fire Pokémon and Lightning Pokémon became more playable by diversifying their weaknesses. Later sets did not do this, however, and Delta Species Pokémon could be of any type.

In terms of card design, δ Delta Species have a coil design going around their image border, and the evobox circle becomes a large letter δ; Basic Pokémon have an empty letter δ.

The designation of δ Delta Species does not affect the name of a Pokémon, e.g. a normal Dragonite can evolve from a Dragonair δ and vice versa. If a card wishes to reference δ Delta Species, it uses the text "Pokémon that has δ on its card."

List of expansions that contain δ Delta Species

Pokémon found as δ Delta Species

Pokémon Type Delta type Card Expansion
Charmander     Charmander δ EX Crystal Guardians
Charmander     Charmander δ POP Series 5
Charmeleon     Charmeleon δ EX Crystal Guardians
Charmeleon     Charmeleon δ POP Series 5
Charizard      Charizard δ EX Crystal Guardians
Charizard     Charizard ☆ δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Blastoise      Blastoise δ EX Crystal Guardians
Beedrill      Beedrill δ EX Delta Species
Pidgey     Pidgey δ EX Holon Phantoms
Pidgeotto     Pidgeotto δ EX Holon Phantoms
Pidgeot      Pidgeot δ EX Holon Phantoms
Fearow     Fearow δ EX Crystal Guardians
Ekans     Ekans δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Arbok     Arbok δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Pichu     Pichu δ EX Holon Phantoms
Pikachu     Pikachu δ EX Legend Maker
Pikachu     Pikachu δ EX Holon Phantoms
Pikachu     Pikachu δ POP Series 5
Raichu     Raichu δ EX Holon Phantoms
Sandslash      Sandslash δ EX Delta Species
Nidoran♀     Nidoran♀ δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Nidorina     Nidorina δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Nidoqueen  /    Nidoqueen δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Nidoran♂     Nidoran♂ δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Nidorino     Nidorino δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Nidoking  /    Nidoking δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Vulpix     Vulpix δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Ninetales     Ninetales δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Oddish     Oddish δ EX Holon Phantoms
Gloom     Gloom δ EX Holon Phantoms
Vileplume      Vileplume δ EX Holon Phantoms
Bellossom     Bellossom δ EX Holon Phantoms
Crobat      Crobat δ EX Delta Species
Meowth      Meowth δ EX Holon Phantoms
Meowth     Meowth δ POP Series 5
Persian      Persian δ EX Holon Phantoms
Psyduck     Psyduck δ EX Holon Phantoms
Golduck     Golduck δ EX Holon Phantoms
Mankey     Mankey δ EX Holon Phantoms
Primeape     Primeape δ EX Holon Phantoms
Seel     Seel δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Dewgong     Dewgong δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Shellder     Shellder δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Cloyster     Cloyster δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Kingler      Kingler δ EX Crystal Guardians
Exeggcute  /    Exeggcute δ EX Holon Phantoms
Exeggutor  /    Exeggutor δ EX Holon Phantoms
Marowak      Marowak δ EX Delta Species
Lickitung     Lickitung δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Horsea     Horsea δ EX Holon Phantoms
Horsea     Horsea δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Horsea     Horsea δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Seadra     Seadra δ EX Holon Phantoms
Seadra     Seadra δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Seadra     Seadra δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Kingdra      Kingdra δ EX Holon Phantoms
Kingdra     Kingdra ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Starmie  /     Starmie δ EX Delta Species
Starmie  /     Starmie δ EX Delta Species
Smoochum  /    Smoochum δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Jynx  /    Jynx δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Elekid     Elekid δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Electabuzz     Electabuzz δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Pinsir     Pinsir δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Magikarp     Magikarp δ EX Holon Phantoms
Gyarados      Gyarados δ EX Holon Phantoms
Gyarados     Gyarados ☆ δ EX Holon Phantoms
Eevee     Eevee δ EX Delta Species
Vaporeon      Vaporeon δ EX Delta Species
Jolteon      Jolteon δ EX Delta Species
Flareon      Flareon δ EX Delta Species
Espeon      Espeon δ EX Delta Species
Umbreon      Umbreon δ EX Delta Species
Omanyte  /    Omanyte δ EX Holon Phantoms
Omastar  /    Omastar δ EX Holon Phantoms
Kabuto  /    Kabuto δ EX Holon Phantoms
Kabutops  /    Kabutops δ EX Holon Phantoms
Aerodactyl  /    Aerodactyl δ EX Holon Phantoms
Snorlax     Snorlax δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Dratini     Dratini δ EX Delta Species
Dratini     Dratini δ EX Delta Species
Dratini     Dratini δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Dragonair     Dragonair δ EX Delta Species
Dragonair     Dragonair δ EX Delta Species
Dragonair     Dragonair δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Dragonite      Dragonite δ EX Delta Species
Dragonite     Dragonite ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Mewtwo      Mewtwo δ EX Delta Species
Mewtwo     Mewtwo δ EX Holon Phantoms
Mew     Mew δ POP Series 5
Mew     Mew ☆ δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Chikorita     Chikorita δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Bayleef     Bayleef δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Meganium     Meganium δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Cyndaquil     Cyndaquil δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Quilava     Quilava δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Typhlosion     Typhlosion δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Totodile     Totodile δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Croconaw     Croconaw δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Feraligatr     Feraligatr δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Ledyba     Ledyba δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Ledian     Ledian δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Togepi     Togepi δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Togetic     Togetic δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Natu     Natu δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Xatu     Xatu δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Mareep     Mareep δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Flaaffy     Flaaffy δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Ampharos     Ampharos δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Azumarill      Azumarill δ EX Delta Species
Wooper     Wooper δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Quagsire     Quagsire δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Gligar     Gligar δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Heracross     Heracross δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Mantine     Mantine δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Smeargle     Smeargle δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Larvitar     Larvitar δ EX Delta Species
Larvitar     Larvitar δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Pupitar     Pupitar δ EX Delta Species
Pupitar     Pupitar δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Tyranitar  /     Tyranitar δ EX Delta Species
Tyranitar  /    Tyranitar ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Treecko     Treecko δ EX Crystal Guardians
Treecko     Treecko δ POP Series 4
Grovyle     Grovyle δ EX Crystal Guardians
Mightyena      Mightyena δ EX Delta Species
Ludicolo  /    Ludicolo δ EX Crystal Guardians
Taillow     Taillow δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Swellow     Swellow δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Pelipper     Pelipper δ EX Crystal Guardians
Pelipper     Pelipper δ POP Series 5
Ralts     Ralts δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Kirlia     Kirlia δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Gardevoir      Gardevoir δ EX Delta Species
Gardevoir     Gardevoir ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Carvanha  /    Carvanha δ EX Holon Phantoms
Sharpedo  /    Sharpedo δ EX Holon Phantoms
Trapinch     Trapinch δ EX Holon Phantoms
Trapinch     Trapinch δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Trapinch     Trapinch δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Vibrava  /    Vibrava δ EX Holon Phantoms
Vibrava  /    Vibrava δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Flygon  /     Flygon δ EX Holon Phantoms
Flygon  /    Flygon ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Swablu     Swablu δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Altaria     Altaria ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Zangoose     Zangoose δ POP Series 5
Cacturne  /    Cacturne δ EX Crystal Guardians
Lileep  /    Lileep δ EX Holon Phantoms
Cradily  /     Cradily δ EX Holon Phantoms
Anorith  /    Anorith δ EX Holon Phantoms
Armaldo  /     Armaldo δ EX Holon Phantoms
Feebas     Feebas δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Milotic     Milotic δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Tropius     Tropius δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Chimecho     Chimecho δ EX Holon Phantoms
Chimecho     Chimecho δ POP Series 4
Bagon     Bagon δ EX Delta Species
Bagon     Bagon δ EX Delta Species
Bagon     Bagon δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Shelgon     Shelgon δ EX Delta Species
Shelgon     Shelgon δ EX Delta Species
Shelgon     Shelgon δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Salamence      Salamence δ EX Delta Species
Salamence     Salamence ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Beldum  /    Beldum δ EX Delta Species
Metang  /    Metang δ EX Delta Species
Metagross  /     Metagross δ EX Delta Species
Latias  /     Latias δ EX Delta Species
Latias  /    Latias δ EX Holon Phantoms
Latias  /    Latias δ EX Holon Phantoms
Latias  /    Latias ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Latios  /     Latios δ EX Delta Species
Latios  /    Latios δ EX Holon Phantoms
Latios  /    Latios δ EX Holon Phantoms
Latios  /    Latios ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Rayquaza      Rayquaza δ EX Delta Species
Rayquaza      Rayquaza δ EX Holon Phantoms
Rayquaza     Rayquaza δ EX Holon Phantoms
Rayquaza     Rayquaza ex δ EX Dragon Frontiers
Deoxys     Deoxys δ EX Holon Phantoms
Deoxys     Deoxys δ EX Holon Phantoms
Deoxys     Deoxys δ EX Holon Phantoms
Deoxys     Deoxys δ EX Holon Phantoms