Original TCG Series merchandise: Difference between revisions

{{MerchPrevNext | prev=None | next=Neo }}  

The Original TCG Series maintained the steady flow of TCG merchandise from the start of the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] until the beginning of [[Generation II]] with the release of {{game|Gold and Silver|s}}. Throughout this time, a steady flow of products such as {{TCG|Theme Deck}}s were released in order to promote the card game, and ultimately, the video games and the franchise as a whole. Below is a chronological list of all merchandise items released during the Original TCG Series.

==Base Set Theme Decks==

The very first expansion, {{TCG|Base Set}}, was released by [[Wizards of the Coast]] on January 9, 1999 and had five separate {{TCG|Theme Deck}}s associated with it. The first four, named {{TCG|Blackout}}, {{TCG|Brushfire}}, {{TCG|Overgrowth}}, and {{TCG|Zap!}}, were each released with 60 cards, each focusing on a different combination of the six types released within Base Set. Blackout, while primarily focusing on the {{ct|Fighting}}, also included {{ct|Water}} Pokémon cards. Brushfire focused on the {{ct|Fire}} and {{ct|Grass}}, while Zap! featured {{ct|Lightning}} and {{ct|Psychic}} Pokémon. The fourth Theme Deck, Overgrowth, doubled up on the Water-type and the Grass-type. Each deck had one Holofoil card included within, in addition to damage counters, a {{p|Chansey}} coin, and a rule book detailing how to play the card game against another person.

The fifth Theme Deck for the Base Set expansion was the {{TCG|2-Player Starter Set}}. More akin to the later released Trainer Kits, the 2-Player Starter Set contained instructions on how to divide the cards included in the deck into two separate {{TCG|Half Deck}}s in order to teach players how to play the card game in a more detailed, step-by-step process. This deck also contained damage counters, but not a {{TCG|coin}}, as none of the included cards need a coin for their attacks. It does, however, include a 61st card, {{TCG ID|Base Set|Machamp|8}} in order to bolster the deck when both half decks are played as one.

background={{Blue color}} |

image1=O1 Blackout Deck.jpg |

caption1={{TCG|Blackout}} |

image2=O1 Brushfire Deck.jpg |

caption2={{TCG|Brushfire}} |

image3=O1 Overgrowth Deck.jpg |

caption3={{TCG|Overgrowth}} |

image5=O1 Zap! Deck.jpg |

image6=2PlayerStarterSet.jpg |

The second expansion, {{TCG|Jungle}}, continued the trend for Theme Decks left by {{TCG|Base Set}}. For this expansion, only two Theme Decks were made available, starting  June 16, 1999 when the main expansion was released to stores. The first Theme Deck, named {{TCG|Power Reserve}}, featured the Parent Pokémon {{p|Kangaskhan}}, as well as the {{ct|Grass}} and {{ct|Psychic}}. The second Theme Deck, {{TCG|Water Blast}}, featured the Bubble Jet Pokémon, {{p|Vaporeon}} and the {{ct|Water}} and {{ct|Fighting}}. Both Theme Decks contained a rulebook, damage counters, a custom {{p|Vileplume}} coin, and card list for the expansion.

{{TCGMerchGallery |

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

image1=O2 Power Reserve Deck.jpg |

image2=O2 Water Blast Deck.jpg |

caption2={{TCG|Water Blast}} |

}}

The Starter Gift Set is a separate release made available sometime in between the releases of {{TCG|Jungle}} and {{TCG|Fossil}}. This Gift set came packaged with a copy of {{TCG|Base Set}}'s {{TCG|2-Player Starter Set}}, as well ason e of the two {{merch|Original|Jungle Theme Decks}}, {{TCG|Power Reserve}} or {{TCG|Water Blast}}, a Jungle booster pack, a play mat with deck building tips, and an exclusive {{p|Eevee}} {{TCG|coin}}.

'''Product images:'''

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

image1=StarterGiftBox.png |

caption1=Starter Gift Box |

}}

{{TCG|Fossil}}, the third expansion, was released on October 10, 1999 and came with two Theme Decks: {{TCG|BodyGuard}} and {{TCG|LockDown}}. The {{ct|Grass}} and {{ct|Fighting}} themed BodyGuard Theme Deck featured the Holofoil card {{TCG ID|Fossil|Muk|15}}. The {{ct|Fire}} and {{ct|Water}} {{TCG|LockDown}} Theme Deck featured Holofoil {{TCG ID|Fossil|Lapras|10}}. Much like other Theme Decks, these two came with a rulebook, damage counters, an exclusive {{p|Aerodactyl}} coin, and card list.

'''Product images:'''

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

image1=O3 BodyGuard Deck.jpg |

image2=O3 LockDown Deck.jpg |

caption2={{TCG|LockDown}} |

}}

As {{TCG|Base Set 2}} was mostly treated as a release of the original {{TCG|Base Set}}, this expansion's Theme Decks mirror what was released for the first expansion in January 1999. Base Set 2, released on February 24, 2000 also featured four separate Theme Decks, as well as the {{TCG|2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set}}, this time featuring the {{ct|Fighting}} and {{ct|Water}}, instead of the original Fighting and {{ct|Fire}}s. The four other Theme Decks, named {{TCG|Grass Chopper}} (Fighting and Grass), {{TCG|Hot Water}} (Fire and Water), {{TCG|Lightning Bug}} (Lightning and Grass), and {{TCG|Psych Out}} (Psychic and Water), each came with 1 Holofoil card, a {{p|Pikachu}} coin, a rulebook, damage counters, and a cardlist.

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

image1=O4 Grass Chopper Deck.jpg |

caption1={{TCG|Grass Chopper}} |

image2=O4 Hot Water Deck.jpg |

caption2={{TCG|Hot Water}} |

image3=O4 Lightning Bug Deck.jpg |

image5=O4 Psych Out Deck.jpg |

image6=2 Player CD-ROM Starter Set.jpg |

The Theme Decks for the {{TCG|Team Rocket}} expansion are named {{TCG|Devastation}} and {{TCG|Trouble}} and were released on April 24, 2000. The two names are based on [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}}'s [[Team Rocket mottos|motto]] from the anime, and are loosely based on the trio. Trouble featured {{TCG ID|Team Rocket|Dark Arbok|2}} with the {{ct|Grass}} and {{ct|Psychic}}, while devastation featured {{TCG ID|Team Rocket|Dark Weezing|14}} and the Grass and {{ct|Water}}s. Each Theme Deck came packaged with the standard deck contents, this time including an exclusive {{p|Meowth}} coin.

'''Product images:'''

{{TCGMerchGallery |

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

caption1={{TCG|Trouble}} |

caption2={{TCG|Devestation}} |

}}

==Gym Heroes Theme Decks==

The first [[Pokémon Gym]] themed expansion of the Original Series, {{TCG|Gym Heroes}}, came with four {{TCG|Theme Deck}}s when it was released to the public on August 14, 2000. Based on the first four [[Gym Leader]]s of the [[Kanto]] region, the four Theme Decks were named {{TCG|Brock}}, {{TCG|Misty}}, {{TCG|Lt. Surge}} and {{TCG|Erika}}, and each featured the signature type of their namesake: {{ct|Fighting}}, {{ct|Water}}, {{ct|Lightning}}, and {{ct|Grass}} respectively. These four Theme Decks each came with a rulebook, damage counters, an exclusive {{p|Starmie}} coin, and card list for the expansion.

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

image1=O6 Brock Deck.jpg |

caption1={{TCG|Brock}} |

image2=O6 Misty Deck.jpg |

caption2={{TCG|Misty}} |

image3=O6 Lt Surge Deck.jpg |

The Thunderstorm Gift Box, known as the Tempest Gift Box outside America, was released in the time between {{TCG|Gym Heroes}} and {{TCG|Gym Challenge}}. It includes a unique {{TCG|Thunderstorm}} preconstructed deck featuring cards from {{TCG|Base Set}}, {{TCG|Jungle}}, {{TCG|Fossil}}, {{TCG|Team Rocket}}, and {{TCG|Gym Heroes}} expansions. It also includes three {{TCG|booster pack}}s, one each from {{TCG|Fossil}}, {{TCG|Team Rocket}}, {{TCG|Gym Heroes}}, and the [[Pokémon Play It! Version 2]] CD-ROM. Also included were a play mat, deck building tip sheet, {{p|Pikachu}} coin, and a felt deck bag. The {{TCG ID|Fossil|Zapdos|15}} included within the product is exclusive to the deck, as it utilizes the Cosmos Holofoil introduced for the {{TCG|Base Set 2}}, and not the Starlight Holofoil originally used for the Fossil release.

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

image1=Thunderstormbox.png |

caption1=Thunderstorm Gift Box |

image2=Tempestbox.png |

caption2=Tempest Gift Box |

image3=Tempest Theme Deck.png |

The {{TCG|Gym Challenge}} expansion released the latter half of the [[Gym Leader]] themed Theme Decks on October 16, 2000. Featuring [[Sabrina]], [[Koga]], [[Blaine]], and [[Giovanni]], the four decks named after these Gym Leaders featured the {{ct|Psychic}}, {{ct|Grass}}, and {{ct|Fire}} for the first three, and the Grass and {{ct|Fighting}}s for {{TCG|Giovanni}}. Each deck featured the standard rulebook, damage counters, and card list, while this time featuring an exclusive {{p|Alakazam}} coin.

'''Product images:'''

{{TCGMerchGallery |

background={{Blue color}} |

border={{Red color}} |

image1=O7 Sabrina Deck.jpg |

caption1={{TCG|Sabrina}} |

image2=O7 Koga Deck.jpg |

caption2={{TCG|Koga}} |

image3=O7 Blaine Deck.jpg |

caption3={{TCG|Blaine}} |

image4=O7 Giovanni Deck.jpg |

caption4={{TCG|Giovanni}} |

}}

{{-}}

{{DoubleProjectTag|TCG|Merchandise|the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] merchandise.}}