Switch (Base Set 95)

Trainer Item
Switch
ポケモンいれかえ Pokémon Substitution
SwitchSunMoon132.jpg
Sun & Moon Regular print
Illus. Ryo Ueda

Switch (Japanese: ポケモンいれかえ Pokémon Substitution) is an Item card. It was first released in the Base Set as a Trainer card.

Card text

Original Series prints
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
Team Plasma
Team Plasma
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
  FLARE
  (Prism Star) Rule
You can't have more than 1   card with the same name in your deck. If a   card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.
TAG TEAM
 
 
 
 
 
{{{ruletext}}}
VSTAR Power
Switch 1 of your Benched Pokémon with your Active Pokémon.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing
 
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
VS Era and e-Card Series prints
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
Team Plasma
Team Plasma
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
  FLARE
  (Prism Star) Rule
You can't have more than 1   card with the same name in your deck. If a   card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.
TAG TEAM
 
 
 
 
 
{{{ruletext}}}
VSTAR Power
Switch your Active Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing
 
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
EX Series through HeartGold & SoulSilver Series prints
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
Team Plasma
Team Plasma
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
  FLARE
  (Prism Star) Rule
You can't have more than 1   card with the same name in your deck. If a   card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.
TAG TEAM
 
 
 
 
 
{{{ruletext}}}
VSTAR Power
Switch 1 of your Active Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing
 
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
Black & White Series through Sun & Moon Series prints
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
Team Plasma
Team Plasma
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
  FLARE
  (Prism Star) Rule
You can't have more than 1   card with the same name in your deck. If a   card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.
TAG TEAM
 
 
 
 
 
{{{ruletext}}}
VSTAR Power
Switch your Active Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing
 
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
Sword & Shield Series and Scarlet & Violet Series prints
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
Team Plasma
Team Plasma
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
  FLARE
  (Prism Star) Rule
You can't have more than 1   card with the same name in your deck. If a   card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.
TAG TEAM
 
 
 
 
 
{{{ruletext}}}
VSTAR Power
Switch your Active Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing
 
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
You may play any number of Item cards during your turn.


Back (Creatures Deck print)

All prints
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
Team Plasma
Team Plasma
  You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.
  FLARE
  (Prism Star) Rule
You can't have more than 1   card with the same name in your deck. If a   card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.
TAG TEAM
 
 
 
 
 
{{{ruletext}}}
VSTAR Power
Why Mr. Ishihara founded Creatures ————.

Ishihara: I founded Creatures in 1995 with the support of Nintendo, because I wanted to do something even more interesting with the staff who developed MOTHER 2: GIG's Counterattack (Nintendo/Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 1994). At the time, we rented one floor of Nintendo's Kanda Building in Kanda-Sudachō, and that was our start.

The reason for inviting Mr. Tanaka to be president ————.

Tanaka: The main reason was that Mr. Ishihara established The Pokémon Company, and became the president of the company.

Ishihara: When I thought about who I would entrust Creatures to, Mr. Tanaka was the first person who came to mind. He has a feeling of mischievousness, and is someone who can think of answers that I haven't thought of.

Tanaka: Mr. Ishihara called me into the president's office and said, "Mr. Tanaka, you're the president." I didn't expect it at all, so I said, "I have to buy a suit...I have to wear leather shoes..." (laughs). Long before that, I had consulted with Mr. Ishihara at an izakaya in Kanda. At the time, I had no idea I would become president of the company, but at that izakaya counter, unconsciously and quietly, I had somehow made a decision about my future.

 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing
 
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.
 
Do Nothing  
At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.


e-Reader data

The Expedition Base Set and Theater Limited VS Pack prints include a Dot Code strip for use with the e-Reader, and have the card ID A-27-#. The short strip contains a brief card summary. There is no long strip for this card.

Release information

Original Series

This card was included in the Base Set with artwork by Keiji Kinebuchi, first released in the Japanese Expansion Pack. Prototype Pokémon Leagues were given the Trainer Deck A and Trainer Deck B, which included this card, before Base Set's official release. These prints have a red border and "Trainer Deck A" or "Trainer Deck B" printed on the back. In Japan, it was reprinted in the Bulbasaur Deck of the Intro Pack; outside Japan, it was reprinted in Base Set 2. This iteration of Switch was also featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR! for Game Boy Color.

TCG GB1 Colosseum sprite
TCG GB2 Beginning Pokémon sprite
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori


Neo Series

Switch was reprinted during the Neo Series in the Japanese Intro Pack Neo and was included as part of the product's Chikorita Side Deck.

VS Era and e-Card Series

This card was reprinted with new artwork by Keiji Kinebuchi in the Japanese Tyranitar Half Deck, which was soon followed by a release in the Japanese Pokémon VS expansion. This print was also included in a slightly altered version of the Tyranitar Half Deck, which was distributed to players at the 2001 Tropical Mega Battle and was printed in several languages. It received a more general release outside Japan in the Expedition Base Set, which originated from the Japanese Pokémon-e Starter Deck. It was reprinted again in Japan in the Theater Limited VS Pack.

EX Series

The EX Series saw several reprints of Switch, the first of which was included in the EX Ruby & Sapphire expansion, previously released in the Japanese Mudkip Constructed Starter Deck, with new artwork by Hiromichi Sugiyama. In Japan, this print was subsequently included in the Movie Commemoration VS Pack, the Metagross Constructed Starter Deck, the Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise Random Constructed Starter Decks, and the Movie Commemoration VS Pack: Sky-Splitting Deoxys. The print in the Random Constructed Starter Decks prompted this card's inclusion in the EX FireRed & LeafGreen expansion. Switch was reprinted in several more Japanese products, including the Rayquaza and Deoxys Constructed Starter Decks, the Gift Box Emerald, the Fire, Water, and Psychic Quick Construction Packs, the Mirage's Mew Constructed Starter Deck, the Movie Commemoration VS Pack: Aura's Lucario, and Master Kit. It was then reprinted in the EX Delta Species expansion, having been previously released in the Japanese Holon Research Tower Fire Quarter Deck. Three more reprints were released in Japan, contained within the Mightyena Quarter Deck of the Gift Box Mew • Lucario, Shockwave! Tyranitar ex Constructed Standard Deck, and Movie Commemoration VS Pack: Sea's Manaphy. The Tyranitar deck was the origin of the final EX Series print included in the EX Dragon Frontiers expansion.

Diamond & Pearl Series

Switch was reprinted in the Diamond & Pearl expansion with new artwork by Ryo Ueda, first released in the Japanese Space-Time Creation expansion. In Japan, this print was reprinted in the Bastiodon the Defender Half Deck. It was reprinted again in the Secret Wonders expansion, previously released in the Dialga LV.X and Palkia LV.X Constructed Standard Decks in Japan. It was next reprinted in several Japanese Half Decks: the three Half Decks of the Entry Pack '08 (and subsequently the Entry Pack '08 DX), the Electivire Half Deck of the Magmortar vs Electivire Deck Kit, the Heatran Half Deck of the Heatran vs Regigigas Deck Kit, the Dialga Half Deck of the Giratina vs Dialga Deck Kit, and the three Half Decks of the Entry Pack DPt. The print in the Giratina vs Dialga Deck Kit saw an English release in the Stormfront expansion.

Platinum Series

No reprints were made during the Platinum Series, but the Japanese DPPt Era saw more reprints included in decks. The Turtwig, Piplup, and Pikachu Half Decks of the Gift Box DPt, both Half Decks of the Infernape vs Gallade SP and Garchomp vs Charizard SP Deck Kits, and both Arceus LV.X Decks (Arceus LV.X Deck: Grass & Fire and Arceus LV.X Deck: Lightning & Psychic) all had them.

HeartGold & SoulSilver Series

Switch was later reclassified in Japan as an Item card during the LEGEND Era, though the English prints did not adopt this naming convention until the Black & White Series. The HeartGold & SoulSilver print featured new artwork by Hideaki Hakozaki, first released in the Japanese HeartGold Collection. This print was reprinted in the Japanese Steelix Constructed Standard Deck and the English HS Trainer Kit.

Black & White Series

This card was released in the Black & White expansion as an Item card with new artwork by Ayaka Yoshida, first released in the Japanese Beginning Set and Beginning Set for Girls. In Japan, it was reprinted in each of the Battle Strength Decks, the Battle Theme Deck: Victini, the Reshiram-EX and Zekrom-EX Battle Strength Decks, the Battle Gift Set: Thundurus vs Tornadus, the National Beginning Set, the Keldeo Battle Strength Deck, as well as the Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX Battle Strength Decks. Its inclusion in the National Beginning Set prompted a reprint in the English Boundaries Crossed expansion. This card saw four more reprints before the end of the Japanese BW Era, included in the Everyone's Exciting Battle collection, the Blastoise + Kyurem-EX Combo Deck, and both Half Decks of the Mewtwo vs Genesect Deck Kit.

XY Series

Switch was reprinted during the XY Series in the Kalos Starter Set with new artwork by 5ban Graphics, first released in the Japanese XY Beginning Set. This print was later reprinted in the Japanese Xerneas and Yveltal Half Decks, both Half Decks of the English XY Trainer Kit, and the Japanese M Charizard-EX Mega Battle Deck and Hyper Metal Chain Deck. An unnumbered XY-P Promotional print of this card was one of five Trainer cards available in conjunction with the Pokémon Card Game Deck Building Seminar event held as part of the Pokémon Center Pokémon Card Game School. This was present at participating Pokémon Centers in Japan from October 25 to November 16, 2014 and was open to elementary school-aged children. A 20-card set comprising two copies each of five Trainer cards plus 10 Energy cards could be purchased at Pokémon Centers during the event for ¥100. Another reprint was then included in the Super Legend Set: Xerneas-EX & Yveltal-EX in Japan.

It was later reprinted as a Secret card in the Primal Clash expansion with new artwork by 5ban Graphics, first released in the Japanese Gaia Volcano expansion. The Kalos Starter Set print was reprinted again in the Roaring Skies expansion, previously released in the Japanese M Rayquaza-EX Mega Battle Deck. In Japan, it was reprinted again in both Half Decks of the Emboar-EX vs Togekiss-EX Deck Kit, the M Master Deck Build Box Power Style and M Master Deck Build Box Speed Style, the Golduck BREAK + Palkia-EX Combo Deck, the BREAK Starter Pack, and the Zygarde-EX Perfect Battle Deck. Another unnumbered XY-P Promotional print was one of nine cards available in special packs sent to Japanese Event Organizers in July 2016 for distribution in official events hosted by them. This print features the Event Organizer logo in the bottom left corner of the illustration. This card was reprinted as a retro card in the Evolutions expansion, first released in the Japanese Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary subset, featuring the same artwork as the original print and an updated card template reminiscent of the Original Series layout.

Sun & Moon Series

Ryo Ueda provided new artwork for Switch's entry in the Sun & Moon Series. It was released as both a Regular card and a Full Art Secret card in the Sun & Moon expansion, first released in the Japanese Collection Moon expansion. In Japan, the Regular print was also printed in the Sun & Moon Starter Set released on the same day. The Regular print received another Japanese reprint in the Tapu Bulu-GX Enhanced Starter Set. It was later released as part of both the Ash Half Deck and Team Rocket Half Deck in the Ash vs Team Rocket Deck Kit, distinguishable by a small Half Deck symbol printed in the bottom right of the card's text area. It was reprinted again as one of the Japanese SM-P Promotional cards and was one of nine possible cards included in special packs sent to Event Organizers in August 2017 for distribution in official events hosted by them. This print features the Event Organizer logo in the bottom right corner of the illustration. It was reprinted yet again in the English Shining Legends expansion and in the Japanese Shining Legends subset, Solgaleo-GX & Lunala-GX Legendary Starter Set, and Forbidden Light expansion. It was reprinted in the Japanese Champion Road subset with the artwork by Hiromichi Sugiyama originally printed in the Mudkip Constructed Starter Deck. This print was later included in the English Celestial Storm expansion. The Regular Sun & Moon print was once again reprinted in the Japanese Sky-Splitting Charisma expansion, the Thunderclap Spark subset, in each of the GX Starter Decks, the Super-Burst Impact expansion, in two of the Eevee-GX Starter Sets, in the Tag Team GX Premium Trainer Box, in both Trainer Battle Decks, in the Tag Team GX Deck Build Box, in the Sun & Moon Family Pokémon Card Game set, in both Tag Team GX Starter Sets, and the Remix Bout subset.

Sword & Shield Series

Switch was reprinted again during the Sword & Shield Series as part of the Sword & Shield expansion, first released in each of the Japanese V Starter Sets. This print has new artwork by Studio Bora Inc. In Japan, the Sword & Shield print was reprinted in the Sword & Shield Premium Trainer Box and in the Charizard & Grimmsnarl VMAX Starter Sets. A S-P Promotional print was also one of nine possible cards included in special packs sent to Event Organizers in April 2020 for distribution in official events hosted by them. This print features the Event Organizer logo in the bottom right corner of the illustration. It was reprinted again in each of the V Starter Decks, in the Legendary Heartbeat subset, in the Venusaur & Blastoise VMAX Starter Sets, in a second version of the Charizard VMAX Starter Set from the VMAX Battle Triple Starter Set, in the Single Strike & Rapid Strike Premium Trainer Boxes, in the Blue Sky Stream expansion, in the Sword & Shield Family Pokémon Card Game set, in the Zacian & Zamazenta vs Eternatus Special Deck Set, in the Start Deck 100 (available in both Non Holofoil and Mirror Holofoil versions), in the VSTAR Premium Trainer Box, in both VSTAR Starter Sets, and the Incandescent Arcana subset. Holofoil prints were also included in both of the Japanese High-Class Decks; Mirror Holofoil prints were included in the Japanese Start Deck 100 CoroCoro Comic Version, both of the Japanese VSTAR & VMAX High-Class Decks, and in the Japanese Charizard VSTAR vs Rayquaza VMAX Special Deck Set. Outside Asia, it was reprinted in the special Crown Zenith expansion.

This card was also included in the Pokémon Card Game 25th Anniversary Creatures Deck, a commemorative Half Deck given to Creatures, Inc. illustrators and staff members to celebrate the Pokémon 25th Anniversary and the company's 26th. The back contains an excerpt from an interview with Tsunekazu Ishihara and Hirokazu Tanaka. This card has a "25th" stamp next to the illustration, and has a unique collection number, 011/008.

Scarlet & Violet Series

During the Scarlet & Violet Series, Switch was reprinted as part of the Scarlet & Violet expansion with new artwork by Studio Bora Inc., first released in each of the three Japanese ex Starter Sets, as well as the Premium Trainer Box ex. This artwork was also released as one of the Japanese SV-P Promotional cards, numbered 011/SV-P, and was available in the Energy Card Set on January 20, 2023. It was reprinted again as another SV-P Promo, numbered 017/SV-P, that was one of nine possible cards included in special packs sent to Event Organizers in January 2023 for distribution in official events hosted by them. This print features the Event Organizer logo in the bottom right corner of the illustration. A gold etched hyper rare print with artwork by Studio Bora Inc. was included in the 151 expansion, first released in the Japanese Pokémon Card 151 subset. In Japan, the Regular print was reprinted in each of the ex Start Decks, the Ruler of the Black Flame Deck Build Box, the 2023 World Championships Yokohama Deck: Pikachu, the Raging Surf subset, the Venusaur & Charizard & Blastoise Special Deck Set ex, both Terastal Starter Sets, both Starter Deck & Build Sets, the Pokémon Card Game Battle Academy Deck Kit, and the Crimson Haze subset. It was also reprinted as another SV-P Promotional card, this time numbered 126/SV-P, and was one of seven cards available in Pokémon Card Gym Promo Card Pack 5, which was distributed at Pokémon Card Gym venues able to do so from January 26, 2024.[1] This print features the Pokémon Card Gym logo.

Unnumbered versions of the Scarlet & Violet print were included in the My First Battle Deck Kits, stamped on the bottom-right with silhouettes of Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle that correspond to each mini deck. These prints lack a regulation mark and have a different card back, making them illegal for tournament play. The Scarlet & Violet print of Switch was reprinted in Holofoil for the high-end Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic deck kit, which was released in October 2023. This reprint also lacks a regulation mark and is thus not legal for tournament play.

Gallery

Base Set print
Illus. Keiji Kinebuchi
Expedition Base Set print
Illus. Keiji Kinebuchi
EX Ruby & Sapphire print
Illus. Hiromichi Sugiyama
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
HeartGold & SoulSilver print
Illus. Hideaki Hakozaki
Black & White print
Illus. Ayaka Yoshida
Kalos Starter Set print
Illus. 5ban Graphics
Primal Clash print
Illus. 5ban Graphics
Evolutions print
Illus. Keiji Kinebuchi
Sun & Moon Regular print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
Sun & Moon Secret print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
Celestial Storm print
Illus. Hiromichi Sugiyama
Sword & Shield print
Illus. Studio Bora Inc.
Back (Creatures Deck print only)
Scarlet & Violet print
Illus. Studio Bora Inc.
151 print
Illus. Studio Bora Inc.
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori


Trivia

This card's number in the Pokémon Card Game 25th Anniversary Creatures Deck, 011/008, is a reference to Creatures' founding date of November 8th, 1995.

Origin

References


  This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.