Ancient Trait (TCG)

If you were looking for the "Ancient" category of cards introduced in the Paradox Rift expansion, see Ancient (TCG).

Ancient Traits (Japanese: 古代能力(こだいのうりょく) Ancient Power) are special attributes given to certain Pokémon, starting in the Primal Clash expansion. They are not Abilities, and as such, effects that would prevent Abilities from activating (such as Wobbuffet's Bide Barricade or Garbodor's Garbotoxin) do not apply. Ancient Traits do not count as Rule Boxes either. Despite this, Pokémon with Ancient Traits were not allowed in the Gym Leader Challenge format until November 16, 2021.

An example of a Pokémon with an Ancient Trait

The Ancient Trait bar and text is placed at the top of the card, beneath the Pokémon's name. Apart from Pokémon-EX, Ancient Trait cards have artwork that differs from normal cards— the artwork extends down into the moves and fades into the bottom quarter, which is colored depending on the Pokémon's type. As the artwork takes up most of the space available, the basic information of the Pokémon (Pokédex number, species, height and weight) is not shown.

Ancient Trait cards are treated as regular cards in play; they can be evolved from and into regular cards along its evolutionary line. A Pokémon's Ancient Trait does not depend on its type or rarity, though certain Ancient Traits are unique to the super-ancient Pokémon (Δ Wild and θ Max).

Whenever a non-Pokémon-EX card with an Ancient Trait appeared in a TCG set, a regular and usually weaker card of the same Pokémon was released as well. Many of their attacks also take advantage of its Ancient Trait, such as α Growth Kingdra and Primal Kyogre-EX which attacks remove Energy cards from themselves.

List of Ancient Traits

α Recovery

α Recovery (Japanese: α回復(かいふく) α Recovery) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. When a Pokémon with α Recovery recovers HP, the amount recovered is doubled.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
37/160   Ludicolo    
64/160   Eelektrik    
71/160   Tentacool    
104/160   Azumarill    
117/160   Bidoof    
 


α Growth

α Growth (Japanese: αグロウ α Grow) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. When an Energy card is attached to a Pokémon with α Growth from the player's hand without using an attack, Ability or Trainer card, a second Energy card may be attached if the player has one in their hand.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
36/160   Swampert    
41/160   Whiscash    
52/160   Gorebyss    
55/160   Primal Kyogre-EX    
108/160   Kingdra    
 


Ω Barrage

Ω Barrage (Japanese: Ω連打(れんだ) Ω Barrage) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. A Pokémon with Ω Barrage may attack twice in a turn. If the first attack Knocks Out the opponent's Active Pokémon, the second attack hits the new one.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
26/160   Torchic    
69/160   Nidoqueen    
81/160   Medicham    
97/160   Excadrill    
121/160   Bunnelby    
 


Ω Barrier

Ω Barrier (Japanese: Ωバリア Ω Barrier) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion and on Regirock, an XY Black Star Promo. The effects of the opponent's Trainer cards (other than Pokémon Tools and Stadium cards) do not apply to any Pokémon with Ω Barrier.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
9/160   Sceptile    
24/160   Magcargo    
60/160   Electrike    
77/160   Rhyperior    
86/160   Primal Groudon-EX    
XY49   Regirock  
 


Δ Plus

Δ Plus (Japanese: Δプラス Δ Plus) is featured in the Roaring Skies expansion. When a Pokémon with Δ Plus Knocks Out an opposing Pokémon due to damage from its attacks, the player takes one extra Prize card.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
8/108   Dustox    
17/108   Articuno    
28/108   Natu    
52/108   Dragonite    
72/108   Swellow    
 


Δ Evolution

Δ Evolution (Japanese: Δ進化(しんか) Δ Evolution) is featured in the Roaring Skies expansion and on two XY Black Star Promos. A Pokémon with Δ Evolution may be played to evolve a Pokémon during that player's first turn or the same turn it was put into play.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
32/108   Banette    
46/108   Togekiss    
74/108   Altaria    
76/108   M Rayquaza-EX    
81/108   Unfezant    
XY57   Fearow  
XY59   Salamence  
 


Δ Wild

Δ Wild (Japanese: Δワイルド Δ Wild) is exclusively featured on M Rayquaza-EX, released in the Roaring Skies expansion. Due to this Ancient Trait, it takes 20 less damage from attacks from the opponent's  ,  ,  , and   Pokémon.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
61/108   M Rayquaza-EX    
 


θ Stop

θ Stop (Japanese: θストップ θ Stop) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion and on three XY Black Star Promos. Pokémon with θ Stop are unaffected by opposing Pokémon's Abilities.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
8/98   M Sceptile-EX    
18/98   Volcarona    
32/98   Baltoy    
35/98   Golurk    
67/98   Porygon-Z    
XY58   Malamar  
XY92   Sableye  
XY93   Celebi  
 


θ Double

θ Double (Japanese: θダブル θ Double) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion. A Pokémon with θ Double may have up to 2 Pokémon Tool cards attached to it.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
11/98   Vespiquen    
15/98   Entei    
21/98   Gyarados    
43/98   M Tyranitar-EX    
50/98   Metagross    
 


θ Max

θ Max (Japanese: θマックス θ Max) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion. When a Pokémon in play evolves into a Pokémon with θ Max, all damage is healed from it.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
96/98   Primal Kyogre-EX    
97/98   Primal Groudon-EX    
98/98   M Rayquaza-EX    
 


See also

In other languages

Ancient Trait

Language Title
  Japanese 古代能力(こだいのうりょく) Ancient Trait
  French Trait Antique
  German Ewige Gabe
  Italian Tratto antico
  Korean 고대능력 Godae Neungryeok
  Brazilian Portuguese Traço Ancestral
  Spanish Rasgo Antiguo

α Recovery

Language Title
  Japanese α回復(かいふく) α Recovery
  French Régénération α
  German α Genesung
  Italian Recupero α
  Korean α회복 α Hoebok
  Brazilian Portuguese α Recuperação
  Spanish Recuperación α

α Growth

Language Title
  Japanese αグロウ α Grow
  French Croissance α
  German α Wachstum
  Italian Crescita α
  Korean α그로우 α Grow
  Brazilian Portuguese α Crescimento
  Spanish Crecimiento α

Ω Barrage

Language Title
  Japanese Ω連打(れんだ) Ω Barrage
  French Offensive Ω
  German α Offensive
  Italian Offensiva Ω
  Korean Ω연타 Ω Yeonta
  Brazilian Portuguese Ω Barragem
  Spanish Ráfaga Ω

Ω Barrier

Language Title
  Japanese Ωバリア Ω Barrier
  French Barrière Ω
  German Ω Barriere
  Italian Barriera Ω
  Korean Ω배리어 Ω Barrier
  Brazilian Portuguese Ω Barreira
  Spanish Barrera Ω

Δ Plus

Language Title
  Japanese Δプラス Δ Plus
  French Plus Δ
  German Δ Plus
  Italian Extra Δ
  Korean Δ플러스 Δ Plus
  Brazilian Portuguese Δ Mais
  Spanish Plus Δ

Δ Evolution

Language Title
  Japanese Δ進化(しんか) Δ Evolution
  French Évolution Δ
  German Δ Entwicklung
  Italian Evoluzione Δ
  Korean Δ진화 Δ Jinhwa
  Brazilian Portuguese Δ Evolução
  Spanish Evolución Δ

Δ Wild

Language Title
  Japanese Δワイルド Δ Wild
  French Jungle Δ
  German Δ Natur
  Italian Natura Δ
  Korean Δ와일드 Δ Wild
  Brazilian Portuguese Δ Selvagem
  Spanish Salvaje Δ

θ Stop

Language Title
  Japanese θストップ θ Stop
  French Stop θ
  German θ Stopp
  Italian Blocco θ
  Korean θ스톱 θ Stop
  Brazilian Portuguese θ Pare
  Spanish Stop θ

θ Double

Language Title
  Japanese θダブル θ Double
  French Double θ
  German θ Double
  Italian Doppio θ
  Korean θ더블 θ Double
  Brazilian Portuguese θ Duplo
  Spanish Doble θ

θ Max

Language Title
  Japanese θマックス θ Max
  French Max θ
  German θ Max
  Italian Max θ
  Korean θ맥스 θ Max
  Brazilian Portuguese θ Max
  Spanish Máximo θ


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