No.2 Trainer (Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament promo): Difference between revisions

{{TCGTrainerCardInfobox

|cardname=No.2 Trainer

|jname=Ｎｏ.２トレーナー

|jtrans=No.2 Trainer

|image=100_T_NO2TRAINER1.jpg

|caption=Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament print<br>Illus. [[Mitsuhiro Arita]]

|reprints=7

|reprint1=TropicalMegaBattleNo2.jpg

|recaption1=Tropical Mega Battle print<br>Illus. [[Ken Sugimori]]/Logo. [[Hiromi Ito]]

|reprint2=SecretSuperBattleNo2.jpg

|recaption2=Secret Super Battle print<br>Illus. [[Hideki Kazama]]

|reprint3=No2Trainer00.jpg

|recaption3=Neo Spring Road print<br>Illus. [[Ken Sugimori]]

|reprint4=No2Trainer2014WorldChampionshipsPromo.jpg

|recaption4=World Championships 2014 print<br>Illus. [[5ban Graphics]]

|reprint5=No2Trainer2018WorldChampionshipsPromo.jpg

|class=Trainer

|subclass=Item

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Top

|class=Item

|print=Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's runner-up winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Lizardon Mega Battle print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's runner-up winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

This proves that the person who possesses this card participated in the First Pokémon Card Game Best in Japan Deciding Match.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Kamex Mega Battle print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's runner-up winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

This proves that the person who possesses this card participated in the Second Pokémon Card Game Best in Japan Deciding Match.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Tropical Mega Battle print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's runner-up winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Secret Super Battle print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's runner-up winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

This proves that the person who possesses this card participated in the Secret Super Battle Best in Japan Deciding Match.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=World Challenge Secret Super Battle print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "World Challenge Secret Super Battle" second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=World Challenge Tropical Mega Battle print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "World Challenge Tropical Mega Battle" second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=World Challenge Secret Super Battle Best in Japan Deciding Match print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "World Challenge Secret Super Battle" Best in Japan Deciding Match second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=World Challenge Tropical Mega Battle Best in Japan Deciding Match print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "World Challenge Tropical Mega Battle" Best in Japan Deciding Match second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Neo Spring Road print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "Battle★Neo Spring Road" second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Neo Spring Road Best in Japan Deciding Match print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "Battle★Neo Spring Road Senior Tournament" Best in Japan Deciding Match second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Neo Summer Road print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "Battle★Neo Summer Road" second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Neo Summer Road Best in Japan Deciding Match print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "Battle★Neo Summer Road Senior Tournament" Best in Japan Deciding Match second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Battle Road Spring 2002 print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "Battle Road Spring 2002" second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=Battle Road Summer 2002 print

|effect=The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament "Battle Road Summer 2002" second place winner is recognized here, and this honor is praised.

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=2004 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2004 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2005.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=2005 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2005 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2006.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=2006 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2006 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2007.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=2007 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2007 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2008.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=2008 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2008 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2008.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=2009 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2009 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2010.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

{{TCGTrainerText

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|print=2010 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2010 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2011.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

{{TCGTrainerText

|print=2011 World Championships print

|position=Middle

|position=Middle

|class=Item

|position=Middle

|rule=No.2 Trainer

|print=2014 World Championships print

|effect=If you won this card at the 2014 Pokémon World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2015.

'''CONGRATULATIONS!'''

|position=Middle

The next major iteration featured new artwork by [[Ken Sugimori]] and was first awarded to the runners-up of each regional Japanese World Challenge Summer event held between July and August 2000. As with the Challenge Road '99 SUMMER campaign, this was split into Tropical Mega Battle and Secret Super Battle events, retaining the same age-limited structure. Unlike previously awarded trophy cards, these cards were personalised with the name and regional conference of the winner and are Non Holofoil. Two base versions of this card also exist: one depicting a male Trainer and the other a female Trainer. The version of the card awarded depended on the gender of the winner. Top ranking players from the Secret Super Battle were eligible to compete in a "Best in Japan Deciding Match" held in late August 2000. Overall winners of the Tropical Mega Battle regional events would represent their country in the World Exchange Battle in Hawaii while the remaining top ranking players would compete in a domestic "Best in Japan" final. Both of these events were also held in late August 2000. Runners-up of the Secret Super Battle and Tropical Mega Battle "Best in Japan" finals were awarded Holofoil No.2 Trainer cards bearing their photograph superimposed on the illustration.

This card was reprinted in 2001 and awarded to the runners-up from both {{tt|age divisions|Junior and Senior}} of each regional Neo Spring Road tournament, held between February and March 2001, and each Neo Summer Road tournament, held between July and August 2001. These versions also include the name and regional conference of the winner, as well as coming in male and female variants. The top ranking players from both age divisions in each regional Neo Spring Road and Neo Summer Road tournament were eligible for entry into "Best in Japan" finals, held on March 31, 2001 and August 25, 2001 respectively. The senior runners-up of these tournaments were awarded a new No.2 Trainer card bearing their photograph superimposed on the competition logo. The Neo Spring Road print features {{p|Lugia}} while the Neo Summer Road print features {{p|Ho-Oh}}. It is currently unknown if the junior champions were also awarded these cards.

This card was reprinted again in 2002 featuring the e-Card Era layout and was awarded to the runners-up of each regional Battle Road Spring 2002 tournament, held between March and April 2002, and each Battle Road Summer 2002 tournament, held between July and August 2002. The Battle Road 2002 series was also the first to introduce the Master age division (for those 18 and over) in addition to the Junior and Senior divisions. The 2002 versions were the last to include the name and regional conference of the winner on the card itself and were also the last to feature male and female variants. The Battle Road Spring 2002 tournaments did not feature a "Best in Japan" final, with the top ranking instead earning byes in the Battle Road Summer 2002 tournament. The latter tournament did however culminate in a "Best in Japan" final, with a [[Elite Four Trainer (Battle Road Summer 2002 finals promo)|new card]] awarded to the top ranking players.

The latest iteration of this card was awarded to those who came second in each {{tt|age division|Junior, Senior, and Master}} in the [[World Championships]]. It was first awarded in 2004 when [[Play! Pokémon]] hosted the first Pokémon TCG World Championships under [[The Pokémon Company International|Pokémon USA]], and has been awarded at every Worlds tournament since. In 2007 this card featured the Diamond & Pearl Series layout, lacking the circle pattern prior prints featured. The 2010 print featured the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series layout, adopting the blue Trainer color scheme and gold illustration window. The 2011 print featured the Black & White Series layout and was printed as an {{TCG|Item card}} as per all previously classed Trainer cards. For the first time in 2013, the card was awarded to the runners-up of both the Trading Card Game Championships and the Video Game Championships in each age division.

The artwork was updated for the card awarded at the [[2014 World Championships]], featuring an embossed {{TCG|Full Art card|Full Art}} Pikachu complete with trophy by [[5ban Graphics]]. The card also features a silver border. The 2017 print was updated to feature the Sun & Moon Series layout, and was subsequently reprinted in 2018 and 2019. Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], there were no World Championships in 2020 and 2021. This card was not reprinted with the Sword & Shield Series layout; the [[2022 World Championships]] only featured a {{TCG ID|2022 World Championships|No. 1 Trainer|promo}} card. The card returned for the [[2023 World Championships]] with new artwork by 5ban Graphics, featuring the Scarlet & Violet Series layout.

*Tokiwa Cup: Fukuoka Dome, Fukuoka on December 7, 1997.

{{TCGGallery

|type=Item

|image1=100_T_NO2TRAINER1.jpg

|caption1=Pokémon Card Game Official<br>Tournament print Illus. [[Mitsuhiro Arita]]

|image2=TropicalMegaBattleNo2.jpg

|caption2=Tropical Mega Battle print<br>Illus. [[Ken Sugimori]]/Logo. [[Hiromi Ito]]

|image3=SecretSuperBattleNo2.jpg

|caption3=1999 Secret Super Battle print<br>Illus. [[Hideki Kazama]]

|image4=No2Trainer00.jpg

|caption4=Neo Spring Road print<br>Illus. [[Ken Sugimori]]

|image5=No2Trainer2014WorldChampionshipsPromo.jpg

|caption5=World Championships 2014 print<br>Illus. [[5ban Graphics]]

|caption6=World Championships 2018 print<br>Illus. [[5ban Graphics]]

*The 2000-2002 prints awarded to regional winners also have different numbers of Pokémon present in the illustration depending on the rank of the card awarded—the {{TCG ID|Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament|No.3 Trainer|promo}} features 2 Pokémon; the No.2 Trainer features 4; the {{TCG ID|Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament|No.1 Trainer|promo}} features 6. The same pattern would later be used on {{TCG ID|BW Promo|Victory Cup|29}} promotional cards.

*The cards awarded to the "Best in Japan" top ranking players have a photograph of the recipient in the illustration. These cards are amongst several to feature images of real life people.

*The 2007-2009 prints do not have "Trainer" in the top right corner of the card as per all Trainer cards released during the Diamond & Pearl and Platinum Series. The 2011 print onwards also features a ruling as per all Item cards, but is unique to the No.2 Trainer.

*The 2010 print credits [[Ryo Ueda]] as the illustrator, despite there being no difference from all previous prints. The 2011 print once again credits [[K. Hoshiba]], suggesting this was an error. It is unknown if the same error applied to the No. 1 Trainer and No. 3 Trainer cards.

*The number of the early Japanese prints in existence is a popular topic of discussion. Based on the dates and age divisions detailed for each event, there were at least 2 copies of the Pokémon Official Tournament print awarded and approximately 14 each of the Lizardon Mega Battle and Kamex Mega Battle prints. Based on the event structure for Challenge Road '99 SUMMER, there were an estimated 9 each of the Tropical Mega Battle and Super Secret Battle prints awarded. Not taking personalized elements into account, there were an estimated 10 of the 2000 Tropical Mega Battle, in which 9 are male trainers and 1 female trainer, and 10 of the Super Secret Battle, in which all 10 are male trainers and 18 of the Neo Spring Road print was awarded, in which all 18 are male trainers and 14 of the Neo Summer Road print was awarded, in which all 14 are male trainers along with 27 each of the Battle Road Spring 2002 and Battle Road Summer 2002 prints. The ratio of male to female variants for the 2002 prints are currently unknown.  There was only 1 version of each "Best in Japan" finals print awarded over the course of 2000-2002. The cards awarded via the World Championships are only printed in English, making it one of the rarest English cards in existence. There were only 3 copies of each annual version produced between 2004 and 2012, but this increased to 6 from the 2013 World Championships with the inclusion of the Video Game champions. The text on the 2013 print of the card awarded to the Video Game champions read "Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships", but this was updated to "Pokémon World Championships" starting with the 2014 print.

*Due to their limited numbers, these cards are often considered amongst the rarest in the world. Value-wise, collectors can expect to pay significant sums of money for any of these cards; however, recent history has shown that the more recent releases do not command as much as the original trophy cards awarded between 1997 and 1999.