Pokémon Trading Card Game: Difference between revisions

[[File:Pokémon TCG logo.png|right|200px|thumb|International Logo]]

The Pokémon TCG is a popular and steady aspect of the [[Pokémon]] franchise and is played and enjoyed by many fans. Nearly 15 billion Pokémon Trading Card Game cards have been produced worldwide. The game is part of the [[Play! Pokémon]] organized play along with the video game series and is also used in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]].

The Pokémon Trading Card Game was originally published in Japan in 1996 by [[Media Factory]]. While other Pokémon card series existed in the past, this was the first card game based on the [[Pokémon]] series. The first Pokémon TCG sets took inspiration from the then released {{game2|Red|Green|Blue}} video games and initially featured illustrations by [[Ken Sugimori]], [[Mitsuhiro Arita]] and [[Keiji Kinebuchi]]. Soon new [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]] began to release with many new artists contributing artwork. Three years later in 1999, Pokémon TCG was introduced in North America by [[Wizards of the Coast]] with the [[Base Set]], and worldwide soon after. In 2003, Wizards of the Coast's license was transferred to the [[The Pokémon Company International]] by [[Nintendo]].

New features constantly appear in the Pokémon TCG. With the release of {{game|Gold and Silver|s}} video games, the ''[[#Neo Series|Neo Series]]'' (the second series of [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]]), started bringing several [[Generation II|new Pokémon]] into play. The {{TCG|Metal}} and {{TCG|Darkness}} {{TCG|type}}s of Pokémon cards were also introduced, along with {{TCG|Light Pokémon}} and {{TCG|Dark Pokémon}}. These were eventually discontinued to prevent confusion with the {{tcg|Darkness|Darkness type}}, but returned briefly with the release of the {{TCG|Neo Destiny}} expansion. The ''[[#e-Card Series|e-Card Series]]'' used [[Game Boy Advance]] add-on [[e-Reader]] to display [[Pokédex]] data about the Pokémon, play a minigame, play various tunes in a [[Melody Box]], or activate a special attack for that Pokémon. The ''[[#EX Series|EX Series]]'' was released next (the first series released by [[The Pokémon Company International]] instead of [[Wizards of the Coast]]), introducing the stronger {{TCG|Pokémon-ex}} into the game. The ''[[#Diamond & Pearl Series|Diamond & Pearl Series]]'' brought {{TCG|Pokémon LV.X}}, which were stronger, "Leveled-up" versions of final evolutions. Pokémon LV.X essentially replaced Pokémon-ex and continued until the {{TCG|Platinum: Arceus}} expansion. The ''[[#HeartGold & SoulSilver Series|HeartGold & SoulSilver Series]]'' featured two more types of card, {{TCG|Pokémon LEGEND}}, two-part cards with one Pokémon on each card, and {{TCG|Pokémon Prime}}, Pokémon with powerful and/or tactical attacks. With the release of the {{TCG|Black & White}} expansion, {{TCG|Poké-Power}}s ({{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Poké-POWER}}s and {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Poké-BODY}}s) were combined into one mechanic and renamed {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Ability|Abilities}}. ''Pokémon-ex'' returned as {{TCG|Pokémon-EX}} in the ''[[#Black & White Series|Black & White Series]]'' starting with the {{TCG|Next Destinies}} expansion. The {{TCG|Dragon}} Pokémon {{TCG|type}} was introduced in the {{TCG|Dragon Vault}} expansion of the ''Black & White Series''. ''{{DL|Pokémon-EX (TCG)|M Pokémon-EX}}'' were introduced in {{TCG|XY}} expansion and introduce the [[Mega Evolution]] mechanic featured in the [[Pokémon X and Y]] video games to the TCG.  The ''[[#XY Series|XY Series]]'' also introduced the {{TCG|Fairy}} {{TCG|type}} Pokémon.

*{{DL|Team plasma|In the TCG|Team plasma cards}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2004 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2005 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2006 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2007 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2008 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2009 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2010 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2011 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2012 World Championships}}

*{{DL|Theme Deck (TCG)|2013 World Championships}}

*[[Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)/2005-2010]]

*{{DL|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)|2011|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)/2011}}

*{{DL|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)|2012|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)/2012}}

*{{DL|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)|2013|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)/2013}}

*{{DL|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)|2014|Miscellaneous Promotional cards (TCG)/2014}}

*{{exp|McDonalds Collection 2013}} {{TCG|McDonald's Collection 2013}} — non-tournament legal

====XY era==== <!--missing proper Japanese set symbols-->

*{{exp|XY}} {{TCG|Collection X}}

*{{exp|XY}} {{TCG|Collection Y}}

*{{exp|Flashfire}} {{TCG|Wild Blaze}}

*{{exp|Furious Fists}} {{TCG|Rising Fist}}

*{{exp|Phantom Forces}} {{TCG|Phantom Gate}}

*{{exp|Primal Clash}} {{TCG|Gaia Volcano}}

*{{exp|Primal Clash}} {{TCG|Tidal Storm}}

*{{exp|DoubleCrisisJP}} {{TCG|Magma Gang vs Aqua Gang: Double Crisis}} — mini set

*{{exp|Roaring Skies}} {{TCG|Emerald Break}}

*{{exp|Bandit Ring}} {{TCG|Bandit Ring}}

*{{exp|LegendaryShine}} {{TCG|Legendary Shine Collection}} — mini set

*{{exp|BREAKthrough}} {{TCG|Blue Shock}}

*{{exp|BREAKthrough}} {{TCG|Red Flash}}  

*{{exp|BREAKpoint}} {{TCG|Rage of the Broken Heavens}}

*{{exp|Fates Collide}} {{TCG|Awakening Psychic King}}

*{{exp|Steam Siege}} {{TCG|Fever-Burst Fighter}}

*{{exp|Steam Siege}} {{TCG|Cruel Traitor}}

*{{exp|McDonalds Collection}} {{TCG|Journey Partners}}

|fr={{tt|Jeu de Cartes à Collectionner|Collectible Card Game}}

|de={{tt|Sammelkartenspiel|Collectible Card Game}}

|it={{tt|Gioco di Carte Collezionabili|Collectible Card Game}}

|pt_br={{tt|Estampas Ilustradas|Ilustrated Pictures}}

|ru={{tt|Коллекционная Карточная Игра|Collectible Card Game}}

 

*[http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/forumdisplay.php?f=283 Pokémon Tabletop Games discussion forum]

*[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/ Pokémon.com] The official United States Pokémon website

*[http://www.pokemontcg.com/forums/ Pokemontcg.com/forums/] Official English TCG Forums

*[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/ Offical United States pokemon tcg website]