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Ancient Power) are special attributes on certain Pokémon, which first appeared in the Primal Clash expansion. They are not Abilities, and as such, effects that remove Abilities from Pokémon (such as Wobbuffet's Bide Barricade or Garbodor's Garbotoxin) do not affect Ancient Traits. Ancient Traits are not Rule Boxes.
Bidoof has the Ancient Trait α Recovery, so when it is healed, the effect of that healing is doubled.
The Ancient Trait bar and text is placed at the top of the card, beneath the Pokémon's name. Apart from Pokémon-EX, cards with an Ancient Trait have artwork that differs from normal cards— the artwork extends down into the text box. The art fades into a colored box for the bottom quarter of the card, with the color depending on the Pokémon's type. As the artwork takes up most of the space on the card, the Pokédex information for Pokémon (the Pokédex number, species, height and weight) is not included on the card. The Pokédex entry, however, is still present.
A Pokémon's Ancient Trait does not depend on its type or rarity, though the Ancient Traits Δ Wild and θ Max are only on Pokémon-EX cards depicting the super-ancient Pokémon.
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, For example, the Kingdra and Primal Kyogre-EX in Primal Clash have attacks that remove Energy cards from themselves. These cards have α Growth, which allows the player to attach two Energy cards to them in the same turn. This effect makes it easier to supply those Pokémon with the Energy required to repeatedly use their attacks.
α Recovery (Japanese: α回復α Recovery) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. When a Pokémon with α Recovery heals from damage, the effect of that healing is doubled. For example, if such a Pokémon were instructed to heal 30 damage, it would instead heal 60 damage.
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.
Ω Barrage (Japanese: Ω連打Ω Barrage) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. A Pokémon with Ω Barrage may attack twice in a turn. After using the first attack, players are only allowed to attack for the second time or end their turn. There is no opportunity to use any other effects.[1] If the first attack Knocks Out the opponent's Active Pokémon, then the opponent has to move one of their Benched Pokémon to the Active Spot. Afterward, the second attack occurs.
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) done to a Pokémon with Ω Barrier are prevented.
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 with damage from its attacks, the player takes one extra Prize card.
Δ Evolution (Japanese: Δ進化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.
Δ Wild (Japanese: ΔワイルドΔ Wild) is exclusively featured on M Rayquaza-EX, released in the Roaring Skies expansion. A Pokémon with Δ Wild takes 20 less damage from attacks from the opponent's , , , and Pokémon.
θ Stop (Japanese: θストップθ Stop) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion and on three XY Black Star Promos. The effects of Abilities of opposing Pokémon done to a Pokémon with θ Stop are prevented.
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.
θ Max (Japanese: θマックスθ Max) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion. It is only seen on Evolution cards that are Pokémon-EX depicting a super-ancient Pokémon. When a Pokémon in play evolves into a Pokémon with θ Max, all damage is healed from it.
Even though Ancient Traits are not Rule Boxes, Pokémon with Ancient Traits were not allowed in the Gym Leader Challenge format until November 16, 2021.
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