Rare Candy (EX Sandstorm 88)

Trainer Item
Rare Candy
ふしぎなアメ Mysterious Candy
RareCandySunMoon129.jpg
Sun & Moon print
Illus. Toyste Beach

Rare Candy (Japanese: ふしぎなアメ Mysterious Candy) is an Item card. It was first released in the EX Sandstorm expansion as a Trainer card.

Card text

EX Series and Diamond & Pearl 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
Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have a Stage 1 or Stage 2 card that evolves from that Pokémon in your hand, put that card on the Basic Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that 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.
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
Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have a Stage 1 or Stage 2 card that evolves from that Pokémon in your hand, put that card on the Basic Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) (If you choose a Stage 2 Pokémon in your hand, put that Pokémon on the Basic Pokémon instead of on a Stage 1 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 and XY 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
Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have a Stage 2 card in your hand that evolves from that Pokémon, put that card on the Basic Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) You can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this 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.
 
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).
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
Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have a Stage 2 card in your hand that evolves from that Pokémon, put that card onto the Basic Pokémon to evolve it. You can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this 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.
 
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
Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have a Stage 2 card in your hand that evolves from that Pokémon, put that card onto the Basic Pokémon to evolve it, skipping the Stage 1. You can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this 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.
 
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.


Release information

EX Series

This card was included in the EX Sandstorm expansion with artwork by Ryo Ueda, first released in the Japanese Miracle of the Desert expansion. It was reprinted in the EX Emerald expansion with the same artwork, and in the EX Holon Phantoms (Holon Phantom in Japan) and POP Series 5 sets with new artwork by the same artist.

Diamond & Pearl Series

Rare Candy was printed with another artwork also by Ryo Ueda in the Great Encounters expansion, first released in the Japanese Moonlit Pursuit and Dawn Dash expansion, and later reprinted in POP Series 8.

HeartGold & SoulSilver Series

Rare Candy was later reclassified in Japan as an Item card during the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series, though the English Trainer cards did not adopt this naming convention until the Black & White Series. The Unleashed expansion featured new artwork by Noriko Hotta, which was previously released in the Metagross Deck of the Japanese Leafeon vs Metagross Expert Deck, and the Japanese Reviving Legends expansion featured yet another new illustration by Shizurow.

Black & White Series

Rare Candy was later reprinted in the Dark Explorers expansion with new artwork by Ryo Ueda, first released in the Japanese Dark Rush expansion. This print brings the card effect in line with an errata issued at the start of the Black & White Series. It was later included in the Japanese Hydreigon and Garchomp Half Decks, the Master Deck Build Box EX, as well as the Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX Battle Strength Decks. A Mirror Holofoil BW-P Promotional version of this print was also available in Japan and was one of ten cards that could be found in Gym Challenge Promotional Card Pack 4, which was distributed at Gym Challenge venues during June, July, and August 2012. This print features the Gym Challenge logo. The Dark Explorers print was reprinted in the Plasma Blast expansion along with a Secret print with artwork by Ayaka Yoshida. These prints originated from the Japanese Blastoise + Kyurem-EX Combo Deck and the Megalo Cannon expansion, respectively.

XY Series

The XY Series brought an additional reprint of Rare Candy with new artwork by Toyste Beach, included in the Primal Clash expansion, first released in the Japanese Gaia Volcano expansion. In Japan, this print was reprinted as a Mirror Holofoil XY-P Promotional card and was one of twelve cards available in Pokémon Card Gym Promotional Card Pack 5, which was distributed at Pokémon Card Gym venues from the month of May 2015 through the month of July 2015. This print features the Pokémon Card Gym logo. The Primal Clash print was later reprinted in the Japanese M Master Deck Build Box Power Style and M Master Deck Build Box Speed Style, the BREAK Starter Pack, and as a Mirror Holofoil in the Premium Champion Pack.

Sun & Moon Series

Rare Candy was reprinted again during the Sun & Moon Series as part of the Sun & Moon expansion with new artwork by Toyste Beach, first released in the Japanese Sun & Moon Starter Set and Premium Trainer Box simultaneously on December 9, 2016. This print was subsequently available as both numbered and unnumbered Holofoil SM-P Promotional cards as part of two Japanese events. The numbered print, 025/SM-P, could be obtained as a victory award for players participating in the Pulverizing Pancake Battle at the Welcome Festa, held at the Sunshine City Convention Center in East Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo on January 14, 2017. It could also be obtained as a victory award for players participating in the Pulverizing Pancake Battle 2 event at the 2017 Osaka Champion's League, held at MyDome Osaka, Osaka on February 18 and 19, 2017 and at the 2017 Miyagi Champion's League, held at Sunfesta, Sendai on April 1 and 2, 2017. The Pulverizing Pancake Battle 2 event was only held on the second day at each Champion's League venue. Both events comprised a Trading Card Game segment and a Video Game segment, and required a pair of players to enter together. The segments were not concurrent, therefore individuals could participate in both segments if they so wished, so long as each member of the pair participated in different segments. Players would receive one copy of the numbered print for every win in any segment, with a limit of four copies per person. Each numbered print also featured a serial code used to redeem a Rare Candy in Japanese region copies of Pokémon Sun and Moon. The top four pairs in terms of overall number of wins would progress to the single-elimination finals. At the Welcome Festa only, the top three pairs at the end of the event were each awarded an unnumbered copy of this card featuring a foil stamp of their overall position, presented in an acrylic case.

It was reprinted as a Mirror Holofoil in the Japanese Sun & Moon subset, and as a Full Art Secret card, both with artwork by Toyste Beach. The Secret print was later included in the English Guardians Rising expansion. In Japan, the Sun & Moon Era print was reprinted in the Tapu Bulu-GX Enhanced Starter Set, in the GX Battle Boost subset as a Mirror Holofoil card, and again as a Non Holofoil card in the Solgaleo-GX & Lunala-GX Legendary Starter Set, Ultra Moon expansion, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Premium Trainer Box, Ultra Sun Deck Build Box, and Forbidden Light expansion. Rare Candy was reprinted with the initial Ryo Ueda artwork in the Celestial Storm expansion, first released in the Japanese Champion Road subset. The Sun & Moon Era print was once again reprinted in the Japanese Sky-Splitting Charisma expansion, in seven of the nine GX Starter Decks, in the Super-Burst Impact expansion, simultaneously in the Tag Bolt expansion and Tag Team GX Premium Trainer Box, simultaneously in the Double Blaze expansion and Tag Team GX Deck Build Box, and in the Sun & Moon Family Pokémon Card Game set.

Sword & Shield Series

Rare Candy was reprinted again during the Sword & Shield Series and was first released in the Japanese V Starter Set Fire with new artwork by Yoshinobu Saito. Its first release outside Asia was in the Sword & Shield expansion, which originated from the Japanese Shield expansion. In Japan, it was reprinted in the Sword & Shield Premium Trainer Box, in the Charizard & Grimmsnarl VMAX Starter Sets, as a S-P Promotional card, in five of the nine V Starter Decks, 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 Start Deck 100 (available in both Non Holofoil and Mirror Holofoil versions), and in the VSTAR Premium Trainer Box. The S-P Promotional print was 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. A new print with artwork by Ayaka Yoshida was included in the Pokémon GO expansion, first released in the Japanese subset of the same name. The Sword & Shield print was reprinted in the special Crown Zenith expansion outside Asia.

Scarlet & Violet Series

Studio Bora Inc. provided new artwork for Rare Candy's entry in the Scarlet & Violet Series. The card was released as both a Regular card and a hyper rare in the Scarlet & Violet expansion, first released in the Japanese Violet ex expansion. The Regular print was also included in the ex Starter Set Fuecoco & Ampharos ex and Premium Trainer Box ex that released on the same day as the main Japanese expansion. The Regular print was reprinted as a Japanese SV-P Promotional card and 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 has the collection number 016/SV-P and features the Event Organizer logo in the bottom right corner of the illustration. Another promotional reprint numbered 045/SV-P was made available in a special participation pack for the Triplet Beat Sealed Battle events starting March 10, 2023. In Japan, this print was reprinted again in six of the ex Start Decks, the Ruler of the Black Flame Deck Build Box, the Raging Surf subset, and the Terastal Starter Set Skeledirge ex.

For the high-end Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic deck kit, which was released in October 2023, this card was reprinted in Holofoil with its Sun & Moon artwork. This reprint lacks a regulation mark and is thus not legal for tournament play. The Regular Scarlet & Violet print was then reprinted again in Japan in the Venusaur & Charizard & Blastoise Special Deck Set ex, the Shiny Treasure ex subset (prompting an inclusion in the Paldean Fates expansion), both Starter Deck & Build Sets, and the Pokémon Card Game Battle Academy Deck Kit.

Gallery

EX Sandstorm print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
EX Holon Phantoms print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
Great Encounters print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
Unleashed print
Illus. Noriko Hotta
Reviving Legends print
Illus. Shizurow
Dark Explorers print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
Plasma Blast Secret print
Illus. 5ban Graphics
Primal Clash print
Illus. Toyste Beach
Sun & Moon print
Illus. Toyste Beach
Guardians Rising print
Illus. Toyste Beach
Celestial Storm print
Illus. Ryo Ueda
Sword & Shield print
Illus. Yoshinobu Saito
Pokémon GO print
Illus. Ayaka Yoshida
Scarlet & Violet Regular print
Illus. Studio Bora Inc.
Scarlet & Violet hyper rare print
Illus. Studio Bora Inc.
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print
Illus. Ken Sugimori


Trivia

  • As of Dark Explorers, this card can't evolve a Basic Pokémon into a Stage 1 Pokémon, or evolve a Pokémon during the player's first turn or the turn the Pokémon was put into play. This change was made because, in other cases, evolving a Pokémon to Stage 1 didn't need this sort of indirection anyway.
    • Because of this change, this card's effect now matches that of Pokémon Breeder, a card previously released in the Base Set.

Origin

Rare Candy is an item in the Pokémon games that increases the level of the Pokémon it is given to by 1. It can also be used to evolve non-fully evolved Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield. The Pokémon GO print features the Rare Candy as seen in Pokémon GO, which is an item that when used on a Pokémon, it turns into that Pokémon's Candy.


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