User:SpaceNarwhal/Holofoil
Holofoil cards (also known as Holographic Foil, Foil, Holo, Reverse Holo, Reverse foil or Holographic) are a special type of card from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Most are Pokémon cards. They are identical to their normal counterpart aside from a Holofoil effect in the picture (Holofoil) or the card background (Reverse Holofoil). A small amount of Rare (
) cards within each expansion are Holofoil. They may be pulled from Booster packs as the rare card, but is not guaranteed. They are rarer compared to non Holofoil rare cards.
In most of the English versions of Japanese sets, cards that were originally only Holofoil are given non Holofoil counterparts. The e-cards are an exception to this, as even the Japanese versions of the sets had Holofoil and non Holofoil versions of cards. Only the non Holofoil versions had dot codes that could be read with the e-Reader. This was apparently because the Holofoil caused complications with the dot codes. When Holofoil cards have non Holofoil counterparts, the non Holofoil cards are the more common of the two, even though both are marked with the same rarity. As such, they are numbered differently within sets and generally considered different cards in terms of collectibility. In play, however, the cards operate the same, and thus are viewed mostly as the same.
Both crystal and pearl figures from the Pokémon Trading Figure Game appear to be based upon this concept. However, unlike the cards, the figures are not numbered differently.
Holofoil Patterns
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
Starlight
Starlight Holofoil was the pattern used for Holo cards in Base Set, and was used for the Jungle and Fossil sets.
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Cosmos
Cosmos Holofoil was introduced for all Holo cards in Base Set 2 and was used for all Holo cards until Call of Legends, along with various promotional cards. It consists of dots and circles of different sizes spread across the image of the Pokémon. In EX Delta Species, the Holofoil rare design changed exclusively for δ Delta Species Pokémon, with the card border and Pokémon itself featuring a plain Holofoil treatment.
Tinsel
Tinsel Holofoil was used on standard Holo cards between Black & White until Legendary Treasures, along with various promotional cards. It consists of horizontal stripes across the image. In Japanese Holofoil cards of these sets, the border of the card also has a tinsel Holofoil effect.
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Sheen
Sheen or Mirror Holofoil is used for all Holo cards from XY, and on various promotional cards. There are differences in the pattern depending on the language of the card; Japanese Holofoil cards refract light in a diagonal direction from bottom left to top right across the entire card; Korean Holofoil cards have the same effect and direction, but only cover the image of the Pokémon; and international releases have the same effect as Japanese cards, but only cover the image, and the direction is from bottom right to top left.
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Cracked Ice
Occasionally called Broken Glass or Shards, Cracked Ice Holofoil is used for the exclusive version of the featured card in Theme Decks from the BW Era/Series, along with promotional cards included in Blister Packs.
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Crosshatch
Crosshatch Holofoil is generally used only for cards awarded at Play! Pokémon events. The crosshatch effect is often applied to the background of the card, as in a Reverse Holo card.
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Pixel
Pixel or Confetti Holofoil is used exclusively for cards in the McDonalds Collection sets.
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Reverse Holofoil
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: PICTURES! |
Whilst not strictly a pattern of Holofoil, Reverse Holofoil cards are an alternative print of the cards in a set. Since Legendary Collection, one Reverse Holofoil card has been included in each booster pack. In contrast to a regular Holofoil card where the effect is applied to the picture, a Reverse Holofoil usually has the effect applied to the entire card apart from the picture. A Reverse Holofoil counterpart is usually available for every card in a set, excluding Ultra Rare and Secret Rare cards.
Reverse Holofoil Patterns
Legendary Collection
To appeal to collectors, Legendary Collection was the first set to include Reverse Holographic cards. Wizards took a hint from Magic and made a Reverse Holographic card for every single card in the set. This trend carried over with Nintendo's occupation of the TCG, and has featured in every expansion since.
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Expedition - EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua
Expedition once again featured Reverse Holofoil cards, but the design was changed from the "wheel" treatment (which was reminiscent of European fake Holofoil designs) to a plain "refractor" design. They are more "official" looking than the ones found in Legendary Collection. One problem brought to Wizard's attention was that both the Holofoil and non Holofoil rare cards had identical Reverse Holographic counterparts (apart from the card number). Wizards rectified this in Aquapolis by numbering the Holofoil cards differently and not producing Reverse Holofoil for them.
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EX Hidden Legends - EX Power Keepers
The style of Reverse Holofoil cards changed in EX Hidden Legends. Instead of the previous "plain" Holofoil design, the same foil was used with an energy symbol pattern. To further distinguish the Reverse Holofoils and Holofoils, the type of the Pokémon was displayed as a faint foil symbol in the attack box. The Reverse Holographic versions of the Holographic rares also have a foil rarity symbol. The Reverse Holographic design has changed with every new Expansion since.
Reverse Holofoil cards in EX FireRed & LeafGreen are in the same style as those in EX Hidden Legends.
In EX Team Rocket Returns, the Reverse Holofoil cards feature the same energy foil pattern as in EX Fire Red & Leaf Green, but with the addition of the set logo in the bottom right corner of the character window. Also, the Reverse Holofoil versions of the Holofoil rares have gold foil name text, as well as the foil rarity symbol. These features were added to avoid confusion with the Holofoil rares. Every set until Diamond & Pearl has followed this tradition, although usually with minor variations.
The Reverse Holofoil design in [EX Deoxys]] features a "wheel" pattern, and the EX Deoxys set logo.
EX Emerald used a foil Poke Ball pattern with stars and the EX Emerald set logo for it's Reverse Holofoil cards.
The Reverse Holofoil design for EX Unseen Forces features a 3D Poke Ball pattern similar to that of EX Emerald, but with the EX Unseen Forces set logo.
In EX Delta Species, the Reverse Holofoil design is similar to that of the Holofoil rare cards, with the same foil used but only on the background image. In addition to the background, name text and rarity symbol, the reverse Holofoil versions of the Holofoil rares have a Holofoil border and HP text. All Reverse Holofoil cards feature the EX Delta Species set logo.
The Reverse Holofoil and Holofoil cards in EX Legend Maker also use the same foil, with the Reverse Holofoils distinguished only by the EX Legend Maker set logo as in previous expansions. The Reverse Holofoil versions of Holofoil rares also have foil name text, HP text and rarity symbols.
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EX Holon Phantoms, EX Crystal Guardians, EX Dragon Frontiers and EX Power Keepers all use the same style of Reverse Holofoil as in EX Legend Makers, but with their own set symbol in the corner of the character window.
Diamond & Pearl - onwards
With the release of Diamond & Pearl Reverse Holographic cards now have a "pixel" design. Refractor versions of normally Holofoil rares do not have their regular Holofoil, unlike earlier expansions. This style of Reverse Holographic card remains in use for all new expansions.
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