1997 Japanese edition almanac

Nidoran♀ニドラン♀

60 HP is on the tough side for a Basic, and both attacks run on one or two Grass energy — easy to put down and easy to evolve from.

Oddishナゾノクサ

50 HP, retreat cost 1, and ten damage for a single Grass energy: a card you put down early and evolve later — the first step of the Vileplume line.

Parasパラス

Only 40 HP, but 20 damage for two Colorless energy. It works without committing Grass energy, which makes it a placeholder until Parasect arrives.

Venonatコンパン

40 HP and two attacks that both deal 10. On numbers alone it looks weak — but in 1997 a Basic's job was often just to survive until it evolved into Venomoth.

Bellsproutマダツボミ

A 40 HP Basic: ten damage for one Grass energy, built to carry the three-stage line up to Victreebel.

Exeggcuteタマタマ

50 HP with retreat cost 3 — and a Psychic-cost attack on a Grass Pokémon. That unusual mix forced players to decide whether to splash a second colour.

Butterfreeバタフリー

A Stage 2 at 70 HP. Mega Drain wants four Grass energy for 40 damage, which shows how much of a Stage 2's value sat in simply getting it into play back then.

Nidorinaニドリーナ

A 70 HP Stage 1. Double Kick deals 30 per successful flip — coin luck on top of an average of about 30, which is exactly how 1997 designed damage.

Gloomクサイハナ

A 60 HP Stage 1. Its Foul Odor attack costs two Grass for 20. A link in the chain to Vileplume, not a card you attack with on its own.

Parasectパラセクト

A 60 HP Stage 1. Slash costs three Colorless for 30, so it keeps working in games where the Grass energy never shows up — the Paras line was the steady part of a Grass deck.

Weepinbellウツドン

A 70 HP Stage 1 with a cheap 10 and a two-Grass 30 — two attacks you can climb in order. It held the middle of Jungle's Grass line.

Exeggutorナッシー

An 80 HP Stage 1 with retreat cost 3. Big Eggsplosion costs a single Colorless for 20×, so it fits decks that run no Grass at all. It evolves from Exeggcute.

Nidoqueenニドクイン

A holo Stage 2 at 90 HP, with Boyfriends at 20+ and Mega Punch at 50. Mega Punch costs two Grass and two Colorless — that price is the weight of a Stage 2 in 1997.

Vileplumeラフレシア

Ability Heal

An 80 HP holo Stage 2. Petal Dance costs three Grass for 40×, and it also carries the Pokémon Power Heal — the finisher of a Grass deck, evolved from Gloom.

Venomothモルフォン

Ability Shift

A 70 HP holo Stage 1 with zero retreat cost, which mattered far more in play than its ten-damage Venom Powder. It also carries the Pokémon Power Shift.

Victreebelウツボット

An 80 HP holo Stage 2 with Lure and a 20-damage Acid, both running on one or two Grass. Evolve it from Weepinbell and put it at the front of a Grass deck.

Scytherストライク

A 70 HP holo with zero retreat — a Basic printed as a holo, which was unusual. Swords Dance first, then Slash for 30: a card that wants to be in front.

Pinsirカイロス

A 60 HP holo with a two-step attack ladder, from two Grass up to two Grass and two Colorless. Pinsir made its first appearance in this set.

Rapidashギャロップ

A 70 HP Stage 1 with zero retreat. Stomp at 20+ costs just two Colorless, no Fire required, so it speeds up a Fire deck rather than depending on it.

Flareonブースター

A 70 HP holo Stage 1. Quick Attack costs two Colorless for 10+, Flamethrower two Fire and two Colorless for 60. The Fire branch of Eevee's three evolutions, all of which debut in this set.

Goldeenトサキント

A 40 HP Basic that deals 10 for a single Water energy, with zero retreat cost so it can be pulled straight back. It exists to become Seaking.

Seakingアズマオウ

A 70 HP Stage 1 with Horn Attack at 10 and Waterfall at 30 — one Water, then one Water and one Colorless. A straight, honest curve.

Vaporeonシャワーズ

An 80 HP holo Stage 1. Quick Attack costs only two Colorless, so it functions even before any Water energy shows up — the Water branch of Eevee's three evolutions.

Pikachuピカチュウ

The 50 HP Pikachu: Spark costs two Lightning for 20, a plain-stat Pikachu for a year that printed several. It evolves into Raichu.

Electrodeマルマイン

90 HP is exceptional for a Stage 1. Chain Lightning costs three Lightning for only 20, but Tackle runs on two Colorless — that is the attack you actually use.

Jolteonサンダース

A 70 HP holo Stage 1. Pin Missile costs two Lightning and a Colorless for 20×, Quick Attack two Colorless for 10+. A Lightning Pokémon that chips rather than hits.

Mr. Mimeバリヤード

Ability Invisible Wall

A holo with only 40 HP, a card whose stats and status do not match up. It carries the Pokémon Power Invisible Wall, and Meditate costs one Psychic and one Colorless for 10+.

Mankeyマンキー

Ability Peek

At 30 HP this is among the frailest Basics in the set. Scratch costs one Colorless for 10, and its Pokémon Power Peek marks it as a card you play to look, not to hit.

Cuboneカラカラ

A 40 HP Cubone: Rage costs two Fighting for 10+, Snivel a single Colorless. Groundwork for the holo Marowak, not a card that leads.

Rhyhornサイホーン

A 70 HP Basic with retreat cost 3. Horn Attack costs one Fighting and two Colorless for 30 — 30 damage that early was rare in this set.

Primeapeオコリザル

A 70 HP Stage 1. Fury Swipes at 20× and Tantrum at 50, both starting from two Fighting — that is where its speed comes from. Evolves from Mankey.

Marowakガラガラ

A 60 HP Stage 1. Bonemerang costs two Fighting for 30×, and it carries a third attack, Call for Friend — one card doing two jobs.

Rhydonサイドン

100 HP, the largest in the set. Ram costs four Fighting for 50 — the era's trade-off of weight for toughness, printed plainly.

Spearowオニスズメ

A 50 HP Basic with zero retreat, so it can be swapped in and out freely. Peck at 10 plus Mirror Move; it leads into Fearow.

Jigglypuffプリン

The 60 HP Jigglypuff. Lullaby costs one Colorless, Pound two for 20 — it runs entirely on Colorless. It evolves into Wigglytuff.

Meowthニャース

50 HP, with Pay Day at two Colorless for 10. This is the only Meowth in the set — a card that exists to become Persian.

Eeveeイーブイ

The 50 HP Eevee. Quick Attack costs two Colorless for 10+, Tail Wag one. The starting point of all three evolutions — the Eevee line debuts in this set.

Fearowオニドリル

A 70 HP Stage 1 with zero retreat. Drill Peck costs four Colorless for 40, Agility three for 20. It asks for no specific colour, so it slotted into any deck.

Persianペルシアン

A 70 HP Stage 1 with zero retreat. Scratch at 20 and Pounce at 30 climb from two Colorless to three, with nothing clever in between. Evolves from Meowth.

Dodrioドードリオ

Ability Retreat Aid

A 70 HP Stage 1 with zero retreat and Rage at three Colorless for 10+. Its Pokémon Power, Retreat Aid, makes it a card built around getting out of the way.

Lickitungベロリンガ

A 90 HP Basic with retreat cost 3. Tongue Wrap at 10 and Supersonic: a card that holds the field by being hard to remove.

Taurosケンタロス

A 60 HP Basic with retreat cost 2. Stomp at 20 and Rampage at 20+, both starting from two Colorless. One of the set's big Colorless bodies alongside Kangaskhan.

Pidgeotピジョット

An 80 HP holo Stage 2 with zero retreat. Wing Attack at 20 and Hurricane at 30 cost nothing but Colorless, which made it the Stage 2 you could put in any deck.

Clefableピクシー

A 70 HP holo Stage 1. Metronome and Minimize both cost one or two Colorless — a card built to stay alive rather than to deal damage. Evolves from Clefairy.

Wigglytuffプクリン

An 80 HP holo Stage 1. Do the Wave costs three Colorless for 10+, scaling with how wide your bench is — a card that rewards decks which fill the field.

Kangaskhanガルーラ

A 90 HP Basic printed as a holo. Comet Punch costs four Colorless for 20×, Fetch a single Colorless — one of the set's defining sturdy Colorless bodies.

Snorlaxカビゴン

Ability Thick Skinned

A 90 HP holo with a retreat cost of 4 — extreme even for the era. Body Slam costs four Colorless for 30, and its Pokémon Power Thick Skinned confirms the design: once it is down, it is not going anywhere.

Poké Ballモンスターボール

Flip a coin. If heads, you may search your deck for any Basic Pokémon or Evolution card. Show that card to your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

The only Trainer card in the set. Called Monster Ball in Japanese and Poké Ball internationally — one Trainer out of 48 cards tells you exactly what kind of expansion this was.

Ekansアーボ

A 40 HP Ekans. Spit Poison costs one Grass, Wrap one Grass and one Colorless for 20 — a cheap two-step ladder on the way to Arbok.

Zubatズバット

A 40 HP Zubat with zero retreat. Leech Life costs one Grass and one Colorless for 10, Supersonic two Colorless. Free to swap out at any time.

Grimerベトベター

A 50 HP Grimer. Nasty Goo costs a single Colorless for 10, so it works even with no Grass in hand. It evolves into Muk.

Arbokアーボック

A 60 HP Stage 1 with retreat cost 2. Terror Strike at 10 and Poison Fang at 20 both begin from one Grass, which is where its speed comes from.

Golbatゴルバット

A 60 HP Stage 1 with zero retreat. Wing Attack costs three Colorless for 30, Leech Life two Grass and one Colorless for 20 — 30 damage that asks for no particular colour.

Weezingマタドガス

A 60 HP Stage 1. Smog at 20 and Selfdestruct at 60 mean two Grass gets you to 60. Self-destruct attacks of this era were finishers, not throwaways.

Mukベトベトン

Ability Toxic Gas

A 70 HP holo Stage 1. Sludge costs three Grass for 30 and it carries the Pokémon Power Toxic Gas. Evolved from Grimer, it sits at the heavy end of a Grass deck.

Magmarブーバー

A 70 HP Magmar built from just two cheap attacks: Smokescreen at one Fire for 10, Smog at two Fire for 20. High HP for a Basic.

Moltresファイヤー

A holo Basic — Moltres. Dive Bomb costs four Fire for 80, among the largest numbers in the set. Of the three birds, Articuno and Moltres entered regular packs here for the first time; Zapdos had already appeared in the 1996 first set.

Psyduckコダック

A 50 HP Psyduck. Headache costs one Psychic, Fury Swipes one Water for 10× — two different energy types on one Basic.

Tentacoolメノクラゲ

Ability Cowardice

30 HP and zero retreat — Tentacool. Acid costs one Water for 10, and its Pokémon Power Cowardice makes the intent plain: this card is built to get out of the way.

Shellderシェルダー

A 30 HP Shellder. Supersonic and Hide in Shell both cost a single Water, and neither deals damage — a card that exists purely to become Cloyster.

Krabbyクラブ

A 50 HP Krabby with retreat cost 2. Irongrip costs one Water and one Colorless for 20, Call for Family one Water — groundwork for Kingler.

Horseaタッツ

A 40 HP Horsea with zero retreat and exactly one attack — Smokescreen, one Water for 10. It evolves into Seadra.

Omanyteオムナイト

Ability Clairvoyance

A Stage 1 you play from a fossil — not from your hand, but from the Trainer card Mysterious Fossil. Water Gun costs one Water for 10+, and it carries the Pokémon Power Clairvoyance.

Golduckゴルダック

A 70 HP Stage 1. Psyshock costs one Psychic for 10, Hyper Beam two Water and one Colorless for 20 — evolved from Psyduck, it let a Water deck splash a single Psychic card.

Tentacruelドククラゲ

A 60 HP Stage 1 with zero retreat. Jellyfish Sting costs two Water for 10 and Supersonic one Water — a card built entirely out of cheap attacks.

Cloysterパルシェン

A 50 HP Stage 1. Clamp and Spike Cannon both cost two Water and give 30 or 30× — two attacks at one price, with nothing else on the card.

Kinglerキングラー

A 60 HP Stage 1 with retreat cost 3. Flail costs one Water for 10×, Crabhammer two Water and one Colorless for 40 — slow, but it reaches 40.

Seadraシードラ

A 60 HP Stage 1. Water Gun costs one Water and one Colorless for 20+, Agility one Water and two Colorless for 20 — evolved from Horsea, it forms the cheap front line of a Water deck.

Omastarオムスター

A 70 HP Stage 2. Water Gun at 20+ and Spike Cannon at 30× both run on two Water at most. Evolves from Omanyte.

Laprasラプラス

An 80 HP Basic printed as a holo. Water Gun at 10+ and Confuse Ray at 10 cost one to two Water. Lapras made its first appearance in this set.

Articunoフリーザー

A 70 HP holo Basic. Freeze Dry costs three Water for 30, Blizzard four Water for 50 — that four-energy price was what a finisher cost in 1997.

Raichuライチュウ

A 90 HP holo Stage 1. Gigashock costs four Lightning for 30 — extremely expensive for the damage. The first set already had a Raichu; this is the second.

Magnetonレアコイル

An 80 HP Stage 1. Sonicboom costs one Lightning and one Colorless for 20; Selfdestruct costs four Lightning for 100 — the gap between 20 and 100 is the whole card. The first set already had a Magneton, so this is the second.

Zapdosサンダー

An 80 HP holo Basic. Thunderstorm costs four Lightning for 40 — expensive for a modest number. A different card from the first set's Zapdos, and this one has 80 HP.

Slowpokeヤドン

A 50 HP Slowpoke built from two attacks that deal no damage: Spacing Out at one Colorless, Scavenge at two Psychic. It evolves into Slowbro.

Slowbroヤドラン

Ability Strange Behavior

A 60 HP Stage 1. Psyshock costs two Psychic for 20, and it carries the Pokémon Power Strange Behavior. Evolved from Slowpoke, it is a staple of Psychic decks.

Gastlyゴース

A 50 HP Gastly with zero retreat. Lick costs one Psychic for 10, Energy Conversion two — the first step of the three-stage line up to Gengar.

Haunterゴースト

Ability Transparency

A 50 HP Stage 1 with zero retreat. Nightmare costs one Psychic and one Colorless for 10, and it carries the Pokémon Power Transparency. One step from Gengar.

Gengarゲンガー

Ability Curse

An 80 HP holo Stage 2. Dark Mind costs three Psychic for 30, and it carries the Pokémon Power Curse. Gengar debuts here — it was not in the first set.

Hypnoスリーパー

90 HP — exceptional for a Stage 1. Prophecy costs one Psychic, Dark Mind three for 30. Printed as a holo in this set.

Mewミュウ

A 50 HP holo — a legendary Pokémon printed as a Basic. Psywave costs one Psychic for 10×, Devolution Beam two. The international Fossil set left it out; in English it was issued separately as Black Star Promo #8.

Geodudeイシツブテ

A 50 HP Geodude with a single attack: Stone Barrage, one Fighting and one Colorless for 10×. The start of the line to Graveler and Golem.

Kabutoカブト

Ability Kabuto Armor

A 30 HP fossil Pokémon — played from the Trainer card Mysterious Fossil rather than from your hand. Scratch costs one Colorless for 10, and it carries the Pokémon Power Kabuto Armor.

Sandslashサンドパン

A 70 HP Stage 1. Slash costs two Colorless for 20 and Fury Swipes two Fighting for 20× — one colourless attack and one that scales with Fighting on the same card.

Gravelerゴローン

A 60 HP Stage 1. Rock Throw costs two Fighting and one Colorless for 40, a big number for Fighting in this set. Harden costs two Fighting. One step from Golem.

Golemゴローニャ

An 80 HP Stage 2 with retreat cost 4. Avalanche costs three Fighting and one Colorless for 60; Selfdestruct four Fighting for 100 — it cannot retreat, but it reaches 100.

Hitmonleeサワムラー

A 60 HP holo Basic. Stretch Kick costs two Fighting, High Jump Kick three for 50 — 50 damage off cheap energy, which is why it led Fighting decks.

Kabutopsカブトプス

A 60 HP holo Stage 2. Sharp Sickle costs two Fighting for 30, Absorb four for 40. It evolves from Kabuto — a Stage 2 you raise out of a fossil, which was a new shape for the game.

Aerodactylプテラ

Ability Prehistoric Power

A 60 HP holo fossil Pokémon. Wing Attack costs three Colorless for 30 with no colour requirement, and it carries the Pokémon Power Prehistoric Power. Like Omanyte and Kabuto, it is a Stage 1 you bring out of the Trainer card Mysterious Fossil.

Dittoメタモン

Ability Transform

A holo with no attacks at all — a 50 HP Basic that exists entirely through the Pokémon Power Transform. Ditto debuts in this set.

Dragoniteカイリュー

Ability Step In

100 HP as a holo Stage 2. Slam costs four Colorless for 40×, and it carries the Pokémon Power Step In. Dragonite debuts in this set.

Energy Searchエネルギー転送

Search your deck for a basic Energy card and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

A Trainer that fetches one basic Energy from your deck. Unglamorous, but every deck of this period ran it — raising a Stage 2 requires a way to find energy.

Gamblerギャンブラー

Shuffle your hand into your deck. Flip a coin. If heads, draw 8 cards. If tails, draw 1 card.

Shuffle your hand back into the deck, then flip a coin: heads draws 8, tails draws 1. An extreme gamble, and a good example of how much 1997 was willing to leave to a flip.

Mysterious Fossilなにかの化石

Play Mysterious Fossil as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play, Mysterious Fossil counts as a Pokémon (instead of a Trainer card). Mysterious Fossil has no attacks, can't retreat, and can't be Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned. If Mysterious Fossil is Knocked Out, it doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. (Discard it anyway.) At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Mysterious Fossil from play.

The mechanism the whole set is built around. It is played as if it were a Basic Pokémon, and Omanyte, Kabuto and Aerodactyl all evolve from it — the games' fossil-revival step turned into a card rule.

Recycleリサイクル

Flip a coin. If heads, put a card in your discard pile on top of your deck.

Flip a coin; on heads, put a card from your discard pile on top of your deck. A tails does nothing, but in 1997 this was one of the few ways to get a discarded card back.

Mr. Fujiフジろうじん

Choose a Pokémon on your Bench. Shuffle it and any cards attached to it into your deck.

Pick a Benched Pokémon and shuffle it, with everything attached, back into your deck. A way to pull a damaged Stage 2 out and raise it again — one of the cards that made long games possible.

Ekansアーボ

A 50 HP Ekans. Bite costs one Colorless for 10, Poison Sting two Grass for 20. Mystery of the Fossils printed an Ekans the same year, so this is the second.

Zubatズバット

A 40 HP Zubat with zero retreat. Ram costs one Colorless for 10, Bite one Grass and one Colorless for 20 — two cheap attacks, nothing more.

Oddishナゾノクサ

A 50 HP Oddish where both attacks deal zero damage — Sleep Powder and Poisonpowder each cost one Grass. A card whose entire job is inflicting a condition.

Grimerベトベター

A 40 HP Grimer. Poison Gas costs one Grass, Sticky Hands two for 10+ — groundwork for Dark Muk.

Koffingドガース

A 40 HP Koffing. Tackle costs one Colorless for 10, Poison Gas one Grass and one Colorless for 20 — the first step toward Dark Weezing.

Dark Gloomわるいクサイハナ

Ability Pollen Stench

A 50 HP Dark Stage 1. Poisonpowder costs two Grass for 10, and it carries the Pokémon Power Pollen Stench. Its HP is 10 lower than the ordinary Gloom — that is the trade Dark Pokémon make.

Dark Mukわるいベトベトン

Ability Sticky Goo

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Sludge Punch costs two Grass for 20, and it carries the Pokémon Power Sticky Goo. Dark Pokémon are often built to do their work through a power rather than an attack.

Dark Arbokわるいアーボック

A 60 HP holo Dark Stage 1. Stare costs two Grass, Poison Vapor three for 10. Three Grass for 10 damage is exactly how Dark Pokémon are built: attacking is the expensive part.

Dark Golbatわるいゴルバット

Ability Sneak Attack

A 50 HP holo Dark Stage 1 with zero retreat. Its only attack is Flitter, and it carries the Pokémon Power Sneak Attack — a Dark Pokémon that works without attacking.

Dark Vileplumeラフレシア

Ability Hay Fever

A 60 HP holo Stage 2. Petal Whirlwind costs three Grass for 30×, and it carries the Pokémon Power Hay Fever. Evolved from Gloom, it is where a Grass deck ends up.

Dark Weezingわるいマタドガス

A 60 HP holo Dark Stage 1. Mass Explosion costs one Grass and one Colorless for 20×, Stun Gas three Grass for 20 — a cheap attack and an expensive one on the same card.

Charmanderヒトカゲ

Ability Gather Fire

A 40 HP Charmander. Fire Tail costs one Fire for 20, and it carries the Pokémon Power Gather Fire — the start of the line to Dark Charmeleon and Dark Charizard.

Ponytaポニータ

A 50 HP Ponyta. Ember costs one Fire and one Colorless for 30 — exceptional efficiency for a Basic in this set. It evolves into Dark Rapidash.

Dark Rapidashわるいギャロップ

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1 with zero retreat. Rear Kick costs two Colorless for 20, Flame Pillar two Fire for 30 — that zero retreat mattered in play.

Dark Charmeleonわるいリザード

A 50 HP Dark Stage 1. Fireball costs three Fire for 70 — remarkable damage for a Stage 1. With only 50 HP, though, it was always a card that expected to be knocked out in return.

Dark Flareonわるいブースター

A 50 HP Dark Stage 1. Rage costs one Colorless for 10+, Playing with Fire two Fire for 30+. Twenty HP below the ordinary Flareon, in exchange for cheaper attacks.

Dark Charizardわるいリザードン

Dark Charizard, 80 HP, holo. Nail Flick costs one Colorless for 10; Continuous Fireball costs two Fire for 50×. Reaching 50 off just two Fire is the whole point of the card, and it is a different animal from the Charizard in the Base Set.

Squirtleゼニガメ

A 50 HP Squirtle. Shell Attack costs two Colorless for 20 — it needs neither Fire nor Water. It leads to Dark Wartortle and Dark Blastoise.

Psyduckコダック

A 50 HP Psyduck. Dizziness costs one Psychic, Water Gun one Colorless and one Water for 20+ — one card handling two colours. It evolves into Dark Golduck.

Magikarpコイキング

30 HP — Magikarp. Flop costs one Colorless for 10; Rapid Evolution three Water. A card you put down purely so it can evolve — then and now, the win is getting it to survive.

Dark Wartortleわるいカメール

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Doubleslap costs one Water for 10×, Mirror Shell one Water and one Colorless. The middle of the line to Dark Blastoise, and the card that keeps a Water deck moving.

Dark Golduckわるいゴルダック

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Third Eye costs one Psychic, Super Psy two Psychic and one Colorless for 50. A Water Pokémon reaching 50 off Psychic energy — one card working in two colours.

Dark Vaporeonわるいシャワーズ

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Bite costs three Colorless for 30, Whirlpool two Water and one Colorless for 20 — 30 damage off pure Colorless means it is never dead in the early game.

Dark Blastoiseわるいカメックス

A 70 HP holo Stage 2. Hydrocannon costs two Water for 30+, Rocket Tackle one Water and two Colorless for 40 — it starts working on two Water, which is what separates it from the ordinary Blastoise.

Dark Gyaradosわるいギャラドス

Ability Final Beam

A 70 HP holo Dark Stage 1. Ice Beam costs three Water for 30, and it carries the Pokémon Power Final Beam — the end of the two-step line that starts at Magikarp.

Magnemiteコイル

A 40 HP Magnemite. Tackle costs two Colorless for 20, Magnetism one Lightning and one Colorless for 10+ — the start of the line to Dark Magneton.

Voltorbビリリダマ

A 40 HP Voltorb. Speed Ball costs a single Lightning for 20 — among the cheapest 20 damage in the set. It evolves into Dark Electrode.

Dark Electrodeわるいマルマイン

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Rolling Tackle costs one Colorless for 10, Energy Bomb two Lightning for 30 — two cheap attacks, unusually straightforward for a Dark Pokémon.

Dark Jolteonわるいサンダース

A 50 HP Dark Stage 1. Lightning Flash costs one Lightning for 20, Thunder Attack two Lightning and one Colorless for 30. Twenty HP below the ordinary Jolteon, in exchange for speed.

Dark Magnetonわるいレアコイル

A 60 HP holo Dark Stage 1. Sonicboom hits for 40 and Magnetic Lines for 30 off two Lightning — two attacks at 40 and 30, an aggressively tuned Magneton.

Abraケーシィ

A 40 HP Abra. Both Vanish and the 10-damage Psyshock cost a single Psychic — a card built purely out of cheap options. It leads to Dark Kadabra and Dark Alakazam.

Slowpokeヤドン

A 50 HP Slowpoke. Afternoon Nap costs one Colorless, Headbutt one Psychic for 10 — groundwork for Dark Slowbro.

Drowzeeスリープ

Ability Long Distance Hypnosis

A 50 HP Drowzee. Nightmare costs one Psychic and one Colorless for 10, and it carries the Pokémon Power Long Distance Hypnosis — the base for Dark Hypno.

Dark Kadabraわるいユンゲラー

Ability Matter Exchange

A 50 HP Dark Stage 1. Mind Shock costs two Psychic for 30, and it carries the Pokémon Power Matter Exchange. Evolved from Abra, it leads on to Alakazam.

Dark Alakazamわるいフーディン

A 60 HP holo Dark Stage 2. Teleport Blast at 30 and Mind Shock at 40 both finish on two to three Psychic, and its HP stays at 60 — the Dark Pokémon tax on a Stage 2.

Dark Slowbroわるいヤドラン

Ability Reel In

A 60 HP holo Dark Stage 1. Fickle Attack costs two Psychic for 40 — exceptional efficiency for a Stage 1. It also carries the Pokémon Power Reel In.

Dark Hypnoわるいスリーパー

A 60 HP holo Dark Stage 1. Psypunch costs one Psychic for 20, Bench Manipulation two Psychic and one Colorless for 20× — a card that chips away cheaply.

Diglettディグダ

A 40 HP Diglett with zero retreat. Dig Under costs one Fighting, Scratch one Fighting and one Colorless for 20 — the start of the line to Dark Dugtrio.

Mankeyマンキー

A 40 HP Mankey with zero retreat. Mischief costs one Colorless, Anger one Colorless and one Fighting for 20+ — it evolves into Dark Primeape.

Machopワンリキー

A 50 HP Machop. Punch costs two Colorless for 20, Kick one Fighting and two Colorless for 30 — the first step of the three-stage line to Dark Machoke and Dark Machamp.

Dark Primeapeわるいオコリザル

Ability Frenzy

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Frenzied Attack costs two Fighting for 40, and it carries the Pokémon Power Frenzy — one attack, 40 damage, unusually aggressive for a Dark Pokémon.

Dark Machokeわるいゴーリキー

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Drag Off at 20 and Knock Back at 30 cost the same two Fighting and one Colorless. One step from Dark Machamp.

Dark Dugtrioわるいダグトリオ

Ability Sinkhole

A 50 HP holo Dark Stage 1. Knock Down costs two Fighting for 20+, and it carries the Pokémon Power Sinkhole — evolved from Diglett, it is the disruptive piece in a Fighting deck.

Dark Machampわるいカイリキー

A 70 HP holo Dark Stage 2 with retreat cost 3. Mega Punch costs two Fighting for 30, Fling three Fighting and one Colorless. Even as a Dark Stage 2, its HP stays capped at 70.

Rattataコラッタ

Ability Trickery

A 40 HP Rattata with zero retreat. Quick Attack costs one Colorless for 10+, and it carries the Pokémon Power Trickery. It evolves into Dark Raticate.

Dark Raticateわるいラッタ

A 50 HP Dark Stage 1. Gnaw costs two Colorless for 20, Hyper Fang three for 50 — reaching 50 on Colorless alone was rare in this set.

Meowthニャース

A 40 HP Meowth with one attack that deals no damage — Coin Hurl, at two Colorless. A card that exists to become Dark Persian.

Dark Persianわるいペルシアン

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1 with zero retreat, running Fascinate and a 10-damage Poison Claws. A card of the same name was also given out through the fan club that month; this is the pack version.

Eeveeイーブイ

A 40 HP Eevee. Tackle and Sand-attack both cost one or two Colorless. The second Eevee of the year, and this one evolves into the Dark versions of the three evolutions.

Porygonポリゴン

A 40 HP Porygon with zero retreat. Conversion 1 costs one Colorless, Psybeam three for 20. It arrived on a card in the same year the anime episode featuring it caused a national incident.

Dratiniミニリュウ

A 40 HP Dratini with a single attack — Wrap, two Colorless for 10. The first step of the three-stage line to Dark Dragonair and Dark Dragonite.

Dark Dragonairわるいハクリュー

Ability Evolutionary Light

A 60 HP Dark Stage 1. Tail Strike costs three Colorless for 20+, and it carries the Pokémon Power Evolutionary Light. One step from Dark Dragonite.

Dark Dragoniteわるいカイリュー

Ability Summon Minions

A 70 HP holo Dark Stage 2. Giant Tail costs four Colorless for 70, and it carries the Pokémon Power Summon Minions. Four Colorless for 70 is among the biggest hits in the set.

Sleep!ねむれ!ねむれ!

Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.

Flip a coin; on heads the Defending Pokémon is Asleep. No damage at all — but decks of this era valued a single skipped turn highly enough to run it.

Diggerバトル場は穴だらけ!

Flip a coin. If tails, do 10 damage to your Active Pokémon. If heads, your opponent flips a coin. If tails, your opponent does 10 damage to his or her Active Pokémon. If heads, you flip a coin. Keep doing this until a player gets tails.

A Trainer decided entirely by flips: tails puts 10 damage on your own Active Pokémon; heads makes your opponent flip, and if they miss, the 10 lands on them.

Goop Gas Attackまきちらせ!ベトベトガス

All Pokémon Powers stop working until the end of your opponent's next turn.

Stops every Pokémon Power until the end of your opponent's next turn. In a set where Dark Pokémon work through powers, this card was either devastating or dead depending on the matchup.

Nightly Garbage Run夜の廃品回収

Choose up to 3 Basic Pokémon cards, Evolution cards, and/or basic Energy cards from your discard pile. Show them to your opponent and shuffle them into your deck.

Pick up to three Basic Pokémon, Evolution cards and/or basic Energy cards from your discard pile and shuffle them back in. Dark cards burn through the discard, so this is what stops a deck from running dry.

Challenge!たたきつけろ!挑戦状

Ask your opponent if he or she accepts your challenge. If your opponent declines (or if both Benches are full), draw 2 cards. If your opponent accepts, each of you searches your decks for any number of Basic Pokémon cards and puts them face down onto your Benches. (A player can't do this if his or her Bench is full.) When you both have finished, shuffle your decks and turn those cards face up.

You challenge your opponent: if they decline, you draw two cards; if they accept, they flip a coin. A negotiation rather than a rule — very much a 1997 idea.

Imposter Oak's Revengeにせオーキドの逆襲

Discard a card from your hand in order to play this card. Your opponent shuffles his or her hand into his or her deck, then draws 4 cards.

Discard one card to play it: your opponent shuffles their hand into their deck and draws four. It breaks their hand — and hands them four fresh cards to do it.

The Boss's Wayボスのやりかた

Search your deck for an Evolution card with Dark in its name. Show it to your opponent and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

Search your deck for an Evolution card with Dark in its name. A search card written specifically for decks built on Dark Pokémon.

Rocket's Sneak Attackロケット団のおねーさん

Look at your opponent's hand. If he or she has any Trainer cards, choose 1 of them. Your opponent shuffles that card into his or her deck.

Look at your opponent's hand and shuffle one Trainer card back into their deck — a holo Trainer that takes one card out of their plan, exactly the kind of interference this set runs on.

Here Comes Team Rocket!ロケット団参上!

Each player plays with his or her Prize cards face up for the rest of the game.

The set's secret card. It changes a rule: both players play with their Prize cards face up for the rest of the game. Numbered 062, it sits inside the ordinary run of 65.

Potion Energyきずぐすり配合エネルギー

If you play this card from your hand, remove 1 damage counter from the Pokémon you attach it to, if it has any. Potion Energy provides Colorless energy. (Doesn't count as a basic Energy card.)

An Energy that removes one damage counter from the Pokémon it is attached to, and provides Colorless. Dark Pokémon run low on HP, so this one counter often decided whether something survived.

Full Heal Energyなんでもなおし配合エネルギー

If you play this card from your hand, the Pokémon you attach it to is no longer Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned. Full Heal Energy provides Colorless energy. (Doesn't count as a basic Energy card.)

An Energy that clears Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed and Poisoned from the Pokémon it is attached to, while providing Colorless. It was the usual answer to decks that won by inflicting conditions.

Rainbow Energyレインボーエネルギー

Attach Rainbow Energy to 1 of your Pokémon. While in play, Rainbow Energy counts as every type of basic Energy but only provides 1 Energy at a time. (Doesn't count as a basic Energy card when not in play.) When you attach this card from your hand to 1 of your Pokémon, it does 10 damage to that Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance.)

An Energy that counts as every type of basic Energy — but only ever provides one at a time. New in this set, and the card that made multi-colour decks practical for the first time.