1998 Japanese edition almanac

Brock's Zubatタケシのズバット

40 HP with zero retreat. Wing Attack costs a single Colorless for 10, so it can act on the first turn without any Grass attached. Only two of Brock's eighteen cards are Grass, and this is one of them.

Erika's Oddishエリカのナゾノクサ

50 HP. The one-Grass attack deals no damage; 20 requires Grass plus Colorless. There is a second Erika's Oddish in this set, so which one you run more of changes how the line attacks.

Erika's Oddishエリカのナゾノクサ

40 HP and ten damage for one Grass — it can act every turn off a single energy, which makes it the faster of the two Oddish.

Erika's Parasエリカのパラス

50 HP. Ten damage for one Colorless is cheap, while the two-Grass Poison Spore goes after status. A card to hold the board while you work toward Parasect.

Erika's Bellsproutエリカのマダツボミ

50 HP and 20 damage off a single Colorless — it attacks without any Grass attached, which makes it one of the easier early attackers in the line.

Erika's Tangelaエリカのモンジャラ

60 HP but a retreat cost of 2. Tough for a Basic, yet expensive to pull back once it is out front.

Erika's Bulbasaurエリカのフシギダネ

50 HP. Alongside ten damage for one Grass, the two-Grass Errand-Running searches the deck — a card that fixes its own hand while attacking, unusual for the time.

Brock's Golbatタケシのゴルバット

A 70 HP Stage 1 that runs entirely on Colorless, so it slots into a Fighting deck unchanged. Spiral Dive only does 10 for three, but with retreat 1 it can sit and grind.

Erika's Gloomエリカのクサイハナ

A 60 HP Stage 1. One Grass heals, three Grass inflicts status — built to keep the board alive rather than push damage, on the way up to Vileplume.

Erika's Bellsproutエリカのマダツボミ

40 HP with a single attack: ten for one Grass. Same name as 005 but different HP and rarity — this one is the ◆ printing. In practice 005 is the easier of the two to build with.

Erika's Weepinbellエリカのウツドン

A 60 HP Stage 1 with honest ratios — ten for one Grass, twenty for two — so nothing is wasted on the way to Victreebel.

Erika's Exeggcuteエリカのタマタマ

50 HP. Deflector costs one Psychic, Egg Bomb Grass plus Colorless. A single Psychic energy was worth a slot just for this — a very 1998 arrangement.

Erika's Exeggutorエリカのナッシー

A 70 HP Stage 1 with Psychic Exchange — one Psychic lets you look at their hand — and a three-Grass Stomp for 30+. It buys information as well as damage.

Erika's Vileplumeエリカのラフレシア

Erika's ace: an 80 HP Stage 2 holo. Mega Drain costs three Grass for 30 and heals — it removes damage while attacking — but three energy is heavy, so it cannot come down early.

Erika's Victreebelエリカのウツボット

An 80 HP Stage 2 doing 50 for three Grass. No healing, no status — in exchange it hits 20 harder than Vileplume, straight up.

Rocket's ScytherR団のストライク

Only three Team Rocket cards appear in this set, and this holo is one of them. One Grass holds the board, three Grass pays 40. A holo on a non-Leader Pokémon says a lot about this set.

Brock's Vulpixタケシのロコン

50 HP. One Colorless buys Hypnotic Gaze; two Fire pay 20. Brock is a Fighting Leader but keeps a Fire Vulpix too — this and 018 are his only Fire cards.

Brock's Vulpixタケシのロコン

40 HP and 20 damage off a single Fire — lighter than 017, better for an early push. With two cards sharing this name, you decide the split before you build.

Brock's Ninetalesタケシのキュウコン

A 70 HP Stage 1 holo doing 30 for two Fire — a straightforward line for this set. Which of the two Vulpix you evolve from decides when it can arrive.

Rocket's MoltresR団のファイヤー

A Basic holo Moltres: 40 damage for three Fire. Holo Basics were rare then, and being able to put a big card down without spending turns on evolution is what made it playable.

Misty's Psyduckカスミのコダック

60 HP — tough for a Basic — but its only attack costs a single Psychic and deals no damage. It exists to sit there until you can evolve into Golduck.

Misty's Poliwagカスミのニョロモ

50 HP. 20 damage for one Water is cheap, and the two-Water Amnesia shuts off an attack. All fifteen of Misty's cards are Water, and this is no exception.

Misty's Seelカスミのパウワウ

50 HP. Ten for one Water, ten for Water plus Colorless — cheap either way and light on damage. A body to place early on the way to Dewgong.

Misty's Horseaカスミのタッツー

50 HP with zero retreat. Twenty for two Water and nothing else — but retreating is free, so you can move it in and out while building toward Seadra.

Misty's Horseaカスミのタッツー

40 HP and ten for one Water — a step lighter than 024, so it moves earlier. With two Horsea sharing this name, which one you run thicker changes the tempo.

Misty's Goldeenカスミのトサキント

40 HP. The one-Colorless Fury Attack scales on coin flips and works before any Water is attached; one Water buys Supersonic for confusion. A flexible little card.

Misty's Staryuカスミのヒトデマン

40 HP and 20 damage off a single Water. It also went out early as the CoroCoro March issue insert, so both an insert and a pack version exist.

Misty's Magikarpカスミのコイキング

30 HP — among the softest in the set. One Colorless buys Play Dead to survive a turn, another pays for Leap at 10. It exists to be evolved into Gyarados.

Misty's Poliwhirlカスミのニョロゾ

A 70 HP Stage 1: 20 for Water plus Colorless, 30+ for three Colorless. It works without loading up on Water, which makes it an easy mid-step.

Misty's Tentacoolカスミのメノクラゲ

50 HP with a single attack: 20 for Water plus Colorless. A body to hold the board until it becomes Tentacruel. A card of the same name also went out as the November issue insert.

Misty's Dewgongカスミのジュゴン

An 80 HP Stage 1 whose main attack is 60 for four Water. Take Down recoils, but 60 is among the higher numbers in this set.

Misty's Golduckカスミのゴルダック

A holo Stage 1 doing 40 for just Water plus Colorless — cheap for that damage. One Psychic also unlocks Super Removal, which strips energy off the opponent.

Misty's Tentacruelカスミのドククラゲ

A 70 HP holo with a single four-Water attack. Retreat cost 0 means once it is out, it stays out.

Misty's Seadraカスミのシードラ

A 70 HP holo with two gears: 20 for one Water, 30+ for three. Which of the two Horsea you evolve from decides the turn it can arrive.

Misty's Gyaradosカスミのギャラドス

The heaviest hitter in the set: 100 HP and 70 damage for four Water. It must be evolved from a 30 HP Magikarp, so protecting that Magikarp becomes the deck's whole design.

Lt. Surge's Pikachuマチスのピカチュウ

40 HP with a single attack: 10+ for two Colorless. It swings without any Lightning attached, so it can lead in a Surge deck.

Lt. Surge's Magnemiteマチスのコイル

40 HP — ten for one Lightning, twenty for two Colorless, both cheap. A step toward Magneton.

Lt. Surge's Voltorbマチスのビリリダマ

40 HP with two coin-flip attacks, either working off one Lightning. The average is low, but it is never a bad card to have down early.

Lt. Surge's Magnemiteマチスのコイル

30 HP — soft — but ten for one Lightning and twenty for two. Same name as 037, and this one is the ◆ printing.

Lt. Surge's Magnetonマチスのレアコイル

A 70 HP holo doing 50 for four Lightning — the heaviest Lightning hit in the set, and the end point of a Surge deck.

Lt. Surge's Electabuzzマチスのエレブー

A Basic holo at 70 HP: Discharge does 30× for two Lightning. A big card without spending turns on evolution. A card of the same name had already gone out as the July issue insert.

Lt. Surge's Jolteonマチスのサンダース

A 70 HP Stage 1: 20 for Lightning plus Colorless, 30+ for three Lightning. A card of the same name also came as the November issue insert.

Brock's Sandshrewタケシのサンド

50 HP with one attack: 20 for two Fighting. One of Brock's twelve Fighting cards, made to be placed early.

Brock's Diglettタケシのディグダ

40 HP. The one-Fighting Surprise Attack rides a coin flip, and 40 costs Fighting plus Colorless — cheap, with a wide swing.

Brock's Mankeyタケシのマンキー

40 HP and free retreat. One Colorless buys Fidget to stall; Karate Chop for Fighting plus Colorless is the real attack. A same-named card also came as the November insert.

Brock's Geodudeタケシのイシツブテ

50 HP with one attack: 10× for a single Fighting. Damage scales on flips, giving an early, steady number.

Brock's Geodudeタケシのイシツブテ

40 HP. One Fighting buys Call for Friend, fetching a Basic from the deck to build the bench. One of two cards sharing this name.

Brock's Onixタケシのイワーク

100 HP on a Basic — among the toughest cards here. Retreat 3 makes it sluggish and 30 costs three Fighting. It is a wall, and it had already appeared as the February CoroCoro insert.

Brock's Rhyhornタケシのサイホーン

A 70 HP Basic with one attack, Drill Tackle, for Fighting plus Colorless. Retreat 3 is heavy, so it is meant to stay put — and it is the starting point for Rhydon.

Brock's Sandslashタケシのサンドパン

A 70 HP Stage 1. 20 for Fighting plus Colorless is cheap, and the second attack costs two Fighting. Evolving from Sandshrew raises the damage without slowing the tempo.

Brock's Primeapeタケシのオコリザル

A 70 HP Stage 1 with a single attack: 60 for three Fighting. No recoil, but three energy is heavy — you plan for the two turns it takes to come out of Mankey.

Brock's Gravelerタケシのゴローン

A 70 HP Stage 1 with both gears covered: 20 for two Colorless, 50 for three Fighting. A waypoint on the road to Golem.

Brock's Golemタケシのゴローニャ

Only three Stage 2 cards exist in this set, and this is one. 90 HP, 20 for three Fighting and 50 for four. Retreat 4 is the heaviest here — once it is out, it is not coming back.

Rocket's HitmonchanR団のエビワラー

One of only three Team Rocket cards here: a 60 HP Basic holo. One Fighting buys Crosscounter, three pay 50 — one card that covers both ends, which makes it an easy attacker to run.

Brock's Rhydonタケシのサイドン

An 80 HP Stage 1 holo with a single four-Fighting attack. The cost is heavy, but 80 HP lets it hold the front line while you pay for it.

Lt. Surge's Rattataマチスのコラッタ

30 HP and free retreat. One Colorless buys Focus Energy to set up the deck; two Colorless pay for 10+. A light opener for a Surge deck.

Lt. Surge's Spearowマチスのオニスズメ

50 HP and free retreat. Ten for one Colorless on Whirlwind, then Razor Wind for two. Zero retreat keeps the early turns flexible.

Erika's Jigglypuffエリカのプリン

50 HP, with one Colorless buying Group Therapy to dig through the deck and two paying for Pulled Punch. One of the few Colorless cards in Erika's line.

Lt. Surge's Raticateマチスのラッタ

A 60 HP Stage 1 with 40 damage for two Colorless. Double-edge recoils, but for an attack that needs no typed energy it hits high.

Erika's Clefairyエリカのピッピ

50 HP. One Colorless buys Lunar Power, two pay for 20. A body to place early on the way to Clefable.

Brock's Lickitungタケシのベロリンガ

80 HP on a Basic — unusually tough. Twenty for two Colorless, 30× for three. Retreat 3 means it stays where you put it.

Lt. Surge's Eeveeマチスのイーブイ

40 HP. One Colorless buys Surprise, two pay for 20. A light Colorless slot in a Surge deck.

Erika's Dratiniエリカのミニリュウ

40 HP with one attack: 10+ for two Colorless. Five of Erika's eighteen cards are Colorless, and this Dragon-type is one of them. A same-named card also came as the July insert.

Lt. Surge's Fearowマチスのオニドリル

A 70 HP Stage 1 holo with retreat 0. Ten-times for two Colorless, 30 for three. Free retreat on a holo makes it easy to keep in play, which suits its cheap attacks.

Erika's Clefableエリカのピクシー

A 70 HP Stage 1 holo. One Colorless buys Fairy Power, three pay for 30. It works at both ends of the curve coming out of Clefairy.

Erika's Dragonairエリカのハクリュー

An 80 HP Stage 1 holo: 30 for three Colorless, plus a four-Colorless Take Away. The costs are heavy, but it fits into any deck without matching a type — that is the appeal.

Energy Flowエネルギーサーキュレート

For each of your Pokémon, you may return any number of Energy cards attached to it to your hand.

Return any number of Energy cards from your Pokémon to your hand — a recall rather than a move, so it lets you rebuild how energy sits on the board.

Misty's Duelカスミの勝負

You and your opponent play a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. The winner shuffles his or her hand into his or her deck and draws a new hand of 5 cards. (If you don't know how to play Rock-Paper-Scissors, flip a coin to decide who's the winner.)

Play rock-paper-scissors; the winner shuffles their hand in and draws five. It cuts both ways, so it is a reset for when your hand is bad.

Misty's Tearsカスミのなみだ

Discard 1 of the other cards in your hand in order to search your deck for up to 2 Water Energy cards. Show those cards to your opponent, then put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

Discard one card to fetch up to two Water Energy from the deck. Unshowy, but it is how a Misty deck keeps its energy coming.

Narrow Gymせまいジム

This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. No player may have more than 4 Pokémon on his or her Bench. When this card is played, if a player has 5 Pokémon on his or her Bench, that player chooses 1 of them and returns it and all cards attached to it to his or her hand. (If both players have to return a Pokémon, your opponent returns a Pokémon first.)

A Stadium that caps both players at four Benched Pokémon. Painful for wide decks, irrelevant for narrow ones.

Recall思い出させる

For your attack this turn, your Active Pokémon can use any attack from its Basic Pokémon card or any Evolution card attached to it. (You still have to pay for that attack's Energy cost.)

Lets your Active Pokémon use an attack from its Basic or any attached Evolution card this turn. You still pay the energy, but not losing the earlier attacks after evolving matters.

Erika's Maidsエリカのお付き

Trade 2 of the other cards in your hand for up to 2 Basic Pokémon and/or Evolution cards with Erika in their names from your deck. Show those cards to your opponent, then put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

Trade two cards in hand for up to two Erika-named cards from the deck. The consistency card for an Erika build.

Erika's Perfumeエリカの香水

Look at your opponent's hand. If he or she has any Basic Pokémon cards there, you may put any number of them onto your opponent's Bench (as long as there's room).

Look at their hand and, if there are Basic Pokémon in it, put any number onto their Bench. An odd effect — you widen their board for them.

Charityお上品攻撃

Attach Charity to your Active Pokémon. Unless that Pokémon gets Knocked Out, return Charity to your hand at the end of your turn. If that Pokémon attacks and does damage to the Defending Pokémon, you may reduce that damage by any amount (rounded to the nearest 10).

Attach it to your Active Pokémon and reduce the damage it deals by any amount. Doing less damage means killing less — this is a card for buying time.

Misty's Wrathカスミのいかり

Look at the top 7 cards of your deck. Choose 2 of those cards and put them into your hand. Discard the rest.

Look at the top seven, take two, discard the rest. Seven is deep enough that you usually find what you need.

Vermilion City Gymクチバシティジム

This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. Whenever a player attacks with a Pokémon with Lt. Surge in its name, he or she may flip a coin. If heads, and if that Pokémon's attack does damage to the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), that attack does 10 more damage to the Defending Pokémon. If tails, the attacking Pokémon does 10 damage to itself in addition to whatever its attack usually does.

A Stadium that gives Lt. Surge-named Pokémon a coin flip for extra damage when they attack. A boost card aimed at one deck.

Brock's Training Methodタケシの育て方

Search your deck for a Basic Pokémon or Evolution card with Brock in its name. Show that card to your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

Fetch one Brock-named card from the deck — Basic or Evolution. It steadies the early turns.

Celadon City Gymタマムシシティジム

This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. During each player's turn, that player may choose to discard an Energy card attached to 1 of his or her Pokémon with Erika in its name. If that player does so, that Pokémon is no longer Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned.

A Stadium where discarding an Energy from an Erika-named Pokémon buys an effect. Built for an Erika deck.

Pewter City Gymニビシティジム

This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. Don't apply Resistance to any attacks made by Pokémon with Brock in their names.

A Stadium where attacks from Brock-named Pokémon ignore Resistance. It stops Fighting decks from being walled off.

Cerulean City Gymハナダシティジム

This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. Each player pays Colorless less to retreat his or her Pokémon if it has Misty in its name.

A Stadium that cuts one Colorless off the retreat cost of Misty-named Pokémon — for decks that switch a lot.

Lt. Surge's Treatyマチスの交渉

Your opponent chooses 1 of the following: everyone chooses 1 of his or her own Prizes and put it into his or her hand, or you draw a card.

The opponent picks one of two outcomes: both players take a Prize into hand, or you draw a card. Since they choose, you play it when either result is fine.

Good Manners礼儀作法

In order to play this card, you can't have any Basic Pokémon cards in your hand. Show your hand to your opponent, then search your deck for a Basic Pokémon card, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

Playable only if you hold no Basic Pokémon, and it fetches one from the deck. Conditional, but it is there to save a dead opening hand.

Erikaエリカ

You may draw up to 3 cards, then your opponent may draw up to 3 cards.

Draw up to three, then the opponent draws up to three. An even trade for when you need more cards.

Erika's Kindnessエリカの親切

Remove 2 damage counters from each Pokémon (yours and your opponent's) with any damage counters on it. If a Pokémon has just 1 damage counter, remove it.

Remove two damage counters from every Pokémon on both sides. It heals them too, so you play it when you are the one bleeding.

Mistyカスミ

Discard 2 of the other cards in your hand in order to play this card. If this turn's attack does damage to the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), and if the attacking Pokémon has Misty in its name, the attack does 20 more damage to the Defending Pokémon.

Discard two cards and a Misty-named Pokémon's attack does 20 more that turn. A one-turn damage boost.

Misty's Wishカスミのわがまま

Look at 1 of your Prize cards. Then, ask your opponent if you may switch that card with 1 of the cards in your hand. If your opponent accepts and if you have any other cards in your hand, switch those cards. If your opponent declines, return the Prize card face down and draw a card.

Look at one of your Prizes and ask to swap it for a card in hand. If they refuse, it goes back — not guaranteed, but the information is.

Chaos Gym錯乱ジム

This card stays in play after being played. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. Whenever a player plays a Trainer card other than a Stadium card, he or she flips a coin. If heads, that player plays that card normally. If tails, the player can't play that card. If the card isn't put into play, the player's opponent may use that card instead, if he or she does everything required in order to play that card (like discarding cards). Either way, the card goes to its owner's discard pile.

A Stadium that flips a coin every time a Trainer is played and changes the result on tails. It makes decks less consistent, so the player using it pays too.

Secret Missionスパイ作戦

Look at your opponent's hand. Then, you may discard as many other cards as you want from your hand and draw that many cards.

Look at their hand, then discard any number of your own cards and draw that many. It swaps the quality of your hand.

Brockタケシ

Remove 1 damage counter from each of your Pokémon that has any damage counters on it.

Remove one damage counter from each of your Pokémon — and only yours. Straightforwardly good in a Brock deck.

Brock's Protectionタケシの保護

Attach Brock's Protection to 1 of your Pokémon with Brock in its name. Energy cards attached to that Pokémon can't be removed by your opponent's attacks or Trainer cards. (This doesn't stop the rest of the attack or Trainer card from working normally.)

Attached to a Brock-named Pokémon, its Energy can no longer be stripped by the opponent. A direct answer to energy removal.

Resistance Gym抵抗力低下ジム

This card stays in play after being played. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. Each Pokémon's Resistance is reduced by 20. (If a Pokémon's Resistance is -30, it becomes -10.)

A Stadium that reduces every Pokémon's Resistance by 20 (so -30 becomes -10). The card you play when Resistance is what is stopping you.

Lt. Surgeマチス

You can play this card only if you have at least 1 Basic Pokémon card in your hand. Put a Basic Pokémon card from your hand into play as your Active Pokémon. Put your old Active Pokémon onto your Bench. (You can't play this card if your Bench is full.)

Put a Basic from your hand straight into the Active spot. It is not a switch but a new arrival, so you skip the retreat cost entirely.

Lt. Surge's Secret Planマチスの秘策

Put 1 card from your hand face down onto your Bench. (You can't play this card if your Bench is full.) Treat that card as a Basic Pokémon as long as it's face down. Flip the card if either player needs to know what it is in order to use an attack, a Pokémon Power, or a Trainer card. Flip the card if it ever uses an attack or Pokémon Power, evolves, retreats, is damaged by an attack, or is otherwise affected by an attack. At any time during your turn, you may flip the card over. When you flip that card over, if it isn't a Basic Pokémon, discard it and all cards attached to it.

Place a card face down on your Bench and treat it as a Basic Pokémon. The opponent cannot see what it is until it is revealed.

No Removal Gymリムーブ禁止ジム

This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. A player must discard 2 cards from his or her hand in order to play an Energy Removal or Super Energy Removal card.

A Stadium that makes Energy Removal cost two extra cards from hand. Protection for the side getting stripped.

The Rocket's Training Gymロケット団の特訓ジム

This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. Each player pays Colorless more to retreat his or her Active Pokémon.

A Stadium that adds one Colorless to every retreat cost. For decks that want to lock switching down.

The Rocket's Trapロケット団のワナ

Flip a coin. If heads, choose up to 3 cards at random from your opponent's hand (don't look at them). Your opponent shuffles those cards into his or her deck.

The only holo Trainer in the set. On heads, pick up to three cards at random from their hand — without looking — and shuffle them back. For its time, a strong way to break a hand apart.