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Last Updated On: December 5th, 2023
- Pokémon Level: Beginner
- Best for: Players, Collectors
Pokémon cards are a lot of fun to get involved with, no matter if you’re interested in investing, collecting, or playing competitively.
It can be a bit of a tricky hobby to start off with, though.
There are lots of different types of Pokémon cards, each varying in function and aesthetic. In this guide, we’ll be breaking down every kind of Pokémon card – both past and present – and going over the most important things to know about them, along with some other foundational tips on how to get the most out of your Pokémon.
It’s a ton to digest, but hopefully this serves as a great resource guide to refer to as needed. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Overview of Types
Pokémon cards typically fall into one of three main categories:
- Pokémon
- Energy
- Trainer
There are lots of sub-types and variants for each main category, though, which is where issues can arise for newer fans looking to understand the different types of Pokémon cards in their deck.
Here, we’ll be going over each type in depth and looking at what you need to know from a foundational perspective. If you’re brand new to Pokémon, check out this guide for a complete introduction. We won’t be examining any complex deck-building strategies or competitive concepts here, but do stay tuned if that’s something you’re keen on.
It’s important to highlight not every card type in this guide is currently eligible for tournament play or even featured in current sets. We’ve included them all to be comprehensive, but some card types aren’t as relevant for current-day tournaments or events as they once were.
We’ll also reference the introduction date for every card type where possible. Generally, if a card type is niche and it was introduced more than a year ago, it’s no longer eligible for tournament play. That doesn’t mean it’s not a valuable type for collectors and investors, however.
Keep an eye out for a note reading ‘currently in play‘ under the sub-categories. If you see this, it means these cards are relevant and being featured in current sets.
Pokémon Card Variants
Out of the main Pokémon card categories, the type with the most variants is the actual Pokémon themselves. By this, we mean the literal Pokémon cards featuring the creatures and their attacks.
If you’re planning to play matches, make sure to read your cards carefully before putting them into your deck. Some of the categories and types overlap – for example, Baby is a sub-category of Basic – but they’re all important to mention.
Check out the letters in the left-hand corner of the card, too. These indicate whether you can use them in current tournaments or not. These are called Regulation Marks. As noted earlier, some of the variants listed below are not current/modern variants.
Let’s begin in alphabetical order with Basic cards!
Basic
Currently in play.
Starting off simple, a Basic Pokémon card is a standard Pokémon that has not been evolved. They can be played directly from your hand into your Bench without requiring any special cards or evolutions. You can go on to evolve Basic Pokémon into their various stages if applicable.
Unfamiliar with the concept of evolution in Pokémon? Some Pokémon have multiple forms/stages they can change into, making them more powerful. In the TCG, this is done by waiting a turn then playing a Stage 1 Pokémon on top of the relevant Basic Pokémon – for example, a Basic Eevee card could be evolved into a Stage 1 Umbreon, making it stronger and giving it access to new kinds of moves.
You can tell if a Pokémon card is a Basic card as it’ll say BASIC in the top left hand corner.
Basic Pokémon cards can be found in every Pokémon TCG set out there. They may not seem like the most exciting cards as a competitive player, but having access to the right Basic Pokémon can completely change the tide of a battle.
Baby
Currently in play.
In the Pokémon video games, Baby Pokémon are a specific category of Pokémon known for being small, cute, and pre-evolution versions of popular Pokémon. For example, Pichu is the Baby Pokémon which comes before Pikachu.
This is pretty much how it works in the TCG.
Baby Pokémon cards are pre-evolution variants of Pokémon that fall into the wider category of Basic Pokémon, meaning one of their primary functions is to evolve.
The majority of Baby cards have low Health Points (HP) and low impact, but some of them have strangely powerful moves – like the Neo Discovery Igglybuff (shown above) which can end the opponent’s turn with a coin flip.
BREAK
Originally introduced in the 2015 set BREAKthrough, BREAK Pokémon cards refer to a special evolution stage. They’re gorgeous cards, with an almost all-gold holofoil style and unique method of play.
While there are some exceptions to this rule, Pokémon who can evolve generally go from Basic to Stage 1, or Basic to Stage 1 to Stage 2. It’s rare for there to be more steps in the evolution chain than this.
With a striking BREAK graphic in the card name and a sideways art orientation, BREAK cards are certainly interesting collector pieces.
Think of BREAK cards as an extra evolution step, after Stage 1 and Stage 2. They’re played by putting them on top of the illustration section of the original card, so you can still see the original card text but the BREAK image looks like the card illustration.
BREAK cards can boost HP, or change attacks and abilities, but they retain the strengths/weaknesses, main attacks/abilities, and retreat costs of the previous evolution.
A retreat cost is simply how many Energy cards it costs to take a Pokémon back out of active play.
They haven’t been featured in a set since 2016.
Crystal
Crystal Pokémon cards are rare and retired, but they’re incredibly interesting. Originally introduced in the Aquapolis set from the Japanese e-Series of cards back in 2002, these Pokémon are Colorless (this is the plain Energy type) but have attacks with three unique types of Energy requirements.
Crystal Pokémon also have the Crystal Type Poké-Body ability.
A Poké-Body ability activates when a Pokémon becomes active, then it stops as soon as the Pokémon becomes inactive. This is an old feature you won’t see on modern cards – nowadays, it’s simply called an ability.
This Poké-Body ability means that, when an Energy card is attached to the Pokémon, the Pokémon’s type becomes the same as the Energy card until the end of the turn.
Delta (δ)
Delta Pokémon are a specific, retired variant predominantly used in 2005 and 2006 sets like EX Delta Species and EX Dragon Frontiers.
A Delta Pokémon has an unusual type – for example, Charmander δ falls into the Lightning type instead of the Fire type. The weaknesses of the original type still remain e.g. Charmander δ is still weak to Water attacks.
Evolution
Currently in play.
This category technically looks at two different card types – Stage 1 cards and Stage 2 cards.
As mentioned earlier, Pokémon can evolve into different forms. Typically, they go from Basic to Stage 1 and Stage 2, unless there is an Evolution variant available like a BREAK Pokémon for example.
Evolving Pokémon during a match is as simple as putting a Stage 1 card on top of a Basic card or putting a Stage 2 card on top of a Stage 1 card. These must be from the same evolution chain – for example, Pikachu can evolve into Raichu, but Eevee can’t evolve into Giratina. Pokémon cannot evolve the same turn they’re played.
Evolution chain simply refers to a family of Pokémon. If Basic Pokémon X evolves into Stage 1 Pokémon X and then into Stage 2 Pokémon X, that’s an evolution chain.
Evolving a Pokémon tends to give it better stats and HP, and access to a stronger move set, too. The Pokémon changes in appearance and name as well, but not much else changes otherwise. The Pokémon’s type usually stays the same e.g. a Dark type Pokémon will generally evolve into a Dark type Pokémon.
EX Variants
Currently in play.
Of the many different types of Pokémon cards, the EX mechanics are somewhat deceptive in their complexity and variation.
In general, a Pokémon EX card is an extra powerful version of a standard Pokémon card. The drawback to using an EX Pokémon is that if it gets knocked out, your opponent takes two Prize Cards instead of one.
Prize Cards are the win condition in Pokémon. Each player starts with six of their cards face down – if you knock out an opponent’s Pokémon, you take a Prize Card from your pile of six. First person to take all six Prize Cards wins, which is why EX cards can be risky.
The confusing element with EX variants is the multiple changes in syntax over the years. You can find Pokémon ex, Pokémon-ex, Pokémon EX, Pokémon-EX, and even Pokémon M-EX. Some of these exist due to how the names are translated between languages and others have just been changed in between sets.
The important thing to note is that these are all (except M-EX) fundamentally the same.
EX variants are extra strong versions of standard Pokémon, with the difference being simply when the cards were made. Generally, EX cards are stronger than ex cards. EX cards are often Basic cards, whereas ex cards have to be evolved in order for them to be played.
You’ll be able to tell which set/year a card is from based on whether the Pokémon name is formatted with capital letters and/or a hyphen. With the introduction of Scarlet and Violet sets this year, ex cards are very much back in play and viable – if you see one in a new Booster Pack, it’s great news as a competitive player.
The M-EX variant simply means Mega EX.
The key difference with M-EX Pokémon is that they evolve from an -EX form. Evolving a Pokémon-EX into a Pokémon M-EX ends your turn. This is different to current EX variants, which can be played as Basic Pokémon without evolution being required.
GX Variants
As you may be able to guess, GX cards are very similar to EX cards. They can be found written as Pokémon GX or Pokémon-GX, and they’re powerful iterations of standard Pokémon with strong GX abilities.
As with EX Pokémon, it’s important to note the spelling/formatting of the card name does not matter. GX and -GX cards are fundamentally the same.
When GX Pokémon are knocked out, two Prize Cards are taken.
GX Pokémon were first introduced in the Sun and Moon series. GX cards are known for being gorgeous, with rich full art designs. Some of them feature Ultra Beasts – extradimensional Pokémon first introduced into the franchise with the Sun and Moon game remakes – which makes them worthwhile pick-ups for collectors.
LEGEND
Pokémon LEGEND cards are stunning full art cards featuring (unsurprisingly) legendary Pokémon. They were introduced in the HeartGold and SoulSilver expansion back in 2009/2010, with Kyogre and Groudon LEGEND being one of the most popular.
They’re similar to LV. X Pokémon, which we’ll look at in a moment, and they have a sideways orientation with artwork spreading across two cards. Both halves of the LEGEND card must be in play for the Pokémon to be eligible in battle.
Light and Dark
Light and Dark Pokémon are an interesting dual variant typing.
Dark Pokémon were first introduced with the Team Rocket set back in 1997, and Light Pokémon were first introduced in the Neo Destiny set in 2001.
The main differences to pay attention to with Light/Dark Pokémon is the aesthetic (Light Pokémon cards feature serene, heavenly art and Dark cards feature the opposite) and their attacks. Light Pokémon often have high HP and less aggressive abilities, and Dark Pokémon often have lower HP and high potential damage output.
LV. X
LV. X (read: Level X) Pokémon were first introduced in the Diamond and Pearl expansion in 2006, and they’re a great way to enhance regular Pokémon cards.
Essentially, an LV. X Pokémon card can be placed on top of a Pokémon card with the same name, in a similar fashion to an evolution card. This adds extra abilities and power to the existing Pokémon.
LV. X Pokémon are quite similar to EX Pokémon in aesthetic and function, but they don’t reward extra Prize Cards when knocked out.
Owner’s Pokémon
Owner’s Pokémon cards joined the TCG back in 1998 and they’re a popular card variant amongst collectors. The Pokémon displayed in these card designs are Pokémon which belong to iconic characters from the video games and anime. For example, Brock’s Onix is a popular one.
You may only have four of a specific Owner’s Pokémon card in your deck, but you can have four of the non-Owner versions of the same Pokémon as well. For example, four Dittos and four Koga’s Dittos would be fine. This is due to the rule of four.
If you’re unfamiliar with the trading card game rules, you’re only allowed four of any specific Pokémon card in your deck. If you have three Dark Charizards for example (lucky) you’d only be allowed one more Dark Charizard. A Charizard EX would be fine, though, as this is not the same card type even though it still features Charizard.
An Owner’s Basic Pokémon must evolve into an Owner’s Stage 1 Pokémon and so on. This means you could have Brock’s Rhyhorn – but you couldn’t evolve it into Rhydon. You’d have to evolve it into Brock’s Rhydon specifically.
Prime
Prime Pokémon are a pretty average Pokémon card variant.
They have no specific rules or mechanics affecting their usage, as they’re just slightly stronger versions of regular cards with close-up artwork and intricate holofoil details. Prime cards were introduced into the game with HeartGold and SoulSilver, and you’re unlikely to come across many unless you’re a dedicated collector.
Prism (♦️)
Prism (♦️) cards were introduced into the TCG in 2017 and they have a unique aesthetic. They feature black borders, the Prism icon in the card name and background, and some rainbow elements. They’re usually very powerful.
The rule of four does not apply here, as players cannot have multiple Prism cards in their deck of a specific name. They could have four Arceus cards, for example, but only one Arceus ♦️ alongside. The same player could also have a Giratina Prism in their deck without issue given they’re different Pokémon.
Another quirk of Prism cards is that they go to the Lost Zone instead of the Discard Pile.
The Lost Zone is essentially a more advanced version of the Discard Pile. Cards in this area cannot be retrieved in any way, shape, or form, and are considered to be outside of the area of play permanently.
It’s important to note Prism Energy cards and Trainer cards exist, too.
Radiant
Radiant Pokémon are similar to Light/Dark Pokémon. They’re visually striking card variants, with some featuring Shiny Pokémon, and holofoil details. They’re always Basic Pokémon and were introduced in the Astral Radiance set.
The Radiant Pokémon rule (shown on the cards above) means you cannot have more than one Radiant Pokémon per deck. You may have up to four Steelix and one Radiant Steelix, for example, but no more Radiant Steelix cards even if you got rid of regular Steelix cards.
Restored
If you’re a fan of Pokémon which originated from Fossils like Kabutops and Aerodactyl, you’ll like Restored Pokémon cards.
These different types of Pokémon cards were introduced in the Noble Victories set. To use them in battles, you had to have the associated Fossil Item card, but the mechanics are no longer relevant in modern day play.
For example, the Restored Archen card shown above would’ve needed the Plume Fossil card in order to be active. The Plume Fossil card would let the player search the bottom of their deck to find Archen and put it into play. Restored Archen could not be played if this did not happen.
Nonetheless, Restored Pokémon feature classic Pokémon associated with Fossils and some truly iconic artwork. They’re great collector pieces, although they’re quite rare.
Shining
Shining Pokémon cards feature Shiny Pokémon with alternate color designs and multi-type Energy attacks. They’re powerful, rare, and were initially bound by the single-card rule meaning there could only be one of them per deck.
Shining Pokémon debuted in 2000, but have been seen in releases like Shining Legends expansion dating back to 2016.
SP
SP stands for Special Pokémon, and these cards are particularly popular amongst collectors. They’re very similar to Owner’s Pokémon, with six specific symbols referencing different characters from the franchise:
- Pokémon C. This category refers to Champion’s Pokémon.
- Pokémon G. This category refers to Team Galactic’s Pokémon.
- Pokémon GL. This category refers to Gym Leader’s Pokémon.
- Pokémon FB. This category refers to Frontier Brain’s Pokémon.
- Pokémon M. This category refers to Movie’s Pokémon, meaning specific Pokémon from the franchise movies.
- Pokémon 4. This category refers to Elite Four’s Pokémon.
Aside from their name, lore relevance, and single-card rule, there isn’t much else to distinguish SP Pokémon from regular Pokémon. They’re intriguing cards with beautiful artwork, and they were introduced in 2008 with the Japanese set Galactic’s Conquest.
Star (☆)
Star Pokémon are very similar to Shining and Delta Pokémon. They’re alternate color, Shiny variations of Basic Pokémon cards with artwork jumping out of the frame, gold foil, and golden frames.
Star cards were introduced in the Japanese set Rocket Gang Strikes Back in 2004, and they’re very rare. Unless you’re a diehard collector, it’s unlikely you’ll come across many. Although if you can get one, treasure it – as Star cards are highly sought after and feature gorgeous artwork.
Strike
Currently in play.
As you might be able to guess from the triptych of card images above, the term Strike card actually refers to three different kinds of cards. Think of them as attack styles – these categories essentially refer to how the Pokémon attack or the cards perform.
The Strike styles are:
- Single Strike. Seeing the Single Strike logo on a Pokémon card means the Pokémon focuses on heavy-hitting attacks and aims to knock out the opponent’s Pokémon in as few turns as possible. They’re great offensive Pokémon.
- Fusion Strike. Fusion Strike Pokémon aim to weaken the opponent while buffing their own attacks and abilities.
- Rapid Strike. Rapid Strike Pokémon focus on quick, stealthy, and technical attacks, and can be switched in and out of battle easily.
It’s important to note there are some Special Energy and Trainer cards which have specific synergy with each type.
The Strike styles haven’t been featured in a new set since 2021, so it’s unlikely you’ll see them in the competitive scene for long.
TAG TEAM
TAG TEAM Pokémon cards joined the TCG back in 2018, and they’re incredibly popular. TAG TEAM cards can be either Pokémon cards or Supporter cards, but the Pokémon cards are the particularly beloved ones.
As the name might suggest, TAG TEAM Pokémon cards feature 2-3 Pokémon on them and have powerful moves. They’re classified as Basic GX cards, meaning they hit hard and have stunning artwork.
To counter the strength of these Pokémon, TAG TEAM cards award three Prize Cards, making them quite risky to bring into play. They’re not presently used in current-day tournaments as they’re outdated, but many fans are hoping they’ll be featured in new sets soon enough.
Team Plasma
Team Plasma Pokémon cards are pretty standard character-based variants.
They joined the TCG in 2012 and feature visual changes like a superimposed Team Plasma logo and blue borders/details. They have great synergy with Plasma-specific Energy or Trainer cards, but haven’t been featured in any present-day sets.
When talking about trading card games, synergy simply refers to when two (or more) cards work exceptionally well together. In this case, it refers to the fact there are Team Plasma-focused Trainer cards which exist exclusively to power up Team Plasma Pokémon.
Other than the visual changes, focus on lore, and synergy, there isn’t much to note about Team Plasma cards.
V Variants
Currently in play.
Finally, there are multiple variations of Pokémon V cards to talk about. As with EX and GX cards, it can be a little confusing to see Pokémon cards labeled with V, VMAX, VSTAR, and V-UNION as a new player.
V Pokémon were introduced in the Sword and Shield expansion and they’ve been decently popular ever since. They feature impressive artwork (usually full art designs), high HP pools, and powerful abilities. When a Pokémon V is knocked out, two Prize Cards are awarded.
VMAX Pokémon are essentially TCG interpretations of the Gigantamax and Dynamax abilities from the video games and anime. They evolve from Pokémon V cards and have even stronger abilities. Defeating a VMAX Pokémon will award you three Prize Cards.
V-UNION Pokémon are made up of four separate Pokémon cards, in a similar fashion to LEGEND cards. To use a V-UNION card, you must have all four of the relevant cards in the correct spot. These cards also award three Prize Cards if defeated, and they feature exceptional artwork alongside mighty abilities and HP pools.
VSTAR Pokémon are the newest V variant in Pokémon. They feature beautiful artwork and strong abilities, as well as a VSTAR Power ability which can only be used once per game. They award two Prize Cards if defeated.
Generally, V variants are:
- Powerful. Every type of V Pokémon has high HP and strong abilities.
- Visually striking. The art on V Pokémon cards is exceptional.
- Risky to play. High risk, high reward; losing a V Pokémon can mean losing a game quite quickly.
They’re still being released in current expansions and they’re worthwhile pick-ups for collectors, competitive players, and investors.
Energy Cards
If you’re playing a Pokémon match, you’ll need to have plenty of Energy cards in your deck. Essentially, these cards power up your moves and allow you to attack your enemies or execute other abilities.
Energy types correlate to different types of Pokémon cards. Much like the Pokémon video games, there are many types in the trading card game.
However, it’s not quite the same list so it’s worth taking a look at the different kinds of Basic Energy cards, along with the Special Energy cards which exist, too. Let’s go over them.
Basic
Currently in play.
The different types of Basic Energy cards in the Pokémon TCG are:
- Colorless
- Dark
- Dragon
- Fairy
- Fighting
- Fire
- Grass
- Lightning
- Metal
- Psychic
- Water
Basic Energy types all correspond to various Pokémon, in the same way Pokémon in the games and anime fall into different types. For example, Charmander is a Fire type, so Charmander cards usually require Fire Energy cards.
This isn’t always the case, though. Some fans of the video games and anime are caught off guard given the types are heavily condensed in the trading card game. Rock and Ground types are non existent, as an example, and would fall into the wider Fighting category instead.
It’s good to be mindful of which Energy types your Pokémon’s moves require. If you don’t have enough Energy cards in your deck, you won’t be able to use your attacks during battle or retreat/swap your Pokémon.
Colorless Energy doesn’t actually have a card in the game. If a move requires Colorless Energy, you can use any type of Energy to meet the need.
Generally, a Pokémon deck will be categorized into one or two specific types. Fighting/Psychic is a popular combo, and decks based around the Starter types (Fire, Grass, and Water) are very popular as well.
Special
Some Special Energy cards are in play – make sure to check their Regulation Mark.
There are some Special Energy cards to be mindful of in the Pokémon TCG. Examples include:
- Aromatic G Energy. Provides Grass Energy, removes all Special Conditions (like being Asleep) from the affected Pokémon, and prevents Special Conditions being applied to said Pokémon while the Energy is in play.
- Capture Energy. Provides Colorless Energy and lets the players search their deck for a Basic Pokémon to add to their Bench before shuffling.
- Full Heal Energy. Provides Colorless Energy while also removing any status conditions from the Pokémon.
- Fusion Strike Energy. This type of Energy can only be used with Fusion Strike Pokémon. When used on a Fusion Strike Pokémon, it provides one of every kind of Energy and prevents opponent abilities from affecting said Pokémon.
These cards can offer additional perks and benefits during battle, including HP restoration, damage boosts and buffs, or even multiple types of Energy. Some may even offer specific card synergy, fitting Supporter cards or Pokémon types perfectly.
Much like the majority of Pokémon cards, it’s important to note you can only have four of each specific Special Energy card in your deck. Keep in mind Basic Energy cards are not bound by this restriction – you can have however many of those types as you like.
Pokémon Trainer Cards
The final category of Pokémon cards is Trainer cards.
This is a wide, cover-all term referring to functional cards which allow players to pull off specific moves or abilities. Trainer cards might let you search your deck for more Energy cards or play an evolved Pokémon immediately, or offer other interesting perks.
If you’ve played the video games or watched the anime, you may remember there are some Trainers/Gym Leaders who specialize in one or two particular kinds of Pokémon. This is the same in the trading card game. There are some Trainer cards specifically suited to Grass Pokémon and Energy, for example, offering up great synergy.
When building a deck, it’s important to think about what you’d like to be able to do during a battle. Do you have a move which requires lots of Energy cards? You could make your life significantly easier by including different types of Trainer cards to help you find Energy cards quickly.
ACE SPEC
Not currently in play but coming back in 2024.
ACE SPEC cards are powerful Trainer cards that have been out of the trading card game for a while. They’re set to return with 2024 releases, though, which is incredibly exciting news for competitive players.
You can only have one ACE SPEC card per deck, regardless of name or type. They’re essentially extra-strong Item cards (which we’ll cover shortly) capable of turning the tide of battle quite quickly.
Some of them have specific abilities linked to particular Pokémon, like the Crystal Wall ACE SPEC card which offers an HP boost specifically to Black Kyurem-EX.
Goldenrod Game Corner
This is a rare and very outdated Trainer card type which takes inspiration from the Goldenrod Game Corner location in the Pokémon games.
If you’re familiar with the location (it revolves around gambling), then you won’t be surprised to know Goldenrod Game Corner cards have an element of luck to them. And only two cards exist: Arcade Game and Card-Flip Game, both from the Neo Genesis set.
Item
Currently in play.
Item cards are one of the most popular types of Pokémon Trainer cards. They’re incredibly useful to have during battle, and a deck without the right Item cards is almost certainly going to fail.
The items shown in Item cards come from the games and anime, and they’re often easy to understand if you’re a fan of the main franchise. Potion cards, for example, restore HP for a damaged Pokémon.
The rule of four applies to specific Item cards. For example, you can only have four Potions, but you can have however many Item cards in general. You may also play as many Items during your turn as you like, making them useful to stockpile.
Recent changes to the classifications of Items and Tools can be a little confusing. Pre-Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Tool cards were classed as Item cards. They are not classed as such now, making Tools a separate category which we’ll discuss shortly.
Prism (♦️)
As mentioned in the Pokémon Prism variant section, Prism (♦️) cards are rare and visually striking cards which go to the Lost Zone as opposed to the Discard Pile. Similarly, there can only be one of them per deck of a particular name or type.
Prism cards are usually Pokémon cards, but there are some which fall into the Trainer category like the Black Market ♦️ Stadium card from the Team Up expansion.
Rocket’s Secret Machine
As the name implies, Rocket’s Secret Machine Item cards are themed around Team Rocket. They don’t tend to have any special features or mechanics – they’re just lore-focused cards with an evil or ominous aura to them.
They were initially introduced into the TCG with the Rocket Gang expansion in Japan, but have not been seen often since. They’re great pieces for collectors to pick up.
Stadium
Currently in play.
Stadium cards are unique Trainer cards which affect the entire battlefield.
When you play one, think of it as changing the location where the battle is taking place.
Stadium cards apply unique effects to (usually) all the Pokémon in play and are hard to remove as an opposing player. Only one Stadium can be active at a time, and to remove one, you’ll either need to play a new Stadium card or have a card with the ability to remove a Stadium from the playing field.
Strike
Currently in play.
Strike cards refer to a specific attack style and are most commonly seen as Pokémon cards, but there are unique Trainer cards featuring Rapid Strike, Fusion Strike, and Single Strike logos as well.
If you see a Strike logo on a Trainer card, it means it will have great synergy with Pokémon cards having the same Strike logo. For example, a Fusion Strike Trainer card will work well with a Fusion Strike Pokémon – and even better with Fusion Strike Energy.
These cards are just about to go out of date. They haven’t been seen in new sets for a few years, so you won’t see them in competitive play for long.
Supporter
Currently in play.
Supporter cards feature specific characters from the anime or video games, usually picking Gym Leaders, rivals, or Professors to feature.
They’re powerful cards, and only one can be played per turn unless a player has another card with the ability to allow them to add more Supporters during their turn. Supporters can offer benefits like searching your deck, restoring health, or applying buffs to particular Pokémon.
We mentioned TAG TEAM Pokémon cards in the Pokémon card variant section, but it’s worth mentioning them here as well, as there are a few TAG TEAM Supporter cards in existence.
Much like TAG TEAM Pokémon, TAG TEAM Supporters feature two characters and two card effects. One of the card effects comes into play when the card does, but the other card effect is optional. They can be a lot of fun to play with, but they haven’t been seen in recent expansions for some time.
Technical Machine
Currently in play, but falls into the next category.
A lot of Pokémon Trainer sub-types were originally their own category or have been recategorized over the years. This is the case when it comes to Technical Machine cards.
In previous expansions, Technical Machines were their own category in the Trainer group. Nowadays, they’re considered a type of Pokémon Tool instead.
Regardless of their specific category, the main function of a TM card is to teach a Pokémon a new move. They are placed on top of a Pokémon card, giving the Pokémon access to the particular move on the card.
These cards can be incredible to see in action in high-level competitive play and they’re still very relevant in current day sets, albeit in a slightly different category.
Tool
Currently in play.
Pokémon Tool cards were initially considered to be a sub-category of Item cards, but since the recent Scarlet and Violet expansion, they’ve been split into their own category.
Tool cards represent items held by Pokémon, like Leftovers which helps to restore HP periodically. These cards are attached to Pokémon like an Energy card, but a Pokémon may only have one active Tool at a time. Much like other card types, you may only have four of any specific Pokémon Tool in your deck.
Summary: Different Types of Pokémon Cards
There’s a lot of information to unpack when it comes to learning about the different types of Pokémon cards. If you’re an absolute beginner, here are the most important things to ask yourself when looking at a card:
- Which one of the main categories does this card fall into?
- Is it a current card/is it tournament legal?
- Does it require any other cards to work well in a battle?
- Is it from a popular set/does it feature a popular Pokémon?
The other elements, like card synergy and deck-building strategies, are concepts you’ll pick up with experience over time. It’s definitely worth the time and effort – this game is incredibly fun, and the community is wonderful as well!
The Pokémon TCG looks a lot more complicated than it is – the best way to get started is to pick up a premade deck of some description and start playing in person, or online. If you’re looking to collect rather than play, pick up a Booster Pack and some card cases, and see where you go from there. It’s not uncommon for collectors to turn into passionate players, or players to become avid collectors of their favorite Pokémon cards.
Pokémon is a huge arena, and we’re planning to cover a lot more topics here at Only Greats shortly. If you have any questions about this article or the Pokémon trading card game in general, please feel free to comment below – we’d be happy to help!