Diamond & Pearl (TCG)

Diamond & Pearl will be the seventeenth Pokémon TCG set released by Pokémon USA when it is released on May 28, 2007. The set is the first in English-language territories to include fourth-generation Pokémon; namely, those that first featured in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl video games on the Nintendo DS.

Types of Pokémon

Pokémon Lv.X

Pokémon Lv.X are a new type of card introduced in Diamond & Pearl. evolve from Pokémon of the same name, but as they have the same name only four in any combination are allowed in a deck. For example, 4 Turtwig are allowed, 4 Grotle are allowed, 2 Torterra are allowed, and 2 Torterra Lv.X are allowed. Torterra can be evolved into Torterra Lv.X - but a Pokémon Lv.X can only be played on an Active Pokémon.

Changes in the new series

The card

Several changes have been made to the format of the cards; some of these changes were included on previous card formats, and others and brand new.

The card design has been changed due to the shift from the EX Series. This is the fifth card design, after design for Base Set to Base Set 2 (and Legendary Collection), Neo Genesis to Neo Destiny, Expedition to Skyridge, and EX Ruby & Sapphire to EX Power Keepers.

The cards also see the return of several pieces of information seen previously: The Pokémon's level; Pokédex data, such as National Pokédex number, species, height and weight; and Pokédex flavour text. The card design is also more similar to previous designs.

The mechanics

All types of Pokémon cards now have some new mechanics which will affect gameplay in some cases.

Some Basic, and rarely Stage 1, Pokémon now have attacks which can be used without any Energy cards having to be attached to the Pokémon. These attacks usually are considered to do very little damage or have a limited effect.

The weakness and resistance mechanic has also been changed for the first time. Previously, weakness caused an attack to do double the damage, and resistance caused an attack to do thirty less damage. Now, the weakness and resistance varies for every Pokémon, and usually has more effect for stronger Pokémon.

There are also new mechanics to Trainer cards. Originally, Supporter cards and Stadium cards fell under the category or Trainer cards, along with Technical Machines, Pokémon Tools and other types of Trainer. Now, however, Supporter card and Stadium card are separate categories alongside Trainer card. Technical Machines, Pokémon Tools and others still fall under Trainer card.

Two new Basic Energy cards have also been released - Darkness Energy and Metal Energy will be produced as basic Energy cards as well as Special Energy cards as of Diamond & Pearl.

The rules

As well as changes to the card design, major changes to the Pokémon Trading Card Game rules have been made.

A rule change in 2003 meant that the player taking the first inital turn could not draw a card; however, that rule change has been withdrawn, and a card must be drawn at the start of every round.

With the debut of Supporter cards in 2003, these cards could not be played on the first inital turn. Now that Supporter card is a separate type of Trainer card, this rule has been extended to include all categories and types of Trainer cards. This includes Fossils (Mysterious, Claw, Root, Shield and Helmet).

Also, Fossil cards can now be played during the setup phase before the first initial turn, but only if a Basic Pokémon can be played as well. Also, knocking out a Fossil card no longer counts as a free KO, and the player must draw a Prize card for knocking one out. This does not apply if a played chooses to withdraw their Fossil card.

Weakness and resistance mechanic changes do not apply for any Pokémon cards prior to Diamond & Pearl, so all Pokémon card printed before the set's release follow the original Weakness x2 and Resistance -30 rulings.

Special Energy variations of Darkness and Metal Energy still allow for the same ruling on the card as before. The new basic Energy variations have no ruling and should not be treated as though they do.

Also, in a 30-card deck, only two copies of a card (except basic Energy) are allowed instead of the previous four. 60-card decks are still allowed up to four copies of a card.

Set List

In the English-language version of the set, Diamond & Pearl cards are listed by set number (there are 130 cards in the set). However, in place of the nine-digit code carried by EX Series cards, the DP series holds the card's same DPBP number as the Japanese version of the card.