View source for Orphaned card

{{unknown name}}
An '''orphaned card''' is a card that has little or no practical use due to restrictions placed on the pool of legal cards by the {{cat|Pokémon TCG formats|TCG format}} that exclude other cards intended to interact with them. These are often Evolution cards whose {{TCG|Basic Pokémon}} or {{TCG|Stage 1 Pokémon}} are not available, though occasionally {{TCG|Trainer card}}s <!--and {{cat|Energy cards}}--> will fall into this category as well.

== Cards that could not be put into play ==
These cards could be included in decks, but were unable to be put into play within a specified format due to the rotation of other cards or due to rule changes.

{| class="roundy sortable" style="margin:auto; background: #{{status color light}}; border: 3px solid #{{status color}};"
|-
! Name
! class="unsortable" | Reason
! TCG Set
! class="unsortable" | Picture
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|EX Unseen Forces|Rocket's Persian ex|116}}
| The only {{TCG ID|EX Team Rocket Returns|Rocket's Meowth|46}} card went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2006-07 Modified format}}.
| ''{{TCG|EX Unseen Forces}}''
| [[File:RocketPersianexEXUnseenForces116.png|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Porygon-Z LV.X|100}}<br>{{TCG ID|DP Promo|Porygon-Z|35}}
| The latest {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Porygon|81}} and {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Porygon2|49}} cards went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2010-11 Modified format}}. New {{TCG ID|Triumphant|Porygon|73}} and {{TCG ID|Triumphant|Porygon2|49}} cards were released in this format in {{TCG|Triumphant}}, making these cards no longer orphaned.
| ''{{TCG|Majestic Dawn}}<br>{{TCG|DP Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:Porygon-ZLVXMajesticDawn100.jpg|200px]]<br>[[File:Porygon-ZDPPromo35.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Dragon Vault|First Ticket|19}}
| The {{N|Rules_changing_for_XY_card_game%3B_Professor_Sycamore_revealed|rule change}} which took place on November 8th, 2013, made it so that the player who goes first is decided before cards are drawn.
|''{{TCG|Dragon Vault}}''
| [[File:FirstTicketDragonVault19.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|XY Promo|Heliolisk|47}}
| The latest {{TCG|Helioptile}} cards went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2016-17 Standard format}}. This format later included a new {{TCG ID|Guardians Rising|Helioptile|43}} card, making this card no longer orphaned.
| ''{{TCG|XY Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:HelioliskXYPromo47.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|XY Promo|Blissey|56}}
| The latest {{TCG ID|Phantom Forces|Chansey|80}} card went out of rotation in the 2016-17 Standard format. This format later included a new {{TCG ID|Evolutions|Chansey|70}} card, making this card no longer orphaned.
| ''{{TCG|XY Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:BlisseyXYPromo56.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|XY Promo|M Swampert-EX|87}}
| The only {{TCG ID|XY Promo|Swampert-EX|55}} card went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2017-18 Standard format}}.
| ''{{TCG|XY Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:MSwampertEXXYPromo87.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|XY Promo|M Gengar-EX|166}}
| This card was released outside Japan when there was no {{TCG ID|Phantom Forces|Gengar-EX|34}} in the Standard format.
| ''{{TCG|XY Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:MGengarEXXYPromo166.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|XY Promo|Crobat BREAK|181}}
| The latest {{TCG ID|Phantom Forces|Crobat|33}} card went out of rotation during the 2016-17 Standard format. This format later included a new {{TCG ID|Sun & Moon|Crobat|56}} card, making this card no longer orphaned.
| ''{{TCG|XY Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:CrobatBREAKXYPromo181.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Celestial Storm|Palossand-GX|82}}
| The latest {{TCG|Sandygast}} cards went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2019-20 Standard format}}. This format later included a new {{TCG ID|Cosmic Eclipse|Sandygast|126}} card, making this card no longer orphaned.
| ''{{TCG|Celestial Storm}}''
| [[File:PalossandGXCelestialStorm82.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Dragon Majesty|Hydreigon|33}}
| The latest {{TCG ID|Crimson Invasion|Deino|60}} and {{TCG ID|Crimson Invasion|Zweilous|61}} cards went out of rotation in the 2019-20 Standard format. Another {{TCG ID|Darkness Ablaze|Deino|108}} was later printed in {{TCG|Darkness Ablaze}}, but there were no sanctioned tournaments to use these cards together.
| ''{{TCG|Dragon Majesty}}''
| [[File:HydreigonDragonMajesty33.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Team Up|Electrocharger|139}}
| {{TCG ID|Lost Thunder|Electropower|172}} went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2020-21 Standard format}}.
| ''{{TCG|Team Up}}''
| [[File:ElectrochargerTeamUp139.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Detective Pikachu|Machamp|13}}
| The latest {{TCG ID|Guardians Rising|Machop|63}} and {{TCG ID|Guardians Rising|Machoke|64}} cards went out of rotation in the 2019-20 Standard format. It remained orphaned in the 2020-21 Format until another {{TCG ID|Champion's Path|Machop|24}} was printed in {{TCG|Champion's Path}}.
| ''{{TCG|Detective Pikachu}}''
| [[File:MachampDetectivePikachu13.jpg|200px]]
|}

== Cards that could be put into play ==
These cards could be included in decks and be successfully put into play, but the practicality of playing these cards within a specified format was significantly limited due to the absence of other cards intended to interact with them.

{| class="roundy sortable" style="margin:auto; background: #{{status color light}}; border: 3px solid #{{status color}};"
|-
! Name
! class="unsortable" | Reason
! TCG Set
! class="unsortable" | Picture
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Wizards Promo|Venusaur|13}}
| The only {{TCG ID|Base Set|Bulbasaur|44}} and {{TCG ID|Base Set|Ivysaur|30}} at the time went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2001-02 Modified format}}. Until Bulbasaur was reprinted in {{TCG|Legendary Collection}}, it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Gym Challenge|Brock's Ninetales|3}}.
| ''{{TCG|Wizards Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:VenusaurWizardsPromo13.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Gym Heroes|No Removal Gym|103}}
| The only {{TCG|Energy Removal}} and {{TCG|Super Energy Removal}} cards went out of rotation in the 2001-02 Modified format.
| ''{{TCG|Gym Heroes}}''
| [[File:NoRemovalGymGymHeroes103.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Southern Islands|Pidgeot|2}}
| The only {{TCG ID|Base Set|Pidgey|57}} and {{TCG ID|Base Set|Pidgeotto|22}} at the time went out of rotation in the 2001-02 Modified format. Until these were reprinted in {{TCG|Legendary Collection}}, it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Gym Challenge|Brock's Ninetales|3}}.
| ''{{TCG|Southern Islands}}''
| [[File:PidgeotSouthernIslands2.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Southern Islands|Ivysaur|5}}
| The only {{TCG ID|Base Set|Bulbasaur|44}} at the time went out of rotation in the 2001-02 Modified format. Until Bulbasaur was reprinted in {{TCG|Legendary Collection}}, it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Gym Challenge|Brock's Ninetales|3}}.
| ''{{TCG|Southern Islands}}''
| [[File:IvysaurSouthernIslands5.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Southern Islands|Exeggutor|13}}
| The only {{TCG ID|Jungle|Exeggcute|52}} at the time went out of rotation in the 2001-02 Modified format. Until another Exeggcute was printed in {{TCG|Neo Destiny}}, it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Gym Challenge|Brock's Ninetales|3}}.
| ''{{TCG|Southern Islands}}''
| [[File:ExeggutorSouthernIslands13.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Southern Islands|Tentacruel|10}}
| The only {{TCG ID|Fossil|Tentacool|56}} at the time went out of rotation in the 2001-02 Modified format. Until Tentacool was reprinted in {{TCG|Legendary Collection}}, it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Gym Challenge|Brock's Ninetales|3}}.
| ''{{TCG|Southern Islands}}''
| [[File:TentacruelSouthernIslands10.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|Neo Destiny|Dark Crobat|2}}
| The only {{TCG ID|Team Rocket|Dark Golbat|7}} at the time went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2002-03 Modified format}}. Until {{TCG|Pokémon Breeder}} was reprinted in {{TCG|Legendary Collection}}, it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Gym Challenge|Brock's Ninetales|3}}.
| ''{{TCG|Neo Destiny}}''
| [[File:DarkCrobatNeoDestiny2.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|BW Promo|Ampharos|67}}
| The latest {{TCG ID|Dragons Exalted|Mareep|38}} and {{TCG ID|Dragons Exalted|Flaaffy|39}} cards went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2014-15 Modified format}}, where it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Plasma Blast|Cradily|4}}.
| ''{{TCG|BW Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:AmpharosBWPromo67.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|XY Promo|M Blaziken-EX|86}}
| The only {{TCG ID|XY Promo|Blaziken-EX|54}} card went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2017-18 Standard format}}. It could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Burning Shadows|Ho-Oh-GX|21}} when {{TCG|Burning Shadows}} was released.
| ''{{TCG|XY Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:MBlazikenEXXYPromo86.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|XY Promo|Lucario Spirit Link|211}}
| This card was released when there was no {{TCG ID|Furious Fists|Lucario-EX|54}} in the Standard format.
| ''{{TCG|XY Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:LucarioSpiritLinkXYPromo211.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|SM Promo|Typhlosion|185}}
| The latest {{TCG ID|Lost Thunder|Cyndaquil|40}} and {{TCG ID|Lost Thunder|Quilava|41}} cards went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2020-21 Standard format}}. It could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Unified Minds|Chandelure|30}}.
| ''{{TCG|SM Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:TyphlosionSMPromo185.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| {{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Greninja|305}}
| The last {{TCG ID|Unbroken Bonds|Froakie|51}} and {{TCG ID|Unbroken Bonds|Frogadier|52}} cards were out of rotation by the time of this card's printing in the {{TCG|2021-23 Standard format}}. Until a new {{TCG ID|Obsidian Flames|Froakie|56}} was printed in {{TCG|Obsidian Flames}}, it could only be indirectly played with {{TCG ID|Battle Styles|Orbeetle|65}} or {{TCG ID|Evolving Skies|Vaporeon VMAX|30}}.
| ''{{TCG|SWSH Black Star Promos}}''
| [[File:GreninjaSWSHPromo305.jpg|200px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
|{{TCG ID|Paldea Evolved|Spiritomb|89}}
| Spiritomb's {{TCG|Ability}} removes all Abilities of both players' Basic {{TCG|Pokémon V}} in play. Although this card is still playable in the {{TCG|2025-26 Standard format}}, the last Pokémon V cards went out of rotation by then, making Spiritomb's Ability practically useless.
|''{{TCG|Paldea Evolved}}''
|[[File:SpiritombPaldeaEvolved89.jpg|277x277px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
|{{TCG ID|Brilliant Stars|Choice Belt|135}}
| The last {{TCG|Pokémon V}} cards went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2025-26 Standard format}}.
|''{{TCG|Paldea Evolved}}''
|[[File:ChoiceBeltPaldeaEvolved176.jpg|277x277px]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
|{{TCG ID|Temporal Forces|Iron Treads|118}}
| Iron Treads's Ability only activates when a {{TCG|Future Booster Energy Capsule}} is attached to it, a card that went out of rotation in the {{TCG|2026-27 Standard format}}.
|''{{TCG|Temporal Forces}}''
|[[File:IronTreadsTemporalForces118.jpg|277x277px]]
|}

==In other formats==
Formats other than the {{TCG|Standard format}} often have different orphaned cards due to their distinct restrictions.
===Limited formats===
{{TCG|Limited format}}s may have orphaned cards if the given expansion contains Evolution cards without corresponding Basic Pokémon. For example, {{TCG ID|151|Venusaur ex|3}} from the {{TCG|151}} expansion has never been orphaned in the Standard format, but the reprinted card in {{TCG|Stellar Crown}} was orphaned during {{DL|Play! Pokémon|Prerelease Tournaments}} for that expansion due to the lack of an {{TCG|Ivysaur}} to evolve from or any alternative means to put the card into play. Similarly, despite being one of the four prerelease promos of the set, {{TCG ID|Destined Rivals|Team Rocket's Mimikyu|87}} from {{TCG|Destined Rivals}} was effectively orphaned in the prerelease metagame due to the set containing no {{DL|Pokémon ex (TCG)|Tera Pokémon ex|Tera Pokémon}} for its only attack Gemstone Mimicry to copy, leaving it effectively without any attacks.

===Gym Leader Challenge===
A significant number of cards are orphaned in the {{TCG|Gym Leader Challenge format}} due to the format's unique set of rules.
* Decks can only contain Pokémon of the same {{TCG|type}}, which orphans Evolution cards that cannot evolve from a Basic Pokémon of the same type. For example, all Evolutions of {{TCG|Eevee}} are orphaned, as none of them are {{ct|Colorless}}. However, orphaned cards may still be put into play through the effect of cards such as {{TCG ID|Evolving Skies|Dream Ball|146}} or {{TCG ID|Primal Clash|Archie's Ace in the Hole|124}}.
* Decks can only contain one copy of any card with the same name, except for {{DL|Energy Card (TCG)|Basic Energy cards}}, which orphans {{TCG ID|Primal Clash|Repeat Ball|136}} and {{TCG ID|Darkness Ablaze|Familiar Bell|161}}. Since it is {{TCG|public information}} that these cards cannot have an effect in the format, they are unable to be put into play.
* Decks cannot play any cards with {{TCG|Rule Box}}es, which orphans other cards that interact with them exclusively, such as {{TCG ID|Roaring Skies|Mega Turbo|86}} or {{TCG ID|Chilling Reign|Melony|146}}. These cards may still be put into play to no practical effect if they are a {{TCG|Stadium card}} or {{TCG|Pokémon Tool card}}, such as {{TCG ID|Stellar Crown|Area Zero Underdepths|131}} or {{TCG ID|Plasma Blast|Silver Bangle|88}} respectively.

{{Project TCG notice}}

[[Category:Pokémon trading card classifications]]
[[Category:Terminology]]