Δ Delta Species (TCG)

This article does not yet meet the quality standards of Bulbapedia. Please feel free to edit this article to make it conform to Bulbapedia norms and conventions.

The title of this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. The correct title is δ Delta Species.

δ Delta Species (Japanese: δ-デルタ種 δ-Delta Species) are a special kind of Pokémon found in the TCG. The term is often shortened to δ, DS, or Delta. Their first appearance was in the EX Delta Species Expansion, and their last was in EX Dragon Frontiers.

According to the Expansion backstory, Pokémon become δ Delta Species upon exposure to electromagnetic waves, which were produced by scientists in Holon attempting to locate Mew. Why the scientists chose to use Greek letter δ is debated. While it appears to come from the scientific use to denote a change, the uppercase Δ would have been more appropriate, as it determines a major change. Another common theory is that Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, and δ Delta Species are the fourth sort of Pokémon after normal Pokémon, Pokémon ex, Pokémon Star, and Dark Pokémon in the EX series. Another possibility is that Delta Species has the same initials as the, then new, Nintendo DS.

δ Delta Species are different than normal Pokémon, as their type is not what they would be expected to be. For example, Rayquaza δ becomes a Lightning/Metal type, as opposed to a Colorless type. Dual type Pokémon δ always have Metal as their secondary type, and it is nearly always fully evolved Pokémon or Legendary Pokémon that display this. However, with the release of EX Dragon Frontiers, no Pokémon δ displayed this Metal dual type, leading some to believe that these Pokémon became δ Delta Species naturally or the trait was outbred on the island habitats in which they live.

In EX Delta Species, if a δ Delta Species had one of its types changed to something other than Metal, it was always either to Fire or Lightning. This is most likely because in the TCG, Fire and Lightning Pokémon always have the same Weakness, to Water and Fighting Pokémon respectively, so by using δ Delta Species, a player could attack with Fire and Lighting type cards without having to worry about that Weakness. However, this does not hold true for δ Delta Species cards released in subsequent Expansions.

In terms of card design, δ Delta Species have a coil design going around their image border, and the evobox circle becomes a large letter δ; Basic Pokémon have an empty letter δ.

The designation of δ Delta Species does not affect the name of a Pokémon, e.g. a normal Dragonite can evolve from a Dragonair δ and visa versa. If a card wishes to reference δ Delta Species, it uses the text "Pokémon that has δ on its card."

List of Sets that contain δ Delta Species

• EX Delta Species
• EX Legend Maker
• EX Holon Phantoms
• EX Crystal Guardians
• EX Dragon Frontiers
• POP Series 4
• POP Series 5
• "PCG-P" Promotional Cards

Normal Pokémon that have appeared as a δ Delta Species

• Charmander
• Charmeleon
• Charizard
• Blastoise
• Beedrill
• Pidgey
• Pidgeotto
• Pidgeot
• Fearow
• Pikachu
• Raichu
• Sandslash
• Nidoran ♀
• Nidorina
• Nidoqueen
• Nidoran ♂
• Nidorino
• Nidoking
• Oddish
• Gloom
• Vileplume
• Meowth and
• Persian
• Psyduck
• Golduck
• Mankey
• Primeape
• Seel
• Dewgong
• Shellder
• Cloyster
• Kingler
• Exeggcute
• Exeggutor
• Marowak
• Horsea and
• Seadra and
• Jynx
• Electabuzz
• Magikarp
• Gyarados
• Pinsir
• Starmie
• Eevee
• Vaporeon
• Jolteon
• Flareon
• Omanyte
• Omastar
• Kabuto
• Kabutops
• Aerodactyl
• Snorlax
• Dratini and
• Dragonair and
• Dragonite
• Mewtwo and
• Mew
• Chikorita
• Bayleef
• Maganium
• Cyndyquil
• Quilava
• Typhlosion
• Totodile
• Croconaw
• Feraligatr
• Ledyba
• Ledian
• Crobat
• Pichu
• Togepi
• Togetic
• Natu
• Xatu
• Mareep
• Flaaffy
• Amaphros
• Bellossom
• Azumarill
• Espeon
• Umbreon
• Wooper
• Quagsire
• Gligar
• Herracross
• Mantine
• Kingdra
• Smeargle
• Smoochum
• Elekid
• Larvitar and
• Pupitar and
• Tyranitar
• Treecko
• Grovyle
• Mightyena
• Pelipper
• Ludicolo
• Tailow
• Swellow
• Ralts
• Kirlia
• Gardevoir
• Carvanha
• Sharpedo
• Trapinch and
• Vibrava and
• Flygon
• Cacturne
• Swablu
• Zangoose
• Lileep
• Cradily
• Anorith
• Armaldo
• Feebas
• Milotic
• Chimecho
• Bagon and
• Shelgon and
• Salamence
• Beldum
• Metang
• Metagross
• Latias and
• Latios and
• Rayquaza , and
• Deoxys , , and

Pokémon ex that have appeared as a δ Delta Species

• Dragonite
• Kingdra
• Tyranitar
• Sceptile
• Gardevoir
• Flygon
• Altaria
• Salamence
• Latias
• Latios
• Rayquaza

Pokémon File:Shiningsymbol.gif that have appeared as a δ Delta Species

Each of these Pokémon is shown in their alternate form and their Energy type is choosen to reflect this when they appear as δ Delta Species.

• Charizard File:Shiningsymbol.gif
• Gyarados File:Shiningsymbol.gif
• Mew File:Shiningsymbol.gif