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Pokémon Power (TCG)

Pokémon Power redirects here. For the mini-magazines featured in Nintendo Power, see Pokémon Power (magazine).

A Pokémon Power (Japanese: 特殊能力 special ability) is a special ability held by some Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Ditto, a card with a Pokémon Power and no attacks.

The Japanese Pokémon Web expansion split the Pokémon Power mechanic into the Poké-Power (Japanese: ポケパワー Poké-Power) and Poké-Body (Japanese: ポケボディー Poké-Body) mechanics. As Pokémon Web was not released outside Japan, this change was reflected in the Expedition Base Set expansion internationally. Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies are considered to be more specific types of Pokémon Powers.[1]

Pokémon Powers were replaced by the Ability mechanic beginning with the Black & White expansion.

Gameplay

Pokémon Powers are additional effects that the card's player can trigger during their turn, before they attack. Unlike attacks, a Pokémon does not have to be in the Active Spot to use a Pokémon Power, and using a Pokémon Power does not end the player's turn. Some Pokémon Powers, such as Blastoise's Rain Dance, can be triggered as often as the player likes, and others, such as Mankey's Peek, may only be triggered once per turn. Other Pokémon Powers, such as Dodrio's Retreat Aid, are always passively active, and do not have to be announced to be in effect. Many Pokémon Powers have a clause saying that they can not be activated or stop working if the Pokémon with the Pokémon Power has is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed. This was consolidated into any Special Condition in the Legendary Collection expansion.

Upon the Pokémon Power mechanic being split into two sub-mechanics, passively active effects began being printed as Poké-Bodies, and effects that had to be declared were printed as Poké-Powers. Most Poké-Powers are disabled by Special Conditions, while Poké-Bodies usually are not. Effects that affect Pokémon Powers, such as Muk's Toxic Gas, affect both Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies.[1] The term "Pokémon Power" is never referred to on card text during eras of the TCG where Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies are printed.

Certain effects exist that can prevent the effect of a Pokémon Power after it has been activated but before it can affect the game, such as Alakazam's Power Cancel Poké-Power and Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray. A Poké-Power "blocked" by one of these effects is still considered to have been used. Since many Poké-Powers have "once per turn" restrictions, this means those Poké-Powers may not be used again during that turn. If the Poké-Power had a cost for its use, the cost was still paid even though it had no effect.[2]

No cards have multiple regular Pokémon Powers, but a handful of cards, such as Snorlax δ, have both a Poké-Power and a Poké-Body. Porygon-Z LV.X is the only card with multiple Poké-Powers.

Legacy

Starting in the Black & White expansion, Pokémon Powers were replaced with the Ability mechanic, named after the analogous element in the core series games. Pokémon Powers and Abilities are not interchangeable; effects that reference one do not apply to the other.[3] This non-interaction was relevant in Standard formats including sets from both the Black & White Series and the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series, and continues to appear in the Unlimited, Hall of Fame and Legacy formats.

Evolutions, a commemorative expansion created to celebrate the Pokémon 20th Anniversary, saw the release of Imakuni?'s Doduo, the first new card with a Pokémon Power since the mechanic's retirement. Similarly, two SWSH Black Star Promos, Greninja Star and Zacian LV.X, were released for the Pokémon 25th Anniversary and feature a Poké-Power and Poké-Body respectively. When Zacian LV.X was released, the description of the Celebrations Deluxe Pin Collection described a Poké-Body as "like an old-school Ability".[4] Other than reprints included in sets such as Celebrations and Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic, these anniversary cards feature the only instances of Pokémon Powers since the introduction of Abilities in Black & White.

List of Pokémon Powers

The contents of this section have been suggested to be split into List of Pokémon Powers.
Please discuss it on the talk page for this section.

In the video games

"Pkmn Power" screen

Pokémon Trading Card Game series

Main article: Duel (TCG GB) → Pkmn Power

In Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, there is a "Pkmn Power" screen found in the main duel screen. Some Pokémon Powers don't require the "Pkmn Power" screen to be used, such as Blastoise's Rain Dance. Some other Pokémon Powers require it, such as Alakazam's Damage Swap.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wizards ruling, WotC chat, Sep 5, 2002
  2. ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium VMAX, Team Compendium, May 1, 2009
  3. ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium VMAX, Team Compendium, Nov 3, 2016
  4. ↑ Product Gallery, Pokémon.com

See also

This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
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