Pikachu LV.12
ピカチュウ Pikachu
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| Japanese Deck Kit
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Intro Pack
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| Japanese Deck
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Bulbasaur Deck
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| Japanese card no.
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13
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| Expansion
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Base Set 2
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| Rarity
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| English card no.
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87/130
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| Japanese Deck Kit
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Intro Pack Neo
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| Japanese Half Deck
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Totodile Half Deck
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| Japanese card no.
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1
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| For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Pikachu.
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Pikachu (Japanese: ピカチュウ Pikachu) is a Lightning-type Basic Pokémon card. It was first released as part of the Base Set.
Card text
Initial prints
Flip a coin. If tails, Pikachu does 10 damage to itself.
Pokédex data (Base Set and Base Set 2 prints)
When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity can cause lightning storms.
ほっぺたの両側に小さい電気袋をもつ。ピンチのときに放電する。
Pokédex data (Rising Rivals print)
It has small electric sacs on both its cheeks. If threatened, it looses electric charges from the sacs.
ほっぺたの りょうがわに ちいさい でんきぶくろを もつ。 ピンチのときに ほうでんする。
Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic print
Flip a coin. If tails, this Pokémon also does 10 damage to itself.
Pokédex data (Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic print)
When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity can cause lightning storms.
ほっぺたの両側に小さい電気袋をもつ。ピンチのときに放電する。
Release information
Original Series
This card was included in the Base Set with artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita, first released in the Japanese Expansion Pack. The English release has two versions: the original yellow-cheeked version from Expansion Pack and red-cheeked variant. The split between red cheeks and yellow cheeks is estimated to be 50% in 1st Edition and Shadowless print runs; however, the Unlimited print runs only feature the yellow cheeks version. Because of this discrepancy, the red cheek version is generally considered more valuable by collectors.
An English version of the yellow-cheeked Base Set print on Japanese card stock was included in the Pokémon Song Best Collection CD, released on January 1, 1999.
Both cheek versions have promotional variants with a gold foil "E3" stamp where the expansion symbol would be present in subsequent sets. The red-cheeked variant was distributed to those who visited the Nintendo booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) between May 13 and 15, 1999, while the yellow-cheeked version was available as an insert in the September 1999 issue of Nintendo Power. Similarly to the non-promotional versions, the red-cheeked variant is considerably more valuable.
The yellow-cheeked version of the Base Set print has another promotional variant with a gold foil "PokéTour 1999" stamp in the top right corner of the illustration. This card was included in "tour packs" distributed at locations visited by the PokéTour in Australia in 1999, which were advertised to be limited to 3,000 at each venue. The PokéTour consisted of two separate tours: Red, which ran on weekends from September 18 to October 9, 1999; and Blue, which ran on weekends from September 18 to October 7, 1999.
A Jumbo version of the yellow-cheeked Base Set print was included with the February 2000 issue of Top Deck Magazine. This print has "Not for Play Use" in red text on the reverse of the card.
A Korean version of yellow-cheeked Base Set print was included in the Pikachu World Collection, available to purchase exclusively at Pokémon Park 2000 held at Sydney University, Sydney, Australia from September 12 to October 4, 2000. This print features a gold foil Pikachu tail stamp on the left edge under the illustration window.
In Japan, it was reprinted as an Unnumbered Promotional card with photographed artwork by Mina Akuhara, one of five winning entries of the CoroCoro Pokémon Snap Best Photo Contest, which was held between May 15 and June 14, 1999. This print has a camera graphic in place of an expansion symbol and text on the bottom of the card border that reads: ""Best Photo Contest" winning card". According to the article in the August 1999 issue of CoroCoro Comic that announced the winning entries, each entrant was to receive twenty copies of a card featuring their photograph.
The yellow-cheeked version of the Base Set print was reprinted in the Bulbasaur Deck of the Japanese Intro Pack and in the English Base Set 2 expansion.
Neo Series
This card was reprinted with its original yellow-cheeked Base Set artwork and an updated card template in the Totodile Half Deck of the Japanese Intro Pack Neo.
EX Series
This card was reprinted in POP Series 2 with new artwork by Yuka Morii, first released as one of the Japanese PCG-P Promotional cards. In Japan, it was available as part of a Meiji Chocolate campaign in June 2005.
Platinum Series
A special reprint was included in the Rising Rivals expansion with redrawn art by Mitsuhiro Arita, first released in the Japanese Bonds to the End of Time expansion.
XY BREAK Series
In Japan, the original Expansion Pack print was rereleased as the 20th Anniversary Pikachu Solid Gold Card in a collaboration with Tanaka Kikinzoku for the Pokémon 20th Anniversary in late 2016. Rather than card stock, this print is printed on a rounded rectangular piece of 24-karat gold weighing 11g. The bottom left corner of this print has an embossed authenticity star and text reading "11g".
Sword & Shield Series
A new Jumbo version of the yellow-cheeked Base Set print was included in copies of the First Partner Collector's Binder, released on February 26, 2021 in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. This print lacks the Wizards of the Coast copyright and features a foil Pokémon 25th Anniversary logo in the bottom right corner of the illustration window.
The yellow-cheeked Base Set print was also released as a metal card in the Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection on October 22, 2021. Like the Jumbo version released earlier in the year, this print lacks the Wizards of the Coast copyright information.
Scarlet & Violet Series
This card was reprinted in Holofoil with its original yellow-cheeked Base Set artwork for the Charizard & Ho-Oh ex deck of Pokémon Card Game Classic. This reprint lacks a regulation mark and is thus not legal for tournament play.
Gallery
Trivia
- This card is popularly known as Yellow Cheeks Pikachu as a reference to the card's artwork and to differ it from Pikachu card from the Jungle expansion. This name also appeared in some instruction manuals produced by Wizards of the Coast.[citation needed]
- The original Japanese version depicts Pikachu with yellow cheeks. However, Wizards of the Coast, when releasing this card for the first time in English, deliberately recolored Pikachu's cheeks red in an effort to make it more recognizable. Wizards would later reverse this decision in subsequent reprints of the card and return Pikachu's cheeks to their original yellow color; because of this reversal, the original red cheeks are commonly mistaken to be an error.[citation needed]
- Although not part of a numbered promotional set, the Pikachu distributed at E3 in 1999 was the first English promotional card.
Origin
Thunder Jolt is a move in the Super Smash Bros. series that Pikachu can use. This card's English Pokédex entry comes from Pokémon Red and Blue, though it is slightly reworded. The Japanese entry comes from Pokémon Red and Green. The Rising Rivals Pokédex entry comes from Pokémon FireRed.
