Retro card (TCG)
A retro card is a term used to refer to special reprints and retreads of cards from earlier years of the Pokémon TCG. The term originates from the Stormfront expansion and Platinum Series, which included reprints of popular cards from the game's first three years as secret cards. Retro cards typically reuse some combination of the original card's artwork, template, and statistics. Attributes that are not reused are instead referenced accounting for modern aesthetics and powercreep.
Since the Sword & Shield Series, retro cards are rarely allowed for play in the Standard format. In Japan, retro cards are sometimes released specifically to support the Expanded format.
Retro cards prominently feature as Classic Collection cards in the Celebrations and 30th Celebration expansions.
History
Retro cards have been implemented into the TCG inconsistently since their debut. They are often the focal point of expansions that feature them.
Diamond & Pearl and Platinum Series
Retro cards debuted as secret cards in Stormfront, and continued to appear in Platinum, Rising Rivals, and Supreme Victors. These cards are reprints that originate from Base Set, Jungle, and early promotional cards. Aesthetically, these cards reference Original Series card design by using a gold-colored border and Evolution box, which contrasts the typical silver-colored borders of the era. Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, and Pikachu feature redrawn artwork by their original artist, Mitsuhiro Arita; the other cards reuse their original artwork.
All retro cards from this time are mechanically identical to their original versions, with some slight wording tweaks. Notably, Charizard's Energy Burn Pokémon Power was redefined as a Poké-Body.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Series
Sneasel from Undaunted is a Common card that directly references the original Sneasel from Neo Genesis. Other than Weakness and Resistance, the cards have identical statistics. The Undaunted card's Aya Kusube artwork is a redraw of the original's Ken Sugimori artwork.
XY Series
Three cards released in the Pokémon 20th Anniversary's Generations expansion—Slowpoke, Tauros, and Imakuni?—reference cards from the Original Series. The former two directly reuse artwork from their debut cards in Fossil and Jungle, respectively.
The Evolutions expansion, also released for the Pokémon 20th Anniversary, featured nearly an entire set of retro cards. All cards in Evolutions except Pokémon BREAK use a card template based on the Original Series's, and all of those cards except Pokémon-EX, Spirit Link Pokémon Tool cards, and Full Art cards also reuse artwork from the cards they are based on. Only Caterpie, Weedle, Exeggutor, Surfing Pikachu, and most Item and Energy cards are direct reprints of their original counterparts. Most other cards in the set reference the originals by having similar attacks. The XY Black Star Promos Snorlax and Pikachu are also retro cards in the same vein as Evolutions's, and the promotional Gym Badge cards use the retro card template.
Sun & Moon Series
The Japanese Champion Road subset, released internationally primarily in Celestial Storm and Dragon Majesty, consists of modernized versions of popular competitive cards from the Neo, e-Card, and EX Series. Most cards in the set received updated statistics and wording changes while retaining their original artwork; only some Trainer cards are direct reprints of the originals.[1] The base rarity prints of Pokémon-GX all use new artwork that directly reference the Pokémon-ex they are based on.
Exclusively in Japan, the Extra Regulation Box released to help support the Expanded format, which allows use of cards from Black & White onward. This box features direct reprints of staple competitive cards from the Black & White and XY Series, some of which were almost 10 years old. These reprints are identical to their original versions except for the collection number. As cards from these eras do not have regulation marks, the 
and 
set symbols are used in their place.
Sword & Shield Series
For the Pokémon 25th Anniversary, Jumbo-sized retro card rereleases of Pikachu and every first partner Pokémon's first cards were included in the First Partner Packs. These cards are identical to the originals, except the Original and Neo Series cards remove Wizards of the Coast copyright information, and the EX Series cards use the modified EX Series template without the e-Reader logo.
Similar to the First Partner Packs, the McDonald's Collection 2021 also includes reprints of Pikachu and every first partner Pokémon. While these reprints only date back as far as the Black & White Series, they still retain all the original artwork and card templates. Due to a 2019 rule change, these reprints can only be played in formats where their original version is allowed.[2]
The Celebrations expansion introduced the Classic Collection. This is a special card rarity for retro cards with a unique holofoil texture. All Classic Collection cards are otherwise identical to the originals; in TPCi releases, they even retain their original collection numbers. The Celebrations Classic Collection features 25 cards from throughout the game's history. These cards are not legal for play in the Standard format.
Alongside Celebrations, several promo cards mimicking retro cards with newer Pokémon were released. These cards use retro card templates and mechanics, but are otherwise wholly original. They are not legal for tournament play.
| Card | Mechanic |
|---|---|
| Dragapult | Pokémon Prime |
| Zacian LV.X | Pokémon LV.X |
| Mimikyu δ | δ Delta Species |
| Light Toxtricity | Light Pokémon |
Hydreigon 
|
Pokémon SP |
Greninja 
|
Pokémon
|
Creatures, Inc. distributed an exclusive half deck to employees and collaborators at the end of 2021.[3][4][5][6] The Pokémon Card Game 25th Anniversary Creatures Deck consists of one card from each of the previous 27 years, and as such, is comprised mostly of retro cards. Most cards in this deck retain their original collection numbers, but their backs display excerpts of an interview with Tsunekazu Ishihara and Hirokazu Tanaka. The deck includes the exclusive History Gate Stadium card, which buffs the oldest retro cards by doubling their damage output and maximum HP.
In Japan, a handful of staple Expanded format cards from the Black & White, XY, and Sun & Moon Series were rereleased as S-P Promotional cards in the Extra Battle Day Promo Card Pack.
Scarlet & Violet Series
Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic is a premium deck kit that was announced on Pokémon Day in 2023. This product contains three 60-card decks primarily consisting of retro cards, each headlined by reprints of the Kanto first partner Pokémon from Base Set. The cards in the kit are mostly identical to their original versions, but they all use modern wording, and certain card templates are slightly modified. All cards in this collection, except for Basic Energy cards, are banned from competitive play.
In Japan, more staple Expanded format cards from the Black & White, XY, Sun & Moon, and Sword & Shield Series were rereleased as SV-P Promotional cards in the Extra Battle Day 2024 and Extra Battle Day 2025 Promo Card Packs.
Mega Evolution Series
The Classic Collection rarity will return in the Pokémon 30th Anniversary's 30th Celebration expansion.
In Japan, more staple Expanded format cards from the Black & White, XY, and Sun & Moon Series were rereleased as M-P Promotional cards in the Extra Battle Day 2026 Promo Card Pack.
References
- ↑ Celestial Storm Brings Back Friends From the Past | The PokéGym, Jul 24, 2018
- ↑ 2020 Season Pokémon TCG Format Rotation | Pokémon.com, Apr 18, 2019
- ↑ Tweet by @ishikawahideki | Dec 27, 2021
- ↑ Tweet by @_NaokiSaito | Dec 28, 2021
- ↑ Tweet by @leehyunjung2019 | Dec 28, 2021
- ↑ Tweet by @Sora_Sakurai | Dec 28, 2021
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This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. |