Pokemon TCG: Base Set 2

Base Set 2 Trading Card Game Set E4
General information
Cards	English: 130 Japan: N/A
Series	Original Series
Primary Focus	Base Set 2 & Jungle Re-Prints
Previous Expansion	Fossil Set
Following Expansion	Team Rocket
Associated Decks	2-Player CD-ROM Grass Chopper Hot Water Lightning Bug Psych Out
Released	English: February 24th, 2000 Japanese: N/A

Quick menu: Overview & Information / Print Versions & Collector’s Info / Set List / For Collectors / Most Powerful / Trivia / Images & Videos

Base Set 2 is the name of the fourth English expansion of the Pokemon Trading Card Game and was the first expansion for the TCG not to be released in Japan or to have a 1st Edition Print, going straight to Unlimited.

Essentially Base Set 2 is a re-print of cards from the Jungle Set and original Base Set. Although this was standard practice from Wizards of the Coast at the time this was not appreciated by some players and collectors and resulted in a mixed reception for the set, especially when compared to the Legendary Collection – thought of by many as “Base Set 3” even if not named as such which was received in a much more positive manner.

The 130 cards in Base Set 2 made it the biggest set to date at the time, towering above Fossil and Jungle, and even being 28 cards larger than the original base set; as mentioned this was a reprint of cards from the Original Base Set and Jungle Set – the total of those two sets would’ve been 166 cards, so that means 36 were left out; lets take a look at which cards didn’t make the cut!

Missing Base Cards	Missing Jungle Cards
Clefairy Doll Devolution Spray Koffing Machamp Pokémon Flute Ponyta Porygon Revive	Eevee Electrode Flareon Gloom Jolteon Mankey Oddish Pikachu Primeape Rapidash Vaporeon Vileplume

Print Versions & Collector’s Info

• This was the first Pokemon set to go straight to the unlimited print, no 1st edition was issued.
• The cover Pokemon for this set include Pidgeot, Raichu, Gyarados and Mewtwo who each feature on different versions of the booster packs, Mewtwo also taking the starring role on the Base Set 2 booster box artwork.

Base Set 2 arrived in four different booster wrappers — Pidgeot, Raichu, Gyarados and Mewtwo each got their own art — while Mewtwo pulled double duty on the booster box. Being a Wizards of the Coast release, Base Set 2 never got a Japanese or Korean printing, so these English packs (shared with the European-language runs) are the only versions that exist.

Set List

Card Image	No.	Card name	Rarity	Card type
	1/130	Alakazam
	Card text As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may move 1 damage counter from 1 of your Pokémon to another as long as you don’t Knock Out that Pokémon. This power can’t be used if Alakazam is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	2/130	Blastoise
	Card text As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may attach 1 Water Energy card to 1 of your Water Pokémon. (This doesn’t use up your 1 Energy card attachment for the turn.) This power can’t be used if Blastoise is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	3/130	Chansey
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to Chansey during your opponent’s next turn. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)
	4/130	Charizard
	Card text As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may turn all Energy attached to Charizard into Fire Energy for the rest of the turn. This power can’t be used if Charizard is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	5/130	Clefable
	Card text Choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon’s attacks. Metronome copies that attack except for its Energy costs and anything else required in order to use that attack, such as discarding Energy cards. (No matter what type the Defending Pokémon is, Clefable’s type is still Colorless.)
	6/130	Clefairy
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	7/130	Gyarados
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	8/130	Hitmonchan
	Card text Jab
	9/130	Magneton
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	10/130	Mewtwo
	Card text A scientist created this Pokémon after years of horrific gene-splicing and DNA engineering experiments.
	11/130	Nidoking
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 damage plus 10 more damage; if tails, this attack does 30 damage and Nidoking does 10 damage to itself.
	12/130	Nidoqueen
	Card text Does 20 damage plus 20 more damage for each Nidoking you have in play.
	13/130	Ninetales
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, choose 1 of them and switch it with the Defending Pokémon.
	14/130	Pidgeot
	Card text Unless this attack Knocks Out the Defending Pokémon, return the Defending Pokémon and all cards attached to it to your opponent’s hand.
	15/130	Poliwrath
	Card text Does 30 damage plus 10 more damage for each Water Energy attached to Poliwrath but not used to pay for this attack’s Energy cost. Extra Water Energy after the 2nd doesn’t count.
	16/130	Raichu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Raichu.
	17/130	Scyther
	Card text During your next turn, Scyther’s Slash attack’s base damage is 60 instead of 30.
	18/130	Venusaur
	Card text As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may take 1 Grass Energy card attached to 1 of your Pokémon and attach it to a different one. This power can’t be used if Venusaur is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	19/130	Wigglytuff
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	20/130	Zapdos
	Card text Discard all Energy cards attached to Zapdos in order to use this attack.
	21/130	Beedrill
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads
	22/130	Dragonair
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	23/130	Dugtrio
	Card text Does 10 damage to each of your own Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	24/130	Electabuzz
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 damage plus 10 more damage; if tails, this attack does 30 damage plus Electabuzz does 10 damage to itself.
	25/130	Electrode
	Card text At any time during your turn (before your attack), you may Knock Out Electrode and attach it to 1 of your other Pokémon. If you do, choose a type of Energy. Electrode is now an Energy card (instead of a Pokémon) that provides 2 energy of that type. This power can’t be used if Electrode is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	26/130	Kangaskhan
	Card text Flip 4 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads.
	27/130	Mr. Mime
	Card text Whenever an attack (including your own) does 30 or more damage to Mr. Mime (after applying Weakness and Resistance), prevent that damage. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.) This power can’t be used if Mr. Mime is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	28/130	Pidgeotto
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with the Defending Pokémon. (Do the damage before switching the Pokémon.)
	29/130	Pinsir
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	30/130	Snorlax
	Card text Snorlax can’t become Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned. This power can’t be used if Snorlax is already Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	31/130	Venomoth
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may change the type of Venomoth to the type of any other Pokémon in play other than Colorless. This power can’t be used if Venomoth is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	32/130	Victreebel
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, choose 1 of them and switch it with his or her Active Pokémon.
	33/130	Arcanine
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Arcanine in order to use this attack.
	34/130	Butterfree
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with the Defending Pokémon. (Do the damage before switching the Pokémon.)
	35/130	Charmeleon
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Charmeleon in order to use this attack.
	36/130	Dewgong
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	37/130	Dodrio
	Card text As long as Dodrio is Benched, pay less to retreat your Active Pokémon.
	38/130	Dratini
	Card text Pound
	39/130	Exeggutor
	Card text Switch Exeggutor with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
	40/130	Farfetch’d
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing. Either way, you can’t use this attack again as long as Farfetch’d stays in play (even putting Farfetch’d on the Bench won’t let you use it again).
	41/130	Fearow
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Fearow.
	42/130	Growlithe
	Card text Flare
	43/130	Haunter
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	44/130	Ivysaur
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	45/130	Jynx
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	46/130	Kadabra
	Card text Discard 1 Psychic Energy card attached to Kadabra in order to use this attack. Remove all damage counters from Kadabra.
	47/130	Kakuna
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to Kakuna during your opponent’s next turn. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)
	48/130	Lickitung
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	49/130	Machoke
	Card text Does 50 damage minus 10 damage for each damage counter on Machoke
	50/130	Magikarp
	Card text Does 10 damage times the number of damage counters on Magikarp.
	51/130	Magmar
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Magmar in order to use this attack.
	52/130	Marowak
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	53/130	Nidorina
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	54/130	Nidorino
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads
	55/130	Parasect
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	56/130	Persian
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon attacks Persian during your opponent’s next turn, any damage done by the attack is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).(Benching either Pokémon ends this effect.)
	57/130	Poliwhirl
	Card text Choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon’s attacks. That Pokémon can’t use that attack during your opponent’s next turn.
	58/130	Raticate
	Card text Does damage to the Defending Pokémon equal to half the Defending Pokémon’s remaining HP (rounded up to the nearest 10).
	59/130	Rhydon
	Card text Rhydon does 20 damage to itself. If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with the Defending Pokémon. (Do the damage before switching the Pokémon. Switch the Pokémon even if Rhydon is knocked out.)
	60/130	Seaking
	Card text Horn attack
	61/130	Seel
	Card text Headbutt
	62/130	Tauros
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 10 more damage; if tails, this attack does 20 damage.
	63/130	Wartortle
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to Wartortle during your opponent’s next turn. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)
	64/130	Weepinbell
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	65/130	Abra
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	66/130	Bellsprout
	Card text Search your deck for a Basic Pokémon named Bellsprout and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward. (You can’t use this attack if your Bench is full.)
	67/130	Bulbasaur
	Card text Unless all damage from this attack is prevented, you may remove 1 damage counter from Bulbasaur.
	68/130	Caterpie
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	69/130	Charmander
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Charmander in order to use this attack.
	70/130	Cubone
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon attacks Cubone during your opponent’s next turn, any damage done by the attack is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). (Benching either Pokémon ends this effect.)
	71/130	Diglett
	Card text Dig
	72/130	Doduo
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	73/130	Drowzee
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	74/130	Exeggcute
	Card text Unless all damage from this attack is prevented, you may remove 1 damage counter from Exeggcute.
	75/130	Gastly
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	76/130	Goldeen
	Card text Horn attack
	77/130	Jigglypuff
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	78/130	Machop
	Card text Low kick
	79/130	Magnemite
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	80/130	Meowth
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, draw a card.
	81/130	Metapod
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to Metapod during your opponent’s next turn. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)
	82/130	Nidoran♀
	Card text Flip 3 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	83/130	Nidoran♂
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	84/130	Onix
	Card text During your opponent’s next turn, whenever 30 or less damage is done to Onix (after applying Weakness and Resistance), prevent that damage. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)
	85/130	Paras
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	86/130	Pidgey
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with the Defending Pokémon. (Do the damage before switching the Pokémon.)
	87/130	Pikachu
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, Pikachu does 10 damage to itself.
	88/130	Poliwag
	Card text Does 10 damage plus 10 more damage for each Water Energy attached to Poliwag but not used to pay for this attack’s Energy cost. Extra Water Energy after the 2nd don’t count.
	89/130	Rattata
	Card text Bite
	90/130	Rhyhorn
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon can’t attack Rhyhorn during your opponent’s next turn. (Benching either Pokémon ends this effect.)
	91/130	Sandshrew
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon tries to attack during your opponent’s next turn, your opponent flips a coin. If tails, that attack does nothing.
	92/130	Spearow
	Card text If Spearow was attacked last turn, do the final result of that attack on Spearow to the Defending Pokémon.
	93/130	Squirtle
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to Squirtle during your opponent’s next turn. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)
	94/130	Starmie
	Card text Discard 1 Water Energy card attached to Starmie in order to use this attack. Remove all damage counters from Starmie.
	95/130	Staryu
	Card text Slap
	96/130	Tangela
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	97/130	Venonat
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	98/130	Voltorb
	Card text Tackle
	99/130	Vulpix
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	100/130	Weedle
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	101/130	Computer Search		T
	Card text Discard 2 of the other cards from your hand in order to search your deck for any card and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	102/130	Imposter Professor Oak		T
	Card text Your opponent shuffles his or her hand into his or her deck, then draws 7 cards.
	103/130	Item Finder		T
	Card text Discard 2 of the other cards from your hand in order to put a Trainer card from your discard pile into your hand.
	104/130	Lass		T
	Card text You and your opponent show each other your hands, then shuffle all the Trainer cards from your hands into your decks.
	105/130	Pokémon Breeder		T
	Card text Put a Stage 2 Evolution card from your hand on the matching Basic Pokémon. You can only play this card when you would be allowed to evolve that Pokémon anyway.
	106/130	Pokémon Trader		T
	Card text Trade 1 of the Basic Pokémon or Evolution cards in your hand for 1 of the Basic Pokémon or Evolution cards from your deck. Show both cards to your opponent. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	107/130	Scoop Up		T
	Card text Choose 1 of your Pokémon in play and return its Basic Pokémon card to your hand. (Discard all cards attached to that card.)
	108/130	Super Energy Removal		T
	Card text Discard 1 Energy card attached to 1 of your own Pokémon in order to choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon and up to 2 Energy cards attached to it. Discard those Energy cards.
	109/130	Defender		T
	Card text Attach Defender to 1 of your Pokémon. At the end of your opponent’s next turn, discard Defender. Damage done to that Pokémon by attacks is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
	110/130	Energy Retrieval		T
	Card text Trade 1 of the other cards in your hand for up to 2 basic Energy cards from your discard pile.
	111/130	Full Heal		T
	Card text Your Active Pokémon is no longer Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned.
	112/130	Maintenance		T
	Card text Shuffle 2 of the other cards from your hand into your deck in order to draw a card.
	113/130	PlusPower		T
	Card text Attach PlusPower to your Active Pokémon. At the end of your turn, discard PlusPower. If this Pokémon’s attack does damage to the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), the attack does 10 more damage to the Defending Pokémon.
	114/130	Pokémon Center		T
	Card text Remove all damage counters from all of your own Pokémon with damage counters on them, then discard all Energy cards attached to those Pokémon.
	115/130	Pokédex		T
	Card text Look at up to 5 cards from the top of your deck and rearrange them as you like.
	116/130	Professor Oak		T
	Card text Discard your hand, then draw 7 cards.
	117/130	Super Potion		T
	Card text Discard 1 Energy card attached to 1 of your own Pokémon in order to remove up to 4 damage counters from that Pokémon.
	118/130	Bill		T
	Card text Draw 2 cards.
	119/130	Energy Removal		T
	Card text Choose 1 Energy card attached to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon and discard it.
	120/130	Gust of Wind		T
	Card text Choose 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon and switch it with his or her Active Pokémon.
	121/130	Poké Ball		T
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, you may search your deck for any Basic Pokémon or Evolution card. Show that card to your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	122/130	Potion		T
	Card text Remove up to 2 damage counters from 1 of your Pokémon.
	123/130	Switch		T
	Card text Switch 1 of your Benched Pokémon with your Active Pokémon.
	124/130	Double Colorless Energy		E
	Card text Provides ColorlessColorless energy. Doesn’t count as a basic Energy card.
	125/130	Fighting Energy	__	E
	126/130	Fire Energy	__	E
	127/130	Grass Energy	__	E
	128/130	Lightning Energy	__	E
	129/130	Psychic Energy	__	E
	130/130	Water Energy	__	E

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

Base Set 2 is the least loved of the early Wizards expansions, and that reputation is worth examining rather than repeating. It contains no new cards — all 130 are reprints drawn from Base Set and Jungle — and it arrived only weeks before Team Rocket, which had actual new mechanics to offer. Collectors at the time read it as filler.

But it carries one milestone that matters enormously in hindsight: Base Set 2 was the first English set to use Cosmos holofoil, replacing the Galaxy Star pattern that Fossil had used last. Every holo printed since traces its finish back to this set. It also never received a 1st Edition run — Base Set 2 exists in Unlimited only — which is precisely why it is the affordable route into some otherwise expensive artwork.

Charizard (4/130)

The reason most people buy into this set. It is the same Mitsuhiro Arita artwork as Base Set, in Cosmos holofoil, and it typically trades in the same territory as a Base Set Unlimited Charizard. If you want vintage Charizard on the wall without Shadowless or 1st Edition money, this is the honest answer.

Blastoise (2/130) and Venusaur (18/130)

The other two Kanto starters, and the cards that complete the trio most collectors actually want. Together with Charizard they account for the large majority of what it costs to build the set — budget for these three first and the remaining 127 cards fall into place cheaply.

Vintage prices move constantly. Treat any quoted figure as directional and check live sold comps before buying or selling.

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

Base Set 2 introduced no new cards, so it introduced no new strategies. Its competitive significance is entirely about availability — and in a format where the best decks were defined by a handful of Trainers and big basics, availability was not a small thing.

Trivia & Pop Culture

• Released on 24 February 2000 by Wizards of the Coast, combining 130 cards from Base Set and Jungle — up from Base Set’s original 102.
• It was the first English set to use Cosmos holofoil. Fossil had been the last to use the Galaxy Star pattern, making Base Set 2 the dividing line between the two eras of holo finish.
• Being a reprint set, it was never printed in 1st Edition — there is no “Edition 1” stamp on any Base Set 2 card.
• Its set symbol is a stylised 2 with a Poké Ball above it, printed on the right of the card. Original Base Set remains the only English expansion with no set symbol at all.
• The set was unpopular enough that when Wizards released their next reprint compilation in May 2002, they called it Legendary Collection rather than Base Set 3 — widely understood as an attempt to avoid the association.
• Legendary Collection went on to be one of the most popular sets of the era, and introduced the Reverse Holo — so the format Base Set 2 failed at eventually succeeded spectacularly.
• Eight Base Set cards were dropped from the reprint, including Machamp — which had previously been guaranteed as a 1st Edition holo in the original 2-Player Starter Set.

Images & Videos

A collection of media relating to Base Set 2 of the Pokemon TCG including English booster pack and box art as well as TV commercials and other videos.