Pokemon TCG: Base Set

The Original Base Set 拡張パック Pokemon TCG Set 1
General information
Cards	102 (English) 102 (Japanese)
Series	Original Series
Region Focus	Kanto
Previous Expansion	N/A
Following Expansion	Jungle
Associated Decks	2-Player Starter Set Blackout Brushfire Overgrowth Zap!
Released	English: January 9, 1999 Japanese: October 20, 1996
STD Legal Deck?	Yes

Quick menu: Overview / Print Versions / English version vs. Japanese Variations / Set List / Other Cards / Images & Videos

The Base Set was the very first release of Pokemon cards and theme decks for the Pokemon Trading Card Game. The set contained 102 cards in both the Japanese and English versions and although it was released in Japan on October 20th, 1996 it didn’t see it’s English version released across the west until years later when it finally landed on January 9th, 1999 in the U.S.Even when the Base Set was first introduced a lot of U.S retailers were skeptical about it and as such it wasn’t properly stocked until a couple of months later in March/April 99.The Base set contained a well rounded mix of Pokemon, all from the original 150 and bears no bias to any particular type(s). This set is to date the only one not represented by a symbol.

This set is one of few to this day to include energy cards for Fighting, Fire, Grass, Lightning, Psychic and Water and it also introduced our first special energy card; the double colorless.

Blastoise, Charizard and Venusaur were the ‘cover Pokemon’ for this set and are featured on it’s booster packs – check out the gallery to see them.

An interesting point about the Base Set is that it contained several Basic Pokemon, but didn’t contain the evolved forms of some of those Pokemon for example Caterpie, Clefairy, Doduo were included in the set but their final forms Butterfree, Clefable and Dodrio weren’t.

The same was true for Dragonite, Gengar, Hypno, Pidgeot, Rapidash and Sandslash, these Pokemon were left out despite the precense of their pre-evolved forms. Later on these final form Pokemon would finally make it to the Pokemon TCG in the Jungle and Fossil sets.

Print versions

The “1st issue” print as well as a number of the “2nd issue” prints vary in design a little from their “3rd issue” counterparts. The two earlier prints differences being that they are slightly brighter in colour, had a thinner card front and note “1999” twice in the copyright section but most importantly from a collectors point of view these cards don’t have a shadow around the pictures. Many collectors know these cards as “shadowless” and they are rather sought after; fetching significantly more than their shadowed counterparts.It’s said that the shadowless cards mentioned above are rarer than the standard unlimited print (or “third issue” print, which is the most common), likewise the “4th issue” cards which were the last Base Set prints to be issued are also harder to come by than their unlimited counterparts – you can tell these cards because they’ll have 2000 in the copyright bit at the bottom of the cards, some of them are brighter than the standard unlimited ones too.

Few sets were printed and repackaged as many ways as Base Set. Below are the wrappers and boxes it shipped in — the three English cover arts, the original Japanese release, and the wave of international-language printings that followed.

English booster packs

The English run used three cover arts — Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur — each sold in the standard booster and the taller American “long pack”.

Booster boxes & display

Japanese release

Base Set began life in Japan in October 1996 as the very first Expansion Pack, with its own wrapper art and promotional poster.

Other international releases

Wizards of the Coast and its partners localised Base Set across Europe and Asia, each printing the three cover arts in the local language.

Variations between the Japanese and English language releases

Where the international releases of these cards all detailed the cards number in set ie Pikachu 58/102, the only number shown on the cards in the Japanese set was that of the Pokemon’s Pokedex entry number.The international release cards used a proper ordering system the factors involved including:-
Ordering of cards both alphabetically and descending by rarity for example Rare Holo’s to rares to Uncommons and finally to commons. Additionally cards were divided up by class ie Pokemon Card, trainer Card and finally Energy card. This ordering system would be used for all TCG sets up until the Black & White Base Set which followed nearly a decade later.The Japanese system for ordering was different; they used type ordering, sorted by national Pokédex number and then used then the same descending rarity system minus one change – holo rare and standard rare counting as the same. This system was maintained in all Japanese TCG set releases right the way up to the release of the Aquapolis set.

Set List

Here is the complete set list of 102 cards for the original Base Set including all cards sorted by their numerical card number along with rarity and types.

Card Image	No.	Card name	Rarity	Card type
	1/102	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.
	2/102	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.
	3/102	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.)
	4/102	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.
	5/102	Clefairy
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	6/102	Gyarados
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	7/102	Hitmonchan
	Card text While seeming to do nothing, it fires punches in lightning-fast volleys that are impossible to see.
	8/102	Machamp
	Card text Whenever your opponent’s attack damages Machamp (even if Machamp is Knocked Out), this power does 10 damage to the attacking Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance.) This power can’t be used if Machamp is already Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed when your opponent attacks
	9/102	Magneton
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	10/102	Mewtwo
	Card text Does 10 damage plus 10 more damage for each Energy card attached to the Defending Pokémon.
	11/102	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.
	12/102	Ninetales
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, choose 1 of them and switch it with the Defending Pokémon.
	13/102	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.
	14/102	Raichu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Raichu.
	15/102	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.
	16/102	Zapdos
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, Zapdos does 30 damage to itself.
	17/102	Beedril
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	18/102	Dragonair
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	19/102	Dugtrio
	Card text Does 10 damage to each of your own Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	20/102	Electabuzz
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	21/102	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.
	22/102	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.)
	23/102	Arcanine
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Arcanine in order to use this attack.
	24/102	Charmeleon
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Charmeleon in order to use this attack.
	25/102	Dewgong
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	26/102	Dratini
	Card text Pound
	27/102	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).
	28/102	Growlithe
	Card text Flare
	29/102	Haunter
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	30/102	Ivysaur
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	31/102	Jynx
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	32/102	Kadabra
	Card text Discard 1 Psychic Energy card attached to Kadabra in order to use this attack. Remove all damage counters from Kadabra.
	33/102	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.)
	34/102	Machoke
	Card text Does 50 damage minus 10 damage for each damage counter on Machoke.
	35/102	Magikarp
	Card text Does 10 damage times the number of damage counters on Magikarp.
	36/102	Magmar
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Magmar in order to use this attack.
	37/102	Nidorino
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads
	38/102	Poliwhirl
	Card text Choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon’s attacks. That Pokémon can’t use that attack during your opponent’s next turn.
	39/102	Porygon
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon has a Weakness, you may change it to a type of your choice other than Colorless.
	40/102	Raticate
	Card text Does damage to the Defending Pokémon equal to half the Defending Pokémon’s remaining HP (rounded up to the nearest 10).
	41/102	Seel
	Card text Headbutt
	42/102	Wartorle
	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.)
	43/102	Abra
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	44/102	Bulbasaur
	Card text Unless all damage from this attack is prevented, you may remove 1 damage counter from Bulbasaur.
	45/102	Caterpie
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	46/102	Charmander
	Card text Discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Charmander in order to use this attack.
	47/102	Diglett
	Card text Dig
	48/102	Doduo
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	49/102	Drowzee
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	50/102	Gastly
	Card text Discard 1 Psychic Energy card attached to Gastly in order to use this attack. If a Pokémon Knocks Out Gastly during your opponent’s next turn, Knock Out that Pokémon.
	51/102	Koffing
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned; if tails, it is now Confused.
	52/102	Machop
	Card text Low Kick
	53/102	Magnemite
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	54/102	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.)
	55/102	Nidoran♂
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	56/102	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.)
	57/102	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.)
	58/102	Pikachu
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, Pikachu does 10 damage to itself.
	59/102	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.
	60/102	Ponyta
	Card text Smash Kick
	61/102	Rattata
	Card text Bite
	62/102	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.
	63/102	Squirtle
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	64/102	Starmie
	Card text Discard 1 Water Energy card attached to Starmie in order to use this attack. Remove all damage counters from Starmie.
	65/102	Staryu
	Card text Slap
	66/102	Tangela
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	67/102	Voltorb
	Card text Tackle
	68/102	Vulpix
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	69/102	Weedle
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	70/102	Clefairy Doll		T
	Card text Play Clefairy Doll as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play, Clefairy Doll counts as a Pokémon (instead of a Trainer card). Clefairy Doll has no attacks, can’t retreat, and can’t be Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned. If Clefairy Doll is Knocked Out, it doesn’t count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Clefairy Doll.
	71/102	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.
	72/102	Devolution Spray		T
	Card text Choose 1 of your own Pokémon in play and a Stage of Evolution. Discard all Evolution cards of that Stage or higher attached to that Pokémon. That Pokémon is no longer Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, Poisoned, or anything else that might be the result of an attack (just as if you had evolved it).
	73/102	Imposter Professor Oak		T
	Card text Your opponent shuffles his or her hand into his or her deck, then draws 7 cards.
	74/102	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.
	75/102	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.
	76/102	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.
	77/102	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.
	78/102	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.)
	79/102	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.
	80/102	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).
	81/102	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.
	82/102	Full Heal		T
	Card text Your Active Pokémon is no longer Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned.
	83/102	Mantainance		T
	Card text Shuffle 2 of the other cards from your hand into your deck in order to draw a card.
	84/102	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
	85/102	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.
	86/102	Pokémon Flute		T
	Card text Choose 1 Basic Pokémon card from your opponent’s discard pile and put it onto his or her Bench. (You can’t play Pokémon Flute if your opponent’s Bench is full.)
	87/102	Pokédex		T
	Card text Look at up to 5 cards from the top of your deck and rearrange them as you like.
	88/102	Professor Oak		T
	Card text Discard your hand, then draw 7 cards.
	89/102	Revive		T
	Card text Put 1 Basic Pokémon card from your discard pile onto your Bench. Put damage counters on that Pokémon equal to half its HP (rounded down to the nearest 10). (You can’t play Revive if your Bench is full.)
	90/102	Super Portion		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.
	91/102	Bill		T
	Card text Draw 2 cards.
	92/102	Energy Removal		T
	Card text Choose 1 Energy card attached to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon and discard it.
	93/102	Gust of Wind		T
	Card text Choose 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon and switch it with his or her Active Pokémon.
	94/102	Potion		T
	Card text Remove up to 2 damage counters from 1 of your Pokémon.
	95/102	Switch		T
	Card text Switch 1 of your Benched Pokémon with your Active Pokémon.
	96/102	Double Colorless Energy		E
	Card text Provides energy. Doesn’t count as a basic Energy card.
	97/102	Fighting Energy	__	E
	98/102	Fire Energy	__	E
	99/102	Grass Energy	__	E
	100/102	Lightning Energy	__	E
	101/102	Psychic Energy	__	E
	102/102	Water Energy	__	E

Other Cards

These additional cards aren’t officially part of the set, but are great for completion’s sake if you are a collector. The cards are promos from special events etc, check them out:-

58/102 Pikachu with the “PokéTour 1999” Stamp from Australia’s PokéTour ’99	58/102 Pikachu with Red Cheeks and E3 Stamp From E3 Convention 1999.	58/102 Pikachu with Yellow Cheeks and E3 Stamp from Nintendo Power Magazine Sept ’99.

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

Base Set is the holy grail of Pokémon TCG collecting. The 1st Edition print run, marked by a small “1st Edition” logo on the bottom-left of each card, is exponentially more valuable than Shadowless and Unlimited printings. Grade matters enormously — a PSA 10 gem mint of a 1st Edition holo can trade for six figures.

Charizard 1st Edition Shadowless (#4)

The card that defined Pokémon collecting. In 2022, a PSA 10 sold for over $420,000 at auction. Even ungraded copies in near-mint condition fetch five figures. The Shadowless variant (no drop shadow behind the art frame) is the most desirable print.

Blastoise 1st Edition Shadowless (#2)

The rarest of the starter holos due to Wizards of the Coast’s early print distribution. PSA 10 copies regularly clear $45,000-$60,000. A 1999 test print Blastoise (never officially released) sold for $360,000 in 2021.

Venusaur 1st Edition Shadowless (#15)

The completion of the starter trio. Less iconic than Charizard but still commanding $25,000+ for a PSA 10. Frequently underrated in the market.

Chansey 1st Edition Shadowless (#3)

Overlooked by casual collectors, prized by connoisseurs. The pink egg-carrier’s high HP and unique art make it a sleeper hit — PSA 10s hit $15,000+.

Alakazam 1st Edition Shadowless (#1)

Card #1 of the set. Highly desirable for collectors chasing “graded first cards” runs. PSA 10 copies clear $14,000+ at auction.

Investment note: Base Set values fluctuate significantly with media attention (Logan Paul, YouTube openings, celebrity collectors). Buy the cards you love, not the market hype.

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

Modern collectors focus on Charizard, but 1999-2001 tournament players had different favorites. In the original Base Set metagame, competitive strength came from consistent energy denial, damage transfer, and evolving-line synergy — not raw HP.

Alakazam (Damage Swap)

Arguably the strongest card in Base Set competitively. Its Damage Swap Poké-Power let you shuffle damage counters between your Pokémon, keeping your key attackers alive indefinitely. Powered “Haymaker” decks and defined the early meta.

Blastoise (Rain Dance Engine)

Rain Dance let you attach any number of Water Energy cards from your hand to your Pokémon each turn. Combined with Articuno or Squirtle spam, it enabled explosive water-type combo decks that dominated 1999 tournaments.

Chansey (HP Wall)

120 HP was unheard of in Base Set. Combined with Double Colorless Energy and Scoop Up trainers, Chansey formed the backbone of stall-and-heal strategies. A frustrating opponent for aggressive decks.

Hitmonchan & Electabuzz (Haymaker Duo)

The rare non-holo powerhouses. Both dealt 30-40 damage for two energy — devastating in a format where most Pokémon had 40-70 HP. “Haymaker” decks running Hitmonchan, Electabuzz, and Scyther defined competitive Base Set.

Machamp (1st Edition Holographic Bonus)

Underpowered on its own, but famous for being GUARANTEED in every 2-Player Starter Set as a bonus. This makes 1st Edition Machamp far more common than other 1st Edition holos, keeping its value relatively low despite being 1st Edition.

Images & Videos

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