Pokemon TCG: Black & White: Emerging Powers

Black & White: Emerging Powers Trading Card Game Set 49
General information

Cards	English: 98 Japanese: N/A
Series	Black & White
Previous Expansion	Black & White Base
Following Expansion	BW Noble Victories
Associated Decks	Power Play Toxic Tricks
Released	August 31st, 2011

Black & White—Emerging Powers, released on August 31, 2011, was the first true expansion of the new Black & White series — the follow-up that fleshed out the Unova region the base set had introduced. At 98 cards it was a compact release, and it’s remembered less for reinventing the game than for two things: a wave of Legendary Pokémon, and one quietly overpowered Item card.

It also tied off a loose end from the base set. Where Black & White’s earliest packs had shipped without them, Emerging Powers made online code cards standard — every booster now carried a slip that unlocked a digital pack in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online.

But the card everyone remembers came in the Trainer slots.

Forces Unveiled, Strengths Revealed… Powers Emerged!

The secrets of the Unova region are now yours to command! In the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Emerging Powers expansion, astonishing new Pokémon are available for the very first time, including the rare and powerful Legendary Pokémon Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Thundurus, and Tornadus! With brand-new Item cards to revitalize your deck, the Black & White—Emerging Powers expansion offers Trainers all of the amazing new strategies of Unova!

— official Emerging Powers expansion blurb

Code Cards Go Standard

When Black & White launched the Pokémon TCG Online era in April 2011, its first packs didn’t actually include the code cards that unlocked digital play — those only trickled in on later reprints. Emerging Powers fixed that for good: from this set onward, a code card was a guaranteed part of every English booster pack and theme deck, printed with a QR code to redeem online.

It’s a small thing on the tabletop, but it marked the moment the physical and digital games became permanently linked — a connection that would last well over a decade.

Pokémon Catcher Runs the Format

For all its modest reputation, Emerging Powers printed one of the most influential cards of the entire era. Pokémon Catcher (95) was an Item — so you could play as many as you liked in a turn — and its original text was brutally simple: “Switch your opponent’s Active Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon.” No coin flip, no cost. It was a free, guaranteed way to drag a helpless Benched Pokémon into the firing line and knock it out.

Catcher warped deck-building for years. Nearly every competitive deck ran a full set of four, and its power was eventually judged too much: at the start of the XY era the card was errata’d to require a coin flip. But in Emerging Powers, and across the whole Black & White run, it was one of the format’s defining cards.

The set also brought a pair of rival Supporters. Bianca (90) — “Draw cards until you have 6 cards in your hand” — became a reliable refuel that saw play right alongside the era’s other big draw engines.

Pokémon Catcher (95/98)

One of the most dominant Trainers of the era. As printed here it was a free, no-flip gust — switch any of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon into the Active spot — a staple later errata’d to need a coin flip.

Bianca (90/98)

A dependable draw Supporter: refill your hand up to six cards. A quiet workhorse that anchored countless Black & White–era decks.

Legends of Unova

The set’s marquee Pokémon were five of Unova’s Legendaries, split across two famous groups. The Swords of Justice — Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion — shared a signature Sacred Sword attack that hit for a hefty 100, with the catch that they needed a turn to recover before swinging again.

Terrakion (63) in particular went on to real competitive success as a hard-hitting Fighting Basic, while Cobalion (77) added a disruptive edge — its Metal Horns forced your opponent to switch. The other pair, the Forces of Nature, brought the storm: Tornadus (89), a splashable Colorless attacker whose Hurricane hit for 80, and Thundurus. Both genies also closed out the set as gorgeous Full Art secret rares.

Terrakion (63/98)

The Rock-and-Fighting Sword of Justice, and a genuine competitive star. Sacred Sword swings for 100 (needing a turn to recover), backed by a cheap Boulder Crush.

Cobalion (77/98)

The Steel Sword of Justice. Sacred Sword hits for 100, while Metal Horns forces your opponent to switch their Active Pokémon — a disruptive edge on a sturdy Basic.

Tornadus — Full Art (98/98)

One of the Forces of Nature, and a Full Art secret rare closing out the set. A splashable Colorless attacker whose Hurricane strikes for 80 while shuffling Energy around your Bench.

Print Versions

Emerging Powers came in four booster arts — Tornadus, Cobalion, Braviary and Darmanitan. Every pack held a shot at one of the set’s Legendary Pokémon, its Full Art secret rares, and — now as standard — a code card for the online game.

Set List

Card Image	No.	Card name	Rarity	Card type
	1/98	Pansage
	Card text Collect Draw a card. Scratch 20
	2/98	Simisage
	Card text Fire’s Power 30 If this Pokemon has any Fire Energy attached to it, the Defending Pokemon is now Burned. Seed Bomb 60
	3/98	Sewaddle
	Card text Tackle 10 String Shot Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
	4/98	Sewaddle
	Card text Gnaw 10 Razor Leaf 20
	5/98	Swadloon
	Card text Gnaw 20 Double Razor Leaf 50 Flip 2 coins. This attack does 50 damage times the number of heads.
	6/98	Swadloon
	Card text Cocooning Heal 40 damage from this Pokemon. Razor Leaf 20
	7/98	Leavanny
	Card text Nurturing Choose 1 of your Pokemon. Search your deck for a card that evolves from that Pokemon and put it onto that Pokemon. Shuffle your deck afterward. X-Scissor 30+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 50 more damage.
	8/98	Leavanny
	Card text Slash 30 Triple Cutter 60 Flip 3 coins. This attack does 60 damage times the number of heads.
	9/98	Cottonee
	Card text Absorb 10 Heal 10 damage from this Pokemon.
	10/98	Cottonee
	Card text Cotton Guard 10 During your opponent’s next turn, any damage done to this Pokemon by attacks is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
	11/98	Whimsicott
	Card text Helping Hand Search your deck for a basic Energy card and attach it to 1 of your Benched Pokemon. Shuffle your deck afterward. Cotton Guard 30 During your opponent’s next turn, any damage done to this Pokemon by attacks is reduced by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
	12/98	Whimsicott
	Card text Encore 20 Choose 1 of the Defending Pokemon’s attacks. During your opponent’s next turn, that Pokemon can use only that attack. U-turn 40 Switch this Pokemon with 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
	13/98	Petilil
	Card text Stun Spore Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed. Cut 20
	14/98	Lilligant
	Card text Bemusing Aroma 20 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed and Poisoned. If tails, the Defending Pokemon is now Confused. Cut 60
	15/98	Deerling
	Card text Tackle 10 Wild Kick 40 Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	16/98	Sawsbuck
	Card text Push Down 30 Your opponent switches the Defending Pokemon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokemon. Take Down 60 This Pokemon does 20 damage to itself.
	17/98	Virizion
	Card text Giga Drain 30 Heal from this Pokemon the same amount of damage you did to the Defending Pokemon. Sacred Sword 100 This Pokemon can’t use Sacred Sword during your next turn.
	18/98	Pansear
	Card text Collect Draw a card. Scratch 20
	19/98	Simisear
	Card text Water’s Power 30 If this Pokemon has any Water Energy attached to it, the Defending Pokemon is now Asleep. Flamethrower 70 Discard an Energy attached to this Pokemon.
	20/98	Darumaka
	Card text Tackle 10 Combustion 30
	21/98	Darmanitan
	Card text Rock Smash 20+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 more damage. Fire Punch 70 The Defending Pokemon is now Burned.
	22/98	Panpour
	Card text Collect Draw a card. Scratch 20
	23/98	Simipour
	Card text Grass’ Power 30 If this Pokemon has any Grass Energy attached to it, heal 20 damage from this Pokemon. Rushing Water 60 Move an Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon.
	24/98	Basculin
	Card text Flail 10 Does 10 damage times the number of damage counters on this Pokemon. Final Gambit 80 Flip 2 coins. If both of them are tails, this Pokemon does 80 damage to itself.
	25/98	Basculin
	Card text Tackle 10 Splatter Does 30 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
	26/98	Ducklett
	Card text Roost Heal 40 damage from this Pokemon. This Pokemon can’t retreat during your next turn. Rain Splash 20
	27/98	Swanna
	Card text Wing Dance 30 Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to this Pokemon during your opponent’s next turn. Air Slash 70 Discard an Energy attached to this Pokemon.
	28/98	Cubchoo
	Card text Powder Snow 10 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Asleep. Rest Heal 60 damage from this Pokemon. This Pokemon is now Asleep.
	29/98	Cubchoo
	Card text Icicle Punch 30
	30/98	Beartic
	Card text Sheer Cold 50 The Defending Pokemon can’t attack during your opponent’s next turn. Icicle Crash 80 This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Resistance.
	31/98	Beartic
	Card text Icy Wind 30 The Defending Pokemon is now Asleep. Superpower 60+ You may do 20 more damage. If you do, this Pokemon does 20 damage to itself.
	32/98	Emolga
	Card text Thundershock 10 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed. Acrobatics 10+ Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 more damage for each heads.
	33/98	Joltik
	Card text Gnaw 10
	34/98	Galvantula
	Card text Gnaw 20 Stun Needle 30 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
	35/98	Thundurus
	Card text Charge Search your deck for a Lightning Energy card and attach it to this Pokemon. Shuffle your deck afterward. Disaster Volt 80 Discard an Energy attached to this Pokemon.
	36/98	Woobat
	Card text Psy Bolt 20 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
	37/98	Swoobat
	Card text Psyshot 30 Phat Sound Flip 3 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads to each of your opponent’s Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
	38/98	Venipede
	Card text Poison Sting Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Poisoned. Tackle 20
	39/98	Whirlipede
	Card text Venoshock 10+ If the Defending Pokemon is Poisoned, this attack does 60 more damage. Steamroller 40 This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Resistance.
	40/98	Scolipede
	Card text Toxic Claws 30 The Defending Pokemon is now Poisoned. Put 2 damage counters instead of 1 on that Pokemon between turns. Wild Horn 50+ Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 more damage for each heads.
	41/98	Sigilyph
	Card text Reflect During your opponent’s next turn, any damage done to this Pokemon by attacks is reduced by 40 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Telekinesis Does 50 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness or Resistance.
	42/98	Sigilyph
	Card text Quick Turn 10 Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads. Psychic Assault 40+ Does 10 more damage for each damage counter on the Defending Pokemon.
	43/98	Gothita
	Card text Hypnotic Gaze The Defending Pokemon is now Asleep. Double Slap 20 Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads.
	44/98	Gothita
	Card text Smack 20
	45/98	Gothorita
	Card text Double Slap 20 Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads. Psybeam 20 The Defending Pokemon is now Confused.
	46/98	Gothorita
	Card text Deleting Glare Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon. Super Psy Bolt 50
	47/98	Gothitelle
	Card text Magic Room As long as this Pokemon is your Active Pokemon, your opponent can’t play any Item cards from his or her hand. Madkinesis 30+ Does 20 more damage for each Psychic Energy attached to this Pokemon.
	48/98	Gothitelle
	Card text Smack 30 Mental Shock 60 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Confused. If tails, discard an Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon.
	49/98	Roggenrola
	Card text Harden During your opponent’s next turn, if this Pokemon would be damaged by an attack, prevent that attack’s damage done to this Pokemon if that damage is 40 or less. Headbutt 40
	50/98	Roggenrola
	Card text Headbutt 10 Reckless Charge 30 This Pokemon does 10 damage to itself.
	51/98	Boldore
	Card text Smack Down 20+ If the Defending Pokemon has Fighting Resistance, this attack does 60 more damage. Power Gem 80
	52/98	Boldore
	Card text Headbutt 30 Hard Crash 60+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 more damage. If tails, this Pokemon does 20 damage to itself.
	53/98	Gigalith
	Card text Shear Discard the top 5 cards of your deck. If any of those cards are Fighting Energy cards, attach them to this Pokemon. Rock Bullet 40+ Does 20 more damage for each Fighting Energy attached to this Pokemon.
	54/98	Drilbur
	Card text Hone Claws During your next turn, each of this Pokemon’s attacks do 30 more damage (before applying Weakness and Resistance). Scratch 10
	55/98	Drilbur
	Card text Mud-Slap 40
	56/98	Excadrill
	Card text Metal Claw 30 Drill Run 80 Discard an Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon.
	57/98	Excadrill
	Card text Dig 30 Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to this Pokemon during your opponent’s next turn. Earthquake 70 Does 10 damage to each of your Benched Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
	58/98	Throh
	Card text Scarf Hold 30 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon can’t attack during your opponent’s next turn.
	59/98	Sawk
	Card text Five Fierce Chops 20 Flip 5 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads. This Pokemon can’t attack during your next turn.
	60/98	Sandile
	Card text Bite 20
	61/98	Krokorok
	Card text Bite 20 Crunch 40 Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon.
	62/98	Krookodile
	Card text Black Eyes Once during your turn (before your attack), if this Pokemon is your Active Pokemon, you may flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy attached to your opponent’s Active Pokemon. Thrash 70+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 more damage. If tails, this Pokemon does 20 damage to itself.
	63/98	Terrakion
	Card text Boulder Crush 40 Sacred Sword 100 This Pokemon can’t use Sacred Sword during your next turn.
	64/98	Purrloin
	Card text Knock Off 20 Flip a coin. If heads, discard a random card from your opponent’s hand.
	65/98	Liepard
	Card text Feint Attack Does 30 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness, Resistance, or any other effects on that Pokemon. Claw Rend 50+ If the Defending Pokemon already has any damage counters on it, this attack does 30 more damage.
	66/98	Zorua
	Card text Ram 10 Rising Lunge 20+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 more damage.
	67/98	Zoroark
	Card text Fury Swipes 20 Flip 3 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads. Night Daze 80
	68/98	Vullaby
	Card text Rear Guard During your opponent’s next turn, any damage done to this Pokemon by attacks is reduced by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Gust 20
	69/98	Mandibuzz
	Card text Bone Rush 30 Flip a coin until you get tails. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads. Dark Pulse 20+ Does 10 more damage for each Darkness Energy attached to all of your Pokemon.
	70/98	Ferroseed
	Card text Pin Missile 10 Flip 4 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	71/98	Ferroseed
	Card text Pierce 20
	72/98	Ferrothorn
	Card text Steel Feelers 30 Flip 3 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads. Gyro Ball 60 Switch this Pokemon with 1 of your Benched Pokemon. Then, your opponent switches the Defending Pokemon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokemon.
	73/98	Ferrothorn
	Card text Iron Defense Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to this Pokemon during your opponent’s next turn. Power Whip Does 10 damage for each Energy attached to this Pokemon to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
	74/98	Klink
	Card text Spinning Attack 10 Gear Grind 30 Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	75/98	Klang
	Card text Metal Sound The Defending Pokemon is now Confused. Guard Press 60 During your opponent’s next turn, any damage done to this Pokemon by attacks is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
	76/98	Klinklang
	Card text Charge Beam 30 Attach an Energy card from your discard pile to this Pokemon. Zap Cannon 80 Flip a coin. If tails, this Pokemon can’t use Zap Cannon during your next turn.
	77/98	Cobalion
	Card text Horns 30 Your opponent switches the Defending Pokemon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokemon. Sacred Sword 100 This Pokemon can’t use Sacred Sword during your next turn.
	78/98	Patrat
	Card text Hyper Fang 30 Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	79/98	Watchog
	Card text Watcheck Look at the top 5 cards of your opponent’s deck and put them back on top of his or her deck in any order. Quick Tail Smash 20+ Before doing damage, you may flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 60 more damage. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	80/98	Pidove
	Card text Gust 20
	81/98	Tranquill
	Card text Claw 30 Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing. Wing Attack 50
	82/98	Unfezant
	Card text Tailwind Attach an Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Pokemon. Feather Strike 40+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 40 more damage. If tails, discard an Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon.
	83/98	Audino
	Card text Powerful Slap 40 Flip a coin for each Energy attached to this Pokemon. This attack does 40 damage times the number of heads. Heal Pulse Heal 50 damage from 1 of your Pokemon.
	84/98	Minccino
	Card text Last Resort 30 Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	85/98	Cinccino
	Card text Captivate Switch the Defending Pokemon with 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon. Fluffy Tail 30 The Defending Pokemon is now Asleep.
	86/98	Rufflet
	Card text Peck 10 Slash 20
	87/98	Rufflet
	Card text Peck 10 Claw 30 Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	88/98	Braviary
	Card text Wing Attack 40 Brave Bird 90 This Pokemon does 30 damage to itself.
	89/98	Tornadus
	Card text Energy Wheel Move an Energy from 1 of your Benched Pokemon to this Pokemon. Hurricane 80 Move a basic Energy from this Pokemon to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
	90/98	Bianca		Su
	Card text Draw cards until you have 6 cards in your hand. You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
	91/98	Cheren		Su
	Card text Draw 3 cards. You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
	92/98	Crushing Hammer		I
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy from 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
	93/98	Great Ball		I
	Card text Look at the top 7 cards of your deck. You may reveal a Pokemon you find there and put it into your hand. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck. You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
	94/98	Max Potion		I
	Card text Heal all damage from 1 of your Pokemon. Then, discard all Energy attached to that Pokemon. You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
	95/98	Pokemon Catcher		I
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, switch 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon with his or her Active Pokemon. You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
	96/98	Recycle		I
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, put a card in your discard pile on top of your deck. You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
	97/98	Thundurus
	Card text Charge Search your deck for a Lightning Energy card and attach it to this Pokemon. Shuffle your deck afterward. Disaster Volt 80 Discard an Energy attached to this Pokemon.
	98/98	Tornadus
	Card text Energy Wheel Move an Energy from 1 of your Benched Pokemon to this Pokemon. Hurricane 80 Move a basic Energy from this Pokemon to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

Emerging Powers is the only modern set with no Holo Rares, so its entire foil chase is just two Full Art legendaries, Thundurus and Tornadus. Beyond them, value is driven by condition rarity: these thin BW-era cards rarely survive gem-mint, so PSA 10 grades command steep premiums.

Thundurus (Full Art) (#97/98)

The set’s undisputed crown jewel and one of only two Full Art ultra rares; poor centering and edge wear make gem-mint copies scarce, pushing PSA 10 sales to roughly $3,200 versus about $20 raw.

Tornadus (Full Art) (#98/98)

The set’s only other ultra rare and the companion Full Art legendary; easier to find in top grade than Thundurus, with PSA 10 copies selling near $525 and raw copies around $18.

Virizion (#17/98)

The highest-value non-Full-Art card in the set, this Swords of Justice legendary is a condition-rarity darling with a tiny PSA 10 population, lifting graded sales to about $310 despite raw copies under $2.

Gothitelle (#47/98)

A plain (non-holo) rare that punches far above its weight purely on scarcity of gem-mint copies, with PSA 10 examples selling around $280 while ungraded copies trade for just a couple of dollars.

Thundurus (#35/98)

The standard base-set version of the chase legendary carries no foil, but its low PSA 10 population still lifts graded sales to roughly $230 versus about $2 for a raw copy.

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

Emerging Powers’ competitive legacy is its Trainer engine — above all Pokémon Catcher, one of the most format-warping cards ever printed — plus new disruption and consistency pieces that shaped the entire Black & White era.

Pokémon Catcher (Free Gust / Universal Disruption)

Debuting here, it dragged any of the opponent’s Benched Pokémon into the Active spot for zero cost, weaponizing KO priority and defining the entire BW meta; it was so oppressive it was later errata’d to a coin flip in 2013.

Tornadus (Big Basics Aggro Attacker)

A 110 HP Basic Colorless whose Hurricane hit for 80 and shifted Energy to a bench attacker; a first-turn-capable staple of Zekrom/Tornadus ‘Big Basics’ decks, its Fighting Resistance also softened the dominant Donphan matchup.

Max Potion (Healing Item / Tank Enabler)

A new Item that healed all damage in exchange for discarding all Energy; it became a long-running staple, brutal alongside Eelektrik and other acceleration engines that could instantly re-power the freshly healed attacker.

Crushing Hammer (Energy Denial / Disruption)

This coin-flip energy-removal Item launched the modern Crushing Hammer line that became a defining disruption staple for years, especially in later Item-lock and control decks that stalled opponents off the board.

Cheren (Draw Supporter / Consistency)

A new Supporter that simply drew three cards, Cheren was a core consistency piece of the early Black & White era, reliably filling decks’ Supporter counts before stronger draw engines took over.

Trivia

Black & White—Emerging Powers was the first full expansion of the Black & White series, released in August 2011.
It was the first set to include Pokémon TCG Online code cards in every booster pack and theme deck as standard.
Its Pokémon Catcher originally required no coin flip — a free, guaranteed gust that became one of the era’s most dominant Trainers, later errata’d in the XY series.
It featured five Legendary Pokémon: the Swords of Justice (Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion) and two Forces of Nature (Tornadus, Thundurus).
Tornadus and Thundurus each appeared as Full Art secret rares, numbered 98/98 and 97/98.

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