Pokemon TCG: Gym Challenge Set

Gym Challenge Set (ジム拡張第2弾 闇からの挑戦) Trading Card Game Set E7 / J6
General information
Cards	English: 132 Japanese: 98
Series	Original Series
Region Focus	Kanto
Previous Expansion	Gym Heroes
Following Expansion	Neo Genesis
Associated Decks	Sabrina Koga Blaine Giovanni
Released	October 16th, 2000 (English) June 25th, 1999 (Japan)
STD Legal Deck?	Yes

Quick menu: Overview / Print Versions / Set List / For Collectors / Most Powerful / Trivia / Images & Videos

Gym Challenge arrived in English on 16 October 2000, the seventh main expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the second half of a story Gym Heroes had begun two months earlier. Where that set handed the cards to Brock, Misty, Lt. Surge and Erika, this one completes the Kanto roster with the four Leaders who came later in the games — Blaine, Giovanni, Koga and Sabrina.

The two sets are more closely bound than they first appear. Japan had released two Gym products: Leaders’ Stadium and Challenge from the Darkness. Wizards of the Coast did not translate them one for one. Instead each English set is a recombination of both — Gym Heroes is Leaders’ Stadium with cards drawn from Challenge from the Darkness, and Gym Challenge is Challenge from the Darkness with cards drawn from Leaders’ Stadium. That is why Sabrina and Blaine turn up in Gym Heroes, and why Brock, Misty, Lt. Surge and Erika all reappear here.

It also delivered two mechanical firsts that are easy to overlook. Blaine’s Arcanine (1/132) was the first Pokémon in the game able to deal more than 100 damage in a single attack — a ceiling that had held since Base Set. And Rocket’s Mewtwo (14/132) was the first card ever printed with three attacks, at a time when two was the accepted maximum.

At 132 cards it matches Gym Heroes in size, expanded from the 98 in its Japanese counterpart. It has always been the more sought-after of the pair, and the reason is simple: Blaine’s Charizard. It is also the last Generation I set the game ever produced — two months later Neo Genesis arrived and took the Pokémon TCG to Johto for good.

Print Versions & Collectors Info

Gym Challenge exists in 1st Edition and Unlimited printings, each produced in holo and non-holo. 1st Edition carries the small circular black “Edition 1” stamp to the left of the artwork box; Unlimited was manufactured in far greater quantities and is correspondingly cheaper. As with Gym Heroes, a card’s edition and its holo status are separate questions — check both.

Sealed product came in four different booster wrappers, one each for Blaine, Giovanni, Koga and Sabrina, with 36 packs to a box. 1st Edition packs and boxes carry the “Edition 1” stamp on the packaging itself, which is what sealed collectors look for.

One thing to be aware of when comparing English and Japanese copies: several cards had their artwork edited for the Western release. Much of the set’s art is Ken Sugimori’s, and the Japanese originals are not always identical to what shipped here.

The four pack wrappers

As with Gym Heroes, Gym Challenge shipped in four booster wrappers — one each for Blaine, Sabrina, Koga and Giovanni — with 36 packs to a box. The wrapper had no bearing on the contents. 1st Edition packs and boxes carry the “Edition 1” stamp on the packaging itself, which is what sealed collectors look for.

Sealed product

The English booster box alongside its Japanese counterpart. Note the name change: in Japan the set was Challenge from the Darkness, a considerably more ominous title than the Western Gym Challenge.

Set List with Pictures

Card Image	No.	Card name	Rarity	Card type
	1/132	Blaine’s Arcanine
	Card text Blaine’s Arcanine does 10 damage to itself.
	2/132	Blaine’s Charizard
	Card text Discard all Fire energy cards attached to Blaine’s Charizard. If all Energy cards attached to Blaine’s Charizard provide 2 Fire Energy, discard all of them. This attack does 20 damage plus 20 more damage for each Fire Energy discarded in this way.
	3/132	Brock’s Ninetales
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may attach an Evolution card from your hand to Brock’s Ninetales. (This doesn’t count as evolving Brock’s Ninetales.) Treat Brock’s Ninetales as if it were that Pokémon instead. It can’t evolve, devolve, or use the Pokémon Power of that Pokémon. During your turn, you may discard the Evolution card attached to Brock’s Ninetales. This power can’t be used if Brock’s Ninetales is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed. If Brock’s Ninetales becomes Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed, discard all Evolution cards attached to it.
	4/132	Erika’s Venusaur
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, you may attach up to 2 Grass Energy cards from your hand to Erika’s Venusaur.
	5/132	Giovanni’s Gyarados
	Card text Flip 2 coins. If both of them are heads, this attack does 20 damage to each other Pokémon (even your own). Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for this attack.
	6/132	Giovanni’s Machamp
	Card text If Giovanni’s Machamp would be Knocked Out by an opponent’s attack, flip a coin. If heads, Giovanni’s Machamp is not Knocked Out and its remaining HP become 10 instead. This power can’t be used if Giovanni’s Machamp is already Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	7/132	Giovanni’s Nidoking
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon’s maximum HP is 50 or less, it can’t attack Giovanni’s Nidoking during your opponent’s next turn. (Benching or evolving either Pokémon ends this effect.)
	8/132	Giovanni’s Persian
	Card text When you play Giovanni’s Persian from your hand, you may search your deck for the Trainer card named Giovanni, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	9/132	Koga’s Beedrill
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed and Poisoned.
	10/132	Koga’s Ditto
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, Koga’s Ditto’s maximum HP is now 80 and Koga’s Ditto’s Pound attack’s base damage is 30 instead of 10. (Benching Koga’s Ditto ends this effect.)
	11/132	Lt. Surge’s Raichu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 30 more damage to the Defending Pokémon and discard all Lightning Energy cards attached to Lt. Surge’s Raichu. If tails, this attack does 20 damage.
	12/132	Misty’s Golduck
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, discard all Energy cards attached to Misty’s Golduck.
	13/132	Misty’s Gyarados
	Card text Whenever Misty’s Gyarados attacks, flip 2 coins. If both of them are tails, that attack does nothing. Instead, shuffle Misty’s Gyarados and all cards attached to it into your deck. (This power works even if Misty’s Gyarados is Confused.)
	14/132	Rocket’s Mewtwo
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, switch the number of damage counters on Rocket’s Mewtwo with the number of damage counters on the Defending Pokémon (even if it would Knock Out either Pokémon). (It’s okay if 1 of the Pokémon has no damage counters on it.)
	15/132	Rocket’s Zapdos
	Card text If there are any Lightning Energy cards in your discard pile, attach 1 of them to Rocket’s Zapdos.
	16/132	Sabrina’s Alakazam
	Card text Sabrina’s Alakazam always has a copy of every attack your Psychic Pokémon in play have (including their Energy costs and anything else required in order to use those attacks, such as discarding Energy cards). This power can’t be used if Sabrina’s Alakazam is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	17/132	Blaine		T
	Card text During this turn, instead of attaching your free Energy card, you may instead attach 2 Fire Energy cards to 1 of your Pokémon with Blaine in its name. (Playing additional copies of this card this turn has no effect.)
	18/132	Giovanni		T
	Card text Choose 1 of your Pokémon in play with Giovanni in its name. For the rest of your turn, you may evolve that Pokémon even if you just played or evolved it this turn or if this is your first turn. This effect also applies to the Pokémon it evolves into.
	19/132	Koga		T
	Card text If an attack from a Pokémon with Koga in its name does damage to a Defending Pokémon this turn, that Pokémon is then Poisoned.
	20/132	Sabrina		T
	Card text Take all Energy cards attached to 1 of your Pokémon with Sabrina in its name and attach them to another 1 of your Pokémon with Sabrina in its name
	21/132	Blaine’s Ninetales
	Card text Whenever you attach a Fire Energy card from your hand to Blaine’s Ninetales, remove 1 damage counter from it, if it has any. This power stops working while Blaine’s Ninetales is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed
	22/132	Brock’s Dugtrio
	Card text All damage done to Brock’s Dugtrio during your opponent’s next turn is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
	23/132	Giovanni’s Nidoqueen
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 50 damage plus 50 more damage if you have at least 1 Giovanni’s Nidoking on your Bench. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	24/132	Giovanni’s Pinsir
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 10 more damage; if tails, this attack does 10 damage.
	25/132	Koga’s Arbok
	Card text Koga’s Arbok is now Poisoned.
	26/132	Koga’s Muk
	Card text If an opponent’s attack does damage to Koga’s Muk (even if Koga’s Muk is Knocked Out), flip a coin. If heads and if it has any, choose 1 Energy card attached to the attacking Pokémon and discard it. This power can’t be used if Koga’s Muk is already Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed when your opponent attacks.
	27/132	Koga’s Pidgeotto
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	28/132	Lt. Surge’s Jolteon
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent can’t play Trainer cards during his or her next turn.
	29/132	Sabrina’s Gengar
	Card text All Pokémon Powers stop working until the end of your opponent’s next turn.
	30/132	Sabrina’s Golduck
	Card text Move 1 damage counter from each of your Pokémon that has any on it to the Defending Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance.)
	31/132	Blaine’s Charmeleon
	Card text Flip 3 coins. For each heads, discard 1 Fire Energy card attached to Blaine’s Charmeleon. If you can’t discard Energy cards, this attack does nothing. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads to each of your opponent’s Pokémon. Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for this attack. (Any other effects that would happen after applying Weakness and Resistance still happen.)
	32/132	Blaine’s Dodrio
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	33/132	Blaine’s Rapidash
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 damage plus 10 more damage (to the Defending Pokémon) and 10 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) If tails, this attack does 30 damage (to the Defending Pokémon).
	34/132	Brock’s Graveler
	Card text Does 10 damage to each Pokémon on each player’s Bench. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Brock’s Graveler does 50 damage to itself. If there is a Stadium card in play, discard it.
	35/132	Brock’s Primeape
	Card text If Brock’s Primeape ever has exactly 10 HP left, shuffle it and all cards attached to it into your deck. This power stops working while Brock’s Primeape is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	36/132	Brock’s Sandslash
	Card text This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness, Resistance, Pokémon Powers, or any other effects on the Defending Pokémon.
	37/132	Brock’s Vulpix
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	38/132	Erika’s Bellsprout
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may take up to 2 Grass Energy cards attached to your other Pokémon and attach them to Erika’s Bellsprout. This power can’t be used if Erika’s Bellsprout is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	39/132	Erika’s Bulbasaur
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, you may search your deck for a Trainer card. Show it to your opponent and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	40/132	Erika’s Clefairy
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a card that evolves from 1 of your Benched Pokémon and put that card on that Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) Shuffle your deck afterward.
	41/132	Erika’s Ivysaur
	Card text As long as Erika’s Ivysaur is your Active Pokémon, whenever an attack (even your own) does damage to any Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), that attack only does half the damage to that Pokémon (rounded up to the nearest 10). (Any other effects of attacks still happen.) This power stops working while Erika’s Ivysaur is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	42/132	Giovanni’s Machoke
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does no damage to the Defending Pokémon and Giovanni’s Machoke does 100 damage to itself.
	43/132	Giovanni’s Meowth
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, look at the top card of your opponent’s deck. If it’s a Trainer card, put it in your opponent’s discard pile; otherwise, put it into his or her hand.
	44/132	Giovanni’s Nidorina
	Card text Giovanni’s Nidorina does 20 damage to itself. Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	45/132	Giovanni’s Nidorino
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon already has any damage counters on it, this attack does 20 damage plus 20 more damage. If not, this attack does 20 damage.
	46/132	Koga’s Golbat
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	47/132	Koga’s Kakuna
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for an Evolution card named Koga’s Beedrill and put it on Koga’s Kakuna. (This counts as evolving Koga’s Kakuna.) Shuffle your deck afterward. This power can’t be used if Koga’s Kakuna is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	48/132	Koga’s Koffing
	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.
	49/132	Koga’s Pidgey
	Card text Put Koga’s Pidgey and all cards attached to it on top of your deck. Then search your deck for any Basic Pokémon or Evolution card not named Koga’s Pidgey. Show that card to your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	50/132	Koga’s Weezing
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 30 more damage and Koga’s Weezing does 30 damage to itself; if tails, this attack does 10 damage.
	51/132	Lt. Surge’s Eevee
	Card text Look at a random card from your opponent’s hand. Your opponent shuffles that card into his or her deck.
	52/132	Lt. Surge’s Electrode
	Card text If Lt. Surge’s Electrode is your Active Pokémon and gets damaged (even if it’s Knocked Out), flip a coin. If tails, this power does 20 damage to each Active Pokémon. This power works even if Lt. Surge’s Electrode is already Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed when it takes damage.
	53/132	Lt. Surge’s Raticate
	Card text During your next turn, Lt. Surge’s Raticate’s Double-edge attack’s damage (base damage and damage to itself) is doubled.
	54/132	Misty’s Dewgong
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon is Fighting, this attack’s base damage is doubled.
	55/132	Sabrina’s Haunter
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	56/132	Sabrina’s Hypno
	Card text Choose 1 Basic Pokémon in any player’s discard pile. Put it onto that player’s Bench. Put a number of damage counters on that Pokémon equal to half its HP (rounded down to the nearest 10). (You can’t put a Pokémon on a Bench that’s full.)
	57/132	Sabrina’s Jynx
	Card text Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. Remove any number of damage counters from that Pokémon, then draw that many cards.
	58/132	Sabrina’s Kadabra
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, put a number of damage counters on the Defending Pokémon so that its remaining HP are 10.
	59/132	Sabrina’s Mr. Mime
	Card text Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon and flip 3 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads to that Pokémon. Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for this attack.
	60/132	Blaine’s Charmander
	Card text Use this attack only if there are any Fire Energy cards attached to Blaine’s Charmander. Flip a coin. If tails, discard 1 of those cards
	61/132	Blaine’s Doduo
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	62/132	Blaine’s Growlithe
	Card text Search your deck for a Fire Energy card and attach it to Blaine’s Growlithe. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	63/132	Blaine’s Mankey
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, choose a card from your opponent’s discard pile and put it on top of his or her deck.
	64/132	Blaine’s Ponyta
	Card text If you have any Benched Pokémon, flip a coin. If heads, switch Blaine’s Ponyta with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
	65/132	Blaine’s Rhyhorn
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	66/132	Blaine’s Vulpix
	Card text Flip 3 coins. For each heads, if you have a Fire Energy card in your discard pile, put it into your hand.
	67/132	Brock’s Diglett
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	68/132	Brock’s Geodude
	Card text Flip 3 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	69/132	Erika’s Jigglypuff
	Card text You and your opponent remove 1 damage counter from each of your Pokémon with damage counters on them.
	70/132	Erika’s Oddish
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused; if tails, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	71/132	Erika’s Paras
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned and this attack does 10 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	72/132	Giovanni’s Machop
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage times the number of damage counters on Giovanni’s Machop.
	73/132	Giovanni’s Magikarp
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing. Either way, you can’t use this attack again as long as Giovanni’s Magikarp stays in play (even putting Giovanni’s Magikarp on the Bench won’t let you use it again).
	74/132	Giovanni’s Meowth
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	75/132	Giovanni’s Nidoran♀
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	76/132	Giovanni’s Nidoran♂
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	77/132	Koga’s Ekans
	Card text Flip 2 coins. If both are heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused and Poisoned.
	78/132	Koga’s Grimer
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, flip a coin. If heads, choose 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon and switch it with the Defending Pokémon. The new Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	79/132	Koga’s Koffing
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage to each Benched Pokémon (including your own). (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	80/132	Koga’s Pidgey
	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.
	81/132	Koga’s Tangela
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep
	82/132	Koga’s Weedle
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned; if tails, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	83/132	Koga’s Zubat
	Card text Does 10 damage times the number of Koga’s Zubats you have in play. Before doing damage, you may search your deck for any number of Basic Pokémon named Koga’s Zubat and put them onto your Bench. (You can’t get more cards with this attack than you have room on your Bench.) If you do, shuffle your deck afterward.
	84/132	Lt. Surge’s Pikachu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage; if tails, this attack does 10 damage.
	85/132	Lt. Surge’s Rattata
	Card text During your next turn, Lt. Surge’s Rattata’s Quick Attack’s base damage is doubled.
	86/132	Lt. Surge’s Voltorb
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, Lt. Surge’s Voltorb does 10 damage to itself.
	87/132	Misty’s Horsea
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, whenever the Defending Pokémon tries to attack, your opponent flips a coin. If tails, that attack does nothing. (This effect lasts until the Defending Pokémon evolves or is Benched.)
	88/132	Misty’s Magikarp
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Misty’s Magikarp
	89/132	Misty’s Poliwag
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, you can’t use this attack during your next turn.
	90/132	Misty’s Psyduck
	Card text Flip 3 coins. If exactly 1 is heads, draw a card. If exactly 2 are heads, this attack does 20 damage. If all 3 are heads, choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon’s attacks. Misty’s Psyduck copies that attack except for its Energy costs. (No matter what type the Defending Pokémon is, Misty’s Psyduck’s type is still Water.)
	91/132	Misty’s Seel
	Card text The Defending Pokémon can’t retreat during your opponent’s next turn
	92/132	Misty’s Staryu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, return Misty’s Staryu and all cards attached to it to your hand. (Either way, this attack does its damage.)
	93/132	Sabrina’s Abra
	Card text This attack can’t be used unless Sabrina’s Abra and the Defending Pokémon have the same number of Energy cards attached to them.
	94/132	Sabrina’s Abra
	Card text Look at your opponent’s hand.
	95/132	Sabrina’s Drowzee
	Card text Search your deck for a Psychic Energy card. Show that card to your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	96/132	Sabrina’s Gastly
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	97/132	Sabrina’s Gastly
	Card text Sabrina’s Gastly gets +10 HP for each Psychic Energy card attached to it. This power works even if Sabrina’s Gastly is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	98/132	Sabrina’s Porygon
	Card text All damage done by attacks to Sabrina’s Porygon during your opponent’s next turn is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
	99/132	Sabrina’s Psyduck
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused. If tails, this attack does no damage and Sabrina’s Psyduck is now Confused.
	100/132	Blaine		T
	Card text During this turn, instead of attaching your free Energy card, you may instead attach 2 Fire Energy cards to 1 of your Pokémon with Blaine in its name. (Playing additional copies of this card this turn has no effect.)
	101/132	Brock’s Protection		T
	Card text Attach Brock’s Protection to 1 of your Pokémon with Brock in its name. Energy cards attached to that Pokémon can’t be removed by your opponent’s attacks or Trainer cards. (This doesn’t stop the rest of the attack or Trainer card from working normally.)
	102/132	Chaos Gym		T
	Card text Whenever a player plays a Trainer card other than a Stadium card, he or she flips a coin. If heads, that player plays that card normally. If tails, the player can’t play that card. If the card isn’t put into play, the player’s opponent may use that card instead, if he or she does everything required in order to play that card (like discarding cards). Either way, the card goes to its owner’s discard pile.
	103/132	Erika’s Kindness		T
	Card text Remove 2 damage counters from each Pokémon (yours and your opponent’s) with any damage counters on it. If a Pokémon has just 1 damage counter, remove it.
	104/132	Giovanni		T
	Card text Choose 1 of your Pokémon in play with Giovanni in its name. For the rest of your turn, you may evolve that Pokémon even if you just played or evolved it this turn or if this is your first turn. This effect also applies to the Pokémon it evolves into.
	105/132	Giovanni’s Last Resort		T
	Card text Remove all damage counters from 1 of your Pokémon with Giovanni in its name. Then discard your hand.
	106/132	Koga		T
	Card text If an attack from a Pokémon with Koga in its name does damage to a Defending Pokémon this turn, that Pokémon is then Poisoned.
	107/132	Lt. Surge’s Secret Plan		T
	Card text Put 1 card from your hand face down onto your Bench. (You can’t play this card if your Bench is full.) Treat that card as a Basic Pokémon as long as it’s face down. Flip the card if either player ever needs to know what it is in order to use an attack, a Pokémon Power, or a Trainer card. Flip the card if it ever uses an attack or Pokémon Power, evolves, retreats, is damaged by an attack, or is otherwise affected by an attack. At any time during your turn, you may flip the card over. When you flip that card over, if it isn’t a Basic Pokémon, discard it and all cards attached to it.
	108/132	Misty’s Wish		T
	Card text Look at 1 of your Prize cards. Then, ask your opponent if you may switch that card with 1 of the cards in your hand. If your opponent accepts and if you have any other cards in your hand, switch those cards. If your opponent declines, return the Prize card face down and draw a card.
	109/132	Resistance Gym		T[st]
	Card text Each Pokémon’s Resistance is reduced by 20. (If a Pokémon’s Resistance is -30, it becomes -10.)
	110/132	Sabrina		T
	Card text Take all Energy cards attached to 1 of your Pokémon with Sabrina in its name and attach them to another 1 of your Pokémon with Sabrina in its name.
	111/132	Blaine’s Quiz #2		T
	Card text Put a card from your hand face down in front of you. Your opponent guesses whether it is an Energy card, a Trainer card, or a Pokémon (Basic or Evolution) card. Flip the card over. If your opponent guessed right, he or she draws 2 cards. If your opponent guessed wrong, you draw 2 cards. Either way, return the card to your hand.
	112/132	Blaine’s Quiz #3		T
	Card text Put a Basic Pokémon or Evolution card from your hand face down in front of you and tell your opponent the name of an attack of that card. Your opponent guesses the name of that card. Flip the card over. If your opponent guessed right, he or she draws 3 cards. If your opponent guessed wrong, you draw 3 cards. Either way, return the card to your hand.
	113/132	Cinnabar City Gym		T[st]
	Card text Ignore Weakness when a Water Pokémon does damage to a Pokémon with Blaine in its name.
	114/132	Fuchsia City Gym		T[st]
	Card text Once during each player’s turn (before attacking), that player may flip a coin. If heads, that player may shuffle 1 of his or her Pokémon in play with Koga in its name and any cards attached to it into his or her deck.
	115/132	Koga’s Ninja Trick		T
	Card text Attach Koga’s Ninja Trick to your Active Pokémon with Koga in its name. If this Pokémon goes to your Bench, discard this card. When your opponent attacks, you may switch this Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon (before damage or other effects of attacks).
	116/132	Master Ball		T
	Card text Look at 7 cards from the top of your deck. You may choose a Basic Pokémon or Evolution card from those cards, show it your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle the rest into your deck.
	117/132	Max Revive		T
	Card text Discard 2 Energy cards from your hand in order to put 1 Basic Pokémon from your discard pile onto your Bench. (You can’t play Max Revive if your Bench is full.)
	118/132	Misty’s Tears		T
	Card text Discard 1 of the other cards in your hand in order to search your deck for up to 2 Water Energy cards. Show those cards to your opponent, then put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	119/132	Rocket’s Minefield Gym		T[st]
	Card text Whenever a player puts a Basic Pokémon onto his or her Bench from his or her hand, he or she flips a coin. If tails, put damage counters on that Pokémon.
	120/132	Rocket’s Secret Experiment		T
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for any card and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. If tails, you can’t play Trainer cards until the end of your next turn.
	121/132	Sabrina’s Psychic Control		T
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, choose a Trainer card in your opponent’s discard pile that isn’t put into play (like PlusPower or Mysterious Fossil). You may use that card as if it were in your hand, if you do everything required in order to play that card (like discarding cards). The card stays in your opponent’s discard pile.
	122/132	Saffron City Gym		T[st]
	Card text As often as each player likes during his or her turn (before attacking), that player may return 1 basic Energy card attached to 1 of his or her Pokémon with Sabrina in its name to his or her hand.
	123/132	Viridian City Gym		T[st]
	Card text Whenever a Pokémon with Giovanni in its name evolves, its owner removes 2 damage counters from that Pokémon (or 1 if it only has 1).
	124/132	Fervor		T
	Card text Show the top 3 cards of your deck to all players. Put any Fire Energy cards there into your hand and discard the rest.
	125/132	Transparent Walls		T
	Card text Until the end of your opponent’s next turn, prevent all damage from attacks done to your Benched Pokémon. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)
	126/132	Warp Point		T
	Card text If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with his or her Active Pokémon, then, if you have any Benched Pokémon, you switch 1 of them with your Active Pokémon.
	127/132	Fighting Energy	__	E
	128/132	Fire Energy	__	E
	129/132	Grass Energy	__	E
	130/132	Lightning Energy	__	E
	131/132	Psychic Energy	__	E
	132/132	Water Energy	__	E

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

The holos run 1–20, and unusually that range includes the four Gym Leader Trainer cards as well as sixteen Pokémon. Gym Challenge has consistently outperformed Gym Heroes on the secondary market, and while one card drives most of that, the set has genuine depth behind it.

Blaine’s Charizard (2/132)

The card that defines the set. Any Wizards-era set containing a Charizard commands attention on that basis alone, and this is the only one in the Gym block. It is comfortably the most valuable card here, and 1st Edition holos in high grade are the set’s blue-chip target.

Rocket’s Mewtwo (14/132)

Historically the most interesting card in the set — the first ever printed with three attacks. Mewtwo’s standing as the original legendary powerhouse does the rest, and Team Rocket’s claim on him gives the card a narrative hook that collectors respond to.

Blaine’s Arcanine (1/132)

Card number one, and the first Pokémon in the game capable of breaking 100 damage in one attack. A genuinely significant card that tends to be priced below its historical importance — which makes it one of the more interesting buys in the set.

Sabrina’s Alakazam (16/132)

Sabrina’s signature Pokémon, and the Psychic counterpart to the Gengar that anchors Gym Heroes. Collectors assembling the Gym block by Leader tend to want both.

Erika’s Venusaur (4/132)

A quiet favourite. Venusaur rarely gets the attention Charizard and Blastoise attract, and the Owner’s treatment here produced one of the better-looking Grass holos of the era.

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

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

Gym Challenge pushed harder on raw numbers than anything before it. The Owner’s Pokémon constraint introduced in Gym Heroes still applied — Owner’s Pokémon generally evolve only from pre-evolutions belonging to the same Trainer — so building around a single Leader remained a commitment. What changed is what you got in return.

Blaine’s Arcanine (1/132)

The first Pokémon able to deal over 100 damage in a single attack. Base Set had established roughly 100 as the practical ceiling for two years; breaking it mattered, and it signalled the direction the game would take through the Neo era and far beyond.

Rocket’s Mewtwo (14/132)

Three attacks on one card, when two was the assumed maximum. Flexibility of that kind was genuinely novel, and it let a single card fill several roles in a deck rather than one.

Trivia & Pop Culture

• Released in English on 16 October 2000. The Japanese original, Challenge from the Darkness (ジム拡張第2弾 闇からの挑戦), had appeared on 25 June 1999 with 98 cards — 34 fewer than the English release.
• Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge are mirror-image merges of the same two Japanese products, which is why Leaders appear across both sets rather than being cleanly divided.
• It is the last Generation I expansion the Pokémon TCG ever produced. Neo Genesis followed two months later and moved the game to Johto.
• Four theme decks shipped with the set — Blaine, Giovanni, Koga and Sabrina — each containing a purple holographic Alakazam coin found in no other Pokémon TCG product.
• The Koga theme deck is built around Grass-types, despite Koga being the Poison-type Leader in the games — a quirk of how Poison was handled in the early card game.
• In Japan only Sabrina and Blaine received theme decks. Koga and Giovanni never got one.
• The holographic Blaine (17/132) Trainer first appeared in the Japanese Guren Town Gym Theme Deck rather than in a booster.
• Much of the set’s artwork is by Ken Sugimori, the original designer of the Pokémon themselves.

Images & Videos

All 132 cards from Gym Challenge in official set order. Click any card to open it full size. The holographic rares run 1–20 — sixteen Pokémon plus the four Gym Leader Trainers — followed by the rares, the Owner’s Pokémon that make up the body of the set, and finally the Trainers, Stadiums and Energy.