Pokemon TCG: Neo Discovery Set

Neo Discovery (遺跡をこえて…) Trading Card Game Set E9 / J8
General information
Cards	English: 75  Japanese: 56
Series	Neo Series
Previous Expansion	Neo Genesis
Following Expansion	Neo Revelation
Associated Decks	Brain Wave   Wallop
Released	June 1st, 2001 (English)  July 7th, 2000 (Japan)

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

Neo Discovery is the second set of the Neo era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, released in English on 1 June 2001 as an adaptation of Japan’s Crossing the Ruins… (July 2000). It is a wholly Generation II release — every Pokémon is drawn from Gold and Silver’s Johto Pokédex — and it landed in the middle of the Neo run, sitting between Neo Genesis and Neo Revelation.

Its reputation rests on two things. The first is a run of genuinely beautiful holos led by the Eeveelutions: Umbreon (13/75) is one of the most beloved cards of the entire Wizards of the Coast era, with Espeon (1/75) not far behind. The second is the set’s embrace of the Ruins of Alph — the Johto site tied to the Unown — which it leaned into by printing nine different Unown as their own cards, turning the alphabet Pokémon into a mini-collection all of their own. Seventy-five cards deep and issued in both 1st Edition and Unlimited printings, it remains one of the era’s most fondly-remembered releases, largely on the strength of that Umbreon.

Print Versions & Collectors Info

Neo Discovery shipped with four English booster arts — Umbreon, Scizor, Smeargle and Xatu — and it’s the Umbreon wrapper everyone remembers. In Japan the set arrived as Crossing the Ruins… with its own pack and box art.

English booster packs

Japanese release

Set List with Pictures

Card Image	No.	Card name	Rarity	Card type
	1/75	Espeon
	Card text Does 30 damage plus 10 more damage for each Energy card attached to the Defending Pokémon.
	2/75	Forretress
	Card text During your opponent’s turn, whenever 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon becomes his or her Active Pokémon, Forretress does 10 damage to it. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance.) This power stops working if Forretress is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	3/75	Hitmontop
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Hitmontop.
	4/75	Houndoom
	Card text Until the end of your next turn, if an attack damages the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), that attack does 20 more damage to the Defending Pokémon.
	5/75	Houndour
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	6/75	Kabutops
	Card text Flip a number of coins equal to the number of Energy cards attached to Kabutops. This attack does 40 damage times the number of heads. You can’t flip more than 3 coins in this way.
	7/75	Magnemite
	Card text During your next turn, treat any tails flipped when using Magnemite’s Electric Bolt attack on the Defending Pokémon as if they were heads. (Benching or evolving either Pokémon ends this effect.)
	8/75	Politoed
	Card text Whenever Politoed’s attack damages the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), if there are more than 3 Poliwags, Poliwhirls, Poliwraths, and/or Politoeds in play (including your opponent’s), that attack does 40 more damage (no matter how many heads you get). This power stops working while Politoed is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	9/75	Poliwrath
	Card text Poliwrath does 20 damage to itself.
	10/75	Scizor
	Card text    Does damage equal to half the Defending Pokémon’s remaining HP (rounded down to the nearest 10).
	11/75	Smeargle
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon attacked last turn, and Smeargle was in play during that attack, Smeargle copies that attack except for its Energy costs and anything else required in order to use that attack.
	12/75	Tyranitar
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	13/75	Umbreon
	Card text Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. This attack does 30 damage to that Pokémon. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness, Resistance, Pokémon Powers, or any other effects on the Defending Pokémon.
	14/75	Unown A
	Card text Whenever 1 of your Pokémon with Unown in its name uses its Hidden Power attack, that attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on Unown [A]. If you have more than 1 Unown [A] in play, use only 1 [Anger] for each attack.
	15/75	Ursaring
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. If tails, this attack does nothing (not even damage).
	16/75	Wobbuffet
	Card text If an attack damages Wobbuffet during your opponent’s next turn (even if Wobbuffet is Knocked Out), flip a coin. If heads, Wobbuffet attacks the Defending Pokémon for an equal amount of damage.
	17/75	Yanma
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage to each of your opponent’s Pokémon. Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance. Then, if your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with the Defending Pokémon.
	18/75	Beedrill
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned. Your opponent now puts 3 damage counters on it instead of 1 after each player’s turn (even if it was already Poisoned).
	19/75	Butterfree
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now either Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned (your choice).
	20/75	Espeon
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage; if tails, this attack does 10 damage.
	21/75	Forretress
	Card text During your opponent’s turn, whenever 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon becomes his or her Active Pokémon, Forretress does 10 damage to it. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance.) This power stops working if Forretress is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	22/75	Hitmontop
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Hitmontop.
	23/75	Houndoom
	Card text Until the end of your next turn, if an attack damages the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), that attack does 20 more damage to the Defending Pokémon.
	24/75	Houndour
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	25/75	Kabutops
	Card text Flip a number of coins equal to the number of Energy cards attached to Kabutops. This attack does 40 damage times the number of heads. You can’t flip more than 3 coins in this way
	26/75	Magnemite
	Card text During your next turn, treat any tails flipped when using Magnemite’s Electric Bolt attack on the Defending Pokémon as if they were heads. (Benching or evolving either Pokémon ends this effect.)
	27/75	Politoed
	Card text Whenever Politoed’s attack damages the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance), if there are more than 3 Poliwags, Poliwhirls, Poliwraths, and/or Politoeds in play (including your opponent’s), that attack does 40 more damage (no matter how many heads you get). This power stops working while Politoed is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	28/75	Poliwrath
	Card text Poliwrath does 20 damage to itself.
	29/75	Scizor
	Card text Does damage equal to half the Defending Pokémon’s remaining HP (rounded down to the nearest 10).
	30/75	Smeargle
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon attacked last turn, and Smeargle was in play during that attack, Smeargle copies that attack except for its Energy costs and anything else required in order to use that attack.
	31/75	Tyranitar
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	32/75	Umbreon
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage; if tails, this attack does 10 damage.
	33/75	Unown A
	Card text Whenever 1 of your Pokémon with Unown in its name uses its Hidden Power attack, that attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on Unown [A]. If you have more than 1 Unown [A] in play, use only 1 [Anger] for each attack.
	34/75	Ursaring
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. If tails, this attack does nothing (not even damage)
	35/75	Wobbuffet
	Card text If an attack damages Wobbuffet during your opponent’s next turn (even if Wobbuffet is Knocked Out), flip a coin. If heads, Wobbuffet attacks the Defending Pokémon for an equal amount of damage.
	36/75	Yanma
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage to each of your opponent’s Pokémon. Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance. Then, if your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with the Defending Pokémon.
	37/75	Corsola
	Card text Discard 1 Water Energy card attached to Corsola or this attack does nothing. Remove all damage counters from Corsola.
	38/75	Eevee
	Card text Whenever you attach an Energy card to Eevee, flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a card that evolves from Eevee that is the same type as the Energy card you attached to Eevee. Attach that card to Eevee. This counts as evolving Eevee. Shuffle your deck afterward. This power can’t be used if Eevee is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
	39/75	Houndour
	Card text Before doing damage, discard all Trainer cards attached to the Defending Pokémon (before they affect the damage).
	40/75	Igglybuff
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), choose 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon that has a Pokémon Power. That power stops working until the end of this turn. This effect ends if that Pokémon leaves the Bench.
	41/75	Kakuna
	Card text During your opponent’s next turn, whenever your opponent’s attack damages Kakuna (even if Kakuna is Knocked Out), your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Poisoned and Kakuna does 10 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	42/75	Metapod
	Card text During your opponent’s next turn, whenever 20 or less damage is done to Metapod (after applying Weakness and Resistance), prevent that damage. (Any other effects of attacks still happen).
	43/75	Omastar
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage and the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. If tails, this attack does 10 damage.
	44/75	Poliwhirl
	Card text Put 3 damage counters on Poliwhirl. If this doesn’t Knock Out Poliwhirl, search your deck for up to 2 Basic Energy cards and attach them to Poliwhirl. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	45/75	Pupitar
	Card text Does 10 damage to each non-Fighting Pokémon in play. Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance.
	46/75	Scyther
	Card text Flip 4 coins. This attack does 10 damage plus 10 more damage if exactly 1 is heads, or 20 more damage if exactly 2 are heads, or 40 more damage if exactly 3 are heads, or 80 more damage if all 4 are heads
	47/75	Unown D
	Card text Whenever a Darkness Pokémon damages 1 of your Pokémon, reduce that damage by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). This power stops working if you have more than 1 Unown [D] in play. (This power works even if Unown [D] is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.)
	48/75	Unown F
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), if you have Unown [F], Unown [I], Unown [N], and Unown [D] on your Bench, you may search your deck for a Trainer card. Show that card to your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	49/75	Unown M
	Card text Whenever a Metal Pokémon damages 1 of your Pokémon, reduce that damage by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). This power stops working if you have more than 1 Unown [M] in play. (This power works even if Unown [M] is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.)
	50/75	Unown N
	Card text Whenever a Colorless Pokémon damages 1 of your Pokémon, reduce that damage by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). This power stops working if you have more than 1 Unown [N] in play. (This power works even if Unown [N] is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.)
	51/75	Unown U
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), if you have Unown [U], Unown [N], Unown [D], and Unown [O] on your Bench, you may return your Active Pokémon and all cards attached to it to your hand.
	52/75	Xatu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, choose 1 Energy card attached to the Defending Pokémon and 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. Attach that Energy card to that Pokémon.
	53/75	Caterpie
	Card text Caterpie does 10 damage to itself.
	54/75	Dunsparce
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	55/75	Hoppip
	Card text Rolling Tackle
	56/75	Kabuto
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a card named Kabuto and put it on your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward. Treat the new Kabuto as a Basic Pokémon. This power can’t be used if Kabuto is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed (or if your Bench is full).
	57/75	Larvitar
	Card text Bite
	58/75	Mareep
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, Mareep does 10 damage to itself.
	59/75	Natu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	60/75	Omanyte
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a card that evolves from Mysterious Fossil and put it on your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward. Treat that card as a Basic Pokémon. This power can’t be used if Omanyte is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed (or if your Bench is full).
	61/75	Pineco
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, Pineco does 40 damage to itself and 10 damage to each Pokémon on each player’s Bench. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing (not even damage).
	62/75	Poliwag
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	63/75	Sentret
	Card text Look at your opponent’s hand.
	64/75	Spinarak
	Card text   Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	65/75	Teddiursa
	Card text Remove all damage counters from Teddiursa. Teddiursa is now Asleep.
	66/75	Tyrogue
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	67/75	Unown E
	Card text When you play Unown [E] from your hand, your opponent may shuffle his or her hand into his or her deck and then draw 4 cards. Either way, you may shuffle your hand into your deck and draw 4 cards.
	68/75	Unown I
	Card text When you play Unown [I] from your hand, you may search your deck for a card with Unown in its name and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward. You can’t use this power if your Bench is full.
	69/75	Unown O
	Card text Once during you turn (before your attack), you may look at 5 cards from the top of your opponent’s deck and put them back in the same order.
	70/75	Weedle
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned. If tails, this attack does nothing (not even damage).
	71/75	Wooper
	Card text If an attack would do damage to Wooper during your opponent’s next turn, your opponent flips a coin. If tails, prevent all damage to Wooper from that attack. (Any other effects of that attack happen.)
	72/75	Fossil Egg		T
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a card that evolves from Mysterious Fossil and put it onto your Bench or put a card that evolves from Mysterious Fossil from your hand onto your Bench. Either way, treat the new card as a Basic Pokémon. If you searched your deck, shuffle it. (You can’t play this card if your Bench is full.)
	73/75	Hyper Devolution Spray		T
	Card text Choose 1 of your evolved Pokémon. Take the highest Stage Evolution card from that Pokémon and put it into your hand. (You can’t evolve a Pokémon the turn you devolve it.)
	74/75	Ruin Wall		T
	Card text Search your deck for a card with Unown in its name and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward. (You can’t play this card if your Bench is full.)
	75/75	Energy Ark		T
	Card text Flip 2 coins. For each heads, search your deck for a Basic Energy card. Show that card to your opponent, then put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

Other Cards

Two things set Neo Discovery apart from the cards you’d actually pull for a deck: its Unown obsession and its Ruins of Alph flavour.

The Unown collection

Leaning hard into the Ruins of Alph from Gold and Silver, the set printed nine different Unown — the letters A, D, F, M, N, U, E, I and O — each as its own card. They didn’t spell anything in particular, but they turned Unown into a mini set-within-a-set that collectors still enjoy chasing.

Ruins of Alph trainers

The archaeological theme carried into the Trainer line-up too, with cards like Fossil Egg (72/75), Hyper Devolution Spray (73/75), Ruin Wall (74/75) and Energy Ark (75/75) rounding out the set.

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

Neo Discovery’s value story is, more than anything, an Eeveelution story — and one card carries the whole set.

Umbreon (13/75)

The crown jewel. Umbreon’s moonlit holo is one of the most adored cards of the entire Wizards era, and it is the single card that keeps Neo Discovery on collectors’ radars two decades on. First Edition copies in high grade are the set’s blue-chip chase.

Espeon (1/75)

The other half of the pair, and fittingly card number one. Espeon’s sunlit artwork is every bit as loved as Umbreon’s, and the two are almost always chased together.

Tyranitar (12/75)

Johto’s pseudo-legendary in its first English holo. A big, popular Pokémon whose collector demand runs well ahead of anything it ever managed in competitive play.

Scizor (10/75)

One of the cleaner-looking holos in the set and a long-standing Gen II fan favourite — a steady mid-tier chase.

Houndoom (4/75)

The Dark/Fire hound’s debut holo, and a quiet favourite for type collectors completing their Johto runs.

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

Neo Discovery is remembered for its artwork rather than its tournament results, but a handful of cards still earned table time in the Neo-on format.

Umbreon (13/75)

Beyond its collector status, Umbreon’s Faint Attack dealt a flat 30 damage with Weakness and Resistance ignored — cheap, dependable chip damage that made it a splashable tech.

Scizor (10/75)

A durable attacker with a handy Pokémon Power, Scizor was the closest thing the set had to a genuine deck centrepiece.

Tyranitar (12/75)

Slow to build but hard-hitting once online, Tyranitar was the era’s archetypal big Stage-2 payoff for players who could power it up.

Trivia & Pop Culture

• Second in the Neo line: Neo Discovery launched in English on 1 June 2001, adapting Japan’s “Crossing the Ruins…” (July 2000). It sits between Neo Genesis and Neo Revelation in the Johto-era Neo run.
• Umbreon’s legend: card 13/75 has grown into one of the most iconic non-secret holos of the entire WOTC era — the card most people picture when they think of this set.
• Gen II to the core: every Pokémon is drawn from Gold and Silver’s Johto Pokédex, doubling down on the region’s lore and its mysterious Unown.
• 1st Edition vs Unlimited: like its neighbours, Neo Discovery came in a stamped 1st Edition print and a later Unlimited run, with 1st Edition holos carrying the premium.
• 75 from 56: the English set expanded on Japan’s 56-card release, with non-holo versions of the holo rares filling out the numbering.

Images & Videos

A collection of media relating to the Pokémon TCG Neo Discovery set — the full card gallery alongside its booster and box art, plus a couple of pack openings for the set.

Opening a sealed Neo Discovery booster box.

A look at the Japanese Crossing the Ruins… packs.