Base Set (Japanese: 拡張パック, Hepburn: Expansion Pack) was the first TCG expansion set of the Original series. It was released on 20 October 1996 in Japan and 9 January 1999 in the US. This expansion set contains 102 cards in both Japanese and English.
Background[]
- Although the release of the set in the US was in January 1999, widespread release was not seen until months later, around March or April, the same year. This was due to the reluctance of many stores to sell the new card game.
- All of the cards in the first print runs were "shadowless cards" and some had a first edition stamp on the bottom left corner of the card artwork. They had no drop shadows on the illustration box, and the texting used on HP and attack was weaker compared to the unlimited 2-7th print run which was called "unlimited". There was also an 8th print run called "Base 2000"
- By the time of its release, this set had been replaced by Base Set 2, as Base Set had been out of print for some time.
- Some of the final form Pokémon were left out of this set, but were released in Jungle and Fossil.
Variations between English and Japanese editions[]
- The Japanese variations of the cards did not have a numbering system till the release of Pokémon VS, and the number featured on the cards before that represents the Pokémons Pokédex number.
- The English numbering is based on an alphabetical sorting, with descending rarity, a sorting that would stay the same till the release of Black & White. The Japanese order is based on type, and ascending rarity, and stayed this way until the release of e-Card 2.
Theme decks[]
- 2-Player Starter Set, focuses on and
- Blackout, focuses on and
- Brushfire, focuses on and
- Overgrowth, focuses on and
- Zap!, focuses on and
Card list[]
No. | Name | Type | Rarity |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alakazam | Rare Holo | |
2 | Blastoise | Rare Holo | |
3 | Chansey | Rare Holo | |
4 | Charizard | Rare Holo | |
5 | Clefairy | Rare Holo | |
6 | Gyarados | Rare Holo | |
7 | Hitmonchan | Rare Holo | |
8 | Machamp | Rare Holo | |
9 | Magneton | Rare Holo | |
10 | Mewtwo | Rare Holo | |
11 | Nidoking | Rare Holo | |
12 | Ninetales | Rare Holo | |
13 | Poliwrath | Rare Holo | |
14 | Raichu | Rare Holo | |
15 | Venusaur | Rare Holo | |
16 | Zapdos | Rare Holo | |
17 | Beedrill | Rare | |
18 | Dragonair | Rare | |
19 | Dugtrio | Rare | |
20 | Electabuzz | Rare | |
21 | Electrode | Rare | |
22 | Pidgeotto | Rare | |
23 | Arcanine | Uncommon | |
24 | Charmeleon | Uncommon | |
25 | Dewgong | Uncommon | |
26 | Dratini | Uncommon | |
27 | Farfetch'd | Uncommon | |
28 | Growlithe | Uncommon | |
29 | Haunter | Uncommon | |
30 | Ivysaur | Uncommon | |
31 | Jynx | Uncommon | |
32 | Kadabra | Uncommon | |
33 | Kakuna | Uncommon | |
34 | Machoke | Uncommon | |
35 | Magikarp | Uncommon | |
36 | Magmar | Uncommon | |
37 | Nidorino | Uncommon | |
38 | Poliwhirl | Uncommon | |
39 | Porygon | Uncommon | |
40 | Raticate | Uncommon | |
41 | Seel | Uncommon | |
42 | Wartortle | Uncommon | |
43 | Abra | Common | |
44 | Bulbasaur | Common | |
45 | Caterpie | Common | |
46 | Charmander | Common | |
47 | Diglett | Common | |
48 | Doduo | Common | |
49 | Drowzee | Common | |
50 | Gastly | Common | |
51 | Koffing | Common | |
52 | Machop | Common | |
53 | Magnemite | Common | |
54 | Metapod | Common | |
55 | Nidoran♂ | Common | |
56 | Onix | Common | |
57 | Pidgey | Common | |
58 | Pikachu | Common | |
59 | Poliwag | Common | |
60 | Ponyta | Common | |
61 | Rattata | Common | |
62 | Sandshrew | Common | |
63 | Squirtle | Common | |
64 | Starmie | Common | |
65 | Staryu | Common | |
66 | Tangela | Common | |
67 | Voltorb | Common | |
68 | Vulpix | Common | |
69 | Weedle | Common | |
70 | Clefairy Doll | Trainer | Rare |
71 | Computer Search | Trainer | Rare |
72 | Devolution Spray | Trainer | Rare |
73 | Imposter Professor Oak | Trainer | Rare |
74 | Item Finder | Trainer | Rare |
75 | Lass | Trainer | Rare |
76 | Pokémon Breeder | Trainer | Rare |
77 | Pokémon Trader | Trainer | Rare |
78 | Scoop Up | Trainer | Rare |
79 | Super Energy Removal | Trainer | Rare |
80 | Defender | Trainer | Uncommon |
81 | Energy Retrieval | Trainer | Uncommon |
82 | Full Heal | Trainer | Uncommon |
83 | Maintenance | Trainer | Uncommon |
84 | PlusPower | Trainer | Uncommon |
85 | Pokémon Center | Trainer | Uncommon |
86 | Pokémon Flute | Trainer | Uncommon |
87 | Pokédex | Trainer | Uncommon |
88 | Professor Oak | Trainer | Uncommon |
89 | Revive | Trainer | Uncommon |
90 | Super Potion | Trainer | Uncommon |
91 | Bill | Trainer | Common |
92 | Energy Removal | Trainer | Common |
93 | Gust of Wind | Trainer | Common |
94 | Potion | Trainer | Common |
95 | Switch | Trainer | Common |
96 | Double Colorless Energy | Energy | Uncommon |
97 | Fighting Energy | Energy | — |
98 | Fire Energy | Energy | — |
99 | Grass Energy | Energy | — |
100 | Lightning Energy | Energy | — |
101 | Psychic Energy | Energy | — |
102 | Water Energy | Energy | — |
Trivia[]
- Years later, at the Pokémon 20th anniversary, a re-release of the set was launched, named Evolutions (TCG), with certain differences (the major one introducing Mega Pokémon).
- XY Evolutions, features many of the cards and artworks from Base Set.
- The 25th anniversary set, Celebrations, feature the Base Set Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur.
TCG Sets | |
---|---|
e-Card Expedition · Aquapolis · Skyridge | |
EX Ruby & Sapphire EX Ruby & Sapphire · EX Sandstorm · EX Dragon · EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua · EX Hidden Legends · EX Fire Red & Leaf Green · EX Team Rocket Returns · EX Deoxys · EX Emerald · EX Unseen Forces · Unown Collection · EX Delta Species · EX Legend Maker · EX Holon Phantoms · EX Crystal Guardians · EX Dragon Frontiers · EX Power Keepers | |
Diamond & Pearl Diamond & Pearl · Mysterious Treasures · Secret Wonders · Great Encounters · Majestic Dawn · Legends Awakened · Stormfront | |
Pop Series 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 | |
Platinum Platinum · Rising Rivals · Supreme Victors · Arceus | |
HeartGold SoulSilver HeartGold SoulSilver · Unleashed · Undaunted · Triumphant | |
Black & White Black & White · Emerging Powers · Noble Victories · Next Destinies · Dark Explorers · Dragons Exalted · Boundaries Crossed · Plasma Storm · Plasma Freeze · Plasma Blast · Legendary Treasures · Radiant Collection | |
XY XY · Kalos Starter Set · Flashfire · Furious Fists · Phantom Forces · Primal Clash · Roaring Skies · Ancient Origins · BREAKthrough · BREAKpoint · Fates Collide · Steam Siege | |
Sun & Moon Sun & Moon · Guardians Rising · Burning Shadows · Crimson Invasion · Ultra Prism · Forbidden Light · Celestial Storm · Lost Thunder · Team Up · Unbroken Bonds · Unified Minds · Cosmic Eclipse | |
Sword & Shield Sword & Shield · Rebel Clash · Darkness Ablaze · Vivid Voltage · Battle Styles · Chilling Reign · Evolving Skies · Fusion Strike | |
Solo Packs Southern Islands · Legendary Collection · Call of Legends · Dragon Vault · Double Crisis · Generations · Evolutions · Shining Legends · Dragon Majesty · Hidden Fates · Champion's Path · Shining Fates · Celebrations | |
McDonald's 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 25th Anniversary/2020 | |
Promos Wizards of the Coast · Best of Game · Diamond & Pearl · Nintendo · HeartGold SoulSilver · Black & White · XY · Sun & Moon · Sword & Shield | |
Media Promotion Pokémon Rumble · Detective Pikachu · Pokémon Futsal |