POKEMON

Pokémon cards are part of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), a collectible card game based on the popular Pokémon franchise. Each card represents a Pokémon creature, trainer, or energy that players use to battle each other in turn-based matches. Cards typically include:

• Name of the Pokémon
• Type (e.g., Fire, Water, Grass)
• Hit Points (HP)
• Moves or abilities
• Weaknesses/resistances
• Illustrations, which have become a popular part of the cards' appeal.

The TCG is played both casually and competitively, and many people also collect cards for their art, rarity, and value.

• 1996 (Japan): Pokémon cards debuted in Japan, published by Media Factory. The game was inspired by the Pokémon video games created by Game Freak and published by Nintendo.
• 1999 (Worldwide Launch): The cards were introduced to the West by Wizards of the Coast, who localized and distributed the game in English. The first English-language set was Base Set, which included iconic cards like Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur.
• 2003: Nintendo transferred publishing rights to its own company, The Pokémon Company International, which has managed the TCG since.
• 2000s–2010s: New expansions and game mechanics were added regularly (e.g., EX, GX, V, VSTAR, Mega Evolutions, etc.), keeping the game fresh and competitive.
• 2020–Present: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a huge resurgence in popularity, especially among collectors and resellers. Rare cards like first-edition Charizards began selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.