Ancient Trait (TCG)

If you were looking for the "Ancient" category of cards introduced in the Paradox Rift expansion, see Ancient (TCG).

Bidoof has the Ancient Trait α Recovery, so when it is healed, the effect of that healing is doubled.

Ancient Traits (Japanese: 古代能力(こだいのうりょく) Ancient Power) are special attributes on certain Pokémon, which first appeared in the Primal Clash expansion. They are not Abilities, and as such, effects that remove Abilities from Pokémon (such as Wobbuffet's Bide Barricade or Garbodor's Garbotoxin) do not affect Ancient Traits. Ancient Traits are not Rule Boxes.

The Ancient Trait bar and text is placed at the top of the card, beneath the Pokémon's name. Apart from Pokémon-EX, cards with an Ancient Trait have artwork that differs from normal cards— the artwork extends down into the text box. The art fades into a colored box for the bottom quarter of the card, with the color depending on the Pokémon's type. As the artwork takes up most of the space on the card, the Pokédex information for Pokémon (the Pokédex number, species, height and weight) is not included on the card. The Pokédex entry, however, is still present.

A Pokémon's Ancient Trait does not depend on its type or rarity, though the Ancient Traits Δ Wild and θ Max are only on Pokémon-EX cards depicting the super-ancient Pokémon.

Whenever a non-Pokémon-EX card with an Ancient Trait appeared in a TCG set, a regular and usually weaker card of the same Pokémon was released as well. Many of their attacks also take advantage of its Ancient Trait, For example, the Kingdra and Primal Kyogre-EX in Primal Clash have attacks that remove Energy cards from themselves. These cards have α Growth, which allows the player to attach two Energy cards to them in the same turn. This effect makes it easier to supply those Pokémon with the Energy required to repeatedly use their attacks.

List of Ancient Traits

α Recovery

α Recovery (Japanese: α回復(かいふく) α Recovery) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. When a Pokémon with α Recovery heals from damage, the effect of that healing is doubled. For example, if such a Pokémon were instructed to heal 30 damage, it would instead heal 60 damage.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
37/160 Ludicolo Water Rare
64/160 Eelektrik Lightning Rare
71/160 Tentacool Psychic Uncommon
104/160 Azumarill Fairy Rare Holo
117/160 Bidoof Colorless Uncommon
 


α Growth

α Growth (Japanese: αグロウ α Grow) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. When an Energy card is attached to a Pokémon with α Growth from the player's hand without using an attack, Ability or Trainer card, a second Energy card may be attached if the player has one in their hand.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
36/160 Swampert Water Rare Holo
41/160 Whiscash Water Rare
52/160 Gorebyss Water Rare
55/160 Primal Kyogre-EX Water Rare Holo ex
108/160 Kingdra Dragon Rare Holo
 


Ω Barrage

Ω Barrage (Japanese: Ω連打(れんだ) Ω Barrage) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion. A Pokémon with Ω Barrage may attack twice in a turn. After using the first attack, players are only allowed to attack for the second time or end their turn. There is no opportunity to use any other effects.[1] If the first attack Knocks Out the opponent's Active Pokémon, then the opponent has to move one of their Benched Pokémon to the Active Spot. Afterward, the second attack occurs.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
26/160 Torchic Fire Uncommon
69/160 Nidoqueen Psychic Rare
81/160 Medicham Fighting Rare
97/160 Excadrill Metal Rare Holo
121/160 Bunnelby Colorless Uncommon
 


Ω Barrier

Ω Barrier (Japanese: Ωバリア Ω Barrier) is featured in the Primal Clash expansion and on Regirock, an XY Black Star Promo. The effects of the opponent's Trainer cards (other than Pokémon Tools and Stadium cards) done to a Pokémon with Ω Barrier are prevented.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
9/160 Sceptile Grass Rare Holo
24/160 Magcargo Fire Rare
60/160 Electrike Lightning Uncommon
77/160 Rhyperior Fighting Rare Holo
86/160 Primal Groudon-EX Fighting Rare Holo ex
XY49 Regirock Fighting
 


Δ Plus

Δ Plus (Japanese: Δプラス Δ Plus) is featured in the Roaring Skies expansion. When a Pokémon with Δ Plus Knocks Out an opposing Pokémon with damage from its attacks, the player takes one extra Prize card.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
8/108 Dustox Grass Rare
17/108 Articuno Water Rare
28/108 Natu Psychic Common
52/108 Dragonite Dragon Rare Holo
72/108 Swellow Colorless Rare
 


Δ Evolution

Δ Evolution (Japanese: Δ進化(しんか) Δ Evolution) is featured in the Roaring Skies expansion and on two XY Black Star Promos. A Pokémon with Δ Evolution may be played to evolve a Pokémon during that player's first turn or the same turn it was put into play.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
32/108 Banette Psychic Rare
46/108 Togekiss Fairy Rare Holo
74/108 Altaria Colorless Rare
76/108 M Rayquaza-EX Colorless Rare Holo ex
81/108 Unfezant Colorless Rare
XY57 Fearow Colorless
XY59 Salamence Dragon
 


Δ Wild

Δ Wild (Japanese: Δワイルド Δ Wild) is exclusively featured on M Rayquaza-EX, released in the Roaring Skies expansion. A Pokémon with Δ Wild takes 20 less damage from attacks from the opponent's Grass, Fire, Water, and Lightning Pokémon.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
61/108 M Rayquaza-EX Dragon Rare Holo ex
 


θ Stop

θ Stop (Japanese: θストップ θ Stop) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion and on three XY Black Star Promos. The effects of Abilities of opposing Pokémon done to a Pokémon with θ Stop are prevented.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
8/98 M Sceptile-EX Grass Rare Holo ex
18/98 Volcarona Fire Rare
32/98 Baltoy Psychic Common
35/98 Golurk Psychic Rare
67/98 Porygon-Z Colorless Rare Holo
XY58 Malamar Darkness
XY92 Sableye Psychic
XY93 Celebi Grass
 


θ Double

θ Double (Japanese: θダブル θ Double) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion. A Pokémon with θ Double may have up to 2 Pokémon Tool cards attached to it.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
11/98 Vespiquen Grass Rare
15/98 Entei Fire Rare Holo
21/98 Gyarados Water Rare Holo
43/98 M Tyranitar-EX Darkness Rare Holo ex
50/98 Metagross Metal Rare
 


θ Max

θ Max (Japanese: θマックス θ Max) is featured in the Ancient Origins expansion. It is only seen on Evolution cards that are Pokémon-EX depicting a super-ancient Pokémon. When a Pokémon in play evolves into a Pokémon with θ Max, all damage is healed from it.

Card list
No. Image Card name Type Rarity
96/98 Primal Kyogre-EX Water Rare Holo ex
97/98 Primal Groudon-EX Fighting Rare Holo ex
98/98 M Rayquaza-EX Colorless Rare Holo ex
 


Trivia

  • Even though Ancient Traits are not Rule Boxes, Pokémon with Ancient Traits were not allowed in the Gym Leader Challenge format until November 16, 2021.

In other languages

Ancient Trait

Language Title
Japanese 古代能力(こだいのうりょく) Ancient Trait
French Trait Antique
German Ewige Gabe
Italian Tratto antico
Korean 고대능력 Godae Neungryeok
Brazilian Portuguese Traço Ancestral
Spanish Rasgo Antiguo

α Recovery

Language Title
Japanese α回復(かいふく) α Recovery
French Régénération α
German α Genesung
Italian Recupero α
Korean α회복 α Hoebok
Brazilian Portuguese α Recuperação
Spanish Recuperación α

α Growth

Language Title
Japanese αグロウ α Grow
French Croissance α
German α Wachstum
Italian Crescita α
Korean α그로우 α Grow
Brazilian Portuguese α Crescimento
Spanish Crecimiento α

Ω Barrage

Language Title
Japanese Ω連打(れんだ) Ω Barrage
French Offensive Ω
German Ω Offensive
Italian Offensiva Ω
Korean Ω연타 Ω Yeonta
Brazilian Portuguese Ω Barragem
Spanish Ráfaga Ω

Ω Barrier

Language Title
Japanese Ωバリア Ω Barrier
French Barrière Ω
German Ω Barriere
Italian Barriera Ω
Korean Ω배리어 Ω Barrier
Brazilian Portuguese Ω Barreira
Spanish Barrera Ω

Δ Plus

Language Title
Japanese Δプラス Δ Plus
French Plus Δ
German Δ Plus
Italian Extra Δ
Korean Δ플러스 Δ Plus
Brazilian Portuguese Δ Mais
Spanish Plus Δ

Δ Evolution

Language Title
Japanese Δ進化(しんか) Δ Evolution
French Évolution Δ
German Δ Entwicklung
Italian Evoluzione Δ
Korean Δ진화 Δ Jinhwa
Brazilian Portuguese Δ Evolução
Spanish Evolución Δ

Δ Wild

Language Title
Japanese Δワイルド Δ Wild
French Jungle Δ
German Δ Natur
Italian Natura Δ
Korean Δ와일드 Δ Wild
Brazilian Portuguese Δ Selvagem
Spanish Salvaje Δ

θ Stop

Language Title
Japanese θストップ θ Stop
French Stop θ
German θ Stopp
Italian Blocco θ
Korean θ스톱 θ Stop
Brazilian Portuguese θ Pare
Spanish Stop θ

θ Double

Language Title
Japanese θダブル θ Double
French Double θ
German θ Double
Italian Doppio θ
Korean θ더블 θ Double
Brazilian Portuguese θ Duplo
Spanish Doble θ

θ Max

Language Title
Japanese θマックス θ Max
French Max θ
German θ Max
Italian Max θ
Korean θ맥스 θ Max
Brazilian Portuguese θ Max
Spanish Máximo θ

References

  1. Omega Barrage, TPCi Rules Team, Primal Clash FAQ, 2015-02-05, Compendium VMAX, Team Compendium

Related articles

This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.