Pokémon Power (TCG)

Pokémon Power redirects here. For the mini-magazines featured in Nintendo Power, see Pokémon Power (magazine).

A Pokémon Power (Japanese: 特殊能力 special ability) is a special ability held by some Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Pokémon Powers are additional effects that the card's player can trigger once or multiple times during their turn, before they attack. Some cards, such as Jungle Dodrio, have Pokémon Powers that the player does not have to trigger or announce. For example, as long as Dodrio is Benched, the player's Active Pokémon has their retreat cost lowered by 1. Many Pokémon Powers have a clause saying that they can not be activated or stop working if the Pokémon with the Pokémon Power has a Special Condition.

The Japanese Pokémon Web expansion split Pokémon Powers into two specific types: Poké-Powers (Japanese: ポケパワー Poké-Power) and Poké-Bodies (Japanese: ポケボディー Poké-Body). Poké-Powers are special effects that the player must trigger or declare the use of, while Poké-Bodies are always active. Most Poké-Powers are disabled by Special Conditions, while Poké-Bodies usually are not. Cards that affect Pokémon Powers, such as Fossil Muk, affect both Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies.[1] As Pokémon Web was not released outside Japan, this change was reflected in the Expedition Base Set expansion internationally.

Certain effects exist that can prevent the effect of a Pokémon Power after it has been activated but before it can affect the game, such as the Power Cancel Poké-Power on Mysterious Treasures Alakazam and Team Galactic's Invention G-103 Power Spray. A Poké-Power "blocked" by one of these effects is still considered to have been used. Since many Poké-Powers have "once per turn" restrictions, this means those Poké-Powers may not be used again during that turn. If the Poké-Power had a cost for its use, the cost was still paid even though it had no effect.[2]

Starting in the Black & White expansion, Pokémon Powers were replaced with a new mechanic, named Abilities after the analogous element in the core series games. Abilities are not disabled by Special Conditions. Pokémon Powers and Abilities are not interchangeable; effects that reference one do not apply to the other.[3] This non-interaction was relevant in Standard formats including sets from the Black & White Series and the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series, and continues to appear in the Unlimited, Hall of Fame and Legacy formats.

Evolutions, a commemorative expansion created to celebrate Pokémon's 20th Anniversary, saw the release of Imakuni?'s Doduo, the first new card with a Pokémon Power since the mechanic's retirement. Similarly, two SWSH Black Star Promos, Greninja Star and Zacian LV.X, were released for Pokémon's 25th Anniversary and featured a Poké-Power and Poké-Body respectively. When Zacian LV.X was released, the description of the Celebrations Deluxe Pin Collection described a Poké-Body as "like an old-school Ability".[4] Other than reprints included in sets such as Celebrations and Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic, these anniversary cards feature the only instances of Pokémon Powers since the introduction of Abilities in Black & White.

List of Pokémon Powers

The contents of this section have been suggested to be split into List of Pokémon Powers.
Please discuss it on the talk page for this section.

In the video games

"Pkmn Power" screen

Pokémon Trading Card Game series

Main article: Duel (TCG GB) → Pkmn Power

In Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, there is a "Pkmn Power" screen found in the main duel screen. Some Pokémon Powers don't require the "Pkmn Power" screen to be used, such as Blastoise's Rain Dance. Some other Pokémon Powers require it, such as Alakazam's Damage Swap.

Refrences

  1. ↑ Wizards ruling, WotC chat, Sep 5, 2002
  2. ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium VMAX, Team Compendium, May 1, 2009
  3. ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium VMAX, Team Compendium, Nov 3, 2016
  4. ↑ Product Gallery, Pokémon.com
This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Relevant categories

  • Cards with Abilities
  • Cards with Pokémon Powers
  • Cards with Poké-Powers
  • Cards with Poké-Bodies
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