Diamond & Pearl (TCG)
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Diamond & Pearl (Japanese: Pokemon Card Game DP: Diamond & Pearl) is the name given to the first expansion of cards and theme decks to feature Generation IV Pokémon of Sinnoh, as well as featuring both old and new mechanics of the game.
Set Size
- 130 cards in English release
- 130 cards in Japanese release
Sequence
- 32nd English release
- 32nd Japanese release
Release Dates
- 27th October 2006 - Japanese Entry Packs
- 30th November 2006 - Japanese Expansion
- 23rd May 2007 - English Expansion
Prereleases were held on the weekends of 12th/13th and 19th/20th May 2007.
Trivia
- This was the first set to introduce Generation IV Pokémon to the TCG from the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games.
- Flavor text, such as level, height, weight and Pokédex entry information make a welcome return to the cards after a five year absence since they were last included on cards in Neo Destiny.
- With every new generation comes a new card layout. Changes include: -
- The circle pattern and attack text area box first used in the Generation III sets is no longer present. This now allows the attack text to be placed further to the left and free up more space for the Pokédex entry.
- The Pokédex entry itself uses a new font.
- The evolution window graphic has moved back up to the top left of the character window. Similarly, the Illustrator name has now moved to just above the retreat cost and has a line graphic of its own.
- While the Japanese cards reverted back to using no set numbering system (instead using a collection number modified from the National Dex), the English cards feature both a set numbering system and the new collection number system, placed on the bottom right and bottom left of the card respectively.
- The level of the Pokémon is displayed next to the name, wheras in previous releases it was in the Pokédex entry box.
- The letters “HP” are now much smaller and are in front of the HP value (as the Japanese cards have always featured), as opposed to appearing after the value.
- In the English release, Energy symbols displayed in attack text are black (as the Japanese cards have always featured), as opposed to a small version of the graphics used for attack cost, type, etc.
- Pokémon ex and Pokémon File:Shiningsymbol.gif no longer appear in the game, but are replaced by the powerful Pokémon Lv. X.
- As well as featuring old game mechanics, many improvisations were made with the release of the set:-
- Several Basic Pokémon (and few Stage 1 Pokémon) now have energyless or “Free” attack costs.
- Darkness and Metal Energy now have Basic versions, without their special effects and now free of the 4-per-deck rule. Card effects that allow a search for a Darkness or Metal Energy card allow the player to draw either version.
- Ther term “Basic Pokémon or Evolution card” was replaced with “Pokémon”, allowing players to select any Pokémon card, including Pokémon ex and Pokémon Lv. X.
- Weakness and Resistance are now unique to each Pokémon, with additions or subtractions (multiplications with higher level Pokémon). Older cards still use the old system for calculating damage.
- All Unown are now named according to their letter, and are treated as a different card (e.g. you can have 4 Unown A and 4 Unown B in a deck, but only 4 Unown from previous sets, regardless of their letter).
- Supporters and Stadiums are now treated separately from Trainers (while all remain classed as “Trainer Cards”) and have color schemes to reflect this. Trainers remain silver, Supporters now have an orange hue and Stadiums have a green hue. For the purposes of this and other future checklists, Trainers remain marked “T”, with Supporters now marked “Su” and Stadiums “St”.
- Along with improvements to the game mechanics, major changes to the rules have also been made:-
- A rule change in 2003 meant that the player taking the first inital turn could not draw a card; however, that rule change has been withdrawn, and a card must be drawn at the start of every round.
- With the debut of Supporter cards in 2003, these cards could not be played on the first inital turn. Now that Supporter card is a separate type of Trainer card, this rule has been extended to include all categories and types of Trainer cards (including Fossils).
- Also, Fossil cards can now be played during the setup phase before the first initial turn, but only if a Basic Pokémon can be played as well. Also, knocking out a Fossil card no longer counts as a free KO, and the player must draw a Prize card for knocking one out. This does not apply if a played chooses to withdraw their Fossil card.
- In a 30-card deck, only two copies of a card (except basic Energy) are allowed instead of the previous four. 60-card decks are still allowed up to four copies of a card.
- The English Expansion saw the increase in pack size from 9 to 10, a welcome change for players and collectors alike. The contents of the pack became:-
- 5 Common cards
- 3 Uncommon cards
- 1 Reverse-holographic card
- 1 Non-holographic or holographic rare card
- In Japan, certain cards could only be obtained in certain Booster Packs, in a similar way to how certain Pokémon can only be obtained in a certain version of the games. These Booster specific cards are identified in blue (for the Diamond/Dialga Booster) and pink (for the Pearl/Palkia Booster) in the checklist. The English Expansion did not feature this innovation.
- The reverse-holographic design for this set is a “pixel” holographic foil. Reverse-holographic versions of holographic rares do not have foil additions unlike recent previous releases.
- The Prerelease card for this set is Luxio. For the first time, a “STAFF” stamped version of the card was available for Prerelease event organizers.
Theme Decks
English Releases
Japanese Releases
Card List
English Expansion