Grass Chopper, Hot Water, Lightning Bug, and Psych Out are four Base Set 2 theme decks. Each 60-card pre-constructed deck comes packaged with a holographic Pikachu coin, a Base Set 2 card checklist, a (then-current) Pokémon TCG rule book, and several cardboard damage counters. They were originally released in stores with Base Set 2 on February 28th, 2000 for $9.99 each, but are now long out of print.

With the release of these theme decks also came a 2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set, an updated version of Base Set‘s 2-Player Starter Set. Like the original, its purpose was to introduce players to the Pokémon TCG by teaching them how to play it.

These theme decks were the first to use cardboard damage counters; every theme deck from this set and on used them. Originally, Base Set, Jungle, and Fossil‘s theme decks contained glass damage counters.

2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set | Grass Chopper | Hot Water | Lightning Bug | Psych Out | Pikachu Coin

2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set

This “2-Player Starter Set” is packaged with two 30-card theme decks. Two players can use the decks against each other for the purpose of learning how to play the TCG.

This is the only theme deck to feature a holographic card from a different set – a semi-exclusive 1st edition Base Set Machamp card. Unlike the 1st edition Machamp in Base Set‘s 2-Player Starter Kit, the Machamp in this starter set uses a galaxy holofoil pattern like all holo cards from Base Set 2, distinguishing it from the card’s original starry holofoil pattern. Machamp cannot be obtained out of any booster packs of Base Set, making the card semi-exclusive to the two aforementioned decks. A collector may consider this card completely distinct from the original if going by the holofoil pattern.

The “Pokémon TCG – Play It!” CD included in this starter set is a program in which players can battle a computer-generated character named Julie. When you first play the program she walks you through how to play the TCG using simple decks, such as one featuring Seaking from Jungle. Once you have learned how to play, you can then battle her using other pre-made decks. The program also includes other features, such as quizzes that, if beat, will allow you to print out certificates that you can take to your Pokémon League to redeem for points. The CD was later updated to version two and released in the Thunderstorm Gift Box, and again in Kellogg’s cereals with other games as part of a promotion.

The kit additionally comes with a special playmat and starter game guide, which walks players through how to play the TCG using the included decks. Combined, both decks primarily focus on Fighting and Water-type Pokémon. For more information on this product, jump to the top of this page.

~ 2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set ~
Quantity Card Name Set No. Rarity
3x Fighting Diglett Base Set 2 #71 Common
3x Fighting Machop Base Set 2 #78 Common
2x Fighting Machoke Base Set 2 #49 Uncommon
1x Fighting Machamp Base Set #8 Rare Holo
4x Water Goldeen Base Set 2 #76 Common
2x Water Seaking Base Set 2 #60 Uncommon
2x Water Staryu Base Set 2 #95 Uncommon
2x Water Seel Base Set 2 #61 Uncommon
2x Colorless Doduo Base Set 2 #72 Common
2x Colorless Meowth Base Set 2 #80 Common
1x Colorless Dratini Base Set 2 #38 Uncommon
2x Trainer Energy Removal Base Set 2 #119 Common
1x Trainer Switch Base Set 2 #123 Common
1x Trainer Pokédex Base Set 2 #115 Uncommon
2x Trainer Poké Ball Base Set 2 #121 Common
1x Trainer Bill Base Set 2 #118 Common
1x Trainer Gust of Wind Base Set 2 #120 Common
14x Basic Energy Fighting Energy Base Set 2 #125 —
14x Basic Energy Water Energy Base Set 2 #130 —
2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set Theme Deck from Base Set 2
2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set Theme Deck (Back) from Base Set 2

Grass Chopper Theme Deck

“Grass Chopper” features a holographic Clefairy card and primarily focuses on Grass and Fighting-type Pokémon. For more information on this deck, jump to the top of this page.

~ Grass Chopper ~
Quantity Card Name Set No. Rarity
4x Grass Bellsprout Base Set 2 #66 Common
2x Grass Weepinbell Base Set 2 #64 Uncommon
3x Grass Nidoran ♀ Base Set 2 #82 Common
1x Grass Nidorina Base Set 2 #53 Uncommon
2x Grass Nidoran ♂ Base Set 2 #83 Common
4x Fighting Machop Base Set 2 #78 Common
2x Fighting Machoke Base Set 2 #49 Uncommon
4x Fighting Sandshrew Base Set 2 #91 Common
1x Colorless Clefairy Base Set 2 #6 Rare Holo
3x Trainer Potion Base Set 2 #122 Common
1x Trainer Gust of Wind Base Set 2 #120 Common
2x Trainer Switch Base Set 2 #123 Common
2x Trainer PlusPower Base Set 2 #113 Uncommon
1x Trainer Super Potion Base Set 2 #117 Uncommon
1x Trainer Super Energy Removal Base Set 2 #108 Rare
1x Trainer Energy Removal Base Set 2 #119 Common
14x Basic Energy Grass Energy Base Set 2 #127 —
14x Basic Energy Fighting Energy Base Set 2 #125 —
Grass Chopper Theme Deck from Base Set 2
Grass Chopper Theme Deck (Back) from Base Set 2

Hot Water Theme Deck

“Hot Water” features a holographic Poliwrath card and primarily focuses on Water and Fire-type Pokémon. For more information on this deck, jump to the top of this page.

~ Hot Water ~
Quantity Card Name Set No. Rarity
4x Water Poliwag Base Set 2 #88 Common
2x Water Poliwhirl Base Set 2 #57 Uncommon
1x Water Poliwrath Base Set 2 #15 Rare Holo
3x Water Goldeen Base Set 2 #76 Common
3x Fire Charmander Base Set 2 #69 Common
1x Fire Charmeleon Base Set 2 #35 Uncommon
2x Fire Magmar Base Set 2 #51 Uncommon
3x Colorless Doduo Base Set 2 #72 Common
1x Colorless Dodrio Base Set 2 #37 Uncommon
1x Trainer Gust of Wind Base Set 2 #120 Common
3x Trainer Energy Removal Base Set 2 #119 Common
2x Trainer Poké Ball Base Set 2 #121 Common
3x Trainer Potion Base Set 2 #122 Common
2x Trainer Energy Retrieval Base Set 2 #110 Uncommon
1x Trainer Pokémon Trader Base Set 2 #106 Rare
15x Basic Energy Water Energy Base Set 2 #130 —
13x Basic Energy Fire Energy Base Set 2 #126 —
Hot Water Theme Deck from Base Set 2
Hot Water Theme Deck (Back) from Base Set 2

Lightning Bug Theme Deck

“Lightning Bug” features a holographic Chansey card and primarily focuses on Lightning and Grass-type Pokémon. For more information on this deck, jump to the top of this page.

~ Lightning Bug ~
Quantity Card Name Set No. Rarity
4x Grass Caterpie Base Set 2 #68 Common
1x Grass Metapod Base Set 2 #81 Common
4x Grass Weedle Base Set 2 #100 Common
2x Grass Kakuna Base Set 2 #47 Uncommon
1x Grass Beedrill Base Set 2 #21 Rare
4x Lightning Pikachu Base Set 2 #87 Common
3x Lightning Magnemite Base Set 2 #79 Common
1x Colorless Chansey Base Set 2 #3 Rare Holo
3x Trainer Bill Base Set 2 #118 Common
2x Trainer Gust of Wind Base Set 2 #120 Common
1x Trainer Switch Base Set 2 #123 Common
2x Trainer Energy Retrieval Base Set 2 #110 Uncommon
2x Trainer Defender Base Set 2 #109 Uncommon
1x Trainer PlusPower Base Set 2 #113 Uncommon
1x Trainer Pokédex Base Set 2 #115 Uncommon
16x Basic Energy Grass Energy Base Set 2 #127 —
12x Basic Energy Lightning Energy Base Set 2 #128 —
Lightning Bug Theme Deck from Base Set 2
Lightning Bug Theme Deck (Back) from Base Set 2

Psych Out Theme Deck

“Psych Out” features a holographic Wigglytuff card and primarily focuses on Water and Psychic-type Pokémon. For more information on this deck, jump to the top of this page.

An error occurs on this theme deck’s packaging in which Poliwrath is shown to be the featured holographic card when it is in fact Wigglytuff. After creating the “Hot Water” theme deck template, which features Poliwrath, Wizards of the Coast probably then used its template to create “Psych Out,” forgetting to change Poliwrath to Wigglytuff. The error may have been overlooked because “Psych Out” focuses on Water-types and is blue, and so Poliwrath would seem to fit into the deck in quickly glancing at the packaging.

~ Psych Out ~
Quantity Card Name Set No. Rarity
3x Water Staryu Base Set 2 #95 Common
1x Water Starmie Base Set 2 #94 Common
1x Water Seel Base Set 2 #61 Uncommon
4x Water Squirtle Base Set 2 #93 Common
1x Water Wartortle Base Set 2 #63 Uncommon
3x Psychic Abra Base Set 2 #65 Common
1x Psychic Kadabra Base Set 2 #46 Uncommon
2x Psychic Drowzee Base Set 2 #73 Common
2x Psychic Jynx Base Set 2 #45 Uncommon
3x Colorless Jigglypuff Base Set 2 #77 Common
1x Colorless Wigglytuff Base Set 2 #19 Rare Holo
3x Trainer Gust of Wind Base Set 2 #120 Common
2x Trainer Switch Base Set 2 #123 Common
2x Trainer Defender Base Set 2 #109 Uncommon
1x Trainer Potion Base Set 2 #122 Common
1x Trainer Super Potion Base Set 2 #117 Uncommon
1x Trainer Computer Search Base Set 2 #101 Rare
15x Basic Energy Water Energy Base Set 2 #130 —
13x Basic Energy Psychic Energy Base Set 2 #129 —
Psych Out Theme Deck from Base Set 2
Psych Out Theme Deck (Back) from Base Set 2

Pikachu Coin

The “2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set,” “Grass Chopper,” “Hot Water,” “Lightning Bug,” and “Psych Out” each come with a black and yellow, holographic Pikachu coin that cannot be found in any other Pokémon TCG product.

Pikachu Coin - Base Set 2 Theme Decks