25th Anniversary Pikachu Cards Revealed, Including Surfing Pikachu V, Birthday Pikachu, Pikachu V-UNION!
Seven Pikachu cards will appear in Japan’s 25th Anniversary Collection set!
Three of the Pikachu are “remakes” of old cards with updated artwork and attacks:
Base Set Pikachu has been redrawn by its original artist, Mitsuhiro Arita. It now shows Caterpie, Butterfree, Parasect, and Oddish in the artwork. The cheeks on Pikachu have been changed to red. They were originally yellow on the Japanese card. Early English prints recolored the cheeks to red, but then switched back to yellow for later prints.
Pikachu V-UNION features illustrations by 25 different Pokemon TCG artists in their distinct styles. This includes original TCG artists Mitsuhiro Arita, Atsuko Nishida, and Kagemaru Himeno. As most fans know, Atsuko Nishida is the original designer of Pikachu and has continued to illustrate cards for the past 25 years.
25th Anniversary Collection will release on October 22nd. It will feature 28 cards (before secret rares). All of the cards will be holo.
As posted before, the set will also see the release of a “25th Anniversary Edition” promo booster pack containing one of 25 reprinted cards from the TCG’s history. Venusaur was previously revealed and now Birthday Pikachu has been too.
You will receive the promo pack when you purchase four booster packs of 25th Anniversary Collection from Pokemon Center stores. The reprinted cards feature a 25th anniversary stamp, new holofoil paper, a different set ID and card number, and modern copyright information. They also feature some of the “texture” found on secret rares in modern sets.
We will get all of the above cards in our Celebrations set this October.
The special “25th Anniversary Golden Box” we previously announced will feature four Pikachu reprints. The gold Pikachu V is an alternate art reprint of the new Pikachu V from the main set.
Here are translations for all the new cards:
Pikachu V-UNION – Lightning – HP300
V-UNIONHow to play a Pokemon V-UNION: Once per game during you turn, combine 4 different Pikachu V-UNION from your discard pile and put them onto your Bench.
[C] Union Gain: Attach up to 2 [L] Energy cards from your discard pile to this Pokemon.
[L][C] Zzst Shock: 120 damage. Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
[L][L][C] Disconnect: 150 damage. Your opponent can’t play any Item cards from their hand during their next turn.
[L][L][C] Everyone’s Electro Ball: 250 damage.
When your Pokemon V-UNION is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Surfing Pikachu VMAX – Water – HP310
VMAX Pokemon – Evolves from Surfing Pikachu V[W][W][W] Max Surf: 160 damage. This attack does 30 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
When your Pokemon VMAX is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Flying Pikachu VMAX – Water – HP310
VMAX Pokemon – Evolves from Flying Pikachu V[L][C][C] Max Balloon: 160 damage. During your opponent’s next turn, prevent all damage done to this Pokemon by attacks from Basic Pokemon.
When your Pokemon VMAX is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards.
Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-30)
Retreat: 0
Pikachu V – Lightning – HP190
Basic Pokemon[L][L][C] Volt Tackle: 210 damage. This Pokemon does 30 damage to itself.
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
