Ruby & Sapphire
Set Details
Calling All Pokémon Trainers!
Capture and train more than 40 brand-new Pokémon, liven up your battles with new Poké-Powers and new 2-on-2 Battles, and become the Pokémon Champion of a whole new world!
The EX Ruby & Sapphire Pokémon Set exploded onto the scene on June 18, 2003, ushering Generation III into the Trading Card Game and marking Nintendo’s very first English-language release after taking the license from Wizards of the Coast. Its 109-card lineup spotlights Hoenn favorites like Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Swampert, while still giving Kanto icons such as Mewtwo fresh, modern artwork. Visually, the set refreshed the e-Reader frame: the left border slimmed down again, the bottom border stayed thicker for Dot-Code scans, and the traditional gold trim around the art box turned sleek silver—a design language that would define the entire EX Series.
Where gameplay is concerned, EX Ruby & Sapphire rewrote the rulebook—literally. It introduced the very first Pokémon-ex cards, powerhouse creatures with raised HP, bigger damage ceilings, and a high-risk twist: if one is Knocked Out, your opponent takes two Prize cards instead of one. Heavy hitters like Mewtwo ex (#101/109), Lapras ex (#99/109), and Scyther ex (#102/109) quickly became the talk of competitive circles thanks to their holo borders and game-swinging attacks. The expansion also rolled out global TCG rules still used today: single retreat per turn, a heftier self-damage penalty for Confusion, and the post-setup opening coin-flip to decide who goes first.
Several lesser-known nuggets make the EX Ruby & Sapphire Pokémon Set a collector’s delight:
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Only this base set features three different code variations on many Commons and Uncommons—long-debated “mystery codes” whose purpose has never been confirmed by The Pokémon Company.
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Early Sneak-Peek tins hit retail about a month before launch, seeding alternate-logo holos of Sceptile and Mightyena that now trade for premium prices.
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This is one of only two sets where every Pokémon-ex is still a Basic Pokémon, making it uniquely beginner-friendly.
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In Japan, the set debuted alongside official half-decks starring the Hoenn starter trio, a promotional strategy that helped introduce a new generation of players.
With its bold rule changes, sleek new aesthetic, and a roster filled with Hoenn stars, the EX Ruby & Sapphire Pokémon Set remains a true cornerstone of modern Pokémon TCG history.
Ruby & Sapphire Set Cards
