Black & White
Set Details
Exciting New Discoveries, Powerful New Pokémon… More Epic Battles!
A new generation of Pokémon has arrived! The Pokémon Trading Card Game: Black & White expansion brings you a legion of over 70 new Pokémon from the newly explored Unova region, including the Legendary Reshiram and Zekrom, both featuring never-before-seen art that covers the ENTIRE card! The Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion is your gateway to a bigger Pokémon world!
The Black & White Pokémon set arrived on April 25 2011 in English (December 17 2010 in Japan as the dual Black Collection and White Collection), kicking off the fifth generation in the TCG with an all‑new roster of Generation V Pokémon. From the blazing power of Reshiram to the thunderous might of Zekrom, every card (save for a secret Pikachu) hails from Unova, embodying the “new beginning” ethos of the Black & White era. Booster packs expanded to 10 cards—5 Commons, 3 Uncommons, 1 Reverse Holo, and 1 Rare—while the Japanese print offered 5‑card mini‑packs aimed at younger fans.
On the gameplay front, Black & White overhauled core mechanics with the Ability keyword, merging the old Poké‑Power and Poké‑Body systems into a single, streamlined mechanic that appears right below the name bar. It also debuted Full Art Trainer cards with art and holography covering the entire face, and introduced the Tinsel Holofoil: horizontal stripes that shimmer under light for striking Reverse Holo treatments. Rule tweaks returned Items, Supporters, and Stadiums to their original Trainer subclasses—once again playable on a player’s first turn—and refined Knock‑Out timing so Prize cards are taken before the opponent promotes a new Active Pokémon.
Collectors discovered plenty of hidden depth:
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The card‑type ordering switched to a by‑type then National Dex scheme, making Unova’s emerald‑green battles easy to navigate.
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Early English runs omitted QR code cards for the new Pokémon TCG Online, making later prints highly sought after by digital duelists.
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The sole secret Pikachu card stands out with art inspired by Pokémon Black & White’s animated shorts—and was the first Unova‑era secret rare printed in English.
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Japanese mirror‑foil borders were discontinued, leaving the Tinsel Holo as the shimmering signature of this set.
With its fresh focus on Unova legends, polished Abilities, and next‑gen visuals, the Black & White Pokémon set set the stage for a dynamic new era of card battles.
Black & White Set Cards
