Pokemon TCG Glossary & Card Terms

Whether you're a new collector opening your first booster pack or a seasoned player building competitive decks, the Pokemon Trading Card Game has a lot of terminology to learn. This comprehensive glossary covers over 100 Pokemon TCG terms — from card types like EX, GX, and VSTAR to rarity levels, product types, grading terms, gameplay mechanics, and marketplace lingo. Bookmark this page as your go-to reference for every Pokemon card term you'll encounter.

Card Types & Mechanics

EX (Pokemon-ex) #

Powerful Pokemon cards (lowercase "ex" in Scarlet & Violet, uppercase "EX" in XY era). Give up 2 Prize cards when knocked out. Feature higher HP and stronger attacks than regular Pokemon.

GX #

Pokemon-GX from the Sun & Moon era. Feature a powerful one-time GX attack that can only be used once per game. Give up 2 Prize cards when knocked out.

V #

Pokemon V from the Sword & Shield era. Basic Pokemon with high HP and strong attacks. Give up 2 Prize cards when knocked out.

VMAX #

Dynamax/Gigantamax evolutions of V Pokemon. Feature massive HP (300+) and powerful attacks. Give up 3 Prize cards when knocked out.

VSTAR #

Evolution of V Pokemon featuring a once-per-game VSTAR Power (either an ability or an attack). Give up 2 Prize cards when knocked out.

BREAK #

BREAK Evolution cards from the XY era. Feature a distinctive horizontal layout with gold foil. The Pokemon keeps all attacks, Abilities, Weakness, Resistance, and Retreat Cost from its previous Evolution.

Prime #

Prime Pokemon from the HeartGold & SoulSilver era. Feature a textured foil treatment with artwork that extends beyond the card frame. Considered among the most beautiful vintage-era cards.

Delta Species #

Pokemon with different types than their usual typing, introduced in the EX Delta Species set. For example, a Fire-type Charizard appearing as a Steel/Electric type.

LV.X (Level X) #

Powerful level-up cards from the Diamond & Pearl era. Placed on top of the corresponding Pokemon, adding new attacks and abilities while keeping existing ones.

Tag Team GX #

Sun & Moon era cards featuring two Pokemon on a single card. Very high HP and powerful GX attacks with bonus effects if extra Energy is attached. Give up 3 Prize cards when knocked out.

ACE SPEC #

Powerful Trainer cards limited to one per deck. Originally from the Black & White era, they returned in Scarlet & Violet. Their strong effects are balanced by the one-per-deck restriction.

Prism Star #

Powerful cards from the Sun & Moon era limited to one per deck. When discarded, they go to the Lost Zone instead of the discard pile, preventing recovery.

Tera #

Terastallized Pokemon in the Scarlet & Violet era. Feature a crystalline border design. Tera Pokemon take no damage from attacks while on the Bench.

Rarities

Common #

Marked with a circle symbol (●). The most frequently found cards in booster packs. Every pack typically contains several Common cards.

Uncommon #

Marked with a diamond symbol (◆). Moderately frequent in packs. Slightly harder to find than Commons but still readily available.

Rare / Rare Holo #

Marked with a star symbol (★). Typically one Rare card per booster pack. "Rare Holo" means the card has a holographic foil pattern on the artwork, making it shinier and more desirable.

Ultra Rare #

Full art cards with premium artwork and textured foil. Includes EX, GX, V, and VMAX cards. Not guaranteed in every pack. A step above standard Rare cards in both pull rate and value.

Secret Rare #

Cards numbered beyond the set count (e.g., 200/198). Among the rarest and most valuable pulls in a Pokemon TCG set. Often feature gold borders, rainbow foil, or unique artwork.

Illustration Rare (IR) #

Unique artistic illustrations that extend beyond the normal card borders, introduced in the Scarlet & Violet era. Feature distinctive art styles that set them apart from standard card artwork.

Special Illustration Rare (SIR) #

Premium full-scene artwork depicting Pokemon and Trainers in immersive, detailed scenes. Among the most valuable and sought-after modern Pokemon cards. Extremely low pull rates.

Hyper Rare #

Gold or rainbow foil treatment cards. Very rare pulls typically found as Secret Rares. In the Sword & Shield era, these were usually Rainbow Rare versions of V and VMAX cards.

Double Rare #

Two-star rarity (★★) introduced in Scarlet & Violet for ex Pokemon. Replaces the previous Ultra Rare designation. Found in the rare slot of booster packs.

Shiny Rare #

Alternate color (shiny) Pokemon variants featuring the Pokemon's shiny coloration. Found in special sets like Hidden Fates, Shining Fates, and Paldean Fates.

Amazing Rare #

Rainbow-bordered cards from the Sword & Shield era (Vivid Voltage, Shining Fates). Feature a distinctive multicolor border pattern. Require multiple Energy types to attack.

Alt Art / Alternate Art #

Cards with alternative artwork that differs from the standard version, often showing Pokemon in natural scenes or unique environments. Highly sought after by collectors for their beautiful, immersive art.

Full Art #

Cards where the artwork covers the entire card face, often with a textured foil surface. Includes both Pokemon and Supporter cards. Highly collectible due to their premium look and feel.

Rainbow Rare #

Multi-colored rainbow foil versions of cards, typically Secret Rares. Featured prominently in the Sun & Moon and Sword & Shield eras. The entire card has a rainbow prismatic effect.

Gold Card #

Gold-bordered secret rare versions of Items, Energy, or Pokemon. Feature a distinctive gold foil treatment. Among the rarest cards in any set.

Chase Card #

The most desirable and valuable card in a set that collectors "chase" after. Usually the highest-rarity version of the most popular Pokemon in the set. Drives demand for the entire set.

Products & Packaging

Booster Pack #

Sealed pack of 10 cards (standard) or 3 cards (Pokemon TCG Pocket). The primary way to obtain random cards. Each pack is guaranteed at least one Rare or higher rarity card.

Booster Box #

Sealed box containing 36 booster packs. Offers the best bulk value for opening packs. Typically guarantees a certain number of Ultra Rare or higher pulls. Popular for opening streams and case breaks.

Elite Trainer Box (ETB) #

Premium product with 9 booster packs, card sleeves, energy cards, dice, condition markers, and a collector's storage box. A popular entry point for new collectors and a great gift option.

Booster Bundle #

Package of 6 booster packs at a set price. A mid-range option between individual packs and a full booster box. Good value for casual collectors.

Build & Battle Box #

Prerelease product containing 4 booster packs and a pre-built 23-card deck core. Used in official prerelease events before a set's public launch. Often includes exclusive promo cards.

Collection Box #

Product featuring a promo card, several booster packs, and sometimes a figure, pin, or jumbo card. Great value and often themed around specific Pokemon.

Tin #

Metal container including booster packs and a promo card, often featuring popular Pokemon artwork. The tin itself serves as card storage. Widely available at retail stores.

Blister Pack #

Single or multi-pack product on cardboard backing, sold at retail stores. Includes one or three booster packs, often with a promo card or coin. Convenient grab-and-go option.

Special Collection #

Premium product with exclusive promo cards and multiple booster packs. Often features unique items like oversize cards, playmats, or figures. Typically higher price point with exclusive content.

Collecting & Trading

PSA #

Professional Sports Authenticator. The most popular and widely recognized grading service for Pokemon cards. Grades on a scale of 1–10, with PSA 10 (Gem Mint) being the highest and most valuable.

BGS / Beckett #

Beckett Grading Services. Uses sub-grades for centering, corners, edges, and surface. A BGS 10 "Pristine" or "Black Label" (all four sub-grades at 10) is exceptionally rare and commands premium prices.

CGC #

Certified Guaranty Company. The third major grading service for Pokemon cards. Known for competitive turnaround times and sub-grading options. Growing in popularity among collectors.

Gem Mint (PSA 10) #

Perfect condition grade — the highest achievable. Cards must have perfect centering, sharp corners, clean edges, and a flawless surface. Commands the highest market value, often multiples of a PSA 9.

Near Mint (NM) #

Excellent condition with minimal wear. The standard condition grade for singles sales on platforms like TCGPlayer. Card appears virtually flawless to the naked eye.

Lightly Played (LP) #

Slight wear visible on close inspection, such as minor edge whitening or small surface scratches. Still in very good condition. Typically sells for 10–20% less than Near Mint.

Centering #

How well the card image is centered within the card borders. Measured as a ratio (e.g., 60/40 or 55/45). Off-center cards receive lower grades from grading services and are worth less.

Whitening #

White marks on card edges from wear or poor factory cutting. One of the most common condition issues. Even factory-fresh cards can have whitening from the cutting process.

Holo Bleed #

When the holographic pattern bleeds through to the card border or non-holo areas. Can be a printing defect, but some collectors specifically seek out holo bleed cards as interesting variants.

Misprint / Error Card #

Cards with printing mistakes such as wrong names, missing text, incorrect colors, or other manufacturing errors. Can be highly valuable to specialized collectors depending on the rarity and type of error.

Shadowless #

Base Set cards printed without the shadow on the right edge of the artwork box. Part of an early print run before the shadow was added. Significantly more valuable than the later "Unlimited" shadow prints.

1st Edition #

First print run of a Pokemon TCG set (1999–2003). Identified by a "1st Edition" stamp on the card. Significantly more valuable than Unlimited prints. A 1st Edition Base Set Charizard is one of the most iconic collectible cards.

Unlimited #

Standard print run after 1st Edition. No edition stamp on the card. More widely available and less valuable than 1st Edition prints, but still collectible for vintage sets.

Reverse Holo #

Card where the non-artwork area has a holographic pattern instead of the illustration. Every booster pack contains one reverse holo card. Available for most Common, Uncommon, and Rare cards.

Singles #

Individual cards sold separately rather than in sealed packs. Buying singles is often more cost-effective than opening packs when you want specific cards for a deck or collection.

Slab #

A graded card sealed in a hard plastic case by a grading company (PSA, BGS, or CGC). The term comes from the slab-like appearance of the encapsulation. Protects the card and displays the grade.

Raw #

An ungraded card not encapsulated in a slab. "Raw" cards haven't been professionally graded. Most cards in personal collections and at local shops are raw.

Waifu Card #

Collector slang for full-art Trainer cards featuring female characters (Supporters). These cards are often among the most expensive in a set due to high collector demand and stunning artwork.

Pull Rate #

The statistical chance of finding a specific rarity in a booster pack. For example, a Special Illustration Rare might have a pull rate of approximately 1 in 50–100 packs. Not officially published by The Pokemon Company.

Gameplay

Prize Cards #

6 face-down cards set aside at the start of a Pokemon TCG game. Each time you knock out an opponent's Pokemon, you take one or more Prize cards (depending on the type of Pokemon). The first player to take all 6 wins.

Active Pokemon #

The Pokemon currently in the battle position at the front. Only the Active Pokemon can attack (unless a card says otherwise). You must always have an Active Pokemon in play.

Bench #

The area behind your Active Pokemon for up to 5 additional Pokemon. Benched Pokemon can be evolved, have Energy attached, and use Abilities, but cannot attack unless a card specifically allows it.

Retreat Cost #

The amount of Energy that must be discarded to switch your Active Pokemon to the Bench. Shown as Energy symbols at the bottom of the card. Some Pokemon have zero retreat cost (free retreat).

Weakness #

A type that deals double damage (x2) to this Pokemon. For example, a Fire-type Pokemon weak to Water takes double damage from Water attacks. A key factor in building competitive decks.

Resistance #

A type that deals reduced damage to this Pokemon, usually -30 damage. Not all Pokemon have Resistance. When present, it can make a meaningful difference in surviving attacks.

Supporter #

A type of Trainer card limited to one per turn. Supporters provide powerful effects like drawing cards (Professor's Research), searching your deck (Boss's Orders), or healing your Pokemon.

Stadium #

A Trainer card that stays in play and affects both players. Only one Stadium can be in play at a time — playing a new one discards the old. Provides ongoing effects that shape the game state.

Energy Acceleration #

Methods to attach more than the standard one Energy per turn through abilities, attacks, or Trainer cards. Essential for powering up high-cost attackers quickly in competitive play.

Donk #

Winning on the first (or second) turn by knocking out the opponent's only Active Pokemon before they can set up. Considered unfun by most players. Some formats have rules to prevent donks.

Mill #

A deck strategy focused on discarding cards from the opponent's deck rather than taking Prize cards. The opponent loses when they can't draw a card at the start of their turn.

Gust Effect #

Forcing the opponent to switch their Active Pokemon with one from their Bench. Named after the original "Gust of Wind" Trainer card. Boss's Orders is the modern version of this effect.

OHKO #

One-Hit Knock Out. Dealing enough damage in a single attack to knock out an opponent's Pokemon from full HP. Achieving OHKOs is a key goal when building offensive decks.

Marketplaces

TCGPlayer #

The largest US marketplace for buying and selling Pokemon cards and other trading card games. Aggregates listings from thousands of sellers. Their "Market Price" is widely used as a pricing benchmark.

CardMarket #

The largest European marketplace for trading card games, including Pokemon. Uses "Trend Price" as its pricing metric. Ships within Europe with buyer protection.

Market Price #

The average recent selling price on TCGPlayer. Reflects what buyers have actually paid, not just what sellers are asking. Considered the most accurate indicator of a card's current value in the US market.

Mid Price #

The median listing price on TCGPlayer. Represents the middle point of all current listings. Often higher than Market Price since it includes unsold listings.

Trend Price #

A moving average price on CardMarket that smooths out short-term fluctuations. Used as the primary pricing reference in the European Pokemon card market.