Pokemon 151 (Japanese)

A Brand-New Special Set with ALL Original Pokémon

Introducing Pokémon Card 151, the brand-new special set recently revealed in Japan. As the name suggests, this particular set will showcase all original 151 Pokémon, capturing the nostalgic charm of the early years of the franchise. One of the most notable aspects of this set is that the cards are arranged by the Pokédex appearance order, meaning that we are greeted by the beloved Bulbasaur in slot #001, continuing all the way through to the elusive Mew ex, designated as #151. This provides an opportunity for fans to revisit and appreciate the primary generation of creatures that sparked Pokémon’s enduring popularity by amassing these cards in the same order they encountered them when exploring the entirety of Kanto in the original games.

Meet the Brand New Charizard ex

Charizard ex boasts of an impressive 330 HP. Its first attack [Resolute Wings] initially deals 60 damage but deals 100 more when Charizard ex has any damage counters on it. This cheap attack means that players aren’t punished once Charizard has taken a hit and is lacking in Energy cards. However, the true firepower of this card lies in its second attack - [Detonating Vortex]. With this, Charizard ex can unleash a colossal 330 damage at the cost of discarding three Energy cards. This requirement necessitates careful Energy management to ensure that Charizard ex can perform consistently, but can Knock Out pretty much any Pokémon in the game.

Here is where we make a not-so-distant callback to Charizard from Pokémon Go with its Ability [Fierce Burn] which allows each basic Fire Energy card attached to your Pokémon to provide two Fire Energy. By leveraging this Ability, players can significantly speed up the process of powering up Charizard ex's attack. Another bonus of the synergy formed by utilising both of these versions of Charizard is the fact that the inclusion of both doesn’t harm the essential core build of your deck as both can be brought into play by via the same evolution line of Charmander and Charmeleon.

Alakazam (and Kadabra) Return to the Trading Card Game

Pokémon Card 151 also brings back the full evolution line of Alakazam! Alakazam ex, a formidable Psychic-type Pokémon boasting an impressive HP of 310, emerges from the elusive Kadabra, making its return after a staggering 21-year absence.

Alakazam ex possesses two great attacks. The first attack, [Mind Jack] has a base of 90 damage, but deals 30 more damage for each of the opponent’s benched Pokémon. As with all attacks like this, this puts the opponent in a difficult spot as they become reluctant to bench additional Pokémon which can hurt their setup overall – this can lead to overwhelming the opponent before they can even get into the game!

However, Alakazam’s real distinguishing feature is its second attack, [Dimensional Manipulation]. The attack only deals 120 damage, but can be used from the bench, meaning you can leave frustrating Pokémon like Klefki from Scarlet and Violet (March 2023) or Mimikyu from Paldea Evolved (June 2023) in the Active spot for your opponent to deal with. This means you can protect your prize cards while still benefitting from Alakazam’s attack! This is the first time an attack like this has ever been printed, a nice touch on a returning favorite.

Pokemon Card 151 is an incredibly unique set and releases in Japan on 16 June 2023. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a dedicated fan (or both!), this set promises to be a treasure trove of cherished memories and exciting card designs.