There have been a major change to the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It happened in the Prismatic Evolutions set, which came out in late January. This set introduced Umbreon EX, which has a move that allows a player to draw a prize card without knocking out an opponent’s Pokemon. This mechanic has rarely been tampered with, leaving this as the first card to do so. We have to ask has the Pokemon TCG reach another turning point?
The Pokemon Trading Card Game has dramatically changed throughout its 25-year history. The earliest cards rarely exceeded 100 hit points and required three energy or more to use their most potent moves. An example is Charizard from the original Base Set (the first Pokemon cards ever printed). This card has 100 hit points and came with a ability that allows fire energy to be moved around freely. Its attack is comparatively weak compared to today’s cards, requiring four fire energy to inflict 100 damage.
The major turning point was the introduction of EX cards back in 2003. At first these were limited, like Lapras EX from the Ruby and Sapphire expansion. This card was limited to only 60 damage while guaranteeing confusion of the defending Pokemon. But as more EX cards were printed hit point levels escalated, causing power creep to expand to the rest of the TCG format.
Fast forward to today and Charizard EX from Obsidian Fury has been terrorizing the Pokemon TCG standard format over the last three years. This card has 330 hit points and comes with an ability that allows a player to find the energy needed to attack immediately. The damage it inflicts is astronomical, with a base damage of 180 (only requiring two energy). The total amount of damage increases by 60 with each prize card that an opponent has taken.
Additionally, trainers cards have become more effective. ACE SPEC cards in particular, which are limited to one per deck, have greatly aided trainers in getting the cards they need faster.
These changes has greatly affected the game flow of the trading card game. In the early years, games were longer (40+ minutes) due to limited move damage and strenuous energy requirements. Due to these changes, today’s average game time is now closer to twenty minutes in my local Pokemon league.
What will Umbreon EX do to gameplay? Will games become even shorter than they already are? Is this a sign of things to come, with more cards tampering with the mechanic (prize cards) that most Pokemon matches are decided on? Only the Pokemon Company knows what the future has in store for this beloved card game. And that’s what makes it so fun and exciting to play.
What do you guys think of Umbreon EX? Have you fallen victim to Charizard EX at your local Pokemon league/tournament? Post your views and thoughts in the comment section below.
Pokémon Blog 