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Pokémon TCG Pocket doesn’t just reuse some artworks from older sets, it also revives classic mechanics, attacks, and abilities. In this article, we explore the throwbacks in Eevee Grove and how they compare to their original counterparts.
Grass Pokémon
Leafeon
Although Leafeon has had many Energy-related attacks in its TCG prints, from its first print as a Lv.X in Majestic Dawn (2008) to its Tera print in Prismatic Evolutions (2025), the Leaf Blast attack has only been used by Sceptile in Arceus (2009). It's very similar: it costs a single Energy and scales by multiples of 20, although from a baseline 10 damage in the case of Leafeon. It also requires a , making it a possible inclusion regardless of the Energy type you run.
Tsareena
The Eevee Grove print of Tsareena has an attack that combines two aspects of Tsareena often seen in the TCG: a "kick" name and a discard effect, like the one found on Tsareena GX (Sun&Moon Promos)
Fire Pokémon
Flareon
Flareon has a long history of attaching Energy either on a Benched Pokémon and/or itself, all the way back to Light Flareon in Neo Destiny (2002). Assisting Heater is in the same vein, and actually deals damage, like the print presented here of Flareon in Unseen Forces (2005).
Various references among Fire-type Pokémon
It's impossible to list all the occurrences of Torkoal discarding Energy when attacking; its print in Flashfire (2014) is the most reminiscing of its Eevee Grove counterpart.
The inspiration for the regular Incineroar in Eevee Grove is straightforward: its artwork and attack Darkest Lariat are the same as those in Sun&Moon (2016). A good indication of where we're at in powercreep level, although we can regret that non-ex Pokémon have only a single attack in Pocket.
Salandit is almost identical from its Stellar Crown print (2024), minus 10HP.
Water Pokémon
Primarina ex
Another inspiration straight from Sun&Moon (2017): Primarina has the same Sparkling Aria attack, except it healed 10 more damage! Healing was also part of its arsenal in its only print as a 2-Prize Pokémon in Sun&Moon promos, with its Grand Echo GX attack.
Various references among Water-type Pokémon
Whirlpool-type of attack in the TCG often have the effect to discard Energies to the opponent's Active Pokémon, conditioned on a coin flip. In that vein, Vaporeon from Majestic Dawn (2008) had the same Hyper Whirlpool attack, although it gained an extra 10 damage in Eevee Grove.
Likewise, Ice Blade in the TCG has always the property to deal a fixed amount of damage to an opponent's Pokémon of your choice, like Glaceon's Ice Blade dealing 40 damage in Rising Rivals (2009).
True to its two-headed nature, Vanilluxe also had a "Double" kind of attack in the TCG conditioned on a coin flip, with Double Freeze in its print in Noble Victories (2011). It was much less powerful but had a kiss cool effect in paralyzing the opponent's Pokémon should at least a coin lands on head.
The unimpressive Alomomola got its unimpressive Water Pulse attack from its Black&White print, although adding a Energy and 30 damage to it. Nothing that makes it more playable, on the contrary.
Lightning Pokémon
The Beginning Bolt attack is unique in Pokémon TCG Pocket, inspired by a bunch of similar attacks in the TCG that are much stronger on the turn the Pokémon evolves. The Evolving Thunder attack Jolteon had in Rising Rivals (2009) is also resembling in effect, and was the first attack of this kind in the TCG. The Pocket iteration has more value, being usable on curve even when going first as it just requires a single Energy.
The frail Joltik is very similar to its Unified Minds print (2019). Its print in Black & White is absolutely identical, spare for the attack name.
Psychic Pokémon
Espeon
Espeon has a history of attacks dealing damage based on the opponent's total number of Energy. It was notably the first card ever printed with the Energy Crush attack, all the way back to Sandstorm in 2003!
Sylveon ex
The infamous Happy Ribbon ability exists on other Pokémon with other name throughout the TCG, as in Lucario's Intuition in Black&White Promos. As amazing as drawing 2 cards in Pocket is, these cards aren't seeing much plays in the TCG where the search and draw power is much better. Instead, players use bigger draw effects, like the infamous Shaymin EX or the more recent Squawkabilly ex.
Sylveon
Sylveon's Evoharmony attack is unique in naming but not in effect: we can find a similar one on many cards, all the way to Nidoking and Nidoqueen in Fire Red & Leaf Green in 2004!
We can see that the naming inspiration was taken from Sylveon VMax's Max Harmony attack, released in Evolving Skies (2021), which also deals increased damage based on the property of Pokémon on your Bench; in its case, their typing.
Various references among Psychic-type Pokémon
Mimikyu has a long history of mimicking other Pokémon's attacks, as first seen in its Guardians Rising print (2017). The Pocket version has no limit in what it can copy, but requires a good coin flip to go through.
Fighting Pokémon
Whiscash has 4 different prints with the attack Earthquake! In every single case, it also deals damage to your Benched Pokémon: an evergreen feature for this attack since it first appeared on Dugtrio, in the very first Pokémon set in 2003.
Artwork and attack alike, it's pretty obvious that the Mienfoo from Furious Fists (2014) inspired its latest print in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
Carbink has a lot of prints with attacks or effects keeping it safe from effects of attackss and their damage, such as its Wonder Ray attack in Lost Thunder (2018). This is likely a reference to its Clear Body ability in the video game, preventing stat reduction. The Hard Roll attack itself has been seen once on Shelgon in Evolving Skies.
Dark Pokémon
Purrloin has already a previous print in Unified Minds (2019) where it messed up with the opponent's tool, although in a more limited range.
Metal Pokémon
Although Mawile had a bunch of prints where its jaw could paralyze the opponent's Active Pokémon, the most obvious reference here is its print in Battle Styles (2021), sharing the Powerful Vise attack, although slightly weaker but costing 1 less.
Dragon Pokémon
Dragonite ex
Finally, our first Pokémon ex in a main set! Dragonite ex packs a punch, in a similar fashion as some of its 2-prize print in the TCG. Both its GX version (Dragon Majesty, 2018) and its VStar version (Pokémon GO, 2022) have Giga Impact: a very powerful attack, but also expensive and that prevents Dragonite from attacking the next turn... Unless it switched, obviously.
Drampa
Attacks with Dragon Breath effects are extremely common in the TCG: the very first occurrence of such an attack can be found all the way to Fossil (1999), with Cloyster's Clamp. In the TCG, Dragon Breath has the exact same properties than Drampa's in all cards it appears, such as Flygon in Nintendo Promos.
Normal Pokémon
Eevee ex
Veevee'volve is a peculiar ability: it grants the ability for Eevee to evolve into any of its Eeveelution, something it cannot normally do as these evolve from Eevee and not Eevee ex. That way, you can technically play 4 Eevee in your deck and summon 4 Eeveelutions without recycling one of your previous Eevee. This ability was seen on two other TCG prints of a 2-point Eevee: its GX version in Sun&Moon Promos, and its Tera ex version in Prismatic Evolutions (2015).
Eevee
In Pokémon TCG Pocket, Eevee is the Pokémon with the most different prints, the Eevee Grove being the 6th one. It's getting harder to find inspiration for new attacks, so this one got its draw attack from its print in Sword&Shield Promos. It makes the Sylveon ex draw engine even better, as Eevee itself can draw a card if it's the best thing you can do.
Snorlax ex
Countless prints of Snorlax include either healing itself, or falling asleep after dealing a huge blow, and sometimes both, like Rocket's Snorlax ex in Team Rocket Returns (2004).
Ambipom
Despite generating card advantage, Ambipom's Catching Tail has yet to find a competitive shell. Similar abilities have existed on multiple cards in the TCG: the very first occurrence was on Slowking in Unseen Forces (2005).
Various references among Normal-type Pokémon
Aipom is a carbon copy from its print in Dragons Exalted (2012).
Countless prints of Chatot have the Tone Deaf attack. Although its most recent print with this attack (Unbroken Bonds, 2019) has the same properties as in Pokémon TCG Pocket, it used to be conditioned on a coin flip.
Do the Wave is a common attack for cute Pokémon, the first iteration being on Wigglytuff in the Jungle set (1999), and the effect hasn't changed ever since. Audino has got it multiple times; the very first was in Noble Victories (2011)
Greedent's Enhanced Fang is a port from its iteration in Scarlet & Violet (2023). Unfortunately, it lost power in the process, dealing 30 less damage both baseline and a second time after the Tool boost.
Trainers
Leftovers
Leftovers is a carbon copy of its very first print in Great Encounters (2008). It has been reprinted once in Pokémon 151 (2023), but this time healing 20 per turn to the Active Pokémon instead of just 10.