Time Capsule: TCG Throwbacks in Extradimensional Crisis

Rowlet

The third print of Rowlet in Pokémon TCG Pocket is almost identical to the Sun & Moon Promos edition, sharing the same Fury Attack. Thankfully, it gained 10 HP in its transition to the mobile version. Still, players generally prefer the Rowlet from the Lunala pack, as it sets up Decidueye ex's Pierce the Pain on a Benched Pokémon later on.

Dartrix

Dartrix now also enables Decidueye ex's Pierce the Pain on a Benched Pokémon thanks to its Skill Dive attack, a near replica of the one found on its Sun & Moon (2017) version with Sharp Blade Quill. Extradimensional Crisis’s Decidueye completes the line: all members of the Rowlet evolution line can now damage a Benched Pokémon without any setup requirement.

Buzzwole ex

Buzzwole ex clearly nods to Buzzwole-GX (Crimson Invasion, 2017), a card still remembered by competitive players from that era. While it now has a different type (Fighting instead of the Grass-for-Bug typing) it carries a familiar Jet Punch that deals 30 damage, though only to a Benched Pokémon. Its Knuckle Impact is more powerful and also costs 3 Energy. Unlike Buzzwole-GX, which can't attack at all the next turn, Big Beat only prevents back-to-back use of this precise attack.

Pheromosa

Funnily enough, it's in the Pheromosa & Buzzwole Tag Team that we see the closest counterpart to Pheromosa's Jump Blues in TCG Pocket: another version of Jet Punch, this time hitting both the Active Pokémon and a Benched one for 30 damage each.

Luxray

Luxray's Intimidating Fang comes from its Ultra Prism version (2018), though it’s been slightly nerfed, now reducing damage by 20 instead of 30. Its Volt Bolt attack is identical in both name and effect to the one in the Space-Time Smackdown print.

Tapu Koko ex

Tapu Koko ◊ (Prism Star) is a familiar card for TCG players, having shaped every format it was legal in thanks to its Dance of the Ancients ability. It accelerated Lightning Energy to up to 2 of your Benched Pokémon by discarding itself from the Bench. Plasma Hurricane may be a far cry from that iconic utility, but both versions share a Mach Bolt attack with the same cost, though the one in Pocket is weaker.

Zeraora

More homage than direct reference, Zeraora-GX also had a Thunderclap ability, although it did something completely different by granting free retreat to all Lightning-type Pokémon. Its Full Voltage GX attack flooded Energy onto your board, a strategy loosely echoed in Pocket’s version through Thunderclap Flash, which accelerates one Energy onto Zeraora.

Shiinotic

Shiinotic has featured the Illuminate ability twice in the TCG. In TCG Pocket, the effect is similar, though with less control: unlike the original versions, you can’t choose which Pokémon to add to your hand. However, you could only fetch a specific type of Pokémon. In Ultra Prism (2018), you could search for a Fairy-type, while in Sun & Moon (2017), it was limited to Grass-types. Shiinotic remains the only Pokémon in the TCG to have this ability.

Claydol

One of the rare Pokémon to feature a "floodgate" ability (an effect that outright prevents a type of game action) Claydol’s Heal Block is a direct copy of Lunatone’s ability from Burning Shadows (2017), but without requiring Solrock to be in play. The first appearance of Heal Block was actually on Solrock from Triumphant (2010), though that version only blocked healing HP, not status conditions. Claydol shuts both down entirely.

Passimian

Passimian’s Let’s Throw attack gets stronger if another Passimian is on your Bench. This clearly references its Ultra Prism (2018) counterpart, where the Power Huddle ability gave a 30-damage boost, but only against the opponent’s Active Evolution Pokémon.

Palossand

Sand Tomb is a recurring attack in the TCG, always preventing the opponent’s Active Pokémon from retreating next turn. Palossand has had this move twice: first in Burning Shadows (2017), then again in its Tera ex form in Surging Sparks (2024). The very first Sand Tomb in the TCG appeared on Trapinch in Secret Wonders (2007).

Alolan Persian

Fake Out is a recurring attack in the Pokémon TCG, always offering a chance to Paralyze on a coin flip. While it’s never appeared on Alolan Persian before, it has been printed on regular Persian from Ancient Origins (2015) and Alolan Meowth from the Sun & Moon Promos. The first-ever iteration of Fake Out dates back to Makuhita in Ruby & Sapphire (2003).

Krookodile

Across its 11 unique TCG prints, Krookodile has had a discard effect on 7 of them, ranging from discarding cards from the hand, Energy, Tools, and even cards from the deck or itself. Interestingly, the only guaranteed hand discard is in the form of an ability, not an attack, found on its Silver Tempest (2022) version.

Guzzlord ex

Guzzlord is even more of a bad boy: all 4 of its unique TCG prints involve some kind of discard effect. However, none of them target Energy on the opponent’s Active Pokémon like Grindcore does. Its Tyrannical Hole attack first appeared on Guzzlord-GX in Crimson Invasion (2017), though that version cost more Energy but dealt significantly more damage.

Nihilego

Abilities that boost Poison damage are fairly common in the TCG, starting with Weezing's Toxic Virus in Great Encounters (2008). The More Poison ability, specifically, has appeared twice, first on Seviper from Burning Shadows (2017). Also worth noting: Nihilego’s New Wave attack is functionally identical to Venomous Fang, except for the Energy cost.

Alolan Diglett

The reckless Alolan Diglett's Happened to Headbutt attack is similar to the equally as gambly Surprise Attack in its Surging Sparks print (2024), the difference lying in its attack cost (a type over no cost) and damage output (40 if it succeeds instead of 30)

The reckless Alolan Diglett's Happened to Headbutt is similar to the equally risky Surprise Attack from its Surging Sparks (2024) print. The difference lies in the attack cost: versus no cost, and the damage output: 40 if successful, compared to 30.

Aggron

Aggron’s not-so-subtle Giga Impact is lifted from its Unbroken Bonds (2019) print, matching both the Energy cost and general damage range.

Bewear

Superpowered Hug joins the long line of Pokémon attacks with a 25% chance (on a coin flip) to instantly knock out the Defending Pokémon. This kind of attack first appeared on Dusclops in Sandstorm (2003). While calling such a dangerous move a “hug” might sound absurd, Pinsir from Team Up (2019) took it even further with Guillotine Hug, which had the same effect.

Silvally

Arguably the most impressive Pokémon in the set, Silvally is a powerful asset for any deck that can include it. Its Brave Buddies attack doubles in power if you played a Supporter from your hand this turn. This is a direct port from Silvally-GX in Cosmic Eclipse (2019), though with a slightly reduced bonus.

Lusamine

In the TCG, most Ultra Beasts have effects that scale based on how many Prize cards remain, either yours or your opponent’s. While this mechanic doesn’t appear on Ultra Beasts themselves in Pokémon TCG Pocket, the Trainers give a nod to it. Lusamine, for example, closely mirrors Beast Ring, accelerating two Energy onto an Ultra Beast after your opponent has taken multiple Prize cards. Beast Ring was a meta-defining card in Standard from its debut in Forbidden Light (2018).

Beastite

Beastite is another Trainer with a point-based bonus, powering up your Ultra Beast when you're ahead. It’s actually a direct reprint from the TCG, first appearing in Cosmic Eclipse (2019). Since the TCG uses more Prize cards than Pocket uses points, its attack boost there could reach up to +50 damage.

Repel

Repel was printed only once in the TCG, in Sun & Moon (2017). Gusting the opponent’s Pokémon without using your Supporter for the turn is well above curve, even if your opponent gets to choose what to promote. It shares the exact same effect as Sabrina in Pocket, so when ported to mobile, a “Basic Pokémon” restriction was added. Despite its strength on paper, Repel hasn’t seen much play yet.