Every Pokémon Card Back (And Where It Came From)

By: Oliver Copeland
Published: November 23, 2022
Last Updated: December 3, 2023

Virtually all trading card games have rules stating that the back of each card must be identical. This is so the player cannot distinguish a unique card before drawing it from their deck. But there are actually over 20 different Pokémon card backs! Some are not legal for tournament play, and others are highly collectible.

Every official Pokémon TCG Card Back

1996

Japanese old-backs

The very first Pokémon TCG cards to ever be released were in Japan on October 1996, after the success of the video games in February of the same year. The design of the back of the cards features a Pokéball opening with the words ‘Pocket Monsters Card Game’ and a 1996 copyright at the bottom.

1998

Japanese old-back holofoil

In 1998, the manufacturer of Pokémon cards known as Media Factory ran a promotional campaign where collectors could send a piece of mail with two Pokémon cards included, and would receive two promotional cards in return, to simulate a trade.

These are known as the ‘Trade Please!’ promotional cards. One of the promo cards had a unique characteristic to it- a holofoil back. This was the card known as Imakuni Trade Please!.

This is one of two Pokémon cards ever made with a holofoil back.

Japanese Vending Series

A promotional set of Pokémon cards was actually available through vending machines exclusively, in Japan in 1998. These are referred to as the vending series promos, and all 7 cards feature a unique back to them.

1999

English Edition

Perhaps the most recognizable trading card back in the world is the English version of the Pokémon TCG. This design was likely created by Wizards of the Coast, who had a partnership with Nintendo to distribute the cards to North America.

This new card back featured a more dynamic design and also used the abbreviation ‘Pokémon’ instead of Pocket Monsters. This design is the same that is used today.

Trainer Deck A & Trainer Deck B

In 1999 it was important to teach kids how to play the Pokémon TCG before actually selling the booster packs. The trainer decks were designed to do just that. The decks vary slightly, as one is meant to be used by each player, so they can battle.

Ancient Mew

The Ancient Mew cards were given out as part of a promotional campaign with the release of Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back. This is the second and final card to ever be printed with a holofoil back, and the only one to ever be printed with both sides holofoil.

2002

Japanese new-back

In December 2001, the Base Expansion Pack was released in Japan. In North America, this set was renamed Expedition Base Set or just ‘Expedition’ for short.

This is when the back of the card was also redesigned for the Japanese version.

The new back design now read “Pokémon” just like its North American counterpart, and no longer had copyright info along the bottom of the card. The new design was also reworked to be much more colorful and eye-catching, not unlike its English cousin. This is the card design that we still see today.

They also changed the way the Pokéball opened. The button was now attached to the top part of the Pokéball. Curiously, they chose to illustrate the Pokéball opening differently than the English version and the previous Japanese version.

2004

2004 World Championship

The first-ever World Championship to have its own card back took place from August 20-22, 2004 in Orlando, Florida.