The History of Pokémon Cards: From CoroCoro Peelable Cards to the Mega Evolution Era
Pokémon cards have been collecting memories for nearly 30 years.
What started as a small Japanese promotional experiment featuring peelable cards in CoroCoro Comic has grown into one of the biggest collecting hobbies in the world. From the excitement of opening your first Base Set booster pack to chasing modern Special Illustration Rare cards, Pokémon cards have continued to evolve through every generation.
At TCW Cards, we’re passionate about everything Pokémon TCG — from vintage Japanese promos and iconic chase cards to the latest Pokémon booster packs and sealed products. To celebrate Pokémon’s incredible journey, we’re looking back at the history of Pokémon cards, from their origins in Japan all the way through to the Mega Evolution era and the Pokémon 30th Celebration.
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The Beginning of Pokémon Cards: CoroCoro and the First Japanese Releases
Image Courtesy of Logan Paul via X
Before Pokémon cards became a worldwide phenomenon, they began as a unique promotional idea in Japan.
The very first Pokémon cards were released in 1996 through Japanese publications, most famously CoroCoro Comic — one of Japan’s biggest manga magazines.
These early promotional cards were unlike anything collectors had seen before. Known as peelable Pokémon cards, they featured multiple layers that could be separated to reveal hidden artwork and information underneath.
These cards were never produced in large quantities, making them some of the most fascinating and rare Pokémon collectibles today.
The first official Pokémon TCG expansion, Expansion Pack, followed in Japan in October 1996, introducing the original card game format and featuring legendary Pokémon such as:
• Pikachu
• Charizard
• Blastoise
• Venusaur
• Mewtwo
This was the beginning of what would become one of the most successful trading card games ever created.
Pokémon Cards Arrive Worldwide: The Base Set Era
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In 1999, Pokémon cards officially arrived internationally with the release of the legendary Pokémon Base Set.
For many collectors, Base Set was their first introduction to the Pokémon TCG.
Booster packs, theme decks, and starter sets quickly became must-have items, with children trading cards in playgrounds around the world.
The biggest chase card was, of course, the iconic Base Set Charizard, which remains one of the most recognisable Pokémon cards ever printed.
The combination of:
• The Pokémon video games
• The animated series
• Pokémon movies
• Trading cards
created a worldwide Pokémon craze unlike anything before it.
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The Vintage Pokémon Era: Jungle, Fossil and Team Rocket
Following the success of Base Set, Pokémon continued releasing expansions that are now considered some of the most nostalgic sets in the hobby.
Pokémon Jungle
Released in 1999, Jungle introduced fan favourites including:
• Snorlax
• Scyther
• Eeveelutions
• Wigglytuff
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Pokémon Fossil
Fossil expanded the original Pokémon roster with cards featuring:
• Gengar
• Dragonite
• Lapras
• Articuno
• Aerodactyl
Team Rocket
Team Rocket introduced the concept of Dark Pokémon, including some of the most memorable vintage cards ever created:
• Dark Charizard
• Dark Blastoise
• Dark Dragonite
Today, these early Pokémon sets remain incredibly popular with collectors looking to own a piece of Pokémon history.
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Pokémon Gold, Silver and the Neo Era
With the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver, a new generation of Pokémon arrived — and the Pokémon TCG followed.
The Neo era introduced the Johto region, including legendary Pokémon such as:
• Lugia
• Ho-Oh
• Celebi
The Neo series also introduced some of the earliest truly rare collector cards, including Shining Pokémon.
Cards such as Shining Charizard and Shining Mewtwo helped establish the idea of the “chase card” — a rare card that collectors would hunt for inside booster packs.
This collecting culture continues today with modern chase cards such as Alternate Arts and Special Illustration Rares.
Pokémon Promotional Cards: The Events Collectors Still Remember
While booster packs have always been at the heart of Pokémon collecting, some of the most desirable cards have come from limited-time events and special promotions.
PokéPark 2005: One of Pokémon’s Most Famous Promotions
One of the most memorable Pokémon events was PokéPark 2005 in Japan.
Created as part of Pokémon’s 10th anniversary celebrations, PokéPark was a travelling Pokémon theme park featuring attractions, exclusive merchandise, and limited promotional cards.
Visitors could collect special PokéPark cards featuring unique artwork that was never released through traditional booster packs.
Because these cards were only available during the event, they have become some of the most sought-after Japanese Pokémon promos.
Other famous Pokémon promotional releases include:
• CoroCoro magazine promos
• Pokémon Center exclusives
• Movie promotional cards
• Tournament prize cards
• Event-exclusive Pikachu cards
These limited releases are a huge part of what makes Pokémon collecting so exciting.
The EX Era: Pokémon Cards Get Stronger
The early 2000s brought one of the biggest changes in Pokémon TCG history with the introduction of Pokémon ex.
The EX era introduced stronger Pokémon with higher HP and powerful attacks.
Popular sets included:
• EX Ruby & Sapphire
• EX FireRed & LeafGreen
• EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua
• EX Delta Species
One of the most memorable concepts from this era was Delta Species Pokémon, featuring Pokémon with unusual types.
The era also introduced Gold Star Pokémon, some of the most valuable and collectible cards ever printed.
Famous examples include:
• Gold Star Charizard
• Gold Star Rayquaza
• Gold Star Umbreon
Modern Pokémon Cards: EX, GX, V and Beyond
As Pokémon continued to evolve, so did the trading card game.
Over the years, collectors saw the introduction of:
Pokémon-EX
Powerful Pokémon with impressive artwork and full-art versions.
Pokémon-GX
The Sun & Moon era introduced GX cards, including:
• Rainbow Rare GX cards
• Full Art GX cards
• Tag Team GX cards
Tag Team cards became fan favourites, combining two iconic Pokémon together.
Popular examples include:
• Reshiram & Charizard GX
• Pikachu & Zekrom GX
• Gengar & Mimikyu GX
Sword & Shield: The Rise of Modern Collecting
The Sword & Shield era changed Pokémon collecting forever.
The introduction of:
• Pokémon V
• Pokémon VMAX
• Alternate Art cards
• Trainer Gallery cards
created some of the biggest modern chase cards.
Sets such as:
• Evolving Skies
• Brilliant Stars
• Lost Origin
• Crown Zenith
became hugely popular among collectors.
Some of the biggest modern cards include:
• Umbreon VMAX Alternate Art
• Giratina V Alternate Art
• Charizard VSTAR
• Mewtwo VSTAR
Social media, livestream openings, and online collecting communities helped bring Pokémon cards to a whole new generation.
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Scarlet & Violet: The Era of Illustration Rares
Image Courtesy of Bleeding Cool News
The Scarlet & Violet era introduced one of the biggest artistic changes in Pokémon card history.
The introduction of:
• Illustration Rare (IR)
• Special Illustration Rare (SIR)
cards shifted the focus towards storytelling and showcasing Pokémon in beautiful environments.
Instead of only showing Pokémon battling, these cards captured moments from their world.
Sets such as Pokémon 151, Paldea Evolved, Twilight Masquerade, and Prismatic Evolutions have become favourites among collectors.
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The Mega Evolution Era: Pokémon’s Next Chapter
Image Courtesy of Pokémon
Mega Evolution originally debuted in Pokémon X and Y, bringing some of the most popular Pokémon transformations ever created.
Now, Mega Evolution returns to the Pokémon TCG with a new era of cards celebrating powerful Pokémon such as:
• Mega Charizard
• Mega Lucario
• Mega Gardevoir
• Mega Kangaskhan
The Mega Evolution era combines nostalgia with modern Pokémon collecting, bringing together long-time fans who remember the original games with a new generation discovering Pokémon cards for the first time.
Pokémon 30th Anniversary: Celebrating Three Decades of Pokémon Cards
In 2026, Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary — marking three decades since Pokémon cards first appeared in Japan.
The Pokémon 30th Celebration represents everything collectors love about the hobby:
• Vintage Japanese promotional cards
• The nostalgia of Base Set
• The excitement of opening booster packs
• Rare chase cards
• Incredible modern artwork
From the first CoroCoro peelable cards to the latest Mega Evolution releases, Pokémon cards have always been about discovery, collecting, and sharing the excitement with others.
Start Your Pokémon Card Collection with TCW Cards
Whether you’re searching for your childhood favourites, building a competitive deck, collecting rare cards, or opening the newest Pokémon releases, TCW Cards is here to help you on your Pokémon journey.
From sealed booster packs and Elite Trainer Boxes to graded Pokémon cards and collector favourites, we’re proud to be part of the ever-growing Pokémon TCG community.
Ready to start collecting?
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