The Compendium is organized into eight mainsections:

1. Errata (listed by alphabetically by name of card)

2. Pokémon Powers (listed alphabetically by name)

3. Pokémon Attacks (listed alphabetically by name)

4. Unown Cards (listed alphabetically by name)

5. Trainer Cards (listed alphabetically by name)

6. Energy Cards (listed alphabetically by name)

7. General Gameplay Questions (listed alphabetically by category)

8. Team Gameplay (listed alphabetically by category)

If you cannot find a ruling under oneof these headings, please try related topics. For example, a question about PlusPowerused on a Mega Drain Attack may be listed under either. Also, very similar topics(Energy Removal, Super Energy Removal; Potion, Super Potion) are listed under a singletopic, as most often the rulings to one apply equally to the other. Rulings thatapply to multiple Powers, Attacks, or Trainers will be given under one of those andthe others will be reference with a notation of [SEE "Other"], where "Other"is the location of the ruling.

Within a topic, rulings are arrangedthematically first, then general to specific, then finally by date. This is a roughguide, and we have deviated from this pattern on occasional for clarity's sake.

Also, in several cases earlier rulingshave been over-ruled by WotC. In those cases, we have decided to keep the older,outdated rulings as well (although they are very clearly marked as such). This isboth for reference purposes (in case someone comes up to you and disputes a rulings,saying that he "heard differently" on the subject) and also for the sakeof continuity.

What isn't here: While the contents ofthe FAQs are listed, generally, if something is asked on the Chats which is explaineddirectly in the rules, we won't reprint them here. It is the Judge's responsibilityto be up-to-date on the printed rulebook first and foremost. Also, the vast bulkof the online chats, which center around people trying to pry information about upcomingreleases out of the Master Trainers, aren't reproduced here. Only questions relatingto gameplay will be found here.

DEFINITIONS: Several abbreviations areused in this Compendium. Some of the more common ones are DCE (Double Colorless Energy),SER (Super Energy Removal), ER (Energy Removal) and WotC (Wizards of the Coast).In most cases, however, we have tried to expand all abbreviations for the sake ofclarity.

ERRATA

[ Top| Errata | Pokémon Powers| PokémonAttacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards| EnergyCards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

Errata refers to a correction to aCard that has an error so significant that it can't be played "as printed"and must be played using a correction to the text (an "errata"). Most carderrors have been left alone by WotC with the instruction to "Play them as theyare printed". Also note that some cards that appear to read different than theoriginal Japanese may have been changed on purpose to improve game play or may actuallynot have changed. You may have had a bad translation!

== BLAINE'S CHARIZARD (Gym: ChallengeExpansion)

* Blaine's Charizard has a Fighting energysymbol on it instead of a Fire symbol in the first attack [Roaring Flames] in thefirst sentence of the text. That is a misprint, it should have been a fire energysymbol and the card should be played as if it was a fire symbol. (Oct 5, 2000 WotCChat Announcements & Q46 & Q98)

== BLASTOISE (Expedition Expansion)

Q. Any new ruling on the expedition Blastoise'spokemon power [Jet Stream]? You will go to TPC with this right?
A. The way this one should work (if it was translated correctly) is that "youmust successfully discard an energy card from Blastoise in order to discard one fromyour opponent's active Pokemon". Yes, TPC will post it. I mean they verifiedit. Blastoise is played as follows. IF you have an energy on your Blastoise and IFBlastoise is your active Pokemon, then once during your tun you MAY choose to flipa coin. If you get heads, then you discard an energy from Blastoise. If you DO discardan energy from Blastoise (meaning there has to be one on there to discard), thenyou can also discard one energy from the Defending Pokemon. That is how the cardis supposed to work, period. Blastoise is errated. (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q520& Q535; Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q53 & Q56)

== DARK HAUNTER (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Dark Haunter's "Call Back"attack says "(You can't use this attack if your Bench is full)". Shouldn'tthat really say "... if your *opponent's* bench is full"?
A. It is a typo. Of course, it actually matters whether your opponent's Bench isfull or not. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q411)

== DARKNESS ENERGY (Expedition Expansion)

* The text on Darkness energy in theExpedition set is in error, please continue to play the card as written in the NeoGenesis text. Wizards of the Coast will reissue the Darkness energy with correctedtext (same as the Neo Genesis version) in the upcoming Aquapolis release. Just playDarkness Energy exactly how we've always played it. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat Announcements)

== LT. SURGE'S ELECTRODE (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

* Important Errata for this card. Damagefrom Shock Blast will NOT trigger any Shock Blast Pokemon power (either its own ora defending Lt. Surge's Electrode or Ditto as Lt. Surge's Electrode). (May 3, 2001WotC Chat Announcements)

== METAL ENERGY (Expedition Expansion)

* This card was incorrectly translatedin this set. Just like the Darkness Energy, play all Metal Energy as it was writtenin Neo Genesis. This card will be reissued with corrected text in Aquapolis. (Sep16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 14)

== NIDOKING (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. For the Aquapolis Nidoking's "Crystal Type" power, it mentions Fireas one of the energy types it can change into. Is this a typo since none of the attackson the card use fire energy? (You meant to print Fighting in the Crystal Type power,right?)
A. It was misprinted. The Crystal Pokemon's Power should list the three types ofenergy used in its attacks."
(Jan 23, 2003 WotC Chat, Q643; Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q794; Apr 10, 2003 WotC Chat,Q1177 & Q1182)

== ROCKET'S MINEFIELD GYM (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

* Rocket's Minefield Gym is missing thenumber 2 right before 'damage counters'. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

== SCIZOR (Neo: Discovery Expansion)

* Double Claw is played as on the wording,it is played as it is 20x not 20+. It's a misprint, just play it as though it says20x for the damage. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q2 & Q27 & Q95 & Q140)

== SLOWKING (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

* On heads, the trainer fails and goesback onto the OWNER's deck (this is an errata change to the text on Mind Games).(Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q67)

== UNOWN-C (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. With Unown C's Chase power, shouldthe "Apply Weakness and Resistance" sentence be omitted since you can'tapply weak/resist for placing counters?
A. Correct. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q386; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q560)

POKÉMONPOWERS

[ Top| Errata | Pokémon Powers| PokémonAttacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards| EnergyCards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

== POKÉMON POWERS IN GENERAL

* [Effective 1/17/02:] There is alsoa new Pokemon rule change that will even FURTHER give the current environment somediversity. In working on keeping the Pokemon rules as close as possible to the Japaneserules of the game, there is a new term that will be introduced in a later set thisyear. This is "Special Conditions". Asleep, Confusion, Paralysis, POISON,and later on Burned are all defined as Special Conditions. All of these effects areremoved from the Active Pokemon if they Evolve, Devolve, Leave Play, or are Benched.They ALSO shut off ALL Pokemon Powers on the Pokemon effected by a Special Condition.This means that Poison (and later on Burned) shut off Pokemon Powers on the Pokemonaffected by them. This is a clarification of the rules for Pokemon and WILL takeplace in all of the upcoming Challenge series events and tournaments. TPC has toldus that is how it supposed to work. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat Announcements & Q1280)

* Basically any Pokemon Power on any Pokemon that says it stops working if the Pokemonis Paralyzed, Asleep, or Confused, now should ALSO include Poisoned, or Burned aswell. These 5 effects are known as Special Conditions. Almost every Pokemon powerstops working if its Pokemon has a Special Condition on it. If a Pokemon power saysit still functions if Asleep, Conufused, or Paralyzed, that also holds true for Poisonedand Burned as well. Char, while similar to Burned is NOT the same thing and doesNOT fall under this rule change. All Special Conditions are removed from a Pokemonif it Evolves, Devolves, Leaves play, or is Benched. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1278& Q1284)

Q. I was wondering if you can exactly define the differences between a Poke-BODYand a Poke-POWER, i have heard a few different things going around
A. Those are just clarifications for the players benefit. They are both Pokemon Powers(menaing Muk would shut them both off). A Poke-BODY only affects the Pokemon thathas it and is continuous. A Poke-POWER is an activated Pokemon Power that could haveall sorts of effects. Poke-BODYs are not shut off when the Pokemon has a SpecialCondition on it as well. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q165)

* If Magby's Sputter was in effect (or Goop Gas Attack for that matter) then "whenyou play" Pokemon powers (such as Dark Golbat's Stare or Dark Crobat's SurpriseBite) still function. This is because those effects are triggered by playing thecard and take place BEFORE they are put into play (where Sputter would shut themoff). This is the same reason why Rainbow/Potion/Heal energy still do their "whenyou play them from your hand" effects even with Light Dragonite's MiraculousWind active. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q6)

Q. If a Power says it works when the Pokemon is Confused, could Poison turn it off?It was never an issue before because the only effects that could turn it off couldnot occur along with Confusion.
A. It only shuts off if the power says it is shut off "when asleep, confused,or paralyzed". If it does NOT say that, then Poisoning it will NOT shut offthe Pokemon power. (Jan 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q153)

Q. Will these new effects and rules be in the updated Rulebook with the next Neoset?
A. No they won't make it into the Neo 4 rule book but in the later rule book in thenext set after that. Since these rules would take place during the Challenge Series,we wanted them to start at the beginning of the year, giving you more time to learnand get used to them. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1267)

* ANY Pokemon attack or Power that can only be used once per turn, is reset if thatPokemon evolves or devolves or leaves play and that power or attack could be usedagain if that Pokemon came into play again that same turn. The "can't use thisattack next turn" sets up a status effect that can be ended through the normalmeans: benching, leaving play, evolving or devolving. In each of these cases it isno longer the same Pokemon and so it gets around the once per turn or not usuablenext turn effects. With Pokemon Powers though, you can't get around the once perturn by benching. Benching a Pokemon does NOT get around these effects as they arestill the same Pokemon and still in play. [Ed.Note: This does not apply to TentacoolLv.10 (Fossil) which specifically states in the text of the power that it cannotbe used on the same turn it comes into play.] (Sep 27, 2001 WotC Chat, after-Q53;Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18; May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q266)

Q. Do I have to say I'm using Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power, or is it just "alwayson"?
A. The card text doesn't say you have a choice, so it's "always on". Noticethe card text says "This power stops working while Aerodactyl is Asleep, Confused,or Paralyzed"; cards where you have a choice usually say something like "Thispower can't be used if Gengar is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed." (Some of thecards printed earlier, like Machamp, Mr. Mime, or Snorlax, use the "can't beused" wording even though they are always on; if we were printing them today,we would use the "stops working" wording. You can still tell it's an "alwayson" Power, though, because the first part of the Power doesn't give you a choiceas to whether or not you can use it.) (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can I use the "Pokémon Power"of a Benched Pokémon?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can Pokémon Powers be used allthe time?
A. Each Power tells you specifically when or how often it can be used. (Feb 17 WotCChat)

Q. When a Pokemon's Power does damage,does that count as the POKEMON doing damage (for the purpose of metal energy effects,for instance), or are powers considered SEPARATE from the Pokémon they belongto?
A. Yes, it does [count as the Pokémon]. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q8)

Q. If I have 2 of the same Pokémonin play that have a Pokémon power, can I use that power twice? What powers wouldn'tbe useable twice, or more for that matter?
A. Sure, depends on the particular power though. If you had two Muks for example,then only one power is necessary. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q60 & Q81)

Q. If a baby counts as a Basic Pokémon,does a Baby Power count as a Pokémon Power?
A. Nope! (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q23)

Q. Can you use Pokemon Powers that canbe used "anytime" while the effect of another power is in progress?
A. No. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q96)

Q. Can you play trainers while a Pokemon Power is in progress?
A. No. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q100)

Q. [There is] Some confusion on the Boards about Pokemon Power, Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies.Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies are sub categories of Pokemon Powers.
A. Correct. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1670)

Q. Do older effects that target "Pokemon Powers" also effect both the new"Poke-POWERs" and "Poke-BODYs"?
A. Yes they do. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1658)

Q. For the E-cards that target only Poke-POWERS, do they also target Pokemon Powers?What about E-cards that target only Poke-BODYs? Do they also target the older PokemonPowers?
A. No they do not. As previously stated, anything that effects Pokemon Powers (likeSputter) affects both Poke-POWERs and Poke-BODYs. It does NOT work in reverse. (May22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1680)

Q. If Erika's Dratini & Brock's Rhydonare both on the bench, and the Erika's Dratini is attacked by say a Hitmonlee's StretchKick, which Power would happen first: Rhydon's "Bench Guard" or Erika'sDratini's "Strange Barrier"? Or would you get to choose?
A. You would get to choose the order of those powers. [Ed.Note: This is because theyboth get activated during the same step of the turn process] (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat,Q60)

== ALLERGIC POLLEN (Parasect - Neo:Revelation Expansion)

Q. Does Parasect's "Allergic Pollen" pokemon power stop Entei's "Howl"from removing the fire energies from the discard pile after Entei has "discarded"them?
A. No, that Parasect just prevents stuff from affecting cards in your discard pile,not your deck. In this case it's the intent of the power and the Parasect's Poweronly stops things that are going after cards that are in the discard pile. Entei'sHowl is clearly going after cards from the top of the deck. It should have been moreclear about this on the card. (Jun 20, 2002 WotC Chat, Q94 & Q104 & Q108& Q113; Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. Parasect on the opponent's bench, they're playing a Feraligatr that KOs your onlyMuk with a Riptide. Does the water in the opponent's discard pile get shuffled backinto their deck? Any chance of clarifying the reasons in terms of order of act
A. They [do not] get shuffled back. The damage is done first, which knocks out the Muk, then powers trun back on. THEN after damage is done, other effects of the attack are done, thereby [Parasect prevents] shuffling back the cards. This is the same timing sequence that came up with the Dark Gyarados getting knocked out with an attack that Paralyzes question. Simple huh? (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q324 & Q341 & Q346 & Q372)

== ANCIENT WIND (Aerodactyl - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge Aerodactyl's "Ancient Wind" power says, "you may ignore all Poke-Bodies until the end of your turn". I presume this does not apply to non-Poke-Body powers, right?
A. Yes, that's right. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1533)

Q. Skyridge Aerodactyl: if you use Ancient Wind and then bench Aerodactyl, do all the Poke-bodies remain off?
A. The Ancient Wind Poke-POWER only works while Aerodactyl is your active Pokemon. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1503)

== BACKUP (Porygon2 - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. With Aquapolis Porygon2's PP "Backup", can the opponent use it too or is it bad templating? (The wording seems to indicate you can).
A. Only you get to use it, not your opponent. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q24)


== BENCH GUARD (Brock's Rhydon - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Does Brock's Rhydon's "Bench Guard" Power provide protection from Pokémon powers, like Gengar's Curse and Dark Golbat's Sneak Attack?
A. It would work for Dark Golbat as it does do damage. The Gengar Curse though, only moves 1 damage counter and is NOT considered "damaging" so it would not prevent that. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q108)

Q. Can "Bench Guard" move enough damage to Brock's Rhydon to knock itself out (doesn't say on the card that you can't)? And say it already has 70 damage (out of 80 hp); can it absorb all 30 of the bench damage from a Gigashock attack before getting KO'd?
A. Yes, you could. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q36)

Q. What about the "BenchGuard" & Erika's Dratini question asked a couple of weeks ago? Can "Bench Guard" ultimately reduce it to 0 with a Metal attached?
A. The Bench Guard Pokemon power takes place in step (H) well after attached energy effects are resolved (step G). So while you can move damage that would have hit a benched Pokemon to Brock's Rhydon, if Metal energy is attached to Brock's Rhydon, it would NOT reduce that moved damage to zero. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q143; Sep 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q2)

== BOLT (Entei - Promo)

Q. My friend says that you may choose to Entei's Bolt Pokemon Power, is this true (I don't think so)?
A. No choice! (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q63)

Q. If your Entei is knocked out, and the Bolt flip is heads, does the opponent get a prize?
A. The Entei Bolt power only will trigger if Entei is not KO'd. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q25)

Q. If Entei has a Focus Band attached, and an attack knocks out Entei, but the Focus Band flip is heads, will this trigger the Bolt Pokemon Power? I mean, the "attack" would've KO'd it (no Bolt), but Focus Band (not the attack) is what affected the damage amount.
A. The key word here is "would" be knocked out. It is not "Knocked Out." Sorry. It would trigger it! (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q45)

Q. For Entei, do we flip for Bolt if the was killed by posion between turns?
A. No, only an attack on Entei will trigger Bolt. (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14)

Q. Will attacks which place damage counters (like Life Drain) on Entei trigger the Bolt Pokemon Power?
A. No, because Bolt will only be triggered by attack damage [Ed.Note: not the same as "placing counters"]. (Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q10)

Q. If Croconaw does Jaw Clamp against Entei (and Entei is not knocked out), can Entei's Bolt still activate?
A. Yes, bolt will still work. [Ed.Note: This is presumably because the Jaw Clamp effect would not activate until the entire attack, including damage, is complete.] (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q19

Q. If Misty's Staryu uses Swift on promo Entei, does it go around and stop the pokemon power?
A. No, it would not. [Ed.Note: This is because Swift only ignores Powers & such that affect the amount of damage done, not the effect of the damage; see also "Pokemon Attacks: Swift"]. (Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14)

Q. If you use Elekid's Pokemon Power and the defending Pokemon is Entei, would you flip for Bolt?
A. Elekid's power isn't an attack. [Ed.Note: So you would not flip for Bolt] (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q63)

== BURNING ENERGY (Charizard - Expedition Expansion)

Q. With Exp Charizard's "Burning Energy" power, can you turn Special Energy cards (like Metal or Darkness) into Fire energy or does it have to be a Basic Energy Card? Can you turn Colorless energy cards (like DCE) into Fire energy or does it have to at least provide a basic energy type?
A. Has to be Basic Energy...says so right on the card... Dbl colorless is not basic. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q329 & Q330)

== BUZZAP (Electrode - Base Set) [see also Energy Cards]

Q. If you use Electrode's Pokémon Power, does your opponent get a Prize?
A. Yes, he does. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. What happens to the Voltorb card when you Buzzap an Electrode? Does it stay attached or does it go into the discard pile?
A. The Voltorb goes to the discard pile. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q39)

Q. When Electrode uses Buzzap, does he [Ed. Note: the Buzzap'd Electrode] count as 2 Energy by itself? Or does Electrode count as one and Voltorb count as one? This is because of Energy Removal...
A. Electrode counts as 1 Energy card that provides 2 Energy of the chosen type. (Jan 20 WotC Chat)

* A Buzzap'd Electrode is considered a Special Energy card, meaning it can be affected by all effects that target Special Energy cards. This also means that a Buzzap'd Electrode provides 2 colorless energy if a Light Dragonite and its Miraculous Wind Pokemon power is Active. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q1)

Q. Is a Buzzap'd Electrode considered a Special Energy Card, especially for purposes of Smoochum's Psykiss (remove special energy card)?
A. Yes, it is considered a non-basic energy. So you could remove it w/ Smoochum. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14 & Q57)

Q. Can I move a Buzzap'd Electrode around with attacks like "Magnetic Lines" & "Telekinesis" that only allow moving "Basic" energy cards?
A. No, you won't be able to do that. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q57)

Q. Can a Buzzap'd Electrode mimic non-basic Energy (such as Full Heal Energy), and if so, does it provide the special abilities of that Energy?
A. He can only copy an Energy type (the six basic forms), not a [Special] Energy card [or its special properties]. [Ed. Note: There are now eight basic energy forms, including Darkness & Metal.] (Feb 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q85)

Q. Since colorless is not a type, I assume you cannot Buzzap an an Electrode into colorless energy. Am I correct?
A. Correct. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q62)

Q. Can you use electrode and count it as Dark/Metal??
A. Yes, but when you do so you will not get the 'bonus' effects that those actual energy cards provide. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q23)

Q. If a Buzzapped Electrode is returned to your hand [or put into the discard pile], would it still be considered an energy card, or would it revert back to a Pokémon card?
A. It would revert. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q241; Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. If I have a Buzzapped energy card, will it revert back if a Goop Gas is played or a Muk comes into play?
A. No it will not as it is no longer a Pokemon, it is NOW an energy card. Stopping Pokemon powers does NOT make it revert back. (Jul 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. If you use energy on your turn does that mean when it comes time to attack you can not Buzzap Electrode due to the one energy rule?
A. No that is not true, Buzzaping electrode changes Electrode into an energy card. This does NOT count as attaching (taking an energy card from your hand) an energy to a Pokémon. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

* If a card gives off Energy of any type then that card COUNTS as an Energy card of that type. This means a Buzzap'd Electrode that was chosen to give 2 Grass Energy COUNTS as a Grass Energy Card and can be Energy Transferred by Venusaur's Pokémon Power. As a further example, Energy attached to Ditto COUNTS as all basic Energy types at once. So any Energy type attached to Ditto could ALSO be Energy Transferred by Venusaur's Pokémon Power. (Mar 30, 2000 WotC Chat)

* I will go ahead and correct something that slipped by us last week and that is that when you use Electrode's Buzzap Pokémon Power you can only choose one type of energy for that Buzzap'd Electrode to provide. We gave the answer we were given by R&D months ago. They corrected it today. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements & Q50)

== CHAIN REACTION (Eevee - Promo)

Q. Can promo Eevee's Pokémon Power be used on the same turn that Eevee comes into play?
A. Promo Eevee's Chain Reaction can be used the turn those Pokémon come into play. Since they pull an evolution card from your deck instead of playing an evolution card from your hand they are NOT limited to the normal rule of evolution and thusly will also NOT be stopped by Aerodactyl's Prehistoric Power either. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)
A. [OVERRULED ON 7/13/00] - No, but you would be able to use it on the turn following that. In other words, if your opponent tries to evolve a Pokémon the turn after you brought Eevee into play, you could use Eevee's power then. (Jun 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q170)

Q. Since Eevee's Chain Reaction is not worded, "You may use ...", is is mandatory or optional?
A. Optional. [Ed.Note: This is because the text says "This power can only be used ...", rather than saying it "must be used".] (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q214)

Q. Does Chain Reaction, when it is used to evolve Eevee, remove Poison, Smokescreen, or any other effect (other than Sleep, Paralysis, and Confusion, which prevent it from being used?)
A. Yes it would as they are all ended when the Pokémon evolves. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q267)

Q. Does it mean whenever a Pokémon evolves, like if your opponent evolves a Pokémon, could you evolve Eevee then? And what if your opponent plays an Aerodactyl; which Pokémon Power would work?
A. Yes you could pull an evolution out of your deck and put it on Eevee when your opponent evolves one of his Pokémon. Since you are pulling the card from your deck and NOT playing it from your hand, Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power would NOT prevent it. (6-1-00 Q35, 6-15-00 Q341, 6-29-00 WotC Chat Q278)

Q. Can Neo: Discovery Eevee's "Energy Evoloution" or TR Magikarp's "Rapid Evolution" cause promo Eevee's "Chain Reaction" power to activate? Both of those cards say "this counts as evolving" that pokemon.
A. Yes. (May 30, 2002 WotC Chat, Q375)

Q. If Aerodactyl's Prehistoric Power is in effect, and if Magikarp (Team Rocket) uses Rapid Evolution, could Promo Eevee use its Pokémon Power: Chain Reaction to evolve or not?
A. Yes. (Jun 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q341; Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Can you evolve promo Eevee when you play it from your hand?
A. You cannot normally evolve it no (not on the turn it is played), but if you evolve another Pokémon then you can use its Chain Reaction on the same turn it is played, yes. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q373)    

Q. A couple of weeks ago, you were going to check with R&D to see if the new Promo Eevee's Pokémon Power, Chain Reaction, is also useable if your opponent evolves a Pokémon during his turn (since it doesn't specify when it can or cannot be used). Any word on that?
A. You can use Eevee's Chain Reaction when your opponent evolves a Pokémon. (May 25 WotC Chat)

Q. If player A has a promo Eevee in play with 2 damage counters on it, and player B evolves Zubat into Dark Golbat on their turn, can promo Eevee use its Chain Reaction Pokémon Power before Dark Golbat's Pokémon Power puts another damage counter on promo Eevee?
A. The answer is yes. Promo Eevee gets to evolve before Dark Golbat's power applies its damage. (Sep 28, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

== CHAOS MOVE (Gengar - Expedition Expansion)

Q. Is the new Gengar's power cumlative?
A. Yes, though you do know that you can only move a counter from one of your Pokemon to one of your other Pokemon...or from one of your opponent's Pokemon to one of your opponent's other Pokemon. (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q514)

== CLAIRVOYANCE (Omanyte - Fossil Expansion)

Q. If my Omanyte gets Knocked Out, can my opponent turn his hand over so I can't see it anymore? And what about new cards my opponent draws after Omanyte uses its Pokémon Power? Can I see them or not?
A. Omanyte's Pokémon Power: Clairvoyance says "Your opponent must play with his or her hand face up," but like all Pokémon Powers, it's only in effect while the Pokémon is in play. So as soon as Omanyte gets Knocked Out, your opponent can pick his or her hand back up. While Omanyte is in play, though, any cards your opponent draws will get added to his or her hand, so they will be face up as well. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

== CONDUCTIVITY (Dark Ampharos - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If there are 2 Dark Ampharos in play and one of them had its Conductivity power "turned off" by whatever means, does the second one's power kick in or is it still inactive?
A. It would still be inactive. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q33)

Q. If the opponent has Dark Ampharos, would "Conductivity" do 20 damage if I used "Blaine" to attach two fire energies? Also, would it do multiple damage if I used Blastoise's "Rain Dance" power?
A. Yes, and yes. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q32)

Q. If I attach two energy cards to my Active Pokémon using Harvest Bounty, and my opponent has a Dark Ampharos in play, does that Pokémon take 20 damage? If so, what about using the Blaine trainer or Blastoise's Raindance?
A. Yes to all. (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q465)

Q. When you attach a metal to a pokemon with 10 HP left, and your opponent has a Dark Amphy, does Amphy KO the pokemon first, or does metal protect it from the 10 damage?
A. The Metal Energy is on in enough time to save the Pokemon. Remember the Energy must be attached for Conductivity to do damage. (Nov 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q326)

Q. If my active Light Dragonite [100 hp] has 9 damage counters on it, and my opponent has a Dark Ampharos benched, what happens when I attach a Potion Energy to the Light Dragonite? (Remove 1 counter, then place one counter?)
A. It's the same old answer when you have two effects that take place at the same time. First, Light Dragonite does NOT prevent the healing effect from the Energy card as it is not in play yet. The effect from Conductivity and the Potion Energy do take place at the same time however. So the Active player's effect goes first, then the Defending Player's effects go second. If one player controls more than one effect, they get to decide what order they go in when their effects take place. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q541)

Q. Opponent has both Dark Ampharos with Conductivity and Pokemon Park in play; when I attach an energy to my Pokemon which effect comes first? Does the opponent get to choose? And if I only have 10hp left, would Conductivity KO it before Park could heal it?
A. Same answer as was done with Chaos Gym and Slowking. The player whose turn it is has their effects (the ones they own) go off first, then the opponent's effects. If you control both, you choose the order. If your opponent controls both, he or she chooses the order. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q356)

== COWARDICE (Tentacool - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Can I use Tentacool's Cowardice as many times as I want?
A. No, once you Scoop Up Tentacool back into your hand, you could put him on the bench again, but you can't use the power the same turn Tentacool comes into play. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

== CRYSTAL BODY (Suicune - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

* Suicune and all similar affects (Haunter's Transparency, Agility, etc.) have been clarified and finalized. Please ignore the previous Suicune rulings released in Nov/Dec 2001. As stated in that rules release they were only temporary until they were correctly figured out. While attacks are still always against the Defending Pokemon, regardless of where their effects end up, the effects end up on a specific Pokemon. So Suicune's Crystal Body Power which reads: "Prevent all effects of your opponent's attacks, other than damage, done to Suicune", means that ONLY effects done TO Suicune are prevented. So, an attack that does 20 damage and paralyzes would still do 20 damage but would NOT Paralyze a Defending Suicune. If the attacking Pokemon (with Suicune as the Defending Pokemon) does damage to a Benched Pokemon, Suicune's Crystal Body Power does NOT prevent that effect or damage as it is NOT being done to Suicune. Any additional effects the attack may have (such as having to discard an energy in order to use the attack, or self-inflicted damage) is NOT prevented as it is NOT done to Suicune. If Suicune is a Benched Pokemon and Dark Arbok uses its Stare attack against it ("Choose 1 of your opponent's Pokemon. This attack does 10 damage to that Pokemon. Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for this attack. (Any other effects that would happen after applying Weakness and Resistance still happen.) If that Pokemon has a Pokemon Power, that power stops working until the end of your opponent's next turn."), Suicune would still take the 10 damage but its Crystal Body Pokemon Power would prevent the Stare's effect of shutting off the Pokemon Power. It is important to recognize that attacks are always against the Defending Pokemon, which is why Cleffa's Eeeeeeek can be prevented by a Smokescreen effect or any other attack prevention even though the Eeeeeeek! attack does not do anything to the Defending Pokemon. So, Crystal Body, Agility, and Haunter's Transparency do NOT prevent Eeeeeeek!, only effects of attacks that are done TO them. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

* If Magby uses Sputter then Suicune's Crystal Body pokemon power WOULD be shut off as it is NOT targeted against Suicune but is a global effect. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q5)

Q. The Suicune ruling doesn't affect how darkness and metal energy cards are played? Would a Darkness Energy add 10 damage to an attack against Suicune? Would a Metal reduce it by 10?
A. Yes! Any effect from an attached energy card that alters the amount of damage done is NOT affected by Suicune. (Dec 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q522 & Q592)

Q. Would Weakness/Resistance apply when Suicune is defending?
A. Yes, damage being raised or lowered due to resistance or weakness is not effect of an attack. (Dec 6, 2001 WotC Chat, Q401)

Q. Given the latest Suicune rulings, can Pichu now do 20 damage [to Suicune]?
A. Yup. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q578)

Q. With a Suicune defending, would an attack like Double Claw or Stone Barrage do any damage? So what do you do? 10 with Geodude, and 20 for Scizor, or do you flip to see how much?
A. Attacks that have 20+ or 20x or things like that do damage, the text tells you how to come to that damage, (normally flipping coins,) but since that number is there, you will do damage. You would flip to see how much damage. Here is how this works: Suicune prevents all text EXCEPT things that say, flip a coin this attack does X damage + X damage, or just X damage, or this attack does 20 times the number of heads. That is checking for damage, (just like it doesn't prevent the damage Gator does with riptide, just the effect of reshuffling). (Dec 6, 2001 WotC Chat, Q356 & Q374 & Q379)

Q. Would Raticate's HyperFang (Lt. Surge or Base) effect Suicune??
A. Does it have a number? Well, not quite, it has a ? which still counts, so yes, it would do damage. (Dec 6, 2001 WotC Chat, Q400)

Q. This seems pretty obvious to me, but since Ditto Copies powers, Suicune can't use its attack to make it fall asleep or paralyze it, right (so it stays Ditto)?
A. Not sure what you are saying here. If you had two Suicunes facing each other (which in effect you are), then they could use the Aurora Wave against the other but it would NOT do any additional effects beyond the 30 damage (no asleep or paralyze). (Dec 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. Does Suicune prevent Metronome?
A. No. (Dec 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q568)

Q: So if you get 3 heads on ESP, Misty's Psyduck can copy the attack of Suicune?
A: Yes. Part of determining what the attack is...that is not prevented! (Dec 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q572)

Q. What about attacks like the new Lugia that give the player a choice of that number on the right or a coin flip? Is the new "discard [whatever] or does nothing" an effect or attack requiremnt in terms of Suicune?
A. You can't make the usual choice that you would for Lugia. It just does the listed damage to the right of the attack. If you are refering to Raichu's ability to discard all of his energy to do more damage, that would be an effect; so it can and will only do the damage that is written, not what you can choose to do. (Dec 6, 2001 WotC Chat, Q357 & Q409)

Q. If you are playing against holo Suicune, would your Charizard discard Fire energy? Would Blaine's Magmar discard the top five cards of your deck?
A. Yes to both. It does not block costs, and Blaines Magmar for determining how much damage is done. (Dec 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q564)

Q. If I play a Koga card and attack my opponent's Holo Suicune with a Koga's Pokémon, is the Suicune then poisoned, and why or why not?
A. It would not be poisoned. The Koga's card is adding an effect to the attack (even with the quantifier of doing damage). Effects of attacks against an Active Suicune do not take place. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q115)

Q. Since we're on a roll with the Suicune questions, would it block the placement of Damage counters, and things like Life Drain?
A. Yes it would, placing damage counters is NOT the same as damage (doing damage). (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q205)

Q. Would Suicune etc. not prevent bench damage from Feint Attack?
A. Suicune doesn't stop damage anyway, so it would not stop the Feint damage done. It only stops all other effects of an attack. It also does NOT prevent any self inflicted effects, only those done by your opponent. Otherwise, it stops ALL non-damage attacks [ed. note: effects] done by the defending Pokemon, period. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q173 & Q190)

Q. Okay. Now you're saying Suicune doesn't block any damage, but before you said it blocks bench damage. Which is it?
A. Suicune does not prevent damage in any way, whether damage done to it or to the bench, my apologies for not being clear about it. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q199)

Q. If I play Goop Gas attack and Mean Look my opponen't Holo Suicune, how long will the Mean Look effect last?
A. Suicune's power coming back on will not remove Mean Look. Just like Snorlax doesn't remove poison if it is poisoned when its power is shut off. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q146)

== CRYSTAL TYPE (Kingdra, Lugia, & Nidoking - Aquapolis Expansion; Celebi, Charizard, Crobat, and others - Skyridge Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

Q. If 2 different energy cards attached to crystal pokemon (psychic and fighting for example), will it act as both types or only one type?
A. It turns into whatever the last basic energy card that was attached's type. So even if you attached 2 basic energy that turn (using Meganium for example), it counts as the type of the last one attached (as long as that type is listed on its Crystal Type Poke-BODY). (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. When you attach a Crystal Energy or Rainbow Energy to a pokemon with "Crystal Type" power, do you get to choose what type of Pokemon it becomes? Or does the Pokemon stay colorless because "Crystal Type" only mentions Basic Energy
A. It stays colorless, the Crystal Type Power only works when you attach basic energy cards. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q353)

Q. Will a crystal pokemon become 3 types if you attach a Rainbow Energy?
A. No, read the card, it says you must attach a basic energy card. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q85)

Q. When a Pokemon with "Crystal Type" changes its color due to an attached energy card, its attacks are no longer affected by Sprout Tower until it changes back to "colorless", right?
A. The answer is yes, in that case, it is no longer colorless and Sprout Tower does not affect it. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, after-Q1484)

Q. For the Aquapolis Nidoking's "Crystal Type" power, it mentions Fire as one of the energy types it can change into. Is this a typo since none of the attacks on the card use fire energy? (You meant to print Fighting in the Crystal Type power, right?)
A. It was misprinted. The Crystal Pokemon's Power should list the three types of energy used in its attacks."
(Jan 23, 2003 WotC Chat, Q643; Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q794; Apr 10, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1177 & Q1182)

== CURSE (Gengar - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Can I use Curse 4 times if I have 4 Gengars out?
A. Yes. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

== DAMAGE SWAP (Alakazam - Base Set)

Q. Alakazam's power states "you may move 1 damage counter from 1 of your Pokémon to another". Does to another mean you may move one of your counters over to your opponent's?
A. No, you have to move the damage counter to another one of yours. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Does Alakazam's Damage Swap Pokémon Power apply Weakness and Resistance?
A. Nope, it is NOT an attack. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q87)

Q. If Alakazam uses Damage Swap on a Pokémon with Defender, is the transferred damage prevented?
A. Nope, Defender only prevents damage from attacks, not from Pokémon Powers. Besides you do realize that you can't use Damage Swap on the other player's Pokémon, right? (6-29-00 WotC Chat Q79)

Q. Damage Swap states that you can't move a damage counter to a Pokémon which would knock out that Pokémon. That means that you couldn't damage swap to a Clefairy Doll or Mysterious Fossil because it would knock out those cards, right?
A. Correct. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q44)

== DARK AURA (Tyranitar - Expedition Expansion)

Q. Do the basic energies transformed in Dark energies with Tyranitar's Dark Aura power add 10 damage like Dark energies do?
A. No...that would be extra-nice for Tyranitar lovers though, wouldn't it? (Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q215)

Q. If I place a Metal Energy on Expedition Tyranitar with "Dark Aura", does it still retain its special properties (-10 damage)? I think it would retain the properties like it does when Charizard does "Fire Spin" on it.
A. Yes it does. (Nov 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q306; Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q13)

Q. If I attach a Boost energy to Tyranitar Exp, it will provide 3 Dark energies, right? As it is changed into Dark energies, do I have to discard the Boost energy at the end of the turn ?
A. Yes, you would still have to discard it. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1495)

Q. If I have a Crystal Energy on Expedition Tyranitar, does "Dark Aura" change the Crystal Energy to provide Darkness Energy only, or does it also still provide the basic types that are currently attached to the Tyranitar?
A. Tyranitar states "All Energy attached to Tyranitar is Darkness Energy instead of its normal type". This means that attached cards ONLY provide Darkness Energy while this Poke-BODY is in effect. (Apr 24, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1288)

Q. Light Dragonite's "Miraculous Wind" vs. Expedition Tyranitar's "Dark Aura" : If my T-Tar has a Darkness Energy card on it, Miraculous Wind would definitely disable the bonus +10 effect, but would Dark Aura allow it to continue providing Dark energy type?
A. Tyranitar's Energy cards (even if Special Energies) would still produce Darkness energy. The Tyranitar's personal effect supercedes the Light Dragonite's overall effect. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 10)

Q. Which overrides Charizard's "Burning Energy" Poke-Power, or Tyranitar's "Dark Aura" Poke-Body?
A. The Poke-Body Power [continuous] will override the "Burning Energy" Poke-Power [activated]. (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q519)

Q. If you use the new Tyranitar [with Dark Aura] and the Venusaur with Energy Trans, can you move the energies off the new Tyranitar with his pokemon body?
A. No. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q112)

== DARK GAZE (Umbreon - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. If I have an active Skyridge Umbreon, does my opponent's benched Muk shut off Dark Gaze, or does Dark Gaze shut off Toxic Gas?
A. Remember the older Pokemon that have Pokemon Powers are NOT broken down into Poke_BODYs or Poke-POWERs. So the Umbreon only prevents "Poke-POWERs"; Muk's "Pokemon Power" is not affected. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1598)

Q. So just to confirm, Umbreon's "Dark Gaze" only prevents those labeled as "Poke-POWER". Older style "Pokemon Power" and "Poke-BODY" are not affected, right?
A. Correct. Pokemon Powers (from the older sets) are not affected by Umbreon's Dark Gaze; only cards that have Poke-POWERs. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1604; May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1636)

== DARK MOON (Umbreon - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Just to make sure, Rainbow Energy counts as Darkness for the purposes of Umbreon's "Dark Moon" pokemon power, right?
A. Yup. It is not asking for a specific card. If a card provides energy of a type, it is considered an energy card of that type. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q950 & Q961 & Q1010)

Q. For the Aquapolis Umbreon's "Dark Moon" power, do I have the option to NOT shuffle any of my opponent's cards into their deck after looking at their hand, or is it mandatory? In other words, can I choose "zero" cards?
A. You could choose zero. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q862)

== DEEP SLEEP (Dark Gengar - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If I have 2 Dark Gengars in play does the opponent have to flip 4 times to become awake?
A. No, you still just have to flip twice. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q399 & Q412 & Q507)

Q. If I use Igglybuff's "Gaze" against Dark Gengar's "Deep Sleep", must an opponent still flip 2 coins to attempt to wake up his/her Active Pokemon, or does the "Gaze" effect wear off before the sleep check?
A. Gaze wears off at the end of the turn. Sleep checks are done between turns, so this would not prevent Dark Gengar from making waking up harder. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q373)

== DENSE BODY (Slowbro - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. For Aquapolis Slowbro's "Dense Body" power, is the -20 damage reduction calculated before or after Weakness/Resistance?
A. Without it being specified you always fall back on the "How do you figure out the damage?" list from the rule book. Pokemon Powers are calculated after Weakness and Resistance are done. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1041)

== DRIVE OFF (Light Arcanine - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

* Also, here is a rules clarification about Expedition. There are a few Poke-POWERS that were not correctly translated and templated. [...] The Light Arcanine from Neo Destiny is another power that should have had "you may" also included. So please play this power and any others that seems similar (meaning you should normally have the option to use instead of having to use) as if it included "you may". (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Light Arcanine's Drive Off pretty much thwarts Murkrow's Mean Look, doesn't it? If my opponent's Pokémon is asleep, will Drive Off still allow him to switch it with another?
A. Yes and yes. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q361)

== EARTH RAGE (Nidoking - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Is Nidoking's poke power cumulative?
A. If you had multiple Nidokings in play and a way to keep retreating them... (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q819)

== EMERGE (Koga's Kakuna - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

* Koga's Kakuna's Emerge Pokémon Power breaks the standard "can't evolve turn 1 or the turn it was played" rule. Since this power has you take a card from your deck and place it, it is NOT  stopped by the standard evolution limits. This also falls under the term "played". Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power "Prehistoric Power" says "No more Evolution cards can be played." The Emerge power would NOT be affected by this as those cards are not "played" (meaning played from your hand). [Ed. Note: See also "General Gameplay: Evolving" for more details] (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Suppose Koga's Beedrill is Paralyzed. You play a Devolution Spray, discard the Koga's Beedrill, which makes Koga's Kakuna active. Can you use Koga's Kakuna's Pokémon Power to evolve back into Koga's Beedrill on that same turn?
A. Yes, Koga's Kakuna's Pokémon Power breaks the evolution rules as it is. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9)

== ENERGY BURN (Charizard - Base Set) [see also Energy Cards Section]

Q. Say you have a Charizard as your active Pokémon. You put Double Colorless Energy cards on it. If you use Energy Burn does the DCE turn into 2-Fire Energy?
A. It turns into a card that gives two-Fire Energy. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. With Charizard's attack, it says discard 2 energy cards! So if you had 2 DCE, and you used Energy Burn, you'd have to discard them both, right (both double colorlessness)?
A. Key-wreckt. [Ed. Note: Correct]  (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. Does Charizard's Energy Burn change an Energy forever... or until the end of the turn?
A. The Energy changed using Charizard's Energy Burn only stays Fire Energy until the end of the turn. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. If you devolve a Charizard with Devolution Spray into Charmeleon after you use Energy Burn, can you use Flamethrower?
A. Sure, the energy will stay Fire Energy until the end of the turn. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q130)

Q. If I use Charizard's Energy Burn on some Grass Energy could I still use Venusaur's Energy Trans on them?
A. If the Energy is changed to Fire Energy then Venusaur can no longer Energy Trans them (they are no longer Grass). (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. If I use Charizard's Energy Burn to make some cards into Fire energy, do they stay Fire if I use Energy Flow to bring them back into my hand? The Energy Burn power says "until the end of the turn".
A. They remain Fire only while they're in play. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q35)

Q. Last week, you said that Energy Burned Energies remain as such even if Charizard is put to Sleep that same turn (say, as the result of a failed Long Distance Hypnosis coin flip). However, looking back through some previous rulings, you said a month or two ago that if Charizard is paralyzed, etc. then the energies revert to their normal type. Which is correct?
A. The Energies will remain Fire Energies until the end of the turn, even if Charizard is put to sleep. Certainly, some of our rulings may change as R&D corrects or reverses older rulings. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q40)

Q. Last week it was said Goop Gas made Energy Burned cards revert to original Energy. This conflicts with a ruling saying a sleeping Charizard's Energy stayed Fire.
A. Sorry but we were wrong. The energy would NOT revert. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q53)

Q. So would it be safe to say that any of the special energies (Recycle, Metal/Darkness, etc.) retain their special properties after they've been "Energy Burned"?
A. Yes, that would be safe to say. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q36)

== ENERGY CONVERTER (Porygon2 - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Porygon2's Energy Converter power : If a basic energy is treated as a Dark or Metal energy, are the additional effects of these cards active ?
A. No. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q12)

Q. If my active pokemon's attack says discard all lightning energies attached, and my Porygon2 has changed one of those lightning energies to something else, do I still have to discard it?
A. That energy would now be treated as the new type, and would NOT have to be discarded in this case. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q48)

Q. Porygon2 changes 3 Fighting Energies into a Water/Fire/Electric on Neo1 Lugia... That counts for the discard part of the attack, right?
A. Yes, it would. But you would need three Porygon2's in order to change all of the Fighting on Lugia to the other types. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1299 & Q1310)

Q. Porygon2: DCE = two energies of any type or just one?
A. Can't choose DCE. It is not a basic energy card. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q58)

Q. What can Porygon2's PP do to a Buzzapped Electrode?
A. Porygon 2 can only affect a basic energy card, a buzzap'd Electrode is not one of those. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q73)

Q. Does Crystal Energy copy the converted energy type if a card has been Porygon2'd? ["Energy Converter" pokemon power]
A. Read what Crystal says, it says it provides 1 Energy of all Types of BASIC Energy cards attached to the Pokemon. This is AGAIN the HO-OH ruling. Changing what type of energy a BASIC energy card provides DOES make it count as a different type of energy card. Which is why you would discard a Rainbow energy when something says discard all fire energy. BUT if it said discard all BASIC fire energy, you would NOT discard a Rainbow energy. Crystal works the same way. It only provides the type of energy from the ACTUAL PHYSICAL BASIC energy cards that are there; NOT what they may be changed to providing! (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q777)

Q. Porygon 2's Pokémon power says "choose an Energy type." Since it doesn't say basic, can I choose for the card (for some inconceivible reason) to be a Colorless energy card, or was that whole thing a typo?
A. Remember that colorless is not officially an energy type. So, no, you may not. (Jan 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1011)

Q. If you use Porygon2's Energy Converter power to make the grass energy that was transferred from Venusaur to the Exeggutor psychic, can you then use Super Scoop Up on the Exeggutor and play the grass energy as a grass energy?
A. Yes you would. Once that card leaves play (is scooped back to your hand) it reverts to its normal type. (Jan 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q53)

Q. I'm playing a Porygon2/Expedition Alakazam deck. When I change Psychic Energies into Fire, can I discard them for attacks like Ninetales' Fire Blast?
A. Sure. (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q374)

== ENERGY EVOLUTION (Eevee - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. For Neo Discovery Eevee, can you attach an energy and using its power (if heads) and evolve first turn?
A. Sure. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q23)

Q. Does Neo:Discovery Eevee's "Energy Evolution" Power get around Aerodactyl's "Prehistoric Power" and the normal rules of evolution (can't evolve on the turn played) due to the fact that you are pulling an evolution card from your deck, not your hand?
A. Yes. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q55 & Q191)

Q. If I attach 1 Rainbow Energy to Eevee (Lv. 14) can I use Eevee's Energy Evolution Pokémon Power to search my deck for any Evolution of Eevee?
A. Yes you can. Rainbow Energy counts as any color of Energy while it is in play. This allows you to search for any evolution of Eevee. In this case (attaching a Rainbow energy) you can search for an evolution of any energy type. You do NOT need to announce it [the energy type] in advance. (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website; Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 5)

Q. If I use Light Flareon's "Warm Up" attack to attach a fire energy to Eevee Lv.14 (Discovery), can Eevee use its "Energy Evolution" pokemon power to search for a fire evolution of Eevee at that time (if the coinflip is heads, of course)?
A. That's not going to trigger Discovery Eevee's Pokemon Power because it's not your regular free energy attachment during your turn. (May 9, 2002 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. If I attach a Grass energy to Neo: Discovery Eevee, do I *have* to use its "Energy Evolution" power even though there are currently no grass-type evolutions available for Eevee? I mean, what if I don't want to shuffle my deck?
A. Yes, you still have to flip. If you don't want to shuffle your deck, don't attach any energy. (Oct 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q2)

Q. If I attach both a Lightning energy and a Water energy to my Eevee using Expedition Venusaur's power, do I get to search for either a water or lightning Eeveelution, and must I declare which before searching?
A. You are actually attaching these cards in an order, just doing them both at the same point in your turn. So, depends on which one you attach first, that would be the energy type you could flip for first. If the first coin flip ends up heads, then you would be attaching the second energy to the now evolved Eeveelution and would not trigger the power again. If you flipped tails, then you could flip for the second energy you attached and search for its type (if heads [on the second flip]). (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q420 & Q433 & Q435)

Q. An Energy Evolution Eevee with only 10 HP remaining has a Rainbow Energy attached to it. Would the player attaching the Rainbow Energy get to flip for Energy Evolution or would the Rainbow Energy damage KO the Eevee first?
A. Both effects trigger on the same thing so the player would get to decide. (Jun 5, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1790)

== ENERGY RETURN (Espeon - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Aquapolis Espeon's power: does that include Buzzaped Electrode?
A. Yes, but you will just get the Electrode card itself back into your hand. (Apr 17, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1247)

== ENERGY TRANS (Venusaur - Base Set) [see also Pokemon Power: Energy Burn and Energy Cards Section]

Q. Can Venusaur put other energies on Fire Pokémon?
A. Only other grass energy. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q13)

Q. Can an Energy-burned Rainbow Energy still be moved around with Energy Trans?
A. No, you wouldn't be able to do that. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q118)

Q. If Porygon2 has changed a Grass energy to Lightning, would it be fair to say that Venusaur could not Energy Trans it (for the rest of the turn)?
A. Correct. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1384)

Q. If you use the new Tyranitar [with Dark Aura] and the Venusaur with Energy Trans, can you move the energies off the new Tyranitar with his pokemon body?
A. No. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q112)

== EVOLUTIONARY LIGHT (Dark Dragonair - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. When using Dark Dragonair's Evolutionary Light can you evolve that Pokémon [Ed. Note: the Dark Dragonair] on that turn?
A. Yes, as long as you hadn't just evolved to Dark Dragonair that turn. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q158)

Q. For Dark Dragonair's Pokemon Power, can you pull out a Basic Pokemon that evolves from a Baby Pokemon?
A. Nope, because it won't count as an evolution card in your hand. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q22)

Q. If I use Dark Dragonair's Evolutionary Light, do I have to pick an Evolution card out if there's any or I don't have to (even if there are Evolution cards in the deck) and just use it to see what cards are in the deck?
A. No, you MUST choose one if there is ONE but you can use the power to search your deck even if there is NOT any evolution cards. (Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q99 & Q165)

Q. I know this might seem weird, but if I had Dark Dragonair out, could I use Evolutionary Light, then evolve it to Dark Dragonite, use Summon Minions, and then use Devolution Spray on it, can I use Evolutionary Light again?
A. No you can't. (Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat, Q376)

== FINAL BEAM (Dark Gyarados - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If an attack that Knocks Out Dark Gyarados also Paralyzes him, does he get to use his Final Beam or not? Dark Gyarados SHOULD be able to do Final Beam because Pokémon Powers are applied BEFORE attack effects such as paralysis right?
A. Final Beam will go off before Paralysis is applied. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q151)

Q. If an Alakazam uses Teleport Blast and goes to the bench, while Knocking Out the opponent's Active Dark Gyarados, do you use Dark Gyarados' Pokémon Power on Dark Alakazam or your new Active Pokémon?
A. Damage is done BEFORE you switch Dark Alakazam back to the bench. So you would resolve the Knock Out effects BEFORE you Bench the Dark Alakazam. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q15)

Q. Request for clarification on an old ruling: Dark Gyarados is active and Dark Arbok is the opposing Pokémon. Dark Gyarados has 60 damage and Dark Arbok uses "Stare" on it. Does Dark Gyarados get do its "Final Beam" or not?
A. Final Beam will be triggered before Stare shuts off Pokemon Powers so it will still go off. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. If a Dark Golbat uses Sneak Attack on a Dark Gyarados and KOs it, will it deal 20 times the number of water, with heads on the toss, to the Defending Pokémon, or to Dark Golbat (assuming the two are different)?
A. Final Beam says that it triggers when Dark Gyarados is knocked out by an attack. Dark Golbat's Pokémon Power is not an attack. [Ed.Note: So Final Beam does not trigger when knocked out by Pokémon Powers.] (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q213)

Q. Since Rainbow Energy counts as all types simultaneously when attached, am I correct in assuming that Rainbow Energy would also counts as Water towards calculating the damage done by Gyarados' Final Beam?
A. Correct. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q41)

== FLEE (Misty's Tentacruel - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. If Misty's Tentacruel uses Flee to switch with a Benched Pokémon, would that other Pokémon receive effects of the attack (i.e. paralyze, poison)?
A. No it would not. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q71)

Q. If Misty's Tentacruel uses Flee, does the new active Pok*mon get the status effect?
A. No, the Flee power was intended to stop other status effects from happening to Misty's Tentacruel. We'll have to check whether Flee will stop Char counters [from Quilava] or Paint counters from Smeargle. In the meantime, play as though the Flee Power prevents all other effects of attacks on M. Tentacruel. (May 17, 2001 WotC Chat, Q64; Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q61)

Q. The "Flee" Pokémon power says "If an attack does damage to Misty's Tentacruel while it's your Active Pokémon, you may switch it with 1 of your Benched Pokémon..." Some have taken the "switch it" phrase to mean switch the damage; is that correct?
A. Wrong. [Ed. Note: This means that you do the damage to Misty's Tentacruel before you switch it with another Pokémon on your bench.] (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30)

== FLOWER SUPPLEMENT (Bellossom - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. For the Aquapolis Bellossom's "Flower Supplement" power, is it cumulative, or am I somehow limited to the maximum number of energies that can be attached?
A. There is no limit, except for the fact that Bellossom is a stage 2 and it requires a coin flip as well. (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q566)

Q. If you use Aquapolis Bellossom's power and flip a heads, can you attach a fire energy to an Aquapolis Entei without discarding another energy card?
A. Good question. It says from your hand on both... So I would say no. You have to discard the Energy from Entei. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q305)

== FLUFF (Jumpluff - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. I have a question does Jumpluff (aq) stop Cleffa's Eeeeeeek???
A. Nope. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q822)

Q. If you have Magby against Aquapolis Jumpluff with at least 1 damage counter on it and use "Sputter", will it shut off the Jumpluff's Poke-Body automatically?
A. All other effects of attacks except damage are always the last that occur so... it would get its flip before it is shut off. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q58)

Q. I have a Murkrow against an active Aquapolis Jumpluff with one damage counter, can I Feint Attack Jumpluff and not have to flip for its PokeBody?
A. Yes. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q868)

Q. If the player using Feint Attack to attack a benched AQ Jumpluff that has one damage on it, does the player need to flip for Jumpluff's Poke-Body Fluff?
A. No. [ED NOTE: This particular answer is in reference to Aquapolis Houndour's Feint Attack which DOES ignore effects on benched pokemon; Neo Genesis Murkrow's & Neo Discovery Umbreon's Feint Attack only ignores effects on the Defending Pokemon.] (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q223; Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q276 & Q287)

Q. If I use the Swift attack on a Jumpluff with the Fluff Poke-Body, does it get through without having the Jumpluff flipping or will Jumpluff still get to flip?
A. You wouldn't have to flip. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1548)

Q. Aquapolis Jumpluff's PokeBody - Does it block the entire attack (such as with Tyranitar's Trample) if it is on the bench and flipped Heads for the PokeBody?
A. Jumpluff just prevents the damage and other effects of attacks done to itself only!!!!! It does NOT prevent the effects from the attack to others! It just protects itself. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q874)

Q. My opponent has a Dark Tyranitar against my Aquapolis Jumpluff. He/she uses Mountain Smasher, and I flip heads for Fluff. It does no damage to Jumpluff, but do I still discard cards from the top of my deck?
A. Yes you do. Jumpluff's Fluff ONLY prevents effects of attacks done to it!! Like Agility for example. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q875)

Q. I have an Aquapolis Jumpluff on my Bench and my opponent uses a Pokémon that has a Spark attack, targeting 10 damage to Jumpluff. I flip for Fluff and get heads. Does the entire attack get prevented, including the base damage to my Defending Pokémon, or just the 10 damage to Jumpluff?
A. Jumpluff's Fluff ONLY prevents effects of attacks done to it!! Like Agility for example. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q875 & Q877)

Q. My opponent is attempting to use Magneton's Self Destruct attack and I have Aquapolis Jumpluff on my Bench. If Fluff gets heads, would all damage to Magneton, my Active Pokémon, and all Benched Pokémon on both sides be prevented?
A. Jumpluff's Fluff ONLY prevents effects of attacks done to it!! Like Agility for example. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q875 & Q878)

Q. Does Fluff prevent Feraligatr Riptide from shuffling the water Energy back into the deck?
A. No. It just prevents all effects of attacks done to Jumpluff. Like Suicune did. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q977)

Q. Dark Gengar's Pull-In - If a benched Jumpluff is the target of Pull In, if I flip for Fluff and get heads, what happens?
A. The attack is still directed at the active Poké so it would work. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q967)

== FORTITUDE (Giovanni's Machamp - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If an attack asks you to put a damage counter on Giovanni's Machamp and it already had 90 points of damage on it, could it still use it's Pokémon Power?
A. Yes it could, if it is triggered from an opponent's attack. But if you MOVED a counter onto it [with a Pokémon Power] like with Gengar's Curse, it would NOT be triggered. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q106)

Q. If Focus Band is attached to Giovanni's Machamp, and it is Knocked Out, what effect comes first? Its Pokémon Power or the Focus Band?
A. You would choose, as they have the same effect, you choose the order of resolution. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q88; May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If you use Feint attack on a Giovanni's Machamp with a focus band, and knock it out, does it flip for Fortitude and Focus Band?
A. Yes, it would. (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q11)

Q. Does poison get around Giovanni's Machamp power? and does poison get around Focus Band?
A. Yes, if the last 10 damage is done by Poison, Giovanni Machamp and Focus band will not trigger. (Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. If I use Igglybuff's Gaze on a Giovanni's Machamp and knock it out, would it be knocked out or would it be able to flip for Fortitude?
A. Well, it wouldn't [be able to flip, that is], but realize that you're going to have to KO Giovanni's Machamp when it's still on the bench. (Sep 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q19)

Q. If a fully powered Crobat attacks a Giovanni's Machamp and 2 coins are heads [Ed.Note: thus confusing the G's Machamp], and the attack did sufficient damage to knock out Giovanni's Machamp... Giovanni's Machamp is still allowed to flip for Fortitude, right? (If instead of Crobat, a Magby attacks and Giovanni's Machamp has 10 HP left, the above still holds true also, correct?)
A. Yes you would. This is the same exact issue as if you were using an attack that did damage and paralyzed against a Dark Gyarados. Damage is placed first, then if that triggers anything (in this case the Fortitude), that is checked BEFORE any other effect from the attack is done. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q117)

== FRENZY (Dark Primeape - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Dark Primape is confused, tries to attack, and the attack fails. Does it do 50 damage to himself, or 20 damage to himself and 30 damage to the defending Pokémon?
A. It does 50 to itself (OUCH!). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q14 & Q37)

Q. If a Rocket's Snorlax/Dark Primeape is Asleep/Confused (respectively), then gets poisoned, does its power still work?
A. Of course. If a Pokemon Power says it is shut off if it is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed, then you also add Poisoned. If it does NOT say any of that, then Poisoning doesn't shut its power off either. (Jan 24, 2002 WotC Chat, Q15)

== FROG SONG (Politoed - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. With Politoed's "Frog Song" power, does it do any damage if you get zero heads for the "Doubleslap" attack? The Frog Song text says "...that attack does 40 more damage (no matter how many heads you get)".
A. No, you must get some damage to have the increased damage done. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q37)

Q. Will a Poliwhirl attached to a Brock's Nintales count towards Politoed's Frog Song?
A. Yes it will. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q260)

== GATHER FIRE (Charmander - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Can energy (including DCE) that has been changed to Fire energy by Charizard's Energy Burn be moved by Team Rocket Charmander's Gather Fire power?
A. Yes, energy changed in this way will be Fire energy until the end of the turn. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements, 6-29-00 WotC Chat Q347))

Q. May I move a DCE attached to a Ditto onto my Charmander, using Gather Fire?
A. Yes you could (since Energy attached to Ditto counts as any basic energy type). (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q39)

Q. Can Team Rocket Charmander's Pokémon Power be used to move a Rainbow Energy to Team Rocket Charmander?
A. Yes you can. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q15)

Q. Team Rocket Charmander and its Pokémon Power. Can I use a Benched Pokémon Charmander's energy to the active Charmander and move another fire energy from a different Pokémon on my bench for the Active Pokémon's power in the same turn?
A. Nope. Team Rocket Charmander's power can only move 1 Fire Energy to ITSELF (not to another Charmander). (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q130)

== GASEOUS FORM (Sabrina's Gastly - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. With the Gym Challenge Sabrina's Gastly Lv.10, if you add energy you get +10 HP, do you have to take away HP if you take away energy?
A. Yes, you do. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q654)

Q. What happens when you attach a Rainbow Energy to Sabrina's Gastly Lv.10 that only has 10hp left? Does the Rainbow damage kick in before or after the Gaseous Form power comes into effect, or do you get to choose the order?
A. Rainbow Energy places 10 damage on a Pokemon as it is attached. It does not count as a psychic energy until it is play at which point the Sabrinaís Gastly would have already been Knocked out. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q6)

== GAZE (Igglybuff - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. Can you clarify Igglybuff's Gaze power? Does it end with your turn or until the end of the opponent's following turn?
A. It ends at the end of the current turn, so it is mainly used for things like Slowking. Also, you don't have to use it, even though it doesn't say 'you may' on it. (Aug 23, 2001 WotC Chat, Q138)

Q. If I have two Igglybuffs in play, is the Gaze power cumulative? In other words, can I shut down two of the opponent's Pokemon powers?
A. Yes. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q193 & Q222)

Q. If I have an Igglybuff in play, and I flip heads for Chaos Gym in order to use a Trainer, can I use Iggly's Power to shut off one of my opponent's Pokemon Powers between the Chaos Flip and when I actually play the Trainer?
A. No. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q88)

Q. Igglybuff does Gaze on Slowking, then Igglybuff leaves play; is Slowkings PP still turned off??
A. The Gaze Power 'sits' on the Pokemon that it targeted unless that Pokemon leaves the bench. Nothing happens if Igglybuff leaves play. (Sep 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q13)

Q. If I use Igglybuff's "Gaze" against Dark Gengar's "Deep Sleep", must an opponent still flip 2 coins to attempt to wake up his/her Active Pokemon, or does the "Gaze" effect wear off before the sleep check?
A. Gaze wears off at the end of the turn. Sleep checks are done between turns, so this would not prevent Dark Gengar from making waking up harder. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q373)

Q. My opponent has a Sabrina's Gastly on the bench with one psychic energy attached and 50 damage, I use Igglybuff to stop its power. First of all, is it knocked out and can I use Iggly's power again?
A. First your math is wrong, it would already be knocked out in the case you listed (it has 40 hp, would have 50 hp with 1 psychic energy attached). However, assuming you meant it had 40 damage on it, then using Igglybuff against it would Knock it out. You would NOT be able to use Iggly's Pokemon power again that turn. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q236)

* We got an answer about the Igglybuff ruling from last week. You know the one where you use Gaze then Scoop Up Iggly and lay him down again. You could then use Gaze again on another Pokemon and basically use Gaze twice. This means that ANY Pokemon attack or Power that can only be used once per turn, is reset if that Pokemon evolves or devolves or leaves play and that power or attack could be used again if that Pokemon came into play again that same turn. In each of these cases it is no longer the same Pokemon and so it gets around the once per turn or not usuable next turn effects. Benching a Pokemon does NOT get around these effects as they are still the same Pokemon and still in play. (Sep 27, 2001 WotC Chat, after-Q51 & after-Q53; Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If Igglybuff is on your bench, and you gaze Promo Snorlax on the opponent's bench, and you Double Gust up the Snorlax, is its power still off? Can you retreat?
A. No and no. (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q23)

== HAPPY HEALING (Blissey - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. With Aquapolis Blissey, can you use Happy Healing more than once per turn if you have more then one active?
A. You could do it once per turn for each Blissey in play. [ED NOTE: Blissey does not have to be "active" for this particular power, just "in play".] (Apr 17, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1212)

== HARD SHELL (Shuckle - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Rev. Shuckle's power, "[if an] attack does 40 or less to Shuckle it does 10"; what if I have 3 Metal and they do 70 to me how would it work?
A. Effects from attached energy cards take place before relevent Pokemon powers, so assuming this ISN'T an attack from a grass Pokemon (as Shuckle is weak to Grass), the 70 damage would be reduced to 40 by the attached metal energies, then the Pokemon power would reduce it to 10. (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q26)

== HARVEST BOUNTY (Venusaur - Expedition Expansion)

Q. If I attach both both a Lightning energy and a Water energy to my Eevee using Expedition Venusaur's power, do I get to seach for either a water or lightning Eeveelution, and must I declare which before searching?
A. You are actually attaching these cards in an order, just doing them both at the same point in your turn. So, depends on which one you attach first, that would be the energy type you could flip for first. If the first coin flip ends up heads, then you would be attaching the second energy to the now evolved Eeveelution and would not trigger the power again. If you flipped tails, then you could flip for the second energy you attached and search for its type (if heads [on the second flip]). (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q420 & Q433 & Q435)

Q. If my Eevee has 40 damage on it and I use Venusaur's Harvest Bounty to attach 2 Rainbow energies to it, I flip two coins. If I get tails on the first and heads on the second, does Eevee get to use Energy Evolution before it takes the damage, or not?
A. You have to resolve each card after you attach it. SO, after the first rainbow is done, you would add 10 damage, then you would do the same fo rthe second card. In your example, Eevee, would have been Knocked out. (Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q229)

Q. Let's say my active Pokemon has only 10hp left, and Venusaur with "Harvest Bounty" is on the bench. If I attach a Rainbow Energy to my active first, is the pokemon KO'd immediately and if so, what do I do with the second energy card?
A. You would just put it back in your hand. It never attached as the Pokemon is now Knocked out. (Jul 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. What happens if I have a Harvest Bounty Venusaur in play and I attach a Warp Energy to my active. Do I get to attach a second energy even though it is no longer active?
A. If your Venusaur is active and your first energy is a Warp Energy which causes your Venusaur to go to the bench, then you don't get to attach the other energy. You would resolve the first one and then it would not be active, so you would not attach the second. Because you cannot attach them at the same time (do to dueling effects), they are done in a sequence. You interrupt the sequence when you attach a Warp Energy first. (May 29, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1697 & Q1713; Jun 5, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1815 & Q1822)

Q. For Expedition Venusaur's "Harvest Bounty" Pokemon Power, if I have more than one in play, is it's power cumulative? For example, if I have 2 Venusaurs on the bench, could I then attach 3 energy per turn to my Active?
A. This is a replacement effect and it is not cumulative. No matter how many Venusaur's are in play, you can only attach 2 Energy cards to your Active Pokemon instead of 1. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 8)

Q. Also for Expedition Venusaur's "Harvest Bounty" Pokemon Power, if I use a "Blaine" trainer, would Harvest Bounty allow me to attach *TWO* additional energies (one for each energy attached by the "Blaine" card), or only one extra energy? (Does Blaine+Harvest=4, or Blaine+Harvest=3 ?) How many energy cards do I get to attach: 2, 3, or 4?
A. 2, both Blaine and the Venusaur's Power effectivley do the same replcement effect. They are NOT cumulative. [Ed.Note: So in other words, you would only get to attach two energies TOTAL during that turn, period.] (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 9; Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q418) 

Q. Please explain how Crobat's "Triggered Poison" effect would react to an opponent's Venusaur's "Harvest Bounty" power.
A. The Power's effect has already started...it has replaced the regular energy placement for that turn. By the time the Harvest Bounty Power is shut off due to Poison it's too late to stop you from placing the additional energy. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q80)

== HAY FEVER (Dark Vileplume - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. How does the Pokémon Power Hay Fever affect Trainers, more to the point Stadium trainer cards, already in play?
A. Once Dark Vileplume is in play, no more Stadium cards (trainers) can be played. It will not remove the ones [already] in play. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q33) 

== HEALING FIRE (Blaine's Ninetales - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If I use Trainer "Blaine" to attach two Fire energy cards to Blaine's Ninetales, will "Healing Fire" allow me to remove two damage counters?
A. Yabba Dabba. [Yes]. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q51)

Q. Does Fire Recharge set off Blaine's Ninetales' power?
A. No, it won't trigger that. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q161)

Q. May I choose not to use Blaine's Ninetales' "Healing Fire" when I attach a Fire energy onto it? Or is it always on since the power does not say "you may" (on the other hand, it doesn't say "you must" either)?
A. Nope, you have to remove a damage counter if you attach a Fire energy. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q52)

Q. What happens when you attach a Rainbow Energy to Blaine's Ninetales when it has 10 HP left? Does it get knocked out or not?
A. It would get Knocked out. Rainbow energy only counts as all types when it is already in play. You do the 10 damage from Rainbow when you attach it which takes place before it is in play and before the Healing Fire Power would trigger. (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements; May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

== HOT PLATE (Dark Magcargo - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If both players have Dark Magcargo active, is the "Hot Plate" pokemon power cumulative so that the pokemon being laid down takes 20 damage (10+10)?
A. Yes, if both players have a Dark Macargo active the Powers will be cumulative. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q372)

== HOWL (Entei - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. What happens when you play Entei with Howl during set up?
A. Set up cards are not considered as being 'played'. Nothing happens. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q35)

Q. After getting Entei with Pokemon Fan Club, can I use Howl?
A. No you would not, Howl can only be used when you play the Entei from your hand. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q124)

Q. Is Entei's Howl optional (before you discard, can you decide not to?)
A. Yes it is. (May 30, 2002 WotC Chat, Q425)

Q. Entei's Howl: Can you choose more than one Pokemon to attach the fire energy to?
A. Yes, it's your choice. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q48)

Q. When holo Entei comes into play can you attach the discarded fire energies from the Howl power to the Entei itself, or do they have to go on an already in play Pokémon ?
A. Yes, you can [attach them to Entei]. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q306)

Q. Are the energies attached with Entei's Howl power considered as being played from your hand (for Dark Ampharos' Conductivity power for instance)?
A. No, they don't count as being played from your hand. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. If Magby has Sputtered, can Entei Howl?
A. Yes...Howl all day...like my Beagles! [Ed.Note: This is because Entei's power takes effect "when coming into play from your hand", whereas Magby's Sputter does not affect such powers until the card is actually "in play". See "Sputter" for more details.] (May 30, 2002 WotC Chat, Q418)

Q. If Muk is in play and I play Entei (with Howl) will Howl work?
A. I believe it has been ruled that the "coming into play" ability would work. (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q162 & Q195)

Q. Does Parasect's "Allergic Pollen" pokemon power stop Entei's "Howl" from removing the fire energies from the discard pile after Entei has "discarded" them?
A. No, that Parasect just prevents stuff from affecting cards in your discard pile, not your deck. In this case it's the intent of the power and the Parasect's Power only stops things that are going after cards that are in the discard pile. Entei's Howl is clearly going after cards from the top of the deck. It should have been more clear about this on the card. (Jun 20, 2002 WotC Chat, Q94 & Q104 & Q108 & Q113; Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. So would I be correct in assuming that Pokemon Tower would not stop Entei's Howl either?
A. Yes, that's right. [Ed.Note: The cards don't go to your hand anyways.] (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q19 & Q24)

== HYDROELECTRIC POWER (Lanturn - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Is Lanturn's Pokémon Power an error? It says for each Water energy, but not used to pay for Floodlight's attack. Floodlight uses 2 Lightning energies.
A. No, that's correct. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q34)

Q. On Lanturn's Power, Hydroelectric Power, it says you MAY make Floodlight do more damage for each energy. Does that mean you can choose exactly how much damage (if you have enough Energy) or does it mean all or nothing?
A. It's all or nothing. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q121)

== IMMUNITY (Machamp - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge Machamp's "Immunity" power says, "Prevent all effects of your opponent's attacks done to Machamp". I assume this applies only to status effects and such, and does not affect any damage being done to Machamp. Is this correct?
A. Correct. Machamp's Immunity does not prevent damage, only effects of attacks. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1482; May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1593)

Q. Magby's Sputter will not shut off Machamp correct?
A. Wrong, all Poke-POWERs and Poke-BODYs are considered Pokemon Powers. Any of the older effects that shut off Pokemon Powers (such as Sputter or Muk's Toxic Gas) shut of Poke-POWERs AND Poke-BODYs. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1635)

== INVISIBLE WALL (Mr. Mime - Jungle Expansion) [SEE ALSO: Strange Barrier, Defender, Metal Energy]

Q. Does Mr. Mime's Invisible Wall prevent all damage 30 or more, or does it prevent the 30 or more damage above 20, therefore taking 20 points?
A. If the attack does 30 or more [Ed. Note: inclusive] points, then no damage is done (as long as the power still works). (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q85)

Q. When playing a Rainbow Energy on a Pokémon, will Mr. Mime's Invisible Wall prevent that damage or not?
A. No, it would not. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q114)

Q. Can you move 40 damage to Mr. Mime with Damage Swap and will it be prevented?
A. Mr. Mime's Invisible Wall only protects against attack damage, not damage moved there from a Pokémon Power. (June 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q389)

Q. Does Mr Mime's Invisible Wall power prevent damage done by attacks that place damage counters such as the ones on Sabrina's Golduck, Sabrina's Kadabra & Rockets Mewtwo ?
A. No, it does not. (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q187)

Q. Scenario: Mr. Mime with Defender receives an attack that does 40 damage. The online rulebook says that Trainers are figured before Pokémon Powers; so the Defender would reduce the damage from 40 down to 20, and this would slip under the Invisible Wall, right?
A. Right! (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q17)

Q. If it's a Hitmonchan with 2 PlusPowers on it does Invisible Power absorb it? Or does it Knock Out Mr. Mime?
A. Invisible Wall will absorb it because you calculate the effects of Trainer cards before applying Pokémon Powers from the defending Pokémon. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q29)

Q. If I attached 2 Metal energies to Mr. Mime, would he be invincible with his Pokemon Power?
A. No that would not work as you apply the effects of the metal energy BEFORE you apply the Pokemon power. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q65)

== ION COATING (Lanturn - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Would Lanturn's Ion Coating "fix" a Rainbow Energy to Water only?
A. No. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q989)

Q. For Lanturn's Ion Coating: If you change all L cards to W and then attach an L card, does that stay as L, or change too?
A. The effect lasts the whole turn and all Lightning attached to it (even if done later in the turn) change to water energy. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q968)

Q. What would happen to a Crystal Energy on Lanturn using Ion Coating, since it provides the type of energy of the actual card, not what it has been turned into?
A. It looks at what the actual basic energy cards are, NOT what they are providing. So whether you Energy Burn them or use Ion Coating, look at what the actual basic energy card is! This is just like that really annoying Ho-Oh ruling. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q990)

== JET STREAM (Blastoise - Expedition Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

* MT Mike asked me to announce two [Ed. Note: actually three] more rulings reversals. Dark Pupitar and Discovery Metapod have attacks that have effects that should be tied to the result of the flip. Both effects are tied to the coin flip, regardless of how the card is worded. So, [if] you flip tails, you do NOTHING. Same goes for Blastoise's Jet Stream Poke-POWER. (Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, post-Q156)

Q. Any new ruling on the expedition Blastoise's pokemon power? You will go to TPC with this right?
A. The way this one should work (if it was translated correctly) is that "you must successfully discard an energy card from Blastoise in order to discard one from your opponent's active Pokemon". Yes, TPC will post it. I mean they verified it. Blastoise is played as follows. IF you have an energy on your Blastoise and IF Blastoise is your active Pokemon, then once during your tun you MAY choose to flip a coin. If you get heads, then you discard an energy from Blastoise. If you DO discard an energy from Blastoise (meaning there has to be one on there to discard), then you can also discard one energy from the Defending Pokemon. That is how the card is supposed to work, period. Blastoise is errated. (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q520 & Q535; Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q53 & Q56)

Q. Some players maintain that benching Blastoise and then reactivating it will allow a second use of Jet Stream. Can you explain why this is, or is not, correct?
A. That does not work. Just like the old Gengar's Curse ruling, benching something does NOT end the "once per turn" limitation. Now if you used it, then devolved it and then reevolved it, then it is a different Pokemon and could use its ability. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q738)

== KABUTO ARMOR (Kabuto - Fossil Expansion)

Q. On Kabuto, could you play this in a Damage Swap deck? Like for example, could you swap a damage counter to Kabuto and use Kabuto Armor to take the damage counter off, since damage done to Kabuto is rounded down, which would be 10/2=5 rounded down is zero. Could you do that?
A. Nope, Swap isn't an attack. Kabuto's Armor only helps against attacks. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q19)

Q. Similarly, what happens if a Dark Arbok Stares at a Kabuto? Will Kabuto Armor kick in?
A. Pokémon Powers will be applied before any effects of attacks are applied, so in this case, Kabuto's Armor will kick in. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q100)

== LEGENDARY BODY (Entei, Raikou, & Suicune - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Could a pokemon with Legendary Body be energy removaled?
A. Are you assuming that the Pokemon with Legendary Body is Active? If so, then the attached energy cards can't be removed by an Energy Removal card (as stated on Legendary body). (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q32)

Q. Could I play a Super Energy Removal, choose the Energy Card attached to my active pokemon with Legendary Body, and then not discard it since Legendary Body protects it from the effects of Trainer Cards?
A. No, because that is a cost of playing Super Energy Removal. (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q17)

Q. About the 3 non-holo Dogs, does a Pluspower/Defender on the opponent apply? How about Goop Gas?
A. Plus Powers and Defenders will still work because they are figured in prior to the Defending Pokemon's Power being checked. Defenders or Pluspowers on the OTHER (non Legendary Dog) Pokemon are NOT affecting the Legendary Dogs. They are affecting the damage done by or done to the OTHER Pokemon. Legendary Body does not affect them. Goop Gas will not effect any of the non-holo dogs when they're active. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q57; Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1291 & Q1292)

Q. What is the correct way to handle a Pokemon with Sabrina's ESP attached vs. an opposing Pokemon with the Legendary Body power? Would the Sabrina's ESP coinflip portion work or not?
A. The same as you would normally handle it. The Sabrina's ESP is only affecting the Pokemon's attack that it is attached to. The coinflip portion works as normal. (Jan 24, 2002 WotC Chat, Q43)

Q. If I have an active NON-holo Entei, can I used Double Gust and not bring him back to the bench? Meaning Double Gust, bring out their Pokemon, and retreat for what I want?
A. Yes the Double Gust would still effect their Pokemon but not Entei. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q118)

Q. For the non-holo legendary dogs, does the "discard trainers attached to this Pokémon" work everywhere or just when the Pokémon is active?
A. Just when it is active. (Jan 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q711)

Q. With Legendary Body, does that mean that if Ditto has a Gold Berry on it, and a Non-holo Suicune goes up, Gold Berry geos bye-bye?
A. Right-o-mundo. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1304)

Q. If I have a non-holo Neo Revelation Raikou (the one with Legendary Body) as my active pokemon, can I use a Lightning Cube to attack with him, and if so, do I have to discard the energy cards attached to Raikou?
A. Yes, you can and yes you still have to discard the energy because that is a cost. (Apr 10, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1137)

== LIGHTNING BURST (Raikou - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Raikou's Lightning Burst: Will attaching a Rainbow Energy trigger it?
A. No, Rainbow is only Lightning when it is in play. Lightning Burst states that the Lightning Energy must be played from your hand. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q65)

Q. Light Arcanine's and Expedition Feraligatr's Pokemon Power (switches opponent's pokemon...) now should be played with the Pokemon Power having "may be used" in it instead of always being used. This was announced in a recent chat session. In that announcement this ruling also said to apply the ruling to any other cards that seemed similiar. Holo Raikou from the Neo 3 set has a pokemon power that is similiar to these other two cards. In fact the second half of Holo Raikou's Pokemon Power reads almost exactly like the second half of Light Arcanine's Pokemon Power. Could you ask the rules team to talk about whether Holo Raikou's pokemon Power should be played as "I may use it" instead of "I must use it?"
A. This one is not exactly the same because you activate it by attaching an energy card. There is no 'may' added to holo Raikou. Those other cards made you use the power once per turn (incorrectly); this one is activated when you attach the energy. (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q43)

== MAGNETIC FLOW (Magneton - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Can Magneton's Magnetic Flow move Special Energy cards?
A. Sure. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q972)

Q. For Aquapolis Magneton's "Magnetic Flow" power, if the opponent only has one pokemon with energy attached to it, can I move just that one energy? Or does there *have* to be two pokemon with energy attached in order to use this power?
A. As the card states, you must choose 2 of your opponent's Pokemon that have energy attached. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q861)

Q. If I were to use AQ Tentacruel's or AQ Magneton's powers to attach a Darkness Energy to opponent's Cleffa, it would pretty much doom the Cleffa right?
A. Not really. Sure that Cleffa would take 10 damage at the end of your turn, and it might be hard for them to remove as Cleffa does not have a Retreat cost. But there are other things they could do, such as evolve it (yeah right!), or Scoop It Up or something like that. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q835)

== MAGMA POOL (Magcargo - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Does Magcargo's "Magma Pool" power *require* you to move one of your Fire energy cards? And what if you use a Switch or your opponent uses Double Gust to move it to the bench; does it still happen?
A. Yes, it does. If it's gusted up, or switched you do too. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q72)

== MAJOR TSUMANI (Feraligatr - Expedition Expansion)

* Also, here is a rules clarification about Expedition. There are a few Poke-POWERS that were not correctly translated and templated. Specifically the Feraligatr and its Major Tsunami power SHOULD have said "you may" in it. So please play this power and any others that seems similar (meaning you should normally have the option to use instead of having to use) as if it included "you may". The Light Arcanine from Neo Destiny is another power that should have had "you may" also included. (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Major Tsunami is a 'may' template, but what is may? Owner may switch but opponent must switch if power is used?
A. You choose to use the ability or not (when all of the conditions are met). If you use it, then you must ALSO switch Feraligatr (if possible). You can choose to not use this ability though. (May 29, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1756 & Q1764)


== MIMIC (Sudowoodo - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. If you try to use an attack using Sudowoodo's Pokemon Power, say for example you are facing a Psychic Pokemon and want to use one of its attacks that cost 2 Psychic to use, must you have two Psychic (or Rainbow) energies in order for you to be able to use that attack?
A. Yes. The card states "INCLUDING THEIR COSTS". (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

== MIND GAMES (Slowking - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Must an opponent flip a coin for every Slowking you have in play, or just once when they try to use a trainer and you have a Slowking in play?
A. Once for every Slowking in play. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q78)

Q. If I attempt to play a card that requires a discard cost (Computer Search, Item Finder, etc.) and the opponent has a Slowking, do I have to pay the cost *before* the check for Mind Games?
A. Yes. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q107)

Q. If the other player has a Slowking out and I play a Prof. Oak Research, do I have to shuffle my hand into the deck before the coin flip?
A. No, it is not a cost of playing the card, it is an effect. (Apr 17, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1261)

Q. If your Slowking and Chaos Gym are both in play, and your opponent wants to play a trainer card, what flip goes first?
A. It depends on who is the active player and who conrols what effect. If you control both, and it was your turn, you could choose the order they occur. Active players effects go first otherwise; the player who is going must flip for the effects they control (if they have Slowking or they played the Chaos Gym) before the effects of the defending player are done. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q5 & Q22)

Q. Say your opponent has both Chaos Gym and Slowking in play. I play Gust of Wind. What do I flip for first? Does my opponent control the order or do I?
A. Your opponent decides the order because he/she controls both. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3b)

Q. Please elaborate on the interaction if I have Slowking's "Mind Games" on my bench, but I flip tails when attempting to play a trainer under Chaos Gym.
A. So, if I have Slowking out and there is a Chaos Gym, I attempt to play a trainer and flip tails. NOW my opponent can attempt to play that trainer (as long as it isn't a Tool or Stadium of course). I can now choose to use my Mind Games to make my opponent flip a coin for the trainer they are attempting to play. On heads, the trainer fails and goes back onto the OWNER's deck (this is an errata change to the text on Mind Games). (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q67)

Q. Suppose there is a Chaos Gym in play and I have a Slowking benched. I attempt to play Computer Search, discarding 2 cards to do so, and then I flip tails. My opponent attempts to play/use the Computer Search. Does she ALSO discard 2 cards before the Slowking and Chaos Gym flips?
A. Yup. Though that player does NOT need to check for Chaos Gym again. They could still be stopped by Slowking (if you had one). (Dec 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q13)

== MIRACLE SHIFT (Togetic - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. For the Aquapolis Togetic's "Miracle Shift" power, is it mandatory or optional?
A. Optional... you can choose to activate it or not. (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q563 & Q565)

Q. For the Aquapolis Togetic's "Miracle Shift" power, does it count as your normal "once per turn energy attachment" or not?
A. It does not. (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q576)

== MIRACULOUS WIND (Light Dragonite - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

* A Buzzap'd Electrode is considered a Special Energy card, meaning it can be affected by all effects that target Special Energy cards. This also means that a Buzzap'd Electrode provides 2 colorless energy if a Light Dragonite and its Miraculous Wind Pokemon power is Active. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q1)

Q. Would a Double Colorless Energy card provide 1 or 2 colorless energy while Miraculous Wind is Active?
A. It would provide 2 colorless energy. Double Colorless Energy (while a Special Energy card) normally provides 2 colorless Energy and this is NOT considered an additional effect of that card. The top of the card shows 2 colorless energy symbols and that is what this card provides. (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

Q. Would Full Heal Energy, Potion Energy, and Rainbow Energy still do their various "play" effects while Miraculous Wind is Active?
A. Yes they would. For example, Potion Energy says: "If you play this card from your hand, remove 1 damage counter from the Pokemon you attach it to, if it has any". This effect is done as the card is being played BEFORE Miraculous Wind can affect the card. Miraculous Wind stops all additional effects of Special Energy cards that are ALREADY in play. Meaning Rainbow Energy will NOT provide all Energy types but only Colorless for example. (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

Q. If a Rainbow Energy is played on a Pokemon while Light Dragonite's Pokemon Power is in effect, will the damage for Rainbow still occur or will that effect be shut off immediately?
A. Yes it will still do damage. This is done as you play the card BEFORE Miraculous Wind has any effect on the in-play Rainbow energy. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q390 & Q422 & Q427)

Q. If I attach a Full Heal energy to my confused Light Dragonite then Confusion is removed, correct?
A. Yup. (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q573)

* A correction. A Miracle Energy card WILL stay in play while a Light Dragonite and its Miraculous Wind Pokemon power is active. If at the end of any turn the Miraculous Wind Pokemon power is NOT active then the Miraculous Energy is still discarded as normal. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q2)

Q. I attach Boost Energy to Light Dragonite which uses its power to keep Boost attached at the end of my turn. Later, Light Dragonite's power is somehow turned off (i.e., Muk's power, Magby's attack, special condition, Light Dragonite is benched). Does the Boost Energy stay attached to Light Dragonite?
A. Preliminary concensus is yes it stays. It says to discard at the end of the turn it was attached. So quite literally it would stay on since it does not meet that criteria [Ed.Note: this is only if the power is disabled *after* the turn on which it was attached]. WOW! That looks like that is the case...the Boost would stay attached. (Jan 23, 2003 WotC Chat, Q655 & Q678 & Q696)

Q. Can an active Light Dragonite pay its retreat cost with an attached Boost Energy (it says you can't on the card, but does that effect/rule/whatever turn off from Light Dragonite)?
A. Yes you can; all text on a Special Energy card is ignored under that Pokemon Power so yes, you could discard it to Retreat it. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q879 & Q898)

Q. If my opponent has a Light Dragonite active, and I attach a Boost Energy to my active Steelix, for example, would my Boost Energy discard at the end of that turn, or would the opponent's pokepower cover me here?
A. When Light Dragonite is Active, ALL special energies lose their additional effects. So the Boost Energy stays (as long as Miraculous Wind was working at that time). (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q65)

Q. Your active Light Dragonite is knocked out. Any Recycle Energy attached to it gets put into the discard pile rather than returning to your hand
A. Correct. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q888)

Q. An active Light Dragonite faints with a Recycle Energy attached. Both the Recycle Energy and Light Dragonite hit the discard pile at the same time. Is this a case of two things happenning at once - Light Dragonite's Pokemon Power being turned off and Recycle Energy hitting the discard pile at the same time? So the controller could choose which happens first?
A. Good question, yet another example of what the rules DON'T cover. My first answer would be that it would not come back as you discard all of the cards (Pokemon, Tools, Energy, etc) all at once (according to the rule book). (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q561)

Q. Light Dragonite is on the bench and the active pokemon faints with a Recycle Energy attached to it. The active pokemon must be discarded before the benched Light Dragonite would become the active Pokemon so the recycle energy would hit the discard pile and return to your hand before Light Dragonite becomes active and its pokemon power turns on? Is this correct?
A. Dude, you are making my head hurt. Yes, that should be correct. (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q568)

Q. If I have a Light Dragonite active, with Ecogym in play and I use SER to remove 1 Recycle Energy and 1 Darkness Energy from the opponent's active Tyranitar, BOTH energy cards go to the discard pile, right?
A. Correct. They would still be considered Special Energy cards BUT they would also be colorless energy cards in this case and so Ecogym would NOT protect them. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q468)

Q. When Light Dragonite is active, are the special energies in the discard pile considered as basic energy cards ?
A. No. Only those in play. (Jun 6, 2002 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. How does Light Dragonite's power interact with Base Charizard's Power in regards to energy type? Are you saying that Dragonite's Power overrides Charizard's?
A. What I think you're asking is: Can I still Energy Burn a special energy card into Fire energy if Light Dragonite is my opponent's active Pokemon? The answer is no, because this Pokemon Power is always in effect. You could still Energy Burn a basic energy card though. In this case the 'continual' power of Light Dragonite will override Charizard's 'activated' power. TPC makes a distiction between 'activated' powers and 'always on' powers. Both types are activated, while Light Dragonite's is an 'always on' power. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q358 & Q397 & Q400 & Q431)

Q. How does Erika's Oddish's "Photosynthesis" Pokemon Power interact with "Miraculous Wind"?
A. Photosynthesis' effect is written effectively the same as Miraculous Wind. Both of these effects occur at the same time. When that happens, you default to Active Player's effect goes first, then Defending Player's effect goes second. So, if there was a Special Energy card attached to your Erika's Oddish (so it is affected by both Photosynthesis and Miraculous Wind) and your opponent had a Light Dragonite as their Active Pokemon, the results would be: On your turn (you are the Active player) the Photosynthesis effect is done first and then the Miraculous Wind is done second so the attached Special Energy card provides Colorless Energy. In the same situation on your opponent's turn, first the attached Special Energy card provides Colorless and then the Photosynthesis is done so the attached Special Energy card ends up providing Grass energy. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q391; Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

Q. If I have a Dark Machoke active with Darkness Energies attached and I use Drag Off to bring a Light Dragonite up from my opponent's bench, the (D) energies do not add to the damage done, correct?
A. Correct. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q704)

== MOONLIGHT (Clefable - Expedition Expansion)

Q. If you use Expedition Clefable's Poke Power "Moonlight" and there isn't a Basic energy in your deck, do you still keep the card that you "put on your deck" in it?
A. Yes, you do. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q89)

== NEUTRAL SHIELD (Mew - Promo)

Q. If Promo Mew [Lv. 8 with "Neutral Shield" power, aka "Lily Pad Mew"] is the Active Pokemon, can Dark Gengar's "Pull In" attack be used?
A. Dark Gengar's Pull In effect CANNOT be used if promo Mew is the Active Pokemon [ed note: nor can this Promo Mew be 'pulled in' to the active position from the bench], or if the LVL 33 Suicune is the Active Pokemon (and their Pokemon Powers are functioning), or if the Defending Pokemon has an Agility effect on it. Switching a Pokemon up from the Bench with the Active Pokemon is considered "affecting" the Active Pokemon, and in these cases, this is prevented. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q247; Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 1)

Q. If I use an attack that does damage to the opponent's bench, but the defending pokemon is "Lily Pad" Mew with Neutral Shield, does the bench damage get blocked or not? I would guess "not blocked".
A. Right...not blocked that is. (Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q227)

Q. Just to confirm, Umbreon's & Murkrow's "Feint Attack" is unaffected by Erika's Dratini's "Strange Barrier" and Lily Pad Mew's "Neutral Shield", right?
A. RIGHT! [NOTE: But only when Erika's Dratini or Lily Pad Mew are in the active slot.] Correct. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q88)

Q. If I have a Skyridge Ledian active, and use its Swift to attack a Lily Pad Mew, would Mew's Neutral Shield protect it, or would Swift ignore the power and do damage?
A. Yes, it would. Swift cuts through ALL Pokemon Powers and does the damage. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1990)

Q. Does Rapid Spin from a non basic pokemon toward lilypad mew let the opponent's Rapid Spin pokemon switch?
A. No. Switching up from the bench is still considered affecting the active. So no switching in this case. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q949)

Q. If I have a promo Mew [with Neutral Shield] on my bench and my opponent uses Rapid Spin, can I intentionally choose Mew so I don't have to switch Pokemon?
A. Yes. (May 1, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1440)

== PEEK (Mankey - Jungle Expansion)

Q. I use Mankey's Pokémon Power: Peek to look at one of my Prize cards. Then I play Scoop Up on Mankey, and I play it again. Can I use Peek again?
A. Yes, you can. If a Pokémon leaves play, it loses all memory of what might have happened to it before. (Jungle FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If you have 2 Jungle Mankeys in play, can you use their Pokémon Powers (Peek) together, to look at the top 2 cards in your deck, or would they just let you look at the top card twice?
A. You could only look at the top card twice. (May 25 WotC Chat)

== PHOTOSYNTHESIS (Erika's Oddish - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Erika's Oddish's Pokémon Power makes all energy Grass Energy. Does it stay that way when I evolve?
A. Nope. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q59)

Q. If you have a DCE on Erika's Oddish can you Energy Trans it to another Grass Pokémon?
A. Yes, you can, though it will change back as soon as it's transferred. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q41)

Q. Do the effects of Rainbow Energy, Potion Energy and Full Heal Energy work on Erica's Oddish with Photosynthesis?
A. Yes, they do. (Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat, Q501)

Q. Like Tyranitar ["Dark Aura"], does Erika's Oddish's "Photosynthesis" power now supersede Light Dragonite's ["Miraculous Wind"] power?
A. Yup. I KNEW someone would bring that one up. I just KNEW it! (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q567)

Q. Can Erika's Oddish Photosynthesize Dark Energy and eliminate the damaging effect of the Dark Energy card?
A. I'm afraid that the effect will still be there because Erika's Oddish only says that energy 
attached to it 'provides' grass energy. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat Q53b)

== PLAYFUL PUNCH (Elekid - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. When I use Elekid's "Playful Punch", is it considered an attack? (Do I have to flip for my opponent's Agility or Baby Power?)
A. No, you do not have to flip for those effects BUT it does take the place of your attack (as written on the card). (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q42)

Q. If you have more than 1 Elekid in play, can all of them Playful Punch (for 20 damage each, assuming they all flip heads) or just one of them?
A. Only one can, because your turn will end right after you do it. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q32)

Q. If Elekid has a Dark Energy attached and uses Playful Punch, would he deal 20 or 30 damage on heads?
A. 20, Darkness says the ATTACK does 10 more damage. Playful Punch is a Pokémon power NOT an attack. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q58)

Q. If Elekid has a Metal Energy attached,and uses Playful Punch,would he do 10 or 20 damage?
A. It would do 10, Metal energy only says it reduces any damage done by that Pokémon by 10, doesn't have to be an attack. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q62)

== POISON RESISTANCE (Scizor - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Aquapolis Scizor is poisoned while its body is off thanks to ol' Muk. When Muk leaves play, does Scizor remain poisoned, or does its body get rid of it for him?
A. When the Muk leaves play and the Pokemon Body Power comes back on the Scizor won't be poisoned any more. (Apr 17, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1244)

Q. If a Pokémon attacks an Aquapolis Scizor using Grass Cube or Mystery Sphere Gamma, does the sleep effect permit the Scizor to be simultaneously poisoned?
A. Poke-POWERs are shut off by special effects; Poke-BODYs like Scizor's Poison Resistance are not. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1628)

== POLLEN DEFENSE (Erika's Vileplume - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

***** See also "Pokémon Powers: Flee" and "Attacks: Teleport Blast" *****

Q. If Dark Machoke uses Knock Back to send Erika's Vileplume to the bench, would the flip occur for Pollen Defense?
A. Any other effects of attacks by the Active Pokémon happen after you apply Pokémon Powers from the Defending Pokémon. Check the rules (version 3, pg.22, step g and i). [Ed.Note: in other words, the Pollen Defense would trigger before Erika's Vileplume goes to the bench] (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q123)

Q. If you are using an "attacks back" move (Crosscounter, etc.) against Erika's Vileplume, does Vileplume get to flip for Pollen Defense ("If an attack does damage.... while it's your active Pokémon". Doesn't say just for opp. attacks.)?
A. The controller of Vileplume gets to flip for Pollen Defense. (May 17, 2001 WotC Chat, Q75)

Q. If I use Magby's "Sputter" on Erika's Vileplume, will it be able to use its power or will it get shut off?
A. You do the damage from an attack first, if that triggers anything (in this case it does) you then do what is triggered, then you continue and do what the attack says besides damage. So the Sputter effect takes place AFTER Erika's Vileplume's Pollen Defense goes off. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q548)

Q. Does that mean that Erika's Vileplume's power will be shut off? Or is this a case of cards overriding rules? [Ed.Note: This question in regards to the newly announced ruling that Poison now shuts off most Pokemon Powers]
A. Now keep in mind that there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules. If a card's Pokemon power says it stops when Paralyzed, Asleep, or Confused, it also means it stops if Poisoned or Burned as well. If a card does NOT shut off for those earlier efects then it is NOT shut off from Poison or Burned either. Erika's Vileplume Pollen Defense will continue to work if you poison it. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1245)

== PREHISTORIC MEMORY (Aerodactyl - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. If you have a Psychic evolved pokemon on your bench and an Aerodactyl (Neo 3) in play, can Sabrina's Alakazam use that Psychic pokemon's earlier stages? Does it matter if the earlier stages were Psychic or not?
A. No, it cannot. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q166)

== PREHISTORIC POWER (Aerodactyl - Fossil Expansion)

Q. What if I don't wanna use Aerodactyl's power huh?
A. You don't have a choice, if Aerodactyl is in play and its power is active, it's active. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q142)

Q. If an Aerodactyl is in play, can another one be "evolved" from a Mysterious Fossil?
A. No. As long as that first Aerodactyl isn't Paralyzed, Asleep, or Confused, then no Pokémon can evolve. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you evolve a baby pokemon into it's "basic" form if Aerodactyl's "Prehistoric Power" is in play? It says "no more Evolution cards can be played", but basics like Clefairy are not evolutions, are they?
A. If you are attempting to play it on a baby Pokemon then it is an evolution card and cannot be played in this instance. If you simply put it on the bench then it is NOT an evolution card and can be played. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14b)

Q. Does Aerodactyl's Pokémon power cancel out a Pokémon Breeder?
A. Correct, you cannot evolve anything (even with Pokémon Breeder) while Aerodactyl's Pokémon power is active. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q51)

*Team Rocket's Magikarp and Promo Eevee's Chain Reaction can be used the turn those Pokémon come into play. Since they pull an evolution card from your deck instead of playing an evolution card from your hand they are NOT limited to the normal rule of evolution and thusly will also NOT be stopped by Aerodactyl's Prehistoric Power either. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat  Announcements)

== PRIMAL AURA (Kabutops - Skyridge Expansion)

* Kabutops' Primal Aura means when it is Active neither player can play ANY Pokemon cards from their hand that will evolve any Benched Pokemon (Basic on Babies or Evolved on any). Either player CAN play a Baby or Basic onto their Bench. (May 29, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1749; May 23, 2003 PokeGym Message Board)

Q. Does Pokemon Breeder get past Skyridge's Kabutops's "Primal Aura" Power that stops evolution?
A. Skyridge Kabutops will stop Breeder from being used. (Jul 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q7)

== PSYCHOFLOW (Abra - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. If there is a Broken Ground Gym in play and Skyridge's Abra has a Psychic energy attached to it, would it's retreat cost still be zero?
A. Yes. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1540)

== PSYLINK (Sabrina's Alakazam - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

* If a Pokemon has copies of other Pokemon's attacks on it (such as Sabrina's Alakazam), it will NOT have multiple copies of identical attacks. This means that is Sabrina's Alakazam was your Active Pokemon and you had a Mind Shock attack that does 30 damage and a Mind Shock attack that does 40 damage on the bench, you would gain a copy of each of those attacks as they are NOT identical (the amount of damage done is different). Different attacks can have the same name. An attack is considered identical if it has the same attack cost, name, and does identical damage and effects. If Amnesia ("Choose 1 of your opponent's attacks, that attack cannot be used next turn") is done against the Sabrina's Alakazam in this example, the attacker would have to choose the Mind Shock that does 30 damage or the Mind Shock that does 40 damage, NOT just "Mind Shock". (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. Venomoth shifts to Psychic using Shift. Now can Sabrina's Alakazam use Venom Powder now that it is a Psychic Type through its Pokémon Power?
A. Yes, that'll work. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q84)

Q. If I am using Sabrina's Alakazam and I use Sabrina's Gastly's [Lv.9] Fade Out, do I return Sabrina's Alakazam or the Sabrina's Gastly to my deck?
A. The Sabrina's Alakazam and all cards attached to it. (Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat, Q320)

Q. You play Lt. Surge's secret plan and put a Gengar on your bench. You have active a Sabrina's Alakazam. Could you use Psylink to use Gengar's attack? Wouldn't you declare the attack, THEN flip thecard over? Since you don't need to activate Psylink, and Alakazam would have the attack already on it? Gengar would be discarded but wouldn't Alakazam get to use the attack?
A. The Sabrina's Alakazam does not get Gengar's attacks. You would have to flip Gengar over to show what attacks your Sab'a Alakazam is using and then you would have to discard it, so you would NOT be able to use Gangar's attacks this way. Anything, that might require you to know what attacks that Pokemon has would require you to reveal the card that's hidden by Lt. Surge's Secret Plan. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q2 and Q41)

Q. I have a Sabrina's Alakazam (3 dmg counters) active and a benched Rocket's Mewtwo, (6 dmg counters), and my opponent has an active Blaine's Growlithe (2 dmg counters). I decide to use Juxtapose (there is one psy. on S. Alakazam), utilizing Psylink. The flip is heads. Does the B's Growlithe switch damage counters with the Alakazam, or with the Mewtwo?
A. With the Sabrina's Alakazam. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q51)

Q. My opponent has an Active Sabrina's Alakazam with 2 Psychic Energy on it and a Sabrina's Abra with no energy on it. My active has 2 Energy on it. Can his Sabrina's Alakazam do the attack "Synchronize"? Explain for all the trainers out there please.
A. Yes, you can because any time a Pokemon mentions its own name in the text of its own attack, as S. Abra does, any Pokemon that uses that attack replaces their own name in the text of the attack. Thus, your Sabrina's Alakazam would do a Synchronize attack that says: This attack can't be used unless Sabrina's Alakazam has the same number of energies attached as the defending Pokemon. (Mar 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q58)

== PSYMIMIC (Alakazam - Expedition Expansion)

Q. Expedition Alakazam Psymimics "Genetic Memory" from Kingdra - does it get to use Abra's/Kadabra's attacks? Or Horsea's/Seadra's? Or nothing?
A. You can use Abra or Kadabra's attacks. (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q27)

== PURE BODY (Entei - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Since Rainbow Energy counts as all types while being attached (allowing Energy Evolution Eevee to use its power) would it also count for Aquapolis Entei's Pure Body?
A. Yes. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q2008)

Q. If you use Aquapolis Bellossom's power and flip a heads, can you attach a fire energy to an Aquapolis Entei without discarding another energy card?
A. Good question. It says from your hand on both... So I would say no. You have to discard the Energy from Entei. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q305)

== RAIN DANCE (Blastoise - Base Set)

Q. With Blastoise's Special power, can 3-5 Energy cards be attached from your hand when used?
A. Yes it could (assuming you have them in your hand), and Blastoise isn't Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed. (Jan 20 WotC Chat)

Q. I don't know why I'd ever want to do this, but can I Raindance onto a Shifted Venomoth?
A. Sure you could. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Will you be able to use Blastoise's Pokémon Power: Rain Dance with Rainbow Energy if you change it to Water Energy?
A. No, it does NOT count as all basic energy when it is in your hand, only when Rainbow Energy is in play. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q104)

Q. Will Rain Dance trigger Dark Ampharos' Conductivity Pokemon Power or Crobat's Triggered Poison attack effect?
A. They both would be triggered. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q2018)

== RARE METAL (Steelix - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge's Steelix would change the energy provided, but not the effects stated on the energy cards, right?
A. You are correct. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1521)

Q. Would Skyridge's Steelix work pretty much that same as Tryranitar vs. Light Dragonite.
A. Yup. [ED. NOTE: See "Dark Aura" and "Miraculous Wind" Pokemon Powers for examples.] (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1527)

== REBELLION (Misty's Gyarados - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. RE: Misty's Gyarados and new poison rule [Ed.Note: the 1/17/02 rule about Poison shutting off most Pokemon Powers]. I would suspect that poison and confusion would be equal, since you can't attack when asleep or paralyzed. Comments?
A. Read the actual card, it's power is NOT shut off. (Jan 24, 2002 WotC Chat, Q143)

== RECONSTRUCTION (Buried Fossil - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Can you use Pokemon Breeder on Buried Fossil?
A. Yes you could. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1682)

Q. Can Underground fossle attack..? (Using a plate or sphere if you evolved it/devolved it)
A. Do you mean Buried Fossil? Yes you could. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1645)

== RESTLESS SLEEP (Rocket's Snorlax - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. If a Rocket's Snorlax gets attacked and gets hit with sleep, and it wasn't asleep before the attack, would Rocket Snorlax's Pokémon Power deal 20 to the Pokémon that put it to sleep?
A. Nope. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q209)

Q. If a Rocket's Snorlax/Dark Primeape is Asleep/Confused (respectively), then gets poisoned, does its power still work?
A. Of course. If a Pokemon Power says it is shut off if it is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed, then you also add Poisoned. If it does NOT say any of that, then Poisoning doesn't shut its power off either. (Jan 24, 2002 WotC Chat, Q15)

Q. If Ledian does Baton Pass against a sleeping Rocket's Snorlax, is the Restless Sleep damage applied before or after the switch?
A. The Restless Sleep damage is applied before the switch takes place. (Feb 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. What if a Thundershock is used against a sleeping Rocket's Snorlax?
A. The damage is done first thereby possibly triggering Snorlax's Pokémon Power (assuming it is asleep). Then the Paralysis effect takes place and Snorlax would no longer be asleep. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q133)

== RETREAT AID (Dodrio - Jungle Expansion)

Q. If an Active Pokémon had a retreat cost of 1 energy, and you used Dodrio's Pokémon Power, Retreat Aid, would that mean it retreats for free?
A. Yes it would. Having multiple Dodrios is cumulative. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

Q. If you have two Dodrio's on your bench, and a Clefable out active, will Clefable retreat for free?
A. Yes. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If your Ditto is copying a Clefable, and your opponent has a pair of Dodrios benched, can Ditto retreat for free? In other words, does Dodrio decrease the Retreat Cost on the card?
A. No, Dodrio says: When this is on your bench you pay one less to retreat. It doesn't actually reduce the retreat cost on Clefable. (Jan 24, 2002 WotC Chat, Q98)

== REVIVE FOSSIL (Omanyte - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. RE: Omanyte's PP Revive Fossil: "Treat that card as a Basic Pokémon." If I use this power to lay down, say, Aerodactyl, does that mean it can only do 10 damage to Erika's Dratini?
A. Correct, it will count has a basic for reasons like that. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q43)

== ROCK BODY (Golem - Expedition Expansion)

Q. The new Golem, its power says "all damage done by attacks to Golem is reduced by 10". Is this power cumulative if you have multiple Golems out and one Golem is active and taking damage?
A. Nope. (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q527)

Q. If I have an Expedition Golem on my bench, and a Revelation Graveler active, and my Graveler uses Earthquake, does my Golem take damage?
A. Nope. (Jun 5, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1811)

== SCARE (Dark Feraligatr - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Do you have to flip for the baby effect with Dark Feraligatr active?
A. Yes, that's not a Pokemon Power. The Dark Gatr's power only shuts off Baby Pokemon Powers not the actual Baby Power. You still have to flip for the Baby Rule. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q392 & Q426 & Q434 & Q440)

Q. Could I still Eeeeeeek with Dark Gatr in play?
A. Your babies cannot attack if Dark Feraligatr is the Defending Pokemon but they can if it's on the bench. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q447)

Q. If my Dark Feraligatr is against a Cleffa, do I still need to flip for the Baby Rule in order to do the "Crushing Blow" attack?
A. You still must flip for the Baby Rule. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q462)

== SCAVENGER HUNT (Furret - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Furret's "Scavenger Hunt" pokemon power allows one to search for ANY kind of energy card (not just basic energy), right?
A. Correct. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q20)

== SHAPESHIFT (Brock's Ninetales - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Can you Shapeshift Brock's Ninetales the same turn you evolved it?
A. Yes. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q224)

Q. Can attached cards on Brock's Ninetales use their Poke-BODYs, or are they still considered Poke-POWERs?
A. Poke-BODYs are Pokemon Powers, they are just a sub category of them. You could NOT use them in this case. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q371)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has Shapeshifted into a Pokemon that does not have a Pokemon Power, does it still take damage from Pichu's Zzzap!?
A. Yes, it still has the Shapeshift Power, otherwise you wouldn't be able to keep attaching cards to Brock's Ninetales. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q228)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales is poisoned, and then uses Shapeshift and attaches an evolution card, is Brock's Ninetales still poisoned?
A. Correct. [ED.NOTE: Effective 1/17/02 (see above) Poison stops the "Shapeshift" power so this question is no longer valid, but yes it would still be poisoned anyway.] (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. So, If I Shapeshift Brock's Ninetales to Koga's Arbok and use Poison Buildup will Brock's Ninetales revert to unshapeshifted as I think?
A. Yes, the Koga's Arbok would Poison itself thereby ending the Brock's Ninetales Shapeshift so the Koga's Arbok would be discarded. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1401)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has a coloring counter on it (from Smeargle's Paint) and then uses its Shapeshift power to *attach* an evolution card, would the coloring counter be retained or would it then become the type of the new attached card?
A. No. The paint counter would be retained. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. Can you use a Pokémon Breeder on Brock's Vulpix to evolve it into any other evolved Pokémon?
A. No. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q120b)

Q. If playing a evolution on Brock's Ninetales does not count as evolving, can you play an evolution on it with Aerodactyl in play?
A. Yes. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q231)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has used Shapeshift to turn into Clefable, and the opponent plays Goop Gas Attack, is Clefable discarded or does Brock's Ninetales turn back into Clefable after the Goop Gas wears off?
A. The final proven definitive answer is, when its power is shut off, all attached evolution cards are discarded.
(Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q64; May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q53; May 31, 2001 WotC Chat, Q121)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales is on the bench, shapeshifted into Weezing, and your active Pokémon is Dark Weezing which attacks with Mass Explosion, will the Brock's Ninetales/Weezing count as a Weezing in play, to add additional damage to the attack?
A. Yes it would count as a Weezing for those purposes (treat it as that Pokémon). (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q17)

Q. Last week, you said that if Brock's Ninetales uses Shapeshift to attach a Muk, Muk's Toxic Gas power would shut down Shapeshift and cause Muk to be discarded ("Muk-B-Gone"). But Shapeshift ignores powers, so the Toxic Gas shouldn't work, correct?
A. Correct. We made a mistake. (Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat, Q299)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has an evolution card attached, and the opponent uses Mew's Devolution Beam, what happens?
A. The devolution beam would only affect an evolved Pokémon. Since that card that is attached to Brock's Ninetales is not considered 'evolved' to, the devo beam would just affect Brock's Ninetales. The card attached stays right where it is and has no further affect unless you re-evolve back to Brock's Ninetales. (Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat, Q365; Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q569 & Q585)

* You CAN attach more than one evolution card to Brock's Ninetales, but of course, ONLY once per turn. Brock's Ninetales will then be treated as that latest evolution card so attached. If you decide to discard the latest evolution card attached, then Brock's Ninetales will revert to being Brock's Ninetales and NOT any previous still attached evolution cards. The Pokémon power states that you treat Brock's Ninetales as the latest attached evolution card. It does NOT state anywhere that it would revert to any previous attached cards. So any previous attached cards would simply stay in play not affecting Brock's Ninetales. The controller could discard those cards as the power states. Or if Brock's Ninetales becomes Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed then all of those evolution cards are discarded. If Brock's Ninetales leaves play (scooped up) etc. then those attached cards also leave play as well. (Nov 16, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. On Brock's Ninetales, first turn I attach a Blastoise. Next turn I attach a Charizard (without discarding Blastoise). Is this move legal since Brock's Ninetales doesn't explicitly state that I need to remove the Charizard before I attach the Blastoise? Furthermore, if this is legal, Blastoise will remain attached to Brock's Ninetales but would considered to be a null card because Ninetales can't use of any of Blastoise's attacks because Brock's Ninetales becomes a copy of the latest Pokémon attached to itself.
A. Yes, you can do what you're asking, but the end result is the same. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q573)

Q. Say a Dark Weezing used Mass Explosion, and I had a Brock's Ninetales with 2 Dark Weezing's attached to it, would Mass Explosion do 20 more damage for both those weezings?
A. Nope, you just get the one. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q136)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales is on the field with a Neo3 Aerodactyl on the bench, and the Brock's Ninetales has a Feraligatr and an Erika's Victreebel on it, could you have the Victreebel on top and still attack with Feraligatr?
A. Yes, as long has you have the right energy. Aerodactyl says that any evolution card attached, so it does make a difference what other evo's are on, you could use their attacks. (Jul 18, 2002 WotC Chat, Q5 & Q32 & after-Q87)

Q. Therefore, the attached but useless cards would return to your deck if you played Mr. Fuji?
A. Correct. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q605)

Q. Does a Brock's Ninetales that has changed into a Sabrina's Gengar count as an additional Sabrina's Gengar for "Night Spirits"? What about for Nidoking and "Boyfriends" attack?
A. Yes it does. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q223)

Q. If your have a Pewter City Gym in play, than you have an Active Brock's Ninetales that used Shapeshift and attached Sabrina's Alakazam. Does Pewter City Gym still work on it?
A. Pewter City will not work in this case. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q142)

Q. Can you get back a Shapeshifted evo on Brock's Ninetales with Hyper Devolution Spray?
A. No, because it's not considered evolving when you use Shapeshift. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q100)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has Focus Band attached, has Shapeshifted into Wigglytuff, is knocked out and the Focus Band flip is heads, which happens: (a) Wigglytuff is discarded, 60 damage on Brock's Ninetales, or (b) 70 damage on Wigglytuff.
A. 70 damage on Wigglytuff. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q48)

Q. I use Brock's Ninetales' Shapeshift Pokemon Power to attach an evolution card, and I also attach a Miracle Berry Trainer. My Opponent uses an Attack that Confuses Ninetales. Will I be able to use the Miracle Berry to cure it and keep the evolution card from being discarded?
A. No, you can't because you can only trigger Miracle Berry between turns. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q23)

== SHIFT (Venomoth - Jungle Expansion)

Q. How does Venomoth's Pokémon Power: Shift work?
A. Venomoth starts out as a Grass Pokémon, but Shift changes Venomoth's type to whatever type you want. For example, you could change Venomoth's type to Fire, Fighting, or another type. This doesn't change anything else about Venomoth, like its attack costs or its Weakness or Resistance. But if your opponent's Pokémon has a Weakness to Fire, for example, you might use Shift to change Venomoth's type to Fire. (Jungle FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Does Venomoth's power work even though that specific type you want to change into isn't in play?
A. Nope. Has to be a type that is in play. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q132)

Q. Can I use Venomoth's "Shift" Pokémon power to change its type to Darkness or Metal? And if so, would it be able to take advantage of the corresponding benefits from Darkness Energy or Metal Energy cards?
A. Yes you can and yes you could. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. If Venomoth Shifts to Psychic and a Muk comes into play, does Venomoth stay Psychic or is he back to Grass?
A. Venomoth would remain Psychic. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. Does Venomoth changed type (like say if I shift to Psychic) go away if it's Benched, Paralyzed, etc.
A. No. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. Can Venomoth's "Shift" power override Promo Smeargle's "Paint" attack? If so, then procedurally speaking does the Coloring counter remain or does it get removed?
A. Yes, it can. The coloring counter would remain but be essentially useless. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q45)

Q. Suppose I use Venomoth's shift to shift into some color other than Green (let's say Blue), and it gets confused, does it go back to being green or stays blue?
A. It stays as the last changed type but you can't use it again while it is confused. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q34)

Q. Okay, say I have a Venomoth in play and a Hitmonchan, and I shift into Fighting, and then Hitmonchan is Knocked Out, if I were to put another Venomoth into play, could I shift it to fighting because of the first Venomoth?
A. Yes, you can. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. Say I have a Venomoth and it is shifted into a Dark type and it has 4 Darkness Energy attached. I have a Murkrow on my bench with 40 damage. If my opponent damages my beched Murkrow and gets knocked out, would my Venomoth then revert to a Grass type?
A. It would not revert unlkess its power was shut off somehow. It only checks to see what types are in play when you use the power, it is not a continuous check. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q137)

== SHOCK BLAST (Lt. Surge's Electrode - Gym: Challenge Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

Q. Would Darkness energy trigger LS Electrode's power after each turn? Or poison or chars too?
A. No, all of these put damage counters on the Pokémon, so none of these will work (they are not doing damage). (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q195)

Q. If a Metal Energy was attached to Lt.Surge's Electrode, would its "Shock Blast" power deal 10 to the opponent, but only 0 to the Lt. Surge's Electrode (due to -10 for *EACH* sentence on the Metal Energy card)?
A. In this case the triggered Power would do 10 damage to the Defending Pokemon and zero damage to itself as Metal energy has 2 effects on it. One reducing damage done to that Pokemon by 10 and 1 effect reducing all damage done BY that Pokemon by 10. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30 & Q31)

Q. Once LS Electrode it KO'd do you get one final flip? Or if it is tails, would the power be triggered again?
A. As soon as the LS Electrode takes the final damage to KO him, he no longer flips. You just get the one final one at the end, (like the card says.) (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q141)

* Important Errata for this card. Damage from Shock Blast will NOT trigger any Shock Blast Pokemon power (either its own or a defending Lt. Surge's Electrode or Ditto as Lt. Surge's Electrode). (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If your opponent has 3 Forretress in play, and you make Lt. Surge's Electrode active. Is each Spike damage flipped separately for possible Shock Blast?
A. You would check for each damage amount done. [Ed.Note: In other words, for each individual "Spikes" damage being done, you would flip for a Shock Blast check]. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q63)

== SINKHOLE (Dark Dugrio - Team Rocket Expansion)

*Dark Dugtrio's Sinkhole Pokémon Power is assuming a SUCCESSFUL Retreating of the Defending Pokémon. So if that Pokémon were confused, that player would pay the retreat cost, then flip to see if it is successful from the confusion. If it were, THEN that Pokémon would take the 20 damage from the Sinkhole Power. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Announcement)

Q. Is Dark Dugtrio's Sinkhole Pokémon Power cumulative in any way? For example, you have 2 Dark Dugtrios in play, does a retreating Defending Pokémon have to flip twice (once per each Dark Dugtrio in play) and suffer 20 damage per tails, or does it flip once and risk 40 damage (20 per Dark Dugtrio)? Or are it just one flip and 20 damage regardless of how many Dark Dugtrios you have in play? And if does involve multiple coin flips, do you stop after the retreating Pokémon first takes damage, or continue flipping for each Dark Dugtrio in question?
A. They are cumulative. You would flip for each Dugtrio's effect, whether any succeed or not. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. If you flip tails on Sinkhole and it does 20 damage to your Pokémon, does your Pokémon still retreat?
A. Sure. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q124)

== SLIPPERY SKIN (Dunsparce - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. If Broken Ground Gym is in play and Dunsparce is active vs. an evolved pokemon, would Dunsparce's retreat still be zero?
A. Correct. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1535)

== SPATIAL DISTORTION (Dark Porygon2 - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If there is a Dark Vileplume in play, can Dark Porygon2 use its Pokémon Power to put a Stadium card from my discard pile into play?
A. Yes you can, as Dark Vileplume stops you from PLAYING trainers and the Dark Porygon2 Pokemon power has you take a stadium from the discard pile and put it in play. Not the same thing. (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q10 & Q30)

== SPECIAL DELIVERY (Dragonite - Movie Promo)

Q. I have a movie Dragonite. Can I use the Pokémon Power with no cards in my deck, draw all the cards I can as the rulebook says (which is none), put a card onto my deck and never run out of cards?
A. No you can't use Special Delivery if you have no cards in your deck. Drawing a card assumes that there is a card available in your deck to draw from. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q116)

== SPIKES (Forretress - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If you have multiple copies of Forretress out, is the "Spikes" Pokémon power cumulative? For example, if you had three out, would the Powers do 30 damage (10+10+10) if your opponent moved a benched Pokémon to the active slot?
A. Yes, but they are all separate 10 damage... (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q52)

Q. If your opponent has 3 Forretress in play, and you make active a Pokemon with 1 Metal energy attached, is all Spike damage prevented? (Is each Spike separate?)
A. Yes each of the Forretress is a different source, so you would take 0 damage. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14)

Q. If I have an Unown-M on my bench, will it prevent damage from an opponent's Forretress's "Spikes" Pokemon Power?
A. Yes. (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q533)

Q. If I have 3 Forretress's in play & my opponent retreats for a baby pokemon it would still take the damage right?
A. Correct. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q199)

Q. Can Forretress' Spikes power be used multiple times during a turn if the opponent retreats more than once?
A. Yes. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q19)

Q. Does Forretress' Spikes power come into affect when your opponent attacks with Dark Alakazam's Teleport Blast? If so, which pokemon takes the Spikes? Dark Alakazam or the one that replaces it?
A. Yes it would. The one that was switched up from the bench would take the damage.(Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, after-Q19)

Q. If I have a Forretress in play and use Gust of Wind (or any other Trainer to switch my opponent's Active Pokémon) does her new Active Pokémon take 10 damage because of the Spikes Pokémon Power from my Forretress?
A. No, it does not. The Spikes Pokémon Power does 10 damage to your opponent's Active Pokémon only if he switches it during his turn. So, if he retreats or plays Double Gust, Switch, or Warp Point, then his new Active Pokémon would take 10 damage. (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Fortress's Spikes Pokemon Power: This power would not apply to the situation where your opponent had their active Pokemon knocked out and they had to replace it before they draw a card to start their turn, because they replaced it between turns not during their turn. Correct?
A. Yes. [Ed.Note: This is because their turn has not started until they draw their card.] (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q571)

Q. Your Ditto is opposite your opponent's Forretress. Your opponent does Rapid Spin. Will your Ditto do Spike damage? (I assume not, since Ditto stops being Forretress before Forretress is switched.)
A. You are correct, ditto is switched first, so no spikes for him! (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q54)

Q. If you KO your active Pokémon during your turn, is the replacement subject to Spikes damage?
A. If your opponent had the Forretress, then yes. (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q46)

Q. Regarding self-KO and Spikes, if you KO both Pokémon during your turn, and the opponent brings up a Forretress that was previously Gazed, does it do its damage?
A. Yes, it does damage...the inactive player [opponent] will replace their active [Pokemon] first. [Ed.Note: The attacker's turn is not finished until all the effects of damage have been resolved, including replacing active pokemon.] (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q84)

== STEP IN (Dragonite - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Can I use Fossil Dragonite's Pokémon Power "Step In" when my Active Pokémon is Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed or Poisoned?
A. Yes. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

== STICKY GOO (Dark Muk - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. No! Dark Muks has to be Active! You can't have multiple at 1 time! [Ed. Note: The speaker was referring to the question below]
A. Correct, I made an error. OH GEEZ, I'm human after all! Sorry guys, we were rushed to start the chat today (tech problems) so I made a bad answer. Will you ever forgive me? (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q18)

== STRANGE BARRIER (Erika's Dratini - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. If you have a PlusPower attached to an attack that does 10 damage, would Erika's Dratini receive 10 or 20 damage after applying the "Strange Barrier" Pokémon Power.
A. It would take 10, as you add Trainer effects BEFORE relevant Pokémon Powers. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q34)

Q. If Rocket's Hitmonchan uses Crosscounter and Erika's Dratini tails strikes for 30 and I flip heads with Crosscounter will Erika's Dratini be KO'd?
A. No, because Crosscounter actually says that it is an attack, so Erika's Dratini would Strange Barrier. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q51)

Q. Just to confirm, Umbreon's & Murkrow's "Feint Attack" is unaffected by Erika's Dratini's "Strange Barrier" and Lily Pad Mew's "Neutral Shield", right?
A. RIGHT! [NOTE: But only when Erika's Dratini or Lily Pad Mew are in the active slot.] Correct. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q88)

Q. Does Erica's Dratini's Pokémon Power affect Pokémon that were evolved from babies? (i.e. Pichu -> Pikachu)
A. The Pikachu in your example will no[w] be considered 'evolved'. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If you attached Metal Energy to an Erika's Dratini, would you apply the Pokémon Power first or the Metal Energy?
A. The Metal Energy first (like a trainer). Watch out with using Metal on Erika's Dratini though. The Metal won't reduce the 10 damage to zero unless that's the entire amount done. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q5 & Q144)

Q. Pichu's Zzzap attack states "Do 20 damage to each Pokémon with a Pokémon Power". Would this do 20 or 10 to Erika's Dratini? Is Pichu considered a "Basic" or "Baby" Pokémon in this instance?
A. Erika's Dratini would only take 10. Baby Pokémon count as basic Pokémon. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q66)

Q. Erica's Dratini w/one METAL energy takes 0 damage from basic pokemon attacks, right?
A. Nope, the effect from the Metal energy is done BEFORE the effect from the Pokemon Power. (Mar 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q23)

Q. You have Unown N, D, or M on the Bench and Erika's Dratini active. Would Erika's Dratini take any damage from a Colorless, Dark, or Metal Pokemon (which power gets figured first)?
A. Since both effects trigger at the same time the controller of Erika's Dratini and the Unown gets to decide what order they happen in. Of course, this will only stop attacks from basic Pokemon though. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q23 & Q185; Sep 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q2)

== STRANGE TENTACLES (Tentacruel - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. If I were to use AQ Tentacruel's or AQ Magneton's powers to attach a Darkness Energy to opponent's Cleffa, it would pretty much doom the Cleffa right?
A. Not really. Sure that Cleffa would take 10 damage at the end of your turn, and it might be hard for them to remove as Cleffa does not have a Retreat cost. But there are other things they could do, such as evolve it (yeah right!), or Scoop It Up or something like that. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q835)

== STRIKES BACK (Machamp - Base Set)

Q. Does Machamp do damage if he is hit by a Stretch Kick?
A. Yes, his Pokémon power Strikes Back would damage the other Pokémon even if Machamp is hit when he is on the bench. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. Can Strikes Back trigger Strikes Back (if two base Machamps face each other)?
A. No it's not an attack. Make sure you check the wording on the cards. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q410)

== SUCTION CUPS (Octillery - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. For Aquapolis Octillery, the only instance when its PokeBody would work is when the opponent "manually" (no Switch/DoubleGust/etc) retreats their active Pokemon, correct?
A. Yes, though retreating with Balloon Berry would still trigger its power. (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q548)

== SUMMON MINIONS (Dark Dragonite - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If you evolve to Dark Dragonite and have a full bench, can you still search through your deck?
A. Nope. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q257)

Q. Dark Dragonite's Summon Minions will not allow you to get a bench larger than 5 Pokemon, correct? Even if you use it when only 4 Pokemon are there?
A. Correct. If there are only 4 there, you can go and get one Pokemon to put on your bench. Dark Dragonite says: Up to 2 Pokemon. (Mar 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q77)

== TAILWIND (Dragonite - Expedition Expansion)

Q. If you have Expedition Dragonite with "Tailwind", but The Rocket's Training Gym is also in play, you would still have to pay one energy to retreat, right?
A. Correct. The Dragonite's effect basically changes the Retreat cost on the Pokemon card to zero. This could still be changed by other effects. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 12)

== THICK SKINNED (Snorlax - Jungle Expansion)

Q. Snorlax's Pokémon Power says that it can't be Paralyzed, Poisoned, Confused, or put to Sleep, so why does it say that the Power stops working if its Paralyzed, Confused or put to Sleep?
A. Well, say Muk was in play: all Pokémon Powers stop working. Snorlax gets Confused, then Muk leaves play, and his power can't turn back on until he is no longer Confused. (3-3-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If Muk stops a Snorlax's Pokémon power and poisons it, and Snorlax defeats it with Body Slam, is it still poisoned? (The power stops if confused, paralyzed, or asleep. Not poison.)
A. Good question!!! Thick Skin states that Snorlax can't BECOME asleep, confused, paralyzed, or poisoned. In this case he is already poisoned and I don't think that the reactivation of the Thick Skin will remove the existing Poison. (6-29-00 WotC Chat Q66)

Q. If Snorlax is poisoned during Goop Gas Attack by a base Weedle, and then Nidoking comes in and uses Toxic (after Goop's effect ends), does Snorlax stay single poisoned, become double poisoned, or is poison removed?
A. Stays single poisoned. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q160)

Q. Say you play a Snorlax (jungle), can Quilava put a Char counter on Snorlax? Since Snorlax Power says quote: "Snorlax can't become Asleep, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned. This Power can't be used if Snorlax is already Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed."
A. Char gets around that quite easily wouldn't you say. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. Will that mean that you finally can poison Snorlax? [Ed.Note: This question in regards to the newly announced ruling that Poison now shuts off most Pokemon Powers]
A. Not unless you turn off his power first. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1244)

== TIME TRAVEL (Celebi - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

. If I have a Focus Band on a Holo Celebi that would be knocked out by an attack, I may choose whether to flip for the Pokémon Power or the Focus Band first, correct?
A. You choose...right. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q170)

== TOXIC GAS (Muk - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Does Muk's Pokémon Power ignore ALL in play or just your opponent's Power?
A. All Powers except for Toxic Gases. This includes your own. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Can Muk's "Toxic Gas" power turn off a Baby Pokémon Power?
A. Nope, baby power is not effected. Well actually Elekid has a Pokémon Power which could be affected but the baby defense ability is NOT a Pokémon power. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q59)

Q. Does Muk prevent Come into Play Pokemon Powers [Ed.Note: like Dark Golbat's "Sneak Attack", or Typhlosion's "Fire Boost"]? Magby? Goop Gas?
A. It does not. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q168)

Q. If Muk is in play and I play Entei (with Howl) will Howl work?
A. I believe it has been ruled that the "coming into play" ability would work. (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q162 & Q195)

Q. So just to clarify, Muk's "Toxic Gas" will prevent Poke-Body powers, right?
A. Yes. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q177)

Q. If a Muk faces another Muk does Muk B's power cancel out Muk A's power so powers are once again activated?
A. Muk's Toxic Gases says it cancels all Powers except Toxic Gas, so both would work (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

* If you have a promo Eeevee in play and you or the opponent evolve Grimer into Muk, then the promo Eevee's Chain Reaction Pokémon Power would be triggered by the evolution of Muk and would still occur even though Muk's Toxic Gas states to ignore all other Pokémon Powers. Of course, any evolutions done after this case would NOT trigger the Chain Reaction due to the Toxic Gas Pokémon power. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If Fossil Muk is active and is KO'ed by Tyranitar's Trample attack, would a benched Unown-D's Power protect that player's benched Pokémon, or would the power still be off until the end of the turn?
A. The defending Pokemon and benched Pokemon damage happens at the very same time. Unown-D is [still] 'shut off' when the damage occurs. (Jan 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1032)

Q. Parasect on the opponent's bench, they're playing a Feraligatr that KOs your only Muk with a Riptide. Does the water in the opponent's discard pile get shuffled back into their deck? Any chance of clarifying the reasons in terms of order of act
A. They [do not] get shuffled back. The damage is done first, which knocks out the Muk, then powers trun back on. THEN after damage is done, other effects of the attack are done, thereby [Parasect prevents] shuffling back the cards. This is the same timing sequence that came up with the Dark Gyarados getting knocked out with an attack that Paralyzes question. Simple huh? (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q324 & Q341 & Q346 & Q372)

== TRANSFORM (Ditto - Fossil Expansion)

// What is Ditto, when in Play?

Q. What exactly does Ditto copy when it uses its Pokemon Power: Transform?
A. It just copies whatever is written on the opponent's Active Pokemon card. So it won't copy damage, effects of attached Trainer cards, if that Pokemon is Poisoned, Confused, or anything like that, but it will copy Hit Points, attacks, Pokemon Powers, Weakness, and so on. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Could you Goop Gas and it [still] be the same as the Defender after Transform?
A. No. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q15)

Q. Need to make sure, does Ditto UTILIZE and USE Pokémon Powers that say, "when this card is Knocked Out" so that you would do the effects of the Power or not?
A. You mean like Machamp's Strikes Back? Then yes. (4-20-00 WotC Chat Q77)

Q. A couple of weeks ago you ruled that if Ditto was Transformed into a Pokemon with a Pokemon Power, he would have only one PP, theirs. Wouldn't Ditto also have Transform, giving him 2 Powers?
A. Yes he would. We were wrong. (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q62)

// When does Transform activate?

Q. Does Ditto automatically Transform when the other player changes his or her Pokémon?
A. Yup (again as long as his power still functions). (4-13-00 WotC Chat Q148)

Q. Since Ditto has Weakness, can it ever "choose" not to copy the other card?
A. No, if it is the Active Pokemon and it is not Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed, the Transform power happens automatically. (2-17-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If someone puts Ditto out at the beginning of a game and starts second, will Ditto use Transform on its opponent's turn?
A. Yes. (3-9-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If one player defeats the other Pokemon with Ditto, does Ditto immediately turn back into Ditto?
A. No, Ditto turns into a copy of whichever Pokemon it is opposite. It would turn into a copy of whatever Pokemon the other player moved up. (Unless it is Asleep, Paralyzed, or Confused) (1-20-00 WotC Chat)

// Attack Effects and Special Conditions as Ditto Transforms

* Ditto, when it Transforms, copies what is written on the Defending Pokemon (its written HP, Weakness, etc.). It does not copy changed values on the other card (if the Defending Pokemon is painted into another color, or has more HP from attached energy like Sabrina's Gastly). (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Does Ditto copy status or attack effects of a Pokémon? For example, if Ditto went up against a Pokémon that had been previously converted by Porygon, would he copy the original stats or the converted stats? What about copying a Shifted Venomoth?
A. Ditto always copies the original. It does not copy any effects on the Defending Pokémon (like Poison, or Shift or any of those). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q53)

Q. When Ditto goes from copying a particular Pokemon to copying another (when the Defending Pokémon retreats, for example) do either status effects (such as poison or sleep) or attack-based effects (such as Magmar's Smokescreen or Porygon's Conversion) disappear as a result?
A. No, they don't. (3-16-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If Ditto is copying Scyther and does Swords Dance, and your opponent retreats his Scyther to bring up a different Pokemon (say, to remove Poison), then switches that new one again with the Scyther, does Ditto lose the advantage of Swords Dance? And if so, is it because there is a Ditto-as-something-else between the two Ditto-as-Scyther stages?
A. The effect is still there, but unless Ditto's new form has Slash for 30, he cannot make use of it. For example, if Scyther retreated for Parasect, the Ditto-as-Parasect's Slash will do 60 if previously 'Danced' as a Scyther (Direct from R&D, folks). If the Slash does NOT have a base damage of 30 (such as Sandslash's Slash attack) then the Dance will not affect it. (4-6-00 WotC Chat Q47)

Q. If Ditto uses Rocket's Hitmonchan's Crosscounter attack then Rocket's Hitmonchan retreats, is Crosscounter still in effect? It's text states "If Rocket's Hitmonchan is attacked..."
A. Yes the effect is still in place on Ditto (it is yet another self-referencing attack). (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q149)

* Ditto's Transform Pokemon Power overrides any effects on Ditto that change any of the basic aspects of the Pokemon (HP, Weakness from Porygon's Conversion, etc). This also means that if Ditto was a copy of Venomoth and Shifted itself to a new color, when Ditto Transforms into another Pokemon, this will be overridden and Ditto will be the color of the new Pokemon it Transformed into. This is NOT the same case as with Smeargle's Paint counters as this is an outside continually applied effect (like Char or damage counters). So Ditto Transforms into the new Pokemon but still is affected by the Paint counter. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

// Ditto and Energy

Q. On Ditto it says "Ditto is not a copy of any other Pokemon while it is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed." So does this mean Ditto's energies are still "rainbow" if its Asleep, etc.?
A. They would NOT as the Copy effect is in the same sentence as the energy effect. The energy attached to Ditto would revert to it's normal type. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q92; Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q52)

Q. Are Energy on Ditto counted as whatever type needed for anything, or just for purposes of meeting attack requirements? For example, can any Energy on Ditto be used to discard cards with Moltres' Wildfire, or beef up a Water Gun?
A. You can treat Energy attached to Ditto as any [Basic Energy] type for whatever reasons as long as Ditto isn't Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. I was carefully reading Ditto's Pokemon Power and it says: '...you may treat any energy attached to Ditto as Energy of any Type. Now, this leads me to believe I can turn it into a double colorless or a Potion Energy or Even a [Metal] Energy!
A. You can only choose a basic energy type [Ed.Note: 'Colorless' is not a Basic type], so while could choose Darkness you will not get the added effects that are normally provided by a Darkness energy card. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. What if you put a Double Colorless energy on Ditto. What kind of energy does it produce?
A. Two energy of any [Basic] type. (June 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q187)

Q. When Ditto has one DCE, can it do an attack that needs 2 Fire Energy (or any other combination of energy cards)?
A. Yes it can. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q50)

*R&D has "corrected" a ruling they made a few months ago. As Ditto states, you may treat any Energy attached to Ditto as Energy of any [Basic] type. It is now ruled that the controller of Ditto can CHOOSE what energy type Energy Cards attached to Ditto provide (as long as Ditto is the Active Pokémon). You CANNOT choose Colorless, however as a choice for a card to provide (unless it already provides colorless) as Colorless is not a type. (1-4-01 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. A recent ruling stated that you can choose the energy type attached to Ditto. What happens if you do not declare what type of Energy you want it to be?
A. If you don't declare, then they are whatever type of energy it really is. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q111)

Q. A recent ruling stated that you can choose the energy type attached to Ditto. Can you change your choice at any time, even during your Opponent's turn?
A. We'll have to check with R&D...we don't think that there is an actual time that you have to make that choice...it just is _treated_ as whatever energy you want. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q16)

Q. Can you change the energy type on Ditto if after it pays an attack cost but before a penalty hits, like for Electroburn?
A. [Does] Not work. Can't do anything in the middle of an attack. Now you guys are just being silly..... (Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q182 & Q183)

Q. Last week you ruled that Ditto can choose what energy type a given card can provide. Does this extend to Rainbow Energy cards too or are they still "all colors, all the time" regardless of the text on Ditto's Transform power?
A. Ditto could overide the Rainbow effect. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q113)

Q. If a Darkness Energy Card is on Ditto and he changes that Energy to Fire, does the card still retain the special properties and the effects of that Card still happen?
A. You actually don't change it to fire, Ditto says you may treat any energy attached as another type so the effect from the Darkness card is still active. (Feb 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q19)


Q. If Ditto with 2 DCE is facing a Rocket's Zapdos, do the DCE's count as L Energy CARDS (assuming it declared them to be L Energies) for the sake of Electroburn's self-damage? If so, that means Ditto will take 20 self-damage (10 per card), right?
A. Correct, 20 is the answer. (Feb 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q8)

*A DCE on a Ditto opposite a grass Pokémon with a Meganium in play would STILL only provide 2 grass energy. If you treat the DCE as providing 2 grass energy (due to Ditto's Transform ability) then the DCE now counts as a grass energy CARD. Wild Growth states "each Grass energy cards provides 2 grass energy instead of 1". It doesn't matter that the DCE was ALREADY providing 2 grass energy. The Wild Growth just says "all grass energy cards attached provide 2 grass energy". So end result is that the DCE STILL provides 2 grass energy. It is NOT doubled. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Since Ditto's Transform power lets you choose which types of energy are being provided, can you split a DCE or Buzzap'd Electrode so half of it provides one type and the other half a different type? (i.e. one water & one electric)?
A. Yes, you can. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q36a)

// Evolution with Ditto

* Ditto CANNOT evolve whether he is a copy of Team Rocket Magikarp or Promo Eevee as it states on Ditto he cannot evolve ... (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, mid-point Announcement [Q149])

Q. If a Promo Eevee is against a Ditto, can the ditto us the power just to look through his/her deck without evolving?
A. Nope. Ditto can't evolve, so can't even do that. (July 27 2000 WotC Chat)

// Blastoise Raindance

Q. If a Ditto goes against a Blastoise, can Ditto use Raindance on any type of Energy?
A. No, Raindance says you must take Water Energy from your hand and place it on one of you Water Pokemon. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you Rain Dance on a Ditto as long you have the Water Energy in your hand, but not any other Energy such as a Fighting Energy?
A. Correct, Ditto's effect of changing Energy types does NOT affect cards in your hand, only those attached to Ditto. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

// Venusaur Energy Trans

Q. Since Ditto's Pokemon Power starts with the quote "If Ditto is your Active Pokemon..." does that mean that energy attached to Ditto is energy of any type only when Ditto is active? If this is the case, Venusaur could only trans energy from an ACTIVE Ditto and not a benched one, (unless the energy is grass, of course).
A. Correct, that only works if Ditto is the Active Pokemon. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q46)

Q. Can a Ditto against a Venusaur use Energy Trans on any type of Energy?
A. Not really. Since you can make Energy attached to Ditto be any type, you could use a copied Venusaur's Energy Trans to move THAT Energy to any Pokemon, but energy on OTHER Pokemon would still have to be Grass Energy to use this power. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. When a Ditto changes an energy, and Venusaur Energy Trans it to another Pokémon, will it change back to its original form, or stay as what Ditto made it?
A. It will change back to its original form. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

// Brock's Ninetales' Shapeshift

Q. If Ditto copies Brock's Ninetales and uses his power Shapeshift, are energies on Ditto still [any/all] types of energy?
A. Yes they are. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q141)

Q. If Ditto is opposite a Brock's Ninetales which has used Shapeshift to turn into Clefable, is Ditto a Clefable or a Brock's Ninetales? Some people claim that Ditto opposite Brock's Ninetales is to be treated as the Ninetales regardless of whether an evolution card is attached to it or not. Others say that it is to be treated as the attached evolution card. Which way is correct?
A. Here's the deal with Ditto and Brock's Ninetales: When Ditto is opposite Brock's Ninetales and Brock's Ninetales has a Pokemon attached to it (that it has Shapeshifted into) Ditto _only_ copies the Brock's Ninetales, _not_ the Pokemon that it has Shapeshifted into. It is to be treated as Brock's Ninetales, not the attached evolution. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q62; Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements; Sep 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q78)
[Ed Note: The reason that Ditto is Brock's Ninetales and not the Pokemon Brock's Ninetales is being treated as is because Ditto's transform says to copy the "card" of the Active Pokemon, not the "Active PokÈmon"

Q. Ditto copying Brock's Ninetales. Shapeshift's Power states that "doesn't count as evolving". Therefore, since you're technically not evolving, Ditto can say become a Blastoise without the ability to Rain Dance water Energy right? What happens when I Knock Out Brock's Ninetales and Blastoise is still on Ditto? Does Ditto remain as Blastoise? Does the Blastoise card get discarded? Will Ditto (also Blastoise) be Knocked Out? Does the attached card stay on Ditto (out of play though) if his Pokemon Power is somehow turned off?
A. Brock's Ninetales' Shapeshift doesn't let you evolve, just 'attach'. If Ditto Knock Outs Brock's Ninetales, Ditto will no longer have Shapeshift and will revert to being Ditto. That would be the same as shutting off the [Shapeshift] power. The Blastoise card gets discarded. This has been clarified for your enjoyment:). (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20 & Q105; May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q101 & Q105)

// Mysterious Fossil & Clefairy Doll [Also see KO'ing Ditto]

Q. Can Ditto change to Mysterious Fossil and/or Clefairy doll. If so, is the ability copied?
A. Ditto can copy either of those cards, but since Ditto can't evolve, you won't be able to use those cards to their full ability. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q48)

// Sabrina's Alakazam Psylink

Q. Ditto opposite Sabrina's Alakazam (both powers working). Ditto would only have the attacks of the psychic pokemon on its own bench, right?
A. Yes. Self referencing rule makes Ditto now a Sabrina's Alakazam, its power says it has a copy of all of the attacks of the Psychic Pokemon on YOUR bench. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q2043)

// Knocking Out Ditto

Q. What if my Ditto is copying a Charizard (so that Ditto now has 120 HP) and it has 80 damage on it. Then my opponent retreats Charizard and makes Squirtle (who only has 40 HP) her new Active Pokemon. What happens to my Ditto?
A. It becomes a copy of Squirtle and is immediately Knocked Out, because it has 40 HP and 80 damage. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. My Ditto has 6 damage counters on it and my opponent has an Electabuzz I just Knocked Out, since he has no Active after I knocked out Electabuzz and he has like Lickitung on his bench... in between would Ditto be Knocked Out?
A. There is no in-between step. When Lickitung moves up Ditto copies it. (3-30-00 WotC Chat)

Q. Scenario: My opponent has a Ditto with 40 damage and [attaches] a Gold Berry. My opponent attacks and knocks out my [active] Scyther. I bring up a Koga's Weedle (40 HP). Is Ditto knocked out (e.g. I replace my pokemon on my OPPONENT'S turn) or does the Gold Berry save it (e.g. I replace the Scyther BETWEEN TURNS)?
A. Replacing a knocked out Active Pokemon takes place during the turn, BEFORE a Gold Berry goes off between turns. So in this case, the Ditto is knocked out. (Sep 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q89)

Q. Ditto is active with a gold berry attached. The attacker to Ditto does damage & Ditto now has 50 or more damage to it. The attack also causes paralysis or confusion or sleep. Does the gold berry activate first saving Ditto or does the effect knock out Ditto?
A. Yes [he would be KO'd], because he would turn back into ditto before the gold berry could save him. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q31)

Q. Let's say Venonat attacks Ditto with 3 damage counters on it. If Venonat got heads for paralysis, would Ditto live since it was also paralyzed [by Venonat's attack]?
A. Ditto would NOT live. It would have received 40 damage BEFORE it was paralyzed. When a Pokemon gets sufficient damage assigned to it to Knock it out it will be Knocked out [immediately]. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q111)

Q. If Ditto is opposite Rocket's Moltres, and Ditto is knocked out, does Ditto return to your hand?
A. Yes it does. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q74)

Q. Ditto's active with 20 damage. They put Mysterious Fossil as their active. What happens?
A. I'm assuming you mean they retreat and bring up Mysterious Fossil. Ditto transforms into Mysterious Fossil, only has 10 HP but already has 20 damage so it goes to the discard pile. It does NOT count as a Knocked out Pokemon (last ruling by R&D) as it is a copy of Mysterious Fossil, which does not count as a Knocked out Pokemon. (6-29-00 WotC Chat)

// Other Transforming Rulings

Q. What happens if Ditto copies a Confused Muk (so that when Ditto copies Muk's Pokemon Power: Toxic Gas, it turns off its own Pokemon Power: Transform)?
A. The end result is that Ditto is Ditto, not Muk. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q1. Can Ditto (copying a Gengar) repeatedly retreat and advance so that he can do Gengar's Curse over and over?
Q2. If a transformed Ditto used Curse against an opposing Gengar and you use Gust of Wind to drop the opposing Gengar back to the opponent's Bench, then brought him back up again to the Active slot with another Gust of Wind, would Ditto now also be able to use that "once-per-turn" again?
A. I was able to look at a translated copy of the Neo rulebook from Japan and it specifically mentions a rule regarding Ditto's Transform power. It states: If Ditto transforms to the _same_ Pokemon more than once per turn, he is considered to be the _same_ Pokemon. Thus, he would be unable to do Pokemon Powers that can only be used once per turn more than once. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If Ditto is copying an Evolution can it use Recall and copy [an attack of] the pre-evolved form of the Evolution?
A. No. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q169)

Q. Ditto is opposite Rapidash. Ditto does Agility and flips heads. Then the opponent plays Goop Gas Attack. Can the opponent do damage to Ditto on this turn?
A. Nope, the Agility effect is still residing on him. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. If Ditto is copying a Sabrina's Kadabra, can you play a Sabrina's ESP on Ditto? And if you gust up a different non-Sabrina Pokemon, can you use the attached ESP when you attack?
A. Yes you could but we will verify that answer with R&D. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. If a Ditto is against a Baby Pokemon, does it copy the Baby Pokemon rule?
A. Yes. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q172)

Q. Say I have Fossil Ditto active against a Koga's Ditto. I use "Giant Growth" and flipped heads, so I have 80HP now. Does this effect remain even after Koga's Ditto is no longer active? And if so, would Fossil Ditto never be able to have more than 80HP from then on? (i.e. If a Chansey becomes active opposite that Fossil Ditto, is Fossil Ditto now a Chansey with 80HP?) Wouldn't the self-reference of Koga's Ditto be changed to whatever Ditto changes into?
A. No, the effect is only on 'Koga's Ditto', so if Ditto copies something else and is no longer a 'Koga's Ditto' the effect is gone. The [example of] Swords Dance refers to AN ATTACK; the self-referencing kicks in. The Giant Growth refers TO the Koga's Ditto which Ditto COULD be copying BUT when Ditto Transforms it takes the new HP of the Pokémon it copies!!! Transform does NOT change any attack effects like the Swords Dance so that remains. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q62a & Q20b & Q69b)

Q. If you use a Lt. Surge trainer to play Ditto from your hand to the Active spot, and he is facing a Pokémon with a Pokémon Power that activates when the Pokémon is "played from your hand", will Ditto be able to use that Power?
A. No you wouldn't, it's put into play as Ditto, then Ditto's power activates [when it is an Active Pokemon]. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q33)

Q. If I use Ditto against my opponent's Active Pichu and use Zzzap, would Ditto then do 20 damage to itself because it has its power?
A. Yes, it would. [but remember to flip for the Baby Rule!] (Oct 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q6)

== TRANSPARENCY (Haunter - Fossil Expansion)

* Suicune and all similar affects (Haunter's Transparency, Agility, etc.) have been clarified and finalized. While attacks are still always against the Defending Pokemon, regardless of where their effects end up, the effects end up on a specific Pokemon. So Suicune's Crystal Body Power which reads: "Prevent all effects of your opponent's attacks, other than damage, done to Suicune", means that ONLY effects done TO Suicune are prevented. [...] It is important to recognize that attacks are always against the Defending Pokemon, which is why Cleffa's Eeeeeeek can be prevented by a Smokescreen effect or any other attack prevention even though the Eeeeeeek! attack does not do anything to the Defending Pokemon. So, Crystal Body, Agility, and Haunter's Transparency do NOT prevent Eeeeeeek!, only effects of attacks that are done TO them. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. What happens to my Benched Pokémon if I have Haunter as my Active Pokémon and my opponent attacks with the Jungle Pikachu's Spark attack (which does 20 damage to the Defending Pokémon and 10 damage to a Pokémon on the Bench)?
A. Haunter's Pokémon Power: Transparency only prevents things done to Haunter. So the 20 damage to Haunter is prevented, but the 10 damage to a Benched Pokémon would still happen. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If I have a Fossil Haunter on the bench and a Magneton uses Selfdestruct and I flip a head. Does that make the Selfdestruct fail?
A. No, it would just prevent any damage from happening to Haunter. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. If Electabuzz paralyzes Fossil Haunter, would Haunter flip for Transparency?
A. You flip for the Transparency BEFORE the possible Paralyzation takes effect. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q302)

Q. If my Magby (or Sabrina's Gengar using Dark Wave) attacks a fossil Haunter does the opponent get to flip for Transparency or does the effect of the attack only start at the end of my turn?
A. Haunter still gets to flip, because Sputter doesn't take effect until the very end of the attack. (May 24, 2001 WotC Chat, Q215)

Q. If I have a Fossil Haunter on my bench and it's attacked there, does the Transparency work on the bench too?
A. Yes. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. If I have 2 in-play Fossil Haunters (one Active and one benched) and my opponent uses Magneton's Selfdestruct would I flip twice for Transparency (once for my Active Haunter and another for my benched)?
A. Yes, you could flip for each one to see if damage to that particular Haunter is prevented. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. Dark Gloom is on my bench, the defender is Haunter, and I use Gloom's Pokémon Power and flip heads. Must I flip again due to Haunter's Transparency? Or is that unnecessary, since a Pokémon Power is not the same as an attack, even if it does damage?
A. You would NOT have to flip for Transparency. It has you flip for ATTACKS against it, not Pokémon Powers. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q9)

Q. What would happen if Rocket's Mewtwo with 5 damage counters uses Juxtapose against a Fossil Haunter with 0 damage and gets heads on Juxtapose, would Transparency trigger or would the 5 damage counters move to Haunter and then knocking it out?
A. Transparency says : Whenever an attack does anything to Haunter, flip a coin, if heads, prevent all effects of that attack, including damage, done to Haunter. Switching damage counters is an effect of the Juxtapose attack. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1077)

== TRICKERY (Rattata - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Suppose I have a Team Rocket Rattata on my bench, no cards left in my deck, and one prize left. Can I use Rattata's "Trickery" Pokémon Power to switch that Prize into my deck for the win?
A. Nope, sorry. Ratatta's Power says: "switch". (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q170; May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q94)

Q. If my opponent plays Here Comes Team Rocket, and I have Unown S and R Rattata, can I use Unown S to turn my prizes back over and R Rattata and eventually scramble/hide my prizes again?
A. Nope, Here Comes Team Rocket changes the game so you play with your prize cards face up for the rest of the game. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q371)

== VENOM SPRAY (Beedrill - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. For Skyridge Beedrill's "Venom Spray" power, if Muk was the Defending Pokemon would Venom Spray go first and shut off Muk's "Toxic Gas" (due to being paralyzed/poisoned), or would Muk turn off Venom Spray before it could paralyze/poison the Muk?
A. Correct... Toxic Gas is turned off.... (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1484 & 1502)

== WATER CYCLONE (Kingdra - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Can Rainbow Energy be moved from an Active Pokémon to a benched Pokémon using Aquapolis Kingdra's Water Cyclone power?
A. Yes, that will work. (May 1, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1388)

== WILD GROWTH (Meganium - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

* Meganium's "Wild Growth" power states each grass energy CARD provides 2 grass energy instead of 1. An energy card is defined as "the type of card that powers your Pokémon and makes them able to attack", in the Neo rulebook. So a DCE, a Buzzap'd Electrode, and of course basic energy cards all fall under this definition. Also, if a card provides energy of a certain type, then it is considered an energy CARD of that type. So a DCE on a Ditto opposite a grass Pokémon with a Meganium in play would STILL only provide 2 grass energy. If you treat the DCE as providing 2 grass energy (due to Ditto's Transform ability) then the DCE now counts as a grass energy CARD. Wild Growth states "each Grass energy cards provides 2 grass energy instead of 1". It doesn't matter that the DCE was ALREADY providing 2 grass energy. The Wild Growth just says "all grass energy cards attached provide 2 grass energy". So end result is that the DCE STILL provides 2 grass energy. It is NOT doubled. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If my opponent used Meganium's Wild Growth power, do my grass energies count as doubles too?
A. No. Only your opponent's. (Mar 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q321)

Q. With Meganium's Pokémon Power "Wild Growth", if you have two of these Meganiums in play, does that make every Grass Energy on your Grass Pokémon count for more than two?
A. Nope. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q78)

Q. Meganium doubles grass energy so if a rainbow energy counting as grass would be doubled, right?
A. Yes, but only as grass energy. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q72)

POKÉMON ATTACKS

[ Top | Errata | Pokémon Powers | Pokémon Attacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards | Energy Cards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

== AEROWING (Lugia - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. For Neo: Revelation Lugia's "Aerowing" attack, if I understand its wording correctly, I can either choose to flip a coin with a 50/50 chance to do 80 damage, or I can choose not to flip and just do 40 damage regardless. Is this correct?
A. Yes, that's correct. The first card that allows that choice. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q43 & Q63)

== AGILITY (Raichu - Base Set, Rapidash - Jungle Expansion, others)

* Suicune and all similar affects (Haunter's Transparency, Agility, etc.) have been clarified and finalized. While attacks are still always against the Defending Pokemon, regardless of where their effects end up, the effects end up on a specific Pokemon. So Suicune's Crystal Body Power which reads: "Prevent all effects of your opponent's attacks, other than damage, done to Suicune", means that ONLY effects done TO Suicune are prevented. [...] It is important to recognize that attacks are always against the Defending Pokemon, which is why Cleffa's Eeeeeeek can be prevented by a Smokescreen effect or any other attack prevention even though the Eeeeeeek! attack does not do anything to the Defending Pokemon. So, Crystal Body, Agility, and Haunter's Transparency do NOT prevent Eeeeeeek!, only effects of attacks that are done TO them. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. Does Rapidash's Agility Stop Kangaskhan's fetch?
A. No. Agility only stops effects that target Rapidash. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Does Fearow's Agility attack block Kangaskhan's Fetch?
A. Actually it does not; Fearow's Agility says stops damage done to Fearow, and the Fetch just draws a card. This is the new ruling from R&D. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. If Rapidash uses agility and I flip heads am I still affected by Moltres' Wild Fire?
A. Gee, I was asked this one last week. Same answer as for the Eevee/Tail Wag scenario. The Agility would prevent Moltres' WildFire Attack. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. If my Pokémon uses Agility and get heads then on my opponent's next turn he benches his Pokémon, does that [Ed. Note: Agility's effect] end? If that Pokémon was Knocked Out, would Agility still be on the next Pokémon that he sends up?
A. Since the Agility Attack references Rapidash, only Benching or Evolving him ends the effect. Also since it only refers to Rapidash it would still be effect if the other player benched. (6-30-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If you flip HEADS for an Agility attack may your opponent use an attack like Hitmonlee's Stretch Kick or Kangakhan's Fetch that turn?
A. If you're talking about Rapidash, Agility will prevent any attacks or effects of attacks DONE to Rapidash. So effects to other Pokémon will still happen. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q33)

Q. If a Raichu (or whatever) does Agility and flips heads, does an attack that would do damage to benched pokemon, or some other effect that does NOT do damage or something to Raichu work?
A. Yes it would, while all attacks are considered against the defending Pokemon (which is why something that prevents attacks would stop it in this case), Agility only prevents the effects of that attack if they affect Raichu only. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q83)

Q. How does Agility and Dark Wartortle Mirror Shell interact? 
A. Agility does NOT prevent Mirror Shell from happening as it does NOT refer to the Defending Pokémon when this attack is done. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. How much damage is done to each Pokémon if Rapidash uses Agility (Heads) followed by opponent Dark Wartortle's Mirror Shell followed by Rapidash's Agility (Tails)? Is it 0, 30, or 60?
A. It would be 60 as Agility would NOT prevent Mirror Shell (it doesn't refer to Rapidash). Then if Rapidash did 30 to Dark Wartortle the Mirror Shell would attack back for 30 (the word ATTACK is in the Mirror Shell description) and since Rapidash is weak to water it would be doubled to 60. (Jun 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q40; Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. When using Raichu's Agility attack it states that if heads, Raichu will not receive damage until after the opponent's turn. If Raichu is poisoned and then gets heads, will he take damage from poison at the end of his turn?
A. Yes, Agility is referring to effects of attacks on Raichu during your opponent's next turn. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q87)

Q. If a Pokémon gets a heads on Agility, then the other pokemon uses Agility, is it still vulnerable even if it flips heads (in other words, can agility be prevented by another agility as an effect of an attack)?
A. Sure. The CURRENT Rule is that Agility prevents effects of attacks that are being done against the Pokemon with Agility. There is no targeting in that case. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q24 & Q37)

== AMNESIA (Poliwhirl - Base Set, Wooper - Neo: Genesis Expansion, others)

* If a Pokemon has copies of other Pokemon's attacks on it (such as Sabrina's Alakazam), it will NOT have multiple copies of identical attacks. This means that is Sabrina's Alakazam was your Active Pokemon and you had a Mind Shock attack that does 30 damage and a Mind Shock attack that does 40 damage on the bench, you would gain a copy of each of those attacks as they are NOT identical (the amount of damage done is different). Different attacks can have the same name. An attack is considered identical if it has the same attack cost, name, and does identical damage and effects. If Amnesia ("Choose 1 of your opponent's attacks, that attack cannot be used next turn") is done against the Sabrina's Alakazam in this example, the attacker would have to choose the Mind Shock that does 30 damage or the Mind Shock that does 40 damage, NOT just "Mind Shock". (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If I use Poliwhirl's Amnesia against an active Sabrina's Alakazam with "Psylink" Pokémon Power, can I choose to prevent Sabrina's Alakazam from using one of the benched Psychic Pokémon's attacks or does it have to Amnesia the Mega Burn attack?
A. Yes you could do that as Psylink says it always has copies of those attacks. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q8)

Q. If Wooper uses Amnesia on Scyther's Slash, then Scyther retreats for another Pokémon, then that Pokémon retreats for Scyther again, can Scyther use Slash? There's a ruling in the Compendium right now that seems to contradict the general effects interpretation.
A. Amnesia references the defending Pokemon, when that Pokemon is benched the effect ends. (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q269)

== ANCESTRAL MEMORY (Giovanni's Magikarp - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Say I evolved Giovanni's Magikarp into Giovanni's Gyarados. Will I be able to 'Recall' Ancestral Memory with the Recall trainer card?
A. Nope. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q37)

== ATTRACT CURRENT (Ampharos - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. For Ampharos's Attract Current attack: If you get two heads you can attach 1L energy to two different pokemon
A. You can put them on the same or different Pokemon. (Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q150)

Q. For Ampharos' "Attract Current" attack, if I get 3 heads can I attach all three Lightning energies to the same pokemon if I wish?
A. Yes you could. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. If I use Neo:Revelation Ampharos' Attract Current, do I have to take an L energy for each heads? or can I take less?
A. You have the choice, the card says for each heads you MAY....... (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q37)

== BARRIER (Mewtwo - Base Set)

Q. Would Base Mewtwo's "Barrier" attack prevent the effect portion of attacks such as Ninetales' "Lure" (switch), Pidgeot's "Hurricane" (back into hand), or Dragonair's "Hyper Beam" (discard an energy card) from happening to Mewtwo? 
A. Yes they would, it prevents ALL effects from an attack [that affect Mewtwo directly]. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q10)

Q. Is base Mewtwo's "Barrier" like a "Smokescreen" (the attack fails), or does Barrier only prevent damage and effects done to Mewtwo? (Would "Fetch", "Messenger", "Scavenge", "Stretch Kick", etc., still work despite the Barrier?)
A. Barrier is unlike Smokescreen in that Barrier will prevent effects _to_ Mewtwo, but other effects will still happen. So Fetch would work against Barrier. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q32)

== BARRIER ATTACK (Sabrina's Porygon - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Does Sabrina's Porygon's 'Barrier Attack' effect last even if it's Benched the turn after it was used?
A. No, if it's benched that effect is gone. (May 17, 2001 WotC Chat, Q69)

== BENCH MANIPULATION (Dark Hypno - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. When you use Dark Hypno's Bench Manipulation attack, the text is unclear as to whether the damage goes onto the benched Pokémon or if the damage goes onto the defending Pokémon. It says "this attack does 20x the # of tails" but to whom?
A. Just the Defending Pokémon, that's all. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q74)

== BIG EGGSPLOSION (Exeggutor - Jungle Expansion)

Q. How many energies can I attach to an Exeggutor for Big Explosion?
A. This is no limit. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Exeeggutor "Big Eggsplosion", will you flip two coins or one coin if there is a double colorless energy?
A. It counts the energy, not the energy cards. That means a DC attached to Exeggutor nets you two flips, not one, for Big Eggsplosion. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q96)

Q. If you have an Exeggutor with 3 grass energies on it and a Meganium with Wild Growth in play do you flip 6 times?
A. You would flip 6 times. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q192)

== BLACK FANG (Houndoom - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. When you attack with Black Fang, would you also flip for any Rainbow Energy attached?
A. Yes. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q59)

== BONFIRE (Blaine's Charmeleon - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Say I'm a Ditto with 2 DCE and I'm copying Blaine's Charmeleon's Bonfire attack. I flip 2 heads and 1 tail. Do I need to discard both my DCE in order for the attack to deal damage or would 1 DCE take care of it?
A. Discard just one. [Ed.Note: Same rule would apply to any Energy-Burned DCE's or Fire-Buzzap'd Electrodes if they could find their way onto a Blaine's Charmeleon.] (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. I've got Blaine's Charmeleon's active with two Buzzaped Electrodes (one is providing RR, the other RG). I attack with Bonfire and flip 2 heads and 1 tails. What should I discard in order to make the damage successful?
A. The one electrode that is providing RR. [Ed. Note: Buzzaped Electrodes provide 2 energy of ONE type, so a Buzzaped Electrode CANNOT produce RG as suggested by the question.] (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q28)

== BOYFRIENDS (Nidoqueen - Jungle Expansion)

Q. For Nidoqueen's Boyfriends attack, would a Giovanni's Nidoking on the bench add 20 to the Damage?
A. Nope. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q108)

== BUBBLE JUMP (Light Azumarill - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If I have a Light Azumarill as my active and I attach a Miracle Energy to it and attack with Bubble Jump and get a heads can I move the Miracle Energy to another pokemon that is not Light or Shining and does it still have to be discarded?
A. Yes, it will be discarded at the end of your turn. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q493)

Q. Light Azumarill's Bubble Jump attack: You only do the 'Then run away' part if you get heads?
A. Correct, both effects are tied to the coin flip. Just badly templated. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q100)

Q. If Light Azumarill has a Miracle Energy attached, if heads does the Miracle Energy go back to the hand?
A. If the Miracle Energy is still on Light Azumarill after you have moved the 2 energy cards required, then yes, you would return Light Azumarill AND all cards attached back to your hand. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q602)

== BUBBLES (Misty's Poliwag - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Since Sputter's effect goes away when Magby is benched, evolved, or knocked out, does the same apply for Misty's Poliwag's Bubbles attack?
A. Yes. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q295)

== BURN BOOSTER (Flareon - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge Flareon: for Burn Booster, if you discard a Darkness Energy, do you still get the extra 10 damage that Darkness provides?
A. No, you wouldn't get the extra damage. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1531)

== BURNING FIRE (Magmar - Promo)

Q. With the new promo Magmar, can you discard a Grass Energy that has been Energy Burned by Base Set Charizard in order to get an extra damage?
A. Yes. (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

== BURST (Pineco - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

* Here's how it works. There are actually 2 flips! The attack does 40 damage [to the opponent]. Then flip a coin, if heads the attack ALSO does 40 damage to Pineco AND 10 damage to each benched Pokemon. Then flip another coin, if that second coin is tails, then this attack does NOTHING (not even the regular 40 damage). So there are three possible results:
First if both coins flips are tails, the attack does nothing.
If the first one is Heads, and the second is tails, this attack STILL does nothing!
If the first flip is tails and the second is heads, the attack does 40.
If the first is heads, and the second is heads, the attack does 40, and 40 to itself AND 10 to each benched Pokemon. (May 31, 2001 WotC Chat, mid-point Announcement)

Q. So for Pineco's Burst attack, if I flip tails first what happens? Does the attack do nothing or do I flip for the 2nd "flip a coin"?"
A. Go to the second flip. If you got tails on the first flip, the attack will still do the regular 40 unless you get tails on the second flip. (May 31, 2001 WotC Chat, Q253)

== CALL BACK (Dark Haunter - Neo: Destiny Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

Q. So Dark Haunter's Call Back attack doesn't work if either players bench is full, right?
A. No, it only doesn't work if your opponent's bench is full. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q438)

== CALL FOR FAMILY (Nidoran F - Jungle Expansion)

Q. Can you use the attack Call for Family just to shuffle your deck?
A. If you have one of the Pokémon in your deck you must put it on the bench. If you don't (even if you know you don't), you could still use the attack, look and not find the card, and then shuffle your deck. (6-30-00 WotC Chat)

== CALLED SHOT (Exeggutor - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. If I have "Wild Growth" Meganium in play, each Grass Energy counts as two for Exeggutor's "Called Shot" attack, right?
A. Correct. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1509)

== CHAIN LIGHTNING (Electrode - Jungle Expansion)

Q. Does Jungle Electrode apply weakness and resistance for benched Pokemon (it doesn't say not to...)?
A. If it doesn't say then you wouldn't apply Weakness and Resistance. This has been verified. It has been ruled that W/R does not apply to the bench unless specificly mandated by the card. Period. That is a meta-game rule. It was never intended that the W/R would apply to the bench unless specificly stated. Yes we do know that some Pokemon say not to apply W/R to the Bench. (Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q153; May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements & Q44)


== CHAR (Quilava - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Can a Pokémon have multiple char counters?
A. No. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q135)

Q. If one of my evolved Pokémon has a Char counter on it, and I use Devolution Spray, is the Pokémon still Charred?
A. That should work [i.e., Pokémon is no longer Charred if this occurred]. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q86b)

Q. What ways other than "Scoop Up" or evolving can be used to remove the status effect from Quilava's "Char" attack? (NOTE: Benching does not remove this effect)
A. Basically, you got them all there. It stays if the Pokémon is benched, but is removed if it evolves or leaves play. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q2 & Q31)

Q. Would Full Heal Energy remove "Char"?
A. No. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q195)

* The level 25 Quilava's Char attack states that "a Char counter requires your opponent to flip a coin after every turn. If tails, put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon with that Char counter". This is different than what is stated in the Neo rulebook (Flip to see if a Pokémon with a Char counter takes damage). The rulebook is incorrect in this case. Play Char as is written on the card. [Ed.Note: So the Char effect "places counters" rather than "does damage"]. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I have a Ditto active with 50 damage and my opponent a Quilava (with Char) with X amount of damage. Who flips for Char first? If they flip first, and they get KO'ed, do I flip for Char first or after they bring up their new Pokémon?
A. So they both have Char counters then? The player whose turn it is next will have to move their next active up first. It doesn't matter who flips first because they happen at the same time. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q112)

== COLLAPSE (Rocket's Snorlax - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. If Rocket's Snorlax used Collapse, would you flip after the same turn you attacked?
A. Yes, you would. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q40)

== CONTINUOUS FIREBALL (Dark Charizard - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Does Dark Charizard still have too flip for all of his energies when you do Continuous Fireball? After you already Knocked Out the Defending Pokémon?
A. Yes, Dark Charizard will have to finish flipping coins even after enough damage has been done to the Defending Pokémon. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q7)

*Dark Charizard's Continuous Fireball attack- A Buzzap'ed Electrode that was chosen as fire energy would count as ONE Fire Energy card (and would only give you one flip of the coin). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Annoucement)

Q. If my Dark Charizard was hit with Smokesceen, what order would I do the attack?
A. You would check for Smokescreen BEFORE you flip coins for the attack and then later discard Fire Energy. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q96)

== CONVERSION 1/2 (Porygon - Base Set, Porygon - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Regarding Porygon's Conversion 1: How long does the effect last? If Porygon gets Knocked Out, does the effect wear off? If the Defending Pokémon retreats, does it wear off? Or both?
A. Conversion effects are removed (as all effects are) when the "converted" Pokémon goes to the Bench or evolves. Even if Porygon is retreated or removed, the Defending Pokémon is still affected. (Jan 20 WotC Chat; May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. Porygon's Conversion 1 says "Change the Defending Pokémon's Weakness to a type of your choice other than Colorless." Are Dark and Steel legal types for Conversion attacks?
A. Yes they would be. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q269)

Q. Is Porygon's Conversion 1/2 canceled if Porygon or your opponent's Pokémon is Knocked Out or Benched?
A. If the opponent's Pokémon is benched, the Conversion effect ends. It doesn't matter if Porygon is. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. How long does Porygons attacks last?
A. Just while the converted Pokémon is the Active Pokémon. Remember that anything other than damage that was the result of a Pokémon attack goes away if the affected Pokémon goes to the bench. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q78)

Q. So if Porygon uses Conversion 1 on Ditto, then if Porygon retreats for someone with no Weakness, the status effect remains but is not applied. Then, if the Active retreats for someone with a Weakness, since the status effect is still present on the Converted Ditto, Weakness is once more applied. Are both of these correct?
A. Yes, that's right. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q48 & Q49)

* If you use Porygon's Coversion attack on a Ditto, the effect takes place. If the Ditto Transforms into another Pokémon, the Conversion effect is still on it. This is because the use of a Pokémon Power does NOT end an attack's effect. If the Ditto were to Transform into a Pokémon that did NOT have a Weakness then it would still not have a Weakness as the Conversion effect states : If the Defending Pokémon has a Weakness, you may change it to a type of your choice other than Colorless. This does mean that if that Ditto were to later Transform to a Pokémon that DID have a Weakness, the Conversion effect would still be on the Ditto and would effect the resultant Weakness. Conversion, as all attack effects would be removed if Ditto was Benched or left play. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. My question is also about Porygon's Conversion attack: if Porygon uses its Conversion attack to change the defender's type to what its strong against what would happen when its attacked by that type? Would they each cancel each other out, would it double damage then take away 30, would it take away 30 then double?
A. Weakness is calculated first (damage would be doubled), then Resistance is calculated (you would subtract 30 from the damage total). (Jan 20 WotC Chat) [this is the same as in the rulebook}

== CORE BLAST (Light Golduck - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Let's say my opponent has a WEEDLE with a double colorless energy. Would Light Golduck's Core Blast attack do 50 damage?
A. Yes it would. DCE is considered a Special Energy even though it isn't written on the card. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q141)

== CORE STREAM (Starmie - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. If you attack with Starmie's Core Stream and choose a type of energy, if there is a Rainbow Energy Card attached to one (or more) of the opponent's Pokemon, does the Rainbow Energy count as that type too for this attack?
A. Yes it would because an in play Rainbow Energy counts as all types. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q26)

== COUNTER (Wobbuffet - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. Kadabra vs. Wobbuffet: If Kadabra does Super Psy for 50 x 2 (weakness) = 100 damage, and if Wobbuffet flips heads because it Countered last turn, does it do 100 to Kadabra or 100 x 2 = 200 to Kadabra?
A. It would do the 200, because it is a new attack, and then gets the weakness. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q45)

Q. Sabrina's Gastly w/Fade Out vs. Wobbuffet. If I Fade Out, and Wobbuffet flips heads, does it do damage to my Sabrina's Gastly or my next active taking the Gastly's place?
A. Wobuffet attacks Sabrina's Gastly back before the Sabrina's Gastly gets returned to the player's hand. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q53 & after-Q71)

Q. If Wobbuffet used Counter last turn, and a Pokemon with Plus Powers attached attacks Wobbuffet, do the Plus Powers apply when figuring out Wobbuffet's recoil damage from Counter?
A. Yes, it would. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If a Wobbuffet had a Focus Band and had used Counter and had 70 damage, then on your opponent's turn it got hit with 30 damage and Focus Band worked, would Wobbufet do 10 because that's how much it took or 30 because that's the amount it defended itself against?
A. It would be 30. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q82)

Q. If Wobbuffet got heads on counter would the damage a Rocket Mewtwo's Juxtapose attack go back to the Rockets Mewtwo?
A. No, it won't. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q101)

Q. Would Wobbuffet's Counter if successful ignore an opposing Focus Band??
A. No it doesn't. To clarify: Focus Band will not be triggered by Crosscounter or Counter as these are not considered actual attacks. (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q128 & Q149 & after-Q150)

Q. Attacks like Crosscutter and Counter [ed. note: and Mirror Shell] have effects that trigger when your opponent attacks, but they are not considered actual attacks (i.e. won't trigger a Focus Band). Is a Baby flip required for those attack back effects if a Baby's attack triggers them?
A. Nope, they [Ed.Note: the "recoil effects"] aren't actual attacks so they don't trigger the baby rule flip. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q92)

== CROSSCOUNTER (Rocket's Hitmonchan - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Do you apply Weakness and Resistance for Rockets Hitmochan's Crosscounter?
A. Yes, you do. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q57 & Q225)

Q. Does Crosscounter activate Focus Band? Is this the same with Wobbuffet's Counter?
A. No it doesn't. To clarify: Focus Band will not be triggered by Crosscounter or Counter as these are not considered actual attacks. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q49; May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q128 & Q149 & after-Q150)

Q. Attacks like Crosscutter and Counter [ed. note: and Mirror Shell] have effects that trigger when your opponent attacks, but they are not considered actual attacks (i.e. won't trigger a Focus Band). Is a Baby flip required for those attack back effects if a Baby's attack triggers them?
A. Nope, they [Ed.Note: the "recoil effects"] aren't actual attacks so they don't trigger the baby rule flip. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q92)

Q. If Rocket's Hitmonchan is put to Sleep during the opponent's turn (either by the Sleep! card or Drowzee), but used Crosscounter the previous turn, would it still be able to use the Crosscounter recoil if attacked? 
A. Yes it would. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q110)

Q. If Rocket's Hitmonchan uses Crosscounter on my turn, goes to the bench on my opponent's turn and is brought back out again and attacked, will Crosscounter's effect still trigger?
A. No, it's removed by benching since that effect 'sits' on Rocket's Hitmochan. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q92)

Q. If a Rocket's Hitmonchan has done Crosscounter, and the other player attacks with Plus Powers, will the Plus Power damage be crosscountered back?
A. Yes, it would double the _entire_ amount of damage dealt. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q105)

Q. Does Agility prevent Rocket's Hitmonchan's Crosscounter from occurring (Agility used last turn, Crosscounter is then used this turn)? Or what if Crosscounter came first, and then Agility?
A. Agility prevents Crosscounter if used first. If Crosscounter is done first it will still occur against a Pokemon with Agility in effect. (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. On Rocket's Hitmonchan and Mr. Mime's Meditate. My opponent's Rocket's Hitmonchan (with 20 damage) uses Crosscounter. I activate Mr. Mime. Meditate does 60 damage to to Hitmonchan (Mediate initially does 30 but with Weakness it gets doubled to 60). Now my opponent flips heads, therefore Crosscounter counters with a 120 hit (Hitmonchan received 60 damage so Crosscounters returns double that - 120). My Mr. Mime blocks it with the Invisible Wall and Rocket's Hitmonchan is KO'd. Is this scenario correct?
A. That sounds correct." (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q27)

Q. OK, if you have a Rocket's Scyther Shadow Image, and then a Rocket's Hitmonchan Crisscounter's, and then Scyther uses Blinding Scythe, does Scyther have to flip 1 or 2 heads to make crosscounter successful....
A. Two, one to check to see if Crosscounter works, if it does, then you would flip to see if Shadow Image blocks the damage. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q126)

Q. What would happen if Sabrina's Kadabra uses Life Drain on a Rocket's Hitmonchan that used Crosscounter during its last turn, can Rocket's 'chan flip for Crosscounter, or it doesn't because it doesn't get damaged?
A. It doesn't because it was not damaged, just had damage counters placed on it. Not the same thing. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1054)

== CRUNCH (Houndoom - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. On neo 2 's Houndoom, does the Crunch effect go away if the defending pokemon is benched and then comes back?
A. Correct the effect would go away. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. If Houndoom does "Crunch", the +20 effect ends when the defending pokemon is benched. However, what happens if the Houndoom gets benched? Does the effect reside on the Defending pokemon only, or does it require that the Houndoom stay active too?
A. Benching Houndoom does not end the effect. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q265)

Q. Houndoom's attack Crunch when I use it does my opponent's next attack increase by 20?
A. No. Only if they attack themselves. (Jun 21, 2001 WotC Chat, Q22; Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q32)

Q. Since Houndoom's Crunch lasts "until end of my next turn", I get to add 20 if I damage them this turn, the opponent adds 20 for any self-damage on their turn, and then I still get to add 20 on my following turn as long as they're still active. Right?
A. You are partially correct. You do NOT add extra damage on the turn you do Crunch as all text from an attack takes place AFTER damage is already applied. But you are correct about self damage and attacking on your next turn. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q12)

Q. If you use Houndoom's Crunch attack, and your opponent uses a self-damaging attack during their turn (while Crunch is in effect), a) will the self-damage be increased by 20? B) will you still get the +20 effect during your next turn if you do damage to that Pokémon?
A. a) Yes. B)Yes. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q51)

== CRUSHING BLOW (Dark Feraligatr - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If my Dark Feraligatr is against a Cleffa, do I still need to flip for the Baby Rule in order to do the "Crushing Blow" attack?
A. You still must flip for the Baby Rule. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q462)

== CRUSHING LAVA (Magcargo - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. For Skyridge Magcargo's "Crushing Lava" attack, if I discard a Rainbow Energy do I get to Burn the opponent *and* do +20 damage?
A. No, because you can only discard "Basic" Fire or Fighting energies. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1624)

== CRYSTAL BEAM (Misty's Tentacool - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. If the opponent retreats their active after a successful Misty's Tentacool's Crystal Beam attack, would they be able to attach energy to it? 
A. That's an attack effect that will be removed in the normal ways. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q134)

Q. If Misty's Tentacool uses Crystal Beam on a Pokémon, can an Electrode be Buzzap'd onto that Pokémon?
A. Yes it could, the Crystal Beam ONLY prevents the attaching of energy from your hand (your free normal attachment). (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q8 & Q117)

Q. If you use Misty's Tentacool's Crystal Beam against a Blaine's Pokémon, during their next turn, if they use "Blaine", is that prevented, as it is "instead of your free energy attachment"?
A. They won't be able to play Blaine because they no longer have a free energy attachment to replace. (May 17, 2001 WotC Chat, Q113)

Q. Which of these can be used through Misty's Tentacruel's Crystal Beam attack: Blastoise [Rain Dance], Blaine [Trainer card] *Editor's note: has been overruled, see above*, Movie Mewtwo [Energy Absorption], Base Set Venasaur [Energy Trans]?
A. All those will work according to R & D. [Ed.Note #1: So basically, any powers, attacks, or trainers that attach energy other than a normal free energy attachment are NOT prevented by Crystal Beam.] [Ed.Note #2: The "Blaine" portion of this ruling has been reversed (***see above***)]. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q123)

== DAMAGE SHIFT (Sabrina's Golduck - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. About Sabrina's Golduck, will Haunter's Transparency prevent damage shift? Can Chansey or Clefable prevent damage moved?
A. Anything that "prevents all effects from an attack" would stop Damage Shift. But something that only "prevents damage" would not. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q689)

== DARK FIRE (Dark Houndoom - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Concerning Dark Houndoom's "Dark Fire" attack, is discarding a Darkness energy in order to get the extra damage optional or mandatory?
A. Discarding Darkness energy for that attack is not optional. (May 9, 2002 WotC Chat, Q7)

Q. How much damage does the Dark Fire attack do if you discard a Rainbow or Miracle Energy? How about a Darkness Energy card?
A. Discard an actual Darkness Energy and the attack does 60, discard anything else that is providing Darkness energy (Rainbow, Buzzaped Electrode) and the attack does 50. The intent of the card is that Darkness Energy would still get to do its extra 10 damage even though it is in fact being discarded BEFORE damage is actually done. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q29)

Q. Is the 10 damage from Darkness Energy added before or after Weakness/Resistance when it's discarded for Dark Houndoom's Dark Fire?
A. After Weakness and Resistance. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q39)

Q. I'm pretty sure this is a no, but can you discard more then one darkness energy on Dark Houndoom to do more damage?
A. No you can't. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q64)

== DARK FLAME (Houndoom - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Neo 3 Houndoom; Would its first attack Dark Flame do 20 plus 10 more for the Darkness Energy you attach from the attack?
A. You would do the damage from that attack first, THEN attach a Darkness Energy from the discard pile. That attached Darkness Energy would not add to the total damage done. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q215 & Q223)

== DARK IMPACT (Houndoom - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Will Houndoom's Dark Impact still prevent the Defending Pokemon from using Pokemon Powers if it retreats to the Bench?
A. Benching ends that effect. I believe. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q958)

== DARK WAVE (Sabrina's Gengar - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If you use Sabrina's Gengar's Dark Wave (which does 20 damage and stops Pokémon Powers) on a Mr. Mime (which would normally take no damage because its weakness is psychic and it has the Pokémon Power: Invisible Wall,) does it knockout the Mr. Mime?
A. No, because the order of applying damage says that other effects of attacks will happen last. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q282)

== DESTINY BOND (Gastly - Base Set)

Q. On Destiny Bond, if the opponent uses it can't I just use Gust Of Wind or pass for my turn? Then the Gastly would be basically useless.
A. Yes. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q137)

Q. If my Gastly is poisoned, charred, etc. and Gastly uses Destiny Bond, and is not KOd by the opponent's attack but rather the effects, will the opponent still be KOd too?
A. Nope. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q78)

== DESTRUCTIVE FIRE (Shining Tyranitar - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If Shining Tyranitar's "Destructive Fire" attack is Metronomed or copied by Misty's Psyduck's (lv 18) ESP, does the attack still do 50, even if there are no Fire Energy cards attached to the Pokemon doing the Attack?
A. The answer is yes. You wouldn't get the extra stuff, but you would get the damage. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q376)

== DEVOLUTION BEAM (Mew - Promo)

Q. Can you evolve a Pokémon right after Mew devolves it or do you have to wait a turn?
A. If you devolve your own, you just did an attack and your turn is over. If you devolved the opponent's Pokémon, he can evolve it on his turn. (2-10-00, 6-1-00 Q54 & 6-30-00 WotC Chat)

Q. On Mew's attack it says, "Just as if it had evolved", since it de-evolved then it shouldn't be able to evolve?
A. Nope, you are using the attack against the other player on YOUR Turn. The statement of "just as if it had evolved" has to do with ending attack effects. The other player CAN evolve that Pokémon on their turn. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q99)

Q. If you use Mew's Devolution Beam on a Stage 2 Pokémon that has been evolved using a Pokémon breeder does the Stage 2 Pokémon turn into the Basic Pokémon?
A. Yes it would, as the Stage 1 Pokémon card isn't there. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q68)

Q. If Vaporeon is hit with Mew's devolution beam, and reverts to Eevee, can I then evolve Eevee into Flareon or Jolteon when I get the chance, or am can that Eevee only evolve into Vaporeon again?
A. When it is your turn you could choose to have him evolve however you want (within the evolution rules of course). (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q192)

Q. Would Devolution Beam from Mew work on evolved baby Pokémon?
A. Yes. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q221)

Q. If I use Promo Mew's Devolution Beam on an opposing Typhosion with 90 damage and a Focus Band on it, does Focus Band trigger?
A. Yes, if the attack causes the Pokemon to be KO'd during that player's turn (read: not poison) then the Focus Band will trigger. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q161 & Q169)

== DOUBLE CLAW (Scizor - Neo: Discovery Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

Q. On the Neo Discovery Scizor, there is a misprint there, are you gonna errata it?
A. It is played as on the wording, it is played as it is 20x not 20+. It's a misprint, just play it as though it says 20x for the damage. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q2 & Q27 & Q95 & Q140)

== DOUBLE-EDGE (Chansey - Base Set)

Q. Here's a Haunter question. Say Chansey Double-edges my Active Fossil Haunter. I flip heads. Does Chansey still do 80 damage to himself?
A. Yes it does, Transparency only prevents effects of attacks done to Haunter only. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q72)

== DRAG OFF (Dark Machoke - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If you have Dark Machoke active and attack with "Drag Off" against a non-Baby Pokemon, and you choose a Baby Pokemon from his bench to be active and recieve the damage, do you have to flip for the Baby Power?
A. Nope. (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30)

== DRAGON TORNADO (Kingdra - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If you use Kingdra's Dragon Tornado against Misty's Tentacruel, what happens? Who chooses which Benched Pokémon is sent out?
A. Flee goes off BEFORE damage is done so it would happen first, then the Dragon Tornado is done AFTER the damage is done to the replaced Pokémon. You would ultimately choose the final one though you would NOT have damaged the Misty's Tentacruel in this case. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q125)

== EARTH RIFT (Steelix - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. On the AQ Steelix does benching remove the effect of the flip from Earth Rift so I could use that attack next turn?
A. Benching always ends these effects. We have said this for every Pokemon that has come out with a similar effect. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q975)

== EEEEEEEK (Cleffa - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. With Cleffa, do you have to have at least one card in order to use it's attack?
A. Nope, you can shuffle in a hand of zero cards. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q116)

Q. If you announce I am Eeeeeeeking, can my opponent draw his card as if it was the start of his turn before I draw my 7 cards?
A. Technically your opponent should wait until you draw the 7 cards. However since you are unable to play any of them since your turn is over, this is a pretty minor rules violation and would normally just get a warning to not do it again. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q5a)

== ELECTROBURN (Rocket's Zapdos - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. A Buzzapped Electrode on a Rocket's Zapdos, how does this play when Zapdos does his Electroburn Attack... as far as the damage done to Zapdos..??
A. In this case Rocket's Zapdos states 'Lightning energy cards' so the Buzzap'd Electrode would only count as one Lightning card. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q39)

A. If I play a Rocket Zapdos and attach three rainbow to it and one lets say potion energy, do the three rainbow do 10 damage each to Zapdos when I use Electroburn???
A. While Rainbow energy is in play it counts as every type, so yes it would do 10 damage. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q80)

Q. If I had a Rocket's Zapdos with a Buzzap'd Electrode (2L), 1 Rainbow, and 1 Metal Energy, would the net recoil damage be zero [20 - 10(1st Metal sentence) - 10(2nd Metal sentence) = 0]?
A. Correct. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q35)

== EMPATHIC HEALING (Celebi - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. For Crystal Celebi's "Empathic Healing" attack, if Celebi is currently colorless does it heal all your colorless Pokemon (i.e. Tauros, Meowth, etc.)?
A. Yes it does. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1625)

== ENDURE (Phanpy - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Phanpy's "Endure" attack says "if heads, then if Phanpy is KO'd by an attack, its remaining HP become 10 instead". Would Misty's Staryu's "Swift" attack ignore this condition since it affects the amount of damage that would be done?
A. Nope, the damage is done from the Swift THEN if that would knock out the Phanpy its attack effect would kick in. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q27)

== ENERGY KICK (Elekid - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. For Aquapolis Elekid's Energy Kick, who chooses which Pokemon to move the Energy card to, the attacking player or the defending player?
A. The opponent they use it against chooses where to put the Energy. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q863 & Q884)

== ENTANGLE (Dark Ariados - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Dark Ariados' Entangle - if the new active is a baby, would I have to flip for the baby rule prior to paralization?
A. No you would not. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q451)

== ENTRAP (Rocket's Sneasel - Promo)

Q. With Winner promo [Rocket's] Sneasel, Entrap doesn't do the 10 added damage for darkness right? I am thinking "no" since Darkness requires damage to be done to add the 10, but I was asked to ask.
A. Correct, it does not do any damage so no extra damage form Darkness Energy attached. (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q294)

== ENERGY ABSORPTION (Mewtwo Lv. 60 -  Promo)

Q. Can I use Promo Mewtwo's Energy Absorption on a Mewtwo on the bench? It doesn't specifically say the ACTIVE Mewtwo.
A. Unless it says you can target a benched, you have to deal with the active one. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Just to verify, Promo Mewtwo's Energy Absorption and Fossil Gastly's Energy Conversion can take DCE and other non-basic energy from the discard pile, because it does not specifically say BASIC energy, right?
A. Keywreckt. :) [Ed. Note: "Correct"]. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q187)

Q. If Movie Promo Mewtwo attacks with Energy Absorption, and one of the cards attached from the discard pile is Rainbow Energy, that energy does not do any damage to Mewtwo (since the card was not played from the hand) but can still be consider Psychic energy?
A. Correct! That would work! Good question. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q17, July 27, 2000 WotC Chat)

== ENERGY CONVERSION (Gastly - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Can Fossil Gastly use his Energy Conversion to retrieve Double Colorless Energy cards?
A. Sure, he can retrieve 2 Energy CARDS, either or both could be DCEs. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

== ENERGY CYCLE (Xatu - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If I use Xatu's Energy Cycle, can I take a Darkness Energy and move it to a Cleffa (for example)?
A. Yes. (May 31, 2001 WotC Chat, Q284)

== ENERGY SPLASH (Politoed - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge Politoed: if it has 2 Rainbow and say 3 Grass, the Rainbow still get moved, right?
A. Correct-o. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1512)

Q. Skyridge Politoed Energy Splash vs Neutral Shield: damage is negated, but does the move energy effect still occur?
A. Yes it does as it is not an effect done to Mew. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1595)

== ERUPTION (Magcargo - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. For Skyridge Magcargo's "Eruption" attack, do I get to add 20 more damage if the oppponent discards a fire energy too?
A. Yes you do. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1623)

== ESP (Misty's Psyduck - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. You use Misty's Psyduck ESP attack against a Ditto. You flip 3 heads so you get to copy an attack. Since Ditto is [a Transformed] Misty's Psyduck, can you copy the ESP attack and flip 3 coins again?
A. Sure but that would be silly. [Ed.Note: No, it actually does makes sense, especially if you really wanted only one or two heads in the first place] (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9)

== EXPLOSIVE EVOLUTION (Dark Pupitar - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

* MT Mike asked me to announce two [Ed. Note: actually three] more rulings reversals. Dark Pupitar and Discovery Metapod have attacks that have effects that should be tied to the result of the flip. Both effects are tied to the coin flip, regardless of how the card is worded. So, [if] you flip tails, you do NOTHING. So, Explosive Evolution will only completely work on the result of a heads. And Metapod's Hatch is the same way. Same goes for Blastoise's Jet Stream Poke-POWER. (Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, post-Q156)

== FADE OUT (Sabrina's Gastly - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If you use Recall with a Sabrina's Haunter to use Fade Out, is Sabrina's Gastly discarded (as an attached card) or returned to your hand (as part of Sabrina's Haunter?)
A. Sabrina's Gastly is returned as part of Haunter. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q133)

Q. Last week you said that if Sabrina's Haunter used Recall to use an underlying "Fade Out" attack, the Sabrina's Gastly would go back into the hand. Would same apply to Clefable when Metronoming a Sabrina's Gastly "Fade Out" (i.e. Clefairy goes back to the hand)?
A. Yes. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14)

== FALSE SWIPE (Scizor - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. With Scizor's False Swipe attack, if the opponent only has 10 hp remaining, does that mean that you start with half of 10 (which is 5), round it *down* to the nearest 10, and it ends up with a net result of zero damage done to the opponent?
A. Correct, if they only have 10 hp's you do nothing....absolutely nothing!!! (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. Say Porygon changes an opponent's weakness to Metal. I then use Scizor's False Swipe to do half of the remaining HP damage, and then double that amount due to weakness. Is this the correct way to calculate the damage in this situation?
A. Yup. (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q46 & Q60)

== FEINT ATTACK (Murkrow - Neo: Genesis Expansion, Umbreon - Neo: Discovery Expansion, Houndour - Aquapolis Expansion)

* Feint attacks (against the Defending Pokemon) and Swift attacks ignore ANY effect attempting to reduce their damage. This means that Murkrow's Feint attack if done against the Defending Pokemon is NOT reduced by Unown D's Darkness Pokemon Power. This also means that a colorless Pokemon using a Swift or Feint attack is NOT reduced by a Sprout Tower either. These attacks cannot have their damage reduced by any game effect. [ED. NOTE: This rule only applies to attacks against the DEFENDING Pokemon; attacks against the bench may have damage reduced by other game effects, etc.] (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. On Feint Attack, Murkrow states "defending" but [Aquapolis] Houndour states "that pokemon"; so how is the Feint Attack used? So Feint Attack on Murkrow only cuts through everything on the defending, but on Houndour it doesnt matter if it's the bench or not?
A. Play it as written. Play the old ones Murkrow ect... as written. Correct for the Houndour, but all other Feint Attacks are played as written on those cards. So they are different types of "Feint Attacks". (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q968 & Q981 & Q985)

Q. Feint Attack: Does it go through Metal Energy effect if on Bench? Or is it only Houndour's that goes through Metal if the targeted pokemon is on the Bench?
A. Only the Aquapolis Houndour's Feint affects the bench. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1657)

Q. If Mukrow has 2 Darkness Energy attached, and attacks the Defending Pokémon with Feint Attack, how much damage does the Defending Pokémon receive? And if Mukrow attacks a benched Pokémon with Feint Attack, how much damage does that Pokémon receive?
A. 40 HP damage [if attacking a Defending Pokémon]; 20 [if attacking a Benched Pokémon]. Darkness will only add extra if you attack the Defending Pokémon with the attack. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9 & Q12 & Q101)

Q. Since Murkrow's Feint Attack says to ignore all effects on the Defending Pokemon, if it attacks a benched Pokemon does it ignore the effects such as Metal Energy on that benched Pokemon? Or does it only apply to the one in the opponent's active slot?
A. It will only apply to the one in the active spot. (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q61)

Q. Just to confirm, Umbreon's & Murkrow's "Feint Attack" is unaffected by Erika's Dratini's "Strange Barrier" and Lily Pad Mew's "Neutral Shield", right?
A. RIGHT! [NOTE: But only when Erika's Dratini or Lily Pad Mew are in the active slot.] Correct. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q88)

Q. Would Murkrow's Feint Attack ignore Unown-D's Power if Unown-D was: a) Your Active Pokemon? b) On the Bench?
A. It would ignore it if Unown-D was the Active, would not if it was on the bench. It's very simple, if you use Feint against the Defending Pokemon, then no other effects (including Unown's) can reduce the damage done. If you use Feint against a benched Pokemon, then all other effects apply. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9a; Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q51)

Q. With an Unown-D (Darkness) as the opponent's active, if Umbreon tries to use Feint Attack against a benched pokemon, will the damage be prevented or not? Feint Attack says, "this attack's damage isn't affected by ... or Powers on the *Defending* Pokemon".
A. That means EFFECTS from attacks or powers do not affect the damage amount, NOT actual powers FROM the defending. So in ALL cases Feint does NOT ignore effects on benched Pokemon, regardless of their origin. It does not matter whether the defending Pokemon OR a benched Pokemon is Unown D in this case. If you are attacking the defending Unown D, then of course, Feint will ignore any effects trying to reduce the damage. Just because the Unown D is the Active, its power is NOT shut off or ignored when you attack a benched Pokemon (with Umbreon's Feint). (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14a & Q1b)

Q. Feint Attack: Does it go through Metal Energy effect if on Bench? Or is it only Houndour's that goes through Metal if the targeted pokemon is on the Bench?
A. Only the Aquapolis Houndour's Feint affects the bench. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1657)

Q. I have a Murkrow against an active Aquapolis Jumpluff with one damage counter, can I Feint Attack Jumpluff and not have to flip for its PokeBody?
A. Yes. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q868)

Q. If the player using Feint Attack to attack a benched AQ Jumpluff that has one damage on it, does the player need to flip for Jumpluff's Poke-Body Fluff?
A. No. [ED NOTE: This particular answer is in reference to Aquapolis Houndour's Feint Attack which DOES ignore effects on benched pokemon; Neo Genesis Murkrow's & Neo Discovery Umbreon's Feint Attack only ignores effects on the Defending Pokemon.] (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q223; Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q276 & Q287)

Q. If you use Feint attack on a Giovanni's Machamp with a focus band, and knock it out, does it flip for Fortitude and Focus Band?
A. Yes, it would. (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q11)

== FIN SLAP (Horsea - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If my opponent had used Sabrina's Kadabra's Life Drain (with a flip of heads) to reduce Neo Genesis' Horsea down to 40HP would Fin Slap do 30 or 20 damage?
A. Why? It wasn't damaged last turn was it...remember that Life Down is 'placing damage counters' not doing damage. [Ed. Note: So it would only do 20] (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q151)

== FIREBALL (Dark Charmeleon - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. The Team Rocket Dark Charmeleon which requires at least one energy card attached to be a Fire Energy Card in order to use it. In last week's chat, you gave us some of the rulings from Research and Development on energy, specifically "If a card gives off energy of any type then that card COUNTS as an energy card of that type." and used the example that a grass-buzzap'd Electrode counts as such and could be moved by Energy Trans. Does this mean then that an appropriate Rainbow Energy or Buzzap'd Electrode is sufficient for powering Dark Charmelon's attack? And if not, why?
A. Uh-huh. Aren't you glad you typed all that? (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q50)

Q. For Dark Charmeleon, would 3 Rainbow Energy and/or 2 "Buzzapped Fire Electrodes" satisfy the requirement of having "any fire Energy cards attached"?
A. Yes they would (they both count as fire energy cards). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q25)

Q. Regarding Dark Charmeleon's Fireball attack: If Dark Charmeleon is Confused, is the coin flip to see if the Confused Attack is successful done before or after the coin flip to see if the Fire Energy Card is discarded? I would assume before, since it isn't a "requirement" per se to potentially discard the Energy until after the attack is already underway.
A. Correct, you would do its flip AFTER checking for the Confusion flip since it is NOT a REQUIREMENT of activating the attack. (Apr 13 WotC Chat Q22)

== FIRE SPIN (Charizard - Base Set)

Q. Charizard's Pokémon Power allows you to turn any Energy card into Fire. So, if I attach two Double Colorless Energies (DCE) and I use his Fire Spin, which says discard two Energy cards, do I discard both DCEs or only one (it doesn't say two Energy, it says two Energy cards)?
A. Charizard states you have to discard 2 (Fire) Energy CARDS, So in this case you would have to discard both DCE cards. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. I read in the Master Rulings document that a Dark Energy discarded after being Energy Burned would give Charizard's Fire Spin 100 + 10 extra damage, similiar to Dark Houndoom's Dark Fire. However, Charizard says "in order to do this attack, discard two energy cards attached to Charizard." Due to the fact that discarding "in order to do this attack" happens before energy effects are resolved, wouldn't Fire Spin ONLY do 100 damage?
A. That is correct. In this case, the Darkness Energy is discarded IN ORDER TO do the attack. This means that its damage increase effects are NOT added to the Final damage. (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

Q. So if you discard a Dark Energy for fire spin, do you still get the 10 damage to yourself?
A. No, because the 10 damage is between turns, at which point it won't be there. (May 24, 2001 WotC Chat, Q218)

== FIRE WALL (Rocket's Moltres - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. I use Rocket's Moltres' Fire Wall attack on my turn and then my opponents send up a baby Pokemon like Magby and use its attack. Do I have to flip to see if Fire Wall does ten damage to Magby because it say on Rocket's Moltres that Moltres ['attacks the Defending Pokemon'?]
A. Yes. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q109)

Q. If Rocket's Moltres uses Fire Wall and has a Dark Energy attached to it does it do ten plus ten more for Dark energy or just ten damage?
A. Yes you would do the extra 10 damage form the Darkness energy. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q132)

Q. If Rocket's Moltres used Fire Wall, then the opponent used Gust of Wind, then another Gust of Wind for the same Rocket's Moltres, would Rocket's Moltres still do 10 damage?
A. No, it would not do the 10 damage, because the effect from his Fire Wall goes away when he goes to the bench. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q171)

== FLAME PILLAR (Dark Rapidsh - Team Rocket)

* Lastly, the Dark Rapidash attack Flame Pillar's extra effect (where you may discard 1 Fire Energy to do an extra effect) works like the Moltres Wildfire cost as far as Confusion is concerned. You would flip for Confusion BEFORE you discard the fire energy for the extra effect. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Announcement)

== FLAMETHROWER (Charmeleon - Base Set, Houndoom - Neo: Discovery Expansion, others)

Q. Can I use a Rainbow Energy to pay the (F) discard cost for Charmeleon's & Houndoom's "Flamethrower" attack?
A. Yes, it counts as Fire energy. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q52)

== FLASH TOUCH (Light Ledian - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Can you please explain Light Ledian's Flash Touch attack?
A. Sure. After you use Light Ledian's Flash Touch you must switch up a Pokemon from your Bench (if you have one). While that previously Benched Pokemon remians your Active Pokemon (doesn't evolve, devolve, get benched, or leave play) it cannot have a Special Condition put on it (Asleep, Confused, Paralyze, or Poisoned). That new Active Pokemon can still take damage or have other attack effects done to it. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q705)

Q. So, the new active brought up by Light Ledian's Flash Touch is immune to Sleep! Trainer and TR Drowzee's Long Distance Hypnosis?
A. Yes, while it is still Active. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q708)

Q. If I use Light Ledian's Flash Touch and bring up Brock's Ninetales, will it be immune to sleep, poison, etc. regardless of what cards I attach to it?
A. Yes. (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q91)

Q. RE: Flash Touch, will the effect on the new active PokÈmon prevent Char? Paint?
A. It doesn't say that it stops Char or Paint, so those still work against it. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q365)

Q. I assume then, Light Ledian's Flash Touch wouldn't prevent Burn either?
A. Correct. (Jun 5, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1798)

== FLOODLIGHT (Lanturn - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. My Lanturn has 1 electric and 1 rainbow energy attached to it; I attack with Floodlight how much damage will it do?
A. It will only do 20, because you're using the Rainbow energy to pay for the attack. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q41)

== FLOWER DANCE (Bellossom - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Does Neo Bellossom's Flower Dance only include your Pokémon, or is it also your opponents?
A. Only includes yours. (Mar 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q64)

Q. Would the self-referencing rule not apply to Bellossom's Flower Dance?
A. No, only when a card is just referring to itself is it called 'self-referencing'. Not when it talks about all things named the same. (Jan 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q103)

== FLYTRAP (Erika's Weepinbell - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Erika's Weepinbell Lv.26 Flytrap attack: If I choose a baby pokemon from the bench, do I still have to do the baby flip?
A. You wouldn't have to flip for attacking the baby. [Ed.Note: This is because the attack has already begun before the baby is put into the active slot.] (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q40)

== FREEZE (Piloswine - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If you use Piloswine's Freeze, then retreat Piloswine, is the defending Pokemon still "frozen"? It's not written on the card.
A. Yes. (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q212)

Q. On Piloswine, does the first attack, Freeze, prevent attacks as long as it's in play through the whole game or only until "end of turn"?
A. The Piloswine effect lasts until that Pokémon evolves or benches. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q33; Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q10 & Q59)

== FREEZE LOCK (Dewgong - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge Dewgong "Freeze Lock": the card text says "flip a coin, if heads your opponent can't attach energy cards from his or her hand to his or her active pokemon during his or her next turn". If the active pokemon retreats, does the effect wear off?
A. Yes, it does. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1577)

Q. Skyridge Dewgong "Freeze Lock" vs. Neutral Shield: would Freeze Lock work? (again, does not refer to defending pokemon, but opponent's active pokemon)
A. Neutral Shield would prevent the Freeze Lock (if Mew was active of course). (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1587)

Q. If Dewgong's Freeze Lock attack is done to a Harvest Bounty Venusaur, can energy be attached?
A. It can't be attached per Freeze Lock. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1589)

== GENETIC MEMORY (Kingdra - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Kingdra's first attack "Genetic Memory", says that you can copy any attack from basic or evolution; so does that mean that we can use Kingdra's second attaack "Twister" for one colorless?
A. Nope, that can only copy attacks from previous evolutions. Badly worded. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q10)

Q. When using Kingdra's Genetic Memory attack, can you choose an Attack from any Horsea or Seadra, or do you only get to use Attacks from the ones actually used to evolve the Kingdra?
A. Only the ones that Kingdra actually evolved into. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q61)

Q. If Neo3 Kingdra uses Genetic Memory to copy Fossil Seadra's Water Gun attack, how does that work as far as adding damage to the attack? (i.e., do you subtract out the Genetic Memory cost before determining whether you have enough energy to use the other attack?)
A. Just as it states on the card. If you use one Water to pay for Genetic Memory and you have 3 other Water Energy attached to Kingdra, you will add 20 damage (because that is where it maxes out at) to the Water Gun attack. The 1 water is paying the Genetic Memory's attack cost which is taking the place of the Water Gun's attack cost. That 1 water would NOT count as an extra. (Jan 24, 2002 WotC Chat, Q26 & Q85)

Q. Genetic Memory Kingdra question for the league: if Kingdra uses Seadra's Agility, does it work, since Agility specifies "damage done to Seadra"?
A. Yes, when it is used through Genetic Memory it references Kingdra due to the self-referencing rule. (Apr 10, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1132)

Q. What happens if Genetic Memory is metronomed by an evolved Pokémon? An unevolved Pokémon?
A. If it was evolved that Pokemon would be able to use Genetic Memory to use an earlier attack. If it's unevolved then you don't need to worry. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q94)

Q. What happens if you slap Kingdra on a Brock's Ninetales and try to use Genetic Memory?
A. Nothing. If you attach Kingdra on a Brock's Ninetales it is only treated as that Pokemon. Genetic Memory ONLY lets you use attacks from Kingdra's basic or evolution cards and there aren't any of these in this example. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q17; Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q471)

Q. If you Shapeshift into Kingdra, can you use Hypnotic Gaze or whatever from Brock's Vulpix with Genetic Memory?
A. No you cannot. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q67)

==GENTLE FLAMES (Light Arcanine - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If Light Arcanine uses Gentle Flames against a Magmar evolved from a Magby, the attack would still do 30 damage, right?...or is it 50?
A. It would do 50. A basic Pokemon that has evolved from a baby Pokemon is no longer considered a basic Pokemon. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q246)

== GIANT GROWTH (Koga's Ditto - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. When Koga's Ditto uses it's Expand [Giant Growth] attack successfully, and then retreats to the bench with something like 6 Damage counters it will be Knocked Out. What I want to know is does your opponent draw a prize for this, or does it not count as a KO?
A. Yes, they would [draw a prize]. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q595)

== GIANT WAVE (Mantine - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. With Neo: Destiny Mantine's "Giant Wave" attack, does benching the Mantine get rid of the "can't attack during your next turn" clause?
A. Yes. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q93)

== GROWTH (Sunkern - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. On Sunkern's attack of Growth: if you get heads is this 2 MORE grass energy besides the 1 you may have just played?
A. Yes. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q123)

== HARDEN (Onix - Base Set, Graveler - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Some attack texts (such as Harden, Stiffen and Withdraw) say that they prevent damage done on the opponent's next turn, but do not reference WHERE the damage is coming from. Will these prove effective against things such as a failed coin flip from Digger, which does 10 damage to the losing Pokémon?
A. It means anything on the next turn of your opponent so...yes...it would prevent that damage. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q38)

== HATCH (Metapod - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

* MT Mike asked me to announce two [Ed. Note: actually three] more rulings reversals. Dark Pupitar and Discovery Metapod have attacks that have effects that should be tied to the result of the flip. Both effects are tied to the coin flip, regardless of how the card is worded. So, [if] you flip tails, you do NOTHING. So, Explosive Evolution will only completely work on the result of a heads. And Metapod's Hatch is the same way. Same goes for Blastoise's Jet Stream Poke-POWER. (Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, post-Q156)

Q. Metapod's Hatch attack: What if you don't find a butterfree in your deck? Do you remove counters anyway?
A. Yes, they are two different things. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q74; Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q90)

== HEADACHE (Psyduck - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Is Headache affecting the player playing Psyduck or the opponent? The attack does make reference to the opponent, but in addition Psyduck is the one with the headache, right? Does it affect both players?
A. It affects the opponent [only]. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q53)

Q. Because of the Magby ruling [Ed.Note: see "Sputter" attack], does that mean if Psyduck does the attack where the opponent can't play trainers, can they just retreat to get rid of that effect?
A. No, but if Psyduck is benched or evolved, leaves play etc. that effect will go away. The attack creates an effect based on the Psyduck; if that Psyduck moves to the bench or gets knocked out somehow before the attack, then you would be able to play trainers again. (Jul 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q77; Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q96)

== HEAVY METAL (Scizor - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. With Aquapolis Scizor's attack "Heavy Metal", can you use a Rainbow Energy as the Metal requirement?
A. I would say yes. It is not asking for a specific card. If a card provides energy of a type, it is considered an energy card of that type. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q961 & Q1001 & Q1010)

== HIGH SPEED CHARGE (Piloswine - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. If I use Piloswine's "High Speed Charge" attack, does benching it remove the effect? So if I could then somehow get it active again, I would be able to use High Speed Charge again, right?
A. Yes you could. Just like we answered yes to every other Pokemon that has an attack that says "You can't use this attack next turn." The "can't use this attack next turn" sets up a status effect that can be ended through the normal means: benching, leaving play, evolving or devolving. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q46; May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q266 & Q268)

== HURRICANE (Pidgeot - Jungle Expansion)

Q. Would Pidgeot's Hurricane work if my opponent didn't have any Benched Pokémon?
A. Yes. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. If your opponent has no Benched Pokémon and you use Pidgeot's Hurricane attack, will you win immediately due to the empty bench rule?
A. Yes, you can. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q138)

Q. If Pidgeot Hurricanes a pokemon w/ Focus Band and would knock it out and then the focus flip is heads, do all the cards go back to hand?
A. Yes they do. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q51)

== HYPER BEAM (Dragonair - Base set, Golduck - Fossil Expansion)

Q. If Golduck uses Hyper Beam to knock out a Dark Gyarados and the coin flip was heads and Gyarados had two energies on it, would the attack to 20 or 40 damage? [Ed Note: In other words, is the Pokémon knocked out BEFORE or AFTER removing the Energy card?] 
A. It would do 40. According to the order of attack (as stated in the Rulebook): The last step is i) if the attack does anything else other than damage do that. Since Dark Gyarados is being Knocked out from the damage (step h) BEFORE the Remove Energy effect goes off the energy card should still be there when Dark Gyarados is Knocked Out and his Pokémon Powers resolves. My understanding is that it would be Knocked Out BEFORE the remove energy card effect and so the Dark Gyarados would do 40 instead of 20. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q41 & Q89 & Q135)

== HYPER NEEDLE (Koga's Beedrill - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. You can only use Koga's Beedrill's Hyper Needle once while Koga's Beedrill is in play. But if you used Mew's Devolution Beam to return Koga's Beedrill to your hand, then played Koga's Beedrill on top of the same Koga's Kakuna, could you use Hyper Needle again?
A. Yes. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q286)

Q. Koga's Beedrill. Would Scooping it up and playing it again reactivate the ability to do Hyper Needle, right?
A. You could do Hyper Needle again after re-evolving to Beedrill. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q21)

== HYPER REVERSE (Butterfree - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. My opponent has 2 Double Colorless Energy cards on his Defending Pokémon when I use Butterfree's Hyper Reverse attack. How much damage does the attack do to my opponent, and how many damage counters do I get to remove from Butterfree?
A. The Hyper Reverse attack would do 40 damage to your opponent and you would remove 4 damage counters from Butterfree. Hyper Reverse does 20 damage plus 10 more for each Energy card attached to Butterfree. (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Butterfree's Hyper Reverse: If Wild Growth is being used to double Grass Energy on the Defending Pokémon, is that included in the total damage calculation?
A. Yes as long as it is your opponent who has the Meganium. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If you use Hyper Reverse with Butterfree on a Agility-protected Raichu, would you take off damage?
A. All effects of the attack are prevented, thus you don't do anything. [Ed.Note: Since no damage was done, Butterfree would not be able to remove any counters.] (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q153)

== INCINERATE (Dark Quilava - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. With Dark Quilava's Incinerate attack, what happens if the card is not a Trainer card? Is it just put back on the top of his or her deck and do you shuffle?
A. You just put it back on top of their deck [ED NOTE: Do not shuffle]. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q377)

== INK SPURT (Misty's Horsea - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Say my Misty's Horsea Lv. 16 (Gym:C) attacks with "Ink Spurt", and then the following turn I retreat it for Octillery and do "Octazooka". Does the opponent have to flip twice if they try to attack, or only once?
A. They would have to flip twice because those are two separate effects. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1266)

== INTIMIDATE (Giovanni's Nidoking - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If you have a Giovanni's Nidoking active opposite a Murkrow and used Intimidate, would Murkrow be able to use Feint Attack and attack a benched Pokemon?
A. You can't attack with Murkrow. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q58)

Q. If Giovanni's Nidoking uses "Intimidate" on a Pokemon when its max HP are 50 or less, are they able to attack during their turn if they have managed to increase their max HP above 50 (via Rocket's Hideout or Psychic Energy on Sabrina's Gastly)?
A. No, the effect from Intimidate is still on the Active Pokemon. Raising it's HP will not cause this effect to disappear. (Jan 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q185)

== INVIGORATE (Sabrina's Hypno - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If Narrow Gym is in play, and I use Sabrina's Hypno's Invigorate attack, does your opponent have to return one of his/her pokemon to their hand or does the attack not work?
A. No, the bench is considered full, so you could not do the attack (the attack would fail). (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q79)

== JAW CLAMP (Croconaw - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Does Croconaw's Jaw Clamp nullify scoop-up?
A. Yes, it does. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q136)

Q. If an attack stops a Pokemon from being moved out of the active spot by Retreating, Trainers or Powers, will Warp Energy allow you to move it?
A. Stuff like Jaw Clamp, you mean? That attack itself doesn't mention the effect of an Energy card. So I believe that Warp Energy would still work in that case. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q867)

Q. If I attack with Jaw Clamp from a Croconaw and Knock Out the Defending Pokémon would it still go to the discard pile?
A. Yes it would go to the discard pile. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q48)

Q. Suppose I have Sabrina's Gastly (with "Gaseous Form") with 2 Psy Energy and 50 damage. It was hit by Jaw Clamp. If I evolve into Night Spirits Haunter, it is KO'd. That would change my Pokémon and thus be prevented by Jaw Clamp, but evolution removes this effect
A. Jaw Clamp doesn't prevent you from evolving. You're KO'd. Jaw Clamp doesn't prevent you from being KO'd. So you just got around Jaw Clamp, but your opponent gets to draw a prize. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q191)

Q. If my active pokemon was hit by Croconaw's Jaw Clamp last turn, would the act of evolving allow it to retreat, be switched, etc.?
A. Yes it would. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q7)

== JUXTAPOSE (Rocket's Mewtwo - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Since Juxtapose switches Damage Counters, I assume it isn't affected by Plus Power, Defender, Weakness, Resistance or Pokémon Powers that prevent or reduce Damage from Attacks?
A. Correct. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q566)

== KINDLE (Blaine's Charmander - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. In the Gym Heroes Blaine's Charmander Kindle, do you discard the energy before the damage would be blocked if discarding an opponent's Metal energy?
A. You would do all other effects of an attack last so the Metal will reduce the damage before its removed. (Jun 21, 2001 WotC Chat, Q162)

Q. Say I have a Recycle Energy and a Fire Energy on Blaine's Charmander. Then can I Kindle the PKMN and remove the Recycle Energy. That would let me return the Recycle Energy back into my hand.
A. Yes, that's legal. (Jul 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q32)

== KNOCK OVER (Light Piloswine - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If my opponent's Dark Espeon has 7 damage counters and a Focus Band on it (with a Rocket's Hideout in play), and my Light Piloswine uses Knock Over for 30 damage, does the Focus Band check occur before or after the Stadium is discarded?
A. Focus band triggers as soon as the other Pokemon would be knocked out, so it checks after the damage from the Knock Over is done. So even if it is successful, once the Rocket's Hideout is removed from the rest of the attack the Dark Espeon is knocked out. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q206)

== LEECH LIFE (Venonat - Jungle Expansion, others)

Q. If I attack with Venonat's Leech Life and do 10 damage, how many damage counters do I remove from Venonat?
A. You remove one damage counter, which equals 10 damage. (Jungle FAQ, WotC Website)

== LEER (Rhyhorn - Jungle Expansion, others)

Q. If I evolve a Pokémon this term does it take away the effect of Rhyhorn's Leer?
A. Yup. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q95)

Q. If Rhyhorn used Leer, then the opponent uses Fossil Raichu's Gigashock, does the bench damage portion of the attack take place or not? Or what if the opponent uses Hitmonlee's Stretch Kick or some other attack that does not directly affect the Rhyhorn?
A. No, on the first part, because the Pokémon is still attacking Rhyhorn which Leer says that you cannot do. Also, Leer would stop Hitmonlee from attacking too. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q56 & Announcement between Q115/Q116)

== LIFE DRAIN (Sabrina's Kadabra - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Would Sabrina's Kadabra's Life Drain be an instant Knock Out if it has a Plus Power attached?
A. No, Life Drain doesn't do damage, it just places damage counters. Plus Power only works when damage is done. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q136)

Q. If a Defender is attached to the defending Pokémon, and you do Life Drain and it works, do they have 30 damage left instead of 10?
A. No, because Life Drain moves damage counters and Defender doesn't stop that. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q12)

Q. Sabrina's Kadabra's Life Drain attack would not worry about Weakness and Resistance, right?
A. Correct sir! (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q36)

Q. If Sabrina's Kadabra attacks with Life Drain on a Rocket's Scyther after it used Shadow Images last turn, would the amount of damage counters put on Scyther depend on the 2nd coin flip or both coin flips?
A. Life Drain is not damage so that wouldn't be stopped by Shadow Images. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. If Sabrina's Kadabra does Life Drain against an undamaged Mr. Mime, how many damage counters are placed on Mr. Mime?
A. 3 damage counters, the Invisible Wall does not prevent the placememnt of damage counters, only damage. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. Since "Life Drain doesn't do damage, it just places damage counters," does this mean that Life Drain will place damage counters equal to 110 on Chansey, even if Chansey has successfully done Scrunch?
A. Correct!!! (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q31)

== LIGHT WAVE (Light Dragonite - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. With the Light Dragonite's "Light Wave" attack, does that only prevent such effects as Sleep, Poison, Paralysis, etc., or does it also cover other effects of attacks such as Drawing cards, discarding energies, etc. and also, would it prevent bench damage in any way?
A. It works exactly as Suicune's Crystal Body does. This means that it prevents all effects DONE to Light Dragonite. So no status effects on it (like Smokescreen), no Special Conditions on it (like Poison) , you can't discad an energy or trainer attached to it (like Sneasel's Swipe), nor can you switch it using an attack effect like Dark Gengar's Pull In. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q699)

Q. Do effects from TM's affect Light Dragonite after a successful Light Wave?
A. No they do not. They are still effects from attacks that are prevented. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1652)

== LIGHTNING FLASH (Dark Jolteon - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Will a Pokémon that is retreated and activated the turn after Dark Jolteon's Lightning Flash still have to suffer the coin flip?
A. The Lightning Flash attacks effect references the Defending Pokémon. If that Pokémon is benched, evolved, or Devolved on the Defending player's turn, then the effect is ended. (6-15-00 WotC Chat Q105)

== LIGHTNING ROD (Electabuzz - Promo)

Q. When someone uses Lightning Rod from promo Electabuzz #46 do the lightning rods stay with the opponent's pokemon when they evolve or do they get taken off? I'm thinking that it is like a char effect that leaves when the pokemon evolves or leaves play.
A. You are correct. They work just like Char counters in that they are removed if a Pokemon evolves/devolves or leaves play. Benching a Pokemon does NOT remove a lightning rod counter. (Jun 13, 2002 WotC Chat, Q22)

== LIGHTNING STRIKE (Raichu - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

* Raichu's Lightning Strike attack says "You may discard all lightning energy attached to Raichu. If you do so, this attack does 80 damage." If this attack is copied by another Pokémon (Clefable's Metronome, Smeargle's Sketch, Ditto, etc.) that copying Pokémon can choose to discard all attached lightning energy cards to have the attack do 80 damage as well. This can be done REGARDLESS of whether there are any attached lightning energy or not (you can discard 0 lightning energy to make this choice as long as there aren't any lightning actually attached). (Nov 17, 2001 Pokemon Master Rules Updates, Item #5 WOtC's Online Pokemon Rules)

Q. Raichu (Lightning Strike) - so you choose the attack, and then you have a choice WITHIN the attack as to whether you want to discard all lightning energy to do more damage, or discard none for the base amount, correct?
A. That is correct, sir. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q63)

Q. Say you have 4 (L) and 1 Rainbow energy attached to Raichu. Would you need to discard the Rainbow as well as the (L) cards to make its attack do 80 damage?
A. In this case you would have to discard the Rainbow energy since it does count as a lightning energy card (any card that provides energy of a certain type counts as a card of the type). (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3)

== LOCK-ON (Magnemite - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If I use Neo D Magnemite's "Lock On" the turn before and am then confused the following turn and try to attack with "Electric Bolt", if you get a tails for the confusion flip do you treat it as heads?
A. No, Magnemite's Lock On only works on coin flips _for_ the attack, not for Confusion. (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q22)

Q. In relation to the Sputter ruling, for Magnemite lvl 16 (metal), If Lock-on is used and Magnemite#1 is knocked out and my new Magnemite(#2) is now active do we need a NEW Lock-on or does old Lock-on work for new Magnemite(#2)?
A. Yes, you do. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q355)

Q. If Magnemite uses "Lock-On" on one of my pokemon, and I retreat it, put in some other pokemon, then retreat that and put the first pokemon back in, does that break the Lock-On or is it still in effect?
A. Yes. Breaks! (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q175 & Q199)

== LONELY FANG (Houndoom - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge Houndoom: for Lonely Fang, if you have two benched and your opponent has only one, will the attack do 30 damage minus 10 damage? or is 30 minimum?
A. 30 minimum. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1560)

== LOVE LARIAT (Giovanni's Nidoqueen - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If Giovanni's Nidoqueen uses Love Lariat and you don't have Giovanni's Nidoking on your bench, do you still have to flip a coin for success?
A. Yes you would, heads the attack does 50, tails it does nothing. (Nov 16, 2000 WotC Chat, Q29)

== LUNAR POWER (Erika's Clefairy - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Using Erika's Clefairy's Lunar Power attack and flipped heads. On _this_ turn, you had previously evolved Charmander into Charmeleon. Would you be allowed to evolve Charmeleon into Charizard with this attack? In effect, would Lunar Power allow you to evolve twice in the same turn?
A. The answer is no, you cannot evolve that same Pokémon again that turn. [Ed. Note: This is straight from WotC R&D.] (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q31)

* Erika's Clefairy has an attack called Lunar Power... You CAN play this attack on the first turn and you can even choose a Pokémon on your Bench that you just played this turn. Since this attack has you take a card from your deck and place it, it NOT stopped by the standard evolution limits. This also falls under the term "played". Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power "Prehistoric Power" says No more Evolution cards can be played. The Lunar Power attack would NOT be affected by this as those cards are not "played" (meaning played from your hand). [Ed.Note: See also "General Gameplay: Evolving" for more details] (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Using Erika's Clefairy's Lunar Power Attack and got a flip of heads. I had already evolved Charmader into Charmeleon. Should not I be allowed to use Erika's Clefairy's Lunar Power Attack to evolve Charmeleon into Charizard on this same turn?
A. Basically, if an attack or a Pokemon Power has you attach a Pokemon to a card in play (and says it counts as evolving) what it means is that anything that would be triggered by a Pokemon evolving would be triggered. Like Eevee's Chain Reaction, or the removal of a status effect or so on. The evolution rules ONLY limit when you play a Pokemon from your hand onto a Pokemon in play. Those others, get around these limitations. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q343 & Q368)

== MAGNETIC LINES (Dark Magneton - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. What does Dark Magneton's Magnetic Lines attack do if your opponent has no Benched Pokémon? Do you discard the energy card?
A. Nope, you don't do anything with it. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q32)

Q. What if there is no Benched Pokémon on your opponent's bench when you use Dark Magneton's second attack?
A. It only moves the energy card IF he or she has a benched Pokémon. If they don't, the energy doesn't move. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q312)

Q. With Dark Magneton's "Magnetic Lines" attack, will it allow you to move Darkness Energy, Metal Energy, DCE, Full Heal, etc. or can you only move basic energy cards around?
A. I made a mistake!!!! No [only moves basic]. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q17)

== MAGNETISM (Magnemite - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Would the self-referencing rule not apply to (TR) Magnemite's Magnetism?
A. No, only when a card is just referring to itself is it called 'self-referencing'. Not when it talks about all things named the same. (Jan 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q103)

== MASS EXPLOSION (Dark Weezing - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Dark Weezing's Mass explosion says it does 20 damage times the number of Koffing, Weezing, Dark Weezing in play, then each Koffing Weezing and Dark Weezing take 20 damage, so wouldn't that mean Metronoming the attack would do 40 damage to Dark Weezing?
A. If there was only the one Dark Weezing and no other ones or Weezings or Koffings out in play anywhere, then yes, it would do 40 to the other Dark Weezing. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q73)

Q. Dark Weezing's "Mass Explosion" attack does 20 damage times the number of Koffings, Weezings, and Dark Weezings in play. Does this include Koga's Koffings & Koga's Weezings too or not?
A. Nope. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q44 & Q48)

== MAX BURST (Dark Exeggcutor - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. On Dark Exeggcutor's "MAX Burst" attack, are you supposed to flip a number of coins equal to the number of energy cards attached to all of the opponent's Pokemon, or only their Active Pokemon?
A. All of their Pokemon, just like Revelation Sneasel. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q370)

== MEAN LOOK (Murkrow - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If I devolve my Active Pokemon (using Hyper Devo Spray, etc.) that has been trapped by Murkrow's "Mean Look", will that permit me to retreat it?
A. Yes. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q750)

== MEGA BURN (Sabrina's Alakazam - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If I have one Sabrina's Alakazam active and another on my bench, can I use Psylink to use the benched one's Mega Burn attack on the turn after I used the active one's Mega Burn attack?
A. Nope, the effect on your Active Sabrina's Alakazam states you cannot use ANY attack called Mega Burn next turn. Of course, if you bench or devolve your Active that effect is gone.(Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q43; Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q232)

Q. Did you find out what R&D ruled about Sabrina's Alakazam's Mega Burn (using it the following turn if you benched Sabrina's Alakazam and returned it to active)?
A. If it gets benched, it removes the staus effect and you can Mega Burn the next turn. The "can't use this attack next turn" sets up a status effect that can be ended through the normal means: benching, leaving play, evolving or devolving. (Jul 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q139 & Q155; May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q266 & Q268)

Q. Last week you said that if Sabrina's Alakazam was benched & returned to be Active, it could use Mega Burn again (ala Magby's Sputter effect going away). Does this extend to switching one Sabrina's Alakazam for another and being able to use the second one's Mega Burn now?
A. What difference does it make? It is the benching that removes the "can't use this attack" status effect. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q31)

Q. If you have an attack like Sabrina's Alakazam's "Mega Burn" or Promo Scyther's "Slashing Strike" that says "you can't use this attack next turn", would you be able to use it next turn if on this turn you failed the Baby Rule flip?
A. Yes, because you don't actually attack when you fail the baby flip. [Ed.Note: Therefore, the condition saying you can't use the attack on the next turn is never invoked.] (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q7)

Q. If Clefairy copied Mega Burn from Sabrina's Alakazam could you evolve him into Clefable and use Mega Burn again the next turn?
A. No, you couldn't. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q10a)

== MEGA DRAIN (Butterfree - Jungle Expansion, Promo Venusaur, Erika's Vileplume - Gym Heroes: Expansion)

Q. Can you give me an example of how Butterfree's Mega Drain works?
A. Sure. I'll give you two. If you attack with Mega Drain and do 40 damage, you can remove two damage counters from Butterfree. But if you attach a PlusPower to Butterfree first, Mega Drain will do 50 damage. You then get to remove three damage counters from Butterfree. Why three counters? Because half of 50 is 25, which you round up to 30. (Jungle FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If I use promo Venusaur's Megadrain, can i take off 20 damage COUNTERS? The card says take off a number of damage COUNTERS equal to half the damage done to the defending Pokémon.
A. No, don't be silly. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q131)

Q. I have a Rocket Hitmonchan that used Crosscounter. You have an Erika's Vileplume with zero damage counters on it. The Vileplume attacks. Then you get heads on Crosscounter. Will the Vileplume be able to remove those damage counters [applied from the Crosscounter recoil]?
A. Yes you will. All other effects from attacks are done AFTER damage is assigned. The Rocket's Hitmonchan's return damage loops back in the attack sequence BEFORE you get to the last step where all other effects from attacks are resolved. So the damage would already be assigned to the Vileplume before the attacks other effect resolves. Look at the "How Do You Figure Out Damage" area of the rules for the specifics. [Ed.Note: So in this scenario, Step G would apply for Crosscounter recoil first, then Step I would apply for MegaDrain's removing counters] (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q83 & Q127 & Q141)

== METAL PINCER (Scizor - Promo)

Q. For Scizors attack on the American card Metal Pincer, do you keep flipping a coin after the pokemon is knocked out or do you stop?
A. You keep flipping until you get tails. Damage isn't placed until the total amount of damage is determined first. Remember you don't place damage on until the attack has finished. (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q242)

== METRONOME (Clefairy - Base Set, Clefable - Jungle Expansion)

* Feint attacks (against the Defending Pokemon) and Swift attacks ignore ANY effect attempting to reduce their damage. This means that Murkrow's Feint attack if done against the Defending Pokemon is NOT reduced by Unown D's Darkness Pokemon Power. This also means that a colorless Pokemon using a Swift or Feint attack is NOT reduced by a Sprout Tower either. These attacks cannot have their damage reduced by any game effect. [ED. NOTE: This rule only applies to attacks against the DEFENDING Pokemon; attacks against the bench may have damage reduced by other game effects, etc.] (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. Please explain Metronoming attacks where the attack mentions the specific name of the opponent's Pokémon.
A. Anytime an attack is self referencing (meaning it mentions itself) and you copy that attack with Metronome or Ditto, you replace the self-referenced name with the name of the Clefable/Clefairy/Ditto, etc. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q66)

Q. Can Clefable copy Pokémon Powers?
A. No, only attacks. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q264)

Q. How does Metronoming attacks like Meditate, Water Gun, Hydro Pump work? Do you copy the base damage or do the effect too?
A. Metronome copies the base damage; you would need additional Energy on Clefairy/Clefable to do additional damage with those copied attacks. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. Suppose Clefairy uses Metronome to copy Chansey's Double-edge attack (which does 80 damage and has the text "Chansey does 80 damage to itself"). Does that mean Clefairy does 80 damage to Chansey plus Chansey does 80 damage to itself, for a total of 160 damage to Chansey?
A. No, Clefairy will do 80 damage to Chansey and Clefairy will do 80 damage to itself. In general, if Pokémon A copies an attack from Pokémon B, any copies of Pokémon B's name in Pokémon B's attack should be replaced by Pokémon A's name. (Think of Pokémon A's name, when written on Pokémon A's card, as really being "this Pokémon.") (Base Set WotC FAQ)

Q. If there is a Clefable and a Ditto active, and the Clefable has one Energy can he Metronome, and do the Ditto's Minimize attack, which is really his own, without having the two Energy required?
A. Yes, he could, since he would be Metronoming the Clefable'd Ditto's Minimize attack. (2-17-00 & 6-30-00 WotC Chat)

Q. How much damage would Metronome do when the damage of the attack copied is dependent on the amount of Energy discarded?
A. Ok. Here we go: the Metronome attack copies the attack and negates the cost (a.k.a. the Energy cost of the attack). It also negates any payments to complete the attack like Charizard's Fire Spin where it says you have to discard Energy in order to do this attack. However on cards like Blastoise and any other card that has any added attack bonus for extra Energy or attached cards you have to follow those rules as normal. Example: if Clefable copied Hydro Pump he would do 40 points of damage unless he had extra Water Energy on him, the same holds true for discarding for extra effects. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. When Clefable Metronomes Big Eggsplosion how much damage does it do... and what is needed?
A. You would flip a coin for each Energy card attached to CLEFABLE (not Exeggutor). For each heads that comes up it would do 20 damage. (Mar 2, 6-22-00 Q37 WotC Chat)

Q. If I use Clefable's Metronome copying Lapras' Water Gun attack (Lapras having 3 Water on him)... how much would the attack do?
A. The base damage is 10; it would do 10 more for each additional Water Energy on CLEFABLE, not on Lapras. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. So to Clarify, Clefable with any 3 energy could do the "extra" damage in a Hydro Pump? They would not have to be water energy?
A. Nope! You could use any kind of energy to pay for the metronome attack, THEN energy PAST that would have to be water energy to do the extra Water Pump damage. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q74)

* Whenever Metronome is used to copy an attack that "refers to itself" like Chansey's Double Edge, (does 80 to defending Pokémon AND does 80 damage to Chansey), you would replace the self reference with Clefable or Clefairy. So the attack would read "does 80 damage to defending Pokémon and 80 damage to itself (i.e., Clefable or Clefairy). If an attack does refer to other Pokémon, like Bellsprout's Call for Family attack (Search your deck for a Basic Pokémon named Bellsprout and put it onto your Bench), you would NOT replace the reference with Clefable or Clefairy. So if you used Metronome to copy this attack, you could only search your deck for Bellsprouts. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

* A ruling on Metronome and Dark Charmeleon (available in Top Deck #6). Metronome states that it copies that attack except for Energy costs and anything else required IN ORDER TO use that attack. The important part of this text is the IN ORDER TO part. This means that Metronome ignores anything listed in an attack's requirements but ONLY if it has the words IN ORDER TO in its text (such as Charizard's Fire Spin). If the words IN ORDER TO are NOT part of the text then Metronome does NOT ignore it. So, in the case of Dark Charmeleon's Fireball text (Use this attack only if there any Fire Energy cards attached to Dark Charmeleon), Metronome does NOT ignore this condition. This attack was specifically worded this way so that Metronome couldn't copy it without the Clefable/Clefairy actually having Fire Energy on it. There will be other cards in the future that will use this same sort of wording to make it hard for Metronome to copy it. (Apr 13, 6-1-00 Q62 WotC Chat)

Q. I heard that in order for Clefairy or Clefable to Metronome Moltres Wildfire you need to discard the Energy off of Clefairy/fable still, even through Metronome says not to discard Energy. Why?
A. Metronome says you do not have to discard Energy that is REQUIRED to do the attack; the EFFECT of the Wildfire requires you to discard Energy, not the attack. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. When your opponent has Moltres and you use Metronome for Wildfire how would you go about that?
A. Well, you only need to pay 1 Colorless to Metronome the Wildfire but it won't do anything unless you pay the normal EFFECT cost of discarding an Energy card [Ed. Note: Fire Energy card] for each card you want the opponent to discard. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. If Clefairy or Clefable copies Moltres' Wildfire, does she still have to discard Fire cards to use it?
A. Yes. The discarding is NOT a cost of the attack but affects the result of the attack. (Mar 30 WotC Chat)

Q. If Clefable can use Metronome, does it have to discard while it Metronomes attacks that need to discard, such as Charizard's Fire Spin?
A. If the discarding is required like for Fire Spin you do NOT, if it is optional like Moltres' Wildfire, then you DO. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

Q. If you Metronome Haunter's "Dream Eater" does the Defending Pokémon have to be Asleep or not to work?
A. Yes, it does. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. How would it go if it Metronome'd Swords Dance? Next turn, would it will deal twice as much according to the Japanese Text? Or would it state in the US Text.
A. You would have to Metronome the Sword Dance the first turn and then Metronome the Slash the next and it would be doubled for your Clefable. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. If Clefable has 1 Fire Energy attached, and is opposite a Dark Charizard, does Continuous Fireball and flips heads, must the Fire Energy be discarded?
A. Yup, it is NOT a requirement to do the attack so it is NOT ignored by Metronome. You'll have to flip coins equal to the number of Fire Energy cards attached to Clefairy if you copy it though. This is NOT a requirement but an effect of the attack so Metronome does NOT ignore it. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q7; May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q11; June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q49)

Q. Clefable CAN use MP Moltres's Hyper Flame if the Clefable had a Fire energy, right? What about a Rainbow energy?
A. That would work too. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q113)

Q. There is a new clause in the NEO Genesis Theme Decks that states a Pokémon must evolve into something with it's name in the upper left corner. But this conflicts with your rulings that Clefable can evolve into a Gyarados. Now who is right, your ruling or the NEO Rule Book?
A. Correct, this gets rid of that problem. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q53)

Q. Okay, thanks for the ruling on Ditto and Rapid Evolution. However, what about Metronoming the attack? What would happen? Anything?
A. That won't work either. Gyarados and Dark Gyarados must be placed on Magikarp only, not a Clefairy/Clefable. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q34)

Q. If you Metronome "Giant Growth", does your Clefairy/fable become 80 HP and whenever they metronome "Pound", it goes for 30 damage (until they are benched, evolved, etc.)?
A. Yes, if you flip heads... (May 17, 2001 WotC Chat, Q49)

Q. How much damage would Dark Weezing take if Clefable/Clefairy Metronomes the attack?
A. 20 damage for each Weezing, Koffing, and Dark Weezing in play, as usual. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q59)

Q. Also, If a Clefable metronomes a Mewtwo, will Barrier work?
A. Yes (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q88)

Q. If a Clefable metronomes Arcanine's Takedown, Does Clefable do 30 damage to itself?
A. Yup! (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q91)

Q. If Clefable is opposite Brock's Ninetales with Wigglytuff attached, can Clefable Metronome "Do the Wave" or only "Will-o'-the-Wisp"?
A. No they could only use the attacks of the attached card on the Brock's Ninetales. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q1 & Q44)

Q. If a Clefable uses Metronome and it copys TR Zapdos' Electroburn does it take any damage if it has 0 lightning energies on it?
A. Right-o [Ed.Note: No, it does not take any damage]. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q15)

Q. If my opponent has a Clefable active, I have a Misty's Staryu active, and the Clefable uses Star Boomerang [via Metronome], does my opponent have to flip (he has the Clefable)? If its heads, does the Clefable go back to his hand?
A. Yes it does (it is a self referencing attack and you replace Misty's Staryu with Clefable). Either way damage is done before you shuffle Clefable and all attached cards back [into your hand]. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q29)

Q. Suppose a face-down card is active (via "Lt. Surge's Secret Plan"), and opposite Clefable which then attacks with Metronome. The card is then flipped over and it's not a basic Pokémon; does Metronome get to use the next active's attack or not?
A. Yes it does, just by announcing you will use Metronome, you must flip over the face down card. If it is discarded you MUST choose an attack off of the next active Pokémon for Metronome. You CANNOT decide NOT to use Metronome as you already stated that choice. It is just clarifying exactly what you are Metronoming. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q24)

Q. If you use Metronome on Sabrina's Alakazam's Mega Burn, can you not use Metronome, not use Mega Burn, not use a Metronome of Mega Burn, or none of/multiple of the above?
A. You can't use this attack [Mega Burn] during a turn after you used it. Even Metronoming it is the same thing and you CAN'T do that. You can Metronome a different attack though. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q167)

Q. Defender has Sabrina's Alakazam active, other Psychic Pokémon on bench. Attacker has Clefable active. Can attacker Metronome through Psylink to use the defender's benched Pokémon attacks, as Sabrina's Alakazam's power says Sabrina's Alakazam has a copy of all it's benched Pokémon's attacks? But, Clefable can't use the attacker's benched Pokémon's attacks because Clefable doesn't have the Psylink power?
A. Yes, as long as Sabrina's Alakazam's Power is working. You can Metronome only attacks that Sabrina's Alakazam has. Since it has a copy of all Psychic attacks when Psylink is active, you can Metronome these. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q69 & Q80 & Q140)

Q. Say Clefable is facing a Sabrina's Ghastly(30HP). Clefable Metronomes the Ghastly's "Fade Out". Does Clefable stay in play or does Clefable and the energy return to your hand? Does Clefairy go to the Discard pile?
A. This is a self-referencing attack. Replace Sabrina's Gastly with Clefable and do what the attack states. Clefable and all [energy] cards attached to it will be returned to your hand. [Ed.Note: We presume this means that Clefairy does indeed go to the discard pile since it is not an energy card]. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q86)

Q. If you use Clefable's Metronome Attack to copy Lugia's Elemental Blast, do you have to discard a Fire, a Water and an Electric Energy, since the Attack specifically states you need to discard those cards.
A. You do not, as Metronome ignores all "IN ORDER TO" statements in an attack, which is what is written on Lugia. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q32a)

Q. If Clefable Metronomes Lugia's Elemental Blast, it can't use it unless it can discard a R, W, and L energy, right?
A. Nope, it ignores any 'In Order to...' text. (Mar 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q111)

== MIRACULOUS COMEBACK (Team Rocket Meowth - Promo)

Q. For Team Rocket's Meowth, do you count Meowth and the active Pokémon in play? So Team Rocket's Meowth does up to 120HP?
A. Yes, he could. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q51)

Q. If Team Rocket's Meowth attacks, does the attack cease when it has enough damage to knock itself out, or does the attack continue until all coin tosses are completed?
A. You must flip all of the coins. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q87)

Q. Does a Metal Energy on a Team Rocket's Meowth eliminate all damage done by it (whether 10 or 120): is it done 10 by 10 or all at once?
A. It only eliminates 10 of the total damage. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q52)

== MIRROR MOVE (Pidgeotto - Jungle Expansion, Spearow - Base Set)

Q. If your opponent uses Kangaskhan's Fetch attack, would you be able to use Pidgeotto's Mirror Move to mimic it on your next turn? I imagine you would not be able to since the attack doesn't really "effect" Pidgeotto, though I could be wrong.
A. Nothing happened to Pidgeotto so nothing would happen if Pidgeotto tried to use Mirror Move. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

Q. For Spearow's Mirror Move, does this mean only what is done to Spearow is done back or does this include percentage chances? For instance, if there's a chance to paralyze Spearow but it does not happen, does Spearow have that chance to paralyze too?
A. No, only the final results are Mirrored. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. If an opponent's attack damages my benched Pidgeotto, can Pidgeotto then do "Mirror Move" during my next turn and attack for the amount of damage it received while on the bench?
A. Yes. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q273)

Q. Can Spearow's Mirror Move poison the opponent if (let's say) the final result of the last attack was 30 damage and poison?
A. Yup! It would do 30 damage and Poison. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q28)

Q. Just to make sure I understand correctly: Say Misdreavus successfully uses Perish Song against a Spearow with Focus Band. If Spearow survives the Focus Band flip and wakes up, it can do Mirror Move to K.O. Misdreavus. Is this correct?
A. Yes that is correct. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q495)

Q. If your Pokémon gets heads on Focus Band, how would you calculate Damage done by a subsequent Mirror Move Attack? Total Damage by Opponent's Attack or amount of Damage counters placed?
A. When using Mirror Move the "Final Result of an attack" is what is done to a Pokemon BEFORE it is Knocked Out. If the Defending Pokemon has a Weakness or Resistance this is calculated BEFORE naming the final result of the attack. Focus Band takes place OUTSIDE of the normal timing sequence of attack resolution and has no effect on this definition of the Final result. It is a replacement effect that takes place before a Pokemon is Knocked out. If Pidgeotto has a Focus Band attached to it, the Final Result of an attack against it does NOT count anything that Focus Band may or may not do. Meaning if an attack against Pidgeotto does 100 damage and a Focus Band triggers successfully reducing Pidgeotto's remaining HP to 10, the Final result of the attack against this Pokemon is 100 damage, NOT reducing the Defending Pokemon to 10 hp. So if Pidgeotto take 50 damage from a Lightning Pokemon, this is doubled due to its Weakness and the Final Result is 100 damage, regardless of whether Focus Band saves Pidgeotto from being Knocked out or not. The Focus Band alters the final outcome of what happens to Pidgeotto it does NOT alter the Final result of the attack. If the attack also has a special condition, you would do that back as well (like poison). (Feb 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q300 & Q302; Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q12 & Q18 & Q39)

Q1. How does Helping Hand (Sabrina's Jynx, GC) interact with Mirror Move?
A1. You would duplicate the exact effect that was done. So you would get to choose an opponent's Pokemon and you would have to try and remove the same number of damage counters that the attacker chose and then draw that many cards. The cool thing would be that you could would be able to choose an opponent's Pokemon that DIDN'T have any damage on it (as that is not a prerequisite of the attack). You would attempt to remove the same number of counters that were done to you (say it was 5). And even though you would not be able to remove 5 damage counters you would draw 5 cards as that was already determined. Of course this will NEVER happen in the real world. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q42)
Q2. RE: Mirror Move/Helping Hand: But wasn't the card drawing portion of the attack not something done by the attack to the Mirror Moving PokÈmon ("of that attack on (name)")
A2. Right! Sorry, didn't look clearly enouh at the card. Mirror Move only copies any damage or effects done from an attack ON Pidgeotto, ignore the previous answer for Helping Hand, I was wrong. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q62)

== MIRROR SHELL (Dark Wartortle - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Regarding Dark Wartortle, when a Pokémon like Kangaskahn does 80 damage to Dark Wartortle while it used Mirror Shell attack, will Dark Wartortle do 80 damage back or only 60 since that is it's max HP?
A. It would do 80. It copies the amount of damage done, not damage taken. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q24)

Q. I presume that when Dark Wartortle's Mirror Shell is used that you apply Weakness & Resistance. Is this correct?
A. Correct! (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. When figuring Weakness/Resistance for Mirror Shell's recoil, does this mean to use the Weakness/Resistance of the attacking Pokémon or from the Dark Wartortle? Scenario: After a Mirror Shell, Movie Promo Mewtwo does 40 damage to Dark Wartortle. Does Mewtwo receive 40 or 80 damage due to Mewtwo's weakness to Psychic (himself)?
A. Use the Weakness/Resistance from the Pokémon that is being attacked. In your scenario Movie Promo Mewtwo would take 40 damage from a Water Pokémon. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q159)

Q. Would Dark Wartortle's Mirror Shell stop working if the opponent benches their Pokémon first (similar to Smokescreen)?
A. Nope, since the Mirror Shell is NOT referring specifically to that Pokémon. (Jun 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q45; Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. If Dark Wartortle is somehow moved to the bench during your opponent's next turn after using Mirror Shell, and then is damaged, does the counter effect still go off?
A. No, it goes away when Dark Wartortle is benched. The effect references Dark Wartortle, if it gets benched, or evolved, or devolved, that effect ends. This is one of the basic rules of the game. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q262 & Q371)

Q. How does Agility and Dark Wartortle Mirror Shell interact? 
A. Agility does NOT prevent Mirror Shell from happening as it does NOT refer to the Defending Pokémon when this attack is done. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. When Mirror Shell's recoil refers to the "Defending Pokémon", does that mean the opponent currently in the active slot or does it mean the one that was defending at the time the Mirror Shell was invoked?
A. The 'defending' Pokémon, that means the one that is defending at that time [Ed.Note: presumably the one "currently defending"]. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q143)

Q. How much damage is done to each Pokémon if Rapidash uses Agility (Heads) followed by opponent Dark Wartortle's Mirror Shell followed by Rapidash's Agility (Tails)? Is it 0, 30, or 60?
A. It would be 60 as Agility would NOT prevent Mirror Shell (it doesn't refer to Rapidash). Then if Rapidash did 30 to Dark Wartortle the Mirror Shell would attack back for 30 (the word ATTACK is in the Mirror Shell description) and since Rapidash is weak to water it would be doubled to 60. (Jun 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q40; Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. If an opponent's Dark Wartortle used Mirror Shell, and I attach a PlusPower to my Active Pokémon, does the PlusPower damage get reflected back to me too or just the normal attack damage?
A. Mirror Shell will reflect the total amount of damage done to Wartortle due to the attack. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q140)

Q. What happens if a Confused Dark Wartortle successfully uses Mirror Shell, then the opponent attacks? Does Wartortle have to flip for Confusion on Mirror Shell's recoil?
A. Nope, Confusion attack checks only on your turn. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q69)

Q. Say Ditto uses Wartortle's Mirror Shell. Then during the turn that Ditto's Mirror is in effect, I evolve mine into Dark Blastoise and attack with Rocket Tackle. (a) Is Ditto's effect still there because of the self reference in the attack? and (b) If yes, would a heads on Rocket Tackle prevent it?
A. A Yes. B. No. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q273)

== MUG (Mankey - Aquapolis Expansion)

If you use Aquapolis Mankey's attack "Mug", if you don't do any damage do you still discard all trainer cards attached to the Defending Pokemon?
A. Yes you do. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q25)

== OBSCURING GAS (Koga's Koffing Lv. 15 - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If I have Koga's Koffing with a plus power attached, attack with Obscuring Gas, and flip heads, does the plus power get shuffled into my deck or go to the discard pile?
A. It gets shuffled back in, you don't have to discard it until the end of the turn. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q147)

Q. If the coin flip for Obscuring Gas is heads, but if the Defending pokemon causes enough recoil damage (i.e. from Mirror Shell, Shock Blast, etc.) to knock out the attacker, does Koga's Koffing go back into the deck or is it KO'd?
A. It would be KO'd. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q37)

== OCTAZOOKA (Octillery - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. On Octillery, if you flip heads for Octazooka, then the Defending Pokémon must flip heads when attacking to do damage or effects. This is true as long as the Defending Pokémon remains active, regardless of whether Octillery remains active or in play, and regardless of whether you flip heads next turn when using Octazooka, correct?
A. Correct. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If I [Knock Out] a pokemon with Octazooka and flip a head, does that mean the pokemon the opponent brings in has to flip to do its move?
A. The effect from that attack goes onto that Defending Pokemon which is then Knocked out. You would NOT do the effect on the next one that comes up. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q555)

Q. Say my Misty's Horsea Lv. 16 (Gym:C) attacks with "Ink Spurt", and then the following turn I retreat it for Octillery and do "Octazooka". Does the opponent have to flip twice if they try to attack, or only once?
A. They would have to flip twice because those are two separate effects. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1266)

== OVERHEAD TOSS (Stantler - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. N3 Stantler's Overhead Toss attack doesn't say how to determine which benched Pokémon of yours to do damage to. Can I assume the player using the attack decides?
A. Obviously you choose. (Jan 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1012)

== PAIN AMPLIFIER (Sabrina's Gengar - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. If a Benched Pokémon has some damage and a Defender on it, would Sabrina's Gengar's "Pain Amplifier" work on it or would Defender block it? The attack's text says to "put a damage counter on"; is that considered "doing damage"?
A. Defender does NOT block placing damage counters. Placing damage counters isn't the same as taking damage. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q34 & Q35; see also "General Gameplay - Attacking")

== PAIN SPLIT (Misdreavus - Promo)

Q. Misdreavous promo's "Pain Split" attack, since it says "put 1 damage counter for each 1 Misdreavous has on itself" ignores Metal Energy, right? Does it also ignore or bypass Focus Band too?
A. It ignores Metal but not Focus Band. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q790)

== PAINT (Smeargle - Promo)

Q. When can you remove the coloring counter from Smeargle? Does the Coloring counter remain on the defending Pokemon if it retreats, evolves, etc. (like "Char" counters)?
A. The coloring counter actually isn't on Smeargle, but the only way to remove it from the Pokemon it is attached to is to evolve it or have it leave play. Just like Char counters, benching does not remove it. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q13 & Q40)

Q. Will Full Heal get rid of the Paint counter, or is there another card to do that?
A. No. You'll have to evolve or scoop up to get rid of it. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q113)

Q. For Promo Smeargle's "Paint" attack, on the part where it says to "remove the old counter", I presume that means to replace it with the new counter, right? (you don't end up with zero counters attached).
A. Correct. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q43)

Q. If Ditto's type gets changed by Promo Smeargle's "Paint" attack, does this effect remain when Ditto "Transforms" into another pokemon?
A. Yes, it does. Just like doing so wouldn't remove the poison effect on Ditto, if he was poisoned. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q44)

Q. Does Smeargle's Paint attack override Venomoth's PP: Shift?
A. Yes, Shift overrides the Paint and vice versa. (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q29)

Q. Misty's Psyduck's "ESP" attack has a clause that says "no matter what type the Defending Pokemon is, Misty's Psyduck's type is still W". Does this still apply if it has a Coloring counter on it due to Promo Smeargle's "Paint" attack?
A. It's similar to the self-referencing rule. If Misty's Psyduck has a Paint counter on it that is a color other than Water, then it is that color. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q48)

Q. Smeargle paints (with heads) against a Brock's Ninetales with an evolution card attached. Does the coloring counter stay on Brock's Ninetales if the next turn the evolution card attached to it is discarded?
A. Smeargle plainly states that the counter is put on the Defending Pokemon. That would be Brock's Ninetales. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q90)

Q. Could Promo Smeargle's Paint attack affect a Mysterious Fossil or Clefairy Doll?
A. Why bother? But yes it would work. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q46 & Q89)

Q. For Smeargle, we haven't seen an official answer yet, but if you Paint a Dark Pokemon like Murkrow into Grass, he now takes damage from the Darkness Energy, right?
A. He gets damage counters put on at the end of the turn, yes. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q375 & Q390)

== PERISH SONG (Misdreavus - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. If I use Misdreavus' Night Eyes attack on my turn and the Defending Pokémon wakes up between turns, can I put it to sleep with Rocket Drowzee or a Sleep! trainer in order to knock the Defending Pokémon out with Perish Song on my next turn?
A. Yes you could, it just has to be Asleep and have been attacked by Night Eyes last turn. It doesn't matter if it is asleep from another effect or not. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. If a Pokemon that was attacked by Night Eyes last turn goes to the bench, could I Gust it up, put it to sleep (with the Sleep! trainer or TR Drowzee), and then KO it with Perish Song?
A. Yes it would. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. Regarding the Perish Song Attack - Is there any way to clear the effect between the Night Eyes Attack and the Perish Song Attack next turn. Benching doesnít seem to as long as the conditions are met.
A. Evolving, Devolving, or leaving play. But not benching. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q33)

* When a Pokemon evolves or devolves it is NO longer considered to be the same Pokemon. So if Misdreavus used Night Eyes against a Squirtle last turn and then that Squirtle evolves to Wartortle, Misdreavus could NOT use Perish song (even if Wartortle was asleep) as it is NOT the same Pokemon! (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Would Focus Band be invoked if a Pokemon were KO'd by Misdreavus' "Perish Song" attack?
A. Yes. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q54)

Q. How would it work if a Shapeshifted Brock's Ninetales is attacked by Misdreavus' "Night Eyes", and then by "Perish Song" on the following turn?
A. Brock's Ninetales would be Knocked out. Just as if Brock's Ninetales was poisoned and you attached an evolution card (which would NOT remove the poison because it does NOT count as evolving), the Night Eyes is on the one Pokemon, regardless of whether it has an attached evolution card on it or not. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q12 & Q31 & Q32)

== PETAL DANCE (Vileplume - Jungle Expansion, Sunflora - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Vileplume's Petal Dance attack says "it is now confused (after doing damage)". If all 3 flips are tails and the attack does no damage, does it still become confused or does it not?
A. It is confused. It is just stating when you would place the confusion effect. (Aug 3, 2000 WotC Chat, Q32 & Q135)

== PETAL WHIRLWIND (Dark Vileplume - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If you use Dark Vileplume's Petal Whirlwind and get 1 heads, is Vileplume confused?
A. No, you have to get 2 heads or more for it to be confused. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q45)

== PHOENIX FLAME (Blaine's Moltres - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Do you lose if you flip tails on Blaine's Moltres with no bench?
A. Yes the way it is written you would lose as you would not have a Pokémon in play, so I wouldn't risk it. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q47)

Q. If Blaine's Moltres uses its attack on Dark Gyarados and Moltres would go into the deck, but Final Beam works and does enough to KO Blaine's Moltres, does Blaine's Moltres enter the deck, and does the player with Dark Gyarados get a prize?
A. If the Phoenix Flame KO's Dark Gyarados, then the Final Beam will go off. If that KO's Blaine's Moltres, then it will not be shuffled back into the owner's deck. The Dark Gyarados player gets a prize as well. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q145)

== PLASMA (Rocket's Zapdos - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Rocket Zapdos' Plasma attack says "If there are any L Energy cards in your discard pile, attach 1 of them to Rocket's Zapdos." Do you *have* to attach the energy card or is it an optional choice?
A. You do. Read Rocket's Zapdos. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q28)

== PLAYING WITH FIRE (Dark Flareon - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Why does Dark Flareon's Playing with Fire say "only use this attack if there are any fire energy attached to Dark Flareon"?
A. This type of wording is used on Dark Charmeleon as well and it's designed to force Ditto players to actually have a Fire Energy on their Ditto to copy that attack. [Editor's Note: He means Clefable here, not Ditto] (6-30-00 WotC Chat)

== POISON BITE (Ariados - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Sorry if this has been asked before, but if Ariados' Poison Bite is used with a PlusPower or Darkness Energy, is the healing upped to 20, or does it still only heal 10 (because the attack by itself did 20). Also, does the Poison add 10 to the damage healed?
A. The Darkness adds to the total and hence you heal more, the Poison does not, it comes after the end of the turn. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q311)

== POISON GAS (Grimer - Team Rocket expansion)

Q. I have a Team Rocket Grimer card. It says for Poison Gas, "Flip a coin. If heads the Defending Pokémon is now asleep." Is this a mistake?
A. Yup, we admitted that one months ago. It is a misprint. (6-29-00 WotC Chat Q43)

Q. You answered my question about the errored Grimer. Do you play how it says or should I play it by using Poison instead of Sleep?
A. There is no errata for Pokémon so you play it as it is written (6-29-00 Q131 WotC Chat)

== POUNCE (Persian - Jungle Expansion)

Q. Does Persian's Pounce attack (-10 damage) accumulate, such that it can ward off any attacks, even from Charizard?
A. No, they don't accumulate. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

== PROPHECY (Hypno - Fossil Expansion; Xatu - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Say I use Hypno's Prophecy attack to look at the top three cards of my opponent's deck. Can I put those cards anywhere -- like on the bottom of my opponent's deck? Or on the top of my deck?
A. No, the cards have to stay where they were; only the order can change. Prophecy doesn't let you move the cards; it just lets you rearrange them. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

== PROTECTIVE FLAME (Entei - Promo)

Q. If my promo Entei is active and attacks with Protective Flame, does it also protect Entei from all effects of attacks, including damage?
A. No, it only protects the your benched Pokemon. (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q41)

* If Entei gets benched, then the Protective Flame effect ends. So now none of your benched Pokemon would be protected in this case. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

== PSYCHE (Ancient Mew - Promo)

Q. Doesn't the Ancient Mew have the same name as Mew? It has 3 runes for the name. We've seen conflicting answers on this.
A. No it does not. Ancient Mew is a different name so if you wanted 4 of that card in your deck with 4 Mews you could (this comes from R&D). (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30 & Q86 & Q90)

Q. Is Ancient Mew a Mew or Ancient Mew card? IE 4 Mews and 4 Ancient Mews in a deck?
A. They have different names so they are different cards. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q100)

* I did hear that the Ancient Mew card will no longer be allowed in Sanctioned Play as it is considered a non-playable card just like the oversized Pikachu [Ed. Note: It's still allowed in casual play.]. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30 & Q190)

Q. What is the attack cost for Ancient Mew?
A. Two Psychic Energy. (Ancient Mew  FAQ, WotC Website, Q1)

Q. Why does Ancient Mew have to be in an opaque [...] sleeve?
A. Because otherwise it would count as a marked card. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q85)

Q. Can I play an Ancient Mew card without an oquaqe back sleeve but with a Pokémon card in the back to cover?
A. Nope. It'll would be too thick that way. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q90)

== PSYCHIC (Espeon - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If I use Level 45 Espeon's Psychic attack and the Defending Pokémon has a Double Colorless Energy attached to it, how much damage would the attack do?
A. The attack would do 40 damage in this case. The Psychic attack does 30 damage plus 10 more for each Energy cardattached to the Defending Pokémon. The Double Colorless Energy is only 1 card that provides 2 Colorless Energy. (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website)

== PSYCHIC DAMAGE (Celebi - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Celebi's Psychic Damage attack says 'Put 1 damage counter on the defending Pokemon'. Does that mean that : 1 Metal Energy attached to the defending will not reduce damage - 2 Resistance is not active ?
A. Correct on both accounts! [ED. NOTE: You can also infer by this that Weakness is not applied either.] (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q4)

== PSYKISS (Smoochum - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

* A Special Energy Card remains a Special Energy card regardless of what happens to it. A Fire Burned Rainbow Energy may only produce Fire energy but it would still be considered a Special Energy card as well. This is important for Smoochum's Psykiss attack. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If Revelation Smoochum uses its attack and returns a special energy card attached to the opponent into their deck, and Ecogym is in play, would the special energy card go back to the owner's hand?
A. No, the energy still gets shuffled into the deck. (Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q207)

Q. Is a Buzzap'd Electrode considered a Special Energy Card, especially for purposes of Smoochum's Psykiss (remove special energy card)?
A. Yes, it is considered a non-basic energy. So you could remove it w/ Smoochum. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14 & Q57)

Q. Last time, you guys said that a Buzzap'd Electrode is counted as a "Special Energy Card" for Smoochum's "Psykiss" attack. Are all any non-basic energy cards considered to be "Special Energy Cards" or only those with that phrase written on the card?
A. Yes, any card that provides energy that is NOT a basic energy card is considered to be a Special Energy Card and is affected by Smoochum's attack. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q16 & Q34)

== PSYSHOCK (Golduck - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Will Golbat (which has Weakness to Psychic) take 10 damage or 20 damage from Golduck's Psyshock attack (which is powered by Psychic Energy)?
A. Golduck is a Water Pokémon, and Psyshock does 10 damage, so Golbat will only take 10. The fact that you need a Psychic Energy to pay the Energy cost for Psyshock doesn't matter; all that matters is what type of Pokémon Golduck is. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

== PULL IN (Dark Gengar - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Do you have to switch the defending pokemon with Dark Gengar's "Pull In"?
A. No, it says you "May"..not "Must". (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q590)

Q. If you have Dark Gengar active and attack with "Pull In" against a non-Baby Pokemon, and you choose a Baby Pokemon from their bench to be active and receive the damage, do you have to flip for the Baby Power?
A. NO! (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q121)

Q. Can you use Dark Gengar's "Pull In" attack against an Active Suicune (LV 33 with Crystal Body Pokemon Power)? What happens? What about if a Suicune is on the Bench? Can you target it with "Pull In"?
A. Suicune's Crystal Body Pokemon Power prevents ALL effects of attacks except for damage done to Suicune. So while you can use Pull In against [an active] Suicune (and still do the 30 damage) you would NOT be able switch Suicune with a Pokemon from the Bench. You would also NOT be able to switch Suicune UP from the Bench for the same reason. (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

Q. If Promo Mew [Lv. 8 with "Neutral Shield" power, aka "Lily Pad Mew"] is the Active Pokemon, can Dark Gengar's "Pull In" attack be used?
A. Dark Gengar's Pull In effect CANNOT be used if promo Mew is the Active Pokemon [ed note: nor can this Promo Mew be 'pulled in"to the active position from the bench], or if the LVL 33 Suicune is the Active Pokemon (and their Pokemon Powers are functioning), or if the Defending Pokemon has an Agility effect on it. Switching a Pokemon up from the Bench with the Active Pokemon is considered "affecting" the Active Pokemon, and in these cases, this is prevented. [Ed. Note: With Suicune in the example above, the damage portion of the "Pull In" attack is NOT prevented, due to the wording of the "Crystal Body" Pokemon Power.] (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q247; Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 1)

Q. Dark Gengar's Pull-In - If a benched Jumpluff is the target of Pull In, if I flip for Fluff and get heads, what happens?
A. The attack is still direcrted at the active Poké so it would work. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q967)

== PURSUIT (Umbreon - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. The text for Pursuit says "if the Defending Pokemon *tries* to retreat". But last week (Q38) you said that Pursuit damage to a confused Pokemon who attempts to retreat only happens if the confusion flip is successful. Are you sure about that?
A. Sorry. You are correct in that it is the ATTEMPT to retreat that triggers Pursuit, whether it is a succesful retreat (due to confusion) or not. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q16 & Q70)

Q. An Umbreon with a Pursuit attack has 4 Darkness Energy and it used Pursuit to the opponent. If the opponent retreats would the effect to 10 or do 50? I think its 50 because isn't the effect from Pursuit revelant of an attack and it also does base damage.
A. It [the Pursuit effect] is not an attack, it is still just a status effect of an attack doing damage to it. [Ed.Note: So the act of retreating would only do 10, not 50.] (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q45)

Q. If a Neo2 non-holo Umbreon used Pursuit against me, and say I retreat my pokemon and must discard a Metal for it, does Pursuit do the damage to my pokemon before or after Metal is discarded?
A. According to the rule book, "To Retreat, you must discard from the Retreating Pokemon Energy equal to its Retreat cost." So, you must discard the Metal Energy in this example to Retreat. Now that you are trying to Retreat (already discarded the energy) the Umbreon's effect does the 10 damage. (Aug 15, 2002 WotC Chat, Q394)

== RAINBOW BURN (Ho-oh - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. Ho-oh's Rainbow Burn attack: "plus 10 more damage for each type of Basic Energy card, if any, attached to Ho-oh". So if you had a grass, a water, a fire, and an electric, you would do 40 more, but if you had 4 grass, you would only do an extra 10, since there is only one TYPE, right? And Rainbow Energy, Metal Energy, and Dark Energy would not count toward extra damage on Ho-oh, since they are not a type of Basic Energy CARD?
A. Correct! (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q48 & Q50)

* Rainbow energy is NEVER considered a basic energy card. EVER! Whether in play or not. So this means that attaching a Rainbow energy to a colorless Ho-oh does NOT add to the amount of damage done! (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I have 3 Porygon2 on my bench and an active Ho-Oh with 4 Grass energy attached, how much damage can Ho-Oh do if I use Energy Conversion to change the types of 3 of the Grass energies? No additional damage?!
A. Correct, no additional damage. The Ho-Oh only does 10 more for each type of Basic Energy card. A basic Energy card whose type is changed still counts as the original basic Energy card....and the new type's Energy. So a Grass Energy card on Ho-oh is a Grass Basic Energy card if it is changed to provide fire it is still a Grass Basic Energy card. It would count as a Fire Energy card, but not a Basic Fire Energy card. Clear? You have to understand that you NEVER change what a card really is. You can change what it provides and what it can count as. Ho-oh is the only card that I know that requires different BASIC ENERGY card on it. [NOTE: Porygon2's power says "treat that energy card as that type", not "treat it as that Basic Energy card".] (Dec 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q52 & Q61 & Q65 & Q67 & Q74)

== RAINBOW WAVE (Mew - Southern Islands Expansion)

Q. If I put a Rainbow Energy on Southern Islands Mew, can I hit every non-colorless Pokemon on the opponent's side or do I have to pick a single color only? Can the Rainbow be treated as "all colors" in this instance?
A. Nope, you must choose an ENERGY type meaning fire, water, darkness, etc. NOT an ENERGY CARD type like Rainbow. You have to choose one energy type to do damage to. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q234)

Q. If I have a SI Mew with Rainbow Energy attached, can I pick Dark or Steel as a type?
A. Yes. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q264)

Q. If I just have a Rainbow Energy on Southern Islands Mew, will that pay for both the P attack cost and also allow me to choose another color of Pokemon to do the damage to?
A. Yes. But you only do damage to one type of Pokemon. Rainbow counts as all types but only provides one energy. You choose what type of Pokemon you want to do damage to when you use this attack with Rainbow Energy attached. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q233 & Q286 & Q345)

== RAPID EVOLUTION (Magikarp - Team Rocket Expansion)

***** See Also Trainer Cards: Recall section *****

Q. You said that you could not use Team Rocket  Magikarp's Rapid Evolution during the same turn that it is played because it counts as an evolution, but you also said that you CAN use it when an Aerodactyl is in play. If it's an evolution, how can you use it then?
A1. The Rapid Evolution Attack has you pulling an Evolution card from the deck and playing it. This is NOT the same as PLAYING an Evolution card, so Aerodactyl's Prehistoric Power does NOT prevent you from being able to use this attack. (Jun 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q18 & Q59 & Q126)
A2. An R&D ruling: Team Rocket's Magikarp can be used the turn those Pokémon come into play. Since they pull an evolution card from your deck instead of playing an evolution card from your hand they are NOT limited to the normal rule of evolution and thusly will also NOT be stopped by Aerodactyl's Prehistoric Power either. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I use Rapid Evolution with the Team Rocket Magikarp, can I use Ice Beam on the same turn with Dark Gyarados?
A. No, Rapid Evolution is an attack. That would be your attack for that turn. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. if you use Magikarp's Rapid Evolution, can you still attack with Gyarados or Dark Gyarados?
A. No, one attack per turn. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q232)

* TR Magikarp's Rapid Evolution attack breaks the standard "can't evolve turn 1 or the turn it was played" rule. Since this attack has you take a card from your deck and place it, it is NOT stopped by the standard evolution limits. This also falls under the term "played". Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power "Prehistoric Power" says No more Evolution cards can be played. The Repid Evolutoin attack would NOT be affected by this as those cards are not "played" (meaning played from your hand). [Ed.Note: See also "General Gameplay: Evolving" for more details] (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

== RAPID SPIN (Donphan - Neo: Genesis Expansion, Forretress - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. Does Rapid Spin from a non basic pokemon toward lilypad mew let the opponent's Rapid Spin pokemon switch?
A. No. Switching up from the bench is still considered affecting the active. So no switching in this case. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q949)

Q. If I have a promo Mew [with Neutral Shield] on my bench and my opponent uses Rapid Spin, can I intentionally choose Mew so I don't have to switch Pokemon?
A. Yes. (May 1, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1440)

== RECHARGE (Pikachu - Promo Lt. Surge's Electabuzz - Gym: Heroes Expansion, et. al)

Q. When you add a Lightning Energy to Promo No. 4 Pikachu can you use recharge, even though you already added a Lightning Energy?
A. Yes you can. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q243)

== REFLECT SHIELD (Shining Mewtwo - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

* Shining Mewtwo's Reflect Shield should have said "Shining Mewtwo does 20 damage to the attacking Pokemon." Apply Weakness and Resistance for this attack as normal. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q4)

== RIPTIDE (Feraligatr - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If I had fire energy & 4 Rainbow Energy in my discard pile, could I count the 4 Rainbow Energy as Water to do 50 damage?
A. The Rainbow are not in play and don't count as any type, so they don't have an effect on the attack. (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q164)

Q. If I have a benched Parasect (Neo:R) and four (W) energies in my discard pile when my Active Feraligatr uses Riptide; does Riptide still do 50 damage, and do the (W) energies remain in my discard pile afterward?
A. Yes. It is still counted for the attack's damage amount, but it is NOT shuffled back into the deck in this case.(Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q7 & Q12)

Q. Parasect on the opponent's bench, they're playing a Feraligatr that KOs your only Muk with a Riptide. Does the water in the opponent's discard pile get shuffled back into their deck? Any chance of clarifying the reasons in terms of order of act
A. They [do not] get shuffled back. The damage is done first, which knocks out the Muk, then powers trun back on. THEN after damage is done, other effects of the attack are done, thereby [Parasect prevents] shuffling back the cards. This is the same timing sequence that came up with the Dark Gyarados getting knocked out with an attack that Paralyzes question. Simple huh? (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q324 & Q341 & Q346 & Q372)

== ROARING FLAMES (Blaine's Charizard - Gym: Challenge Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

Q. If I had a Rainbow Energy and a Fire Energy on Blaine's Charizard, could I discard both to do 40 extra damage?
A. Yes, kinda cool huh? (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q94)

== RUSHING FLAMES (Dark Typhlosion - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. When you play Dark Typhlosion's "Rushing Flames", I suppose you have to discard the energies before you flip for all the discarded energies, and not discard/flip, discard/flip, ...
A. Correct, you must discard all at once, then flip. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q566)

== SAND-ATTACK (Sandshrew - Base Set, Eevee - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. "If tails, that attack does nothing". Does this mean that the attack cannot be made or that the attack can be made but neither damage nor effects can happen?
A. The attack will be made, but damage and effects don't happen. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q185)

Q. If you attack with a Team Rocket Eevee using Sand-attack, then your opponent uses Gust of Wind to switch Eevee, and your opponent keeps the Defending Pokémon the same, does your opponent need to flip when they attack you?
A. Yes they do, the Sand Attack only references the Defending Pokémon (not Eevee). (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q76)

== SCREECH (Croconaw - Neo: Genesis Expansion, Onix - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If I use NEO Onix Screech can I retreat [or evolve] back to Steelix next turn and do 20 more damage?
A. The effect is sitting on the defending Pokemon. [Ed.Note: So the answer would be "yes".] (Mar 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q68)

Q. On the Screech attack, does it mean that if the Pokémon you're defending against does damage to itself it [the Pokémon which did damage against itself] takes 20 more damage?
A. Correct. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q117)

Q. If Croconaw (70 HP) does Screech, and your opponent's Electabuzz does Thunderpunch and flips tails, who gets the extra 20 HP damage, Croconaw or Electabuzz?
A. Electabuzz would take an extra 20 damage in this case. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q1)

Q. Benching which Pokemon would end the effect of Neo: Genesis' Onix's Screech attack? The Pokemon that got attacked or the Onix that made the attack?
A. The defending Pokemon (not the Onix). (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q41 & Q48)

Q. On Neo Onix's "Screech" attack, where it says "if an attack damages the Defending Pokemon", does that also apply when the opponent attacks my Pokemon too (i.e. would my Onix take +20 when it now becomes a Defending Pokemon)?
A. No, it is referencing the _current_ defending pokemon [only]. (Mar 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q16)

== SCRUNCH (Chansey - Base Set)

Q. Does Chansey take Poison damage if Scrunch works?
A. Yes, Scrunch says it only prevents damage, all other effects of attacks still happen. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

== SELFDESTRUCT (Magneton - Base Set & Fossil, Magnemite - Base Set)

Q. Is it possible for a Magneton to use 2 Defenders to stay alive?
A. Yes, you could save him with 2 Defenders. (June 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q173)

== SHADOW IMAGES (Rocket's Scyther - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

* Rocket's Scyther's Shadow Images attack is NOT cumulative. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If Ditto mimics a Rocket Scyther's Shadow Images attack, does the effect remain or go away when Ditto transforms into a new Pokémon?
A. The effect will remain on Ditto. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q11)

Q. If Rocket's Scyther uses Shadow Images, and the opponent's Pokémon retreats, another Pokemon comes up and retreats, and the original Pokémon returns, is Shadow Images still in effect?
A. Shadow Images ONLY references Rocket's Scyther, so your opponent can bench all they want, the effect is still there on the Scyther. (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q267)

Q. If a Rocket's Scyther with 10 HP and a Focus Band had used Shadow Images, and the opponent flips heads for their attack, but the flip for Focus Band is also heads, does that make the Shadow Images affect disappear?
A. [Yes,] the Pokemon is taking damage but its final state is altered by the Focus Band. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q28)

Q. This is a procedural question. If you use Rocket's Scyther Shadow Images, and then your opponent attacks using an attack that does not do damage, do they still need to flip?
A. Yes, because it says on R. Scyther that when they _attack_ you flip a coin, not when they do damage. (Mar 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q24)

Q. There's currently an old ruling that Rocket Syther's Shadow Images is ended by Poison damage even though it is a damage counter placement and does not "do damage". Is this still in effect or has it been superseded by the Neo rules?
A. That question is on its way back to Japan for clarification. You are right in that by the rules it should NOT end it (placing a counter instead of actually doing damage) BUT we also have a ruling from Japan saying it DOES end it. We are waiting on clarificiation, but we will rule for now that it does NOT end it. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q8; Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14)

Q. How do other "counter placing" effects [other than Poison] affect Shadow Images? Which of these can end the effect: Damage Swap? Life Down, Juxtapose and other counter placing attacks? Darkness Energy self-damage? Char? Gengar's Curse?
A. Currently none of them do. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. OK, if you have a Rocket's Scyther Shadow Image, and then a Rocket's Hitmonchan Crisscounter's, and then Scyther uses Blinding Scythe, does Scyther have to flip 1 or 2 heads to make crosscounter successful....
A. Two, one to check to see if Crosscounter works, if it does, then you would flip to see if Shadow Image blocks the damage. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q126)

== SHARPSHOOTER (Exeggutor - Southern Islands Expansion)

Q. With SI Exeggutor can you use Meganium's Wild Growth to make every grass energy on the Sharpshooter attack flip twice?
A. That's correct. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q432)

== SHOCKWAVE (Yanma - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. The ruling on Metapod's Hatch needing a heads-I assume that applies to Yanma's Shockwave and explosive evolution as well.
A. Yes, that applies to those cards as well. Both effects are tied to the coin flip, regardless of how the card is worded. So, [if] you flip tails, you do NOTHING. (Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, post-Q156; Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q211)

== SKETCH (Smeargle - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If the Pokémon my opponent attacked with on her last turn is now on her Bench, and I had Smeargle in play, what does Smeargle's Sketch attack do?
A. Nothing. The Pokémon your opponent attacked with on her last turn must still be her Active Pokémon in order for the Sketch attack to work. So, if you want to use Smeargle's Sketch attack, make sure you don't play any cards that require your opponent to switch her Active Pokémon with a Benched Pokémon! (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If a confused Pokemon attempts to attack and flips tails, does that mean that an opposing Smeargle would have nothing to sketch, since the attack did not actually occur?
A. Yes. Correct! [Ed.Note: Well actually, Confusion states that the Pokémon attacks itself with an attack that does 20 damage. Smeargle would copy that attack doing 20 damage to itself.] (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q317)

Q. If Smeargle uses Sketch to do say 20 damage, then on the opponent's turn they bring up their Smeargle to do Sketch also, does it to 20 damage reflected from the previous Sketch or does it do nothing at all?
A. It does nothing because now Sketch is just copying a Sketch. Which will do nothing on it's own. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q4 & Q15)

Q. Smeargle vs. Ditto: If Ditto KOs your previous active pokémon with one of its own attacks, and you bring Smeargle up, can it still Sketch the last attack it used or will it be helpless since Ditto's only attack would then be Sketch?
A. It would sketch the last attack. (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q230)

Q. From the Master Rulings - Ditto vs. Smeargle's Sketch -- Smeargle gets to use whatever attack Ditto used last. So, what about Metronome type Pokemon vs. Smeargle's Sketch; how about the same rule applying? Sketch copies whatever attack was Metronomed not the Metronome itself. Just like if a Pokemon is confused you get to Sketch Confusion damage for 20 to yourself.
A. Sketch would do whatever attack you had Metronomed. (Apr 24, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1347 & Q1353)

Q. Smeargle is on my bench. My opponent just did Riptide for 120 damage. I make Smeargle active & do how much damage? 120, (same as opponent's did) or 10 if I don't have water energy in my discard pile?
A. You copy the attack, not the damage or the final effects of that attack; thus, unless you have some water energy in your discard you are doing 10 damage. (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q161)

Q. If the opponent's Magcargo used its Lava Flow attack last turn and I have a Smeargle with two Rainbow Energies attached, can Smeargle Sketch the attack and discard both Rainbows for 80 damage?
A. Sure. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q53)

Q. With a Neo 3 Raichu vs. Smeargle and Raichu did its Lightning Strike attack last turn... and Smeargle has lets say 2 psychic energy on it, can it do 80 damage with Lightning Strike even without the L energy cards attached?
A. Well, that is the second modal card in the new set. You could end up discarding zero lightning cards if you Metronomed or Sketched that attack and still do the 80 damage. We will verify this to be sure. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q123)

Q. If I have a Smeargle (with Sketch) with a Double Colorless Energy attached and I want to copy Dark Charizard's Continuous Fireball attack which was used last turn, what happens there?
A. It wouldn't do anything unless you had some fire energy attached to Smeargle. It is not an "in order to" effect that would normally be ignored. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q340)

Q. Because Ninetales, Charizard and Flareon got their text changed in LC [Legendary Collection], Smeargle can't copy their attacks without discarding the correct Energy, right?
A. You are correct. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q61)

Q. For the EX cards like Charizard, where it just says "Discard R from Charizard" does this count as an attack cost so can I use Smeargle against it without having to have R energy?
A. It is not an attack cost, it is an effect of the attack. So it is copied. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q101)

== SLASHING STRIKE (Scyther - Promo)

Q. If you have an attack like Sabrina's Alakazam's "Mega Burn" or Promo Scyther's "Slashing Strike" that says "you can't use this attack next turn", would you be able to use it next turn if on this turn you failed the Baby Rule flip?
A. Yes, because you don't actually attack when you fail the baby flip. [Ed.Note: Therefore, the condition saying you can't use the attack on the next turn is never invoked.] (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q7)

== SLEIGHT OF HAND (Sabrina's Mr. Mime - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Say I'm using Sabrina's Mr. Mime Sleight of Hand, I shuffle 3 cards from my hand into the deck. I search for 3 basic energy cards. When I search, what happens if there isn't 3 basic energy cards. Do I only get the number of basic energy cards left?
A. That's correct. (Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q104)

Q. Sabrina's Mr. Mime's Sleight of Hand attack reads "Choose up to three cards from your hand and put them on top of your deck. Then search your deck for that many basic Energy cards. Show these cards to your opponent, then put them your hand. Shuffle your deck afterwards." Can we simply keep putting cards back into our deck and not draw energy if there is none left?
A. No you cannot, but we will check that answer with R&D first. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q32)

== SMOKESCREEN (Magmar - Fossil Expansion)

Q. When Smokescreen stops an attack, does it stop all effects of the attack, even those that might be done to the attacking Pokémon?
A. Yes, it stops all effects. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q123)

Q. What about cards that do not state when the effect ends? Like Fossil Magmar's Smokescreen? I think for only one turn (the opponent's next turn), but some Apprentice people say it lasts until Magmar is Benched!
A. The effect says tries to attack during your opponent's next turn, so it only works on the next turn after you use the attack. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q131)

Q. If you use Smokescreen then retreat the Pokémon that is Smoke screened or if Magmar Retreats is it still in effect?
A. Smokescreen references the defending Pokémon, so if you bench that Pokémon the effect ends. If you bench Magmar then Smokescreen is in effect. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q11)

Q. Ditto is out against Fossil Magmar. Magmar uses Smokescreen. Then the trainer with Ditto uses Gust of Wind and puts a different Pokémon out. Does Ditto still have to flip to attack?
A. Yes, it does. The Smokescreen attack only references the Defending Pokémon (in this case Ditto), Benching Magmar does NOT remove this effect (though benching the Ditto would). (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. If your Pokémon has been Smokescreened on the previous turn, and you choose an attack that requires you to do something (such as discarding Energy) in order to use the Attack, do you pay the attack costs before you flip for the Smokescreen Effect?
A. Yes before, you still attempt the attack; the Smokescreen might just stop it from having any effect. (Apr 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20; Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q27)

Q. If Magmar's Smokescreen Knocks Out the Defending Pokémon, does the new Active have to flip to see if its attack is effective?
A. No, it only effects the Defending Pokémon the attack was done against. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Does Magmar's Smokescreen affect end if the Defending Pokémon evolves?
A. Since Magmar's Smokescreen attack references the Defending Pokémon, by it evolving, it removes that effect. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. Would Magmar's Smokescreen stop Kangaskhan's Fetch?
A. Yes, it would, since Fetch is an attack. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. If a Gloom Confused you, and next turn a Magmar Smokescreened you, do you flip for Confusion or Smokescreen first?
A. You flip for Smokescreen first. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q328)

== SNEAK ATTACK (Dark Golbat - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If Dark Golbat and Dark Crobat use their Pokemon Powers on a Pokemon that has a Metal Energy on it, does the Metal energy reduce the Damage done to that Pokemon?
A. Yes it does. Metal energy reduces all damage done by 10. (Jul 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q135)

Q. Another Dark Golbat / Crobat Question. If Zubat has a Metal Energy on then you evolve it to Dark Golbat will the Metal Energy reduce the damage. I would think not.
A. Wrong, it would. Metal energy reduces all damage done by non-metal Pokemon, whether from an attack or power. (Jul 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q212)

== SPARK (Pikachu - Jungle Expansion)

Q. Does the Jungle Pikachu's Spark attack do damage to both the Defending Pokémon and a Pokémon on the Bench, or just one or the other?
A. The Spark attack damages both. In general, you do the attack damage and you follow any special instructions on the card. If the attack damage has a special symbol next to it, you just do what the attack text says. (Jungle FAQ, WotC Website)

== SPIDER WEB (Ariados - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Does Ariados' "Spider Web" attack last even if Ariados retreats or is benched? This could keep an opponent in the active slot for a very long time, couldn't it?
A. Yes it would. Make sure you have a Double Gust or Scoop Up in your deck. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q40a)

== SPIRAL AURA (Hypno - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. If the Active Pokemon uses an attack like Hypno's Spiral Aura that forces a switch if the Defending Pokemon is not KO'd, what happens if the Defending Pokemon is saved by Focus Band? Does the switch still take place or is it past that point already?
A. The switch still takes place. Focus Band triggers as soon as it would be Knocked out (from damage). It saves the Pokemon and you go back into the turn order from whence you came. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q331)

== SPUTTER (Magby - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

* If Magby uses Sputter then Suicune's Crystal Body pokemon power WOULD be shut off as it is NOT targeted against Suicune but is a global effect. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q5)

* If Magby's Sputter was in effect (or Goop Gas Attack for that matter) then "when you play" Pokemon powers (such as Dark Golbat's Stare or Dark Crobat's Surprise Bite) still function. This is because those effects are triggered by playing the card and take place BEFORE they are put into play (where Sputter would shut them off). This is the same reason why Rainbow/Potion/Heal energy still do their "when you play them from your hand" effects even with Light Dragonite's Miraculous Wind active. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q6)

Q. Both Magby & Ditto active. Magby attacks with sputter, flips heads. Does Dittos power stop working?
A. Yup. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q123)

Q. If I use Sputter vs. Giovanni's Machamp, will Sputter's effect come before [Giovanni's Machamp's] Fortitude?
A. No, you apply the damage first (check to see if the pokemon is knocked out, and any effects of that), then you apply the effects of the attack, (paralyze, confuse, sputter). (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q63)

Q. Magby's Sputter will not shut off Machamp [Skyridge] correct?
A. Wrong, all Poke-POWERs and Poke-BODYs are considered Pokemon Powers. Any of the older effects that shut off Pokemon Powers (such as Sputter or Muk's Toxic Gas) shut of Poke-POWERs AND Poke-BODYs. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1635)

Q. If I use Magby's "Sputter" on Erika's Vileplume, will it be able to use its power or will it get shut off?
A. You do the damage from an attack first, if that triggers anything (in this case it does) you then do what is triggered, then you continue and do what the attack says besides damage. So the Sputter effect takes place AFTER Erika's Vileplume's Pollen Defense goes off. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q548)

Q. If Magby has Sputtered, can Entei Howl?
A. Yes...Howl all day...like my Beagles! [Ed.Note: This is because Entei's power takes effect "when coming into play from your hand", whereas Magby's Sputter does not affect such powers until the card is actually "in play". See "Sputter" for more details.] (May 30, 2002 WotC Chat, Q418)

Q. If Magby Sputters on my opponent's turn, and I Knock Out Magby or Gust of Wind it out, does the effect end?
A. Yes, if the Magby is Knocked Out the effect ends; it left play. Magby is the originator of the effect...in other words the effect of the attack 'resides' on Magby. If Magby leaves play or is benched or evolved. Pokemon Powers turn back on. Similar to Dark Arbok's Stare. (Jun 21, 2001 WotC Chat, after-Q29; Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q13)

Q. If Magby uses Sputter and retreats the next turn, what happens if the other player has a Foretress or Dark Dugtrio?
A. The Magby effect doesn't 'turn off' until it hits the bench. So both those effects which trigger on a Pokemon retreating, don't function. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q29)

== STAMP (Tyranitar - Expedition Expansion)

Q. Expedition Tyranitar with 1 Metal, 1 Dark, and 2 other energies....If I flip heads for it's attack, do I still do the bench damage?
A. It doesn't do any bench damage. [ED NOTE: This is because the Metal gets checked first (before applying Weakness & Resistance) reducing the bench damage to zero, and then when the Darkness gets checked (after applying Weakness & Resistance) no bench damage has been done to allow the extra +10 damage.] (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q4)

== STAR BOOMERANG (Misty's Staryu - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If I have a Misty's Staryu active and I use Star Boomerang with 4 PlusPowers on it. If I flip heads, do the PlusPowers go into my hand too?
A. Yes. (Nov 16, 2000 WotC Chat, Q47)

Q. If Misty's Staryu does Star Boomerang against an Erika's Vileplume, which comes first, the flip to see if Staryu returns to my hand OR the flip to see if Pollen Defense will confuse my active Pokémon?
A. Pokémon powers always resolve before other effects of an attack. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q60)

== STARE (Dark Arbok - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Request for clarification on an old ruling: Dark Gyarados is active and Dark Arbok is the opposing PokÈmon. Dark Gyarados has 60 damage and Dark Arbok uses "Stare" on it. Does Dark Gyarados get do its "Final Beam" or not?
A. Final Beam will be triggered before Stare shuts off Pokemon Powers so it will still go off. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. Similarly, what happens if a Dark Arbok Stares at a Kabuto? Will Kabuto Armor kick in? What about Fossil Haunter's Transparency?
A. Pokémon Powers will be applied before any effects of attacks are applied, so in this case, Kabuto's Armor will kick in. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q100 & 102)

Q. If putting a Pokémon on the Bench removes special conditions, are the effects of Dark Arbok's Stare, when used on the Active Pokémon, removed when that Pokémon goes to the bench? Or if a benched Pokémon that has been Stared at becomes Active?
A. Only in the first case (active gets benched) would the stare effect be removed. Also, if you evolved the one on the bench it would remove the effect as well. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q271)

Q. If you use Stare against a Machamp, do you take 10 damage?
A. Yes you would, his Pokémon power resolves before the Stare's effect does. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q278)

== STATIC ELECTRICITY (Mareep - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Mareep's "Static Electricity" attack says, "for each Mareep in play, you may search your deck for a L Energy card and attach it to Mareep". Does this mean that each individual Mareep gets its own energy card, or does the active one receive them all?
A. No! Just the one using the attack. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q50a)

Q. If I use Static Electricity on my Mareep, do any evolved Mareeps count toward the total? ex. an Ampharos on top of a Mareep.
A. No, it's asking only for the number of Mareeps in play. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q26)

== STEEL WING (Skarmory - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If my opponent successfully uses Steel Wing, and I gust it or double gust it, will the effect of Steel Wing stand?
A. No the effects are gone when it is benched. (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q58)

== STIFFEN (Kakuna - Base Set, Metapod - Base Set)

Q. Some attack texts (such as Harden, Stiffen and Withdraw) say that they prevent damage done on the opponent's next turn, but do not reference WHERE the damage is coming from. Will these prove effective against things such as a failed coin flip from Digger, which does 10 damage to the losing Pokémon?
A. It means anything on the next turn of your opponent so...yes...it would prevent that damage. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q38)

== STONE BARRAGE (Geodude - Fossil Expansion)

Q. Can Geodude stop flipping after it got the required damage to knock out the opposing Pokémon? (say if Mr. Mime has 20 damage and Geodude flipped 2 heads, would it have to flip again?)
A. You are supposed to keep flipping until Geodude gets tails, regardless of whether it is enough to Knock Out the other Pokémon or not. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q39)

== STRENGTH IN NUMBERS (Golbat - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Skyridge Golbat: does "Strength in Numbers" include Brock's Zubat and Brock's Golbat?
A. No, it does not count them. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1520)

== STUN POISON (Gligar - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Will the Neo Destiny Gligar really put a pkmn poisoned and paralyzed at the same time or do I have to choose one of them?
A. Both of them. (May 30, 2002 WotC Chat, Q390)

== STUN WAVE (Dark Flaafy - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If I retreat a Pokemon that was attacked by Dark Flaaffy's "Stun Wave" last turn, does their Pokemon Power come back on?
A. Yes, it does come back on. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q14)

== SUGGESTION (Sabrina's Drowzee - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. After Sabrina's Drowzee Lv. 15 uses Suggestion, if the opponent switches his active, can he still attack?
A. Yes. (Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21)

== SUMMON STORM (Giovanni's Gyarados - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. The text on Giovanni's Gyarados' Summon Storm attack tells to deal 20 damage to each other Pokémon if both coin flips are heads. Does this mean damage to all Benched Pokémon and the Defending Pokémon?
A. Correct. Except for the Giovanni's Gyarados. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q61)

== SUNBATHE (Sunkern - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. On Sunkern's "Sunbathe" attack, does the coin flip pertain to the entire attack, or only to the portion of it regarding removal of damage counters? In other words, if I get tails, do I still get to search my deck for an evolution of Sunkern?
A. The flip only applies to removing counters and would not affect the searching portion. So you could get tails and still search. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q19)

== SUPER FANG (Raticate - Base Set, Lt. Surge's Raticate - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. What would happen if you used PlusPower on Raticate's Super Fang?
A. Super Fang does damage equal to half the remaining HP that the Defender has, then the PlusPower does 10 more. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

== SUPER METRONOME (Togetic - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. With Togetic from Genesis, can you use Super Metronome to copy the bench pokemon's attack, it just says "choose one of your opponent's Pokemon"?
A. Yes. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q104)

== SURPRISE (Lt. Surge's Eevee - Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. For Surge's Eevee(Surprise), what happens with an Omanyte in play? Same as Rocket's Trap?
A. Yes, you would conceal your opponent's cards before making the selection and then finish the attack as worded. (May 17, 2001 WotC Chat, Q60)

== SURPRISE BITE (Dark Crobat - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If Dark Golbat and Dark Crobat use their Pokemon Powers on a Pokemon that has a Metal Energy on it, does the Metal energy reduce the Damage done to that Pokemon?
A. Yes it does. Metal energy reduces all damage done by 10. (Jul 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q135)

Q. Another Dark Golbat / Crobat Question. If Zubat has a Metal Energy on then you evolve it to Dark Golbat will the Metal Energy reduce the damage. I would think not.
A. Wrong, it would. Metal energy reduces all damage done by non-metal Pokemon, whether from an attack or power. (Jul 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q212)

== SURPRISE THUNDER (Dark Raichu - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. When you flip tails with Dark Raichu for the first time, do you still do the damage?
A. Sure! (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q19)

== SWEEP AWAY (Croconaw - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Can you use Croconaw's Sweep Away if you don't have three cards left in your deck?
A. Yes. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q73a)

== SWIFT (Misty's Staryu - Gym: Heroes Expansion, Cyndaquil - Neo: Genesis Expansion, Electabuzz - Neo: Genesis Expansion) 

* Swift and Feint attacks (against the Defending Pokemon) ignore ANY effect attempting to reduce their damage. This also means that a colorless Pokemon using a Swift or Feint attack is NOT reduced by a Sprout Tower either. These attacks cannot have their damage reduced by any game effect. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

* The SWIFT attack ignores all Pokémon Powers, Weaknesses, Resistances, or ANY other effects that attempt to alter the amount of damage done by this attack. SWIFT does NOT prevent anything that prevents the attack from actually occurring however like Smokescreen or Transparency. So SWIFT will ignore a Defender that is attached to the Defending Pokémon as it is an affect that is attempting to alter the amount of damage done by the attack. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Does Misty's Staryu's Swift hit through Scrunch? Transparency? How about Barrier?
A. It hits through ALL Pokémon Powers or attack effects or Weakness or Resistance. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q69)

Q. When you use Misty's Staryu's Swift, do you still have to flip for Sand-attack?
A. Any effect that PREVENTS attacks must still be checked. Swift (if allowed to go off) basically ignores anything that tries to effect the amount of damage done. [Ed. Note: Sand-attack reads "If tails, this attack does nothing." This text can be interpreted as "If tails, the attack is prevented (including effects and damage)." Since Swift ONLY ignores effects that modify damage, one still needs to flip the coin for Sand-attack's effect.] (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q39)

Q. Could you use Swift when your Asleep?
A. Nope (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q247)

Q. Would Misty's Stayu's (the one that does damage regardless of Weakness/Resistance/Pokémon Powers/effects of attack) do damage to a Raichu/Rapidsah/Seadra/Fearow/Blaine's Ponyta that got a heads on Agility? Cause Agility says prevent all effects of attacks, and the game text of the Staryu's attack IS an effect.
A. Yes it would still do damage, it ignores the effect from the Agility as stated on the card. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q165)

Q. If base set Mewtwo used it's Barrier attack and if a pokemon used Swift, would Swift cause damage?
A. Yes it would. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q263)

Q. If I use Misty's Staryu's Swift attack or Neo: Genesis' Electabuzz's Swift attack and I attach PlusPowers, will it go through Invisible Wall? 
A. The Swift attack ignores Invisible Wall regardless of the PlusPower being added on. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q85; Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q111 & Q112)

Q. Does the Swift attack go through a Baby Pokémon's "Baby Power", or do you still have to flip to see if the Attack happens?
A. You still have to flip. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q37 & Q50)

Q. If I use the Swift attack and the opponent has a Metal Energy attached to the defending Pokémon, does the Metal Energy reduce the amount of damage or do the conditions of the Swift attack override the Metal Energy effect?
A. Swift will override the Metal energy card effect [on the opponent]. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q68b; Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If a Darkness or Metal Energy is attached to an active Pokémon using the Swift attack, would Swift negate the added/reduced damage that the energy card normally provides? I would think not because the text on Swift refers to the *defending* Pokémon.
A. Right. Swift only ignores effects on the defending Pokémon, not your own. So it will still reduce [or add to] the damage you do. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q20 & Q75)

== SWIPE (Sneasel - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

* Sneasel's Swipe attack (Flip a coin, if heads, discard all Trainer cards attached to your opponent's Pokémon) affects ALL of your opponent's Pokémon. This means that a succesful head flip will remove ALL attached Trainer cards on ALL of your opponent's Pokémon. (Nov 17, 2001 Pokemon Master Rules Updates, Item #2 [http://www.wizards.com/pokemon/main.asp?x=rules/PKRules_11272001])

== SWORDS DANCE (Scyther - Jungle Expansion)

Q. Scenario: I have a fully powered Scyther Active, and I have one on the bench. During my turn, I Swords Dance. During my opponent's next turn, he Smokescreens. If I retreat my active Scyther, bring up my unpowered one, switch him back for the powered one, do I hit for 60 without having to flip? Or does Swords Dance get canceled too?
A. When a Pokémon is benched, ALL effects from attacks are canceled. In this case the Swords Dance effect is canceled. (Jan 20 WotC Chat)

Q. If a Scyther attacks with Swords Dance, then is Knocked Out, and you bring up a second fully charged Scyther, will it deal 60 or 30? I ask this because of the phrasing of the Swords Dance Attack. It says Scyther on the attack, so does it mean the Scyther that was Knocked Out or all Scythers?
A. It does 30. It means the Scyther that was Knocked Out. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q132)

Q. You have just used Scyther's Swords Dance, and your opponent uses a Gust of Wind on you. During your next turn, you retreat the active Pokémon and put Scyther back out. Does Slash do 30 or 60?
A. If you retreat Scyther, of course, Swords Dance is canceled. So if he is Gust of Winded, same thing. The effect of Swords Dance ends when Scyther is Benched. (Feb 10 WotC Chat; May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q112)

Q. If I Swords Dance with my Scyther and my opponent retreats his Active Pokémon the next turn would I still be able to do 60 damage on my next turn?
A. Yes. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q102)

Q. If Scyther does a Swords Dance, and then you are Paralyzed or put to sleep, do you have to start the Swords Dance all over again?
A. If you sleep through the next turn, then yes. If you wake up right away then no. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q58)

Q. If I use Swords Dance with Jungle Scyther and then evolve to Dark Scizor, will Slash do 60 instead of 30? I know this is one of those "self-referencing" rules.
A. Swords Dance is a status effect (like Agility or Smokescreen). Evolving the Scyther would remove it. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q359)

== SYNCHRONIZE (Sabrina's Abra - Gym: Challenge Expansion & Promo)

Q. When Sabrina's Abra said the second attack does 40 only if the Defending Pokémon has the same amount of energy cards attached to Sabrina's Abra, does it allow you to use the attack when you have only 1 Psychic energy card and the defending Pokémon have only 1 energy card?
A. No, you still have to have [at least] the required amount of energy to do the attack (1 colorless and 1 psychic). (Sep 28, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30)

== TAIL WAG (Eevee - Jungle Expansion)

Q. If Eevee successfully uses Tail Wag (which says "the Defending Pokémon can't attack Eevee during your opponent's next turn") against Kangaskhan, will that stop Kangaskhan from using Fetch ("Draw a card")?
A. Yes, Tail Wag prevents Fetch. Any attack the Active Pokémon makes (and Fetch is an attack, even though it doesn't do any damage; anything written underneath the Pokémon's picture where attacks are is an attack unless it's a Pokémon Power) is an attack against the Defending Pokémon. (Jungle FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Regarding Eevee's Tail Wag attack: Would it affect Scyther's Sword Dance? (I would assume not since Sword Dance affects Scyther and not Eevee).
A. Tail Wag blocks ALL attacks. Swords Dance is an attack. All attacks by Pokémon are "targeting" the Defending Pokémon whether they actually affect them or not. Eevee's Tail Wag prevents the defending Pokémon from attacking. However, benching either Pokémon ends this effect. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

== TAKE AWAY (Erika's Dragonair - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. What happens if I use Erika's Dragonair's Take Away and my opponent has no Benched Pokémon?
A. You win. Congrats! (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q56)

== TANTRUM (Dark Primeape - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If Jungle Primeape is already Confused, then attempts to do Tantrum and succeeds (confusion flipped heads), then the flip called for by the Tantrum attack is heads, is he still confused or not?
A. He is still confused. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q26)

== TELEKINESIS (Mewtwo - Promo)

Q. Just to end it once & for all - NP Mewtwo can move Rainbow Energy right?
A. No, you cannot, Rainbow is NOT basic... therefore you can't. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q93)

== TELEPORT BLAST (Dark Alakazam - Rocket Expansion)

Q. With Dark Alakazam's Teleport Blast attack do you have to switch Pokémon?
A. Nope, it says you "may". Your choice. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q37)

Q. If an Alakazam uses Teleport Blast and goes to the bench, while Knocking Out the opponent's Active Dark Gyarados, do you use Dark Gyarados' Pokémon Power on Dark Alakazam or your new Active Pokémon?
A. Damage is done BEFORE you switch Dark Alakazam back to the bench. So you would resolve the Knock Out effects BEFORE you Bench the Dark Alakazam. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q15)

Q. Say I'm facing Lt. Surge's Electrode and I'm doing Dark Alakzam's Teleport Blast. Would Shock Blast [Pokémon Power], given heads, affect Dark Alakzam or the Pokémon I'm bring up to satisfy Teleport's effect?
A. It would still affect Dark Alakazam before he makes his switch. First you apply damage from an attack, then if anything is triggered by that damage being placed you then resolve those effects, then after that is all done, and only then do you apply any other effects from your attack (in this case the switch effect). (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q191 & Q198)

Q. If Dark Alakazam attacks Erika's Vileplume with Teleport Blast, what happens regarding Pollen Defense? Would Pollen Defense effect the NEW Active Pokémon?
A. Pollen Defense will deal it's damage (step i, on page 22 of the version 3 rulebook) right before Dark Alakazam bounces to the bench ... thus curing itself from the Confusion right away. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q33 & Q67 & Q131)

== TERROR STRIKE (Arbok - Fossil Expansion)

Q. What happens if Arbok's Terror Strike attack does the last 10 points of damage to my Defending Pokémon? Do I choose a new Active Pokémon, then switch it out right away?
A. No, you do the damage, switch the Pokémon, and then Knock Out the former Active Pokémon (which is now on the Bench). This is explained in the rulebook under "In What Order Do You Do Your Attack?" (Step F). (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

== THUNDERBOLT (Zapdos - Base Set)

Q. If Zapdos has more than four Electric Energy on it, do we discard all Energy cards for the attack?
A. Yes. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. If I have 4 electric energy on an active Zapdos and another Zapdos on the bench with one energy, can I use thunderbolt and discard the energy off the benched Zapdos?
A. No, it means discard the energy off of the Zapdos that is doing the attack. (6-29-00 WotC Chat)

== THUNDERPUNCH (Electabuzz - Base Set)

Q. If I attach a PlusPower to my Electabuzz, use Thunderpunch and flip tails, does the attack do 40 to the opponent and 20 to me? What about if it damages to Bench Pokémon?
A. PlusPower only does 10 additional to the Defending Pokémon (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q59)

== TOXIC (Nidoking - Base Set)

Q. Is it correct that Nidoking's toxic would place two damage counters between turns, rather than do 20 damage?
A. Correct! (Jun 21, 2001 WotC Chat, Q152)

== TRAMPLE (Tyranitar - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If Tyranitar uses Trample does the bench damage take 10 more for each dark energy?
A. The Darkness energy will only add additional damage to the Defending Pokemon. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q74)

== TRIGGER POISON (Crobat - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. For Crobat's attack that does 20 and poisons the defending Pokemon the next turn if an energy card is attached to it, if either Pokemon is benched does that effect stop?
A. The effect resides on the Defending Pokemon. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q25)

Q. My opponent uses Crobat's "Triggered Poison", and the next turn I attach Full Heal Energy. Would the Poison trigger in time for Full Heal to cure it?
A1. No, the act of attaching the Full Heal Energy causes the effect and cures any effects already on that Pokemon, so the Pokemon would still be poisoned. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q36)
A2. A. Once again, these effects happen at the same time so the Active Player's effect takes place first. In this case it means that the Pokemon in this example would end up Poisoned. [Ed.Note: But it would be cured of any other Special Conditions prior to becoming poisoned.] (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

Q. Does a Buzzaped Electrode trigger Triggered Poison? What about things like Fire Recharge and Electric Current?
A. No for all of those...Triggered Poison will only trigger on your free energy attachment for that turn. (Dec 6, 2001 WotC Chat, Q481)

Q. Will Rain Dance trigger Dark Ampharos' Conductivity Pokemon Power or Crobat's Triggered Poison attack effect?
A. They both would be triggered. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q2018)

Q. If I use Crobat's Trigger Poison attack ("If your opponent attaches an Energy Card during his or her next turn...") on a Rocket's Zapdos and the R. Zapdos uses its Plasma attack (which states "...in your discard pile, attach 1 of them to R. Zapdos"), next turn does the Rocket's Zapdos get poisoned?
A. No, Trigger Poison will only follow through with the Poison condition if you attach an energy card from your hand to that Pokemon. (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q4)

== TUNNELING (Brock's Onix - Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Last week, you stated that Brock's Onix's Tunneling effect would not go away after benching. You gave Farfetch'd as an example of a similar card. Could you clarify why the effect does not go away (Farfetch'd mentions as long as it stays in play, while Brock's Onix only has the usual self-referencing rule)? (And how do we know which other cards do not lose their effects even when they self-reference themselves?)
A. We were wrong about Brock's Onix first of all. The effect would go away. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q118)

== VANISH (Abra - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Can I use TR Abra's Teleport ["Vanish"] if I don't have any Benched Pokémon?
A. Yes you could but then you lose. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

== WARM UP (Light Flareon - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If I use Light Flareon's "Warm Up" attack to attach a fire energy to Eevee Lv.14 (Discovery), can Eevee use its "Energy Evolution" pokemon power to search for a fire evolution of Eevee at that time (if the coinflip is heads, of course)?
A. That's not going to trigger Discovery Eevee's Pokemon Power because it's not your regular free energy attachment during your turn. (May 9, 2002 WotC Chat, Q6)

== WATER GUN (Poliwag - Base Set, Vaporeon - Jungle Expansion, Marill - Promo, others)

Q. What is wrong with the Marril Promo?
A. It should have done the extra damage with Water energy only, but the way it's worded you can use any extra energy to do the extra damage. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. Will there be an errata for Marill to say that the additional energy for the Water Gun attack has to be Water energy? (meaning 2 Water Energy and a DCE would not be able to do 40 damage...)
A. Nope, play Marril as is; it will not be errata'd. Wow! With a DCE you could do 40 on turn 3!!! (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30 & Q86)

== WATER OF EVOLUTION (Omanyte - Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Can I use Omanyte's "Water of Evolution" attack on the same turn I play Omanyte from my hand?
A. Yes. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1576)

== WATER SLASH (Shining Kabutops - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Shining Kabutops' Water Slash states "don't apply Resistance". Do you still apply Weakness?
A. You do apply weakness. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q410)

== WHIRLPOOL (Poliwrath - Base Set)

Q. If you have Kangaskhan out and have 2 Double Colorless Energies attached to him, and Poliwarath does his Whirlpool, how do you discard one energy from Kangaskhan?
A. Take a double colorless energy off and discard it. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q114)

== WHIRLWIND (Pidgey - Base Set)

Q. If you use Gust of Wind Trainer (or Pidgey's attack) and the opponent has no Benched Pokémon, what is the result?
A. Nothing. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q16)

== WHITE-HOT FLAME (Shining Charizard - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Miracle Energy can count as a Lightning and a Fire energy for Shining Charizard? If so, after using White-hot Flame could I discard just the Miracle Energy, instead of a Lightning and a Fire energy?
A. No, because Shining Charizard asks for two cards to be discarded. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q363)

== WILDFIRE (Moltres - Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If you use Moltres' attack to reduce your opponent's deck to 0 cards, when exactly do they lose?
A. When they can't draw a card at the start of their next turn. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q148)

Q. Moltres' Wildfire says you MAY discard, as opposed to all other similar Fire attacks, which REQUIRE you to discard. In other words, it sounds like discarding with Wildfire is not a REQUIREMENT to use the attack, but an effect OF the attack. If that is so, could you do the Wildfire attack without discarding any cards (which, understandably, would have no effect)?
A. Yes you could. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

* Clarification on the whole Moltres WildFire/Confusion thing. When flipping for confusion, you must pay all Attack Costs BEFORE you flip for confusion. This means anything that is written as "IN ORDER TO DO THIS ATTACK" (such as Charizard's Fire Spin: Discard 2 Fire Energy card attached to Charizard IN ORDER TO use this attack). However, anything that does not state IN ORDER TO gets done AFTER the Confusion flip. This means for Moltres' Wildfire you do NOT discard cards for the effect of the attack until AFTER you see if the attack even occurs. (Mar 30 WotC Chat)

== WITHDRAW (Wartortle - Base Set, Squirtle - Base Set)

Q. Some attack texts (such as Harden, Stiffen and Withdraw) say that they prevent damage done on the opponent's next turn, but do not reference WHERE the damage is coming from. Will these prove effective against things such as a failed coin flip from Digger, which does 10 damage to the losing Pokémon?
A. It means anything on the next turn of your opponent so...yes...it would prevent that damage. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q38)

== WORK TOGETHER (Kabuto - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. Kabuto's Work Together attack: If you flip tails, does it still do 10 damage? Or does it do nothing? (Card does not say)
A. If tails, it just does 10. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q77)

== ZZZAP (Pichu - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If you attach a Plus Power to Pichu, and it does Zzzap, does it do 30 damage instead of 20 to all Pokémon with Pokémon Powers??
A. No. But it would do the extra to the Defending Pokémon if it had a Pokémon Power. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q148)

Q. Both Pichu & Ditto are active. Pichu attacks with Zzzap and gets a heads. Does Ditto, copying Pichu take 20?
A. Yup. Transform says Ditto always has this power. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q120)

Q. Say there is a Fossil Muk in play. Then you play Pichu Zzzap. Does Pichu do damage to the Pokémon that still has the power or Pokémon that has a Pokémon Power to begin with?
A. Pichu will still damage those P-mon. The other Pokémon still have the Pokémon powers even if they are ignored. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21; Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q138)

Q. Does Pichu's Zzzap only affect Pokemon with "working" Pokemon Powers? (What if Pokemon Powers have been turned off through Goop Gas, Sputter, etc. Would Zzap still damage those Pokemon?)
A. The Powers don't have to be working or not. Pichu damages all Pokemon with Pokemon Powers regardless. (Feb 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q17)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has Shapeshifted into a Pokemon that does not have a Pokemon Power, does it still take damage from Pichu's Zzzap!?
A. Yes, it still has the Shapeshift Power, otherwise you wouldn't be able to keep attaching cards to Brock's Ninetales. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q228)

Q. Does Pichu's Zzzzap attack affect pokemon that have a Poke-BODY power on them?
A. Yes, Pokemon Powers are Pokemon Powers. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q303)

Q. Given the latest Suicune rulings, can Pichu now do 20 damage [to Suicune]?
A. Yup. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q578)

UNOWN CARDS

[ Top | Errata | Pokémon Powers | Pokémon Attacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards | Energy Cards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

== UNOWN CARDS IN GENERAL (Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. Can I have 4 of each type of Unown in my deck?
A. No. You may only have up to 4 Basic Pokémon cards in your deck with Unown in their names. However, you may choose any combination of Unowns. For example, you could have 2 Ns, 1 I, and 1 D in your deck, but still no more then 4 Unowns total. (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. The Unowns with powers that reduce damage done by a particular 'type' of Pokémon (such as D, M or N), say "whenever a 'type' Pokémon damages 1 of your Pokémon..." Will the power reduce damage on multiple Pokémon during the same turn? An example would be an attack that could damage each of your Benched Pokémon.
A. It protects all of your pokemon. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q29 & Q44 & Q66)

Q. It's your turn and you have an Unown in play with a Power that reduces damage done by a particular type of Pokémon (such as D, M or N). Will that Power reduce self-damage or damage to your own bench by one of your own Pokémon of that type? Example - can I avoid bench damage from my Tyranitar's Trample attack if I have an Unown-D on my bench?
A. That works... (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q42)

Q. There seems to be a little dispute at my League (caused by 6-year-olds) about how with Unown N's power Normal you don't have to have a bench full of N, O, R, M, A, and L. Since telling them that L and R haven't come out yet (and that anyways it would be impossible to play 4+ Unowns in a deck or have 6 benched pkmn) hasn't worked, could you set the matter straight here?
A. OK, unless an Unown's Power specifically states that you must have out the other Pokemon to spell it out, that is NOT the rule. "Normal" does NOT require all of those other Unowns to be out. (Feb 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q327)

Q. If you have an Unown-D is in Play and you put another Unown D in play, do both of their Powers stop working, or just one? I'm asking since some rulings seem to be based on intent and not wording.
A. Both their powers stop working. [Ed.Note: Same ruling would apply to Unown-M and Unown-N too.] (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q65)

Q. Since the power on Unown D says "This power stops working if *you* have more than 1 Unown D in play.", does that mean if you and your opponent both have unown Ds in play, both pokemon powers still work?
A. Yes they would. [Ed.Note: Same ruling would apply to Unown-M and Unown-N too.] (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q91)

== CHASE (Unown-C - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. With Unown C's Chase power, should the "Apply Weakness and Resistance" sentence be omitted since you can't apply weak/resist for placing counters?
A. Correct. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q386; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q560)

== DARKNESS (Unown-D - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. With an Unown-D (Darkness) on the opponent's bench, if I try to use Umbreon's Feint Attack it will do zero damage, right? This is because the Unown-D cancels the 30 damage, and since no damage was done the extra benefits of Darkness Energies are ignored, right?
A. Correct unless Unown D is the opponent's active P-mon. [Ed.Note: In other words, the Unown-D takes damage if it is attacked while being active.](Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q28)

Q. If Unown D is the defending Pokemon, can Murkrow's Feint Attack do 20 damage to a benched Pokemon?
A. Unown D creates a defensive effect on all of your pokemon, although you would ignore the reduction on the Active. But everyone on the bench is still has this Defensive "shield" that prevents darkness damage. So you would not do 20 damage. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. So if my opponent has Unown D benched, Murkrow's Feint Attack could do 20 (or more with dark) damage to the defending Pokemon??[Ed.Note: Even though the power is not "on the Defending Pokemon", the *effect* of that power on the Defending Pokemon is still ignored].
A. Correct. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q103)

Q. When using Feint Attack against an opponent that has Unown-D (regardless of whether it's benched or active), the only time the "Darkness" power is ignored is when attacking the active pokemon, and it is never ignored when attacking the bench, right?
A. Correct. (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q4)

== FIND (Unown-F - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. OK, if you have Unown F, N, and D on your bench, and your active Ditto is copying an Unown I, could you use FIND?
A. They would have to be on your bench. [Ed.Note: In other words "no, unless you also have an Unown-I on your own bench".] (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q120 & Q149)

== KEEP (Unown-K - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

* The Keep Pokémon Power is played as written. Whether Unown K is Asleep, Paralyzed, or Confused this Pokémon Power still functions. (Nov 17, 2001 Pokemon Master Rules Updates, Item #3WOtC's Online Pokemon Rules)

== METAL (Unown-M - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. On Unown D do you have to have Unown A R K with it? Same with Unown M do you have to have Unown E T A L with it?
A. No, you don't have to have the others, in fact you couldn't even do Metal.... They have the effect on the card, if they say you need to spell something you need to; otherwise they are fine. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q129)

Q. If I have an Unown-M on my bench, will it prevent damage from an opponent's Forretress's "Spikes" Pokemon Power?
A. Yes. (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q533)

== NORMAL (Unown-N - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If the Stadium card Sprout Tower is in play, and I play Unown N, would the damage done to my Colorless Pokémon be reduced by 30 or 60?
A. Damage done to your Colorless Pokémon would be reduced by 60 in this case. This is because the damage reduction from Sprout Tower and your Unown Pokémon are reduced separately. (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If Sprout Tower & Unown-N (Normal) are both in play, is that a cumulative effect that reduces the damage done by colorless Pokemon by 60? (30+30) And what about self-damage, like Chansey's Double-Edge attack?
A. The damage reduction is cumulative in both cases. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. Does Unown N prevent damage Chansey does to itself?
A. If it's [Unown-N] on your bench. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q34)

== QUICKEN (Unown-Q - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Unown Q's Pokémon Power (Quicken) says, "If you have more than 1 Unown [Q] in play, use only 1 [Quicken] each turn." What, if anything, could be done to remove this effect? Also, can I use Quicken, put another Unown Q in play, and use Quicken again?
A. Nope, as that would be more than one Unown Q. You could however, use Unown Q, then remove it from play (perhaps with a Scoop Up), then play it again and use its power again. The power only works if there is only one Unown Q in play on your side at the time. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q40 & Q41)

== SEARCH (Unown-S - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

* The Here Comes Team Rocket trainer does NOT permanently change a game rule as previously understood. It has each player flip over all of their prize cards to face up. If a subsequent effect states place a prize card face down, then you place that prize card face down. If an effect (like Rattata's Trickery) has you trade a prize card and does NOT state to place it face down, then you put the new prize card out in the same state as the old one. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q3)

== XXXXX (Unown-X - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Does Unown-X pokemon power add 10 damage for each heads plus the original 10 or 20 of the other Unown?
A. Yes, it adds to the base damage of the Unown that is attacking. (May 30, 2002 WotC Chat, Q405)

TRAINER CARDS

[ Top | Errata | Pokémon Powers | Pokémon Attacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards | Energy Cards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

== TRAINERS IN GENERAL

Q. How do you play the Stadium Trainers from the Gym set? I know that you normally don't discuss rules before product is released, but we do need to know prior to the prerelease.
A. Stadium cards are a special kind of Trainer card that stay on the table ("in play") after you play them. They affect the game for as long as they stay in play. Only one Stadium card can be in play at a time, so if there's one on the table already and a new one comes into play, discard the old one. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q67)

Q. Can a Pokémon Tool be attached to a Pokémon that already has another trainer card (Defender,Plus Power,etc...) attached to it?
A. Yes you could attach a tool to a Pokémon that had another trainer on it (as long as it isn't a tool as well). (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q29 & Q184)

Q. Do Pokémon Tools stay attached to the Pokémon when it evolves?
A. Yup. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q24)

Q. Can you play 2 TM's together on your active Pokemon?
A. Yup. One attack per turn, doesn't matter if you have two copies of it. You can only use one cube to attack. You don't have two attacks. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q970 & Q992)

Q. When using a Technical Machine or Cube trainer, do you have to flip for the Baby Rule check when using its attack?
A. Yes you do. (Apr 24, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1289)

Q. Lets say you attach a Grass Cube to a pokemon and then it changes type. Do you discard the cube?
A. Nope, it only checks for the type when you attach it. [ED. NOTE: This would apply to all type Cubes, not just "Grass Cube".] (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1083)

Q. If you attach a Miracle Sphere or TM to a higher different type (color) Pokemon and Devolve it, you keep the TM and can still use it correct?
A. Yes the TM's or [Spheres] would stay even if the color type changed. It only checks when it is attached. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1633b)

Q. As far as supporters go, when you play one it tells you to lay it next to your active, first, does it stay attached to that active you put it on, or does it come back when they're benched, 2nd, Can you play down a supporter, and use the effect for later in your turn, like laying one down, elming and then using it, or does the card go into effect immediately?
A. The Supporter is not actually attached to your active Pokemon. It's just used as a marker to show that you have already played a Supporter that turn. You use the Supporter when you play it. You merely lay it down next to the Active Pokemon so you don't forget that you played one that turn. (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q415 & Q473)

Q. Is there a clarification on the supporters as i have heard 3 different rulings of when you can USE the card? I mean like when do you do what the supporter card says, before your attack, at the end of your turn?
A. You can play 1 supporter at any point during your turn (before your attack). You play the effect immediately just as playing ANY trainer. You have to leave the supporter out though to indicate that you already played one this turn. At the end of the turn you discard it but you would have used its effect when you actaully played it from your hand. (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q7 & Q25)

Q. Slowking, Dark Vileplume, etc. can stop Supporters just like trainers, right?
A. Correct. It still says Trainer on the top of the cards. (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q48)

Q. Last week you said that many cards (Lass, etc.) don't require shuffling their deck if they don't have any cards in their hand (Nov 30, 2000, Q4 & Q15). But, a previous ruling for Gambler said that you DO have to shuffle (May 11, 2000, Q131). Please clarify & confirm. Thanks.
A. Read every card...on Gambler it specifically states 'shuffle your hand into your deck'. Since your 'hand' can be a 'hand' of zero cards you could shuffle if you had no cards in your hand in this case. However, cards that say trade a card in your hand for one in your deck, and you don't have one to trade; you can't shuffle in that case. Lass says 'shuffle all Trainer cards in your hand back into your deck. If you have no trainers, you can't shuffle your deck. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. When you use a Trainer that requires you to shuffle your hand into your deck (such as Professor Elm) does that Trainer get shuffled back into the Deck too or does it go to the Discard Pile?
A. No, the trainer that you play doesn't go back into your deck. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q190 & Q207)

Q. If I use Pokémon Trader or Energy Search and there aren't any Pokémon or Energy in my deck, do I have to show my deck to my opponent? If there isn't any in my deck, do I get to put the Pokémon Trader or Energy Search back in my hand either?
A. You don't have to show your deck and you don't put the trainer back in your hand [Ed. note: It goes into the discard pile]. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q80)

Q. For control purposes, can I use my own Stadium card to replace my opponent's Stadium if they are both the same name (i.e. use my own Chaos Gym to replace my opponent's Chaos Gym)?
A. Yes, you can. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q33a)

Q. Can Pokemon be Knocked Out partway through completing the Trainer card?
A. A Pokemon cannot be Knocked Out partway through the Trainer card. You must complete all of the actions of a Trainer card BEFORE you check for game state checks (to see if a Pokemon is Knocked out for example). (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

== APRICORN FOREST (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. If Apricorn Forest is in play, is flipping to add to the Bench mandatory or can a player choose not to flip? And if mandatory, if they have no basic Energy cards in their hand do they have to show their hand to prove it to their opponent?
A. The coin flip is optional. If you flip the coin then the rest must be done. If you don't have an Energy at that point, you should show your opponent your hand to prove you were fibbing (just a little, right?). If you don't have an energy, you would not choose to flip and continue with it. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q866)

== ARCADE GAME (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. On Arcade Game does it mean like - trainer, trainer, energy or cleffa, cleffa, energy?
A. It means more like the second choice, a trainer would have to be by its specific name. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q127)

Q. If I use Arcade Game and I get a Pokemon, a Water Energy, and a fire Energy, can I keep the two Energies or do they have to be the same exact Energies?
A. Yes you would since Basic energy cards do not have a specific name, so a fire energy card and a water energy card (for example) are both considered basic energy cards and so would match for the purposes of this card. (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q7; Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. All Basic Energy cards are named "Energy" for the sake of Arcade Game. Are Special Energy cards also named "Energy" or do they have unique names for the purposes of Arcade Game?
A. No, they're not. That was a mistake from last week. (May 24, 2001 WotC Chat, Q114)

== BALLOON BERRY (Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. What happens if a free retreater with Balloon Berry attached retreats? Does Balloon Berry get discarded in place of 0 cards? (Probably not)
A. No it does not. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q8 & Q11)

Q. When using Balloon Berry on a Pokemon with a non-zero retreat cost, do you need to have the correct amount of energy required to retreat already attached to it, or can you retreat it with no energies attached regardless of the normal cost?
A. No you don't. You can retreat by just discarding the Balloon Berry. (Aug 1, 2002 WotC Chat, Q254)

Q. Can Balloon Berry be used to retreat a Paralyzed, Confused, or Sleeping Pokémon?
A. No. You have to be able to retreat normally to use the balloon. (Jul 18, 2002 WotC Chat, Q20)

== BERRY, GOLD BERRY, & MIRACLE BERRY (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. On Gold Berry, Miracle Berry, and Berry they are only "in effect" between turns & the start of a turn right?
A. They can only be triggered during those times yes, but they are still considered 'in play' the rest of the time. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q143)

Q. Question on the wording of the "Berry" Pokémon Tools. They say "between turns you may" but it goes on to say "at the start of your turn if [the condition is met] remove them". Is it optional, or do you HAVE to use it?
A. You don't have to use it between turns (you may) but you MUST use it at the start of your turn if your Pokemon has [the appropriate amount of] damage or status effect on it. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q19; Feb 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q224 & Q285)

Q. If I use an Electabuzz and Thunder Punch a Voltorb with 40HP and it is attached to a gold berry, does Electabuzz knock Voltorb out or does Gold Berry heal Voltorb?? Same thing with a Pokémon with 30HP.
A. Nope it would be Knocked Out. The Gold Berry doesn't work until after your turn. If your Pokémon is Knocked out during your turn, it is Knocked Out. Try using a Focus Band instead. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q29a)

Q. Say I have a Pokémon with 50 hp active that is poisoned. I attach a gold berry to it. At the end of my turn am I knocked out by the poison or will the gold berry take effect first leaving me with 10 damage?
A. As it states in the Neo Genesis rule book...you have the choice of when to activate the Pokémon tool between turns...so yes, you would have 10 damage. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q213)

Q. If a Pokemon has 30 damage and has 50 HP, it is poisoned and burned but has a Gold Berry on it, will the Gold Berry keep it from being knocked out in between turns? If so, how does it?
A. Yes you could save it with the Gold Berry. If you read the rule book (page 20) In What Order Do Things Happen After Each Player's Turn? It lists the order these effects are done (poison first, then burn, etc.) It also states that an attached Pokemon Tool can be used at any time between turns. So you would let the poison damage go on, now the Pokemon has 40 damage. Use the Gold Berry, then check for Burned. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1627)

Q1. Suppose a non-Dark Pokemon has 2 Darkness Energies attached. Can a Berry (or Gold Berry) be used between the placement of the two damage counters?
A1. Yes. (Nov 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q165)
Q2. So, if a Berry (or Gold Berry) can be used between placing 2 damage counters (due to Darkness Energy), can the same occur when a Pokemon is double/triple poisoned?
A2. Nope. That is one effect that is placing 3 counters at once (in the case of Triple poison). You had 2 different darkness energy effects in your last question. (Nov 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q178)

== BILL'S MAINTENANCE (Expedition Expansion)

Q. Can I use Bill's Maintenance if it is the only card in my hand? In other words, do I have to be able to shuffle a card into my hand in order to use it?
A. Nope. If you can't put a card into your deck then you don't get to draw three. (Nov 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q307)

== BLAINE (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. With the Blaine trainer, do both energies have to be attached simultaneously to the same Pokemon?
A. You do not have to attach the Energies right after playing the Trainer, but you must attach both energies at the same time. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q23)

Q. Can you play the Trainer "Blaine", then Oak to get your energy, and then place the two Fire Energy on your Blaine's Pokémon?
A. Yes, you can because Blaine says 'during this turn' on it. You do not have to attach the Energies right after playing the Trainer. You can oak or Elm or play other tainers.... You could even go get a glass of milk and come back and still be able to put two energies down. [Ed.Note: But some could consider that "stalling", heh-heh.] (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q119; May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q23)

Q. Can you use the Blaine trainer to attach one fire energy each to two separate Blaine's pokemon?
A. Nope. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q38)

Q. Can Blaine be used to attach Rainbow Energy?
A. No, it must be a fire energy when it is in your hand. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q164)

Q. If my opponent is playing a Blaine's Pokémon and I'm playing Ditto, can I play use Blaine?
A. Yes you could. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q170)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has Shapeshifted into a Blaine's Pokémon (say Blaine's Rapidash), can the Blaine trainer card be used to attach 2 fire energy during a turn?
A. Yes. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q102)

Q. If Chaos Gym is in play and I attempt to play a Blaine trainer card but flip tails, is the opponent allowed to attach 2 Fire even though they don't normally get to attach an energy card during *my* turn?
A. No, your opponent can't because they don't have a free energy card placement to replace it with. (May 17, 2001 WotC Chat, Q29)

Q. OK, Chaos Gym is in play, and you play a Blaine but it fails (your opponent plays it). Since it says No additional copies can be played, could you still play another one and use the effect because your opponent used it, not you?
A. Yes, you can due to the wording on Chaos Gym. It says that on a result of tails you can't play that card. [Ed.Note: But the opponent can't use the Blaine trainer either because they don't have a normal energy attachment during YOUR turn. *See above*] (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q28 & Q104)

== BLAINE'S LAST RESORT (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Can you play Blaine's Last Resort if you have another Blaine's Last Resort in your Hand? Cause Since it says you can't use it if you have no cards in your hand other than "Blaine's Last Resort" and the one in your hand simply bypasses it. If not, why do you have to state to show your hand when you don't have any cards in your hand when you play it?
A. Yes you can play Blaine's Last Resort if you have another in your hand. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q94)

== BLAINE'S QUIZ #1, #2, and #3 (Gym: Heroes & Gym: Challenge Expansions)

Q. For Blaine's Quiz #1/2/3 where it say "Either way, return the card to your hand". does this mean the Pokémon or Blaine's Quiz?
A. The Pokémon. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q135)

Q. For Blaine's Quiz #1 can the opponent look at any face up cards around them to figure out the length of a Pokémon. Can he/she look at an open binder nearby? I have a feeling the answer is yes/no.
A. You could look at other Pokémon that are in play but not at a binder. Just the in play area or the discard pile for either player. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q194; Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q367 & Q375)

Q. What happens if I do Blaine's Quiz #1 but there is no length stated on the card for the Pokémon in question?
A. You will have to be able to prove and provide the answer. If that card is missing the length (misprint) you had better have another one nearby for proof. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q181)

Q. If there's no length on the Pokemon [i.e. non-holos in Card-E], then how am I supposed to play Blaine's Quiz #1?
A. All of the biological info for the Pokemon cards [in Card-E] now resides on your Game Boy Advance. The dot strip along the bottom of the card unlocks a picture, data, and tips about the card in your GBA if you decide to get the reader when it is available. You cannot play a Pokemon card that does not have the actual length written on the card. So, you could NOT flip over an Expedition card and use Blaine's Quiz #1. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q280 & Q295 & Q302 & Q307; Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 7)

Q. Could you use a baby Pokémon with Blaine's Quiz #3?
A. Yes, baby Pokémon count as basic Pokémon. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q96 & 219)

Q. Say I play Blaine's Quiz #3 and put Blaine's Vulpix down. My opponent says "Vulpix". Do I get 3 cards?
A. Yes, you do. Your opponent needs to name the full name on the card. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q14b)

Q. For the "Blaine's Quizzes", if the face-down card is an Unown pokemon does the opponent have to guess the full name (i.e. "Unown-A") or can they just say "Unown"? Who gets to draw three cards?
A. You do, as the other player didn't give the full name. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q54 & Q69 & Q97)

Q. Can you play Blaine's Quiz #3 and choose Ditto?
A. No, you must choose a Pokémon that has an attack written on its card. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q63b)

Q. I'm using Blaine's Quiz #3 (or whichever one has you tell your opponent the attack of the pokemon). I'm using it for Sabrina's Alakazam. Now since Sabrina's Alakazam's Power states that it has a copy of each [P] Pokemon's attacks that you have in play. Am I...
A. No, the Sabrina's Alakazam isn't actually in play, so it won't have copies of those attacks yet. (Sep 27, 2001 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. If you use Blaine's Quiz #2, and put down Clefairy Doll or Mysterious Fossil, would your opponent be right with Pokémon card or trainer???
A. It's only treated as a basic while in play, which it is not. Only "trainer" would be correct. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q17)

Q. If you use Blaine's Quiz #3, and put down Clefairy Doll or Mysterious Fossil, would your opponent be right with Pokémon card or trainer???
A. You couldn't name an attack from either of those cards, so you couldn't play it with Blaines Quiz #3. You can't choose those anyway as they are only trainers in your hand, not Pokémon. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q36b)

Q. When using Blaine's Quiz #1, my opponent asks for the height of another Pokémon in play. Is it legal for him to cover that Pokémon up?
A. Nope. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q68)

Q. Can you play Blaine's Quiz and put down a Birthday Pikachu with your name on it so you will always get it?
A. No. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q122)

Q. What do you do if a Blaine's Quiz is played in a way that prevents a proper answer (i.e., wrong attack with Quiz #3)?
A. Well, it depends on how far the player's followed through with the effects of the trainer card. If cards were drawn, that would be some degree of precedural error. (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q10 & Q41)

== BROCK'S PROTECTION (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Clarification on Brock's Protection: The card does not specifically say how long it stays in play. Is it discarded after your opponent's next turn, or does it stay attached to the Pokémon?
A. It stays on that Pokémon while that Pokémon is in play. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q15 & Q42)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales has a non-Brock evolution card attached, can Brock's Protection be attached (and prevent energy removal)?
A. NOPE!!!!! (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. If Brock's Ninetales [already] has Brock's Protection attached, and then a non-Brock evolution card is attached, is energy removal still prevented?
A. Yes, as long as you do this in the order you mentioned. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If Brock's Protection is attached to a Brock's Pokémon which attacks Koga's Muk, could Muk's Pokémon Power "Energy Drain" still remove an energy (since the energy removal is not caused by the opponent's attack or by Trainer cards)?
A. Brock's Protection won't protect your Pokémon in this case. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q577)

* If Ditto is copying a Brock's card and Brock's Protection is attached to Ditto during this time, the Brock's Protection card will not go away if Ditto becomes a copy of a non-Brock P-mon. (Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I have a Brock's Protection Trainer attached to my Pokémon, can I also attach a Pokémon Tool type Trainer to it?
A. Yes, you can because Brock's Protection is not a Poke-Tool. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21)

== BROKEN GROUND GYM (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. If I have a Magmar that evolved from Magby as my active Pokémon and Broken Ground Gym is in play, do I have to pay 1 extra energy to retreat it?
A. It's now an evolved Pokemon so it would not cost more to retreat. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q459)

== CARD-FLIP GAME (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Can you play Card-Flip Game with Here Comes Team Rocket?
A. No, because Card-Flip Game has to be used on face-down cards. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q60)

Q. On Card-flip Game, if I guess its a Pokémon do I guess "Pokémon" or do I have to guess "basic" or "evolution"?
A. Just say "Pokémon". (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q138)

* An issue came up with the Card-Flip Game after someone played Here Comes Team Rocket. The answer was you could NOT play Card-Flip Game as it asks you to look at a face down prize and there aren't any. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q196)

== CHALLENGE! (Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If you accept a Challenge, can you select zero Pokémon to add to your bench? (Is 0 "any number"?)
A. Yup, zero (last I checked) is still a number. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q45)

Q. Can I play the Challenge! trainer card even if my own bench is already full? What would happen if I can?
A. You can still play it. But if your opponent accepts the challenge and your bench is full he gets to dig and you don't. (Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q195)

Q. The Challenge card states that "each of you searches your deck for any number of Basic Pokémon cards and puts them face down onto your benches." This could allow you to fill it with tons more than 5 benched Pokémon since normally the card beats the rule. It should have said "up to 5 Pokémon (enough to fill the bench of 5) can be placed down" not any.
A. Ok, first of all you can only have 5 max Pokémon on your bench, period. That is a rule of the game and unchangeable. Just because it is NOT specifically written on the Challenge card does NOT mean you can break that rule. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q111)

Q. On the Trainer card Challenge! can you play a Mysterious Fossil or Clefairy doll?
A. No you can't. Those are Trainer Cards while they are still in the deck. You can only pull basic Pokémon from the deck with Challenge. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q117)

Q. If my opponent goes first and uses Challenge, and I put basics on my bench, can I evolve them when my turn comes? Note it will be my first turn.
A. No, you can never evolve your Pokemon on the first turn you play in the game. However, if this happens later in the game then you would be able to evolve those Pokemon on your turn. (Jan 9, 2003 WotC Chat, Q436)

Q. If my opponent plays Challenge! and I put some Pokémon onto the bench, can I evolve those Pokémon when my turn comes around or do I have to wait a full turn after that?
A. Yes you can [01/09/03 ed note: Unless it is your 1st turn of tea game]. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q34)

== CHAOS GYM (Gym: Challenge Expansion) [see also Pokemon Power: "Mind Games"]

Q. With Chaos Gym, if I try to play a "turn-ending" card (like Computer Error or Tickling Machine) but flip tails, if my opponent chooses to go ahead and use the card is my turn then immediately over even though it was not I who used the card?
A. No, your opponent would just ignore that part of the card and you could continue your turn after your opponent uses the trainer. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q70; Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q22)

Q. Chaos Gym is in play. I play a Plus Power. I flip a tails. Can my opponent use it on their next turn? If not, why? Are there other cards that can't be used?
A. They cannot. Chaos Gym will not let your opponent use trainers that must be put into play. Sorry for confusing you [earlier], that was our mistake in not checking the card text first. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q67 & Q78 & Q81 & Q90)

Q. When a Chaos Gym is in play, and you flip tails when trying to play a Trainer, does your opponent use the Trainer immediately (assuming they can fulfill the requirements to use it) or do they have to wait until their turn?
A. Yup he must use it immediately or not at all. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. If I attempt to play a card that requires a discard cost (Computer Search, Item Finder, etc.) and Chaos Gym is active, do I have to pay the cost *before* the Chaos Gym test? And if I fail, does the opponent have to pay the cost too if they want to use it?
A. Yes and yes. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q106)

Q. If Chaos Gym is in play, how do we handle using supporters? If I flip tails, does my opponent get a chance to use it or not?
A. Ok, supporters are basically normal Trainer cards with a limit built in (can only play 1 per turn). If you flip tails with Chaos Gym (after playing a supporter), your opponent can choose to use it if they want. That supporter would get placed down on the table as normal (near their active) and then would be discarded as normal at the end of your turn. Since YOU did not succesfully play a Supporter, you could try to play another one. This is just like Professor Elm and Chaos Gym in this sense. If you try a second one and it fails again your opponent could NOT use this second one as they are only allowed to use 1 per turn. Same as for Professor Elm. The only tricky part is that you need to remember to discard that supporter back into YOUR discard pile at the end of your turn. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q115)

Q. If my opponent uses Pokémon Breeder and flip tails with Chaos Gym in play, can I use that Pokémon Breeder on one of my Pokémon to evolve it if I have the necessary Basic and Stage 2 Pokémon?
A. You cannot play or use Pokémon Breeder when it is NOT your turn. Whether in a 2 player game or a team multiplay. So far, the only way this comes up is with Chaos Gym. (Original Question: Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q70; Current Ruling: Oct 17, 2002, WotC Chat, Q13)

Q. With Chaos Gym, if I try to play Goop Gas Attack but flip tails, if my opponent chooses to use the card does the Goop stay active for my turn + their turn + my turn once again, or just until the end of my current turn?
A. Since Goop Gas is being played by your opponent it would last until the end of your next turn. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q27)

Q. If there is a Chaos Gym in play, and you try to play a Rocket's Secret Experiment and get tails, and your opponent choose to use it and get tails, can he still play trainer cards during his turn?
A. Nope. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q52)

Q. Please elaborate on the interaction if I have Slowking's "Mind Games" on my bench, but I flip tails when attempting to play a trainer under Chaos Gym.
A. So, if I have Slowking out and there is a Chaos Gym, I attempt to play a trainer and flip tails. NOW my opponent can attempt to play that trainer (as long as it isn't a Tool or Stadium of course). I can now choose to use my Mind Games to make my opponent flip a coin for the trainer they are attempting to play. On heads, the trainer fails and goes back onto the OWNER's deck (this is an errata change to the text on Mind Games). (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q67)

Q. Suppose Chaos Gym is in play and I play an Prof. Elm and flip a heads. I use it normally but I can't use any trainers for that turn. If my opponent uses a Bill and flips a tails due to Chaos Gym can I use the Bill or are the effects of Prof. Elm trainer still present?
A. Prof Elm only stops you from playing any more trainers on that turn. It is now your opponent's turn (when he played Bill) and the Elm effect no longer matters. Also Elm says you can't PLAY any more trainers, Chaos Gym allows you to USE the Bill if you wanted. NOT the same thing. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q209)

Q. In a recent chat ruling concerning Chaos Gym and Professor Elm, you stated that Chaos Gym lets your opponent "Use" a Trainer if you flip tails, and that is not the same as "Playing" a Trainer. For the record, does "Playing" refer only to moving the card from your hand to the table?
A. * Also Chaos Gym needs some more clarification. The old ruling that allows your opponent to use 2 Professor Elms on your turn (assuming you tried to play 2 and flipped tails both times) is being updated. When a tail flip occurs with a Trainer and with Chaos Gym in play, the opponent effectively "plays" that card. Meaning that they could NOT play a second Elm in the scenario above. This coincides with the recent Supporter/Chaos Gym rules. (Original Question: Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q28a; Current Ruling: Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q134)

== CHARITY (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. There's a new Gym card called "Charity" and I'm confused as to how it's supposed to work. If I attach it, does it reduce all damage done to me down to only 10, or does it only allow me to use my attack for less damage than is stated on the card?
A. You attach Charity to your Pokémon, you then return it to your hand at the end of your turn (unless your Pokémon is knocked out). If it is attached, you can lower the amount of damage your active Pokémon (the one with the Charity card) as much as you want. So you could have your Chansey Double Edge and effect a Mr. Mime (by reducing the attack amount to 20). (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q120)

Q. Can Charity be used to block self-inflicted damage, like damage done to Arcanine by its Take Down?
A. No, unfortunately. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q79)

== CLEFAIRY DOLL (Base Set)  / MYSTERIOUS FOSSIL (Fossil Expansion)

Q. Can Clefairy Dolls evolve into Clefable?
A. No, they can't. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you play a Mysterious Fossil as your starting pokemon?
A. No. You _cannot_ start with Mysterious Fossil as one of your Pokemon. It is a trainer card. You can't play trainers during your setup. [ED. NOTE: This is different than what is published in the Fossil expansion FAQ; this newer ruling now takes precedence.] (Jun 20, 2002 WotC Chat, Q101; Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q23 & Q63)

Q. Can you place Clefairy Doll during setup?
A. Nope, just like with Mys. Fossil. It is not a Pokemon you can start with. You may not start with a trainer card as one of your starting Pokemon. (Jul 18, 2002 WotC Chat, Q10 & Q31)

Q. If you have a Clefairy Doll or Mysterious Fossil in hand, can you mulligan? Or are you forced to play it because it counts as a basic Pokémon.
A. You can mulligan because it doesn't count as a Basic Pokémon when it's in your hand. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q143)

Q. If a Mysterious Fossil is the only "basic" card you have at the start of a game, does it count as a Basic or do you have to shuffle and try again?
A. You have to reshuffle, it counts as a Trainer card when it is in your hand. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. So I put down a Mysterious Fossil and I am not allowed to evolve it until my next turn, correct?
A. Correct. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q117)

Q. Pokemon Breeder cannot be used on a Mysterious Fossil, since it is not a Basic Pokémon, correct?
A. It can. It counts as a basic Pokémon while in play. Omastar and Kabutops are Stage 2 Pokemon; you could use Breeder on Mysterious Fossil to skip to them. (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q208 & Q238)

Q. Would I get a prize if I knocked out a Clefairy Doll / Mysterious Fossil?
A. No, you wouldn't. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you put a Defender on Mysterious Fossil; likewise can you use Revive on a discarded Mysterious Fossil?
A. While the Fossil is in play it acts as a Basic so the Defender would work, however Revive says that it can bring back a Basic card, which the Fossil is not. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you play the "Multi Technical Machine 01" (TM01) on a Clefairy Doll or Mysterious Fossil since they count as Pokemon while in play?
A. Yes. The text states that Clefairy Doll has no attacks, but you give it one when you put the TM on it. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q75 & Q91)

Q. My opponent's attaches Clefairy Doll to his Active and says Clefairy Doll will "shield" it (take all damage) from my next attack. Is this correct?
A. Not at all. You cannot attach Clefairy Doll to any Pokémon. (6-29-00 WotC Chat)

Q. I assume that if Dark Vileplume is Active, Mysterious Fossil cannot be played?
A. Correct. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q57)

Q. I am playing a Mysterious Fossil from my hand to my Bench. My opponent has a Slowking out. Does my opponent get the opportunity to flip for Mind Games?
A. Yes, Mysterious Fossil is a Trainer card when it is played. (Jun 20, 2002 WotC Chat, Q89)

Q. Can you use Scoop Up on a Clefairy Doll or a Mysterious Fossil?
A. Yes. (Nov 16, 2000 WotC Chat, Q97)

Q. I have a question about Jungle Electrode and Mysterious Fossil/Clefairy Doll, if you attack them with Electrode's bench-zapping attack (forgot the name =/), what type would you count Mysterious Fossil/Clefairy Doll to be?
A. It has no type. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q59)

Q. Can a Mysterious Fossil be given a TM and attack with it as long as it meets the other requirements involved (i.e, give it TM1 or a Mystery Plate)?
A. I guess technically you could attach a Mystery Plate to it. While it says instead of its normal attack, it could have a normal attack of "nothing" (like you can have a hand of nothing). (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1633a)

== COMPUTER ERROR (promo card)

Q. Computer Error: is there any rule or "etiquette" on who goes first when drawing cards? Or do you alternate (I draw one, you draw one, I draw one, etc.)?
A. As stated on the card, you (the player who is playing the Computer Error) draws your (up to) 5 [Ed. Note: including 0] cards first, then your opponent has the option to do so [Ed. Note: draw between 0-5 cards (inclusive)]. (7-6-00 WotC Chat Q18; May 18, 2000 WotC Chat Q95)

Q. With Computer Error, do you have to announce up front how many cards you're going to draw? Or can you draw one at a time & stop at your own choosing?
A. You must announce up front how many you will draw and then draw that many. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q19)

Q. If I play a Computer Error, and I draw 5 cards, does my opponent HAVE to draw 5 cards too, or can he/she opt to draw a different number?
A. They can draw UP TO 5 cards so they get to choose the number. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q60)

Q. On May 18 2000 you said when asked about drawing zero cards using Computer Error, "Nope you must declare from 1 to 5 cards, and then draw that many". I just wanted to clarify if this is still correct or if zero cards is an option. Thanks.
A. 0 is an acceptable amount to call. That's one of those ones where we just answered as though the player wouldn't have played the card unless they wanted to at least draw one card. Certainly they can draw zero cards if they want. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q279)

Q. When you use computer error is your opponent still able to attack?
A. On his turn, sure. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q46)

== COMPUTER SEARCH (Base Set)

Q. Can you play Computer Search, discard 2 cards, and then (after searching your deck) decide not to put a card from your deck into your hand?
A. No, you cannot. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. If I attempt to play a card that requires a discard cost (Computer Search, Item Finder, etc.) and Chaos Gym is active, do I have to pay the cost *before* the Chaos Gym test? And if I fail, does the opponent have to pay the cost too if they want to use it?
A. Yes and yes. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q106)

Q. If I attempt to play a card that requires a discard cost (Computer Search, Item Finder, etc.) and the opponent has a Slowking, do I have to pay the cost *before* the check for Mind Games?
A. Yes. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q107)

== COUNTERATTACK CLAWS (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Counterattack Claws trainer is worded poorly. I'm pretty sure I know the intention of the card, but could you explain how it works basically?
A. You are correct, the wording is wrong. As it is worded it would do 20 more damage to the Pokemon it is attached to. Obviously, it should do 20 damage back to the Pokemon that just attacked it. Play it like it should be. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q368)

Q. If you flip a tails for Counterattack Claws, does it still get discarded? [Or] stays until it does damage?
A. Yes, you do discard it. Counterattack Claws is activated when the Pokemon it is attached to is the Active Pokemon and it takes damage from an attack. Then, whether you flip heads and place damage counters or not, it is discarded after the coin flip. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q403 & Q430 & Q491; Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q81)

== DEFENDER (Base Set)

* Defender only prevents 20 damage from any one attack. If an attack has 2 components to it that can do damage (like Dark Weezing's Mass Explosion) Defender will still only reduce the overall attack total damage by 20, NOT each component by 20. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I play Defender on Slowbro when it's my Active Pokémon, can I move all the damage counters off my Benched Pokémon one at a time and not put them on Slowbro because of Defender?
A. No, Defender only prevents damage done by attacks. (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Defender protects against the Pokémon hitting itself right? (Ex. Arcanine Take down with Defender on him will only do 10 to Arcanine right?)
A. Correct. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q173)

Q. If you have a Defender on a Chansey, and you use Double Edge, is 20 of the damage to Chansey prevented?
A. Yes, it would be. Defender will protect your Pokémon from attacks from your opponent AND from your own attacks while it is in play. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. Do I have to discard Defender, if Resistance cancels out the damage done by the attack, or does it stay until some damage is done?
A. You have to discard Defender at the end of your opponent's next turn. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Would Defender prevent damage caused by Machamp's Strike Back Pokémon Power? If it doesn't, is it because that damage is a secondary effect, and not the direct result of an Attack?
A. It would not. Defender protects against damage done by attacks, not by Pokémon Powers like Machamp's Strike Back. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

Q. Does Defender prevent damage from poison?
A. Nope, it only reduces damage from attacks, NOT [Ö] effects like Poison. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. Does Defender prevent damage done by a failed attack due to Confusion?
A. Yes, but it's important to note that your wording is slightly incorrect. If an attack fails due to the effects of Confusion than that Pokémon attacks itself with that attack. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q17)

Q. Does Dark Golbat's Pokémon Power deal 10 damage to a Pokémon if that Pokémon has a Defender on it? Defender stops damage from ATTACKS, but that's a Pokémon Power?
A. Yes because Defender stops damage only from attacks [Ed. Note: Dark Golbat's Sneak Attack still deals 10 damage to that Pokémon which has the Defender on it]. You've got the right idea. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q163)

Q. Is it possible for a Fossil Magneton to use 2 Defenders to stay alive?
A. Yes, you could save him with 2 Defenders. (June 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q173)

Q. Scenario: Mr. Mime with Defender receives an attack that does 40 damage. The online rulebook says that Trainers are figured before Pokémon Powers so the Defender would reduce the damage from 40 down to 20, and this would slip under the Invisible Wall, right?
A. Right!! (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q17)

== DESERT SHAMAN (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Desert Shaman says, "Shuffle your hand into your deck and draw up to 4 cards; your opponent does the same". Does this mean that if you choose to only draw one card, your opponent only gets to draw one card? Or can they draw up to four if they want to?
A. Each player can draw up to 4 cards. What you choose does not limit your opponent. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1571)

== DEVOLUTION SPRAY (Base Set) / HYPER DEVOLUTION SPRAY (Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. Can Devolution Spray be played on a Basic Pokémon? It says to choose a Pokémon in play and a Stage of Evolution so I could choose a Basic Pokémon and choose Stage 1, then I wouldn't have to discard any cards off of it and it would be healed of any status effects. Am I correct in assuming this?
A. Nope, the assumption is that you are picking a stage of evolution that is in play. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q36)

Q. If I use Devolution Spray do I remove damage?
A. Nope. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q74)

Q. On Devolution Spray, it says all status effects are removed, "just as if you had evolved it". I assume this also mean that attack effects (Smokescreen, Agility) are also removed?
A. Correct! (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q10)

Q. If you use Hyper Devolution Spray on a Pokemon that is Poisoned, Confused, Paralyzed or Asleep, will those effects be removed? (Hyper Devolution Spray does not have the "Full Heal" text that was on the original.)
A. Yes. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q7a & Q117)

Q. If I devolve my Active Pokemon (using Hyper Devo Spray, etc.) that has been trapped by Murkrow's "Mean Look", will that permit me to retreat it?
A. Yes. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q750)

Q. When you use Hyper Devolution Spray does the effect of not evolving affect all of your pokemon or only the one that you used it on?
A. Only the one you used it on. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q101)

Q. Can you use two Hyper Devolution Sprays on the same pokemon during a single turn? For example, can you use a HyperDevo on your Blastoise to devolve to Wartortle, and then use a second HyperDevo to devolve it to Squirtle all within the same turn?
A. Yes, you can... While you can't evolve a Pokemon the same turn you devolved it, there is no rule saying you cannot devolve a Pokeon twice in the same turn. So you could use Hyper Devolution Spray twice in one turn on the same Pokemon. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3; Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q297)

Q. If you use Devolution Spray on a Stage 2 Pokémon do you have the choice to go back to either the Stage 1 or Basic card, assuming you didn't use a Breeder?
A. You would. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q84)

Q. Hyper Devolution Spray says you cant evolve the same turn you devolve. So does this mean you can't evolve then devolve, vice versa, or both?
A. It means that you can't play the devolution, and THEN evolve; you could evolve first, and then use the Hyper Dev. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q94)

*Now for Devolution Spray. Devolving a Pokémon DOES count as evolving it (again, a reversal on a previous ruling). This means that if you use Devolution Spray on one of your Pokémon you CANNOT evolve it again on that same turn. Sorry if these rule changes are confusing. It just shows again, how nothing is set in stone when it comes to Pokémon. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If you Hyper Devo Spray an Eevolution so that Promo Eevee or NEO: Discovery Eevee is the Basic, can you re-evolve these if another Pokemon evolves/you get a heads? Same with Gyarados HDS to Magikarp from TR.
A. Yes you could. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q66)

Q. Can I use Devolution Spray (trainer) on a Pokémon that I evolved on that same turn? For example, I evolve to Muk to turn off Dark Vileplume's "Hay Fever", play all the trainer cards I want, and finally use DevoSpray on the Muk at the end.
A. Yes you could do that. [The text on the card that says] it would count as evolving means you could not then evolve a Pokémon you Devolved that turn. It is NOT Evolving so you can play it after Evolving. It just counts as it for the sake of figuring other rules. Confusing I know. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q38 & Q86)

Q. Devolution Spray says choose a stage of evolution and discard all evolution cards of that stage and higher. Does a Pikachu evolved from Pichu count as a Stage 1 for this case? If not you wouldn't be able to devolve him...
A. It is NOT a stage 1 but it IS a evolved form from Pichu. It works!!!! You can choose the basic (it is a stage AND it is evolved in this case). (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q113b)

Q. If I have a Pokémon with a 'Once per turn' Pokémon Power and that can also evolve (such as TR Charmander, Dark Dragonair, and Erika's Bellsprout) can I use its Pokémon Power, evolve it, use Devolution Spray on it, and use the Pokémon Power again?
A. No you would not. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q1a & Q24b)

Q. If I have Charmeleon active and the opponent uses Sand-Attack or Smokescreen, can I evolve it to Charizard and play Devolution Spray to remove the Sand-Attack or Smokescreen effect? Or what if I used DevoSpray first and then evolved back into Charmeleon?
A. You could...well, whatever....yes. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q79a)

Q. Say I have a Gengar & a Haunter on my bench. I use Gengar's "Curse" and then play Hyper Devo Spray to remove the Gengar. Can I now play the Gengar card on my other Haunter and use "Curse" again?
A. Yes, you could do that now. [Ed.Note: See also "Pokemon Powers In General" section.] (Oct 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q1)

== DIGGER (Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Is Digger's damage considered an "attack"? (If Haunter is damaged by Digger, does Haunter's Transparency require another flip? Will Defender protect against damage caused by Digger?)
A. No. [Editor's note: This implies that Haunter's Transparency and Defender do *not* apply] (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q60)

== DOUBLE GUST (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Can I use Double Gust if I don't have any Pokemon on my bench? The first sentence reads, "If you have any Benched Pokemon..."; so what if I don't? And does it matter if the opponent has any on their bench or not?
A. Yes, you can. No, it does not. (Oct 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. Do Trainer Cards like Double Gust or Warp Point have a sequence of effects? Can Pokemon be Knocked Out partway through completing the Trainer card?
A. Yes, these Trainers do have a specific sequence of who does what first. A Pokemon cannot be Knocked Out partway through the Trainer card however. You must complete all of the actions of a Trainer card BEFORE you check for game state checks (to see if a Pokemon is Knocked out for example). (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

== DUAL BALL (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Can you use Dual Ball to search your deck for a cleffa doll?
A. Nope, you have to search for Pokemon, not Trainers. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1087)

== ECOGYM (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. On Ecogym, would an attack of yours that discarded an energy still be discarded?
A. Yes, it would. [Ed. Note: The energy is only returned to your hand when it's discarded by the opposing player, not by yourself] (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q132)

Q. Does DCE get put back in your hand with Eco Gym or not? Eco Gym just says any non [*]
A. No, any card that provides colorless energy is considered a colorless energy card even if it provides 2. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q77)

Q. If the EcoGym Trainer is in play, how many non-colorless energy cards can be returned to my hand if my opponent used an SER on one of my Pokémon (2 or 1)?
A. Yes, both. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q54)

Q. If EcoGym is in play, can a Rainbow Energy card be returned to my hand?
A. Yes it can. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q66)

Q. Could I return a Buzzaped Base Electrode to my hand with an EcoGym in play?
A. We think that the answer would be yes...but we all want to check on it, so we'll let you know. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q172)

Q. If Ecogym is in play, could an energy that is normally considered as colorless (DCE, Full Heal Energy, Potion Energy, etc.) be returned to your hand if it were attached to an Active Ditto?
A. Only if an affect from your opponent causes you to discard it of course, but yes. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q8)

Q. With Ecogym in play,would a Colorless Energy on Charizard that was Energy Burned to fire be returned to your hand if you attacked a Koga's Muk (Pokémon Power: Energy Drain) and he flipped a heads for the Pokémon Power?
A. Yes it would. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q39)

Q. If Ecogym is in play, how many non-colorless Energy cards can be returned to your hand at the same time and/or during your turn?
A. As many as get put in the discard pile by your opponent. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q49 & Q51)

Q. When Ecogym is in play and I knock out another Pokémon, will its energy cards go back to the proper owner?
A. Nope, the attack did not discard the energy cards, it Knocked out the Pokémon and then the energy cards were discarded. Not the same thing. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. Did you solve my little Hyper Beam KOing a Pokemon with Ecogym in play problem?
A. Sure its easy. The damage is applied first, if that is enough to Knock out the Defending Pokemon you are done, it is Knocked Out BEFORE any energy is removed due to the rest of the attack's effects. So, there is no issue in that case. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q246)

Q. Can you save a Buzzaped Electrode with Ecogym?
A. Yes, but it is no longer an energy card when it leaves play and goes back to your hand. It is a plain old electrode again. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q17b & Q49b)

Q. If Ditto has converted a Colorless Energy card to a Basic type, will Ecogym return that card to your hand if the conditions of Ecogym are met?
A. Yes you could do that. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q43b)

== ENERGY CHARGE (Neo: Genesis Expansion) / POWER CHARGE (Expedition Expansion)

Q. Energy Charge can retrieve dark energy, full heal energy, metal energy, recycle energy, or potion energy if the coin flip is head, correct?
A. Correct!! (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q91)

Q. Since the trainers "Power Charge" (Expedition) and "Energy Charge" (Neo: Genesis) are nearly identical except for the name, can you have four of each in a deck since the names are different?
A. Well, if that is the case then you could. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q305)

== ENERGY FLOW (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Can you use Energy Flow to pick up a DCE, Rainbow Energy, Full Heal or Potion Energy? 
A. Yes. (Sep 28, 2000 WotC Chat, Q181)

Q. If you use Energy Flow, can you take back non-basic energy cards or the upcoming Darkness and Metal energies?
A. Yes you could. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q661)

Q. Can you play an Energy Flow and choose to put no energy cards back in your hand? In other words, could you just discard the Energy Flow?
A. Sure, it says you may so you can choose not to. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q242)

Q. Can you do an Energy Flow on a Buzzap'd Electrode to return it into your hand?
A. You could return the Buzzaped Electrode to your hand as it is now an energy card. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q42)

Q. You have a Lv. 10 Sabrina's Gastly with 6 Psychic Energy Cards attached, giving it 100HP (Pokémon Power Gaseous Form). It has 90 Damage. Will Energy Flow allow you to remove all the 6 Psy Energies before it is KO'd, or will it be KO'd when you remove the first one?
A. You can remove all 6 at the same time with energy flow. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q19 & Q42)

== ENERGY REMOVAL (Base Set) / SUPER ENERGY REMOVAL (Base Set) /
[See Also: Energy Removal 2 / Super Energy Removal 2]

Q. When you use Energy Removal on a Pokémon with a DCE and another Energy on it do you get to decide which Energy card to remove or does your opponent?
A. The person playing the Energy Removal card gets to choose. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you use Energy Removal on a Buzzap'd Electrode?
A. Yes you could. (Mar 30 WotC Chat)

Q. If a Super Energy removal is used on a Dragonair with two Double Colorless Energies, do you remove one, or both?
A. Your opponent can remove up to 2 Energy CARDS, so he could take off both DCEs. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. Could I play a Super Energy Removal, choose the Energy Card attached to my active pokemon with Legendary Body, and then not discard it since Legendary Body protects it from the effects of Trainer Cards?
A. No, because that is a cost of playing Super Energy Removal. (Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q17)

Q. Can I remove 2 Energy on different Pokémon with Super Energy Removal?
A. No. Both Energies must be removed from the same Pokémon. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you use Super Energy Removal when your opponent has no energy (because Super Energy Removal says "choose 1 of your opponent's Pokémon and up to 2 Energy cards attached to it," and 0 is "up to 2")?
A. I think you can, we'll check to see if this is OK w/ R&D. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q288)

== ENERGY REMOVAL 2 (Expedition Expansion) / SUPER ENERGY REMOVAL 2 (Aquapolis Expansion)
[See Also: Energy Removal / Super Energy Removal]

Q. If No Removal Gym is in play, do I have to discard two cards in order to play the new Card-E "Energy Removal 2" or "Super Energy Removal 2"?
A. Nope, those are different cards. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q21)

== ENERGY RETRIEVAL (Base Set) / SUPER ENERGY RETRIEVAL (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If you have 1 energy in your discard pile and you use Energy Retrieval (and discard a energy) and pick up the energy in there + the one with the discard.
A. No, you can't because Energy Retrieval says 'trade'. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q58)

Q. May I discard a basic Energy card as the cost of Energy Retrieval, only to retrieve it as one of the 2 Energy cards?
A. Yes. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you play Super Energy Retrieval, even if there are no energy cards in your discard pile?
A. Yes. [It] says take all of them if there are fewer then four, so with the Super Energy Retrieval you could bring back 0 (because that's fewer the four) (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Q17 & Q62)

Q. Can you get back Darkness or Metal energy with Energy Retrieval?
A. No. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q256)

== ENERGY SEARCH (Jungle Expansion)

Q. The trainer card "Energy Search" says nothing about showing the card to your opponent once you have found it in your deck. Shouldn't you have to show it as part of "good-gamesmanship?"
A. The other player must be able to see what Energy card you pull out of your deck. This is done to verify that they in fact pulled an Energy card. If the card just said to pull out any card (for example, Computer Search), then they would NOT have to show it.  (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

== ERIKA (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. For Erika, does your opponent have to take cards?
A. Nope, they may [or may not]. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q147)

== FOCUS BAND (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

* Focus Band only prevents a Pokemon from being Knocked out if any effect or damage from an attack would Knock it out during that turn. This means that if Mew's Devolution Beam would Knock out the Defending Pokemon, Focus Band would trigger (this effect takes place during the attack). Any effect caused by an attack that would Knock out the Defending Pokemon AFTER the attack such as Poison or Char would NOT trigger Focus Band. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If Focus Band is attached to Giovanni's Machamp, and it is Knocked Out, what effect comes first? Its Pokémon Power or the Focus Band?
A. You would choose, as they have the same effect, you choose the order of resolution. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q88; May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Does Crosscounter activate Focus Band? Is this the same with Wobbuffet's Counter?
A. No it doesn't. To clarify: Focus Band will not be triggered by Crosscounter or Counter as these are not considered actual attacks. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q49; May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q149 & after-Q150)

Q. Last week you made some changes on what triggers Focus Band. Poison and Char still don't trigger it, right?
A. Correct. (Dec 6, 2001 WotC Chat, 342)

Q. Can you play a Focus Band on a Clefairy Doll/Mysterious Fossil?
A. Yes. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q93b)

Q. Would an attack that "places damage counters" trigger Focus Band if the defender was KO'ed from it?
A. Yes, because it doesn't matter how the damage counters landed on it; if it was an attack and it would be KO'ed, then you check the band. (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q118)

Q. If you have a Focus Band attached to Haunter it gets invoked *after* the Transparency check, not before, right?
A. Correct, Focus Band ONLY triggers after a Pokémon would be Knocked out. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q37a)

Q. My Opponent's Pokemon has a Focus Band attached. I use an Attack that has the potential to Paralyze with a coin flip, but the Attack Damage is enough to Knock Out the Pokemon. If the Focus Band saves the Pokemon, do I then flip for Paralysis?
A. Yes you would. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. If a Pokémon with Focus Band and 20 HP remaining is hit by an attack that does 10 damage plus poison, then does Focus Band activate or not (since the Pokémon is KO'ed by damage from the poison and not from the attack's damage)?
A. It is still going to get KO'ed, because poison damage is not attack damage. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q11 & Q71)

Q. Say a pokemon with Focus Band gets hit with an attack that poisons and also does enough damage to knock it out. Even if the flip for Focus Band leaves it with 10hp remaining, wouldn't the poison take it out immediately after that?
A. Correct. If the last 10 damage is done by poison, Focus Band will not trigger. (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q6; Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. If a pokemon with a Focus Band attached is KO'd by Elekid's "Playful Punch" power, does the Focus Band go into effect or not?
A. Focus band will only trigger off an attack that KO's the Pokemon it's attached to. (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. If you use Feint attack on a Giovanni's Machamp with a focus band, and knock it out, does it flip for Fortitude and Focus Band?
A. Yes, it would. (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q11)

Q. If Dark Golduck has no damage and a Rocket's Hideout is in play, and Brock's Primape uses Mega Thrash, would Focus Band be activated?
A. Yes, it would. [ED. NOTE: The Mega Thrash attack causes the Stadium in play to be discarded]. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q55)

Q. What about putting a Ditto with 7 Damage Counters to sleep, would that trigger a Band?
A. It is a current rules clarification. So yes, the sleep atttack against Ditto in that case would trigger the focus band. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q169)

* Remember, Focus Band only works if your opponent attacks your pokemon with it attached, not if your chansey would KO itself. And only from attacks. (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q26)

* Focus Band only prevents a Pokemon from being Knocked out if any effect or damage from an attack would Knock it out during that turn. This means that if Mew's Devolution Beam would Knock out the Defending Pokemon, Focus Band would trigger (this effect takes place during the attack). Any effect caused by an attack that would Knock out the Defending Pokemon AFTER the attack such as Poison or Char would NOT trigger Focus Band. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. When a Pokémon with a Focus Band is attacked for damage when it has 10 HP left and the Focus Band flip is heads, does the attack count as doing damage? This is for the purpose of Pokémon Powers like Energy Drain (Koga's Muk) and Strikes Back (Machamp).
A. Yes, Focus band does not alter what the attack did. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q25)

Q. If your Pokémon gets heads on Focus Band, how would you calculate Damage done by a subsequent Mirror Move Attack? Total Damage by Opponent's Attack or amount of Damage counters placed?
A. When using Mirror Move the "Final Result of an attack" is what is done to a Pokemon BEFORE it is Knocked Out. If the Defending Pokemon has a Weakness or Resistance this is calculated BEFORE naming the final result of the attack. Focus Band takes place OUTSIDE of the normal timing sequence of attack resolution and has no effect on this definition of the Final result. It is a replacement effect that takes place before a Pokemon is Knocked out. If Pidgeotto has a Focus Band attached to it, the Final Result of an attack against it does NOT count anything that Focus Band may or may not do. Meaning if an attack against Pidgeotto does 100 damage and a Focus Band triggers successfully reducing Pidgeotto's remaining HP to 10, the Final result of the attack against this Pokemon is 100 damage, NOT reducing the Defending Pokemon to 10 hp. The Focus Band alters the final outcome of what happens to Pidgeotto it does NOT alter the Final result of the attack. (Feb 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q300 & Q302; Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q12 & Q18 & Q39)

Q. If the Active Pokemon uses an attack like Hypno's Spiral Aura that forces a switch if the Defending Pokemon is not KO'd, what happens if the Defending Pokemon is saved by Focus Band? Does the switch still take place or is it past that point already?
A. The switch still takes place. Focus Band triggers as soon as it would be Knocked out (from damage). It saves the Pokemon and you go back into the turn order from whence you came. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q331)

== FOSSIL EGG (Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. If you have multiple Fossil Eggs, you can get out several Aerodactyls on Turn 1, right?
A. Sure. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q200)

Q. If there is a Fossil Aerodactyl in play, can I still get the pokemon with Fossil Egg?
A. Something from the egg has to evolve from a fossil, it does not have to actually "evolve" so the power would not prevent the egg. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q105)

== FRIEND BALL (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. According to Crystal Shard, colorless appears to be a type. Does that mean for Friend Ball you can choose a colorless pokemon?
A. Sure. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1524)

== FULL HEAL (Base Set / Expedition Expansion)

Q. Does a Full Heal trainer remove all damage also? It is not mentioned on the card. If not, how can the Pokémon have gotten fully healed?
A. No, it heals effects for attacks like Asleep, Confusion, Paralysis, or Poison. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. The E-Card Full Heal is reworded so you can get rid of the Burned Condition. If I play an older version of the card, like from Base Set, will that get rid of the Burned Special Condition as well even though it states only the 4 conditions?
A. Yes, like with other reprinted card, use the most recent wording. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q82)

== GAMBLER (Fossil Expansion)

Q. If you use Gambler with no other cards in your hand, do you have to shuffle your deck?
A. Yes, you would still have to shuffle your deck. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q131)

Q. If you use Gambler and it was the last card in your hand, do you still have to shuffle your deck.
A. Yup. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q29)

== GIOVANNI (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Can you use Giovanni to evolve a (Giovanni's) Pokémon while an Aerodactyl is in play?
A. No you can't. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q144)

Q. Can the Giovanni trainer card still be used if Aerodactyl is in play?
A. While you could play the card, it would not do you any good. Aerodactyl would still prevent the evolutions form occurring (i.e. playing cards from your hand). (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q2)

Q. Would the Giovanni trainer card allow a just-devolved Pokémon to evolve again?
A. Yes. (Jul 11, 2002 WotC Chat, Q37)

Q. Can you evolve Pokémon you play on the first turn with Giovanni?
A. Yes. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q103)

Q. The Giovanni Trainer card states "For the rest of your turn you may evolve..." so I should be able to use a Pokémon Breeder on the same turn after I play Giovanni, right?
A. Yes, you could use Breeder on the Pokémon that you used Giovanni on. So you could play a Giovanni's basic, play the Giovanni trainer, and then play Breeder to go to a 2nd stage Giovanni Pokémon all in one turn. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q208; Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q22)

Q. Chaos Gym is in play. Opponent plays Giovanni, flips tails for Chaos. Can you use Giovanni (since it isn't "your turn")?
A. No, you can't evolve, so you couldn't do anything with it. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q35)

== GIOVANNI'S LAST RESORT (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Can I play Giovanni's Last Resort with no Giovanni's Pokémon just to discard my hand?
A. Sure. (Aug 1, 2002 WotC Chat, Q289)

== GOOP GAS ATTACK (Team Rocket Expansion)

* If Magby's Sputter was in effect (or Goop Gas Attack for that matter) then "when you play" Pokemon powers (such as Dark Golbat's Stare or Dark Crobat's Surprise Bite) still function. This is because those effects are triggered by playing the card and take place BEFORE they are put into play (where Sputter would shut them off). This is the same reason why Rainbow/Potion/Heal energy still do their "when you play them from your hand" effects even with Light Dragonite's Miraculous Wind active. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q6)

Q. Can you use goop gas attack when Dark Vileplume is in play?
A. Only if Dark Vileplume's Pokémon Power isn't active. (June 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q157)

Q. Can Goop Gas Attack turn off a Baby Pokémon Power?
A. Nope, baby power is not effected. Well actually Elekid has a Pokémon Power which could be affected but the baby defense ability is NOT a Pokémon power. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q59)

Q. If you or your opponent played a Goop Gas Trainer, and then you put down a Pokemon with a Pokemon Power, would that Pokemon's Pokemon Power be turned off immediately?
A. Yes, it would. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q16)

== GRASS CUBE 01 (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Lets say you attach a Grass Cube to a pokemon and then it changes type. Do you discard the cube?
A. Nope, it only checks for the type when you attach it. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1083)

Q. So can Jungle Venomoth get a Grass Cube attached, then Shift, say to Dark, would you be able to attach Darkness Cube and then have two diferent TMs at one time? and I belive that Venomoth wouldn't get damaged because of the Darkness Energy because it would now be a dark type. Am I right?
A. Correct, and yes you could have both attached though why you would do that is beyond me. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1089)

== GUST OF WIND (Base Set)

Q. Is 'Gust of Wind' considered Retreating? Like could I use Dark Dugtrio's Sinkhole after a Gust of Wind?
A. "Gust of wind is not considered retreating...you couldn't use pitfall for that" (July 27, 2000 WotC Chat)

== HEALING FIELD (Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. If I use a Healing Field Stadium card, and flip heads to remove 2 damage counters from my Active Pokemon, can I then play another Healing Field and flip again on that same turn?
A. Sure. I think that the stadium would effectively be reset if you did so. (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q85 & Q126)

* If you have flipped to use an in-play Healing Field and then play another Healing Field you would be able to flip to use its once-per turn ability. When the previous Stadium card is discarded, it's once per turn status effect is removed as well. (Nov 17, 2001 Pokemon Master Rules Updates, Item #4 WOtC's Online Pokemon Rules)

== HEAL POWDER (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Can Heal Powder be used to remove the new "Burned" special condition?
A. The Heal Powder card states exactly what conditions it can remove. Burn isn't one of the listed conditions. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q76)

== HERE COMES TEAM ROCKET (Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If "Here Comes Team Rocket" turns all prizes face-up, then if you use Rattata's "Trickery" (Rattata from Team Rocket Expansion) does the new prize card go face-up or face-down? (My guess is face-up).
A. Face up as you are switching the cards. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. If you use the Trainer, Here Comes Team Rocket, then you use the Team Rocket Ratatta's Pokémon Power, would you switch your prize, then the top card of your deck would be face up or facedown?
A. Does it matter? Your opponent will know what you're putting there anyway? For the record though, put the Trainer face down on top of your deck. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q126)

* The Here Comes Team Rocket trainer does NOT permanently change a game rule as previously understood. It has each player flip over all of their prize cards to face up. If a subsequent effect states place a prize card face down, then you place that prize card face down. If an effect (like Rattata's Trickery) has you trade a prize card and does NOT state to place it face down, then you put the new prize card out in the same state as the old one. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q3)

Q. If you use "Here Comes Team Rocket" to turn the prizes face up, and then later use "Imposter Prof. Oak's Invention" to shuffle the opponent's prizes back into the deck, when the opponent deals their prizes back out are they dealt face up or face down?
A. Our answers our basically from the wording on Here Comes Team Rocket which says: For the rest of the game, play with your prizes face up. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q407)

== IMPOSTER OAK'S INVENTION (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. For "Impostor Prof. Oak's Invention", do you have to have your opponent shuffle ALL their prize cards into the deck, or just the ones you want them to? All or some?
A. All of them. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q407)

Q. If you use "Here Comes Team Rocket" to turn the prizes face up, and then later use "Imposter Prof. Oak's Invention" to shuffle the opponent's prizes back into the deck, when the opponent deals their prizes back out are they dealt face up or face down?
A. Our answers our basically from the wording on Here Comes Team Rocket which says: For the rest of the game, play with your prizes face up. (Feb 28, 2002 WotC Chat, Q407)

== IMPOSTER OAK'S REVENGE (Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. If my opponent has no hand and I play Imposter Oak's Revenge, do they still shuffle their deck?
A. Yes they would. (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q16 & Q31)

== ITEM FINDER (Base Set)

Q. Can you use an Item Finder if there are no trainer cards in the discard pile?
A. No, you may not. (Mar 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. May I retrieve the same Item Finder card that I just played as the Trainer card to retrieve?
A. Since you're playing the card Item Finder it won't be in your discard pile to pull back [until after you've retrieved a Trainer Card] (2-24-00 WotC Chat)

Q. Can I use Item Finder, discarding something + 1 trainer card to get that 1 trainer card back into my hand? Or can you not retrieve either of the two discarded cards because they are not yet in the discard pile at the time the Item Finder is being played?
A. If a card says trade, then you cannot. This one does NOT say trade, it simply states a requirement in order to use the trainer. You play a trainer, pay its cost, then do what it says. Then discard that trainer, so you would not be able to Item Finder the Item Finder played BUT you CAN use it to bring back one of the cards discarded. If it said trade you would not be able to. So the only card that is off-limits for returning in this case is the Item Finder that you're playing. (Nov 16, 2000 WotC Chat, Q154 & Q166)

Q. If I attempt to play a card that requires a discard cost (Computer Search, Item Finder, etc.) and Chaos Gym is active, do I have to pay the cost *before* the Chaos Gym test? And if I fail, does the opponent have to pay the cost too if they want to use it?
A. Yes and yes. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q106)

Q. If I attempt to play a card that requires a discard cost (Computer Search, Item Finder, etc.) and the opponent has a Slowking, do I have to pay the cost *before* the check for Mind Games?
A. Yes. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q107)

== KOGA (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Koga [trainer card] says that, if a Pokémon with Koga in its name damages a defending Pokémon, "that Pokémon is now poisoned." Which one: the Koga one or the defending one?
A. The defending one. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q87)

Q. Say I play 4 "Koga" trainers on my Koga's Weedle, do I get 4X the poison on the opponent if my opponent damages Koga's Weedle?
A. No, multiple Koga's will not multiply the poison damage. (Feb. 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q254)

Q. If I have a Koga trainer in play, and I use Koga's Weezing's "Toxic Cloud" attack, would I get to choose which poison condition to use (single or double), or does one condition take precedence over the other? (Step E or Step J of the rules?)
A. Since both effects take place at the same time, the controlling player gets to decide what order to resolve them. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I play a Koga card and attack my opponent's Holo Suicune with a Koga's Pokémon, is the Suicune then poisoned, and why or why not?
A. It would not be poisoned. The Koga's card is adding an effect to the attack (even with the quantifier of doing damage). Effects of attacks against an Active Suicune do not take place. (Nov 29, 2001 WotC Chat, Q115)

== KOGA'S NINJA TRICK (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. I have a Koga's Pidgey with a Koga's Ninja Trick Trainer attached. I do Sand Attack to the opponent. He flips heads for the Sand Attack and I use the Koga's Ninja Tick before damage is done to me. I send out Baby Pokemon to be...
A. The baby power step has already been passed when the attack is announced and you respond to it with the Koga's Ninja trick. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q107)

Q. Can you use Koga's Ninja Trick for Base Machamp or Rocket's Hitmonchan's 'recoil' effects? Or just Rocket's Hitmonchan's?
A. You could use that for Rocket's Hitmochan because that effect is an 'attack' but not for Machamp [Ed.Note: because Machamp's "Strikes Back" is a power, not an attack]. (May 24, 2001 WotC Chat, Q16)

Q. What if when the opponent sucessfully flips against Sand Attack and I replace Koga's Pidgey [Ed.Note: presumably having a Koga's Ninja Trick attached] with Mr. Mime. Would Mr. Mime still block damage?
A. The Pokemon Power step has not passed yet, so you could do that. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q119)

Q. Koga's Koffing has a Ninja Trick attached and uses Smokescreen. When the opponent attacks, which has to be done first, the flip to see if the attack can be made or the activation of the Ninja trick?
A. First the Smokescreen. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. So now that the Baby Rule requires you to announce which attack you're planning on using, does the same hold true for Koga's Ninja Trick too?
A. You can only use it when the attack actually takes place, NOT when it is announced. It seems that now you announce the attack, then you actually do it. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q109)

== LASS (Base Set)

Q. For Lass, does the player have to shuffle their deck if there are no trainers in their hand?
A. No. You [only] have to shuffle when you put cards back into your deck. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q4 & Q15)

== LIGHTNING CUBE 01 (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Can you attach a eletric cube onto a cleffa?
A. Do you mean a Lightning Cube 01? The cards says you can only attach it to a lightning Pokemon, so unless that Cleffa is Painted to Lightning, the answer would be no. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1080)

Q. If I have a non-holo Neo Revelation Raikou (the one with Legendary Body) as my active pokemon, can I use a Lightning Cube to attack with him, and if so, do I have to discard the energy cards attached to Raikou?
A. Yes, you can and yes you still have to discard the energy because that is a cost. (Apr 10, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1137)

== LT. SURGE'S SECRET PLAN (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. May you look at a card that you used Lt. Surge's Secret Plan on (face down) in case you forgot?
A. No. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q78)

Q. Can you flip over an LSSP'd card at any point in the game, even during your opponent's turn?
A. Only on checks...So no. (Dec 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q565)

Q. Does Igglybuff's Gaze activate LSSP's "need to know" clause?
A. Yes it would. (Dec 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q561)

Q. Can a face-down card on your bench (via Lt. Surge's Secret Plan) become your "active Pokémon" and still remain face down, as long as none of the flip-conditions on the card apply?
A. Yes. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. Clarification regarding Lt. Surge's Secret Plan: The card says "Flip the card if it ever uses an attack or Pokémon Power...". Does this mean if you place a Stage 1 or 2 face down, you could flip it, use its Attacks or Powers and then discard it because it is not a Basic?
A, No, if you flipped it and if it wasn't a basic, you would discard it. You wouldn't be able to use attacks or Pokémon Powers on that Pokémon. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q11)

Q. Can you Damage Swap damage to a card face down for Lt. Surge's Secret plan?
A. Yes, you could but you would have to reveal the card. Thus, no damage swap would take place if it wasn't a Basic Pokémon. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q133)

Q. If Lt. Surge's Secret Plan is used to put a trainer card face down on the bench, does the card have to be flipped over when Scoop Up is used on it? In other words, does Scoop Up trigger the "Need to Know" clause, since it only returns the Basic Pokémon to your hand? Does the same apply for "Switch" too?
A. Yes it would, you would have to flip over and verify the face-down card and then the Scoop Up [or Switch] wouldn't be playable. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q567; Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q26)

Q. Why do you need to know if a LSSP'd card is a Pokemon to Gust it?
A. That has been corrected, you do NOT need to flip over an LSSP'd card for Gust of Wind. (Oct 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q25)

Q. If a player puts an energy face-down with Lt. Surge's Secret Plan, and then the other player uses Gust of Wind to make it the active, what happens?
A. It stays face down until it is attacked or attempts to attack. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q197)

Q. Can you use Lt. Surge's Secret Plan to make Wiggly's Do The Wave stronger, or does it get flipped and discarded?
A. Yes. Counting the Pokémon doesn't cause you to flip it over. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q148)

Q. If your opponent Knocks Out the card that was in play as a result of Lt. Surge's Secret Plan, and it was revealed as a non-Basic Pokémon card, would your opponent take a prize?
A. No. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q643)

Q. If a card is placed face down on your bench due to Lt. Surge's Secret Plan, and later your active Pokémon is Erika's Clefable and you attack with FairyPower and flip heads, can you return that face down card to your hand without exposing it?
A. You have to flip it over and reveal it when you attack to show what you are doing. That's what it says on the card. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q645)

Q. Lt. Surge's Secret Plan says, "when you flip that card over, if it isn't a Basic Pokémon, discard it". So what do you do if the flipped card is a Mysterious Fossil or Clefairy Doll?
A. Both those cards _act_ as basic Pokémon when they're in play, so you wouldn't have to discard them. Mysterious Fossil says to play it as a basic Pokémon. (Nov 16, 2000 WotC Chat, Q12 & Q107)

Q. If a non-basic face-down card (via Lt. Surge's Secret Plan) becomes your "Active Pokémon", and your opponent's Jigglypuff attacks with Lullaby, you flip your card over and discard it. Is your new active Pokémon asleep?
A. No the next Pokémon would NOT be asleep. It is the attempting to place the Sleep affect that makes you flip the card over. So after disacrding it the next Pokémon comes up AFTER the affect has already fizzled. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q77)

Q. Suppose a face-down energy card (via Lt. Surge's Secret Plan) is your "active Pokémon", facing Ditto with 10 damage, you flip your card over (because Ditto needs to know what to Transform into) and discard the energy card. Is Ditto also discarded?
A. No, you immediatly bring another Pokémon up from your bench. There is no time where Ditto isn't anything (just like previous rulings). (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q86)

Q. I attack the defending Pokemon which is upside down from being played by a Lt.Surge`s Secret Plan. Can I choose which attack I want to use after he flips the card over? If it was a Baby Pokemon (the upside down card) then you would need to know before you pick the attack. Correct?
A. If you are going to attack it, you would have to know what it is, but you would have already had to declare which attack you're going to use. So you have to say what attack you're planning to use. Then flip the card over. If it's a baby, then flip to see if you can attack. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q62)

Q. If I use an attack that does no damage (Such as Kangaskhan's Fetch) against a Pokémon upside down due to LSSP, does it still have to flipped over as it is being attacked?
A. Yes you would still have to flip it over. What if it was a baby and prevented the attack to begin with? (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q158)

Q. So basically, the only way a LSSP'd card is treated like a Pokemon is for the purposes of attaching energy & tools and such. Can you think of any other ways besides those two?
A. Well actually, since an LSSP'd card is NOT checked for GAME STATUS effects, you COULD still be in a game if your opponent knocked out all of your other Pokemon except for an LSSP'd card. Of course, this would only save you the one turn.... (Sep 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q88)

== LUCKY STADIUM (Neo: Destiny Expansion; Promo)

Q. If you have a Lucky Stadium in play and you filp for it, then in the same turn you play another Lucky Stadium from your hand, would you be able to flip again for the other Lucky Stadium that just came into play the same turn?
A. Yes. (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q168)

== MAGNIFIER (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. I noticed that the Magnifier trainer doesn't say "Pokemon Tool" on the card; does this mean that I can attach it to a pokemon that already has a "tool" (like Berry, etc.) on it?
A. Yes, Magnifier is not a Pokemon Tool. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q274)

== MARY (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If you play a Mary Trainer card but you cannot draw 2 cards from your deck, can you still play Mary and shuffle 2 cards from your hand back into your deck?
A. Yes. (Jul 18, 2002 WotC Chat, Q9)

== MAX REVIVE (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Can you play Max Revive even if there are no Pokemon in your discard pile?
A. No, you cannot, you must be able to do what it says. You can't get the pokemon, so you can't play the trainer. You couldn't bring back 0 pokemon, that is not "1". (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18 & Q62)

== MEMORY BERRY (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Three Ampharos are in play. Using Memory Berry to use Mareep's Static will NOT let you get energies. The self-referencing rule doesn't apply; Static says to search for "each Mareep" in play.
A. It would mean, "for each Mareep in play, search for a lightning card and attach it to Ampharos. Only the second part (the self-referencing part would change). So unless you had some Mareeps out, you would not dig for a lightning energy. The first part of the attack is NOT about the card using the attack (though it happens to be the same type). You only use the self-referencing rule when it is SPECIFICALLY talking about itself. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q2068 & 2072 & Q2077)

Q. Memory Berry on Flippy Charizard :) Situation #1 Charizard attempts to attack a baby pokemon, flips [tails] for the baby check. Since the attack actually never happen, I assume the Memory Berry stay on??
A. Correct. (Mar 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q581)

Q. Memory Berry on Flippy Charizard Situation #2 Charizard is confused and attempts to attack, but flips tails for confusion and does 20 damage to itself. Is that an "attack", thereby making Charizard discard Memory Berry?? Or do we leave Memory Berry on Charizard?
A. You would remove it as the Charizard attacked itself. (Mar 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q590)

== MIRACLE BERRY (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. My active Pokémon has Miracle Berry attached. It is the opponent's turn. He uses a Poison attack. Does the damage from Poison go first or does it not get any damage due to it is not poisoned anymore?
A. Tools can be used at any point between turns, so you could use it BEFORE you took Poison damage. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q17a)

Q. Does Miracle Berry from the NEO Genesis set heal burn?
A. It does not say that it does. (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q177)

== MIRACLE SPHERES [ALPHA, BETA, and GAMMA] (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. On any Mystery Sphere, if you have all three energy types do you get to do both effects?
A. Yes. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1497)

Q. If you have a Rainbow Energy attached to a Pokemon using one of the Miracle Sphere trainers, can you do both conditions of the card (i.e. both Confused *AND* removing damage for Alpha)? The Miracle Sphere cards specify "if you have xxx Basic Energy cards..." So Rainbow will not work for the extra requirements of the Miracle Spheres, right?
A. Right. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1523 & Q1542)

Q. On any Mystery [i][edit: Miracle][/i] Sphere, if you have all three energy types do you get to do both effects?
A. Yes. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1497)

Q. If you attach a Miracle Sphere or TM to a higher different type (color) Pokemon and Devolve it, you keep the TM and can still use it correct?
A. Yes the TM's or [Spheres] would stay even if the color type changed. It only checks when it is attached. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1633b)

Q. If I convert energy with Porygon2 (say Fire into Fighting) and attach a Sphere, can I then use the sphere's attack (given that ruling that the energy you convert stays the same, it's just treated as that type...)?
A. It still only counts as a fire basic energy card (which is what the sphere asks for). Yes it is providing fire energy and counts as a fire energy card but NOT as a BASIC fire energy card. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1637)

== MIRAGE STADIUM (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Since Mirage Stadium's effect takes place before energy is discarded, and the confusion retreat flip happens after energy is discarded, shouldn't you always flip for Mirage Stadium first when trying to retreat?
A. Yes, that is correct. We are clarifying it. Mirage stadium states checking before removing energy, Confusion states checking after. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q2030 & Q2045)

== MISTY (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Misty says nothing about being attached or pertaining to the active Pokémon. So is this OK? Play Misty, discard 2 cards. Discard Misty. Play Prof. Oak. Play Misty's Horsea, make active, attach energy. Tackle for 30 (10 + 20).
A. That's possible. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q85)

== MISTY'S DUEL (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Can I just flip a coin with Misty's Duel instead of playing Rock, Paper and Scissors (R.P.S.) since R.P.S. is an easy target for cheaters?
Master_Trainer_Pat says, "It's up to the person playing Misty's Duel." (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q175)

== MISTY'S TEARS (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Is the Japanese card that shows Misty holding a Staryu with a watery background the same as "Misty's Tears"?
A. Yes. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q118)

== MISTY'S WRATH (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. What happens if you play Misty's Wrath with less than 7 cards left in your deck?
A. Same thing that happens with a Professor Oak. You would draw all the cards, keep 2, and continue. (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q40 & Q55)

Q. If you only have one card left in your deck, can you use Misty's Wrath? It says "choose 2 cards", but what if you don't have 2 cards in your deck?
A. You can still play it. You would only be able to keep the one. It does not stop the card from being played. (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q64)

== MR. FUJI (Fossil Expansion)

Q. If you draw your last card and have no cards left in your deck, can you play Mr. Fuji and put cards back in to keep yourself from decking out?
A. Yes. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. Can I use Mr. Fuji to put a Buzzapped Electrode to my hand?
A. No, but you could Fuji the Pokémon that the Buzzap'd Electrode is attached to, thereby shuffling it into your deck. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q10b)

== MULTI TECHNICAL MACHINE 01 (Expedition Expansion)

Q. Can you play the "Multi Technical Machine 01" (TM01) on a Clefairy Doll or Mysterious Fossil since they count as Pokemon while in play?
A. Yes. The text states that Clefairy Doll has no attacks, but you give it one when you put the TM on it. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q75 & Q91)

Q. Can Clefable Metronome a TM 01?
A. How? The TM is discarded at the end of the turn that it is attached. If your opponent used one, it would be gone before you started your turn. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q118)

== NARROW GYM (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. I have 5 Pokémon on my bench, one of which is a Chansey with 110 HP. I put down Narrow Gym, can I return the damaged Chansey to my hand and dump all of the damage counters?
A. Sure, you could do that. That will function like a free Scoop Up.! (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q84)

Q. Can you use Narrow Gym in play put a 5th Pokémon in play and take out one?
A. Nope. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. Say I have Rocket's Hideout and a full bench including a Dark Golbat with 50 damage on it. The opponent then plays Narrow Gym. Does the Dark Golbat get KO'd first, or can I scoop him into my hand first due to the Narrow Gym effect?
A. You could scoop the Golbat. It is the difference between being played which is first and in play which would be second. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q27)

== NIGHTLY GARBAGE RUN (Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Are you allowed to mix up what you pick up with Nightly Garbage Run?
A. Yes you are. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q159)

Q. Can you use a Rocket Garbage Run to recover an already discarded Garbage Run?
A. No, you can only bring back basic energy or Pokémon, NOT Trainer cards. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q224)

Q. Can I take all 9 cards with Nightly Garbage Run? Nightly Garbage Run says 3 Pokémon, 3 evolutions AND/OR 3 energies. That could mean 9 cards...
A. Nope, you can only return 3 cards (energy or Pokémon only). (Aug 3, 2000 WotC Chat, Q111 & Q188)

Q. If I had no cards in my deck, can I still use Nightly Garbage Run[, Time Capsule, etc. to put zero cards into my deck and shuffle it anyway]?
A. Sure. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q112; Apr 25, 2002 WotC Chat, Q15)

Q. Can Baby Pokémon be shuffled back into the deck with Nightly Garbage Run?
A. Yup. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q167)

== NO REMOVAL GYM (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. With 'No Removal Gym', after you discard 2 cards, you still need to pay for the Super Energy Removal, correct? or does the 2 cards pay for it?
A. Yes, you would still have to discard the energy for SER. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q113)

Q. If No Removal Gym is in play, do I have to discard two cards in order to play the new Card-E "Energy Removal 2" or "Super Energy Removal 2"?
A. Nope, those are different cards. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q21)

Q. If a No Removal Gym is in play and the I have a Slowking and they play a SER, do they have to discard the cards from their hand first and the energy as the gym effects the card before it is played then it is effect by Mind Games?
A. In this case, your opponent WOULD have to discard the 2 cards from their hand due to the No Removal effect to actually PLAY the SER. Then you could check for the Slowking effect, and it might [cause] the SER to have no effect and then it would get placed back on their deck. They would NOT have to discard the energy card for the SER actual effect unless that card actually resolves. (Apr 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q65)

Q. If No Removal Gym is in play and a Slowking is on the opponent's bench, if I choose to use Energy Removal do I still have to pay the two-card penalty even if the flip for Mind Games is heads and the E.R. goes on top of my deck?
A. You only pay the addditional cost if you actually play the trainer. (Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q196)

== ORACLE (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. When Oracle says "choose two cards from you deck" does that mean, "search you deck for two cards"?
A. Correct. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1500)

== PLUSPOWER (Base Set)

Q. Can you attach more than one PlusPower to a Pokémon? 2,3,4?
A. Well you can have up to 4 in your deck, so if you had all 4 in your hand you could use them all at once yes. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q157)

Q. If I use jab with Hitmonchan on Scyther and I attach a PlusPower does it do 10?
A. No, because PlusPower will only do the extra damage if the original attack does damage (after applying Weakness and Resistance). (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. Can I play a PlusPower then a Gambler, and play another PlusPower I got from the Gambler?
A. Yes, you can. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Situation: Hitmonchan vs. Mime. Hitmonchan has 2 PlusPowers attached. He Jabs Mr. Mime for 20. Is this considered a KO, or do the PlusPowers add 20 to the attack itself (for 40) and so fail due to Mr. Mime's Invisible Barrier?
A. Trainer card effects are added before Pokémon Powers are figured, so the attack would do 40 total, which Mr. Mime's Pokémon Power would negate. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. Would PlusPower be doubled if the defending Pokémon had a Weakness? Or added after the attack's damage is doubled?
A. No, the effects of PlusPower are applied after Weakness ands Resistance. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. If you attach a PlusPower to your active Pokémon and then retreat and then advance that Pokémon, will the PlusPower still be in effect?
A. Yes, it will. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If I put a PlusPower on my Pokémon and evolve do I discard the PlusPower?
A. Nope. (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q132)

Q. If you use a PlusPower on a attack that does 0 damage, will it do 10 damage? Like for example, Kangaskhan's Fetch will it do 10 damage with a PlusPower?
A. No, PlusPower will only add 10, *if* damage is done. Fetch doesn't do damage. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. Does a PlusPower work with Hitmonlee's Stretch Kick attack?
A. It does not. Pluspower only adds to the total if the attack does damage to the DEFENDING Pokémon only. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q87)

Q. If you attach a PlusPower to Scyther and then retreat for Hitmonchan and do Jab, will Hitmonchan do 30 instead of 20?
A. The Plus Power will stay attached to the Pokémon you put it on. It will not be in effect for the Hitmonchan. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q45 & Q47)

Q. If I attach a PlusPower to Dark Wartortle, and use Mirror shell, and the Defending Pokémon does 20 damage to Dark Wartortle, does Mirror Shell do 20 or 30 damage back?
A. No, the Plus Power will be removed at the end of your turn, so it won't be in effect for the Mirror Move. It will do 20. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q91)

Q. Electabuzz does Thunder Punch with a Plus Power and he flipped tails does it do 20 too Electabuzz?
A. Nope, PlusPower only adds to damage done to the Defending Pokémon. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q197)

== POKEDEX (Base Set)

Q. Is the trainer Pokedex culminative (like using 2 Pokedex to change the order of the top 10 cards of your deck)?
A. No it isn't. You play one and it resolves, then if you play another you would rearrange the same 5 cards. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q112)

== POKÉMON BREEDER (Base Set)

Q. When you use Pokémon Breeder do you discard it immediately or do you leave it on the Pokémon?
A. You discard the Pokémon Breeder Trainer card after doing its effect. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. Does Pokémon Breeder count as evolving because it doesn't say so on the card.
A. It still counts as evolving the Pokémon. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat, Q267)

Q. Pokemon Breeder cannot be used on a Mysterious Fossil, since it is not a Basic Pokémon, correct?
A. It can. It counts as a basic Pokémon while in play. Omastar and Kabutops are Stage 2 Pokemon; you could use Breeder on Mysterious Fossil to skip to them. (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q208 & Q238)

Q. If a Baby Pokémon is to be considered as a Basic while in play, and its Basic is to be considered as an "evolution" when evolved from the Baby, could the Stage 1 be considered a Stage 2 for game purposes like when using Breeder? (i.e. Pichu -> Raichu)
A. Nope, Pokémon Breeder says 'place a Stage 2 on a Basic'. There are no Stage 2 Pokémon that there are babies for. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q53 & Q69 & Q157)

Q. Can I use Pokémon Breeder on my first turn?
A. No, only when you could usually evolve. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q89)

Q. Can my opponent use Pokemon Breeder if I fail a Chaos Gym flip?
A. You cannot play or use Pokémon Breeder when it is NOT your turn. Whether in a 2 player game or a team multiplay. So far, the only way this comes up is with Chaos Gym. (Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q134)

Q. Does Pokemon Breeder get past Skyridge's Kabutops's "Primal Aura" Power that stops evolution?
A. Skyridge Kabutops will stop Breeder from being used. (Jul 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q7)

== POKEMON BREEDER FIELDS (Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. May I flip twice for the same Pokemon with Breeder Fields?
A. No you may not. It asks you to choose 1 or 2 different Pokemon. Each flip is tied to the Pokemon you choose. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q3)

Q. For Pokemon Breeder Fields, when you flip your coin(s) for your "non-Baby" Pokemon, are those the non-Baby Pokes that are "in play" or in your hand, or both?
A. In play. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q22)

Q. Pokémon Breeder Field should be played as if it said, "Show the cards to your opponent," right?
A. Yes. Anytime a card tells you to search for a specific type of card, you must prove this to your opponent after you go get the card. (Feb 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q303)

Q. Procedurally speaking, when using Pokemon Breeder Fields, if both flips are heads would I go "Flip, Search, Shuffle, Flip, Search, Shuffle", or would I go "Flip, Flip, Search (for 2), Shuffle"? Or does it really matter?
A. It doesn't matter but procedurally it would be Flip, Flip, Search, shuffle. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q17)

Q. With the Pokemon Breeder Fields could you say something like "Flip one is for Larvitar" then flip, see what you get and then depending on what you get flip for the second pokemon, say maybe Larvitar again if you missed the first flip, or do you have to say both when you play the card?
A. You have to choose both BEFORE you flip. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q68)

Q. For Pokemon Breeder Fields, if I get 1 heads and 1 tails can I decide which of my 2 non-babies I want to search for an evolution from? Or do I have to say "first flip is for non-baby #1, second flip is for #2"?
A. The second answer is correct; you have to state which one you're flipping for when you make each flip. You have to go get an evolution form that matched that Pokemon. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If you flip 2 heads for Pokemon Breeder Fields, would you be able to retrieve two evolutions for the same Pokémon?
A. It must match the Pokemon you flipped for. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q63)

Q. When using Pokemon Breeder Fields, can I pick two different Cyndaquils on my bench, and if both flips are heads search for one Quilava & one Typhlosion?
A. Yes, you can. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q73)

== POKÉMON FLUTE (Base Set)

Q. If you play Pokémon Flute and bring a Pokémon back to your opponent's bench, can he evolve it on his next turn? Or does he have to wait until a full turn has passed?
A. Yes he could. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q111)

== POKÉMON MARCH (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. For Pokémon March, if either player chooses not to search for a basic Pokémon, do they still have to shuffle their deck regardless?
A. You still have to shuffle. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q42a)

== POKÉMON PARK (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. If Pokemon Park is in play and 2 Energy cards are being attached via "Harvest Bounty", can 2 Damage Counters be removed? You previously ruled that you could but that is wrong. Harvest Bounty works for the Active Pokemon and Pokemon Park works for the Benched Pokemon.
A. Obviously won't work. (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q181)

Q. If Pokemon Park is in play and I use "RainDance" to attach several Energy cards at a time, can I remove a Damage Counter for each energy I attach?
A. No. Once during his turn.... (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q207)

Q. Pokemon Park is in play ("play an energy card to remove a damage counter from that Pokemon"). A Rainbow Energy is played on that Pokemon. Is one damage counter added then removed, or vice-versa, or no damage counters added/removed?
A. It comes down to who controls what. The player who is going, decides the order of effects that he or she controls, and then the effects of the opponent's cards happens. So if you controlled Pokemon Park and was attaching the Rainbow Energy, you would choose which effect happens first (adding the damage counter or removing it). (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q51)

Q. Opponent has both Dark Ampharos with Conductivity and Pokemon Park in play; when I attach an energy to my Pokemon which effect comes first? Does the opponent get to choose? And if I only have 10hp left, would Conductivity KO it before Park could heal it?
A. Same answer as was done with Chaos Gym and Slowking. The player whose turn it is has their effects (the ones they own) go off first, then the opponent's effects. If you control both, you choose the order. If your opponent controls both, he or she chooses the order. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q356)

Q. Pokemon Park Stadium says "..whenever a player attaches an Energy from their hand to a BENCHED Pokemon remove a damage counter from it." I played Warp Energy on my active Pokemon "when you attach Warp Energy from your hand to your active Pokemon, Switch your active with one of your benched Pokemon". OK--we have two things happening at once maybe Pokemon hits bench then checks for Park and removes a damage counter????????
A. No, you are actually attaching the energy to your active Pokemon...not a benched one. You would not remove a damage counter. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1600)


== POKÉMON TOWER (Promo card)

Q. Does the new Pokemon Tower promo card prevent Recycle Energy from going back into the hand when it gets discarded or removed?
A. Yes, it stops Recycle. (Jan 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1129)

Q. Are Pokemon powers like Typhlosion's "Fire Recharge" and effects of attacks like Rocket Zapdos' "Plasma" affected by Pokemon Tower?
A. No, Pokemon Tower only prevents cards in the discard pile from being returned to a player's HAND. (Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q209)

== POKÉMON TRADER (Base Set)

Q. When you use Pokémon Trader, do you shuffle a Pokémon card into your deck or do you discard one?
A. You shuffle it back into your deck. (6-29-00 Q69 WotC Chat)

Q. When you use Pokémon Trader, do you have to trade a basic for a basic, stage 1 for stage 1 etc. or can you trade any Pokémon for any stage?
A. You can trade for any stage. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q163)

Q. You can't search for a Mysterious Fossil or Clefairy Doll with Pokémon Trader, right?
A. And you are correct you can't use Trader to pull one of them, as they are trainers when they are not in play. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q172)

Q. I use Pokémon Trader to search for a Pokémon, but there are none left. Do I put the card in anyway? Do I just pretend that I didnt play the card (since its requirements can't be fulfilled) or do I discard Pokémon trader? Would the answer be the same if there were 0 cards in my deck left?
A. The card says to 'trade', if you can't do that don't put the card from your hand into your deck. You could still play the Trainer BUT you would NOT be able to trade so you would NOT put a Pokémon from your hand into your deck. (Nov 16, 2000 WotC Chat, Q142 & Q143)

== POTION (Base Set) / SUPER POTION (Base Set)

Q. The Potion card says to remove "2 damage counters"; some people play with 10 and 30 point damage counters. So, can a regular potion take off two 30-point damage counters or just 20 damage total?
A. Whenever a card or effect or attack mentions damage counters, it is always assuming a counter to be equal to 10 points of damage. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you use a Potion on a Pokémon that has no damage counters, I mean can you just discard it?
A. Yes. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q286)

Q. The new Expedition version of Potion says "remove 2 damage counters", but the original version said "remove *UP TO* 2 damage counters". Which way should we play the new card?
A. Play it the same as the original. (Oct 10, 2002 WotC Chat, Q77)

== PROFESSOR ELM (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Does Prof-Elming with 0 cards in your hand allow you to shuffle before drawing 7 cards?
A. Yes. [ED.NOTE: In fact, it *REQUIRES* it to be shuffled before drawing 7 cards, even with a hand of zero]. (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q31)

Q. If you used Professor Elm, would you not be able to play trainers until the end of that turn or your next turn?
A. Until the end of this turn. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q146)

Q. If Chaos Gym is active and I try to play Prof. Elm but flip tails, if the opponent chooses to use it can I continue to play trainers during my turn? And will the opponent be allowed to play trainers when their turn comes around?
A. You could still try and play trainers. Your opponent would NOT be able to play any more trainers on your turn (meaning if you fail a Chaos flip again, they would NOT be able to use them). He or she could use them normally on their next turn. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21 & Q90)

Q. If my opponent gets to USE my Prof Elm when I flip tails for Chaos Gym, would they be able to USE another Trainer during my turn if I flip tails again? You said "no" a few weeks ago, but Chaos Gym says the opponent may "USE" it, rather than "PLAY" it.
A. * Also Chaos Gym needs some more clarification. The old ruling that allows your opponent to use 2 Professor Elms on your turn (assuming you tried to play 2 and flipped tails both times) is being updated. When a tail flip occurs with a Trainer and with Chaos Gym in play, the opponent effectively "plays" that card. Meaning that they could NOT play a second Elm in the scenario above. This coincides with the recent Supporter/Chaos Gym rules. (Question: Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q46; *latest ruling: Oct 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q134)

== PROFESSOR OAK (Base Set)

Q. If the only card I have in my hand is Professor Oak, can I use it to draw 7 more cards?
A. Yes, you can discard a hand of zero cards. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

== PROFESSOR OAK'S RESEARCH (Expedition Expansion)

Q. If the other player has a Slowking out and I play a Prof. Oak Research, do I have to shuffle my hand into the deck before the coin flip?
A. No, it is not a cost of playing the card, it is an effect. (Apr 17, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1261)

== RECALL (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

* The RECALL Trainer card has the same sort of effect as Metronome or Ditto in that any self-referencing in the attack is changed to the active Pokémon's name instead. Meaning if you used RECALL to use the Energy Loop attack on Sabrina's Abra when it is evolved to Sabrina's Kadabra (or Sabrina's Alakazam), you would replace the topmost evolution step's name into the attack. In other words you would still have to return a psychic energy card attached to it in order to use the Energy Loop attack. The easiest way to think of it is that the RECALL Trainer gives the Active Pokémon the attack of your choice from one of its previous evolutions, with all of its positive and negative effects affecting your active Pokémon. So if you used RECALL on Gyarados to use Magikarp's Flail attack, it is possible for that attack to do up to 90 damage. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Can you use Recall on a Basic Pokémon to use a Baby PKMN attack? (IE Magmar uses Sputter)
A. Yes, you could. (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q110)

Q. If I used Recall with Steelix as my active and I want to use Neo Onix's Rage attack, must I have two Fighting energy attached or can it be any?
A. Yes, you do. Recall still has you pay the correct cost for the attack. (Jul 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q76)

Q. If I have a Ditto active, and my opponent has a Feraligatr that has evolved from the 40 HP Totodile and then Breedered, can I use Recall on my Ditto to make it remeber Totodile's Rage techniques?
A. No, Ditto is not an evolved form, so you couldn't recall anything... (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q105)

Q. Can the Recall trainer now also allow Brock's Ninetales to use any of its previously-attached evo cards' attacks?
A. Using Recall OR the Aerodactyl's Pokemon Power [Ed. Note: the Neo Revelation version], you can use the attacks on any attached evolution cards. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 3)

Q. Can you use Recall on Gyarados to attack with Rapid Evolution and attach a Dark Gyarados from your deck?
A. No, that's prevented by a new rule in the Neo rulebook about illegal evolutions. (Apr 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q270)

== REVIVE (Base Set)

* The whole Revive a Pokémon and then evolve it in one turn has been ruled NOT possible. Basically REGARDLESS of how a Pokémon is brought into play, it CANNOT be evolved normally on that turn (meaning you play an evolution card from your hand). You COULD Revive a Team Rocket Magickarp, Rain Dance 3 water energy on it, switch it up as the Active Pokémon and then use its Rapid Evolution attack to pull a Gyarados from the deck and place it on the Magikarp. This is allowed as you are NOT normally evolving the Pokémon but using an attack to do so. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, mid-point Announcement [Q149])

== ROCKET'S HIDEOUT (Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. If I have Dark Golduck In Play with Rocket's Hideout and I get to 70 HP which then my oppenent plays Chaos Gym [or any other card that causes Rocket's Hideout to be discarded].... Will my Dark Golduck be KOed?
A. That's right. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q68)

Q. If an attack discards Rocket's Hideout causing a KO, is that an "attack causing the KO" for Focus Band purposes?
A. No it is not. The Pokemon was knocked out due to a game state effect (more damage than HP), not from damage done by the attack. (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q9)

Q. Say I have Rocket's Hideout and a full bench including a Dark Golbat with 50 damage on it. The opponent then plays Narrow Gym. Does the Dark Golbat get KO'd first, or can I scoop him into my hand first due to the Narrow Gym effect?
A. You could scoop the Golbat. It is the difference between being played which is first and in play which would be second. (Nov 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q27)

== ROCKET'S MINEFIELD GYM  (Gym: Challenge Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

Q. If I have a Rocket's Minefield Gym in play and put a Mysterious Fossil into play, do I have to flip for Rocket's Minefield Gym? I would assume not since [Mysterious Fossil] isn't considered a Pokemon until it is in play, not as it comes into play.
A. It counts as one as it is coming into play. So you would flip. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q205)

Q. Can Rocket's Minefield be used against Clefairy Doll and Mysterious fossil?
A. Yes....d'oh. I don't like how that hurts my Aerodactyl deck. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q97)

Q. If Rocket's Minefield is out, and I bring out a Pokémon, and the coin is tails and it gets Knocked Out, does my opponent draw a prize?? (even though its on the bench)?
A. There is no way that scenario would work my friend. No Pokémon only has 20 HP (Myst Fossil and Clefairy Doll do not give the other player prize cards). (Oct 26, 2000 WotC Chat, Q100)

Q. If you use an Erika's Perfume to put basics onto your opponent's bench with Rocket's Minefield Gym in play, does your opponent have to flip a coin to see if they take damage?
A. Nope... Erika's Perfume says YOU put a Pokemon from your opponent's hand. For Rocket's Minefield Gym, THEY have to put it in play themselves. (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. I play Fossil Egg and a Rocket's Minefield Gym is in play. If I flip heads and I put the Kabuto from the deck, I do not flip for Rocket's Minefield...but if I put it on the bench from my hand, I do?
A. That's correct. Rocket's Minefield Gym will only trigger if the Pokemon you're playing comes from your hand, so if you search your deck for a Pokemon and put it into play, you don't flip for Rocket's Minefield Gym. (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30 & Q32)

Q. If I play Challenge with Rocket's Minefield Gym in play, do we have to flip for damage?
A. Nope. [Ed.Note: This is because Challenge puts down basics from the deck, not from your hand.] (Feb 8, 2001 WotC Chat, Q50)

Q. If Rockets Minefield Gym is in play do you have to flip for any Pokémon you put on your bench by playing Revive or Max Revive?
A. It says when you put a pokemon on your bench from your hand, so no. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q227)

== ROCKET'S SECRET EXPERIMENT (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If I flip tails while trying to use Rocket's Secret Experiment. Does that mean I can't play any more trainers for the rest of this turn *and* the entirety of my next turn too? Or is it just until the end of my current turn?
A. You would have to wait until the end of your next turn. (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q41)

Q. Rocket's Secret Experiment says that "if tails you can't play trainers until the end of your next turn". So if I understand correctly that means that I'm done, my opponent plays, and I still can't play trainers until I'm done a second time. Right?
A. Correctomundo. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q20)

== ROCKET'S SNEAK ATTACK (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. For Rocket's Sneak Attack, does the player have to shuffle their deck if there are no trainers in their hand?
A. No. You [only] have to shuffle when you put cards back into your deck. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q4)

== SABRINA (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. If Ditto is Dittoing Sabrina's Alakazam, would I be able to play Sabrina (the trainer) on my Ditto?
A. Yes. (Oct 12, 2000 WotC Chat, Q23)

== SABRINA'S ESP (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. How exactly does Sabrina's ESP work?
A. You attach it to a Pokémon with Sabrina in the name. If any attack uses coin flips, you can flip all of those coins again (basically giving you 2 chances to get the result you want). (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q255)

Q. When using Sabrina's ESP, and re-flipping the coins, can you choose which set of coin flips you wish to use? (the first or the second)
A. You take the second results. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q135)

Q. Can you play more than one Sabrina's ESP on a Sabrina's Pokémon?
A. Sure. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q126)

Q. What is the correct way to handle a Pokemon with Sabrina's ESP attached vs. an opposing Pokemon with the Legendary Body power? Would the Sabrina's ESP coinflip portion work or not?
A. The same as you would normally handle it. The Sabrina's ESP is only affecting the Pokemon's attack that it is attached to. The coinflip portion works as normal. (Jan 24, 2002 WotC Chat, Q43)

Q. Can you play a Sabrina's ESP on a Ditto copying a Sabrina's Kadabra? And if you Gust [of Wind] up a different non-Sabrina Pokémon, could you still use the attached ESP when you attack?
A. Yes, you can and you could still use it. (Nov 2, 2000 WotC Chat, Q303)

Q. If my opponent uses Rocket's Scyther's "Shadow Images" attack, can the Sabrina's ESP trainer card be used to re-flip the Shadow Images check? (providing that my active is a Sabrinaís Pokémon, of course)
A. No, you can only use Sabrina's ESP to reflip coins on _your_ Pokmon's attacks. Not flips required by the defending Pokémon. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q54)

Q. Would Sabrina's ESP also work for Baby Rule flips?
A. No, the flip is in order to attack, it has nothing to do with the actual attack. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q134)

== SABRINA'S GAZE (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. Sabrina's Gaze says, "Each player shuffles his/her hand into his/her deck and draws a new hand of the same number of cards." So if someone has a zero-card hand, they still have to shuffle, right?
A. That's right. Your hand can be 0. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q91)

== SABRINA'S PSYCHIC CONTROL (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Assuming all coin flips are heads...Can you use a Sabrina's Psychic Control to use a Sabrina's Psychic Control in your opponents discard pile and use it to get a card from your own discard pile?
A. No, it wouldn't work. [Ed. Note: it would still come from your opponent's pile] (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q208)

Q. Could you use the Sabrina's Psychic Control to continue using SPCs in your opponents discard pile just to stall?
A. You'd be called for stalling... (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q230)

Q. Seeing as supporters stay in play when you play them, if my opponent plays Sabrina's Psychic Control, He/She couldn't choose a supporter?
A. You can't use Sabrina's Psychic Control to pull a Supporter out of your opponent's discard pile because the Supporter would have to be put in play. (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q430 & Q453)

== SAFFRON CITY GYM (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. I'm playing a Sabrina's Gastly (40 HP) and a Saffron Gym. My Gastly has 5 P energy attached. It also has 8 damage counters. Since Saffron Gym says that you may remove Psychic enery from Sabrina's Pokémon, can you remove all 5 at the same time or do you only get one and Sabrina's Gastly is knocked out.
A. The answer to your question is you would not be able to return all 5 at once. You have to do them one at a time. So as soon has you remove the first one, your pokemon is knocked out. (Aug 23, 2001 WotC Chat, Q6)

== SCOOP UP (Base Set)

Q. Is there a limit to the number of times you can Scoop Up a Pokémon in one turn?
A. No (July 27, 2000 WotC Chat)

== SPROUT TOWER (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Does the Sprout Tower cause colorless Pokémon to be resistant to themselves, ie. hurting themselves in confusion, or Chansey hurting itself in [Double Edge] doing 50 instead of 80.
A. Yes. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q99; Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q73)

Q. If a colorless [Pokemon] is confused, and Sprout Tower is in play, does it still take damage?
A. No. (May 31, 2001 WotC Chat, Q157)

Q. On Sprout Tower, say I have Ditto with 3 energy on it & attack Scyther. Would I do 0 or 30 damage?
A. 30, as Ditto would be a grass Pokémon at that point. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q149)

Q. If Sprout Tower is in effect, does Ditto's attack get reduced damage or not?
A. Only if it's copying a colorless P-mon. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q101)

Q. Does Sprout Tower prevent bench damage also? For example: with Erica's Dragonair's "Blizzard" attack, would it prevent damage to both players' benched Pokémon?
A. Yes it would. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q10)

* Feint attacks (against the Defending Pokemon) and Swift attacks ignore ANY effect attempting to reduce their damage. This means that Murkrow's Feint attack if done against the Defending Pokemon is NOT reduced by Unown D's Darkness Pokemon Power. This also means that a colorless Pokemon using a Swift or Feint attack is NOT reduced by a Sprout Tower either. These attacks cannot have their damage reduced by any game effect. [ED. NOTE: This rule only applies to attacks against the DEFENDING Pokemon; attacks against the bench may have damage reduced by other game effects, etc.] (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. If the Stadium card Sprout Tower is in play, and I play Unown N, would the damage done to my Colorless Pokémon be reduced by 30 or 60?
A. Damage done to your Colorless Pokémon would be reduced by 60 in this case. This is because the damage reduction from Sprout Tower and your Unown Pokémon are reduced separately. (Neo Discovery FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If Sprout Tower & Unown-N (Normal) are both in play, is that a cumulative effect that reduces the damage done by colorless Pokémon by 60? (30+30) And what about self-damage, like Chansey's Double-Edge attack?
A. The damage reduction is cumulative in both cases. (Jun 7, 2001 WotC Chat, Q21)

== STAR PIECE (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Can you use Star Piece to evolve to a higher stage Pokemon like you do with Pokemon Breeder?
A. No, you would have to Evolve it into the next natural stage. (May 15, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1570 & Q1574)

Q. If you have a Star Piece on your pokemon and do an attack that moves your pokemon to your bench (or you do that to your oppenent whatever) I would assume you get the piece's effect... right?
A. Correct, it should say "is on the Bench". (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1643)

Q. If I have a benched Pokemon with Star Piece, and my opponent damages it during their turn so that it activates, since I'm evolving to Stage 1 *between turns* can I then immediately evolve it to Stage 2 during my turn?
A. Yes you can. You check the state of a Pokemon at the start of your turn for evolution puposes. Meaning if it was evolved on the other player's turn or even in between turns, that does not count for the evolving once per YOUR turn. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1622 & Q1650)

== STRENGTH CHARM (Expedition Expansion)

Q. E-Reader says that the card "Strength Charm" does not add damage done to the bench. Is that correct? How should we play the card? This is what it says when you scan the card (I just did it): "Strength Charm is a Pokemon Tool. If the Pokemon Strength Charm is attached to does damage with its attacks, that damage is increased by 10. Damage done to benched Pokemon isn't increased though".
A. Turns out it is a game rule that NOTHING will ever increase the amount of damage done by a bench attack. So we have had to change the previous ruling on this card. Strength Charm does NOT increase damage done to the Bench ONLY to the Defending Pokemon. (Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q210 & Q225 & Q231 & Q253)

Q. So no bench extra for Strength Charm - what about self-damage?
A. Well, self damage would still happen because that does NOT go against any game rules. (Oct 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q237 & Q253)

== SUPER ROD (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. A Magmar evolved from Magby is sent to a discard pile. Would Magmar be able to be taken out when a Super Rod is flipped so you can get an evoled Pokémon?
A. No, because Magmar would be a basic when it's in your discard pile. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q57b)

Q. If I use a Super Rod, but flip heads and don't have an evolution, can I take a basic out of my discard pile?
A. No. (Jun 21, 2001 WotC Chat, Q54)

== SWITCH (Base Set)

Q. Can the Switch card be used to retreat a Paralyzed, Confused, or Sleeping Pokémon?
A. Yes, you can use a Switch card to retreat a Confused, Asleep or Paralyzed Pokémon. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

== THE ROCKET'S TRAP (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. If you play "The Rocket's Trap" and flip heads, can you look at the 3 selected cards before your opponent shuffles them back into his deck?
A. No you may not look at them. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat, Q16)

Q. How should you play The Rocket's Trap if Omanyte's "Clairvoyance" power is active (opponent plays with hand face-up)? Does the opponent have to hide the cards in order for them to be chosen "at random" or can I look at which ones to pick?
A. Turn the cards upside down and randomize them (shuffle) then chose three at random. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q54 & Q104)

Q. For Rocket's Trap, does the player have to shuffle their deck if there are no cards in their hand?
A. Nope. You [only] have to shuffle when you put cards back into your deck. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q4 & Q15)

Q. Any word yet from R&D about how to play The Rocket's Trap with Omanyte's "Clairvoyance" power active?
A. With anything that requires a random discard when the cards are already showing, shuffle your hand or cards face down, and then randomly choose the cards. After, reveal your hand or cards again. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements & Q30 & Q43)

== TICKLING MACHINE (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. With Tickling Machine, can your opponent use the cards, even though they cannot look at them?
A. You're opponent's cards are out of play, so no they can't look at them or use them. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q236)

Q. If your opponent uses Tickling Machine and you draw a card do you have to put that down too or can you play it?
A. No, you can use that card. (Aug 17, 2000 WotC Chat, Q227; Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q264)

Q. If I play Tickling Machine, and get the heads, and then I play Impostor Oak, are the cards that are set aside shuffled back into the deck?
A. Nope. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q31)

Q. If your opponent successfully used Tickling Machine and on your turn you draw a Professor Oak & play it, do you have to discard the cards that were set aside or do you get to keep them since they're currently considered "out of play"?
A. You do not touch them. So you could play Professor Oak without discarding the "out of play" hand of cards. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q22)

Q. If my opponent played Tickle Machine and I drew Imposter Oak's Revenge, can I discard one card from my face down cards to play it? 
A. Nope. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q62)

== TIME CAPSULE (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. If Time Capsule is played and I choose "No Cards", may I shuffle my deck anyway?
A. You only shuffle if you choose ANY cards, zero is not part of any. You don't get to shuffle if you take 0. (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q17 & Q29)

== TIME SHARD (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Can you use special energy cards for the Time Shard tool?
A. Nope. (Feb 27, 2003 WotC Chat, Q182)

== TOWN VOLUNTEERS (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Do you HAVE to pick out exactly 5 cards for Town Volunteers, or can it be UP to 5 or nothing at all?
A. Yup, it works like Time Capsule did. If you have 5 you MUST choose 5, if you have less than 5 you can still play it and choose all of what you do have. You can't CHOOSE to pull less than 5 if you have that many. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q743 & Q774)

== TRASH EXCHANGE (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. When I use Trash Exchange, do I shuffle Trash Exchange back into my deck too?
A. Nope. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q95; Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q48)

== UNDERGROUND EXPEDITION (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. With Underground Expedition; do you grab the bottom cards without turning your deck over (so you couldn't see the 5th card)?
A. Correct. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1641)

== UNDERSEA RUINS (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. If someone uses Undersea ruins to de-evolve one of their evolved pokemon, can they still evolve the same pokemon that turn providing that they didn't evolve that same turn already (there is no text on the card that says they cannot)?
A. The rules say no. You cannot evolve a Pokemon you devolved in a turn, though you can devolve a Pokemon you evolved; that is just the rules. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q301; May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1641)

== VERMILION CITY GYM (Gym: Heroes Expansion)

Q. With Vermilion City Gym in play, do you flip for base damage or gym damage first?
A. I think you'd have to flip for base damage first because Vermilion Gym will only add 10 if the base attack did damage first. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q171)

== WARP POINT (Gym: Challenge Expansion)

Q. Do Trainer Cards like Double Gust or Warp Point have a sequence of effects? Can Pokemon be Knocked Out partway through completing the Trainer card?
A. Yes, these Trainers do have a specific sequence of who does what first. A Pokemon cannot be Knocked Out partway through the Trainer card however. You must complete all of the actions of a Trainer card BEFORE you check for game state checks (to see if a Pokemon is Knocked out for example). (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

ENERGY CARDS

[ Top | Errata | Pokémon Powers | Pokémon Attacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards | Energy Cards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

== ENERGY CARDS IN GENERAL

* A Special Energy Card remains a Special Energy card regardless of what happens to it. A Fire Burned Rainbow Energy may only produce Fire energy but it would still be considered a Special Energy card as well. This is important for Smoochum's Psykiss attack. (Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. Can I attach Energy cards to Benched Pokémon?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

* 'Colorless' doesn't count as a basic energy type. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Can I lay a Double Colorless Energy and another Energy down on the same turn?
A. No, you can only attach 1 Energy card per turn. (2-10-00 & 6-30-00 WotC Chats)

Q. Do you have to add Energy to a Pokémon and attack with your active Pokémon if you have Energies in your hand?
A. No, you don't have to. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

* If a card gives off Energy of any type then that card COUNTS as an Energy card of that type. This means a Buzzap'd Electrode that was chosen to give 2 Grass Energy COUNTS as a Grass Energy Card and can be Energy Transferred by Venusaur's Pokémon Power. As a further example, Energy attached to Ditto COUNTS as all basic Energy types at once. So any Energy type attached to Ditto could ALSO be Energy Transferred by Venusaur's Pokémon Power. (Mar 30 WotC Chat)

* Any card that provides Energy is considered an Energy card of the type it provides. So if you were to Energy Burn a DCE, it counts as a Fire Energy card that provides 2 fire Energy until the end of the turn. So it could be Gathered by Team Rocket Charmander but would only provide 1 coin flip for the Continuous Fireball attack on Dark Charizard. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Dark Charmeleon's Fireball attack requires at least one Energy card attached to be a Fire Energy Card in order to use it. In last week's chat, you gave us some of the rulings from R&D on Energy. Specifically "If a card gives off Energy of any type then that card COUNTS as an Energy card of that type." and used the example that a Grass-Buzzap'd Electrode counts as such and could be moved by Energy Trans. Does this mean then that a Rainbow Energy or Fire-Buzzap'd Electrode is sufficient for powering Dark Charmeleon's attack?
A. Yes. (April 6 WotC Chat)

Q. When energy that has been transformed by a Pokémon or Pokémon Power, such as Ditto or Energy Burn, is transferred to another Pokémon, when does it revert to its original type?
A. That depends how it was changed. For instance, Energy Burns changes energy to Fire energy until the end of the turn. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q153)

Q. For rulings sake, can we say that you must determine the type of energy an energy card provides during the main phase of play (the Pokemon Powers, Retreat, etc. part) of play and can be switched at any time? [Ed.Note: Specifically with regards to Ditto's "Transform" power that affects energy types]
A. There is no such thing as a "main phase" in Pokemon. You cannot change it during the attack sequence is the easiest way to rule it. (Apr 5, 2001 WotC Chat, Q250)

Q. Earlier you had ruled that a Buzzap'd Electrode can only choose to provide the six basic energy forms. With Team Rocket's addition of Rainbow, Full Heal and Potion Energy, has that list been expanded? And if so, how does Electrode handle abilities of special energy cards?
A. When you choose a TYPE it can only be of the 6 basic forms (Fire, Water, etc). You cannot choose the special energies. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q50)

Q. Can players mark the energies in their deck by turning them all upside-down?
A. No, all cards should be facing the same way. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q81)

== BOOST ENERGY (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Can I attach Boost Energy to Ditto while it is copying an evolved Pokemon?
A. You can't. It is not "Evolved" and copying an evolved Pokemon doesn't make it one. (Jan 23, 2003 WotC Chat, Q663; Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q746)

Q. I attach Boost Energy to Light Dragonite which uses its power to keep Boost attached at the end of my turn. Later, Light Dragonite's power is somehow turned off (i.e., Muk's power, Magby's attack, special condition, Light Dragonite is benched). Does the Boost Energy stay attached to Light Dragonite?
A. Preliminary concensus is yes it stays. It says to discard at the end of the turn it was attached. So quite literally it would stay on since it does not meet that criteria [Ed.Note: this is only if the power is disabled *after* the turn on which it was attached]. WOW! That looks like that is the case...the Boost would stay attached. (Jan 23, 2003 WotC Chat, Q655 & Q678 & Q696)

Q. If my opponent has a Light Dragonite active, and I attach a Boost Energy to my active Steelix, for example, would my Boost Energy discard at the end of that turn, or would the opponent's pokepower cover me here?
A. When Light Dragonite is Active, ALL special energies lose their additional effects. So the Boost Energy stays (as long as Miraculous Wind was working at that time). (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q65)

Q. Can an active Light Dragonite pay its retreat cost with an attached Boost Energy (it says you can't on the card, but does that effect/rule/whatever turn off from Light Dragonite)?
A. Yes you can; all text on a Special Energy card is ignored under that Pokemon Power so yes, you could discard it to Retreat it. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q879 & Q898)

Q. I have an evolved Pokemon that attach Boost Energy to that is opposite a Light Dragonite. I KO the Light Dragonite this turn. Does the Boost Energy stay attached or get discarded?
A. It gets discarded as the effect (discard at the end of the turn) takes place AFTER resolving combat (knocking out the Light Dragonite). (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1639)

Q. If I attach a Boost Energy to Forretress (Discovery) and Rapid Spin to the bench and bring up Light Dragonite as my Active, does the Boost stay on Forretress since Light Dragonite is now my active Pokemon before the end of my turn?
A. Yes it would. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1651)

Q. If I attach a Boost energy to Tyranitar Exp, it will provide 3 Dark energies, right? As it is changed into Dark energies, do I have to discard the Boost energy at the end of the turn ?
A. Yes, you would still have to discard it. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1495)

Q. Boost Energy says, "the Pokemon Boost Energy is attached to cannot retreat". But you can still use Switch, DoubleGust, etc. on it, right?
A. Correct. (Mar 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q575)

== BOUNCE ENERGY (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. Should the second sentence of Bounce Energy include the word 'ONLY' ... saying 'you can ONLY attach this card..."
A. Right-o. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1483)

Q. If there is a Harvest Bounty Venusaur in play, can you attach a basic energy, then a Bounce Energy to your active, and return that very same basic back to your hand?
A. Correct. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1532)

Q. How would Bounce Energy work with a Light Dragonite active? Would it still only be able to be put on pokemon that have Basic Energy on them? Would you still need to discard after the attach?
A. The Bounce Energy would still trigger...requiring you to return a basic Energy to your hand from the Pokemon you're attaching to. (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1504)

== CRYSTAL ENERGY (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. Crystal Energy states that it provides Energy of all types (colors) of basic energy attached to the Pokemon Crystal Energy is attached to, does that mean that if you have a fighting energy and fire energy attached to the pokemon it provides one energy
A. Crystal actually just provides one energy from the look at the top right corner of the card, so it would either make one Fire or one Fighting. It's sort of a limited Rainbow Energy. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q753)

Q. So when Crystal Energy is played on a Pokemon with two different types of Energy, you choose what type Crystal provides? If so, can you change what type it provides multiple times during your turn or your opponent's turn?
A. It will count as both types, but only provides one Energy. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q800)

Q. When you attach a Crystal Energy or Rainbow Energy to a pokemon with "Crystal Type" power, do you get to choose what type of Pokemon it becomes? Or does the Pokemon stay colorless because "Crystal Type" only mentions Basic Energy
A. It stays colorless, the Crystal Type Power only works when you attach basic energy cards. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q353)

Q. If you attach a Crystal Energy to a pokemon with an energy card that has been changed somehow (i.e. Porygon2's Energy Converter), does Crystal Energy provide the new converted energy type, or the original energy type listed on the Basic Energy card?
A. It would provide the original type shown on the Basic Energy card. (Mar 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q576)

Q. If I have a Crystal Energy attached and I do an attack that says "discard all Fire energy", if I discard all my Fire energy cards first does the Crystal still have to be discarded too since there are no more Fire cards attached?
A. You have to discard all the Energy at once. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q754)

Q. Is there any way you can think of (other than Tyranitar's Dark Aura) that a Crystal Energy card can be used to provide Darkness or Metal energy?
A. Not that I know of, yet. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q755)

Q. Does Crystal Energy copy the converted energy type if a card has been Porygon2'd? ["Energy Converter" pokemon power]
A. Read what Crystal says, it says it provides 1 Energy of all Types of BASIC Energy cards attached to the Pokemon. This is AGAIN the HO-OH ruling. Changing what type of energy a BASIC energy card provides DOES make it count as a different type of energy card. Which is why you would discard a Rainbow energy when something says discard all fire energy. BUT if it said discard all BASIC fire energy, you would NOT discard a Rainbow energy. Crystal works the same way. It only provides the type of energy from the ACTUAL PHYSICAL BASIC energy cards that are there; NOT what they may be changed to providing! (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q777)

Q. What would happen to a Crystal Energy on Lanturn using Ion Coating, since it provides the type of energy of the actual card, not what it has been turned into?
A. It looks at what the actual basic energy cards are, NOT what they are providing. So whether you Energy Burn them or use Ion Coating, look at what the actual basic energy card is! This is just like that really annoying Ho-Oh ruling. (Feb 13, 2003 WotC Chat, Q990)

Q. If I have a Crystal Energy on Expedition Tyranitar, does "Dark Aura" change the Crystal Energy to provide Darkness Energy only, or does it also still provide the basic types that are currently attached to the Tyranitar?
A. Tyranitar states "All Energy attached to Tyranitar is Darkness Energy instead of its normal type". This means that attached cards ONLY provide Darkness Energy while this Poke-BODY is in effect. (Apr 24, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1288)

== DARKNESS (Neo: Genesis / Expedition Expansion)& METAL ENERGY (Neo: Genesis Expansion) [See Also: Errata]

* The text on Darkness energy in the Expedition set is in error, please continue to play the card as written in the Neo Genesis text. Wizards of the Coast will reissue the Darkness energy with corrected text (same as the Neo Genesis version) in the upcoming Aquapolis release. Just play Darkness Energy exactly how we've always played it. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat Announcements)

* This [Metal Energy] card was incorrectly translated in this [Expedition] set. Just like the Darkness Energy, play all Metal Energy as it was written in Neo Genesis. This card will be reissued with corrected text in Aquapolis. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 14)

Q. Darkness and Metal will be basic energy types, and yet not basic energy cards? Is that what you're saying?
A. Yup. They are types of energy (like colorless or grass and fire are) but their energy cards are non-basic cards with extra abilities like Full Heal or Potion energies. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q675)

Q. In the Neo Rules guide, it says to factor in Energy Card Effects of the Attacking Pokémon in step (E). On the Metal Energy Card it says to reduce Damage by 10 (if the Pokémon is not Metal) before Weakness and Resistance (which are listed as steps C & D). Does the card text override the normal order, is it in error or am I missing something here?
A. The rule book is in error on that. Darkness energy IS figured out in Step E (after weakness and resistance) but the Metal energy's effects DO have to be resolved BEFORE step E obviously. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q27)

Q. If a pokemon with dark energy attacks a pokemon with metal energy, which applies first? the metal or the dark?
A. Effects on the attacking Pokemon are figured first. [Ed.Note: So it does not matter who has which energy; the attacker's effects are always calculated first.] (Aug 16, 2001 WotC Chat, Q11)

Q. If you have a Metal and a Darkness Energy attached to the dark Houndour, does it do 10 or 0 damage [for its "Bite" attack]?
A. 0, the Metal effect is applied first (before Weakness and Resistance), Darkness is applied second (after Weakness and Resistance). (Aug 16, 2001 WotC Chat, Q47)

Q. Are the two new Energy types, Darkness and Metal, considered basic Energy cards?
A. No. Darkness and Metal Energy cards are non-basic Energy types, as they have additional effects, like Potion Energy or Full Heal Energy. Any Energy card that provides more than just one type of basic Energy is considered non-basic Energy. (Neo Genesis FAQ, WotC Website)

* Darkness Energy will only add extra damage if you attack the Defending Pokémon w/ the attack. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q9 & Q12)

Q. Does the +10 damage from Darkness energy get applied if a Pokemon Power (like Elekid's Playful Punch or Dark Gyarados' Final Beam) damages the opponent?
A. The extra damage will only be applied to _attacks_. Some Pokemon Powers say that they attack the active back (like R. Hitmochan), in that case it will. It won't be applied to Playful Punch damage. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q15b)

Q. If I have more than one Darkness or Metal Energy attached to a pokemon, are the effects cumulative? (i.e. two will cause/prevent 20 extra damage, three will cause/prevent 30, etc.)
A. Yes they are. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q60; Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. If you have a Metal Energy attached and that Pokémon does an attack with only 10 damage, would an attached Plus Power be calculated before or after the Metal Energy "penalty"? What would the end total damage be (10 or zero)?
A. Metal energy effect would be applied first...this is covered in the Neo Rulebook. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q7)

Q. If you have a Darkness Energy attached, and that Pokémon does an attack with no damage (i.e. TR Oddish's SleepPowder), does the Darkness Energy still add +10 to the damage? If so would then an attached Plus Power also cause an additional +10 too?
A. Check the wording...it's similar to Plus Power in that it will only do extra if it does damage in the first place. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q10)

Q. It says on the Darkness card "....At the end of every turn, place..." Wouldn't that mean that it's NOT "between turns"? A. As per the Pokemon Company, Darkness takes place between turns, like Char and Poison do....as per the rulebook. (Aug 30, 2001 WotC Chat, Q119 & Q128)

Q. If I have a Dark Energy on Ditto and its copying a dark Pokémon, would it take the penalty damage?
A. No, it wouldn't. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q63)

Q. If I have a Metal Energy attached to a Metal Pokémon on my bench & my opponent's attack would do 10 damage to each of my Benched Pokémon then the metal energy would negate that damage right?
A. Correct. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q156 & Q220)

Q. If you attached Metal Energy to an Erika's Dratini, would you apply the Pokémon Power first or the Metal Energy?
A. The metal energy first (like a trainer). Watch out when using Metal on Erika's Dratini though; the Metal won't reduce the 10 damage to zero unless that's the entire amount done. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q5 & Q144)

* As stated in the Neo rulebook "you put damage counters on an any Poisoned Pokémon" after each player's turn. So Poison does NOT do damage, it adds damage counters. Therefore, Poison damage is NOT prevented by the Metal Energy card. The same behavior applies for Darkness Energy recoil damage and Char damage too since they "place counters" rather than "do damage. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements & Q3 & Q14 & Q92)

Q. Will a Metal Energy prevent Poison on a non-Metal Pokémon?
A. No. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q118)

Q. Does Metal Energy reduce any damage due to a failed confusion check? And if so, is the damage reduced by 10 if it's steel, but 20 if it's non-steel (-10 for first sentence plus another -10 for second sentence on the Metal Energy card)?
A. Yes it does and correct. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q12)

Q. Does Metal Energy reduce any self-damage from Darkness Energy if both are attached to the same Pokémon? (I think it should not because the Darkness Energy text says to "put 1 damage counter" which is not the same as "doing damage")
A. It doesn't reduce the self-damage for the very reason you state there. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat, Q13)

Q. Can you use Energy Retrieval or Nightly Garbage Run for a Darkness Energy card?
A. No you can't (they are not basic energy) but you CAN try and use Energy Charge to do so (needs a flip though). (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q20a)

Q. Does Metal Energy reduce damage done by Digger?
A. Yup, [because] Digger does damage. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If a Pokémon that does bench damage like Dark Raichu,and it ends up being 10 damage to the bench, would the Metal energy both reduce the attack to just 20 damage and the bench damage is reduced to zero?
A. Correct. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q133)

Q. If I attack with Arcanine's "Take Down" and I have a Metal Energy attached, will the self inflicted damage be 20? If I have 2 Metal Energy attached, will the self inflicted damage be 10?
A. That is correct, it will reduce the damage you do has well has the damage you take. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q25)

// metal section

Q. Would it be safe to generalize that if a non-metal pokemon has a Metal Energy attached to it, any self-inflicted attack damage is reduced by 20 (-10 for each sentence on the card)?
A. Correct. (Feb 1, 2001 WotC Chat, Q73)

Q. Say Mewtwo has 1 Metal Energy on him and is confused. Confusion does 20, but Metal reduces it by 10 (before calculating Weakness & Resistance), then it is doubled to 20 (for self-weakness) and then Metal protects against 10, meaning that Mewtwo does 10 damage to itself (-30 net damage). Right?
A. Correct -o- mundo! (Apr 12, 2001 WotC Chat, Q1)

== DOUBLE COLORLESS ENERGY (Base Set)

Q. Master Trainer Guest14 here seems to think that a DCE is a Trainer card that acts as an energy, as opposed to an energy card in it's own right. Could you clarify that it is not a Trainer Card for him/her?
A. Sure, the Double Colorless Energy (DCE from now on) counts as an energy card just not a 'basic' energy card. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q68)

Q. Let's say my opponent has a WEEDLE with a double colorless energy. Would Light Golduck's Core Blast attack do 50 damage?
A. Yes it would. DCE is considered a Special Energy even though it isn't written on the card. (May 2, 2002 WotC Chat, Q141)

* Any card that provides Energy is considered an Energy card of the type it provides. So if you were to Energy Burn a DCE, it counts as a Fire Energy card that provides 2 fire Energy until the end of the turn. So it could be Gathered by Team Rocket Charmander but would only provide 1 coin flip for the Continuous Fireball attack on Dark Charizard. (Jul 6, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

== FULL HEAL ENERGY (Team Rocket Expansion)

Q. Should the LC Full Heal Energy be played as written, or as it is written in the Master Card Reference? The card states Special Conditions, the Card Reference states Poisoned, Confused, and Sleep.
A. Play it as the card is written, we will have the card refernce updated. (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q295)

Q. If Promo Mewtwo Absorbs a Full Heal Energy, does Poison get off?
A. Nope, its Full Heal effect only works from your hand. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q258)

Q. What happens if you attach a Full Heal Energy card to a Pokemon that had Crobat's "Triggered Poison" done to it last turn?
A. Once again, these effects happen at the same time so the Active Player's effect takes place first. In this case it means that the Pokemon in this example would end up Poisoned. [Ed.Note: But it would be cured of any other Special Conditions prior to becoming poisoned.] (Mar 6, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update; Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q550)

== MIRACLE ENERGY (Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Can a Miracle Energy count as say, 1 fire & 1 electric?
A. Yup. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q4)

Q. If Miracle Energy is attached to a Light Pokemon and then somehow moved to another Pokemon, will it provide that Pokemon with 2 Basic Energy? So, a Miracle Energy attached to a Shining Celebi could be Energy Trans'd by Venusaur to any other Grass Pokemon?
A. Yup. (Mar 7, 2002 WotC Chat, Q621 & Q635)

Q. If you attached a Miracle Energy to Light Dragonite while he is active would it provide a single colorless and would you still have to discard it at the end of your turn?
A. No, it would provide 2 colorless (as the top of the card shows 2 energy sysmbols, like DCE).

* A correction. A Miracle Energy card WILL stay in play while a Light Dragonite and its Miraculous Wind Pokemon power is active. If at the end of any turn the Miraculous Wind Pokemon power is NOT active then the Miraculous Energy is still discarded as normal. (Mar 14, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Q2)

== RAINBOW ENERGY (Team Rocket Expansion; Aquapolis Expansion; Promo)

* You may have noticed that Rainbow Energy in Aquapolis is slightly different as it says place a damage counter instead of do 10 damage. That is now how Rainbow energy is to be played. This matches up with the Japanese rules as well. The only effect I know that may change is attaching Rainbow energy to a Pokemon that already had a Metal Energy on it. Now the Metal WILL NOT prevent that damage counter placement. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat Announcements)

* Rainbow energy is NEVER considered a basic energy card. EVER! Whether in play or not. So this means that attaching a Rainbow energy to a colorless Ho-oh does NOT add to the amount of damage done! (Oct 18, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. When you attach a Crystal Energy or Rainbow Energy to a pokemon with "Crystal Type" power, do you get to choose what type of Pokemon it becomes? Or does the Pokemon stay colorless because "Crystal Type" only mentions Basic Energy
A. It stays colorless, the Crystal Type Power only works when you attach basic energy cards. (Mar 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q353)

Q. How do you use the Rainbow Energy Card?
A. For Rainbow Energy, when you attach this energy to a Pokémon (from your hand), that Pokémon takes 10 points of damage. The Rainbow Energy now counts as all basic Energy types at the same time (Grass, Fire, Water, Psychic, Lightning, and Fighting). (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q60)

Q. Can you have more then 4-rainbow energies since it changes into a basic energy?
A. No, since it's not a basic energy you can only use 4 in a deck. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q124)

Q. When in play, does Rainbow Energy counts as a Basic Energy Card or a Special Energy Card? Rainbow Energy says that "it does not count as Basic Energy when not in play"; it does not, however, say that it does count as Basic Energy when it is in play. So does it?
A. NEVER!!! ...it is always considered to be a special energy, but it will produce any type of basic. It doesn't change to a basic itself. It never counts as a basic energy card as it isn't one. However, for attack and Pokemon power purposes, any card that provides energy of a certain type counts as an energy card of that type (not basic though). (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q8 & Q18 & Q55)

Q. If an attack says to discard a specific type of energy card to use that attack, can a Rainbow Energy be used to pay that cost? There a few new cards that that would be important to based on the wordings.
A. Yes, you can. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. When Rainbow Energy comes into play it deals 10 damage to the Pokémon it's attached to. Does this 10 damage take place the one time it comes into play, or take place every turn?
A. No...you just take 10 damage when it comes from your hand and you put it on...it does no damage afterwards. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q52)

Q. About Rainbow Energy, it does 10 damage when initially attached, but not when moved around thanks to Pokémon Powers, right?
A. Correct. It only does the damage when it's played from your hand. (June 15, 2000 WotC Chat, Q225)

Q. When playing a Rainbow Energy on a Pokémon, will Mr. Mime's Invisible Wall prevent that damage or not?
A. No...it would not. (June 1, 2000 WotC Chat, Q114)

Q. If I put Defender on my active Pokémon, then I put a Rainbow Energy on the Pokémon, does the Defender prevent the damage?
A. Nope. Defender only prevents damage from attacks only. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q265)

Q. If Mewtwo "Energy Absorbs" a Rainbow Energy and then Venusaur "Energy Trans" it, does the receiving Pokémon take damage?
A. Nope, it only does the damage when you play the card from your hand. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. Can you Energy Trans a Rainbow Energy?
A. Sure. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q228)

Q. Can you Rain Dance Rainbow Energy?
A. No. Because it does not count as any type while in your hand. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q247)

Q. Can movie promo Pikachu use Recharge to get a Rainbow Energy from the deck, or does it have to be a basic Electric Energy card? (If Rainbow Energy is OK, I assume it does not cause damage, since it is not played from the hand?)
A. That would not work. Rainbow Energy only counts as all-basic energy types WHILE IN PLAY. This is not the case when it is in the deck. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q6)

Q. If I have two Rainbow energy attached to a Dark Charizard and I flip two heads, can I discard the Rainbow Energy or do I have to have Fire Energy cards?
A. You could discard the Rainbow Energy as they do count as all basic energy types. (June 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q227)

Q. Dark Charmeleon's attack states that the attack may only be used if any Fire Energy is attached. Does this mean that Rainbow energy doesn't work? If Rainbow Energy works, then what is the card referring to?
A. Rainbow energy can count as fire energy. It is worded that way so the other player could NOT Metronome that attack without fire energy (or a rainbow energy) being attached to the Clefable/Clefairy. (June 29, 2000 WotC Chat, Q361 & Q390)

Q. When Neo comes out, will Rainbow Energy count as Darkness and Metal energy???
A. For the purposes of paying the cost of an attack, yes. Though the additional effects will not be provided. (Nov 9, 2000 WotC Chat, Q669)

Q. Say Ditto is facing a Sneasel, it's your Ditto and you are attaching a Rainbow Energy to Ditto and you want it to count as Dark, there is a Ecogym in play. If your opponent Energy Removal's the Rainbow, do you get the Rainbow Energy back into your hand?
A. Yup, Rainbow energy is a non-colorless energy (it CAN'T count as colorless ever). (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q12a)

Q. In a previous chat, it was stated that Rainbow Energy cannot provide colorless energy. Does this mean that if you have a Sneasel with 1 Rainbow Energy attached, you cannot do Fury Swipes?
A. No, any energy can be used to PAY for a colorless energy cost (as per the rules). You just cannot choose the Rainbow to provide a colorless energy (like a DCE does). (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q53)

== RECYCLE ENERGY (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Does "Recycle Energy" go back into your hand if you discard it as part of a retreat cost? Does it go back into your hand if it's attached to a Pokémon that gets knocked out?
A. Yes in both cases. Don't be discarding it for Item Finder and expecting to get it back though... (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q16)

Q. Describe "In Play" (as in Recycle Energy) for all the Trainers out there.
A. Easiest way to describe that would be any card that has been placed on the table for use in game. In other words, cards in your hand and cards in your discard pile or library are *not* in play. (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q79)

Q. Does Recycle Energy go back into your hand if it is discarded from Wildfire?
A. Yes it would BUT wildfire only has you discard fire energy so you would have had to changed it into that somehow. [Ed. Note: This is from the attacker's perspective, not the defender's.] (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q81)

== RETRO ENERGY (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. If you remove 2 damage counters with Retro Engery do you [have to] devolve since it seems linked to each other.
A. It is poorly worded isn't it. Since every other of the new special energies has an effect that you MUST do, I will say for tournament purposes that you MUST devolve the Pokemon it is attached to (if it is possible). The "you may" has to do with how much damage is removed (if any). (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1634)

Q. One can not re-evolve a Pokémon on the same turn it is devolved using Retro Energy, correct?
A. Correct. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1626)

Q. If I Harvest Bounty two Retro Energies... I can remove 4 damage counters and devolve twice...
A. Correct. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1631 & Q1644 & Q1669)

Q. Let's say you have a stage one pokemon active, and you use Harvest Bounty Venusaur to attach two Retro Energy, the first one devolves into the basic but what happens to the second one? It says it can only be attached to an evolution pokemon.
A. You are checking to see if it is being attached to an evolved Pokemon when you bring them from your hand. Harvest Bounty has you bring two out at the same time. Their effects stack up and are resolved one at a time. The first one lets you take off 2 damage and you must devolve it. The second one (which was going to be attached to an evolved Pokemon - remember it is when you play the card, not when it resolves) allows you to remove 2 damage, and then tries to devolve the Pokemon, which can't. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1673)

Q. If I use Harvest Bounty to attach 2 Retro Energies to my Kingdra with 8 damage counters, does the Seadra (60 HP) stage get knocked out, or does it make it to the Horsea stage (50HP)?
A. You must resolve each card one at a time. So it would be Knocked out after the first one resolves. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1674)

Q. If I had a Light Dragonite active and I play a Retro Energy on my evolved Scizor on the bench, does it do anything to scizor? And if yes, then what? My friend argues that the "remove two damage counters" is not an effect and the devolve is so dragonite
A. Since they are "when you play this card from your hand" effects, they trigger before they are removed by the active Light Dragonite. (May 22, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1662)

== WARP ENERGY (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. If an attack stops a Pokemon from being moved out of the active spot by Retreating, Trainers or Powers, will Warp Energy allow you to move it?
A. Stuff like Jaw Clamp, you mean? That attack itself doesn't mention the effect of an Energy card. So I believe that Warp Energy would still work in that case. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q867)

Q. What happens if I have a Harvest Bounty Venusaur in play and I attach a Warp Energy to my active. Do I get to attach a second energy even though it is no longer active?
A. If your Venusaur is active and your first energy is a Warp Energy which causes your Venusaur to go to the bench, then you don't get to attach the other energy. You would resolve the first one and then it would not be active, so you would not attach the second. Because you cannot attach them at the same time (do to dueling effects), they are done in a sequence. You interrupt the sequence when you attach a Warp Energy first. (May 29, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1697 & Q1713; Jun 5, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1815 & Q1822)

GENERAL GAMEPLAY

[ Top | Errata | Pokémon Powers | Pokémon Attacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards | Energy Cards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

== ATTACKING

* ANY Pokemon attack or Power that can only be used once per turn, is reset if that Pokemon evolves or devolves or leaves play and that power or attack could be used again if that Pokemon came into play again that same turn. The "can't use this attack next turn" sets up a status effect that can be ended through the normal means: benching, leaving play, evolving or devolving. In each of these cases it is no longer the same Pokemon and so it gets around the once per turn or not usuable next turn effects. With Pokemon Powers though, you can't get around the once per turn by benching. Benching a Pokemon does NOT get around these effects as they are still the same Pokemon and still in play. [Ed.Note: This does not apply to Tentacool Lv.10 (Fossil) which specifically states in the text of the power that it cannot be used on the same turn it comes into play.] (Sep 27, 2001 WotC Chat, after-Q53; Feb 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18; May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q266)

Q. What's the exact definition of "Defending Pokémon"?
A. It is your opponent's Active Pokemon when you are attacking. (Jul 19, 2001 WotC Chat, Q40)

Q. Can I attack with a Pokémon if I just played it?
A. Yes, as long as it's your Active Pokémon (only your Active Pokémon can attack) and as long as it has the required amount of Energy for the attack. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. When I attack, do I discard the Energy card(s) I used to power the attack?
A. Energy is not used up by an attack. Unless that attack specifically says to discard an Energy, it stays attached to the Pokémon. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Moves that have a Pokémon's own name in the attack, like Scyther's Swords Dance, does it mean ALL Scythers you have in play at the moment? Or does it only affect the Scyther that used it?
A. Those particular attacks only affect the Pokémon that used it, not all Pokémon of the same name. (Jan 20 WotC Chat)

Q. Do you have to attack if you have enough Energy cards attached to your Pokémon?
A. No, you always have the choice whether to attack on your turn or not. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. I have a question. Let's say a Charmander is battling a Bulbasaur. If Charmander uses scratch does that do 20 damage? Or is it 10 damage since the energy needed is colorless?
A. It does 20. It's the type of Pokémon that affects Weakness and Resistance, NOT the type of energy that the attack uses. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q119)

Q. Say you are using a Golduck and you use his Psybeam would this be a Psychic or Water attack?
A. Water attack as Psyduck is a water Pokémon. [Ed. Note: This answer can be generalized further: When a Pokémon attacks, that attack is considered to be an attack of that Pokémon's type; it's not dependent on the energy requirement.] (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q76)

Q. When a card's attack "does damage to itself", is this damage considered to be an ATTACK against the Defending Pokémon? Let's say you had an Electabuzz versus a Team Rocket Porygon and Team Rocket Porygon switched Electabuzz's Weakness to Lightning. You Thunderpunched with Electabuzz and flipped tails. Would Electabuzz receive 10 or 20 damage? Furthermore, would Defender prevent this damage? (Defender prevents damage from attacks).
A1. Well, assuming it was an attack that did damage to itself then defender would help with that damage. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q4)
A2. 20, it is considered an attack. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q81)

Q. No matter what attack is done, you're always going to be placing damage counters on the Defending Pokémon. Can you explain further please?
A. If an attack states it does damage, then that is damage. If it states placing damage counters then it is counters for the purposes of Brock's Rhydon, Weakness, etc. So attacks that place damage counters (like Sabrina's Golduck in Challenge) are NOT affected by Weakness, Defender, etc. Just like moving counters with Damage Swap or Curse isn't affected either. For instance, Rocket's Mewtwo's Juxtapose attack states: Flip a coin, if heads switch the number of damage counters on R. Mewtwo with those of the Defending Pokémon. This is not [considered as] damage. (Sep 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q56)

Q. If you have a Pokémon which would take 10 recoil damage for each energy of a particular type (say, lightning), would it receive the recoil damage for any attached Rainbow Energy? and how much would it take for a Buzzap'd Electrode?
A. Rainbow energy yes, the buzzaped electrode depends on what type of energy you chose when you buzzap'ed it. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q7)

Q. During your opponent's turn, if you used Counter, Crosscounter, etc. do you follow every step in the attack phase (Including relevant trainers, other powers, confusion checks, etc.)? This is to clarify debate over these types of attacks.
A. If it is an attack, you must go through the sequence. If it just does damage, you do not. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q83)

Q. Based on the new templating for Baby Rule (i.e. Tyrogue), must the attacker announce WHICH attack they're going to attempt prior to the flip?
A. Yes, you must state which attack first. (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. Attacks like Crosscutter and Counter [ed. note: and Mirror Shell] have effects that trigger when your opponent attacks, but they are not considered actual attacks (i.e. won't trigger a Focus Band). Is a Baby flip required for those attack back effects if a Baby's attack triggers them?
A. Nope, they [Ed.Note: the "recoil effects"] aren't actual attacks so they don't trigger the baby rule flip. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q92)

* It has been ruled that W/R does not apply to the bench unless specificly mandated by the card. Period. That is a meta-game rule. It was never intended that the W/R would apply to the bench unless specificly stated. Yes we do know that some Pokemon say not to apply W/R to the Bench. [But] if it doesn't say then you wouldn't apply Weakness and Resistance (the default for benched Pokemon is to NOT apply Weakness and Resistance). This has been verified. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements & Q44)

Q. If you have an attack like Sabrina's Alakazam's "Mega Burn" or Promo Scyther's "Slashing Strike" that says "you can't use this attack next turn", would you be able to use it next turn if on this turn you failed the Baby Rule flip?
A. Yes, because you don't actually attack when you fail the baby flip. [Ed.Note: Therefore, the condition saying you can't use the attack on the next turn is never invoked.] (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q7)

Q. I heard somewhere that some of the LC [Legendary Collection] cards have different attacks to the original cards - and if the original cards are used in a deck you have to use the LC attacks - is this true?
A. Yes, you would have to use the revised wording of the attack if it has changed. To my knowledge, the only Pokemon that this really matter on are Fire Pokemon with the 'Discard one 'Fire' energy or this attack does nothing' text. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q42)

Q. If the text is different, wouldn't we have to have a LC print of the card if we were using it in a DCI sactioned tournament?
A. No, but you are responsible for knowing the current wording if you are using an older version of the card. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q45)

Q. Are attacks that can only be viewed on the E-Card reader tournament legal?
A. Nope, the e-reader technology is fun but not tournament legal. It's too distracting to other players and hard to see by both players at the same time. (Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q293 & Q300)

== BENCH

Q. Dark Dragonite's Pokémon Power does not have the "you cannot use this Power if your bench is already full" text like most other Bench-building powers and attacks do. Does this mean that by using Dark Dragonite you can bypass the normal five-Pokémon limit to your bench?
A. C'mon. That's silly. There isn't room to put the reminder text on every single card. The rule is the bench can only have 5 max (EVER). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q43)

== CARDS IN GENERAL

Q. Are Promos legal in tourney and league play?
A. Promo cards are legal in tourney and league play (English promo cards that is). (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. What are the rules on foreign cards in DCI play?
A. You can use cards that are copies of already released English cards only. And you must have at least one English copy with you for translation purposes.[9/6-Ed. note: According to the Pokemon Floor Rules 2002-3 (202) Card interpretation will be based on an upcoming Pokemon Tounrament Card Reference List, Local language equivalents are no longer required outside of the deck] (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. Are the new E3 Pichu and Hoppip legal for play?
A. Nope. Not made by us. (May 30, 2002 WotC Chat, Q365)

Q. When the text for a previously released card changes in a new set, how are the older cards played?
A. As with other games that we make, you will need to start using the new text as soon as the set is released. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q185)

Q. What is a marked card?
A. A card that you can tell what it is by a glance (without seeing the front). It might have a different back, be scracthed or written on in some way, be more worn out than the other cards, etc." (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q186)

Q. Can people have more then one card in a sleeve, I have caught people trying to cheat this way. Will you get DQ'ed for it ?
A. Having 2 cards in a sleeve counts as a marked card. There are rules and punishments for this infraction listed on the tournament floor rules. (Jun 14, 2001 WotC Chat, Q72)

Q. Can bilingual Exeggutor (a Japanese promo with English words on it) be used in a DCI tournament?
A. No, sorry it couldn't. The rule is, if we didn't release it, then it cannot be used in league or DCI tournaments with the exception of non-English version of cards we already released in English. (Mar 16 WotC Chat)

Q. Question regarding the bilingual Exeggutor. Is it allowed to be in tournament decks? If i can recall correctly, DCI rules state that if a Pokémon card has been PRODUCED by WotC in English are only allowed to be in decks. The bilingual Exeggutor was produced by Media Factory so it WOULDN'T be allowed in tournament decks then, right?
A. If it wasn't produced by Wizards, it would not be legal. I have not seen one with my own eyes, so I can't tell you for sure who produced it. (July 20, 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. Is the policy with German Pokémon cards the same with Japanese cards -- you needs an English translation on hand if wished to use them in a tourney?
A. Yes. [9/6-Ed. note: According to the Pokemon Floor Rules 2002-3 (202) Card interpretation will be based on an upcoming Pokemon Tounrament Card Reference List, Local language equivalents are no longer required outside of the deck] (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. If a person has Japanese Dark Vileplumes in his deck, and has a non-holo English Dark Vileplume (the fighting weakness), must he use the Japanese card as with fighting weakness only, or can he choose before the game what it is? What about Slowking? If you have a Japanese Slowing in your deck, and an American one for translation, because of the slight difference in interpretation, will the English translation be used??
A. You would play the card as is...in other words, use the weakness listed on the Japanese Dark Vileplume. Use your english card to reference any other text on the card. Even I can tell what the Weakness is on that Japanese card. (May 10, 2001 WotC Chat, Q91)

Q. Is Wizards seriously going to allow Birthday Pikachu to be openly used in tournaments? It is very easy to lie about a birthday.
A. It won't ever be tournament legal as you would have to provide identification to prove it was your birthday. Unwieldy in a timed environment. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q5; Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q145)

Q. Will the English Birthday Pikachu be legal?
A. It won't ever be tournament legal as you would have to provide identification to prove it was your birthday. Unwieldy in a timed environment. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q5)

Q. Why doesn't the Energy Search card tell you to show the card to your opponent?
A. All moves in the Pokémon game are public knowledge. You do not hide what you are doing. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. What is an opaque card sleeve?
A. An opaque card sleeve is one that has a backing you cannot see through...common opaque [sleeves] are red and/or black (7-27-00 WotC Chat)

Q. Can the jumbo card with the 3 legendary birds be played (by using it as a reference card and then using a proxy card in your deck)?
A. No, that's not legal for tournaments. (7-27-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If you played "Good Manners", could you get a Baby Pokémon out of your deck? Same for Challenge, etc....?
A. That's right. Treat the babies as basics for those cards. (Jan 25, 2001 WotC Chat, Q36)

Q. Does the two versions of Dark Persian count as the same card? [Ed.Note: The version from the Team Rocket & Legendary Collection expansions have the same level and statistics as the Nintendo Power Promo #17 version, but one of the attacks has a different name ("Fascinate" vs. "Tempt") and the artwork is different.]
A. These are conisdered the same card. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 2)

== DECKS

Q. Is there a minimum requirement of how many Basic Pokémon must be in your deck?
A. There is no minimum. (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q85)

Q. Can I have say 4 Blaine's Arcanine and four regular Arcanine?
A. In one deck? Sure, they have different names. (Jun 22, 2000 WotC Chat, Q10)

Q. Are you allowed to have as many DCE as you want in a deck like normal Energy or only four like any other card?
A. Only 4 maximum, it is NOT a basic Energy card (the only type you can have more than 4 of in your deck). (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. Can you have more than 4 Metal energy cards in a deck legally?
A. No. [Ed. Note: Same rule applies to Darkness Energy too.] (Dec 21, 2000 WotC Chat, Q253)

Q. Is it legal to have a deck with absolutely no Pokémon so that you Mulligan and the opponent will draw cards until he loses?
A. It is legal, but the opponent has the choice of drawing 2 extra cards, he does not have to. So what would be the point? The game would never start. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

* You can have 4 Charizards AND 4 Dark Charizards in the same deck as they have different names. The rule is that you can only 4 of a particular named card. This also means you could have 4 Porygon AND 4 Cool Porygon in the same deck for the same reason. (Apr 13 Announcements WotC Chat)

Q. Can I have an English Dark Blastoise on the side while having a water energy with Dark Blastoise written on it in my deck and play it in a tournament?
A. No, you'll have to use the Dark Blastoise. (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q98)

Q. I have 3 Porygons in a deck, including 1 Japanese one. Can I use the deck, using a scanned picture of one of the American ones as a translation (since I have no more actual American Porygons?)
A. Technically no, you must have a copy of the English card available at all times for viewing (if it's in your deck it might not be up yet). (May 4, 2000 WotC Chat, Q126)

Q. Can you play 4 English cards and 4 Japanese cards that do the same thing if the name does not translate directly? Like, Brock has a different name in Japanese ["Takeshi"].
A. No you could not, they are the same card. (Mar 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q275)

Q. If using foreign language cards, do you need an English copy for each card you use? Say if I use four Japanese Item Finders, do I need four English Item Finders or just one?
A. Just one would be fine. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q211)

* Any misprints that DON'T effect game play (such as Arbok's 23000 copyright, Rapidash missing the word "length", and the non-foil Dark FDragonite incorrectly numbered as 5out of 82, and Dark Raichu's incorrect "Put Raichu on Pikachu" instead of Dark Raichu) will all be corrected in future print runs. The misprints that DO affect game play (The non-foil Dark Vileplume having Fighting as its Weakness and Grimer having a Poison Gas attack that puts the other Pokémon Asleep) will NOT be corrected. The game play effect misprints will be played as is, on the cards. When playing in an English League or Tournament, you will play these cards as is. If playing in an International event, then the cards will be played, as they originally should have been. This will be announced at those events beforehand. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Announcement)

Q. If I enter a tournament with a Dark Vileplume deck, do I have to specify which type of Dark Vileplume it is? If not, can I switch them out mid-tournament???
A. No. You cannot switch any cards. This includes different print versions of the same card. (May 16, 2002 WotC Chat, Q133)

Q. Is Ancient Mew a game playable card?
A. Yes, as long as it is in an opaque back cardsleeve. (Ancient Mew FAQ, WotC Website, Q2)

Q. Does "Ancient" Mew count as a Mew for the purposes of having four Mews in your deck?
A. Yes. (7-27-00 WotC Chat)

Q. Could you please name all English cards that are "unusable" in tourneys, if any?
A. Ancient Mew, B-day Pikachu and the oversized promo cards. (Dec 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q139)

Q. With the WHITE Ultra-Pro card sleeves you can clearly see the backs of Japanese Pokemon cards, yet a player defiantly asserted that those white sleeves could still be used because "Ultra-Pro card sleeves are DCI-approved". Your response?
A. If you can see through the sleeve easily they are not allowed [in sanctioned play], period. (Mar 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q278)

== DISCARD PILE

Q. Some players freely examine their own discard pile (or their opponent's) whenever they want. Is this allowed? Or can a discard pile only be examined when you have official business there (like after playing Item Finder).
A. Discard piles are open knowledge (either player could look through them). (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q97)

Q. During a game is it legal to count your Discard pile? Is it also legal to count your deck as long as you do not look at the cards front?
A. Sure, though if you do it too often during a timed tournament it could be deemed stalling. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat, Q154)

== EVOLVING

Q. How do I evolve a Pokémon?
A. You just play the evolved version of that Pokémon on top of the Pokémon you want to evolve. In other words, you have to have the unevolved version already on the table and the evolved version in your hand, and then you just put the evolved version on top of the unevolved version. You can evolve an Active or a Benched Pokémon. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. So, after reading Research and Development's ruling from last week, the only way a Pokémon can evolve on the first turn is through either Eevee's Chain Reaction or Team Rocket Magikarp's Rapid Evolution? Otherwise, the normal "Pokémon must be in play for at least one turn" is still in effect?
A. Yes, essentially, though I don't know a single way you could do Team Rocket Magikarp's Rapid Evolution on the first turn. (July 27 2000 WotC Chat)

Q. You ruled that Team Rocket's Magikarp's Rapid Evolution can be used the turn those Pokémon come into play [Ed.Note: see also "Rapid Evolution" (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)]. Does that mean that if I had played TR Magikarp down on the first turn of the game, I could evolve him (I know that this is not possible, i.e., I cannot get 3 [W] Energy on Magikarp but if we ignore this limitation) ... would it be possible since Rapid Evolution ignores the normal evolution rule?
A. Yes, *if* you could get three water energy on Team Rocket Magikarp. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, Q141)

* It is possible for you to have a Pokémon evolve BEFORE your 2nd turn but NOT on your first turn. An example, your opponent plays first, on your turn you play or already have promo Eevee out. On his second turn he evolves a Pokémon, you could now use promo Eevee's Chain Reaction to pull out an evolution card and put it on Eevee. This is BEFORE your second turn but AFTER your first turn. (Jul 20, 2000 WotC Chat, mid-point Announcement [Q149])

* Certain attacks & powers (like Erika's Clefairy's Lunar Power attack, Koga's Kakuna's Emerge Pokémon Power, or TR Magikarp's Rapid Evolution attack), can break the standard "can't evolve turn 1 or the turn it was played" rule. You CAN play them on the first turn and you can sometimes even choose a Pokémon on your Bench that you just played this turn. To make it easier to understand, the standard evolution rules ("can't evolve turn 1 or the turn it was played") deal with the standard means of evolving; meaning taking the next Stage Pokémon from your hand and placing it on a Pokémon. Since these attacks and powers have you take a card from your deck and place it, they are NOT stopped by the standard evolution limits. This also falls under the term "played". Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power "Prehistoric Power" says No more Evolution cards can be played. The above attacks and powers would NOT be affected by this as those cards are not "played" (meaning played from your hand). (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Can I still use the abilities of the Basic Pokémon after I've evolved it?
A. No. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

* Dark Pokémon evolve from Basic Pokémon. There are no Dark Basic Pokémon, only Dark Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon. Once you evolve a Basic Pokémon into a Dark Stage 1 Pokémon, it CANNOT evolve into a non-Dark Stage 2 Pokémon, only a Dark Stage 2. "Once you walk down the Dark Path, forever will it dominate your destiny" - Yoda the non-Pokémon. (Apr 13 WotC Chat)

Q. In the Team Rocket set does a Stage 2 Dark Pokémon have to evolve from a Dark Pokémon or can I put it on a plain one?
A. It has to evolve from a Dark Stage 1 Pokémon (unless you use Breeder of course). (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q52)

Q. Can I evolve a Dratini from the rocket set into a Dragonair from the first set of Pokémon?
A. Yes. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q117)

Q. On the Jungle Seaking card it says put Seaking on the Stage 1 card, Seaking is the Stage 1 card so could you evolve Seaking into Seaking and cure ailments?
A. Nope. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q130)

Q. Can I evolve Team's Rockets Meowth [Promo] into Dark Persian?
A. Nope. (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat, Q212)

Q. Could you evolve the special Birthday Pikachu into a Raichu or Dark Raichu?
A. Nope. If there was ever a Birthday Raichu then ok. (Dec 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q96)

Q. If a Baby Pokémon evolves into a basic Pokémon (for example, Pichu to Pikachu), is the Basic Pokémon now considered an Evolved Pokémon?
A. Yes, it is, though you can still play any Basic Pokémon by itself, without having its Baby Pokémon in play. (Neo Genesis FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can a Baby Pokemon evolve into a Gym Leader's Pokemon (Ex: Cleffa into Erika`s Clefairy)?
A. No, you can't. (Feb 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q24)

== FLIPPING COINS, DICE, ETC.

* I would like to inform you that the Lugia "Coin" from the Pokemon 2000 movie video is not going to be legal in any sanctioned event. It is not even really a coin folks. Just because something is round and flat does not make it a randomizer. (May 3, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. Will the Coin Flipper on the Chansey E-Card (when used with the E-Reader) be legal for gameplay purposes?
A. Nope, the e-reader technology is fun but not tournament legal. It's too distracting to other players, takes too long to actually flip and hard to see by both players at the same time. (Sep 5, 2002 WotC Chat, Q202; Sep 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q293 & Q300)

Q. Do you feel if your opponent isn't flipping a coin (metal or plastic) in a proper fashion, and won't let you flip for him, is it wrong to switch to say a 12 sided Die?
A. In tournament play you have the right to refuse your opponent's randomization method. You can't tell them what they HAVE to use though. If they continue to flip incorrectly, call over a judge. You also cannot 'flip' for them either. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q227)

Q. Is it allowable for a player in a DCI tourney to refuse to let someone use their randomizer (coin)?
A. Nope. This is done to keep players form gaining an edge with a possibly unblanaced randomizer. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q80 & Q115)

Q. You stated in a previous "coin flipping" ruling that a coin must land on the table with no obstructions. Does a card (or card protector) constitute as an obstruction? I believe he means that the person is flipping the coin directly onto a card to get a "favorable" result.
A. That is up to the players, a sleeve is pretty darn thin. I would count it myself. Geez, if someone can flip a coin that accurately, then maybe you should make them use dice. (Jan 18, 2001 WotC Chat, Q75b & 110b)

Q. A Judging question -- a pokemon that has 5 or 6 cards attached to it is on the table. A player throws a six sided dice and it lands half on the table and half sitting on this big stack of cards at about a 25 or 30 degreee tilt. Is this similiar to the "flat coin ruling where the coin flip counts even if it lands in the damage counter or half on cards. What do we do? An experienced player gently pushed the cards out from under the dice to see if they stayed put. Two new players started debating just where the dice actually landed -- under a lot of cards or just a few???
A. Anything less then a 45 degree angle is fine. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q76)

== HAND

Q. How many cards can I have in my hand?
A. You can have as many cards as you draw. There is no limit to hand size. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Is there any penalty for accidentally seeing your opponents hand?
A. As long as you both agree it was accidental, then no. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q183)

== KNOCK OUTS AND PRIZES

Q. If I Knock Out my own Pokémon, does my opponent still get to take a Prize?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. When you Knock Out more than one of your opponent's Pokémon in a turn (i.e. using Selfdestruct or Raichu's Gigashock attack) do you receive a Prize for each Knocked Out enemy Pokémon?
A. Yes you do. And if you knock out some of your own, your opponent gets to draw prizes as well. (Jan 27 WotC Chat)

Q. When both active Pokémon are knocked out, who places a new active first?
A. The player whose turn would be next. (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q220)

Q. If Gastly (Fossil) uses Lick and Knocks Out the other Pokémon, does your opponent bring out another Pokémon and then you do the status effect?
A. No, a Pokémon is SLATED to be removed when it has sufficient damage assigned to it. Attack effects resolve BEFORE a replacement Pokémon is brought up. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q232)

Q. Do you apply Pokémon Powers before status effects?
A. Check under 'How do you figure damage' in the Pokémon rules. Existing status effects are applied first, then Pokémon powers, then damage is assigned, then lastly new status effects from the attack are applied (basically). (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat, Q62)

* Some clarification on how attack results are calculated. Follow the chart in the rulebook under "How Do You Figure Out the Damage" [Ed. Note: See HERE ]. Ignore the rules in "What Order Do You Do Your Attack" (specifically f) [Ed. Note: See HERE ]. When your Pokémon attacks go through the normal steps through h [of the "How Do You Figure Out the Damage"], IF enough damage is put onto the opposing Pokémon to Knock it out then that Pokémon is considered Knocked Out. DO NOT ACTUALLY REMOVE THE CARD, TAKE A PRIZE CARD, OR MOVE UP A REPLACEMENT UNTIL ALL ATTACK EFFECTS ARE DONE. What this means is that if the placing of the damage on the Pokémon TRIGGERS a return attack (like Dark Gyarados' Final Beam or Rocket Hitmonchan's Crosscounter attack) then you jump back up into the order and resolve this NEW attack BEFORE you do step I) Now that damage has been done,if the attack does anything else besides damage, do all of that. This explains how an attack that paralyzes does NOT prevent Dark Gyarados's Final Beam effect if the Dark Gyarados is Knocked Out. Only AFTER all damage and attack effects are resolved do you actually remove the Knocked Out Pokémon, draw a prize card, and replace it. Keep in mind though, that as soon as a Pokémon takes damage equal to its current HP it is considered Knocked Out regardless of what other attack effects occur after damage. (Sep 7, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

* Clarification on the whole Knock Out/triggered effects steps in Pokémon as well. When a Pokémon receives sufficient damage to be Knocked Out it is INSTANTLY Knocked out (before anything else is done). HOWEVER, Prize cards are NOT drawn AND replacement Pokémon are NOT moved up until ALL triggered effects are resolved. Meaning that if Blaine's Moltres does its attack and Knocks out Dark Gyarados, the Dark Gyarados would get its chance with its Final Beam attack effect BEFORE the Moltres can return to your hand (if you flipped tails). Blaine's Moltres states that it would be returned to your hand AFTER DOING DAMAGE. This means AFTER all triggered effects are resolved (in this case the Dark Gyarados' Final Beam). So after everything has resolved THEN prizes are drawn and replacement Benched Pokémon are moved up (with the player whose turn is next choosing first). (Aug 24, 2000 WotC Chat Announcements)

Q. If one of your Pokémon was Poisoned, and a few turns later it is KO'd by the Poison, does your opponent take a Prize card although the Poison KO'd the Pokémon, and not your opponents Pokémon?
A. Yes, he would still draw a Prize card. Whenever a Pokémon is Knocked Out, the other player gets Prize cards -- even if you Knock Out your own. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. This is probably an incredibly silly question, but I can't find the answer to it anywhere. If an opponent knocks out one of my Pokémon, and they forget to draw a prize, are they entitled to it if they remember later?
A. Technically yes. It is the responsibility of BOTH players to make sure everything is done correctly. If you spot it and he forgets you can BOTH get a warning in a tournament if you don't catch it. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q102)

Q. At the store I play at, if the game has already begun and you forgot to draw your prizes you automatically lose, is that correct?
A. That is up to that store. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q252)

== RETREATING

Q. If I have Zubat (no retreat cost) as my Active and retreat him, can I bring him back as Active or do I have to bring up another Benched Pokémon?
A. When you retreat a Pokémon, you are swapping it (a switch) with another on the bench. So in this case, Zubat goes to the bench, and you bring up a different Pokémon from your bench. (Feb 17 WotC Chat; May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q31)

Q. When I retreat my Pokémon, do I discard the Energy from my hand or from the Pokémon?
A. From the Pokémon. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can you over pay retreat cost? I mean like if you wanted to get rid of a Darkness Energy from a free retreat pokemon, could you discard the darkness anyway when you retreat?
A. No. (Aug 9, 2001 WotC Chat, Q311)

Q. If my Active Pokémon has taken damage and I retreat it, does the damage go away?
A. No. Retreating does not remove damage. (But it does remove Poison, Confusion, Sleep, or anything else that's the result of a Pokémon's attack, including special attacks like Porygon's Conversion.) (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If I try to retreat my Scyther while he is Confused and I am not successful and I use a Full Heal, can I retreat again?
A. Nope. You can only attempt to retreat once if it is paralyzed [Ed.Note: "confused"]. If it fails, that Pokémon cannot attempt to retreat again that turn, whether it is still confused or not. (Apr 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q146) 

Q. What happens if you try to retreat a Confused Pokémon and fail, then you evolve the Pokémon. Would the evolved form be able to retreat that turn?
A. You could then try to retreat it again. (Aug 29, 2002 WotC Chat, Q91)

Q. Can I retreat my Active Pokémon if my bench is full?
A. Yup, when you retreat you are switching your active for one on your bench. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q222)

== SHUFFLING

Announcement: Secondly, someone asked if there is a shuffling rule for Pokémon. Normally you follow the DCI rules, which allow you to shuffle or cut your opponent's deck. (6-29-00 Announcements WotC Chat)

Q. I was playing with this guy and he rearranged the order of the cards in his deck prior to shuffle it, would this be allowed in a tournament?
A. Yes but you would have the right to shuffle it yourself or cut it as well if you were uncomfortable with his shuffling method. (Sep 14, 2000 WotC Chat, Q125)

Q. At any time during a battle, are you or your opponent allowed to shuffle your deck?
A. NO! [Ed. Note: This references shuffling at random times, not when appropriate] (6-29-00 WotC Chat)

Q. If a card say to shuffle your deck after doing something like putting cards back in your deck but you do did not put any cards in your deck do you still shuffle? Like playing gambler with no cards in your hand?
A. Yes, you would. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q91)

Q. Is it illegal to randomly shuffle your deck, and if yes what are the penalties from doing so?
A. Yes it is illegal. The penalties depend on the tournament rules. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q166)

Q. If my opponent has no hand and I play Imposter Oak's Revenge, do they still shuffle their deck?
A. If it says to shuffle cards into the deck, then NO SHUFFLING if no cards are shuffled in. If it states, Shuffle afterwards (like after using a Computer Search) then DO SHUFFLE!!! (Nov 30, 2000 WotC Chat, Q19)

== STARTING THE GAME

Q. The new version of the DCI Pokémon Floor Rules says you do the opening coin flip before placing your Active/Bench Pokémon. Why did they change that from the normal rules, which say to flip after?
A. Because, knowing how many Pokémon you're opponent is starting with is a big advantage. It's good to decide who goes first before placing your starting basics and prizes. You flip and determine who goes first BEFORE you even draw your hand of cards. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q149 & Q181)

Q. In the beginning of a game, if I win the coin toss, does the other person have to tell me if they got a basic or not before drawing their two extra cards?
A. I'm assuming that the active player did not have a basic or baby in their first hand in your question. The non-active player does NOT have to reveal whether they have a baby or basic before they draw the extra cards. (Apr 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1058)

Q. Under the new DCI rules for starting a game [Ed.Note: effective Oct. 2001], the Active Player resolves any Mulligans, then places a card. If the second player also has a Mulligan and the Active player draws an additional card that they want to start with, can that initial card be picked up?
A. Nope! (Nov 15, 2001 WotC Chat, Q93)

Q. Has the rule on Mulligans changed for the player who goes 2nd? Example: Player A wins the flip and mulligans. Player B draws 2 cards. Player A gets a basic. Player B mulligans. Does Player B draw 7 or 9 cards?
A. 9. It has been updated on the floor rules on the web. I think player B needs to think about it for a while though! (Dec 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q516)

Q. The New floor rules regarding start of game procedures isn't quite clear on the point of whether the second player (non-active) places his/her active and benched Pokémon face down or up before player 1 (active) places his/her active and benched. I'm sure it is face down, but could you verify this?
A. You're right! It also doesn't say whether we all have to wear hats or not!!!! (kidding). Quite clearly, you all place your cards face down, until just before the game actually starts. True. But we cannot spell out every single step in a game. You have to use a little common sense. The start of game procedure was just clarifying the game start, NOT altering it. You start with cards face down in the old way, you start with the cards face down in the new way. You also flip the cards over when you start. Otherwise, it would be a pretty dull game. (Dec 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q34 & Q45)

Q. RE: The clarified startup procedure [Ed.Note: see above]. Will that be incorporated into new version rulebooks that come with newer decks?
A. Hmm, to be honest, I don't know. The new start procedure is for tournaments only. It is NOT a game rule change. (Dec 20, 2001 WotC Chat, Q50)

Q. In the Beginning of the game, if your opponent has no Basics and you do, do you place yours first then draw the 2 cards, or draw then place the Basic?
A. You should not place yours until both players can start. (Jun 28, 2001 WotC Chat, Q170)

Q. At the start of a game, if your Opponent Mulligans, do you have to say how many cards you intend to draw? In other words, could you draw one and then decide to stop?
A. Yes, you need to state: "I am drawing one card", or "I am drawing 2 cards". [Ed.Note: or "I choose not to draw any cards".] (Oct 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q18)

Q. Two players both get starting hands with no basic pokemon, so player 1 mulligans and player 2 draws 2 cards. However, neither card is a basic, and player 1's new hand still has no basics in it. Who mulligans next?
A. If player 2 doesn't have any basics in their opening hand then both player's should have restarted. [Ed.Note: According to the current floor rules each player resolves their mulligan individually, in this case the active player must resolve their mulligan until they can finally place a pokemon in play, then non-active player will resolve their mulligan until they too can place a pokemon in play ] (Jul 26, 2001 WotC Chat, Q2)

Q. Is there any limit to the number of times you can mulligan or draw from an opponent's mulligan?
A. You keep doing it until each player has a basic Pokémon in his or her starting hand. (Jan 20 WotC Chat)

Q. Do you have to draw 2 cards when your opponent Mulligans?
A. No, you don't. You MAY draw two extra cards. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. When my opponent Mulligans, can I only draw one card? Or do I have to draw 2 if I chose to draw at all?
A. You can draw UP to 2 cards, so you could draw 0, 1 or 2. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. So you don't have to draw two cards if your opponent doesn't draw a Basic Pokémon?
A. No, you MAY draw two cards; you do not have to. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. If my opponent puts down his prizes, then draws his hand, can I force him to reshuffle and deal in the correct order?
A. I don't know if you could _force_ someone to do that. I guess it would depend on the tournament. The correct order is hand first. (August 17, 2000 WotC Chat Q211)

Q. Some are interpreting rule 215 [and 214.3] of the Pokémon DCI Floor Rules to mean that if the 1st player mulligans, then 2nd player may draw 2 addition cards even if no basic Pokémon were drawn in the 2nd player's initial 7 card draw. Is this correct?
A. Yeash, technically you could do that but if you still don't end up with a basic then you get caught cheating and you lose the match, period! Not a smart move to do. [Ed.Note: According to the current floor rules, each player will resolve their mulligans indivually, not until the active player places a pokemon in play will the non-active player reolved his or her mulligan] (Oct 19, 2000 WotC Chat, Q46)

Q. If you draw a starting hand with a Baby Pokémon as the only Pokémon, is that a Mulligan? Do you have to play it or do you get to choose?
A. You have to play it. (Jan 11, 2001 WotC Chat, Q105)

== SPECIAL CONDITIONS / STATUS EFFECTS / EFFECTS OF ATTACKS

* [Effective 1/17/02:] There is also a new Pokemon rule change that will even FURTHER give the current environment some diversity. In working on keeping the Pokemon rules as close as possible to the Japanese rules of the game, there is a new term that will be introduced in a later set this year. This is "Special Conditions". Asleep, Confusion, Paralysis, POISON, and later on Burned are all defined as Special Conditions. All of these effects are removed from the Active Pokemon if they Evolve, Devolve, Leave Play, or are Benched. They ALSO shut off ALL Pokemon Powers on the Pokemon effected by a Special Condition. This means that Poison (and later on Burned) shut off Pokemon Powers on the Pokemon affected by them. This is a clarification of the rules for Pokemon and WILL take place in all of the upcoming Challenge series events and tournaments. TPC has told us that is how it supposed to work. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat Announcements & Q1280)

* Basically any Pokemon Power on any Pokemon that says it stops working if the Pokemon is Paralyzed, Asleep, or Confused, now should ALSO include Poisoned, or Burned as well. These 5 effects are known as Special Conditions. Almost every Pokemon power stops working if its Pokemon has a Special Condition on it. If a Pokemon power says it still functions if Asleep, Conufused, or Paralyzed, that also holds true for Poisoned and Burned as well. Char, while similar to Burned is NOT the same thing and does NOT fall under this rule change. All Special Conditions are removed from a Pokemon if it Evolves, Devolves, Leaves play, or is Benched. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1278 & Q1284)

Q. Does "Burned" replace any other special conditions (like "Paralyzed" removes "Asleep"), or does it coexist with them (like "Poison")? In theory, one could be Burned, Poisoned, and Confused (plus non-special "Charred" too) all at the same time, right?
A. OK, the only effects that replace each other are Asleep, Paralyzed, and Confused. If your Pokemon has one of these and gets hit with another, the new one replaces the old. Poisoned and Burned can be stacked with those first 3 effects. They can be stacked together. You could be Charred, Burned, Poisoned, Smokescreened, AND Confused all at once too! (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q551 & Q555 & Q560)

Q. If a Power says it works when the Pokemon is Confused, could Poison turn it off? It was never an issue before because the only effects that could turn it off couldn't occur along with Confusion.
A. It only shuts off if the power says it is shut off "when asleep, confused, or paralyzed". If it does NOT say that, then Poisoning it will NOT shut off the Pokemon power. (Jan 31, 2002 WotC Chat, Q153)

Q. Will these new effects and rules be in the updated Rulebook with the next Neo set?
A. No they won't make it into the Neo 4 rule book but in the later rule book in the next set after that. Since these rules would take place during the Challenge Series, we wanted them to start at the beginning of the year, giving you more time to learn and get used to them. (Jan 17, 2002 WotC Chat, Q1267)

Q. In the rules it states that when a Pokémon evolves it becomes free of Poison, Sleep, Confusion, Paralysis, or anything else that may be the result of an attack. Does this mean that damage is also taken off of it when it evolves?
A. No. (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q49)

Q. Do I flip a coin to see if my Asleep Pokémon wakes up at the end of the same turn that it fell Asleep?
A. Yes. You also take Poison damage at the end of the same turn a Pokémon got Poisoned. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. If you use an attack that puts your opponent's Pokémon to Sleep (like Haunter's Nightmare), and the Defending Pokémon was already Asleep before you attacked, do you still have to flip a coin after the attack to see if it wakes up?
A. Yes, they get to flip at the end of each player's turn. (Feb 10 WotC Chat)

Q. If my Pokémon fell asleep and it wakes up next turn will it be able to attack on that turn or the next?
A. You flip at the end of each player's turn. If it wakes up after the other players turn, BEFORE yours then it would act normal on your turn. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q135)

Q. If your Active Pokémon is Asleep, do you have to flip at the end of each turn, or can you stay Asleep if you wish?
A. You have to flip. (April 20, 2000 WotC Chat Q121)

Q. When a Pokémon is put to Asleep who flips the coin at the end of the turn?
A. The person whose Pokémon is asleep. (Aug 31, 2000 WotC Chat Q123)

Q. When both active Pokemon are asleep, who tries to wake up first?
A. Umm, we have no idea why it would matter. Usually you do them at the same time. If for some future reason it would matter, then the player whose turn is next would flip first. (Nov 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q105)

* As stated in the Neo rulebook "you put damage counters on an any Poisoned Pokémon" after each player's turn. So Poison does NOT do damage, it adds damage counters. Therefore, Poison damage is NOT prevented by the Metal Energy card. The same behavior applies for Darkness Energy recoil damage and Char damage too since they "place counters" rather than "do damage. (Jan 4, 2001 WotC Chat Announcements & Q92)

Q. If the Defending Pokémon has a status change (like Poison) but an attack requires you to flip to see if the same condition is afflicted, do you still have to flip? (Eg - Weedle's poison sting reads "Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is Ö.) No?
A. Yes, you have to though I can understand why you would consider it redundant. (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q118)

Q. My opponent attacks my Active, which causes 20 damage and Poisons it. Her turn is over. Do I then have to put 10 more damage on it because it is still Poisoned?
A. Yes. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. How long does Poisoning last?
A. Until the Pokémon is Benched, Evolved, or Knocked Out. (Mar 30 WotC Chat)

Q. If an opponent already has Nidoking's Toxic double-poison, then next turn I use a "normal-poison" attack, does the opponent retain Toxic's double-poison condition (20) or does it now become a single-poison condition (10)?
A. It would gain a single poison effect (the new effect replaces the old one). (April 27, 2000 WotC Chat Q19)

Q. I have a Scyther as my Active, and I also have a Scyther on the bench. My opponent uses Weedle to Poison my Active Scyther. On my turn, can I retreat my Active Scyther and bring up my benched Scyther, then retreat and bring up the original Scyther, thus removing the Poison?
A. Yes you could. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. Confused pokemon before they attack a baby pokemon... do they flip for confusion or the baby rule first?
A. Baby rule. (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q8)

Q. I saw a chat transcript of last weeks and it said that damage taken from Confusion is affected by weakness/resistance. Is this true? If so, is the damage the type of the Pokémon that Confused it or the type of the Pokémon dealing damage to itself?
A. It is so; the Pokémon is hitting [Ed. Note: attacking] himself when Confused (and failing the coin flip) so use its type to check for Weakness or Resistance effects. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. If Mr. Mime is Confused and tries to attack, if it fails does he kill himself (due to Weakness)?
A. Yes it would. (Mar 30 WotC Chat)

Q. If Kadabra is confused will a failed attack do 20 or 40 damage to him because of weakness?
A. A failed attack in this case will do 40 to Kadabra. (April 6, 2000 WotC Chat Q40)

Q. If Aerodactyl is Confused and hurts itself, would it take damage or not?
A. Nope. Of course if Porygon used Conversion on it Ö (May 11, 2000 WotC Chat, Q107)

Q. Can you be Paralyzed and Confused at the same time, Poisoned and Paralyzed, or Poisoned and Asleep at the same time?
A. You can be Poisoned and any other effect (Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed), but not a combination of Sleep, Confusion, or Paralysis. If your Pokémon gets one of those 3 effects, the new effect replaces the old one. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. Does Benching a Pokémon end ALL effects, including those of attacks? For example, if I have a Scyther against a Magmar, and Magmar Smokescreens me, I then retreat Scyther and put up another Pokémon. I then retreat that one and return my original Scyther. Does Smokescreen no longer apply?
A. Benching a Pokémon removes the effects of any attacks that reference them. In this case, benching Scyther removed the Smokescreen effect. (Feb 3 WotC Chat)

Q. What happens with a Confused Dark Charmeleon - flip to see if Fireball works first or for Confusion? If you flip for Fireball first, and get tails, do you still flip for confusion?
A. You flip for Confusion BEFORE you do what the attack tells you to do. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q193)

Q. Can you explain the process of Paralysis for me?
A. I paralyze your Pokémon on MY TURN. On YOUR TURN its Paralyzed, and at the end of YOUR turn it is UNPARALYZED. Back on MY TURN, it is NOT PARALYZED, comprendez? (May 18, 2000 WotC Chat, Q112)

Q. In the card game if you "Paralyzed" your partners Active Pokémon and then use an attack that says "10 + Flip a coin, if heads confused" is that attack a forced check or optional?
A. It is a forced check. (Jul 13, 2000 WotC Chat, Q297)

Q. Does benching ALWAYS 'reset' the Pokémon completely?
A. Benching always reset attack effects. (April 13, 2000 WotC Chat Q43)

== TRAINER CARDS

Q. Can I play more than one Trainer card on my turn?
A. Yes. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Can you attach more than one Pluspower/Defender on one turn?
A. Yes. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. Is there a difference between "trading" your cards such as Energy Retrieval and "discarding" your cards such as an Item Finder? Say that I only have one Energy in my discard pile, and I use Energy Retrieval using Energy to trade, You only are able to retrieve the Energy in your discard pile, not the card you traded. Right? Cause it would make sense about "trading".
A. Yes, that's right. (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

Q. Is Koga's Ninja Trick considered a tool? Let's say a poke has it on it already, can you also play Focus Band on it?
A. Plus Power and Koga's Ninja Trick are not Pokemon Tools...you can have a Poke-tool attached also. (Mar 22, 2001 WotC Chat, Q25)

* When you use a Trainer card, first you pay the cost (if any), then you resolve the effect of the Trainer card, then you discard that Trainer card. So you could NOT use Item Finder to bring itself back from the discard pile (you would discard 2 other cards from your hand, then pull a Trainer card from your discard pile to your hand, THEN you would discard the Item Finder). (Mar 2 WotC Chat)

== WIN STATES

Q. How do I win?
A. You win when you draw your last Prize or when your opponent loses his or her Active Pokémon and doesn't have a Pokémon on the Bench to replace it. You also win if your opponent can't draw a card at the beginning of his or her turn because his or her deck ran out of cards, but this doesn't happen very often. (Basic FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. V.3 rulebook states you lose at the END OF TURN if you don't have an in-play Pokémon, but I always thought you lose IMMEDIATELY. Can I Scoop Up my last in-play?
A. The rulebook is incorrect; you lose immediately if you do not have an active Pokémon. (Feb 17 WotC Chat)

Q. If I draw my last card. It is an Electric Energy so I use Raichu's Gigashock and it kills all of my opponents. Who wins?
A. You do, because you won't actually lose for being out of cards until the beginning of your next turn. (Feb 24 WotC Chat)

Q. If my opponent had 3 cards left in his deck and I used Wildfire to discard the three cards, on his/her next turn do I win?
A. Yup, you would, if someone cannot draw a card at the start of their turn like they are supposed to, they lose. (Mar 9 WotC Chat)

Q. If player A, in attacking, takes his last prize & knocks his active out by his attack & has no bench, Player B has a bench to replace. Who wins, player A or B?
A. Neither, it goes to Sudden Death. (Sep 13, 2001 WotC Chat, Q30)

Q. At the end of a long match, I Selfdestruct Magneton. My opponent and I both take our last Prize cards. Who wins?
A. Well, if one of you has a Benched Pokémon to replace your Active Pokémon and the other player doesn't, then the person who can replace his or her Active Pokémon wins. Otherwise, you play Sudden Death. This is explained in the Pokémon rules in the Expert Rules section under "What Happens if Both Players Win at the Same Time?" (Fossil FAQ, WotC Website)

Q. Scenario: It's down to one prize each, your turn with 10HP left, and you're poisoned. You attack and KO your opponent to draw your last prize. But you take poison damage and would be KO'd now too. Do you win or does it go to Sudden Death?
A. You win, you must complete the rest of the combat sequence, but then if you win BEFORE the end of the turn, you win, period. Poison doesn't happen until after the end of your turn. (Oct 5, 2000 WotC Chat, Q6)

Q. What happens if I use Professor Oak and have less than 7 cards left in my deck? Do I lose immediately, or do I draw out the remainder of my deck and lose at the beginning of my next turn (if I don't do anything to replenish the deck like Recycle, Mr.Fuji,
A. You only lose when you don't have any cards to draw on; the card draw you must do on the start of your turn. So you would lose on your next turn if you didn't somehow get some cards back into your [draw] deck. (Aug 3 2000 WotC Chat, Q43)

TEAM GAMEPLAY
[ Top | Errata | Pokémon Powers | Pokémon Attacks | Unown Cards | Trainer Cards | Energy Cards | General Gameplay | Team Gameplay]

== TEAM PLAY IN GENERAL

Q. What is the minimum number of teams to run a sanctioned TMP tournament? 4?
A. Four...Four...Four it is! (Sep 26, 2002 WotC Chat, Q545)

Q. If a Master Professor is the HEAD Judge of a TMP tourney does that also increase the k-value of THAT tourney?
A. Yes. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q818)

Q. In team play, since any verbal language or code can be used as long as everyone can hear it, can hand signals and written codes be used as long as everyone can see it?
A. Hand signals yes, written code no. You can't take notes or write things in DCI sanctioned play. You can also use clicks and stamps ...and small animal sounds ...as well as the sound of the wind and rain. [ED NOTE: I guess any audible sound is OK, as long as it isn't distracting to others.] (Jul 10, 2003 WotC Chat, Q41)

Q. Say in TMP my opponent mulligans, can my partner draw one card...look at it, and then decide weither I will or they will take the 2nd card, or must both cards be drawn at the same time?
A. In Team Multi Play if an opponent mulligans, then you and your teammate can choose to each draw 1 card. That is the only options. One player cannot draw 2. (Jan 9, 2003 WotC Chat, Q431)

Q. In TMP, poison & burn damage is counted after each player's turn or between each team's turn?
A. After each player's turn. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q768)

Q. In TMP, if I play a Supporter on my opponent...since it's played on him I cannot use any more supporters my turn...but he can use them on his turn correct?
A. Correct. [Ed. Note: Just for clarification, the supporter action itself must be played during the current turn; it cannot be held over until the opponent's turn. The answer here indicates that the other player may play a Supporter on their turn if they wish.] (Sep 19, 2002 WotC Chat, Q427)

Q. We cannot attack our partner in Team Battle - I had somebody try that at Worlds while I was judging team. They didn't want to flip to use an Eeeeeeek attack so they aimed at their patner.
A. Correct, you cannot attack your teammate. (Jun 12, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1902)

Q. For Team Play, if my teammate has Dark Dragonair, Erika's Victreebell, Elekid, etc. in play, may I use their Pokemon Powers during my own turn as well (i.e. can I use my teammate's "Evolutionary Light" to search through my deck during my turn)?
A. No. You cannot. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q54)

Q. In TMP, if I target one opponent with two of my slowkings, and that opponent is removed from the game (no more bench), do my Slowking retarget?
A. Nope. [ED.NOTE: The same holds true for most targeted Pokemon Powers.] (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q28)

Q. In team play, if you have two Drowzees on your bench, can you use one to put one of your opponent's active to sleep (if you get heads), and the other Drowzee to put the other opponent's active to sleep?
A. Yes I think you can with multiple Drowzee's if they are under one player's control. If they are not then you could not use them both. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q31 & Q64 & Q68)

Q. In team play, can a Dark Tyranitar attacking with Fling Away do 30 to 1 player's active & 30 to the other opponent's bench?
A. Not sure but my guess is it can only effect the players bench who you attacked. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q16)

Q. Hi, I was wondering if a Slowking or Sneasel would be allowed in team sealed play (of course it would come from one of the packs).
A. Nope, those are banned cards in Modified. If you are running an Unlimited Sealed, then yes. (Jan 9, 2003 WotC Chat, Q434)

== AGILITY (Raichu - Base Set, Rapidash - Jungle Expansion, others)

Q. In Team Play, when an attack like Kakuna's "Secrete Poison" or "Agility" specifies the phrase "during your opponent's next turn", does that count for both opponents or do you have to choose one of the opponents to have the effect during their turn only?
A. You would have to specify which opponent. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q303)

Q. When using Agility in Team Play, can you specify which of the opposing team's Active Pokemon is affected by the Agility effect, or does it HAVE to be the Defending Pokemon that you are attacking with Agility?
A. It does have a you or your in it, so you would be able to select which opponent's active Pokemon it affects. (Jul 18, 2002 WotC Chat, Q22)

== BATTLE FRENZY (Dark Ursaring - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, does Dark Ursaring's "Battle Frenzy" attack involve all four players' pokemon in play, or only the attacker's and one designated opponent's pokemon?
A. Had to check on that one, but Battle Frenzy does count all players Pokemon in play. (Jun 13, 2002 WotC Chat, Q28)

== BILL (Base Set)

* Bill: This trainer card reads - Draw 2 cards. Since there is not a "you" or "your" in this cards text, you CANNOT play this card on a teammate, only on yourself. (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== BURNING FIRE (Magmar - Promo)

Q. This question is regarding Team Play: If I used Promo Magmar's Burning Fire attack can I discard my Fire energy and my partner's (assuming he is playing fire also) or just one or the other?
A. You cannot add or take any of your Team Mate's cards in any of your attacks. (May 9, 2002 WotC Chat, Q23)

== CHAOS MOVE (Gengar - Expedition Expansion)

Q. Why is it that you can't move a damage counter from one of your opponent's pokemon to another with the new Gengar's power?
A. You can. You can't move a counter between players (this affects team play) but you can move 1 counter between your Pokemon OR between your opponent's (as long as they have 3 prizes or less left). (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q20)

Q. In team, could you always use the new Gengar's pokemon power since the opponent will always have 3 or less prizes?
A. Actually, in this case you count the team total. So in constructed they start with 5, and in limited they start with 4. But it would work quicker wouldn't it? (Oct 3, 2002 WotC Chat, Q21)

== CONDUCTIVITY (Dark Ampharos - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, if my partner and I both have Dark Ampharsoses (or is it "Ampharese"?), would one of them cancel out the other, or would the opposing team member get hit by "Conductivity" twice when they attach a single energy card?
A. You and your opponent could have one each in play, though you still have to announce which opponent your Dark Ampharos is affecting. When you bring out a Pokemon that has a Continual Pokemon Power that says "opponent" such as Slowking or Dark Ampharos, you must declare WHICH opponent it is targeting. In the Dark Ampharos example, each of you could have one in play and you could both choose 1 of the opponents as the target, but then the other is NOT affected by it. Or you could each choose 1, your choice. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q328 & Q337)

Q. So if both teammates have Dark Ampharos they can both target the same opponent, and when that opponent attaches an energy does it take 20 damage (one for each Dark Ampharos)?
A. Correct. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q343)

== COUNTER (Wobbuffet - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, when I use Wobbuffet's "Counter" attack is the effect present during both of my opponents' turns?
A. You need to choose a specific opponent when you use this attack. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q298)

== CURSE (Gengar - Fossil Expansion)

* Gengar's Curse: Applying rule #12 [actually Rule #13 in v1.3] allows you to either move a damage counter from one of your opponent's Pokemon to another of that same opponent's Pokemon OR to move a damage counter from your other opponent's Pokemon to another of his or her Pokemon. You cannot use this power to move a counter from one opponent's Pokemon to the other opponent's Pokemon (or vice versa). (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== DAMAGE SWAP (Alakazam - Base Set)

* Alakazam's Damage Swap: Applying rule #12 [actually Rule #13 in v1.3] allows you to either move a damage counter from one of your Pokemon to another of your Pokemon OR to move a damage counter from one of your teammate's Pokemon to another of his or her Pokemon. You cannot use this power to move a counter from one of their Pokemon to one of yours (or vice versa). (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== DOGPILE (Chansey - Expedition Expansion)

Q. In Team battle, if I use cards that increase damage per the number of pokemon on my bench, can I use my teammate's number if it is higher? like Expedition Chancey?
A. That will work with Expedition Chancey, but it depends on the wording of each card like that. (Nov 7, 2002 WotC Chat,Q315)

== DOUBLE GUST (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

* Double Gust: When you play this card you must first declare which opponent you are using it on. That opponent then gets to decide which Pokemon (yours or your teammate's) gets switched with that player's Active Pokemon. Then you would get to decide which of that opponent's Pokemon gets switched with their Active Pokemon. (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== DOWNPOUR (Feraligatr - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Can you use Feraligatr's Downpour for your teammate in TMP?
A. Yes you can. (Feb 20, 2003 WotC Chat, Q41)

== ECOGYM (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, if a player does something that causes his partner to discard a non-Colorless energy card (say, Pokemon Center) with Ecogym in play, would those non-Colorless energies return to the player's hand?
A. Yes, they would get the energy back. We're ruling that it will work for now... (Jul 18, 2002 WotC Chat, Q21)

== EEEEEEEK! (Cleffa - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. During my turn, can I have my Cleffa "Eeeeeeek!" and tell my teammate to shuffle their hand & draw 7 cards?
A. Yes you can! (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q331)

== ENERGY TRANS (Venusaur - Base Set)

Q. In team battle, can I use my Venusaur to switch grass energy between my teammate's pokemon (not moving them between owners)?
A. Yes. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q71)

== FEINT ATTACK (Murkrow - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, when using Feint Attack against a team with one baby and one non-baby active, can you *attack* the non-baby Pokemon but use the attack's effect against the other opponent's (the one with the baby) Pokemon due to the "your opponent's" clause?
A. Yes. (Aug 1, 2002 WotC Chat, Q255)

Q. In Team Play, can you use Feint Attack on one opponent then do the damage to the other? (i.e. Feint the one without the baby active, make the effect happen to the baby?)
A. Yes. (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q18)

== HARVEST BOUNTY (Venusaur - Expedition Expansion)

Q. In TMP, could you select your teammate as a target when playing Harvest Bounty Venusaur from your hand?
A. Yes. Interesting idea....... (Jan 2, 2003 WotC Chat, Q345)

== HOWL (Neo: Revelation Expansion)

* Entei's Howl: You can choose to use this Pokemon Power on yourself or on your teammate during your turn. Either way, the person who is actually playing the card (takes it from his or her hand and puts it on their bench and decides to use the Pokemon Power) ends their turn (whether they or their teammate used the Power). (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== HYPER DEVOLUTION SPRAY (Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. In Team, Player B can play Hyper Devo Spray on Player A and then the next turn (Player A's) they can revolve that Pokemon- correct?
A. Yes. (Jun 19, 2003 WotC Chat, Q2004)

== IRON FIST (Machamp - Expedition Expansion)

Q. I have a question about Expedition Machamp. It says you do 10 more damage for each of your Pokemon with damage on them. In team, do you count just your Pokemon with damage or do you include those of your partner as well?
A. Since it says "you have in play" you would choose whether that meant you OR your team mate. (May 1, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1425)

== LURE BALL (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. If you use Lure Ball (Flip 3 coins; for each heads, choose an Evolution card from your discard pile, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand) in TMP and get, let's say 2 heads, can you get one evolved pokemon from your discard pile and let your teammate have the other?
A. Nope, you either use its effects OR your teammate does. No splitting. (Jul 10, 2003 WotC Chat, Q75)

== MARY (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. How does Mary work in team play?
A. Well, if you played it, you would draw the 2 cards and then you could choose you or your partner to shuffle 2 back into your deck. (Jul 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q15 & Q24)

== MAX BURST (Dark Exeggcutor - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. In Team Play: does Dark Egg's MAX burst only count the targeted opponent's energy cards/benched Pokemon, or _both_ opponents' energies/Pokes?
A. I think that this is targeted at one opponent...not positive though. (Jun 6, 2002 WotC Chat, Q12)

== MIND GAMES (Slowking - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. TMP Q: Slowking's Mind Games only effects one opponent now, right? If so why was this change made?
A. Yes, it's too strong otherwise and it didn't really fit in to the existing rules framework due to the text of its power. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q294)

== MIRROR SHELL (Dark Wartortle - Legendary Collection)

Q. For Team Play, if I use Mirror Shell (similar text to Agility) must I designate which player's active pokemon it affects or will it affect *any* active pokemon that attacks Dark Wartotle?
A. You would designate which opponent you wanted the Mirror Shell's effect against. (Feb 6, 2003 WotC Chat, Q838 & Q843)

== MYSTERY PLATES [ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA, and DELTA] (Skyridge Expansion)

Q. About Mystery Plates in TMP... When they say about the number of prizes, they refer themselves to the TOTAL team prizes, right? The "you/your" rule doesn't apply here, right?
A. Correct, total team prizes. (Jul 3, 2003 WotC Chat, Q5)

== PERISH SONG (Misdreavus - Neo: Revelation Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, if both I and my partner have Misdreavus, can we have Player 1 do "Night Eyes" and Player 2 do "Perish Song" for the KO (providing the opponent is still asleep)? Or does Player 1 have to do the "Perish Song" in order for it to work?
A. Yes, that nasty little trick works. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q297)

== POISON POLLEN (Vileplume - Expedition Expansion)

Q1. In Team Play, I'm using Card-E Vileplume's "Poison Pollen" power and I flip heads. Does the pokemon I target it with stay the "defending Pokemon" meaning I can only attack that Pokemon when I use an attack?
A1. Correct. [But] to complete what you asked, you must still attack that PLAYER. Of course, a trainer or other effect might switch what their Active Pokemon is before you actually attack. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q121 & after-Q122)
Q2. To clarify #121:That would only be for that turn? So next turn, if I didn't use Poison Pollen, I could then choose?
A2. Correct, since it is an activated power, every time you use it, you could specify a new Defending Pokemon. (Dec 12, 2002 WotC Chat, Q129)

== POKEMON BREEDER (Base Set)

* Pokemon Breeder: While it may appear that you could play this card on your teammate, read the last sentence of this card. Other players cannot normally evolve a Pokemon on your turn. So this card can only be played on yourself in this format. (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== POKEMON TRADER (Base Set)

* Pokemon Trader: You can choose to play this card on yourself or on your teammate on your turn. Your teammate must have a Pokemon in his or her hand in order for you to play it on them though. (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== PROFESSOR ELM (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

* Professor Elm: You can choose to use this card on yourself or on your teammate during your turn. Either way, the person who is actually playing the card (takes it from his or her hand and discards it) cannot play any more Trainer cards that turn (this is a cost). (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== PROPHECY (Hypno - Fossil Expansion; Xatu - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Clarify Prophecy in TMP. Can I: A. Play it on my partner ("either player") B. Let my partner look and reorder ("you like?")
A. OK, it won't come up much I think as Xatu isn't a very good card BUT after some discussion to make it easy... When YOU use Prophecy YOU choose 1 player's deck (it can be any players deck in the game) and YOU can rearrange the cards as you see fit. You cannot let your teammmate use this ability. Only the owner of the Xatu (or other Pokemon with this attack) looks at the 3 cards and rearranges them. (Aug 15, 2002 WotC Chat, Q346)

== PSYMIMIC (Alakazam - Expedition Expansion)

Q. In TMP, does the Expedition Alakazam's Pokemon Power have to be targeted?
A. Yes. (Nov 14, 2002 WotC Chat, Q15)

== RAPID SPIN (Donphan - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. TMP Question - I attack with my Donfan using Rapid Spin, can I choose which of my opponents must switch their Pokemon? Also, can I pick my teammate's Pokemon to switch out with this since each item is a separate sentence?
A. You can choose the opponent and you can choose between you and your teammate. (Jan 16, 2003 WotC Chat, Q555)

== RETREAT AID (Dodrio - Jungle Expansion)

* If you bring out a Dodrio, you must declare whether you are having Retreat Aid targeting YOU or your TEAM MATE. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q337)

== SCARE (Dark Feraligatr - Neo: Destiny Expansion)

Q. Does Dark Gatr stop both opponent's babies in team?
A. No just the one you declare. You can redeclare everytime Dark Gatr. becomes active [Ed.Note: In other words, the declaration must stay the same until Dark Feraligatr is no longer active]. (Nov 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q120)

== SECRETE POISON (Kakuna - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, when an attack like Kakuna's "Secrete Poison" or "Agility" specifies the phrase "during your opponent's next turn", does that count for both opponents or do you have to choose one of the opponents to have the effect during their turn only?
A. You would have to specify which opponent. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q303)

== SKETCH (Smeargle - Neo: Discovery Expansion)

Q. In Team Play, can I use Smeargle's "Sketch" attack against the opponent that attacked my partner, or do they have to attack my Active? Also, if both opponents attack my active, can Smeargle choose which attack it will "Sketch"?
A. You can use Smeargle's Sketch to copy an attack even if that attack was used against your team mate. This question brings up questions about "last turn" that we will bring to the rules meeting. (May 23, 2002 WotC Chat, Q301)

== SNATCH (Scizor - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. In TMP Can a player use Aquapolis Scizor Snatch attack on a non-baby's pokemon BUT then choose to bring up a baby from the other opponent'd bench?
A. Sure, but you would not be attacking that Baby Pokemon you just brought up as you already started the attack against a different Pokemon. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q817)

== SPIRAL AURA (Hypno - Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. In team play, for Hypno's Spiral Aura, when you hit an opponent's pokemon can you designate which of your opponents pokemon is switched (meaning either player)?
A. Yes. (Jan 30, 2003 WotC Chat, Q810)

== TIME CAPSULE (Neo: Genesis Expansion)

* Time Capsule: When you play this card you must first declare which opponent has the option to use this card's ability. After they have done so, you can then choose whether you or your teammate gets to use this card's ability. Either way, the person who is actually playing the card (takes it from his or her hand and discards it) cannot play any more Trainer cards that turn (this is a cost). (WotC Pokemon Multiplayer Rules v1.3, Jul 12, 2002)

== TRAMPLE (Tyranitar - Neo: Discovery Expansion)
Q. In Team Play, does Tyranitar's "Trample" attack involve all four players' pokemon in play, or do you have to designate one player from each team?
A. Yes, it does. All four players' Pokemon. (Jun 13, 2002 WotC Chat, Q28 & Q36; Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q38)

== WARP POINT (Gym: Challenge Expansion, Expedition Expansion)

Q. When you play a Warp Point in Team Multiplay, how does it work?
A. Play the card as written. The player who uses the card gets to decide which opponent it affects and which member of his or her team it affects. Each of those players gets to choose which Pokemon they switch up from their own bench. (Sep 16, 2002 WotC Rules Team Update, Item 15)

== WEAKNESS GUARD (Aquapolis Expansion)

Q. In TMP, if I play Weakness Guard on my active, do I choose after which opponent's turn that I have to discard it?
A. Yes! (May 8, 2003 WotC Chat, Q1490 & Q1511)

== WILD GROWTH (Meganium - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. In team battle, can I benefit from my teammate's Meganium's Wild Growth pokemon power?
A. [It] is a continuous Pokemon Power so you must declare when you play that Meganium which player it helps. (Jun 27, 2002 WotC Chat, Q71)

== ZZZAP (Pichu - Neo: Genesis Expansion)

Q. Pichu's Zzzap - in Team Play, does the attack affect all four players in the game, or do you simply pick one player from each team?
A. All four. (Mar 21, 2002 WotC Chat, Q107)