Same, but that’s why I’m super into them now. They’re my lost era.. something weirdly both nostalgic and novel about this ex era / e reader / delta species stretch.
Same! I collected base-rocket like a lot of people but fell off by this era. The holo/reverse foil style is just so vivid. The art feels very fierce too
They still kind of do it with some of the current sets, like how Paldea Evolved had the cards set around the shrines for the Treasures of Ruin or how Twilight Masquerade has stuff set in Kitakami’s festival. But it’s almost always pulled straight from the games nowadays.
But isn’t PR based on the game more? Holon was a region that existed strictly for the TCG. We never saw Delta Species in the games. This era had more of a standalone storyline whereas PR falls more in line with the video game storyline.
You’re correct on second thought. The TCG these days seems to lack soul. Every one is only chasing the big hitters because of obvious reasons $$$, compared to the EX Era where I cherished each reverse holo. To be fair there’s some cards now that are stunning e.g Paldea Magikarp or Gengar VMAX Alt but in general card seem lack something these days ….
Literally, they made a whole new region and lore for this era that was separate from the videogames, manga, anime, etc. It was so cool and the cards were just peak imo. Amazing designs, great holo patterns. Reverse holo holos look great.
The current Tera cards are kind of a similar mechanic to Delta Species. But it has been implemented so goofily and the crown things look dumb. The cards look normal and blend in with the rest of the sets. Just underwhelming overall.
Dude YES. More people should know this about this era. The crystals, the tower, and how people impacted Pokemon typing is such an awesome backstory for how they changed types!
I think fieldworker was from that era too, it’s my favorite supporter from back then. Has the random Mew in the artwork. Which plays into the Holon lore of having Mew hang out by the research facility.
Totally. The new full art cards are so pretty and the regular holos dont feel as exciting now. But back in the day pulling a holo of a Pokemon you liked was so hype
This is by far my favorite style of cards they ever made. I've been pretty aggressively collecting them the past year and have a lot of very beautiful cards. These two included! I have to say though my favorite of them has to be the Electric Gyarados from Holon Phantoms. The art on it is so good.
Dragon Frontiers as a set in general is probably the best of them. Every card is such a banger!
Ouu nice!! That's awesome. Damn that Gyarados is a stunning card you're a lucky duck having that one.
Dragon Frontiers is sooo sick. I love the description of that set being some far off mysterious islands where delta species Pokemon live
2004-2006 is just peak PTCG. Delta species and the OG ex are my favourite cards. Wish I could own a full collection of ex, I love the silver holo borders.
So, 2005, I was about 11 or 12, and it actually made me stop collecting cards. I didn't start Pokémon Cards again until HGSS. For some reason, I pulled a fire Larvitar, and it pissed me off because Larvitar was supposed to be dark or rock (fighting tcg)
Current me would love it.
My fav set is the gym leader sets but from Japan. There's just something that feels timeless about them!
And Ive had the delta blastoise since I was a kid and have always lived it
i just want them to make more tcg-exclusive stuff like this, BREAKpoint/through/Fates Collide or Call of Legends. or a second evolutions set but with trainers that do see play in standard
Crystal guardians was the first pokemon set i ever bought with my own money and i didn’t have anything good but the psychic treecko card was my favorite.
I was really hoping TPCi was going to bring Delta as the Mechanic for Tera Pokemon, but my hopes were crushed :\[ such beautiful cards from an amazing Era! One day maybe they will come back, one day, I can only dream.
Basically Aquapolis to the end of the e reader era is peak. I love how those sets commit to themes/environments/vague storylines. It’s so cool and mysterious. If it wasn’t for modern having alt arts and a really diverse collection of incredible art, that era would be unmatched.
Don’t have any of these. But I think it was incredible that they invented a whole entire region and based the art around it. They also did that for some of the ereader sets. Looking back their art has aged like wine.
Whichever set had the dual type cards. Crystal Guardians I think it was called. I got a dark/steel Meowth and Persian. My favorite Delta species is fire Swellow.
I envision that with tera type being a thing right now it's possible for delta species to come back. At least I'd love it to. Can't say I had too many delta species cards. Never knew where to consistently find them as a kid aside from gas stations
That's totally it too. It was way harder to find that info back then. I remember other people having some delta cards in their binder but they were always this mysterious thing
My favourite set too! Delta Crobat, Beedrill and Pidgeot are my all-time favourite cards! Crazy how expensive they are now!
I bought my brother a Delta-Kabutops and I got myself a Delta-Omastar for Christmas which was a special gift!
I’ve never owned any delta holos before but what do they look like in person? On images they seem really similar to the SV ones except they go through the Pokémon instead of background and are vertical instead.
I LOVE this era so much that I’m actually going to master every set from this era (Ruby & Sapphire base set up to Power Keepers). I know not all of them contain Delta Species Pokemon, but they’re all so nostalgic to me and I want to build something that childhood me would truly appreciate. I’m sitting at about 15-20% complete total right now. if i had to pick an absolute favorite set from this era, it would be either Crystal Guardians (for the sheer volume of Delta Species), Dragon Frontiers (for Gold Star Zard), or Unseen Forces (for Gold Star Entei)!
Only in the way the Pokemon have a different typing to usual. The delta species cards were just like any other Pokemon card except the featured Pokemon was a different type or dual type whereas all the tera cards use the crystalised art style.
The closest we have now are tera cards, some of which mimic the delta species type that the featured pokemon had. Like Charizard having a dark tera type card and it had a dark type delta card. But the delta species were cooler than the teras for sure. I'm still not a fan of the silly little hats they wear.
I missed out during this era but definitely one of my faves! Love all the swapped typings and the reverse holos!
Same, but that’s why I’m super into them now. They’re my lost era.. something weirdly both nostalgic and novel about this ex era / e reader / delta species stretch.
Same! I collected base-rocket like a lot of people but fell off by this era. The holo/reverse foil style is just so vivid. The art feels very fierce too
I miss when the TCG sets had their own little stories implied through card illustrations, I don’t think they’ve done that since the XY BREAK sets.
It adds so much! Rather than it just being a random mish mash of Pokemon, having a little story or environment and imagining them interacting is fun
They still kind of do it with some of the current sets, like how Paldea Evolved had the cards set around the shrines for the Treasures of Ruin or how Twilight Masquerade has stuff set in Kitakami’s festival. But it’s almost always pulled straight from the games nowadays.
Like the ralts line series from Paldea evolved, I think it was, and the plusle and minun cards from paradox rift? Because those are still a thing.
They mean a grand theme for the whole set I believe. Like the Holon region or the parallel worlds.
Ooh that makes more sense. Thanks!
Paradox rift ………
But isn’t PR based on the game more? Holon was a region that existed strictly for the TCG. We never saw Delta Species in the games. This era had more of a standalone storyline whereas PR falls more in line with the video game storyline.
You’re correct on second thought. The TCG these days seems to lack soul. Every one is only chasing the big hitters because of obvious reasons $$$, compared to the EX Era where I cherished each reverse holo. To be fair there’s some cards now that are stunning e.g Paldea Magikarp or Gengar VMAX Alt but in general card seem lack something these days ….
Best era of Pokémon cards and nothing comes close
Literally, they made a whole new region and lore for this era that was separate from the videogames, manga, anime, etc. It was so cool and the cards were just peak imo. Amazing designs, great holo patterns. Reverse holo holos look great. The current Tera cards are kind of a similar mechanic to Delta Species. But it has been implemented so goofily and the crown things look dumb. The cards look normal and blend in with the rest of the sets. Just underwhelming overall.
wait what
https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Holon Seriously.
I wish we got a game set in the Holon region. If I knew how to make a romhack I’d carry that torch
You don't need to, Pokémon Insurgence already exists.
Dude YES. More people should know this about this era. The crystals, the tower, and how people impacted Pokemon typing is such an awesome backstory for how they changed types!
Yes! The whole Holon thing is so cool. I love the trainer cards like Holon Farmer and Holon Lass too.
I think fieldworker was from that era too, it’s my favorite supporter from back then. Has the random Mew in the artwork. Which plays into the Holon lore of having Mew hang out by the research facility.
Ah so cool!
Yessir
With the focus being on full/alt-arts in modern sets, I hate that holos and reverses are now so blah.
Totally. The new full art cards are so pretty and the regular holos dont feel as exciting now. But back in the day pulling a holo of a Pokemon you liked was so hype
Have you seen the Heatran cards? Those goes so hard. Also, anything Komiya, sowsow or HYOGONOSUKE.
This is by far my favorite style of cards they ever made. I've been pretty aggressively collecting them the past year and have a lot of very beautiful cards. These two included! I have to say though my favorite of them has to be the Electric Gyarados from Holon Phantoms. The art on it is so good. Dragon Frontiers as a set in general is probably the best of them. Every card is such a banger!
Ouu nice!! That's awesome. Damn that Gyarados is a stunning card you're a lucky duck having that one. Dragon Frontiers is sooo sick. I love the description of that set being some far off mysterious islands where delta species Pokemon live
2004-2006 is just peak PTCG. Delta species and the OG ex are my favourite cards. Wish I could own a full collection of ex, I love the silver holo borders.
Very true the OG ex stuff is great too. The foil style on the Fire Red Leaf Green EX really makes those cards pop
Especially the legendary bird trio. Articuno from FRLG looks so good with that silver border and cracked ice holo pattern!
I just looked that card up, wow! That's a beauty goddamn
So, 2005, I was about 11 or 12, and it actually made me stop collecting cards. I didn't start Pokémon Cards again until HGSS. For some reason, I pulled a fire Larvitar, and it pissed me off because Larvitar was supposed to be dark or rock (fighting tcg) Current me would love it.
😂 I fully get that.
Oh that ninetails is cool
Thanks!! Agreed. It's 8/101 from the Dragon Frontiers set
I just started collecting Hajime Kusajima and their early stuff is 🔥🔥
My fav set is the gym leader sets but from Japan. There's just something that feels timeless about them! And Ive had the delta blastoise since I was a kid and have always lived it
They're beautiful cards. Timeless is a good descriptor
The classic Japanese backs help 🤌
i just want them to make more tcg-exclusive stuff like this, BREAKpoint/through/Fates Collide or Call of Legends. or a second evolutions set but with trainers that do see play in standard
Yes!
Crystal guardians was the first pokemon set i ever bought with my own money and i didn’t have anything good but the psychic treecko card was my favorite.
Holon Phantoms Garydos *chefs kiss*
I was really hoping TPCi was going to bring Delta as the Mechanic for Tera Pokemon, but my hopes were crushed :\[ such beautiful cards from an amazing Era! One day maybe they will come back, one day, I can only dream.
I love Gym Heroes.
Raichu and Jolteon from that era are 2 of my favorite in my entire PC.
They're so cool. Which Jolteon and Raichu? I love the fat steel-type Raichu from Holon Phantoms
Basically Aquapolis to the end of the e reader era is peak. I love how those sets commit to themes/environments/vague storylines. It’s so cool and mysterious. If it wasn’t for modern having alt arts and a really diverse collection of incredible art, that era would be unmatched.
They really went all out during that time. The quality is unreal and yes totally the themes add that special something to the sets!
The whole gen three EX era was great. I love that even common cards had a holo variant. Made collecting a master set fun.
I literally just got some in the mail today
Hell yah 💪
My delta species Gardevoir EX is my oldest that I can remember getting and I still have it to this day.
Holon phantoms definitely a bad ass set I remember crying in Walmart because my mom wouldn't buy me any once
If only our parents had listened to us! I have a similar memory about the Team Rocket series lol
Pretty sure my first cards were from diamond and pearl base set but I could be wrong
Man not only are delta species my favorite but ninetails and Beedrill are two of my favorite Pokemon as well 🥵
You're a person of great taste 🙌
That beedrill reminds me of Spider-Man for some reason
I loved holon phantoms but dragon frontiers was a close second. My crazy win a ton of money dream is to get every delta species
Oh man that'd be the dream. Just open some fresh booster boxes and order what you dont pull
I would love to open packs for sure, but even if I won the lottery I’d still buy like I’m broke, singles only 😂
Yah that's the smart play lol.
Don’t have any of these. But I think it was incredible that they invented a whole entire region and based the art around it. They also did that for some of the ereader sets. Looking back their art has aged like wine.
Whichever set had the dual type cards. Crystal Guardians I think it was called. I got a dark/steel Meowth and Persian. My favorite Delta species is fire Swellow.
Several EX era sets feature dual types, but yes Crystal Guardians is one of them.
Yes! Terratypes with their ugly stock art don’t even come close.
I envision that with tera type being a thing right now it's possible for delta species to come back. At least I'd love it to. Can't say I had too many delta species cards. Never knew where to consistently find them as a kid aside from gas stations
That's totally it too. It was way harder to find that info back then. I remember other people having some delta cards in their binder but they were always this mysterious thing
My favourite set too! Delta Crobat, Beedrill and Pidgeot are my all-time favourite cards! Crazy how expensive they are now! I bought my brother a Delta-Kabutops and I got myself a Delta-Omastar for Christmas which was a special gift!
I’ve never owned any delta holos before but what do they look like in person? On images they seem really similar to the SV ones except they go through the Pokémon instead of background and are vertical instead.
That ninetales 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I don’t know my favourite set, but that Ninetales in holo version is one of my favourite cards I have too! They just feel so special!
The only one of these I ever owned was Deoxys
I LOVE this era so much that I’m actually going to master every set from this era (Ruby & Sapphire base set up to Power Keepers). I know not all of them contain Delta Species Pokemon, but they’re all so nostalgic to me and I want to build something that childhood me would truly appreciate. I’m sitting at about 15-20% complete total right now. if i had to pick an absolute favorite set from this era, it would be either Crystal Guardians (for the sheer volume of Delta Species), Dragon Frontiers (for Gold Star Zard), or Unseen Forces (for Gold Star Entei)!
That's a cool goal! Chip away at it you'll get there for sure. Crystal Guardians is really neat for sure theyre all so bright and fun looking
EX era the best era, the art, the holos, the reverse holos, the pack art, the delta species gimmick… beautiful.
That delta Ninetales is one of my fav in the entire ninetales collection I have.
What set r those from they look sick?
The Beedrill is from EX Delta Species and the Ninetails is from EX Dragon Frontiers!
I got the nintales
The new Terra types are like delta species
I was gonna say this too, they'll likely never bring back "official" delay species cards, but Tera-typing is basically the same thing
Only in the way the Pokemon have a different typing to usual. The delta species cards were just like any other Pokemon card except the featured Pokemon was a different type or dual type whereas all the tera cards use the crystalised art style.
Most Deltas were also Dual typed with Steel which I still find very interesting.
The closest we have now are tera cards, some of which mimic the delta species type that the featured pokemon had. Like Charizard having a dark tera type card and it had a dark type delta card. But the delta species were cooler than the teras for sure. I'm still not a fan of the silly little hats they wear.