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Claw Fossil

5 printings · 5 sets

About Claw Fossil

Card type: Item
Printings: 5
Sets: 5
First printed: Sandstorm (2003)
Card text wordings: 4
Effect: Played as a Basic Pokémon with no attacks that can be discarded from play
Illustrators: Ryo Ueda

What it does

Claw Fossil occupies a Pokémon's spot in play as a Basic Pokémon with no attacks that can't retreat or be affected by Special Conditions, and can be discarded from play during its owner's turn before attacking. The Legends Awakened wording reversed the earlier rule so that if Claw Fossil is Knocked Out in battle, it does count as a Knocked Out Pokémon, though discarding it voluntarily still does not count, a subtle but meaningful shift for Prize card math.

Printing history

Claw Fossil first appeared in Sandstorm in 2003 with art by Ryo Ueda, who illustrated every catalogued printing of the card. It was reprinted through Legend Maker, Holon Phantoms, and Power Keepers in the EX era, and reached the Diamond and Pearl era in Legends Awakened, giving it a five-set run entirely under one illustrator. From Legend Maker on, its text says it counts as a Colorless Pokémon as well as a Trainer card, where Sandstorm said instead of a Trainer card. The Power Keepers text differs from Legend Maker's only by a missing comma.

Printings in detail

Our catalog lists 5 printings of Claw Fossil across 5 sets, all Common rarity, spanning from Sandstorm in 2003 through Legends Awakened in 2008, without any rare or secret treatments among them.

Cards to know

Claw Fossil (Sandstorm #90)
Sandstorm printing is Claw Fossil's first appearance, illustrated by Ryo Ueda
Claw Fossil (Power Keepers #84)
Power Keepers printing is the last of its four EX era printings
Claw Fossil (Legends Awakened #138)
Legends Awakened printing introduces the reworded Knocked Out rule

Claw Fossil: common questions

What changed in the Legends Awakened wording?

It reversed the rule so that being Knocked Out in battle counts as a Knocked Out Pokémon, though voluntary discarding still does not.

Who illustrated Claw Fossil?

Ryo Ueda illustrated every catalogued printing of the card.

Can Claw Fossil retreat or be affected by Special Conditions?

No, it can't retreat and can't be affected by any Special Conditions.

Wording history — Claw Fossil

From Sandstorm (2003) · 1 printing
Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play, Claw Fossil counts as a Colorless Pokémon (instead of a Trainer card). Claw Fossil has no attacks of its own, can't retreat, and can't be affected by any Special Conditions. If Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, it doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. (Discard it anyway.) At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play.
From Legend Maker (2006) · 2 printings
Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play, Claw Fossil counts as a Colorless Pokémon (as well as a Trainer card). Claw Fossil has no attacks of its own, can't retreat, and can't be affected by any Special Conditions. If Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, it doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. (Discard it anyway.) At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play.
From Power Keepers (2007) · 1 printing
Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play Claw Fossil counts as a Colorless Pokémon (as well as a Trainer card). Claw Fossil has no attacks of its own, can't retreat, and can't be affected by any Special Conditions. If Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, it doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. (Discard it anyway.) At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play.
From Legends Awakened (2008) · 1 printing
Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Colorless Basic Pokémon. (Claw Fossil counts as a Trainer card as well, but if Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, this counts as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Claw Fossil can't be affected by any Special Conditions and can't retreat. At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play. (This doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon.)

What Claw Fossil does (current wording)

Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Colorless Basic Pokémon. (Claw Fossil counts as a Trainer card as well, but if Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, this counts as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Claw Fossil can't be affected by any Special Conditions and can't retreat. At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play. (This doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon.)

About Claw Fossil

Card type

Item

Printings

Sets

First printed

Sandstorm (2003)

Card text wordings

Effect

Played as a Basic Pokémon with no attacks that can be discarded from play

Illustrators

Ryo Ueda

What it does

Printing history

Printings in detail

Our catalog lists 5 printings of Claw Fossil across 5 sets, all Common rarity, spanning from Sandstorm in 2003 through Legends Awakened in 2008, without any rare or secret treatments among them.

Cards to know

Claw Fossil (Sandstorm #90)
Sandstorm printing is Claw Fossil's first appearance, illustrated by Ryo Ueda
Claw Fossil (Power Keepers #84)
Power Keepers printing is the last of its four EX era printings
Claw Fossil (Legends Awakened #138)
Legends Awakened printing introduces the reworded Knocked Out rule

Claw Fossil: common questions

What changed in the Legends Awakened wording?

It reversed the rule so that being Knocked Out in battle counts as a Knocked Out Pokémon, though voluntary discarding still does not.

Who illustrated Claw Fossil?

Ryo Ueda illustrated every catalogued printing of the card.

Can Claw Fossil retreat or be affected by Special Conditions?

No, it can't retreat and can't be affected by any Special Conditions.

Wording history — Claw Fossil

From Sandstorm (2003) · 1 printing

Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play, Claw Fossil counts as a Colorless Pokémon (instead of a Trainer card). Claw Fossil has no attacks of its own, can't retreat, and can't be affected by any Special Conditions. If Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, it doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. (Discard it anyway.) At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play.

From Legend Maker (2006) · 2 printings

Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play, Claw Fossil counts as a Colorless Pokémon (as well as a Trainer card). Claw Fossil has no attacks of its own, can't retreat, and can't be affected by any Special Conditions. If Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, it doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. (Discard it anyway.) At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play.

From Power Keepers (2007) · 1 printing

Play Claw Fossil as if it were a Basic Pokémon. While in play Claw Fossil counts as a Colorless Pokémon (as well as a Trainer card). Claw Fossil has no attacks of its own, can't retreat, and can't be affected by any Special Conditions. If Claw Fossil is Knocked Out, it doesn't count as a Knocked Out Pokémon. (Discard it anyway.) At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Claw Fossil from play.

From Legends Awakened (2008) · 1 printing