PlusPower

What it does

PlusPower attaches to a Pokémon for a single turn, boosting the damage of its next attack by 10 before the card discards itself. The original Base Set wording applied this bonus after Weakness and Resistance were calculated, while the Diamond and Pearl wording changed the timing to apply the bonus before Weakness and Resistance, which changes the total against a Pokémon with Weakness or Resistance. The Black and White wording dropped the attachment, instead giving your Pokémon's attacks 10 more damage for the turn.

Printing history

PlusPower first appeared in Base Set in 1999 with art by Keiji Kinebuchi. Ryo Ueda illustrated the Diamond and Pearl era reprints and 5ban Graphics the Black and White printing and its trainer kit reprints. The Unleashed printing briefly changed 'Active Pokémon' to 'Defending Pokémon' before an errata reverted it. It has also reprinted in BW trainer Kit products for Excadrill and Zoroark during the Black and White era, following its long run through Base Set 2, Diamond and Pearl, Secret Wonders, Platinum, and Unleashed.

Origin

PlusPower is the Japanese name of X Attack, an item in the games; the English card may have used the Japanese name by mistake, or because 'PlusPower' is inscribed on the object in the card's artwork. PlusPower's Diamond and Pearl printing originated from the Japanese Space-Time Creation expansion and was reprinted across Secret Wonders and Platinum.

Cards to know

• PlusPower (Base Set #84)

  Base Set printing is PlusPower's first appearance, illustrated by Keiji Kinebuchi

• PlusPower (Diamond & Pearl #109)

  Diamond and Pearl printing changes the damage bonus to apply before Weakness and Resistance

• PlusPower (Unleashed #80)

  Unleashed printing briefly used 'Defending Pokémon' wording before an errata reverted it