Pokémon Catcher

What it does

Pokémon Catcher forces the opponent's chosen Benched Pokémon into their Active Spot on a coin flip heads, letting a player target a weaker attacker or a Pokémon set up for a knockout. Wording changes mostly modernized pronouns, from 'his or her' to 'their,' before Scarlet and Violet rephrased the mechanic as 'switch in' rather than 'switch... with' the Active Pokémon.

Printing history

Pokémon Catcher first appeared in Emerging Powers in 2011 with art by 5ban Graphics, who also illustrated a Secret Rare printing in Dark Explorers. Toyste Beach illustrated the Sun and Moon era prints, Ryo Ueda the Sword and Shield printing, and Studio Bora Inc. the Scarlet and Violet and Mega Evolution era printings including Perfect Order. It has also been bundled into XY trainer Kit products for Noivern and Sylveon during the XY era, alongside its appearances in Emerging Powers, Dark Explorers, Plasma Blast, Kalos Starter Set, and BREAKpoint.

Trivia

This card's Black and White Series effect matches that of Gust of Wind, a card first released in the Base Set. Its effect from the XY Series onward matches that of Pokémon Reversal. Pokémon Catcher has been a consistent reprint across the Black and White, XY, Sun and Moon, Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and Mega Evolution eras, with illustrators 5ban Graphics, Toyste Beach, Ryo Ueda, and Studio Bora Inc. each contributing art in turn.

Cards to know

• Pokémon Catcher (Emerging Powers #95)

  Emerging Powers printing is Pokémon Catcher's first appearance, illustrated by 5ban Graphics

• Pokémon Catcher (Dark Explorers #111)

  Dark Explorers printing includes a Secret Rare treatment

• Pokémon Catcher (Scarlet & Violet #187)

  Scarlet and Violet printing introduces the reworded switch-in wording

• Pokémon Catcher (Perfect Order #082)

  Perfect Order printing brings Pokémon Catcher into the Mega Evolution era