Pokémon Communication

What it does

Pokémon Communication lets a player trade a Pokémon from hand for one of their choosing from the deck. Early wordings had the traded Pokémon placed specifically on top of the deck, while Team Up's wording instead puts it into the deck generally, since the deck is shuffled immediately afterward anyway.

Printing history

Pokémon Communication first appeared in HeartGold SoulSilver in 2010 with art by Takashi Yamaguchi. 5ban Graphics illustrated the Black and White printing and its trainer kit reprints, and Ayaka Yoshida illustrated the Team Up printing, which appeared as both a Regular card and a Full Art Secret card. It has also reprinted across HS trainer Kit products for Gyarados during the HeartGold and SoulSilver era and BW trainer Kit products for Excadrill and Zoroark during the Black and White era, alongside its mainline appearances.

Trivia and origin

This card's effect is practically identical to Pokémon Trader, first released in Base Set. It is based on the PC and Pokémon Storage System from the games, where Trainers deposit and withdraw stored Pokémon; a Pokémon Center from Alola appears in the Yellow A Alternate print's illustration. The Team Up printing was also reprinted as one of the Japanese SM-P Promotional cards distributed to Event Organizers, and a Yellow A Alternate art version with different artwork by Studio Bora Inc. was awarded as an International Championships participation card for the 2019-2020 season.

Cards to know

• Pokémon Communication (HeartGold SoulSilver #98)

  HeartGold SoulSilver printing is Pokémon Communication's first appearance, illustrated by Takashi Yamaguchi

• Pokémon Communication (Black & White #99)

  Black and White printing carries the card into that era's trainer kits

• Pokémon Communication (Team Up #152)

  Team Up printing introduces the reworded shuffled-into-deck wording

• Pokémon Communication (Team Up #196)

  Team Up printing also includes a Full Art Secret treatment