Fletchling

Fletchling in the anime: the Berry thief Ash caught

Fletchling shows up in the X and Y anime's first episode, where Serena's mother Grace sends hers to wake Serena up. The better-known Fletchling is Ash's. In "A Battle of Aerial Mobility!" a wild Fletchling snatches a Berry Bonnie was offering a Dedenne and repeatedly outflies Ash's Froakie before Froakie beats it in a canyon rematch and Ash catches it.

It evolved into Fletchinder in "Battles in the Sky!" and into Talonflame in "A Legendary Photo Op!", mid-battle against a wild Moltres, and it fought in most of Ash's Kalos Gym battles.

Fletchling on cards: a Kalos Starter Set original

Fletchling's first card came in the Kalos Starter Set in November 2013, a month after X and Y launched, with art by 5ban Graphics. It followed in the XY base set, Flashfire, the 2014 McDonald's Collection and several XY Trainer Kits, which is why 13 of its 22 printings in our catalog date from the XY era.

Since then it has appeared in Sun & Moon, Sword & Shield, Scarlet & Violet and Mega Evolution sets as a Basic Common that feeds into Fletchinder and Talonflame. Generations #RC25, illustrated by Aya Kusube, places it in that set's Radiant Collection subset.

Cards to know

• Fletchling (Kalos Starter Set #31)

  Fletchling's first card, released in November 2013 with art by 5ban Graphics.

• Fletchling (XY #113)

  Fletchling's printing in the XY base set that opened the XY era of the TCG.

• Fletchling (Generations #RC25)

  A Radiant Collection card from Generations, illustrated by Aya Kusube.

• Fletchling (Phantom Forces #89)

  A 2014 Common illustrated by Kyoko Umemoto, released while Ash's Fletchling was on screen.