Pokémon SP (TCG)

Pokémon SP are a type of found in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. They first appeared in the expansion. They are considered to be the successor to , featuring Pokémon under the command of Pokémon Trainers.
Pokémon SP (an abbreviated form of Special Pokémon) vary depending on the theme of the expansion in which they appear. They appear in six variants — Pokémon , Pokémon , Pokémon , Pokémon , Pokémon , and Pokémon — which are determined based on the character depicted to own the Pokémon. All Pokémon SP that are not are , and unlike most cards from the era, have a ×2 weakness. Aesthetically, the cards have a stylized "SP" logo in the bottom-left corner of the illustration box, and lack Pokédex data, with the basic statistics below the illustration box being replaced with text specifying the group the Pokémon belongs to.
Pokémon SP include a suffix following the species' name in order to differentiate them from other Pokémon. Examples of the differentiation include:
* cannot evolve from , as its name is not Probopass.
* cannot evolve into , as its name is not Turtwig.
* cannot be leveled-up into Darkrai LV.X, as its name is not Darkrai.
* cannot be leveled-up into Dialga LV.X, but it can be leveled-up into Dialga LV.X.
* Dialga cannot be leveled-up into Dialga LV.X.
* One may have 4 Dialga or Dialga LV.X in a deck as well as 4 Dialga or Dialga LV.X.
Similar to the Owner's Pokémon in , most Pokémon SP belonging to the same character are illustrated by the same artist.
==Pokémon G==
The first indroduced variant of Pokémon SP were Pokémon , debuting in the expansion. Pokémon cards are classified as "Team Galactic's Pokémon" and have an icon of their respective Team Galactic owner in the bottom-right corner of the artwork window. All Pokémon G also have "" at the end of their name in order to differentiate them from other Pokémon. The level shown on the majority of Pokémon cards included in the expansion are the same as their counterparts.
All Pokémon feature 3DCG illustrations.
===Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon G===
==Pokémon GL==
Pokémon debuted in the expansion. Pokémon cards are classified as "Gym Leader's Pokémon" and have an icon of the Gym Leader who uses them in the bottom-right corner of the artwork window. All Pokémon GL have "" at the end of their name in order to differentiate them from other Pokémon. The level shown on all Pokémon cards (excluding Pokémon LV.X) are the same as their counterparts.
Excluding , each Gym Leader's Pokémon are illustrated by a specific artist:
* Roark's Pokémon are illustrated by Suwama Chiaki.
* Gardenia's Pokémon are illustrated by Kanako Eo.
* Fantina's Pokémon are illustrated by Naoyo Kimura.
* Maylene's Pokémon are illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno.
* Crasher Wake's Pokémon are illustrated by Midori Harada.
* Byron's Pokémon are illustrated by Hajime Kusajima.
* Candice's Pokémon are illustrated by Atsuko Nishida.
* Volkner's Pokémon are illustrated by Kouki Saitou.
===Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon GL===
==Pokémon 4==
Pokémon debuted in the expansion. Pokémon cards are classified as "Elite Four's Pokémon" and have an icon of the member of the Elite Four who uses them in the bottom-right corner of the artwork window. All Pokémon 4 have "" at the end of their name in order to differentiate them from other Pokémon (curiously, the English cards still use to depict the 4). The level shown on all Pokémon cards (excluding Pokémon LV.X) are the same as their counterparts.
Excluding , each Elite Four member's Pokémon are illustrated by a specific artist:
* Aaron's Pokémon are illustrated by Kouki Saitou.
* Bertha's Pokémon are illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno.
* Flint's Pokémon are illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda.
* Lucian's Pokémon are illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita.
===Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon 4===
==Pokémon C==
Pokémon debuted in the expansion. Pokémon cards are classified as "Champion's Pokémon" and have an icon of the Champion who uses them in the bottom-right corner of the artwork window. Pokémon originally only featured Cynthia's Pokémon, but a card featuring Iris's was included as one of the . All Pokémon C have "" at the end of their name in order to differentiate them from other Pokémon. The level shown on the majority of Pokémon cards are the same as their or counterparts.
Excluding , all Pokémon are illustrated by kawayoo.
===Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon C===
==Pokémon FB==
Pokémon debuted in the expansion. Pokémon cards are classified as "Frontier Brain's Pokémon" and have an icon of the Frontier Brain who uses them in the bottom-right corner of the artwork window. All Pokémon FB have "" at the end of their name in order to differentiate them from other Pokémon. The level shown on all Pokémon cards (excluding Pokémon LV.X) are the same as their counterparts.
Excluding , each Frontier Brain's Pokémon are illustrated by a specific artist:
* Palmer's Pokémon are illustrated by Shin Nagasawa.
* Thorton's Pokémon are illustrated by Hironobu Yoshida.
* Dahlia's Pokémon are illustrated by Motofumi Fujiwara.
* Darach's Pokémon are illustrated by Hiroki Fuchino.
* Argenta's Pokémon are illustrated by Lee HyunJung.
===Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon FB ===
==Pokémon M==
Debuting in the were Pokémon , which showcase key characters' Pokémon from Arceus: To a Conquering Spacetime. Pokémon cards are classified as "Movie's Pokémon" and have an icon of the character who uses them in the bottom-right corner of the artwork window. All Pokémon M have "" at the end of their name in order to differentiate them from other Pokémon.
Four cards are not depicted along with a character, and use an icon of Michina Temple instead of an icon for a character. They are Chikorita , Totodile , Cyndaquil , and Spiky-eared Pichu .
Excluding Spiky-eared Pichu , the illustrations on all Pokémon are credited to the 2009 Pikachu Project.
===Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon M ===
==Related articles==
Category:Pokémon card classifications
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