Stage 1 Pokémon (TCG)

A Stage 1 Pokémon (Japanese: 1ポケモン 1st Evolution Pokémon), sometimes also known as a Stage 1 card or even simply Stage 1, is a type of evolution card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This also means it is a kind of card. Stage 1 Pokémon usually evolve from , but there are exceptions. Usually, Stage 1 Pokémon have more , stronger s, and higher s than the Pokémon they evolve from.
==Playing==
A Stage 1 Pokémon can be placed on top of any with the same name as the name in the "evolves from" field on the Stage 1 Pokémon, and taking this action means that Pokémon evolves into the Stage 1 Pokémon. Usually, the name corresponds with the name of an unevolved Basic Pokémon that is the prior evolution of the species depicted on the Stage 1 Pokémon card, though many variations on Pokémon cards change this parameter. Some Stage 1 Pokemon evolve from s, which are s that are being treated as Basic Pokemon while in play. However, in some cases, the Basic Pokémon is an evolved Pokémon. This is usually because the Basic Pokémon evolved from a . In other cases, usually involving interactions between Fossil Pokémon from different , a Stage 1 Pokémon can evolve into a Stage 1 Pokémon.
To reiterate, only the name of the card being evolved from matters, and all other characteristics and designations of the card being evolved from have no effect on if a Stage 1 Pokémon card can be played unless those characteristics explicitly say that they do. One such effect is seen on Ditto Prism Star, which can use its Almighty Evolution to allow any Stage 1 Pokémon to evolve from it. Another is Eevee's Ascension DNA Ability, which allows cards that evolve from Eevee to evolve from Eevee-GX despite the fact Eevee-GX does not have the name of "".
When a Stage 1 Pokémon enters play through evolution, it is an . In rare cases caused by certain effects, a Stage 1 Pokémon can enter play without evolving from another Pokémon. In those instances, it is possible to have a Stage 1 Pokémon that is an . 
When a Pokémon evolves into a Stage 1 Pokémon, any damage counters that were on the prior evolved form remain on the Stage 1 Pokémon, and so are any attached cards like and s. However, all s are recovered from, and any other assorted effects are also cleared off the Pokémon. The characteristics of the prior evolution no longer have any effect on the evolved Pokémon, being overridden by the characteristics of the Stage 1 card. This means that Stage 1 Pokémon cannot use any of the s, , and other capabilities that their prior evolution had. Some effects can allow a Stage 1 Pokémon to use attacks from its prior evolutions. 
During each player's turn, that player can play any number of Stage 1 Pokémon cards from their hand to evolve their Pokémon. Certain other effects can cause a Stage 1 Pokémon card to be played and evolve a Pokémon, such as that of . However, Pokémon cannot be evolved on the first turn of the game or on the first turn they come into play. As evolution counts as entering play, If a Pokémon evolves into a Stage 1 Pokémon, it cannot evolve again until the next turn. However, some effects exist which can circumvent these rules.
==Appearance==
The location and design of the "evolves from" field has changed over time, but generally is in the upper left corner of the card along with the Stage 1 designation. It is accompanied by a picture of the species of the Pokémon that the Stage 1 Pokémon evolves from.
Besides that, Stage 1 Pokémon introduce another visual element on the card:
* to , : Stage 1 Pokémon have a gold line near the top of the card, under the "Evolves from" text.
* to : Stage 1 Pokémon have a transparent curved line on the top bar between the name and HP, which has a less translucent line on the left.
* to : Stage 1 Pokémon have two curved lines on the top bar between the name and HP.
* to : Stage 1 Pokémon have a gold curved line between the name and HP.
* to , onward: Stage 1 Pokémon have a silver curved line between the name and HP.
* to : Stage 1 Pokémon have a short, black stroke at the end of the "Evolves from" bar. This also appears on .
* to : Stage 1 Pokémon have a silver arch between the name and HP.
==Relation to the video games==
In most cases, Stage 1 Pokémon are Pokemon that have evolved a single time in the Generation they were introduced in. Examples of this are , , and . Some exceptions to this are certain Cross-generational evolutions introduced in Generation 4, namely , , and . They evolve from Pokémon already designated as and are therefore also Stage 1 Pokémon. Another group of exceptions are Pokémon that are restored from Fossils. Except for in the Black & White Series and XY Series, these Pokémon evolve from a , and are also Stage 1 Pokémon.
Category:Pokémon Trading Card Game mechanics
it:Pokémon Fase 1 (GCC)
ja:1進化ポケモン
zh:1阶进化宝可梦（TCG）