A Bold New Chapter
Black & White launched a fresh era with Generation V Unova Pokemon, the debut of full-art cards, and a streamlined design that modernized the TCG.
bw1 Difficulty
2/5 to complete
Avg Card Value
$2
Market average
Top Card
Full Art Reshiram
$300+
Rarity Tier
Overview
Black & White, released April 25, 2011, launched the BW era with 115 cards featuring Generation V Unova Pokemon exclusively. It introduced full-art cards to the TCG for the first time — textured ultra rares that span the entire card face. The set also debuted the modern card template and removed LV.X and Prime mechanics in favor of a streamlined approach.
Most Valuable Cards
Full Art Reshiram (#113) and Full Art Zekrom (#114) are the marquee chase cards and the first full-art Pokemon cards ever printed. Full Art Pikachu (#115, secret rare) is exceptionally rare and valuable. Regular holo Reshiram and Zekrom are iconic. Emboar (ability variant) was a competitive staple.
Cards from Black & White
Tap any card to see price history and details.
28 of 115 
Snivy
Snivy
Servine
Servine
Deerling
Emboar
Oshawott
Basculin
Zebstrika
Swoobat
Timburr
Purrloin
Klink
Lillipup
Cinccino
PlusPower
Switch
Grass Energy
Fire Energy
Water Energy
Lightning Energy
Psychic Energy
Fighting Energy
Darkness Energy
Metal Energy
Reshiram
Zekrom
Pikachu
Frequently Asked Questions
01. What are full-art cards in Black & White?
Full-art cards are ultra rare cards where the Pokemon artwork extends across the entire card surface with a special textured holographic treatment. Black & White introduced this rarity with full-art Reshiram, Zekrom, and Pikachu.
02. What is the most valuable Black & White base set card?
Full Art Pikachu (#115) is the most valuable as a secret rare. Near-mint copies sell for $80–$200. Full Art Reshiram and Zekrom are also premium cards at $30–$80 each in near-mint condition.
03. Does Black & White only have Unova Pokemon?
Yes, the Black & White base set exclusively features Generation V Pokemon from the Unova region. This all-new approach mirrored the video games' design philosophy of starting completely fresh with a new Pokedex.
04. How is the Black & White era different from Diamond & Pearl?
The BW era removed LV.X, Prime, and LEGEND mechanics, introducing full-art cards and Ability (replacing Poke-Power/Poke-Body). The card design was modernized with a cleaner layout and standardized format.
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