Gen 5 Introductions That Inspired Black Bolt and White Flare

15th May 2025 EDT FEATURES

Unova Revisited: Gen 5 Introductions That Inspired Black Bolt [SV11B / BLK] and White Flare [SV11W / WHT]

Since Black Bolt [SV11B / BLK] and White Flare [SV11W / WHT] are almost here, there's no better time to take a look back at the generation to which the upcoming dual set pays tribute.

With dual set Black Bolt [SV11B / BLK] and White Flare [SV11W / WHT] soon to be released, there’s no better time to look back at the fifth generation of the Pokémon TCG as this upcoming dual set is a dose of nostalgia for Gen 5—especially among those who grew up with that specific era of the Pokémon franchise.

Running from 2010 to 2013, Gen 5 introduced a total of 156 new Pokémon via Pokémon Black and White, the generation’s main-series video games set in the Unova region. To this day, that total of 156 remains the all-time record as the most new Pokémon released in a single generation.

As one might expect, Gen 5 also introduced many elements to the Pokémon TCG; some have since been phased out while others have been kept to this day.

Here’s a rundown of all the major elements that were introduced to the Pokémon TCG in Gen 5.

Pokémon-EX

Zekrom EX P [BW-P 159/BW-P](Promotional Cards “Special Pack With Premium Glitter Card Zekrom”)

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Mewtwo EX SR[BW3-P 055/052](Expansion Pack “Psycho Drive”)

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Reshiram EX P [BW-P 158/BW-P](Promotional Cards “Special Pack With Premium Glitter Card Reshiram”)

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Pokémon-ex were actually first introduced to the Pokémon TCG in Gen 3 before being controversially axed at the beginning of Gen 4. In Gen 4, Pokémon-ex were replaced by the generally unpopular Pokémon LV.X. In part due to the ensuing fan backlash, Creatures Inc. brought back Pokémon-ex—now stylized as “Pokémon-EX”—in Gen 5.

Pokémon-EX were re-introducted to the Pokémon TCG in September 2011 as part of dual set Psycho Drive [BW3] and Hail Blizzard [BW3]. Like their predecessors, Pokémon-EX had more HP and stronger attacks than their ordinary counterparts.

Pokémon-EX remained in the Pokémon TCG until the end of Gen 6. They were replaced by Pokémon GX in Gen 7 and Pokémon V in Gen 8 before once again being revived in Gen 9; however, this time their collective name would be stylized as “Pokémon ex”. Today, Pokémon ex are still in the Pokémon TCG.

ACE SPEC Cards

Crystal Wall R :1ED [BW6 059/059](Expansion Pack “Freeze Bolt”)

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Computer Search R :1ED [BW6 058/059](Expansion Pack “Cold Flare”)

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Gold Potion R :1ED [BW6 058/059](Expansion Pack “Freeze Bolt”)

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ACE SPEC cards were a new type of Trainer card which made their debut in Gen 5 dual set Freeze Bolt [BW6] and Cold Flare [BW6]. Designed to be more powerful than ordinary Trainer cards, these cards’ effect on gameplay was at such a level that each deck was only permitted to contain one ACE SPEC card.

In English Pokémon TCG sets (but not Japanese), ACE SPEC cards were assigned their own rarity: Rare ACE. ACE SPEC cards were removed from the Pokémon TCG at the end of Gen 5 before being brought back in Gen 9 as part of dual set Wild Force [SV5K] and Cyber Judge [SV5M]; they remained in the TCG until again being phased out after Terastal Festival ex [SV8a]. In Gen 9, all ACE SPEC cards in both languages had their own rarity.

Team Plasma Cards

Articuno EX SR[BW7 072/070](Expansion Pack “Plasma Gale”)

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Lugia EX SR :1ED [BW7 074/070](Expansion Pack “Plasma Gale”)

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Colress SR :1ED [BW7 075/070](Expansion Pack “Plasma Gale”)

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Team Plasma was the villainous organization of the Unova region introduced in Pokémon Black and White. They ostensibly sought to “liberate” all Pokémon owned by a Trainer; however, this was merely a front for the true goal of Team Plasma leader Ghetsis, who had manipulated the members of Team Plasma. Ghetsis sought to become the only person with any Pokémon.

In the Pokémon TCG, cards related to Team Plasma were first seen in Plasma Gale [BW7], a fifth-generation set released in September 2012. All Team Plasma cards had a decolorized Team Plasma logo on the card’s lower half unless the card was a Full Art card; in the case of Full Art cards, the logo would be in the illustration in full color.

Team Plasma cards, as their own card category, have since been phased out of the TCG; however, cards related to Team Plasma in some capacity continue to be printed to this day.

Full Art Cards

Reshiram SR :1ED [BW1 055/053](Expansion Pack “Black Collection”)

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Zekrom SR[BW1 055/053](Expansion Pack “White Collection”)

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Tornadus SR :1ED [BW1 054/053](Expansion Pack “Black Collection”)

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Today, among the most iconic features of the Pokémon TCG is the coveted Full Art card featuring an illustration that covers the entirety of the card. Full Art cards were first introduced to the Pokémon TCG in Black Collection [BW1] and White Collection [BW1], the dual set that kicked off the fifth generation.

The introduction of Full Arts fundamentally altered the paradigm of what was aesthetically possible in the Pokémon TCG. They gave illustrators the opportunity to show what they were truly capable of and turn even the grandest, most elaborate visuals into truly spectacular illustrations.

Today, in almost every Pokémon TCG set, Full Art cards are the most coveted chase cards of the set. Such has been the case ever since their introduction; it will almost certainly remain this way for as long as the Pokémon TCG exists.

Dragon Type

Kyurem P [BW-P 150/BW-P](Promotional Cards “Battle Carnival 2012 Spring Participation Award”)

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Rayquaza :1ED [DS 011/020](Expansion Pack “Dragon Selection”)

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Dragonite :1ED [DS 005/020](Expansion Pack “Dragon Selection”)

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Prior to the fifth generation of the TCG, Dragon-type Pokémon didn’t have their own type icon; it was one of the nine Pokémon types, which was classed as a subgroup of another type in the TCG. Dragon-types had been placed under the Normal-type banner up until Dragon Selection [DS], a special expansion set released in January 2012 in conjunction with the Year of the Dragon.

Unlike Pokémon of all the other types, Dragon-type Pokémon didn’t have their own Energy card. Instead, their attacks were to be used via Energy cards of various other types. It’s also often the case that dual-typed Dragon Pokémon have an attack that requires the use of an Energy card of their respective secondary types.

In the Pokémon TCG, Dragon-type Pokémon usually have neither a weakness nor resistance; however, in the early days, they were weak to other Dragon-type Pokémon (Gen 5) or Fairy-type Pokémon (Gen 6/7; the Fairy type has since been retired from the TCG).

Gameplay Rule Changes

Gameplay-wise, the biggest change that Gen 5 brought about had to do with what players could and couldn’t do on the first turn. As per the rules prior to Gen 5, players were not allowed to play Supporter, Stadium, or Item cards on the first turn if going first. However, these restrictions were removed with the release of the generation-opening dual set Black Collection [BW1] and White Collection [BW1].

Sableye [DP6 062/092](Expansion Pack “A Fierce Battle”)

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This rule change had an unexpected effect: it caused the Sableye card from Gen 4 set Intense Fight in the Destroyed Sky to become excessively powerful. Overeager, Sableye’s Poké-Body, allowed the player to automatically go first if Sableye was the player’s Active Pokémon at the start of the game. Due to this new lack of restrictions, Sableye could often be used as a mechanism to set up game-breaking combos.

Sableye became so outrageously dominant that many players threatened to boycott the 2011 Pokémon TCG World Championships unless action was taken. In response, Creatures Inc. announced a set rotation earlier than what would ordinarily have been expected in order to remove Sableye from the metagame. Today, first-turn rules prevent players from attacking or playing a Supporter card on the first turn if going first.

On a final minor note, Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies were now consolidated into “Abilities”; such has remained the case to this day.

With all of this in mind, why not browse our selection of Gen 5 Pokémon TCG items and pick up some for yourself? Many of them become enshrined as true classics in the years since their release—demand for Gen 5 TCG products in general is spiking due to the upcoming launch of Black Bolt [SV11B / BLK] and White Flare [SV11W / WHT]—so don’t miss out on the nostalgic vibes!

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