With every era of the Pokémon TCG, Creatures Inc try to come up with ways to keep the gameplay interesting. For example, most recently, Journey Together and Destined Rivals introduced partner Pokémon for the first time since 2001. Before that we have Tera type cards, ex cards, GX, Tag Team, V, so on and so forth. The next expansion of the TCG will reintroduce Mega Pokémon. Generally, these changes give us tankier cards with stronger moves. This is the formula Creatures has stuck with for decades now. But what about before that? What about when the TCG was still finding its footing, adding new dynamics so newer expansions are less of the same? Well, in 2000, the expansion Neo Genesis gave us one of the most controversial additions to the TCG. An addition that Creatures Inc still don’t really know how to handle even 26 years later, try as they might. I’m talking, of course, about Baby Pokémon. Since finding out about Baby Pokémon in the TCG from a previous blog post I did, the concept has stuck with me and I thought that their varied and messy history deserved an article of their own. So here we are.
What are Baby Pokémon?
After the success of the original video games, Gamefreak set straight to work on its much anticipated sequel. They already had the general format down pat, but they couldn’t get away with a reskin, surely. New, cool stuff was needed to keep audiences interested. So what could that be? Cool new items to buff up certain Pokémon? New types? Stronger moves? Different battle styles? What about breeding? You wanna breed your Pokémon? Pokémon Gold and Silver was released in 1999 and brought with it the ability to breed your beloved Pokémon and create offspring. Because that’s what you want from your monster fighting game, right? No? Oh well! When you breed certain Pokémon, they will produce what are known as Baby Pokémon. Gold and Silver introduced eight of these little rascals. Only two more were introduced in Gen III, then another eight in Gen IV. And then nothing until a one off addition four generations later. That’s only 19 over 26 years – in comparison, there have been 49 mega evolutions since that mechanics introduction 13 years ago. It’s pretty clear that Gamefreak and the Pokémon Company don’t really know what to do with Baby Pokémon; they went in full force in Gen II and then it kinda petered out until it came back and then petered out and then came back again. It’s quite hard to describe Baby Pokémon as anything other than “they’re baby Pokémon”. Weaker Pokémon at the start of their evolution cycle. And they usually look pretty cute and, well, baby-ish. And that’s basically it. An underwhelming mechanic in the games. But what about in the TCG? (Spoilers – also underwhelming).
In the TCG – Part 1
Much like the video games, the Pokémon TCG also has to think up ways to keep the game interesting with each new era. Before the likes of EX cards and before even that weird phase where each card was given a level, Creatures Inc (or WOTC, or the Pokémon Company themselves – I never know) thought it would be a great idea to incorporate this new and exciting mechanic of Gold & Silver in the TCG. And so, in 2000, we got our first taste of Baby Pokémon in card form. The were labelled as ‘Baby Pokémon’ where it would otherwise say ‘Basic’, ‘Stage 1’, or ‘Stage 2’ and shared an ability which made it so that the chance of your opponent dealing damage to the Baby Pokémon came down to a 50/50 coin flip. Each Baby Pokémon only had 30 HP so, chances are, if your opponent flipped heads, that means one dead baby. These cards also have no weaknesses, resistance types, or retreat cost, which I suppose makes up for their flimsiness over all. Funnily enough, although Togepi is like the mascot/benchmark of all Baby Pokémon, it’s card in Neo Genesis is labelled as ‘Basic’ – and so we have our first instance of the Pokémon Company not knowing what to do at all with these Babies.
In the TCG – Part 2
This was how Baby Pokémon were presented throughout the Neo and e-Card eras. And then everything changed. With the release of Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl) and its accompanying eight new Baby Pokémon, this mechanic in the TCG was pretty much removed with any Baby Pokémon who were once labelled as such, now simply labelled as ‘Basic’. They my were still distinguishable as being Baby Pokémon through their new Poké-Power which allowed them to heal upon evolving. A pretty useful ability, but, that being said, assuming you’re gonna be wanting to evolve your Baby Pokémon within your first few turns, you’ll only be healing whatever small amount of damage that has barely started to accumulate. Most of these Baby Pokémon have around 40HP, so the most they’ll be able to heal is 30HP, which isn’t that impressive in the grand scheme of things. It’s just another half-baked idea from Creatures Inc about how to make these (let’s face it) useless Pokémon seem interesting and worth shelling money out for.
In the TCG – Part 3
So, two abilities that rely pretty heavily on evolving your Baby Pokémon fast. Wouldn’t it be an odd idea if Creatures Inc decided to just not allow you to evolve these Pokémon? Yeah it would, but that’s what they did. Starting with the HeartGold & SoulSilver era, Baby Pokémon are now no longer able to evolve, which doesn’t really make much sense. Pokémon without evolution is like a Marvel film without any superheroes, Doctor Who without the TARDIS, or Star Wars without Jedi (although, Andor was pretty good). To be fair though, what these cards lack in evolution, they make up for in yet another new mechanic. The Baby Pokémon of this era have a special Poké-Body ability (not to be confused with Poké-Power abilities, or just abilities in general, which are basically all the same thing so it’s not really worth thinking about). This Poké-Body is called Sweet Sleeping Face which means that if the Pokémon is asleep, all damage to said Pokémon is prevented. You might be thinking “but surely the opponent simply won’t use an attack which causes sleep”. You ignorant fool! Each Baby Pokémon has a move (which graciously costs no energy) which puts themselves to sleep. On top of this, Baby Pokémon now no longer need energy to retreat and they have no weaknesses. It’s a decent balance, but I can’t help but feel like it’s a wasted space in the deck. Because prolonged sleep is determined by a coin flip, there’s a 50% chance that your opponent is gonna get a point on turn two if your Baby Pokémon is still in play and unable to retreat because its asleep. Unless the Baby Pokémon’s move is, like, really good (which they aren’t), there’s not much point in them.
In the TCG – Part 4
So, another miss (or hit, depending on how you look at it – and if you are looking at it as a hit, you’re blind). What is Creatures gonna do for the next era in regard to Baby Pokémon? Another exciting ability? More substantial moves? Well… after HeartGold & SoulSilver, we didn’t get any new Baby Pokémon cards at all. I see this as Creatures admitting defeat. They simply don’t know what to do with Baby Pokémon, so they took a step back and retired these cards from the TCG for nine years until the Sun & Moon Unbroken Bonds set. So, what did they take nine years to come up with? Nothing, really. It’s basically what we just had, but without any attacks. Each Baby Pokémon only has an ability, and the ability only happens if they flip a heads. To be fair, it’s less complicated and convoluted than the last era. They’re also a little bit beefier, with about 60HP each, and would actually be considered viable past the first few turns. Cleffa’s ability, for instance, heals 60HP from any of your Pokémon; Munchlax lets you save a card from your discard pile. This is some good stuff. It’s the HG&SS Baby Pokémon, but more refined. And I can see why they meshed the Poké-Body and move combo together. The no-energy moves are basically abilities as they are, so it makes sense as to why they made the decision to combine these going forward. They do continue to combine these going forward, right? Right?!
In the TCG – Part 5
After another Baby Pokémon hiatus of four years, they saw a return in Scarlet & Violet’s Obsidian Flames. The no-energy moves have returned, but now Baby Pokémon have no accompanying abilities. So, it’s what we just had four years ago, but they’re moves, now, and not abilities. Make up your minds, Creatures, it’s hard to keep up. Also, these cards are weaker again, and have weaknesses. It’s like Creatures themselves want these Baby Pokémon to die as quickly as possible. So, now, once again, Baby Pokémon are only really useful at the start of a match.
In the TCGP
Baby Pokémon have recently been introduced to the TCG Pocket app and have undergone yet another change. Or, realistically, it’s a select few previous attributes mashed together in hopes that it’ll work. They have no-energy moves and only 30HP each, so can only really be played at the start of a match. They also once again have no weaknesses or retreat cost. And, as ever, they still can’t evolve. This last part doubly makes no sense here. PTCG Pocket is the classic TCG rebuilt from the ground up. That had a great opportunity to right some of their wrongs, yet they just left their pointless decisions as is. It’s painful to watch Creatures keep trying and failing to make Baby Pokémon viable in the TCG. It’s been 26 years and no changes have been wholly well-received.
Notes
Well, I guess that’s it. Whether you like Baby Pokémon or not, it seems like Creatures isn’t completely done with them yet. My only hope is for them to actually stick with a formula rather than have them remain undecided for another 30 years. Also, something I haven’t mentioned yet: Togepi, Riolu, and Toxel are listed as Baby Pokémon, yet they act as normal basic Pokémon in the TCG. I truly don’t understand this logic. It’s presumed that this is because they were introduced in the same Gen as their evolutions, but then why classify them as Baby Pokémon to begin with? Truly ridiculous stuff. If I had my way, I’d do away with Baby Pokémon as a whole and treat them as basic Pokémon, with their own moves and abilities. It works well for literally every other basic Pokémon. I understand that it’s a mechanic you have to use strategically, but in a game full of these mechanics, we could easily do without this one. It’s so obviously the bane of Creatures Inc. so I don’t know whose idea it is to keep trying to bring them back. Whoever it is, they need to step back and realise that it’s never gonna work.
