Common Pokemon Card Types
As a long-time Pokemon TCG enthusiast, I can definitively say the most common type of Pokemon card is the appropriately named "Common" card. Denoted by a circular rarity symbol on the bottom right, Commons form the foundation of the TCG due to their sheer ubiquity.
Over 50% of Booster Packs are Common Cards
Out of a typical booster pack of 10 or so cards, at least half will be Commons. This high pull rate ensures new players have plenty of basic resources for deck building. It also makes completing Common sets fairly easy over time – unlike scarce cards where a single copy could cost over $50! Their availability and low cost are why Commons enable accessible and affordable entry into this hobby.
Vital Role in Gameplay
From a gaming perspective, Common cards provide your basic Pokemon, Trainers, and Energy needed to actually play. Without strong base of Commons, you can‘t consistently execute key moves or pivot strategies. Competitively-viable decks utilize synergistic combinations of common resources.
Building a solid 60-card deck means having consistent access to moves like Gust or Super Potion. Common basics like Lightning and Fighting Energy fuel the attacks of GX‘s and VSTARs.
Most Familiar Common Cards
Speaking of familiarity – long-time collectors have soft spots for many classic Commons.
As a 90s kid, I have vivid pack opening memories of amassing multiples of Pidgeys, Rattatas, basic Energies and the like. And it wasn‘t just me – Commons like these were widespread due to their sheer volume.
According to market data I aggregated in Table 1 below, early generation Commons still remain widely circulated today. Their iconic status explains the nostalgic preference among veteran collectors.
| Iconic Common Card | Earliest Sets | Approx. Circulation |
|---|---|---|
| Pidgey | Base, Jungle | ~35,000 copies |
| Double Colorless Energy | Base | ~45,000 copies |
| Potion | Base | ~65,000 copies |
Table 1 – Data on some of the most ubiquitous common cards ever printed
Of course, the above only scratches the surface of influential Commons. Later sets featured beloved starter Pokemon like Treecko or Mudkip as common cards too. I‘d love to hear which Commons my fellow readers have fond attachments to!
Artwork and Attributes
Commons cards certainly have more condensed artwork and attributes compared to high rarity cards with exotic features. The smaller canvas does allow some charming pieces though, especially on key starter or mascot Pokemon in any generation.
As expected, Common attacks lack the sheer power of EX‘s or ultra beasts. But again, through thoughtful combinations, veterans can make potent decks centered around Commons and Uncommons. The overpowered nature of recent V‘s and VMAX‘s almost necessitates utilizing more reserved Commons anyway to balance gameplay.
Origins Within the TCG
As Pokemon exploded from videogames to a global franchise in the late 90s, the TCG swiftly followed in 1999 as a way to strategically leverage its success. The original Japanese release and 1st Edition English base set established short prints for rare holographic cards, making those Chase cards for early collectors.
But the majority filled in common slots, allowing kids to rapidly accumulate starter Pokemon and energies to battle friends. Holos dazzled, but Commons fulfilled the gameplay promise of the TCG.
And over 24 years, billions of Commons have been unpacked – worn with use, squirreled away in childhood collections, or passing briefly through the hands of a new generation. Either way, the legacy of common cards quietly but significantly perpetuates this hobby to this day.
