The first Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion is officially called Base Set.
Base Set was released in Japan in 1996 and became the foundation of the English-language Pokémon card game, which launched in North America in 1999. It contains cards based largely on the original Generation I Pokémon, including popular cards featuring Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur.
The set is often called “Base Set” to distinguish it from later expansions such as Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket. Collectors may also use terms such as first edition, shadowless, or unlimited to describe print variations, but those labels refer to versions or printings rather than separate original expansions.
The trading card game adapted familiar video-game ideas into a tabletop battle system. Players use Pokémon, Trainer, and Energy cards, with prizes awarded during matches. The card game became one of the franchise’s longest-running physical products.