The first Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion was the Base Set, released in Japan in 1996.
Media Factory published the Japanese cards, which adapted Pokémon from the Game Boy games into a collectible battling format. Cards have types, attacks, hit points, and weaknesses, while Energy cards power attacks and Trainer cards provide special effects. The Base Set established the visual and mechanical template used by later expansions.
The English-language Base Set arrived in North America in 1999. Jungle followed as the second English expansion, and Fossil came after Jungle. Because release schedules differed between Japan and overseas markets, references to the “first set” can otherwise seem contradictory.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game became a major part of the franchise’s anniversary history. Early cards such as Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur remain especially recognizable, while tournament rules and card layouts have evolved substantially since the 1990s.