30 Censored (& Banned) Pokémon Trading Cards (2024)

For those who grew up in the '90s, it's a near certainty they spent some portion of their formative years collecting Pokémon cards. Between the massively popular video games, the anime, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, it was almost impossible to avoid getting swept up in Pokémania. However, with massive cult-like popularity often comes controversy. Much like every other corner of the franchise, the Pokémon Trading Card Game was no stranger to ruffling the feathers of parents, religious groups, and even their own fans.

Over the years, The Pokémon Company has chosen to ban or alter several cards for reasons ranging from being completely unfair in competitive play to censoring controversial art for Western audiences. Banned Pokémon cards or censored Pokémon cards outside Japan all helped to fuel the hype surrounding the massive franchise.

Updated on July 23, 2024, by Antonio Samson: Pokémon cards have been a staple for fans since they came out in 1996. However, throughout the years, many cards have been banned or censored due to their effects or artwork. This article was updated to include more cards and to meet CBR's editorial and formatting standards.

30 Computer Search (Base Set)

Computer Search's Deck Acceleration

Computer Search, an Item card from the Base Set, allowed players to search their deck for one card. This powerful deck-searching ability accelerated access to key resources and strategic cards, potentially leading to the rapid setup of game-winning combinations and strategies.

Computer Search was banned from sanctioned play to maintain competitive balance and prevent games from being excessively influenced by early-game advantage provided by rapid resource access. This decision aimed to ensure that victories are earned through balanced resource management and strategic planning rather than immediate access to crucial game-winning cards.

29 Lusamine (Ultra Prism)

Lusamine's Ultra Space Manipulation

Lusamine, a Supporter card from the Ultra Prism expansion, granted players the ability to retrieve one Supporter card and one Stadium card from their discard pile. This potentially allowed for the repeated use of powerful Supporter effects and prolonged control over Stadium card effects. This recycling capability facilitated strategies that heavily relied on repetitive resource-intensive tactics, which led to drawn-out gameplay and reduced strategic diversity.

To uphold competitive balance and prevent matches from being dominated by repetitive strategies, Lusamine was banned from sanctioned tournaments. This decision aimed to promote dynamic and varied gameplay experiences, ensuring that victories are earned through strategic depth and adaptability rather than repetitive recycling of powerful effects.

28 Giovanni's Exile (Unified Minds)

Banning Giovanni's Strategic Disruption

Giovanni's Exile, introduced in the Unified Minds expansion of the Pokémon TCG, was banned due to its disruptive ability to discard cards from the opponent's deck. This control over the opponent's resources could potentially dismantle their strategy early in the game, making it particularly effective in control decks that aim to disrupt and outlast opponents.

By directly targeting the opponent's deck, Giovanni's Exile provided a strategic advantage that could lead to one-sided matches. This prompted its removal from sanctioned tournaments to maintain a balanced and competitive environment where victory is determined by skillful play rather than overwhelming disruption. This decision by the Pokémon TCG's governing bodies emphasizes fair gameplay and strategic depth. This ensures that matches are decided by the players' tactical choices instead of the early-game advantage provided by Giovanni's Exile.

27 Misty's Determination (Evolutions)

An Artistic Revision To Cover Misty

Misty's Determination originally featured artwork depicting Misty in a more revealing outfit, which was revised for its international release. The redesigned artwork portrays the fan-favorite Pokémon character Misty in attire that covers more skin, aligning with cultural sensitivities and maintaining the Pokémon TCG's family-friendly image.

This change reflects Pokémon's commitment to ensuring its content is appropriate and appealing to audiences of all ages worldwide, balancing artistic expression with cultural considerations to maintain broad appeal and inclusivity. The adjustment in Misty's portrayal shows the Pokémon TCG's sensitivity to cultural norms and its proactive approach to fostering a welcoming environment for all players.

26 Wally (Roaring Skies)

Wally's Swift Evolution

See Also

Every Gender-Exclusive Pokemon Across The GenerationsGenderLegendary Pokemon GendersThe Best Genderless Non-Legendary Pokemon

Wally, a Trainer Card from the Roaring Skies set, enabled players to evolve their Pokémon on their first turn, significantly altering gameplay dynamics. This early evolution potential provided unfair advantages, accelerating deck strategies beyond intended balancing thresholds.

To uphold competitive integrity and ensure matches are decided by strategic depth rather than early-game advantages, Wally was banned from sanctioned play. This preserved the Pokémon TCG's core principles of fairness and skillful competition. The banning of Wally shows a commitment to maintaining a level playing field and ensuring that victory isn't decided by players exploiting rules for immediate advantages.

25 Unown (Lost Thunder)

Unown's Instant Win

One of the most popular reasons for a card being banned is because of fears that it may become too powerful. This is why two cards from Lost Thunder, based on the popular Unown Pokémon, were banned.

For these two banned "Unown" cards, the abilities "DAMAGE" and "HAND" — which resulted in automatic wins if their conditions were met — were feared to be too easy to come by in the future. This led to the banning of both "Unown" cards in 2019. "Reset Stamp," a card that could be used to counter these "Unown" abilities, is banned as well.

24 Hex Maniac (Ancient Origins)

Hex Maniac's Hex: Shutting Down Strategies

The least amount of fun any player can have in a trading card game is when they lose before they ever have a chance to play. This is why cards with powerful first-turn effects often find themselves on the banned list. One such card is the "Hex Maniac" Supporter card from Ancient Origins.

"Hex Maniac," when played, prevents any Pokémon abilities from being used until the end of the opponent's next turn. So the player who kicks off the game will have an immense advantage over the player who goes second. A card like "Hex Maniac" is a big reason why players can no longer play Supporter cards on the first turn.

23 Marshadow (Shining Legends)

Marshadow's Shadow: Hand-Crushing Tactics

It's not just Supporter cards that created a huge advantage for the player going first. "Marshadow" from Shining Legends also led to devastating outcomes for the player going second. "Marshadow," when played on the Bench, can force an opponent to shuffle their hand into their deck and draw four cards.

This automatically results in the player going second to have a hand disadvantage at the start of a match. When combined with other cards, this strong mythical Pokémon also led to players going second to start their first turn with no cards in hand.

Preemptive Ban for Broken Combos

Similar to "Unown," "Maxie's Hidden Ball Trick" from Primal Clash was preemptively banned due to potential broken strategies from upcoming cards. "Maxie's Hidden Ball Trick," which allowed players to instantly play a Fighting-Type Pokémon if there were no other cards in that player's hand, was causing issues with "Archeops" cards.

Pokémon TCG also feared two cards, "Omastar" and "Kabutops" from the upcoming Team Up set, would further result in unfair strategies — particularly to the benefit of players going first. For "Omastar" and "Kabutops," the player going second would be unable to play Item or Supporter cards.

21 Blaine's Quiz Show (Unified Minds)

The Banned Quiz Show

"Blaine's Quiz Show" from Unified Minds was banned from a World Championship for a unique reason. "Blaine's Quiz Show" has a very simple premise -- the turn player sets a Pokémon face down. The opposing player guesses an attack that Pokémon has. If they guess correctly, they draw four cards. If they guess wrong, the turn player draws four cards.

The problem with "Blaine's Quiz Show" is that the World Championships are a multilingual event. Because of potential language barriers both in communication and card translations, it was feared "Blaine's Quiz Show" would cause too much confusion — resulting in its preemptive ban.

20 Jynx (Base Set)

From Controversy to Censorship

This should come as no surprise to any Pokéfan who pays close attention to the way Pokémon appear in video games. Jynx, a humanoid Pokémon introduced as a part of the series' original 151, drew widespread criticism for being a racist caricature after writer Carole Boston Weatherford, called out an episode of the Pokémon anime titled "Holiday Hi-Jynx" in an article titled "Politically Incorrect Pokémon."

Since then, the character's original black skin was officially changed to purple in all subsequent appearances, including reprints of her Pokémon TCG cards (specifically the "Sabrina's Jynx" cards from the Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge sets). Interestingly enough, the first Jynx card to be recolored, the original Base Set "Jynx," was released in January 1999, nearly a year before the dub of "Holiday Hi-Jynx" aired and Weatherford wrote her article.

19 Mismagius (Unbroken Bonds)

The Hand-Devastating Ban

"Mismagius" from Sun & Moon: Unbroken Bonds is a banned card in Pokémon TCG Expanded format. This "Mismagius" has the "Mysterious Message" ability, which allows "Mismagius" to KO itself, so the player may draw until they have 7 cards in hand. Furthermore, it was incredibly easy to acquire "Mismagius" in play thanks to the "Dusk Stone" item, which would allow the player's "Misdreavus" into a "Mismagius" by searching the player's deck for it.

This is a powerful ability, and it was often used in conjunction with the "Reset Stamp" Item card, forcing the opponent to shuffle their hand into their deck and draw cards equal to their remaining Prize Cards — building the player's hand and shrinking their opponent's. This is a devastating combo and can ruin the game for players. Pokémon TCG would later release a replacement version of "Mismagius" as a promo card — albeit with different effects.

18 Bellelba & Brycen-Man (Cosmic Eclipse)

Bench and Deck Control

"Bellelba & Brycen-Man" is a Tag Team Supporter Card that works similarly to the "Mismagius" in that it's intended to control the opponent. It primarily works as a milling card by discarding cards from the top of each player's deck. However, it can also shrink each player's bench if the individual who used this Supporter Card discarded three cards from their own hand.

This is another oppressive means of controlling the opponent, and it works well in mill decks that often rely on control strategies. Consequently, "Bellelba & Brycen-Man" was also banned in the standard format. Pokémon TCG would later release a replacement version of "Bellelba & Brycen-Man," called "Sabrina & Brycen," as a promo card with different effects.

17 Magmortar (Dragons Exalted)

Magmortar's Menace: The Changed Artwork

One of the most recent art censors comes from Dragons Exalted, a 2013 set from the Black & White era. The subject is "Magmortar," a Fire-Type Pokémon with flame cannons for arms. In the original art, "Magmortar" is pointing the barrel of its cannon arms directly at the player, rather threateningly.

"Magmortar's" artwork was almost completely changed in the West. The surroundings are largely the same, but the camera angle is different. Instead, "Magmortar" turned to the side and crossed his arms like he was making sure they were ready to battle while still giving the player a somewhat menacing look.

16 Sabrina's Gengar (Gym Heroes)

Removing the Graveyard

This change is hard to catch given the bright foiling of the card, but "Sabrina's Gengar" from the Gym Heroes set was subject to an artistic change when brought to American players. The original printing found the Ghost-Type Pokémon Gengar standing in front of a graveyard.

The American print removed the graveyard from the background, turning the surroundings into more of a desolate void. The graveyard aesthetic was likely too grim for a card game aimed at children, giving this change a fairly straightforward explanation.

15 Gambling-Themed Cards (Neo Genesis)

Gambling Gaffe: The Neo Genesis Edits

Early Pokémon video games had the Game Corner, a location in which the player could buy coins and play slot machines and other gambling games. They could use the coins to exchange for valuable prizes such as powerful TM moves to teach their Pokémon. Later games removed these gambling spaces, given the intended audience is children.

However, the TCG tried to de-emphasize the gambling aspects of Pokémon sooner than the games. "Arcade Game" and "Card-Flip Game," both from the Neo Genesis set, zoomed in on the artwork in the Western release. This focused on the game itself and less on its gambling parlor surroundings. This is a small and seemingly inconsequential change, as the card art and effect are still focused on a gambling machine.

Ancient Mew's Mystery: The Runic Ban

The elusive "Ancient Mew" was released as a promotional item for the second theatrical movie based on the anime, Pokémon The Movie 2000 (a.k.a. The Power of One). Around the world, the card was given to those who bought tickets during the first week of the film's release and it also made an appearance in the movie as the object which started the villain Lawrence III's collection.

As one can tell from the image above, "Ancient Mew's" text was unreadable due to being written in a Runic alphabet. Despite the fact the card's underwhelming stats and abilities were officially translated by Wizards of the Coast -- making it completely playable -- the card was banned in both the Unlimited and Modified formats.

13 Imakuni?'s Doduo (Evolutions)

Doduo's Wild Ride: Imakuni?'s Bizarre Card

While some cards are banned for having powerful effects, few are intentionally banned as soon as they're printed. In bright red font at the bottom of "Imakuni?'s Doduo" are the words "This card cannot be used at official tournaments." "Imakuni?'s Doduo's" special ability, "Frenzied Escape," requires players to throw the card as far as they can when retreating, and the Pokémon's one attack, "Harmonize," requires the player to sing a song "from the moment you use this attack" with damage only resolving when the song is done.

The card is also notable for being one of the many examples of Pokémon's strange relationship with Japanese musician Imakuni?. After working on music for the anime, Imakuni? became involved in promoting the TCG and has since been featured as a character in multiple cards, video games, and manga series.

12 Grimer (Team Rocket)

Grimer's Gaze: The Art Controversy

One of the most infamous artworks to be censored for its international release was the sludge Poison-Type Pokémon "Grimer" featured in the Team Rocket expansion. The original artwork from the Japanese Rocket Gang expansion appears to show Grimer looking up a girl's skirt.

Although the card's artist Kagemaru Himeno has since denied this assertion, when "Grimer" was reprinted for the Team Rocket set in the United States, Grimer's eyes were redrawn to be looking forward. However, that's not the only change that was made to the card when it came to the West. For unknown reasons, the English version of "Grimer's" attack, "Poison Gas," was also changed to make an opponent's Pokémon fall asleep instead of (as the name suggests) being poisoned.

11 Sneasel (Neo Genesis)

Unstoppable Force: The Banning of Sneasel

The "Sneasel" introduced in the Neo Genesis set was one of the most infamous bans made by Wizards of the Coast because of how disruptive the card had become to the meta. Thanks to its "Beat Up" attack, the card was both devastating and rampant because of its ability to do an average of 80 damage and a maximum of 140 damage per turn as early as the second turn.

This, coupled with the "Sneasel's" zero Retreat Cost and type weaknesses made "Sneasel" eclipse the previous record holder, Base Set "Electabuzz," which dealt 30 damage or 40 on a coin flip for the same amount of energy. "Sneasel" was specifically targeted for banning when the Modified format was introduced in 2001 with the Team Rocket set and would remain illegal until the Neo Genesis set was rotated out of the format.