An upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game set will have the first Kadabra card in over two decades, following the end of a dispute with illusionist Uri Geller. While there are many banned cards in Pokémon when it comes to competitive play for reasons like being overpowered, this instance was a unique roadblock to the card’s inclusion. In 2000, Geller alleged Kadabra was based on his likeness, and threatened to take Nintendo to court over the matter, resulting in a long-lasting ban.According to a recent article from PokéBeach, a newly announced set called Pokémon Card 151 will contain the spoon-bending Pokémon for the first time since the dispute with Geller, finally leaving the list of banned Pokémon cards. Uri Geller even addressed the new set on Twitter, announcing the card would make a return on June 16 in a video.
In the video, Geller notes that since becoming a grandfather, he decided to release Nintendo from the lawsuit and let Kadabra return.
What To Know About Pokémon Card 151
The Pokémon Card 151 set it actually considered more of a subset than a full release, as it’s what’s called a Strengthening Expansion Pack. While it isn’t quite as substantial as a full expansion, as the name suggests the subset will include all 151 original Pokémon, including Kadabra. In total, the subset will contain 165 cards for the Pokémon TCG, with each booster box coming with 20 packs.
What Kadabra’s Return To The Pokémon TCG Means For Players
The banning of Kadabra wound up creating one of the Pokémon TCG‘s weirdest loopholes with Abra and Alakazam, as The Pokémon Company had to compensate for missing the middle step of a three-part evolution line. This absence was dealt with in a few different ways, including the release of Alakazam – the final evolution – as a basic Pokémon, which was fairly unheard of at the time. Typically, basic cards are either Pokémon who have yet to evolve or who do not possess evolutions, but the tide has been changing since this inclusion of Alakazam.
In the modern era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, there are now other cards that can be played like basics, such as V cards. Now that Kadabra will be making a return to the evolutionary line, it’s unclear at the moment how The Pokémon Company will treat the creature. With the new Pokémon TCG rules surrounding V and VMAX cards, it’s not completely out of the question that Alakazam will remain a basic card. However, the more likely scenario is that players will once again need to evolve their Abra and Kadabra in order to utilize Alakazam.
Even though the other evolutionary stages of the character never left, the return of Kadabra is still exciting. It’s arguably one of the more unique Pokémon from the original 151 with its ability to bend spoons, and it will be a nice dose of nostalgia for long-time fans to have Kadabra back. Players will be able to witness Kadabra’s reappearing act when the new Pokémon Trading Card Game subset releases this summer.
Sources: PokéBeach, Uri Geller/Twitter
