The 10 Best Baby Pokémon Cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game's Rocket-on Format

Baby Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game were once their own evolutionary stage since their debut in Neo Genesis

Baby Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game were once their own evolutionary stage since their debut in Neo Genesis. They are treated as Basic Pokémon and can freely be set as an Active or Benched Pokémon, but can also evolve into the Basic Pokémon printed on them. Few players would voluntarily do so, however, since Baby Pokémon were overpowered in their own way. In fact, they replaced the Base Set's infamously overpowered Trainer cards as the new Deck staples of the first modified format: Rocket-on.

Though every Baby Pokémon from the Neo era only has 30 HP and no resistance, they are notoriously difficult to knock out. The "Baby Pokémon rule" requires an opponent to flip a coin to use an Active Pokémon's move, even if it does not inflict direct damage. If the result is Tails, the move fails and the turn is skipped. Baby Pokémon have no weaknesses or retreat cost, either, so knocking out even a single one can be irritatingly difficult. A Focus Band attached to a Baby Pokémon only amplifies this irritation.

10 Igglybuff Lv. 5 Puts Opponents To Sleep

Wizards Promo 36 — May 2001

Igglybuff's Wizards Promotional representation is not a terrible card, but it pales in comparison to the Neo Discovery version. Its only move lulls an opposing Pokémon to sleep, which means nothing if they wake up from a lucky Heads at the start of the opponent's turn.

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Since players can only use up to four copies of any card with the same name (not counting Basic Energy cards), using this Igglybuff can deprive a player of the other one, which is far more useful. As a result, this card is not worth consideration.

9 Cleffa Lv. 5 Draws Two Cards

Wizards Promo 31 — Feb. 2001

Cleffa's Wizards Promotional representation has the same problem — its Neo Genesis version is just vastly better. Drawing two cards can be useful if the player already has a sizable hand or does not wish to shuffle their cards away.

Wizards of the Coast probably understood this — Eek is just five letters shorter than Eeeeeeek, which matches the difference in drawn cards. This Cleffa just does not stand out.

8 Pichu Lv. 5 Hits Everything With A Power

Neo Genesis — Dec. 16, 2000

The first Pichu card is situational at best, but it is an effective counter against opponents who stack Pokémon Powers. Its Zzzap affects all Pokémon with one, including allies. This bypasses resistances, so using Dark Dugtrio or Brock's Rhydon will not prevent self-damage.

This card is useless if the opponent has no Pokémon Powers in play, but it can freely switch out if necessary. It may be the one Baby Pokémon that is worth evolving if it already has an Energy card attached.

7 Smoochum Can Shuffle Away Special Energy

Neo Revelation — Sep. 21, 2001

Smoochum is another situational Pokémon, but the potential to remove a Special Energy card can remain useful for the entire game. The two main ones, Metal and Darkness, are seen in many Rocket-on Decks.

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Since Energy Removal and Super Energy Removal are banned in this format, it may be worth the 50/50 chance to potentially shuffle an opposing Special Energy card. The opponent may get that card back later on, though.

6 Tyrogue Can Get A Lucky Knockout

Neo Discovery — Jun. 1, 2001

Tyrogue has the highest base damage output of all Baby Pokémon at 30 — enough to knock out another Baby Pokémon with one hit. Of course, this assumes the player flips Heads on two coin flips — one from Smash Punch's effect and the other from the Baby Pokémon rule.

The odds of doing so are only 25%, but Tyrogue can keep trying each turn. It only needs a single Energy card attached to it, plus it can keep up offensive pressure while the Benched Pokémon are getting set up.

5 Pichu Lv. 4 Searches For Other Babies

Wizards Promo 35 — Apr. 2001