Ampharos 56/203 · Evolving Skies

Evolving Skies is a set in the Sword & Shield series. It was released on August 27, 2021. The printed size is 203. This checklist is longer, at 237 cards. Ampharos is 56/203, in position 56 of 237 on this checklist. Before it is 55 Flaaffy, and after it is 57 Emolga. The listed rarity is Rare.

Ampharos is a Stage 2 Lightning Pokémon with 150 HP. In the Pokédex this is Ampharos (#181), generation 2 (Johto). The card says it evolves from Flaaffy. In this catalog that name is Flaaffy (#180).

Saya Tsuruta illustrated this card. The same name is on 123 other cards in the catalog.

Ampharos (#181) has 37 other cards in the catalog. Those other cards are in 26 sets. The other printings with a release date run from 2000 to 2026. The earliest other card is Ampharos 1/111 in Neo Genesis (2000). That card lists 80 HP, and this one lists 150 HP. The rarity there is Rare Holo, and here it is Rare. Ken Sugimori illustrated that card, and Saya Tsuruta illustrated this one. 34 other cards of Ampharos list a different HP.

The attack Thunder Shock lists 40 damage. The cost is Lightning. Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed. Electron Crush is another attack lists 100+ damage. The cost is Lightning, Lightning, Lightning, Colorless. You may discard 3 Lightning Energy from this Pokémon. If you do, this attack does 120 more damage. Weakness is Fighting ×2. Retreat cost is 2. The flavor text reads "Its tail shines bright and strong. It has been prized since long ago as a beacon for sailors." The regulation mark is E.

I keep a set binder for Evolving Skies, meant to hold every card of that set. This card is one slot in the Evolving Skies set binder. A generation binder holds one card of each species. Ampharos can fill a slot in Generation 2 binder (Johto). I still need this card.