When most collectors think of the early Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), they picture Base Set Charizard, first edition stamps, and packed Toys “R” Us league days. But behind the nostalgia lies a complicated history—one full of licensing battles, translation errors, and a turbulent corporate breakup that nearly derailed the TCG’s global momentum.
So, who really created the cards? And why did Wizards of the Coast lose the license? Let’s uncover the forgotten truth behind Pokémon’s early years in the West—and what every serious collector should know about the franchise’s original distributor.
Creatures Inc. — The Real Creators Behind Pokémon Cards
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not Nintendo, Game Freak, or even The Pokémon Company who design Pokémon cards. That honor belongs to Creatures Inc., a lesser-known but long-time development studio responsible for the game’s mechanics, artwork, and expansion design.
But designing cards is only half the story. To bring those cards to players around the world, you need printing, marketing, retail logistics—and that’s where distributors come in.
How Wizards of the Coast Entered the Picture
In the late 1990s, Wizards of the Coast (WotC)—then best known for Magic: The Gathering—was tapped to localise, print, and distribute the Pokémon TCG outside Japan. With infrastructure already built for Magic, they were well positioned to handle tournaments, printing, and sales in the US and beyond.
At first, it worked. Wizards helped Pokémon become a pop culture juggernaut in the West. But cracks began to show quickly.
A Catalogue of Mistakes: Misprints, Errors & Confusion
Japanese Pokémon cards have long been praised for their clean layouts and near-perfect quality control. But Wizards’ English versions were riddled with translation mistakes, rule-breaking misprints, and inconsistencies.
From the infamous Red Cheeks Pikachu to Slowking’s mind-bending Pokémon Power being left wide open for abuse, Wizards altered gameplay in ways never intended by the original designers. One infamous translation error even allowed players to stack Slowkings on the bench and lock their opponents out of Trainer cards entirely.
Beyond game-breaking effects, WotC introduced odd localisation decisions like rewriting “this Pokémon” to use the Pokémon’s name—borrowing from Magic’s terminology, which only added to the confusion.
A Mixed Legacy of Innovation
To their credit, Wizards introduced some ideas that stuck around. They popularised:
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Multiple booster pack artworks
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First Edition stamps (later dropped due to poor print management)
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Reverse holo cards (starting with Legendary Collection)
They also launched a range of theme decks and ran a comprehensive Pokémon League programme with badges, points systems, and promo card rewards—something Japan mirrored in structure but not necessarily in scale.
Wizards Wanted More Control—and Pokémon Said No
As Wizards grew more invested in the TCG, they began pushing to develop their own sets, including a proposed English-exclusive expansion called Jamboree. They even printed two cards designed entirely in-house: Dark Raichu (the first-ever secret rare) and a Christopher Rush-illustrated Mewtwo.
But behind the scenes, tensions were rising.
When Wizards’ five-year licensing deal expired in 2003, Pokémon USA—a new subsidiary of The Pokémon Company—chose to take full control of the TCG. Wizards was blindsided. They responded with a lawsuit accusing Pokémon of poaching employees, breaching contracts, and exploiting their infrastructure.
The lawsuit was settled out of court, but it marked the end of an era.
A Rocky End to a Golden Age
By the mid-2000s, the Pokémon TCG had lost momentum. Older players moved to new games, and the once-flourishing Western tournament scene dwindled. Nintendo took over card production starting with EX Ruby & Sapphire, introducing a more stable but less chaotic era.
Today, collectors look back on the Wizards era with mixed emotions. It was filled with errors and missteps—but it also gave rise to some of the hobby’s most iconic cards and unforgettable memories.
Final Thoughts: What Collectors Should Take Away
Whether you view Wizards of the Coast as a pioneer or a cautionary tale, there’s no denying their role in shaping the early Pokémon card landscape. From game-breaking misprints to revolutionary marketing ideas, their legacy is both flawed and fascinating.
If you’re a serious collector, understanding this history isn’t just trivia—it helps you navigate the ever-growing vintage market. Because whether you’re chasing a no-symbol Base Set card or debating the value of a 1st Edition Jungle pack, the ghost of Wizards still looms large over the TCG we know today.
