Chingling Returns: First Gen 4 Pokemon TCG Card in 15 Years!

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Summary

  • Chingling, a Gen 4 Pokemon, is finally getting a new TCG card after over a 15 year wait, part of Team Rocket expansion.
  • Chingling has only 30 HP, forces player to discard a face-down card; collectors excited.
  • Chingling was last seen in TCG in 2009, while its evolved form, Chimecho, has 14 cards; high demand expected for new release.

A creature from the fourth generation of Pokémon, named Chingling, is receiving a fresh Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCG) card for the first time since 2009. Considering that there are over a thousand different Pokémon in existence, it’s debatable whether any other has been overlooked as much as Chingling. Consequently, many fans might agree that its return to the PTCG is well past due.

Back in 2006 when Pokémon Diamond and Pearl rolled out, that’s where I first encountered Chingling. Now, baby Pokémon aren’t usually top-tier for battles, but they’re adored by many fans, and can be handy in certain ways. Unfortunately, Chingling hasn’t received much limelight in the main game series. In fact, it was only accessible through transfers in Gen 7, nowhere to be found in Pokémon Sword and Shield, and initially could only be obtained by trading in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet at launch.

According to VideoGamesChronicle, a new Pokemon TCG card featuring Chingling is set to appear in the Japanese release of The Glory of Team Rocket, expected in May. This expansion is said to include cards similar to those found in the Japanese version. Chingling has 30 HP and, according to an automated translation, its ability forces a player to discard a randomly selected card from their hand that is face-down. This will mark the fourth time a Chingling card has been released for the Pokemon TCG game.

Team Rocket’s Chingling

It appears that spectators are finding humor in the latest Chingling card being included in Team Rocket’s TCG collection, which is often portrayed as villainous. Interestingly, this specific Chingling is meant to be part of Team Rocket, but it could also be a reference to James’ own Chimecho, its evolved form. In an episode, James let go of his Chimecho, yet he expressed affection for Chingling, as it brought back memories of his Pokemon.

Before the debut of this collection, Chingling had obtained just three Pokemon TCG cards. For some time, Chingling was receiving new cards each year, making its debut on the tabletop game a year after it was introduced in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl in 2007. Chingling was included in Mysterious Treasures, then Majestic Dawn in 2008, and finally Supreme Victors in 2009. However, Chingling cards stopped being released thereafter. In contrast, its evolved form has been more frequently featured; it first appeared in the Pokemon TCG game in 2004, and a total of 14 cards have been issued for it so far, with its most recent card appearing in the Twilight Masquerade expansion in 2024.

As a dedicated fan, I must admit that the HP of this card might raise some doubts. But, for fellow collectors who aren’t necessarily players, it could be just the thrill of seeing our beloved baby Pokemon back in action that counts. Given the current surge in demand for new Pokemon TCG releases, we shouldn’t hesitate to grab it as soon as possible!

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2025-04-12 02:15