Pokémon TCG Pocket: the mysterious card that connects the game with another major franchise

The Eevee Grove (A3b) miniset debuted on June 26, 2025, with more than 100 new cards. However, one of them immediately stood out: Eevee Backpack, an item with a double effect that directly refers to strategies typical of another famous trading card game: Yu-Gi-Oh!.

This card allows the player to choose between two strategic options:

• Increase the damage of Eevee's evolutions to the opponent's Active Pokémon by 10 points during that turn.
• Heal 20 points of damage to each Eevee evolution in play.

This flexibility is not common in Pokémon TCG Pocket, where item cards usually have unique and defined effects. Instead, Eevee Backpack's choice system is reminiscent of cards like Kunai with Chain from the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe, which offers tactical options to the user within the same turn.

Parallels with Yu-Gi-Oh!: strategic versatility and double effect

In Yu-Gi-Oh!, many cards offer multiple effects and the player must decide which one to use, depending on the situation. This brings an important tactical component that hasn't been explored as much in Pokémon TCG Pocket until now.

The most representative example is the Kunai with Chain card, which allows the player to change an opponent's attacking monster to defense position or equip the card to increase their own attack. These types of decisions within the turn enrich the strategy and increase the complexity of the game.

Although Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! have different rules and gameplay styles, they share the logic of placing creatures in battle, with evolution, attack, and defense mechanics. In Pokémon, defeat is measured by the number of defeated creatures; in Yu-Gi-Oh!, by the loss of life points. However, both systems value tactical decisions and resource optimization.

A subtle nod to veteran card game players

More than a "plagiarism," Eevee Backpack can be seen as a respectful nod to players familiar with both universes. It's logical that with more than two decades of shared history, Pokémon TCG and Yu-Gi-Oh! share ideas, formats, or mechanics. In this case, the use of dual effects represents a natural evolution in card design, aiming to enrich the gameplay experience without altering its original identity.

For those who enjoy Pokémon TCG Pocket and also remember Yu-Gi-Oh! matches with nostalgia, this card offers a connection between both worlds, expanding the strategic spectrum of the most popular pocket game of the moment.