Learn everything about the ACE SPEC card in Pokemon TCG, including how to use one in a deck!
Pokemon TCG isn’t just all about Pokemon cards fighting each other; this game also requires strategic thinking and proper usage of other types of cards like Energy cards and Trainer cards.
Speaking about Trainer cards, for those who are already familiar with Pokemon TCG rules, it’s common knowledge that Trainer cards are categorized into different subtypes: Supporter, Item, Pokemon Tool, Technical Machine, and Stadium.
Each Trainer card serves a unique purpose and can be played in its own way. For example, Pokemon Tools are cards that can be attached to a Pokemon to trigger its effect, and a Stadium card can have a lingering effect in a game until it gets removed or replaced by another Stadium card.
But since the release of the Temporal Forces set, another type of Trainer card has returned to the meta. This almost-forgotten type of Trainer card is none other than the ACE SPEC card.
Today, we’re going to give you all the details you need about what ACE SPEC cards are, especially for beginners who never get to experience Pokemon TCG during the Black and White era.
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A Brief History of the ACE SPEC Card in Pokemon TCG
ACE SPEC cards are a specific type of Trainer card introduced during the Boundaries Crossed set of the Black and White series. During this time, ACE SPEC cards are classified with a unique Rarity called rare ACE.
ACE SPEC cards remained in the preceding sets until the last set of the Black and White series, Plasma Blast, in 2013.
These cards remained nonexistent in Pokemon TCG throughout the years that followed until 2024, when the Temporal Forces set of the Scarlet and Violet series brought ACE SPEC cards back to the meta, bearing the new Rarity type called ACE SPEC Rare.
The defining feature of these Trainer cards is the ‘ACE SPEC’ label that appears on both sides. The B/W ACE SPEC cards are printed in metallic gray, while the ACE SPEC cards of the S/V series are printed in neon pink.
What Does an ACE SPEC Card Do?
An ACE SPEC card in Pokemon TCG works similar to a regular Trainer card, but with an effect so powerful that only one copy of an ACE SPEC card is allowed in a Pokemon TCG deck.
Any Trainer card can be categorized as an ACE SPEC card, as long as it’s labeled as such. This means that ACE SPEC cards are simply a variant of Trainer cards rather than a separate type.
Here are some examples of Pokemon Tool ACE SPEC cards:
Also, some Item cards:
Although rare, ACE SPEC cards can be Stadium cards as well:
In special cases, ACE SPEC cards can become Energy cards, which makes them more unique considering that Energy cards aren’t even Trainer cards in the first place:
The Potential of ACE SPEC Cards in Pokemon TCG
To show you how powerful ACE SPEC cards can be, take a look at this Unfair Stamp card.
When used at the right time, it can force you and your opponent to shuffle your hand to your deck while letting you draw five cards and your opponent draw only two. Quite unfair indeed, isn’t it?
How about this Prime Catcher that is becoming a staple of many meta decks today?
This ACE SPEC card lets you choose an opponent’s Benched Pokemon and switch it with their Active Pokemon.
You’ll also do the same with your Pokemon, which makes it a great setup and an easy way to score a Knock Out, especially if you’ll switch your opponent’s crucial low-HP Benched Pokemon.
Lastly, here’s the Hero’s Cape, which provides an attached Pokemon with +100 HP.
Such an amount of HP is very valuable in a game where the most powerful Pokemon can deal as much as 250 damage.
If your Pokemon can survive an onslaught with the help of this ACE SPEC card, you basically have the chance to counterattack and turn the game back in your favor.
Final Thoughts on Using an ACE SPEC Card in Pokemon TCG Matches
If you want to build a deck with an ACE SPEC card on it, make sure that you read everything the card says to ensure that you fully understand its mechanics. An ACE SPEC card can be any type of non-Pokemon card, so be sure to consider how it should be played according to the game’s rules.
Remember, you can only have one ACE SPEC card in your deck, so the chance of drawing one during a game is very slim. Try to add as many utility cards as you can, particularly those that allow you to draw more cards or get a specific type of card in your deck.
Make sure that the ACE SPEC card in your deck provides a significant advantage that makes it easier for you to execute your deck’s strategy or maximize the potential of your Pokemon to score Knock Outs.
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