Digital Vault Wiki

Potion card image from Promos-A set (P-A-001) in holo, normal, and reverse variants

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

This entry documents a promotional Trainer card from the Pokémon Trading Card Game catalogued as P-A-001. Classified as an Item trainer card, it functions as a straightforward healing tool within the game, providing a means to restore a portion of a damaged Pokémon’s health. The card exists in multiple printing variants (normal, holo, and reverse holo) as part of the Promos-A release, and it is illustrated by 5ban Graphics. While its healing effect is simple, the card’s promotional status and variant availability contribute to its place in both gameplay history and collector interest.

Card Information

Name: Potion
Card Type: Trainer — Item
Set: Promos-A (P-A)
Set Card Count: Official 0, Total 100
Card ID: P-A-001
Local ID: 001
Rarity: None
Illustrator: 5ban Graphics
Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse
Variant Details: First Edition — False; Holo — True; Normal — True; Reverse — True; WPromo — False
Effect: Heal 20 damage from 1 of your Pokémon.
Trainer Type: Item
Legal in Standard: No
Legal in Expanded: No
Evolution: Not applicable (Trainer card)
Illustration Date / Update: Updated 2025-05-18
Pricing (historical availability): CardMarket — None; TCGPlayer — None

Gameplay and Strategy

The core function of this card is to heal 20 damage from one of your Pokémon, offering a straightforward way to extend a targeted Pokémon’s stay in play between exchanges or after a damaging turn. As a Trainer—Item card, its deployment is subject to the format rules of the printing. In this particular promotional release, the card is listed as not legal in both Standard and Expanded formats, which means it is generally restricted to specific promotional or non-competitive contexts rather than standard tournament play.

In practice, healing items such as Potion are most valuable when used to mitigate the impact of opponent damage during a turn where retreat options or other defensive plays are limited. Since the effect is a flat amount of HP restoration, it does not cure Special Conditions, nor does it provide any additional effects beyond HP recovery. The card’s holo and reverse holo variants are primarily of collector interest, while the normal variant serves players who used non-foil printings for deck construction where legality allows.

Deck-building considerations are constrained by the card’s legality. Given that Standard and Expanded play typically require legally released cards from sanctioned sets, this promo’s non-legal status in those formats means its strategic relevance is largely historical or limited to casual play or collection-focused discussions. For players and collectors seeking to understand healing mechanics across the TCG’s history, Potion exemplifies how item-based healing has evolved through promo printings and set-specific rulings.

Collector and Market Information

Rarity is listed as None for this particular promo card, a designation consistent with certain promotional releases that do not carry the typical rarity markers seen in standard set printings. The Promos-A set collects these items under a broader umbrella of promotional cards, with total print runs reaching up to 100 distinct card numbers across the official print run, though official counts may vary by source. The card’s lack of standard legal status in major formats further differentiates it from widely printed, tournament-legal items, impacting market visibility and pricing data on major platforms.

Pricing data for CardMarket and TCGPlayer is not available in the provided data, reflecting the card’s promotional nature and limited distribution. Collectors often value such promos for their place in release history, artwork provenance, and variant options (normal, holo, reverse). The holo and reverse holo versions typically carry additional appeal due to foil treatment, even when the card’s playability is restricted in official formats.

Art and Lore

The illustrated artwork for this promo is credited to 5ban Graphics, a well-known contributor to Pokémon TCG artwork who has created numerous images across several sets and promotional printings. The visual presentation of Potion in promo form tends to emphasize the practical utility of the item within the game while preserving the clean, accessible art style associated with healing items in the Pokémon TCG. While the card itself serves a functional role in gameplay, its artwork and foil treatments also reflect the collectible nature of promo releases, which often celebrate a broader range of printing variants to entice collectors and players alike.

lore connections for promo items like this Potion are limited to thematic alignment with the long-running healing item concept within the Pokémon universe. The card’s existence alongside other potions and healing items in the broader card ecosystem demonstrates the enduring emphasis on recovery tools in gym and trainer-centric decks, even outside of standard tournament play.

Trivia

The card exists in multiple print forms (normal, holo, reverse), a common feature for promotional releases to maximize collector appeal.
The official legal status for this particular printing excludes Standard and Expanded formats, highlighting its role as a promotional item rather than a staple in organized play.
The set designation Promos-A (P-A) reflects a promotional collection distinct from core expansion sets, with a total print count of up to 100 copies across the range.
Illustration is by 5ban Graphics, a pedigree known for contributing artwork across various Pokémon TCG printings.
The combination of a simple healing effect and promo status provides a useful reference point for discussions about how healing items have been distributed and reissued throughout the Pokémon TCG’s history.

Potion

📘 Potion — Pokémon TCG