Banned TCG Cards

(Gen 1 to 4)

Some cards from the first four generations of the Pokémon TCG were banned or censored for surprising reasons. Here's a look at a few of the most well-known examples.

Sabrina’s Gengar card

Sabrina’s Gengar

Originally showed tombstones, removed in international versions to avoid religious imagery.

Grimer card

Grimer

Japanese artwork showed Grimer looking up a girl's skirt. English card was edited change the eyes.

Magmortar card

Magmortar

Depicted with cannon arms pointing directly outward — considered too violent and censored in Western releases.

Moo Moo Milk card

Moo Moo Milk

Showed a baby Pokémon being milked by a human — controversial and unreleased outside Japan.

Koga's Ninja Tricks card

Koga's Ninja Tricks

Showed a Buddhist symbol, called manji, redesigned for outside of Japan to prevent any controversy in the west.

Misty's Tears card

Misty's Tears

The Japanese version showed a silhouette of a nude Misty in the background. The artwork was completely redesigned for Western releases to remove the suggestive imagery.

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Sabrinas Gaze

Showed a baby Pokémon being milked by a human — controversial and unreleased outside Japan.

Jynx card

Jynx (Various)

Many of the orignial Jynx cards were redesigned for western releases due to fear of similarities with 'black face'

Arcade Game card Card-Flip Game card

Arcade Game & Card-Flip Game

Censored due to gambling nature