The Wizards era.

Black Star Promos arrived alongside Base Set in 1999 through the Pokemon League program. Pikachu #1 went out as a participation handout at League sites, distributed before anyone understood what those cards would become.

• Three Movie tie-ins: Mewtwo, Pichu Brothers, Entei
• Best of Game tournament prize cards and the Snap photo-art Pikachus
• WotC lost the license in mid-2003, set closes mid-print
• 1st Edition and Cosmos-foil chases trade in auction houses, not on TCGplayer
• Misty's Seadra and Erika's Dragonair are the era's quiet Gym-promo sleepers