After 20 Years, Pokémon is Putting Kadabra Back in The Deck

The world of Pokémon celebrates a long-awaited return of the fan-favorite Kadabra character. Twenty-three years after its introductory debut, the Psychic-Type Pokémon has been brought back into the fray, enabling new adventures and stronger teams for fans and players of both the Trading Card Game (TCG) and the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield games for Switch.

Kadabra first made its debut in the first-generation Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Blue, as well as Pokémon Yellow. As a Psychic-Type Pokémon, it utilized powerful attacks such as Psychic, Shadow Ball, and Future Sight, alongside its signature move, Kinesis. With its unique abilities, Kadabra emerged as a powerful Pokémon with a wide range of capabilities, giving it an edge in battle.

Though prominently present in the mainline entries and becoming available in Pokémon TCG trading card sets, Kadabra had been absent from newer games and card sets, starting with the fourth-generation Pokémon games, Diamond and Pearl. Speculations of legal troubles with the character arose due to uncanny resemblance to the famed French magician and entertainer Gabillou.

Thanks to a cooperation between the publisher The Pokémon Company International and Gabillou’s heirs, Kadabra has returned to the Pokémon fray and allowed players to finally build teams with its distinct Psychic powers. Starting with its physical TCG card set release in June 2021, players can have Kadabra join their decks for strategic play, or even use a special Shining Kadabra card, featuring a special gold holofoil version of the character. Also, expect to see Kadabra in the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield titles, allowing trainers to explore the Galar region and make the most of the returnable Pokémon’s abilities.

Though the removal of any Pokémon from the lineup can be sad, The Pokémon Company has proven to be dedicated to a stable and balanced fandom, to both please old fans and bring new experiences for new ones. After years of absence and speculations, Kadabra is back and available to represent you in your adventures!