2011 98 cards

Forces of Nature

Emerging Powers introduced the Forces of Nature trio and expanded the Unova roster with new full-art cards and competitive tools for the Black & White format.

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bw2

Difficulty

3/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Thundurus

See market

Rarity Tier

Moderate

Overview

Emerging Powers, released August 31, 2011, is the second Black & White expansion with 98 cards. It continued the Unova-only Pokemon approach and introduced the Forces of Nature — Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus. The set also featured the first Pokemon Catcher trainer card, which became one of the most impactful cards in the format.

Best for

Collectors into early full arts and BW EX structure
collectors pricing Emerging Powers (2011, 98 cards) as BW / full-art transition cardboard — not as generic “old cards”
anyone specifically hunting Thundurus / Tornadus and needing the rest of the set for context

Skip this path if

you want only sealed modern product and zero binder work
you expect every card in Emerging Powers to carry similar resale (bulk is bulk)

Common mistakes

Collectors mishandle Emerging Powers by under-checking centering on full arts that look fine in a phone photo. Thundurus / Tornadus still does most of the economic work inside a 98-card list — do not price bulk like hits. Listings labeled only “BW / full-art transition” are not a SKU: match set code bw2 (2011) before you match the art.

What to check first

Start with surface + edges under a real light, not only the listing crop. Then inspect Thundurus / Tornadus under real light before anyone says “NM” or grade. Gap the rest with the Emerging Powers checklist; sealed product does not replace the expensive row.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

Full Art Thundurus (#97) and Full Art Tornadus (#98) are the top chase cards. Pokemon Catcher became one of the most important trainer cards in the BW format. Beartic, Gothitelle, and Crushing Hammer were competitive staples that hold value with players.

Great Ball

Max Potion

Pokémon Catcher

Recycle

Thundurus

Tornadus

Full Collection

Cards from Emerging Powers

Tap any card to see price history and details.

28 of 98

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Tips to finish the set

Emerging Powers is a compact 98-card set. The 2 full-art cards are the premium pulls. Pokemon Catcher is a notable trainer card worth acquiring. The rest of the set is affordable, making it one of the easier BW-era sets to complete on a budget.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify Emerging Powers cards by set code bw2 / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

Split bulk commons/uncommons from holos and special rarities before pricing
03

Track Thundurus and Tornadus as priority singles, not pack EV fantasies
04

Scan or checklist-gap the rest after the chase budget is honest

Scan with the app

Pokex identifies the Emerging Powers set symbol and distinguishes full-art Thundurus and Tornadus from their regular holo versions. The scanner helps verify the unique full-art texture and assess condition for valuation.

FAQ

Common questions

01 What are the best cards in Emerging Powers?

Full Art Thundurus (#97) and Full Art Tornadus (#98) are the most valuable. Pokemon Catcher is the most competitively significant card, essentially being a reprint of the classic Gust of Wind in a new format.

02 Why was Pokemon Catcher so important?

Pokemon Catcher let you switch your opponent's active Pokemon with one of their benched Pokemon without a coin flip (it was later errata'd to require a flip). This dramatically sped up the BW format and became a must-have in virtually every deck.

03 How many cards are in Emerging Powers?

Emerging Powers contains 98 cards including 2 full-art cards (Thundurus and Tornadus), holographic rares, uncommons, and commons. It is one of the smaller BW-era sets.

04 Does Emerging Powers only have Unova Pokemon?

Yes, like the Black & White base set, Emerging Powers features exclusively Generation V Unova Pokemon. Later BW-era expansions would reintroduce Pokemon from earlier generations.