Special Charge

Special Charge was released in the Steam Siege expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which hit store shelves in August 2016. The set was centered on the concept of Dual Type Pokémon, featuring creatures with two elemental types simultaneously, a mechanic previously rare in the game. As an Item card, Special Charge was designed to provide players with a strategic way to recycle Special Energy cards from the discard pile back into their deck, a utility that became essential for decks relying on energy acceleration.

The card’s artwork was illustrated by Toyste Beach, whose clean, technical style brings a sense of structural clarity to the complex machinery depicted in the illustration. By visually emphasizing the transfer of power through the illustrated coils and conduits, the design captures the high-energy theme of the Steam Siege set. Upon its release, the card was well-received by the competitive community for its utility, offering a reliable recovery option in an era of the game where Special Energy cards were pivotal to the meta-game.