``` Alakazam's Archives: The Ghost Attack of the "No Damage" Ninetales ( part 2 )

``` Alakazam's Archives: The Ghost Attack of the "No Damage" Ninetales ( part 2 )

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Alakazam's Archives: The Ghost Attack of the "No Damage" Ninetales

Welcome back to the Archives, trainers! Grab a fresh cup of MooMoo Milk and pull up a chair. Today, we're diving deep into the golden era of the Pokémon TCG to examine one of the most legendary printing anomalies in history.

We're talking about the infamous "No Damage" Ninetales from the original English Base Set. It’s an error card so mysterious and heavily debated that, for years, many seasoned collectors thought it was nothing more than an urban legend.

A side-by-side comparison of the standard Shadowless Ninetales (left) displaying "80" damage, and the ultra-rare Error variant (right) completely missing the damage output for Fire Blast.

Anatomy of the Error: Where Did the Damage Go?

To understand this fascinating phenomenon, we need to look at the transition period between the 1st Edition and Unlimited print runs. This card belongs to the coveted Shadowless print run—the brief window where the 1st Edition stamp was removed, but the drop-shadow behind the art box hadn't been added yet.

During the manufacturing process at Wizards of the Coast (WotC), printing plates are layered to apply different colors and text. Here is a breakdown of how the error actually happened:

  • The Black Ink Plate: Text on Pokémon cards is applied using a specific black ink layer during the offset printing process.
  • The Missing Digits: For an extremely brief period on the Die-Cutting sheets, the black text layer containing the "80" for the Fire Blast attack was obstructed or improperly burned onto the printing plate.
  • The Fix: WotC quality control caught the mistake incredibly quickly. The plate was corrected, but a tiny fraction of the botched sheets made it through the cutting and packaging process.

Interestingly, the "No Damage" error only ever appeared in Shadowless Base Set Theme Decks (specifically the Brushfire deck), never in booster packs!

A macro shot of the card's attack area. Notice how the rest of the text, including the energy cost and the effect text, remains perfectly intact. Only the red-highlighted damage area is blank.

The Collector's Verdict: Rarity & Counterfeits

In the world of vintage TCG collecting, scarcity equals premium value. Because the Print Run for this error was microscopically small, the "No Damage" Ninetales is considered a holy grail for error hunters. A highly graded copy can fetch prices far exceeding its standard 1st Edition counterpart.

However, where there is high value, there is high risk. The most common misconception is that this error is easy to fake by using acetone to rub away the "80". While scammers do attempt this, professional authentication companies like PSA and CGC can easily spot acetone alterations using a jeweler's loupe and UV lighting.

An authentic "No Damage" Ninetales will show an undisturbed Cosmos Foil pattern directly beneath where the ink should have been, with absolutely no chemical scarring on the card's glossy finish.

Go dust off those old Brushfire theme decks hiding in your closet—you never know when a phantom Ninetales might be waiting in the dark! Keep hunting, trainers!

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