Set Overview
Awakening Legends, released November 23, 2000, was the third Neo set. Its 57 cards include two Shining Pokémon, a kind of chase card printed with recoloured artwork.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Japanese Name | めざめる伝説 (Mezameru Densetsu) |
| Release Date | November 23, 2000 |
| Total Cards | 57 cards |
| Card Types | 52 Pokémon · 5 Trainer |
| Holo Rares | 17 |
| Theme | Shining Pokémon |
About the Set
The two Shining Pokémon — Shining Magikarp and Shining Gyarados — are the set’s secret rares. Alongside them sit the legendary beasts Entei, Suicune and Raikou, plus Ho-Oh and Celebi, among 17 holo rares.
The English counterpart is Neo Revelation, released September 21, 2001 with 66 cards.
How These Cards Are Numbered
Cards from this era carry no collector number. The number printed at the bottom right of the card is the Pokédex number of the Pokémon — the 25th card of Expansion Pack is Staryu, and it reads No. 120. Trainer and Energy cards have no number at all.
What the gallery shows: each tile is numbered by its position in the set (#1 to #57), which is the order the set is catalogued in, not a number printed on the card. Open a card and the lightbox gives both the position and the Pokédex number the card actually prints.
Rarity is shown on the card face instead, as a small symbol next to the Pokédex number: a circle for common, a diamond for uncommon and a star for rare.
Media Factory published the Japanese card game from October 1996 to November 2000, when publishing passed to The Pokémon Company. This set released on November 23, 2000, on that boundary; sources disagree over which publisher it falls under.
Complete Card Gallery
All 57 cards from Awakening Legends, in set order. Click any card to view it full size — use the arrow keys (or swipe) to move through the set.
Other Japanese Sets
English readers may also want the Neo Revelation set guide, and the Japanese to English set map for how the two release schedules line up.
| Set | Japanese Name | Released | Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expansion Pack | 拡張パック | October 20, 1996 | 102 cards |
| Pokémon Jungle | ポケモンジャングル | March 5, 1997 | 48 cards |
| Mystery of the Fossils | 化石の秘密 | June 21, 1997 | 48 cards |
| Rocket Gang | ロケット団 | November 21, 1997 | 65 cards |
| Leaders’ Stadium | リーダーズスタジアム | October 24, 1998 | 96 cards |
| Challenge from the Darkness | 闇からの挑戦 | June 25, 1999 | 98 cards |
| Gold, Silver, to a New World... | 金、銀、新世界へ... | February 4, 2000 | 96 cards |
| Crossing the Ruins... | 遺跡をこえて... | July 7, 2000 | 56 cards |
Collecting & Where to Buy
Shining Gyarados and Shining Magikarp are the reason this set is collected, and both carry a large premium over the holo rares. Ho-Oh, Celebi and the beasts follow behind them.
Collector tip: Shining Pokémon use a recoloured version of the Pokémon’s artwork and were printed at a much lower rate than the holo rares — check the colouring, not just the holo pattern.
Note: external links are provided for reference only. Always confirm a card’s printing, condition and authenticity before purchasing.