Are 4th Print Pokémon Cards Shadowless or Unlimited? The short answer is neither—they’re Unlimited. But to really get this, you need to dive into the full story of how Pokémon cards from the very first set, Base Set, were printed back in the 1990s, because that’s where these terms come from.
Let’s start at the beginning with the Base Set, released in 1999 by Wizards of the Coast, the company that first brought Pokémon Trading Card Game to the English-speaking world. This set had 102 cards, including holos like Charizard that collectors still chase today. The key to understanding prints is the back of the card, in the little black circle near the bottom that says “© 1995, 96, 98, 99 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. © 1999 Wizards.” That copyright line tells the tale. The first print run, called 1st Edition, had an extra “1st Edition” stamp in the bottom left. After that came the Shadowless prints, then Unlimited. Each print run had differences you can spot if you know what to look for.
Shadowless cards are the second main print run after 1st Edition. They’re named that because the artwork on holographic cards has no drop shadow around the Pokémon image. For example, on a Shadowless Charizard, the fiery background blends right into the edges without that dark outline you see on later prints. The copyright line on Shadowless backs reads “© ’95, ’96, ’98, ’99,” with those apostrophes instead of full years. These cards are rarer than Unlimited because printing switched over pretty quick as demand exploded. Wizards printed Shadowless until supplies caught up, and they’re prized by collectors for their crisp holo patterns that shift more vividly under light.
Then came Unlimited prints, the third and longest-running batch for Base Set. These have drop shadows on the holo foils, making the artwork pop with that extra depth. The copyright line goes back to spelling out the full years: “© 1995, 96, 98, 99 Nintendo…” without apostrophes. Unlimited cards flooded the market, so they’re way more common. Most Base Set packs you find loose today are Unlimited unless specified otherwise. But here’s where the 4th print fits in—after Unlimited started rolling out heavily, Wizards kept printing more waves to meet demand. The 4th print is just another batch within the Unlimited phase.
How do you know it’s the 4th print specifically? Look super close at the copyright line on the back. On early Unlimited prints, like 1st or 2nd print Unlimited, the “GAMEFREAK” part has a thicker, bolder font. By the 3rd print Unlimited, that font slims down a bit. The 4th print Unlimited takes it further—the drop shadow on holos is even more pronounced, the borders might look a tad lighter, and the text alignment on the back can have tiny shifts from wear on the printing plates. Some collectors count prints by subtle plate wear, like faint lines or color density changes. For non-holos, it’s harder, but holos show it best. Importantly, all these from 2nd print onward are Unlimited, meaning they have those shadows. Shadowless stopped after the initial short run.
Why does the print number matter? Rarity and value. 1st Edition is the holy grail, then Shadowless holos like Blastoise or Venusaur can fetch hundreds in good condition. Unlimited drops in value fast, and later prints like 4th are the cheapest because millions were made. A 4th print Charizard holo might go for $50 to $200 graded, while a Shadowless version hits $500 plus. But fakes are everywhere—crooks reprint backs or foil stamp shadows to fake Shadowless. Always check multiple spots: holo alignment, border thickness (Shadowless have thinner gold borders), and that copyright exactly.
This print system was only for Wizards-era sets, like Base, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket through 2003. When Pokémon Company International took over in 2003 with EX sets, they ditched print runs entirely. No more Shadowless or numbered prints—just set symbols in the bottom corner to show which expansion, like the leaf for Jungle. Modern cards use collector numbers, like 25/108, and rarity stars. Regulation marks like ‘F’ or ‘G’ tell tournament legality, not print waves.
Digging deeper into Base Set prints, the transition wasn’t clean. Some packs mixed Shadowless and early Unlimited holos because print sheets got swapped mid-run. That’s why you hear of “transitional” cards. Wizards printed in huge sheets of 11×11 cards, so one sheet might be all Shadowless, the next Unlimited. Cut marks or double crimps on edges hint at early packs from imperfect sheets. Errors spice it up too—like “Black Flame Ninetales,” an Unlimited where the flames stayed black like Shadowless art instead of turning blue. Or holo shifts where the foil misaligns, creating rainbow edges. These pop up more in Unlimited, including later prints like 4th.
For Jungle set, the second expansion, prints followed similar rules but shorter Shadowless run. Fossil had even fewer. By Team Rocket, Unlimited dominated, and print counting got fuzzier. But Base Set 4th print stays Unlimited through and through. Collectors grade with PSA or BGS, and population reports show 4th prints as common—thousands graded versus hundreds of Shadowless.
Spotting a 4th print Unlimited step by step: Hold it to light. Shadows on holo? Unlimited. Check back text: Full years, no apostrophes? Unlimited. Font on “GAMEFREAK” super thin? Later print. Borders not super dark gold? Not that rare dark border error from some Shadowless packs. Centering off or back inverted? Cool error, but still Unlimited. Raw cards from old starter decks or 2-player sets often turn out 4th print.
Value wise, condition rules all. A beat-up 4th print is pocket change, but near mint pulls $20-50 for commons. Holos climb higher. Market fluctuates—2025 sees Base Set hype from nostalgia and influencers opening sealed product. Sealed Booster boxes from late Unlimited runs, likely heavy on 4th prints, sell for thousands because packs inside could hold gems.
Errors in later Unlimited prints add chase. Gengar with yellow ink blob on back “MO,” like a flexing arm—rarer in 1st Edition but found in Unlimited. Double printed inverted backs on uncommons, or off-center holos. These aren’t print-specific but show printing glitches Wizards never fixed, hitting 4th print sheets too.
Beyond Base Set, no other sets used “Shadowless” officially—it’s a collector term. Japanese prints had their own waves, like Masaki promos with trade evos like Gengar, using Base layout but unique stamps. Jumbo cards, oversized promos, ignore prints entirely—not tournament legal.
Tournament rules today from Pokémon’s handbook ban altered cards—no post-print changes like fake stamps. Prints don’t affect legality; it’s regulatio
