Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Why can't Antique Old Amber evolve into Aerodactyl ex if Buried Fossil can?

Ambassador VI

New Member
Can Buried Fossil (Skyridge) evolve into Aerodactyl ex (EX Sandstorm)?

A November 2023 Compendium Ruling says Antique Old Amber cannot evolve into Aerodactyl ex (EX Sandstorm) because "You need to look at the "evolves from" info on the Evolution Pokemon. Aerodactyl ex from Sandstorm evolves from Mysterious Fossil, so it cannot evolve from Antique Old Amber."

Let's compare with a January 2004 ruling, regarding whether Buried Fossil can evolve into Aerodactyl ex (EX Sandstorm); "Buried Fossil has special text on it that says, "You may play a Pokémon card that evolves from Mysterious Fossil on top of Buried Fossil". So yes, you are allowed to evolve your Buried Fossil to Aerodactyl-EX."

It seems fairly obvious to me that these two rulings contradict each other. The January 2004 ruling says a card can create specify its own conditions for what it can evolve into (not dissimilar to what a card like, for example, Ditto Prism Star can do), but the November 2023 ruling tells us we need to 'look at the "evolves from" info'.

I submitted a comprehensive set of queries in October of last year asking about similar mechanics that went ignored [link]. Perhaps that query was too long.


Today's set of queries are much shorter, with the specific purpose of assessing if the previous ruling is still valid;

1. Can Buried Fossil still evolve into Aerodactyl ex (EX Sandstorm)?
2. Since Antique Old Amber can't evolve into Aerodactyl ex (EX Sandstorm) despite having text saying it "Evolves into Aerodactyl or Aerodactyl ex", what does 'special text' mean in the context of Pokémon trading card game rulings?
3. Can Ditto Prism Star evolve into Aerodactyl ex (EX Sandstorm)? If so, what 'special text' does Ditto Prism Star have that facilitates this evolution that Antique Old Amber does not have?

EDIT: 4. Can Pichu (Neo Genesis) evolve into Pikachu (SV 151)? If so, what 'special text' does Pichu have that facilitates this evolution that Antique Old Amber does not have?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top