Neo Discovery

What Neo Discovery is

Neo Discovery is the second expansion of the Neo Series and the ninth English set, released on June 1, 2001 under the set code N2 with 75 cards and no secret rares. It is built on the Ruins of Alph and the Unown of Pokémon Gold and Silver, and its holofoils include the two cards that define the Neo Series market, Umbreon 13 and Espeon 1, alongside Tyranitar 12, Smeargle 11, Scizor 10, Kabutops 6, Politoed 8 and Houndour 5.

The checklist holds 36 rares, 17 of them holofoil at 1 to 17 and 19 non holofoil rares behind them, then 19 uncommons and 20 commons. The English set is larger than the Japanese Crossing the Ruins..., 75 cards to 56, because Wizards of the Coast added non holofoil prints of the holofoil rares, so Umbreon also exists as the non holofoil rare 32. Psychic is the most represented type at 16 cards, and the CR CG gangs studio drew 12 cards, the Unown among them.

The set was printed in 1st Edition and Unlimited runs, and the live prices list each as a separate variant.

What makes Neo Discovery different

• Umbreon and Espeon Umbreon 13 and Espeon 1 are the most valuable Neo Series holofoils outside Neo Genesis Lugia, and their 1st Edition prints lead the set's market by a wide margin, with Umbreon's non holofoil rare 32 on the chase list as well.
• The Unown and the ruins The set's theme is the Ruins of Alph and the glyph like Unown, drawn by the CR CG gangs studio, which gives Neo Discovery a look unlike any other Neo set.
• Expanded for English Crossing the Ruins... had 56 cards; the English set grew to 75 by adding non holofoil prints of the holofoil rares, the same expansion Jungle and Neo Genesis received.
• Two Theme Decks Brain Wave built around Espeon with Psychic and Water Pokémon and Wallop around Hitmontop with Fighting and Grass Pokémon, each with a metal coin, rulebook, damage counters and card list.

How Neo Discovery arrived

Japan released Crossing the Ruins... on July 7, 2000. The English Neo Discovery followed on June 1, 2001, six months after Neo Genesis and two months before Southern Islands, with the Brain Wave and Wallop Theme Decks alongside it.

Wizards of the Coast printed the set in 1st Edition and Unlimited, and its holofoils aged into one of the strongest vintage markets of the Neo Series, with Umbreon 13 leading and Espeon, Smeargle, Tyranitar, Politoed, Houndour, Kabutops, Scizor and Hitmontop behind it.

Neo Discovery products and what came in them

Neo Discovery sold in booster packs and booster boxes in 1st Edition and Unlimited runs, in blisters and in the two Theme Decks. The sealed table above lists 1st Edition and Unlimited boxes and packs separately.

Collecting and grading Neo Discovery

1st Edition Umbreon 13 leads the live prices above, followed by 1st Edition Espeon 1, Unlimited Umbreon, 1st Edition Smeargle 11, Yanma 17 in both runs, 1st Edition Politoed 8, Tyranitar 12, Houndour 5 and Kabutops 6, Unlimited Espeon, the 1st Edition non holofoil Umbreon 32, Scizor 10 and Hitmontop 3. Match the print run label in the checklist before comparing, because 1st Edition and Unlimited copies trade at very different levels.

Neo era holofoils scratch and chip easily and PSA 10 populations on Umbreon and Espeon are small, so the gap between PSA 9 and PSA 10 is enormous and a PSA 9 is the realistic result for most raw copies. Check the holofoil surface, corners and back edges before submitting.

Sealed Neo Discovery is a vintage asset, with 1st Edition boxes far above Unlimited, and the sealed table above tracks what boxes, packs, blisters and the two Theme Decks trade for today.