Spanish Ruby & Sapphire Theme Decks: Pokémon Libro Ilustrado (Part I: Torchic & Mudkip)

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Before starting, I'd like to thank *abuelapsyckotgc* (IG) for helping me providing photos of the Libro Ilustrados and some information about them.

Introduction:

“Ruby & Sapphire” was a expansion that in Spain was released first in English in late 2003. However, it was released also in Spanish in 2004, but it was kinda different from English versions: Boosters only had 5 cards inside (instead of 9) and also, a series of special Theme Decks were released along this expansion. These were known as “Libro Ilustrado”

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Photo of all 4 Spanish Sealed “Libro Ilustrado” from Ruby & Sapphire
Credits: abuelapsyckotgc

But first let’s see how Devir Page looked like in 2003 (when it was distributing English Ruby & Sapphire) and in 2004-2005 (when it started distributing Spanish)

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Devir’s page of “Ruby & Sapphire” in November 2003

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Devir’s page of “Ruby & Sapphire” in February 2005

Libro Ilustrado:

Now, continuing with the “Libro Ilustrado” concept, basically it was a Special Theme Deck that was more like a Half Deck due to it had 30 cards instead of 60 and it was in the back part of the box. The box has artwork of Ken Sugimori.

These Half Decks appeared in some expansions from ex era. Being Ruby & Sapphire the first, then it appeared in Legend Maker & Emerald then and finally in Unseen Forces (which I wrote about one of those Half Decks in the past).

This time, we’re going to focus in the Libro Ilustrado from Ruby & Sapphire.
For Ruby & Sapphire, 4 Libro Ilustrado were released in Spanish and Portuguese and each had a coin, rulebook and, according to Devir, a Special Holofoil card:

  • Torchic Libro Ilustrado (2005)
  • Mudkip Libro Ilustrado (2005)
  • Treecko Libro Ilustrado (2006)
  • Ralts Libro Ilustrado (2006)

First wave (2005):

The Libro Ilustrados were distributed in 2 waves being the first released in some point of 2005. It’s hard to give a certain day of released due to it has not been well preserved, being the oldest register in December 2005 where the Torchic & Mudkip decks are mentioned.

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Devir’s page of “Ruby & Sapphire” in December 2005 (image is Lost Media … not exactly … I’m almost sure that the image that couldn’t load is the same as the one that appears in the February 2006 page)

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Devir’s page of “Ruby & Sapphire” in February 2006

Torchic Libro Ilustrado:

:warning: TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH:
The last key you need to enter to the wonderful world of Pokémon finally has arrived!
The “Libro Ilustrado de Pokémon: Torchic” is the first of the series of the Pokémon Libro Ilustrados that will give you the coolest and important information about these amazing creatures.
This book has the Torchic Deck, of 30 cards (some repeated and a special holofoil card) to collect them and play, also a file for each card, with technical information such as weight, height and characteristics of each Pokémon.
Discover which Pokémon is the most powerful, develop your own abilities as a Trainer and be an authentic Pokémon master!

Torchic Libro Ilustrado has the following structure:

  • Manectric 9/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1 (HOLO)
  • Blaziken 15/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Combusken 27/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Linoone 38/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Electrike 52/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Poochyena 64/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Torchic 73/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Zigzagoon 79/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Poké Ball 86/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • PokéNav 88/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Energy Search 90/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Potion 91/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Fire Energy 108/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x6
  • Lightning Energy 109/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x6

Torchic
Torchic1280×1788 170 KB

Torchic Back
Torchic Back1280×1788 177 KB

Manectric
Manectric1280×1788 2.53 MB

Mudkip Libro Ilustrado:

:warning: TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH:
The last key you need to enter to the wonderful world of Pokémon finally has arrived!
The “Libro Ilustrado de Pokémon: Mudkip” is the first of the series of the Pokémon Libro Ilustrados that will give you the coolest and important information about these amazing creatures.
This book has the Mudkip Deck, of 30 cards (some repeated and a special holofoil card) to collect them and play, also a file for each card, with technical information such as weight, height and characteristics of each Pokémon.
Discover which Pokémon is the most powerful, develop your own abilities as a Trainer and be an authentic Pokémon master!

Mudkip Libro Ilustrado has the following structure:

  • Dustox 6/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1 (HOLO)
  • Swampert 23/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Marshtomp 40/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Carvanha 51/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Mudkip 59/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Makuhita 57/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Wurmple 78/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Cascoon 26/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Poké Ball 86/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Energy Search 90/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Potion 91/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x2
  • Switch 92/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x1
  • Grass Energy 104/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x6
  • Water Energy 106/109 (Ruby & Sapphire) → x6

Mudkip
Mudkip1280×1788 176 KB

Mudkip Back
Mudkip Back1280×1788 197 KB

Dustox
Dustox1280×1788 2.77 MB

In the following episode, I’ll cover the “Wave 2” Libro Ilustrado: Treecko & Ralts …
I have to thank “abuelapsyckotgc” a lot!!! an amazing collector who helped me a lot giving me photos of these decks and some information …

I hope you’ve liked this thread. It was really interesting to write :slight_smile:

“Dr. Omanyte” (Oma)

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Thank you for writing about these and their history! Great pictures of those 2 half decks as well. Looking forward to learning more about these unique products.

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Thanks!!! Ruby & Sapphire has 4 Libro Illustrado released in Spanish and Portuguese. In this opportunity I wrote about the 2 first ones. I’ll write about the other 2 (Treecko & Ralts) in the sequel of this article. Glad you’ve liked it!!!

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Great article Oma, really interesting information and worth keeping together in one article so it doesn’t get lost.
I think you should point how incredibly rare to find Torchic & Mudkip decks are vs Treecko and Ralts ones.

Fun fact: I don’t think many people have noticed this, but do you know why Devir chose those 4 Pokémon as the main characters of these Theme Decks?
They are the four Hoenn starters:
Torchic, Mudkip & Trecko are the ones you can choose at the beginning of the game, and Ralts is the starter that Wally, one of your rivals, catches. :slight_smile:

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Hi @gudbais … Glad to see you here!!!
I’m extremely happy that you’ve enjoyed the article!!! That motivates me to continue digging unknown/underrated things and posting them here to make them known by collector community …

Yes, I’m goint to put that in the sequel of this article. In the next expisode, I’ll also going to highlight that the “Special Holofoil” was basically a scam (Information I’ve asked several people including you and all the answers I’ve received were the same. It was extremely useful)

That’s very interesting … I haven’t reminded Wally in a while … In fact, what you mention sounds logic!!! I’ll definitely going to mention it in the next episode and I’ll give you credits for this information!!!

Thanks for everything

“Dr. Omanyte” (Oma)

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Nice write up, i own the ralts deck very cool and interesting

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