What’s A Blank Energy Symbol In Pokémon Cards?

Let’s be real: the Pokémon TCG has a lot of tiny icons and symbols that look like someone mashed the keyboard during card design. But there’s one that stumps many players- a little empty grey circle where an energy cost should be.

No, your card’s not broken. It’s not a misprint. It’s not fake.

It’s a blank energy symbol, and it means you can use the attack for free.

Let’s dive deeper into the blank energy symbol in Pokémon TCG, the Pokémon that can attack for free, why they’re low-key overpowered, and if they’re valuable for collectors.

What That Grey Blank Circle Does

Normally, attacking in Pokémon TCG requires you to pay an Energy cost. Fire, Water, Grass- whatever your Pokémon needs to fire off a move, you better have it attached.

But a grey blank Energy symbol breaks that rule. It’s not just “low cost.” It’s zero cost. 

The Pokémon can attack even if it has absolutely no Energy attached. Which means you can start doing stuff- drawing cards, rearranging your deck, or dealing chip damage- without wasting precious Energy attachments.

Pokémon With Blank Energy In The Current Format

Here’s a complete list of Pokémon cards with a grey blank Energy symbol in the 2025 current Standard Format:

Notice a pattern? Most of these are Basic Pokémon, making them ideal for early-game utilization. They’re not heavy-hitters, but they help you find those heavy-hitters faster as well as disrupt your opponent in the early game. And that’s exactly why top players love them.

How Free Attacks Work In A Game

Let’s walk through an example to show you why free attacks are so important in the current game.

It’s your turn. You’re going second, which means you can attack this turn. 

You put Budew into the Active Spot, and guess what? Itchy Pollen has a grey blank Energy cost. That’s permission to wreak havoc without paying a dime.

You look at your hand: it’s a brick. Maybe an Evolution, maybe a spare Trainer, and no Energy. Doesn’t matter. You don’t need to attach an Energy this turn. 

You just announce Itchy Pollen, and boom- your opponent is locked out of using Item cards on their next turn. This is immobilizing for them. Now you have bought yourself time to set up and keep your opponent on the back foot.

That’s the magic of the grey blank Energy. You get to attack for free.

Is It a Misprint?

Nope. You’d be surprised how many people think it is, though.

It’s easy to understand why- most attacks in Pokémon TCG require Energy to use. Seeing an attack with an empty cost feels… wrong. Additionally, the grey blank Energy Pokémon are few and far between. Only a handful of cards exist.

But blank Energy attacks are 100% intentional, and it’s been part of the game for years. The Pokémon Company has acknowledged it in the official rulebook and the 2017 Sun & Moon pre-release announcement.

Counterfeit cards sometimes get it wrong by accidentally putting a Colorless star where the blank should be. Ironically, that’s the real misprint- because it means the card’s likely fake.

Are Blank Energy Cards Worth Anything?

Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Sometimes, but not because they have a grey blank Energy symbol.

Here’s the deal- most blank Energy Pokémon have a black circle rarity symbol, which means they are “Common”. You know, those set-saturating, mass-printed cards that clog up your collection… 

But there are blank Energy Pokémon that have a gold star rarity symbol, which means they are Ultra Rare and Secret Rare. These have unique artwork, hold nostalgic value with collectors, and command a high price tag.

 The 10 most expensive Pokémon cards with a blank Energy symbol:

Ultimately, you’re not sitting on a goldmine because your Pokémon has a blank Energy symbol, but because the card is a genuine rare with limited copies printed.

So if someone tries to sell you a blank-energy common card as a “misprint worth $$$”, run.

Kalam Tang

Kalam is a PTCG gameplay expert and content creator. He started playing and collecting Pokémon cards since 1996. When he’s not working, you can find him nerding out on Anime!