For future reference and since it doesn't seem to be documented, heres a list of the variable's that are supposed to be set in node templates:
$node (you should know this from before.. :) )
$viewmode (the view mode, full, line, plain, etc.)
$language_code (the language code, probably added/updated around v3.8)
$view_parameters (the view parameters: limit, offset, custom stuff, etc.)
$collection_attributes (related to info collection)
$validation (probably related to info collection)
$persistent_variable (usually false)
$node_path (the node-path to a long and healthy life)