The best Pokémon card artwork is created by a single artist.
The best Pokémon card artwork is created by a single artist.
Numerous artists have come and gone from the Pokémon Trading Card Game throughout the years. The artwork on the cards was created by around 175 different persons, some of whom only ever created one piece and others who made hundreds. Heck, since 1999’s Base Set, the initial set of Pokémon cards, Ken Sugimori has produced 966 of them. With 188 cards to her credit, Yuka Morii stands out among them for me because of her distinctive method of taking pictures of little clay model Pokémon in the outdoors.
Yuka Morii has been creating cute clay Pokémon and photographing them in the ideal settings since the Neo Discovery set from 2000. Her Caterpie from the Neo Discovery set, along with Omanyte, Kabuto, and Corsola, is a famous photo that established a style that has been an essential component of the TCG ever since.
These are the cards that, as a very latecomer to the Pokémon Trading Card Game, instantly drew my attention. While my kid fills his binder with VMAXes and Rainbow Rares, my own binder is filled with a steadily expanding collection of Morri’s art, giving me the absurd ambition to one day try to acquire all 188 of them.
Morii succinctly writes on her website that “My job is to appreciate and produce simple things.” Today, it’s our responsibility to show them our gratitude.
Fans may enjoy discovering the Pokémon brand through many mediums. Of course, the core video games are the lifeblood of the Pokémon brand and the centre of practically all of The Pokémon Company’s most recent offerings. Additionally, viewers of the anime series may follow Ash Ketchum on his quest to become a Pokémon champion as he travels throughout the world in pursuit of new Pokémon.
Table of Contents
Listed are the top 15 Pokémon cards of all time.
The Wonder Tag ability of Tapu Lele GX, a once-powerful mainstay in the meta standard and expanded decks introduced by the Sun & Moon: Guardians Rising expansion, gave players an exploitable advantage by enabling them to get a Supporter card from their decks for nothing. Due to the demand from competitive players who wanted to include at least one of them, its worth increased.
The top 15 Pokémon cards ever, rated
1) Base Set Shadowless Charizard
The last Charizard on our list is also the world’s greatest treasure for Pokémon card collectors.
When this Shiny Charizard was debuted in 1999, it quickly gained a lot of cult following because to its 100 damage from Fire Spin move. And after more than 20 years, it has been determined that this card is among the most expensive cards in all trading card games, with one copy even fetching $420,000.
The Shiny Charizard card is the greatest of all time since it is considered to be the “holy grail” of Pokémon card collectors.
2) Shaymin EX
Shaymin EX is among the most potent cards in game history, as seen by the domination brought by competitive decks that include one. The players may draw thanks to its Set Up feature up until they have six cards in their hands.
Shaymin EX’s inherent ability to provide a major edge made it a must-have for both standard and expanded players, increasing its value and demand on a worldwide scale. Due to how helpful and abusive it was, Pokémon decided to ban the card in tournament play.
3) Mewtwo and Mew GX
Mewtwo and Mew GX, perhaps one of the most powerful cards ever to appear in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), were released in the Team Up expansion from Sun and Moon. It possesses the devastating Miraculous Duo GX move, which has a damage cap of 200, and the one-time ability to repair all damage done to all of its user’s Pokémon since the move requires an additional Energy card after it is used. However, Mewtwo and Mew GX became a force due to their Perfection Ability, which enabled users to employ the attacks of any Pokémon G or EX currently in play. When it was previously playable in the standard format, this made the card very pricey.
4) Pikachu Illustrator
The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the most expensive cards in the history of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and is regarded as the holy grail of card collectors. Only one PSA 10 copy of the card is known to exist, and YouTuber Logan Paul purchased it in July 2021 for a stunning $5,275,000.
Its scarcity caused its worth to soar to that level.
There are only 41 copies of the card in existence, and 39 of them were given away as prizes to the winners of CoroCoro Comic’s promo competitions in 1997 and 1998.
5) Lysandre’s Trump Card
Lysandre’s Trump Card should always be included among the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s (TCG) most powerful cards. Why? It may instantly put the cards from both players’ discard piles back into their decks. Due of the way this card changed the dynamics of the game, imbalanced decks were created as a result. It is currently prohibited from competitive matches as a result.
But while it was still acceptable to use, its value soared.
6) Charizard GX (Rainbow Rare)
The Rainbow Rare/Full Art variant of Charizard GX quickly rose to prominence as a collector’s item and was one of the most expensive cards in Sun and Moon.
As soon as the valuable card was made available in the Burning Shadow expansion, collectors started on the prowl to get it.
The market’s advertised starting price for it right now is $300, which is a lot to pay for just one card. Charizard GX, however, is not a highly skilled Pokémon GX when compared to other Pokémon GX.
7) Arceus and Dialga and Palkia GX
One of the most often played cards during the course of the game’s existence is Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia GX.
Although both of its attacks are strong, when it was introduced as a part of the Cosmic Eclipse expansion, its Altered Creation GX move made it very useful to decks.
When this card is still usable in the traditional format, its worth increases due to the game-changing ability to add 30 damage to the attacks of all the Pokémon of its owner.
8) Zoroark GX
As one of the strongest cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Zoroark GX has proven itself. When the Shining Legends expansion was published, it was regarded as a toolbox essential card in competitive decks. The Riotous Beating move of Zoroark GX can do a tonne of damage, while its Trade Ability lets players draw two cards in exchange for tossing out one card. There is little doubt that this card’s legacy in the Pokémon TCG competitive world will go on.
9) Arceus VStar
Arceus VStar, one of the newest cards on our list, was just recently released as a part of the Brilliant Stars expansion in February 2022. but has already had an effect because to its strong actions, particularly in the competitive environment. With its Starbirth VStar Power, Arceus VStar may add any two cards from your deck to your hand in addition to dealing 200 damage with its Trinity Nova attack, which allows you to connect up to three basic Energy cards to any of your Pokémon V.
10) Ancient Mew
The Ancient Mew card may not be as pricey as some of the other cards on our list, but it could be one of the most recognisable Pokémon cards ever created. Due to its widespread appeal and appealing design, it has subsequently become a must-have for collectors. It was first made available as a promotional card to promote the 2000 movie Pokémon: The Movie.
11) Pikachu Vmax (Rainbow Rare/Full Art)
The Rainbow Rare/Full Art variant of Pikachu Vmax, a newly issued card that became famous due to its rarity and design, has quickly established itself as a must-have for Pokémon card collectors.
Given that it now has a starting price of $185, it is a treasured card for anybody looking to expand their collection of Pokémon cards.
It may not be all that helpful in terms of skill.
Dealing up to 270 damage, though, may be a game-changer in dire circumstances.
12) Lucario and Melmetal GX
It’s not always about the significant amount of damage a Pokémon card can inflict in a single strike or the ability to demolish an opponent’s defence. Because of its Full Metal Wall GX ability, which may permanently reduce 30 damage from the attacks of your opponent’s Pokémon for the remainder of the game, Lucario and Melmetal GX became a headache for your opponent when it became a popular meta deck.
13) Charizard ex
When the FireRed and LeafGreen expansion was released in 2004, Charizard ex was a force to be reckoned with thanks to its overwhelming damage capacity of almost 200 points. It was already capable of instantly killing a Pokémon at the time.
Even though it is only being gathered as a collector’s item now, its value is still considerable. Its time in the game as a potent card is already ended.
14) Charizard Star
Charizard Star, the first of many Charizard variations on our list, was made available in 2004 as part of the Dragon Frontiers expansion. And 150 damage was already a significant number at that time.
The usage of Charizard’s shiny version in a card, which is very well-liked by fans all over the globe, is what caused this card’s value to explode.
15) Tapu Lele GX
The Wonder Tag ability of Tapu Lele GX, a once-powerful mainstay in the meta standard and expanded decks introduced by the Sun & Moon: Guardians Rising expansion, gave players an exploitable advantage by enabling them to get a Supporter card from their decks for nothing. Due to the demand from competitive players who wanted to include at least one of them, its worth increased.
