10 Pokémon With The Best Trading Card Art

Ever since its release back at the end of the 1990s, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has cemented itself as one of the most popular card games of all time. In Japan, it’s actually the second most popular card game overall, only being beaten out by Magic: The Gathering. This is partially thanks to the popularity and charm of the Pokémon series itself, but also because of how accessible the TCG is to get into.

There’s depth for those that want it, but for casual collectors who simply want to collect pretty art for their favorite Pokémon and occasionally battle their friends, the Pokémon TCG is the best choice out there, be it the physical or digital version. Throughout the years, several Pokémon have received fantastic art for their cards time and time again.

10 Vaporeon’s More Recent Releases Have All Been Gorgeous

Vaporeon is a Pokémon that’s been with the TCG since the very beginning, meaning that some of its earlier cards are lackluster compared to more complex pieces released in the last few years. Thankfully, Vaporeon has a ton of more recent cards that are absolutely stunning.

There are two that come to mind, with one being from the Brilliant Stars set where it’s pictured alongside Gary. The other is from the Sword & Shield Promos set, where it looks comfortably curled up.

9 Mew’s Cards Show Off Its Adorably Playful Personality

Mew is an ancient, playful, trickster Pokémon that loves to pull lighthearted pranks on others, and generally just wants to have a good time. This is reflected wonderfully in many of Mew’s cards, and it even has an adorable tag team with Mewtwo.

The first card that comes to mind is Mew’s Celebrations card, where it’s shown throwing its hands in the air with a gorgeous pink-and-yellow background behind it. The other is Mewtwo & Mew Tag Team GX from the Sun & Moon Promos, where Mew is seen laughing in the background alongside a disgruntled Mewtwo.

8 Everyone’s Beloved Electric Mouse, Pikachu, Shocks With Its Cards

Pikachu has been one of the most beloved Pokémon of all time ever since the franchise’s release. A large part of this has to do with the bond that Ash shares with his Pikachu, but it’s also just an adorable mouse Pokémon overall.

Pikachu has seen a lot of fantastic art over the years, with two recent additions standing out the most. One is from the Cosmic Eclipse set, where a smiling Pikachu can be seen pictured with Red – presumably their first meeting. The second is a throwback to an incredibly old Pikachu design that was adored by many fans, updated in the Celebrations set with an entirely new coat of paint.

7 Flareon’s Adorable Art Could Melt Anyone’s Heart

Although all the Eeveelutions have some great art, Flareon is impossible to pass up on due to just how cute some of its card art is. This applies not only to recent releases but to some of its older cards as well.

One that immediately comes to mind is Flareon’s Generations card, which features its adorable paws poking through the bottom of the art box. The other is Flareon V from the Sword & Shield Promos, where it can be seen idling in front of a fireplace.

6 Blastoise Has Surprisingly Precious Tag Team Art With Piplup

“Cute” isn’t necessarily one of the words that come to mind whenever players think about how they would describe Blastoise. Thanks to some of the card art present for it within the Trading Card Game, though, players get to see a whole new, completely adorable, side to Blastoise.

This is thanks to the Blastoise & Piplup Tag Team GX card, part of the Cosmic Eclipse set, where Blastoise is pictured launching Piplup forward. The Blastoise card in the X&Y Promos is gorgeously illustrated as well, with Gyrados and Vaporeon pictured in the background.

5 Luxray’s Cards Perfectly Showcase Its Cool Personality

Shinx is an adorable Electric-type released in Generation IV that manages to go from cute to cool as it evolves. By the time it reaches Luxray, its fully-evolved form, it’s near unrecognizable and one of the coolest Electric-types in the franchise.

Luxray has some absolutely stunning cards that showcase its cool and shocking personality, the first of which being from the Sword & Shield Promos, where it’s seen snarling as if about to attack. Its Astral Radiance art is absolutely breathtaking as well, with nearly all the individual brushstrokes of its fur being visible.

4 Snorlax Is A Humorous Pokémon With Surprisingly Beautiful Art

Whenever players recall gorgeous art within the TCG, Snorlax likely isn’t one of the first characters to come to mind. After all, all Snorlax really does is sleep, and there’s no way to translate that into beautiful – yet still humorous – art, right?

Surprisingly, some of Snorlax’s cards are both stunning and manage to showcase its personality quite well. One that comes to mind is Snorlax VMAX from Sword & Shield, featuring gorgeous art of Snorlax’s Gigantimax form. The other is Eevee & Snorlax Tag Team from the fittingly-named Team Up set, where Eevee is seen trying to outrun Snorlax before it gets toppled over.

3 Gardevoir’s Cards Are On Both Ends Of Cute And Creepy

Gardevoir has always been a fan-favorite Pokémon ever since it was released in the Hoenn region. Having a more human-like appearance than many others along with a graceful design, it’s no wonder so many trainers consider this Psychic-type to be one of their favorites.

Gardevoir is a Pokémon that has both a cute and a cool side, and the TCG art does a phenomenal job at displaying both. Gardevoir & Sylveon Tag Team GX, from the Unbroken Bonds set, shows the two smiling together in a field of flowers with an overall pastel vibe. On the other hand, Gardevoir EX from the Steam Siege set shows just how dark and intimidating a threat Gardevoir can actually be.

2 Many of Mimikyu’s Cards Depict It As Surprisingly Adorable

Mimikyu is a more recent addition to the overall Pokémon roster, and it’s one with quite a dark origin. Mimikyu wears a bag over itself that it’s fashioned to resemble a Pikachu, and it’s said that Mimikyu’s true form is too terrifying to be witnessed by the naked eye.

Despite this, many of its cards within the TCG are surprisingly cute. Its Cosmic Eclipse card shows it being sewn together by a Trainer. The second card is yet another from the Cosmic Eclipse set, with the same moveset as the first card, but Mimikyu is instead pictured poking its head out from behind a tree.

1 It’s Hard To Find Cuter Art Than Shaymin

Shaymin is an absolutely adorable legendary that’s been loved by fans ever since its initial release. It has two different appearances, its Land and Sky forms, and while both have some good artwork to choose from, the land form is just a bit cuter.

The X&Y Promos set saw an adorable Shaymin card, where two Land form Shaymin can be seen lounging together. The border of the card itself being decorated with flowers is a nice touch. The second Shaymin is also from the X&Y Promos, which features a beautifully-shaded Shaymin laying in a field of flowers.