My Favourite Illustrations in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket

Like many, I’ve been lost to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. While I’m not massively invested in the battles, I’m a sucker for collecting cards… And I have to admit, I’ve found some brilliant illustrations, so I want to highlight some of them. For the sake of it, I’ve decided to focus on the fully illustrated cards, or else it’s hard for me to decide on any.

And, considering it’s National Trading Card Day, what better time to do it than now? So, let’s get to looking at my personal top 10.

1. Bulbasaur

I admit: my favourite starter Pokémon of all-time is Bulbasaur, so I had to include him in this list. Illustrated by Ryota Murayama, he really encapsulates Bulbasaur’s shy yet adventurous personality. Emerging from the bushes to seek the sunlight, the light shines down on it, and I love how Bulbasaur is using vine whip to explore around him. Plus, the flowers are beautiful, and Bulbasaur is so happy to be there. So, yes, Bulbasaur gets to be Number One.

2. Carnivine

There’s something about this Carnivine illustration by Yoriyuki Ikegami that I can’t help but love. For lack of a better term, it’s just so… derpy. Appearing like a hand-drawn image, the Carnivines stand out with their empty eyes and their stupid grins. They just look right at home, and that little Carnivine in the corner? Well, who can’t love this card?

3. Lucario

Look, I won’t lie. The moment I saw this card appear in the Dialga Expansion, I knew I had to have it. Lucario is one of my favourite fighting-type Pokémon, and Akira Komayama really gets Lucario’s vibe. Using solid colours and having Lucario be surrounded by other fighting-types, shows how he stands out. Plus, it fits Lucario’s ability well, as it exhibits how Lucario hypes up all your other fighters.

4. Marshadow

There’s nothing more intimidating than the idea of Marshadow ready to fight you in the middle of the road. Somehow, OKACHEKE understood the assignment. Marshadow looks like it’s ready to throw some hands, and I don’t want to be the one fighting it. Considering its attack is Revenge, well, let me tell you, I would think twice about attacking any of its friends. Plus, the shadows are done really well, and I just love the overall perspective on this card.

5. Diglett

Shinya Komatsu does a great portrait of Diglett, showing numerous Digletts tunnelling underground and accidentally going where they shouldn’t. While one Diglett is hanging around above ground, there are some who are aggressively digging, and others who are clearly regretting their discoveries. That, and it looks like it would be found in a slice-of-life anime, with the colouring reminding me of the anime A Place Further than the Universe.

6. Charmander

While I love Bulbasaur, I can’t deny that Charmander also holds a special place in my heart. Admittedly, that’s because who hasn’t had their heartbroken seeing Charmander struggling to keep its tail alight in the rain? While GIDORA hasn’t made an illustration quite so sad, it just feels comforting. Charmander is gazing up at the night sky as it is, using its tail as a small light. While it’s solitary, it’s not alone, and it knows.

7. Cubone

Everyone knows how tragic Cubone is, always crying for its lost mother. However, Teeziro doesn’t treat Cubone like a loner, and it feels like a supportive-found family type of situation. While Cubone cries for its mother, there are other Cubones willing to support it under the moonlight. It shows how they protect one another, and with how one of them cries from the top of a rock, who can really hurt Cubone? You can’t hurt Cubone more than life has hurt it, can you?

8. Blastoise

Okay, because I’ve included the other starters, I can’t ignore how much I love the Promo Blastoise card. Blastoise is just hanging around a workshop, and it feels like its trainer is hanging around a workshop, and Blastoise is just vibing with its cannons. Considering the lighting, it wouldn’t feel out of place in a story, and danciao clearly has a story here for this specific Blastoise.

9. Weezing

Surprisingly, I’m a lot fonder of this Weezing card than I would have thought. But I think it’s because I just love seeing Pokémon in urban areas. This Weezing is hanging around an alley and absorbing the gas from the trash. However, it’s not a gross card. In fact, KEIICHIRO ITO has ensured that Weezing is right at home, and is doing some sort of service.

10. Pidgeot

Finally, let’s take a moment to appreciate this Pidgeot card. Anesaki Dynamic really gets the perspective here right, and the card itself is a brilliant action shot. With Pidgeot grabbing a splashing Magikarp, who has no thoughts but panic, is brilliant. The wind blows around them, and you can see clearly how fast Pidgeot is going. I just love it so much.

Admittedly, these are all the cards that I own. I haven’t included those I haven’t collected, and I haven’t included any fully animated cards. After all, it’s hard to really sum up how amazing those cards are without watching the whole animation in its glory.

Have any favourite cards from Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket? Why not mention some below!