The 25 best Pokemon cards ever, ranked from 1999 Base Set to Scarlet & Violet

Thousands of Pokemon cards have been released since the game came out in 1996. Here’s a list of the best Pokemon cards of all time. 

No matter whether you prefer collecting cards, playing with friends, or competing in tournaments, there’s something for everyone to love in the Pokemon TCG. It’s one of the most iconic trading card games out there, with plenty of legendary cards to add to your binders.

Here, we’ve picked out 25 of the best Pokemon cards to hunt down for your collection. Some have been included for their value, others made the list for their historical impact, and a handful for their iconic imagery.

25. Togepi & Igglybuff & Cleffa TAG TEAM GX (143/236)

We’ve featured plenty of TAG TEAM cards in this article, as they’re memorable and striking. The trio of adorable Pokemon here are fan favorites and aren’t known for being that powerful, but this card packs a surprising punch.

Supreme Puff GX allows you to simply take another turn, which can completely change how a match ends up. Rolling Panic also has the ability to stack up plenty of damage too, and the high HP pool is nothing to sneeze at. The card isn’t in rotation anymore, but it’s fun in casual matches.

On top of this, the card manages to stand out as one of the most memorable and well-designed TAG TEAM pieces out there – which is saying something, as there are some strong contenders. It’s a must-have for art collectors.

24. Charizard GX (150/147)

Rainbow cards are quite divisive in the Pokemon community – you either love them or you hate them. This Charizard is arguably one of the best rainbow cards out there, featuring an almost ethereal design with a stunning shine to it. The picture simply doesn’t do it justice.

Alongside its beauty, this card also holds a lot of weight in battle. Wing Attack is a fine Attack, but Crimson Storm can completely demolish an opponent’s Pokemon. On top of this, Raging Out GX allows you to discard the top 10 cards of your opponent’s deck, which can take you closer to a Win Condition.

23. N (105a/124)

This list of the best Pokemon cards is very focused on Pokemon-centric cards, but you’ll find a few Supporter cards here and there. If you’re a collector, it’s important to not overlook non-Pokemon cards as they can hold some real value and be interesting to play with, too.

This N card can completely switch the flow of battle, letting players shuffle their hands into their deck and draw a card for each of their remaining Prize Cards. It’s a wonderful card to pull if you’re in a tough spot, and the artwork is striking.

22. Charizard VSTAR (018/172)

You’ll see a fair few Charizard cards popping up throughout this list – and there’s a good reason for that. While Charizard has become a bit of a meme in the Pokemon community thanks to it being The Pokemon Company’s Golden Child, it manages to get featured on some of the best cards in the game.

Firstly, the artwork on this gem is multi-dimensional and eye-catching. It’s a great piece to pick up if you’re an art collector who loves VSTAR cards.

Alongside this, there are some seriously immense Attacks on offer here. Explosive Fire has the ability to stack 100 damage on 130 for just 3 Energy, and Star Blaze can comfortably one-shot most standard Pokemon. It’s a game-changer of a card.

21. Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno TAG TEAM GX (SM 210)

TAG TEAM cards almost always have an impressive art style and this piece is no different. Featuring the trio of elemental birds, this GX is a must-have for art collectors. It stands out as one of the most stunning cards from its era, replicating an otherworldly stained glass effect with vibrant jewel tones.

This card is no longer in rotation – but when it was, it was destructive. The Sky Legends GX Ability could single-handedly change the flow of a match if you played your cards right, and Trinity Burn being able to deal 210 damage was lovely to have on hand, too.

20. Tyranitar V (155/163)

Some of the most unique Pokemon cards out there show intimidating ‘mons in their natural habitat. Tyranitar is often shown as a behemoth in the midst of battle, but this unique card gives us a different perspective of the creature. The art is also memorable and intricate.

While this card is no longer in rotation, it was a powerhouse in its day. The combination of Cragalanche and Single Strike Crush is ridiculously powerful, and the high HP pool helped significantly, too. It’s fun to play with in casual matches outside of tournament settings.

19. Charizard VSTAR (SWSH262) and Mewtwo VSTAR (GG44/GG70)

It would feel strange to include one of these cards without the other – the artwork works in perfect harmony and they’re a legendary pair. Featuring the fan-favorite ‘mons tangled up in an epic battle, these VSTAR cards are must-haves for art collectors.

Both cards in this pair have some incredible attacks that make them nightmarish to face off against. Star Blaze is an expensive move but it can deal 320 damage, which can easily one-shot most Pokemon that you may encounter in a standard match.

18. Gengar M-EX (35/119)

This is one of the most eye-catching Pokemon cards from the X & Y era. It’s vibrant and electrifying, capturing the essence of Mega Gengar perfectly. If you’re an art collector, it’s worth tracking down this card and adding it to your binder.

Phantom Gate is a mighty Ability to have in your deck, too. It allows you to use your opponent’s Attacks against them, which can make it very difficult to counter. It’s not in rotation anymore but it was a borderline overpowered card when it was tournament legal.

17. Toxicroak ex (232/198)

The Scarlet & Violet Base Set featured a handful of punchy Pokemon and Toxicroak ex (232/198) stands out as one of the most competitively viable. Nasty Plot allows for some good card movement and Toxic Ripper deals a mighty 120 damage alongside inflicting Poison with 6 Damage Counters.

It’s also a visually engaging card, with a highly contrasting color scheme and dynamic Pokemon pose. If you’re interested in picking up a new heavy-hitter for your deck, this is worth checking out.

16. Gardevoir ex (233/191)

This is one of the most recently released cards in this list and it’s an absolute delight to look at. It’s a visually striking card from the Paldean Fates set, and is quite a valuable piece to pull if you’re a collector.

Alongside its obvious beauty and intricate artwork, this card also holds some real competitive potential. Miracle Force is both a healing Ability and a heavy-hitting Attack, and Psychic Embrace offers a lot of flexibility with Energy movement.

15. Cleffa (24/95)

This card might not look like much at first, but it’s deceptively powerful. The Poke-BODY Sweet Sleeping Face and Eeeeeeek Ability work perfectly alongside one another, allowing for almost complete invulnerability if you play your cards right.

Alongside the ability to completely stall your opponents, the art on this card is adorable and captures the essence of the Call of Legends expansion set era perfectly.

14. Venusaur M-EX (2/146)

The announcement of Pokemon Legends Z-A got many Pokemon TCG fans excited about the possibility of Mega Pokemon cards returning. While we don’t know if it will happen for certain, it does feel likely. The M-EX cards are always eye-poppingly vibrant and this Venusaur is no exception.

Alongside the almost comic book-esque art style of this piece, there is also a fascinating move to consider which makes this one of the most powerful Venusaurs in the game. Not only does Crisis Vine deal 120 damage, but it also inflicts 2 Special Conditions – making it a nightmare to deal with.

13. Lysandre’s Trump Card (99/119)

If you’ve never seen this card before, you may be wondering why there’s a fairly standard looking Supporter on this list. It doesn’t look like much, but Lysandre’s Trump Card was actually banned back in 2015 for being so obscenely overpowered.

Before it was banned, this card could flat-out remove a win condition (by not letting a player run out of cards), drastically extend battle times, let repeated Trainer cards be played, and allow for frequent deck skims. It was a lot of fun to have in your deck and a slight terror to play against.

Due to this history, Lysandre’s Trump Card still remains an infamous card in the Pokemon scene and it’s a great piece to add to your binder as a collector. It’s also one of the most affordable cards on this list, so it’s worth checking out.

12. Arceus & Dialga & Palkia TAG TEAM GX (156/236)

Ever wanted to counter your opponent’s Electric Mouse with a trio of literal Gods? This TAG TEAM GX card is borderline overpowered, featuring Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia. It’s not in rotation anymore, but the combination of Ultimate Ray and Altered Creation GX made it a demon on the battlefield.

Alongside its sheer competitive power, this card also has a legendary art style. It features each ‘mon poised and ready for battle, lined up like they’re about to shoot the most iconic album cover of 2013. It’s a beautiful piece and worth adding to your collection if you’re a Sinnoh fan.

11. Charizard (Shadowless) (First Edition) (4/102)

It wouldn’t be a Pokemon trading card game list without the card that started it all for so many collectors. The Shadowless, First Edition Charizard from Base Set is one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable Pokemon cards out there. It represents the beginning of many collector’s journeys with the Pokemon TCG.

While the TCG now has cards that can deal 300+ damage without much effort, Fire Spin was a mighty Attack when this card was in rotation. Energy Burn offered a lot more freedom with Energy, too, making it an interesting card to have on the field.

10. Mew VMAX (269/264)

Mew always seems to get powerful cards in the Pokemon TCG and this Fusion Strike gem is no different. It has a wonderfully psychedelic art style, showing the mischievous ‘mon flying through a dreamlike mess of vibrant swirls and floating objects.

One of the main reasons why the card is so memorable is its Cross Fusion Strike Attack. This card gave you access to any Fusion Strike Attacks from your Bench, making it immensely hard to counter. It’s no longer in rotation, but it’s still remembered fondly by scores of competitive players.

9. Mew & Mewtwo TAG TEAM GX (71/236)

You’ll notice there’s a lot of TAG TEAM cards in this list – there’s a good reason for that. Not only do these cards tend to feature wholly unique artwork, but they also tend to have some insanely heavy-hitting moves.

Of course, they were risky to play when they were in rotation thanks to the TAG TEAM rule (3 Prize Cards awarded for a Knock-Out) but the Attacks often made them worth it.

Miraculous Duo GX could deal insane damage while healing every one of your Pokemon, and Perfection gave you access to any of your EX or GX Pokemon’s Attacks, including those in your Discard Pile. It’s an almost stupidly overpowered card and is still worth hanging onto as a collector.

8. Gengar VMAX (271/264)

Alongside popular ‘mons like Charizard and the Eeveelutions, Gengar arguably gets some of the most memorable cards in the Pokemon TCG. This immense VMAX piece has a gorgeous, vibrant design that showcases Gigantamax Gengar perfectly.

While this is definitely a card for art collectors to check out, it was still a heavy-hitter in the competitive scene when the E Regulation Mark was in rotation. G-Max Swallow Up deals a ridiculous amount of damage for just 3 Energy, making it a frustrating card to take down.

7. Giratina V (186/196)

The Lost Origin expansion set still remains incredibly popular with collectors to this day – and with good reason. It offers the perfect blend of artistically striking cards and heavy-hitting cards to pack out competitive decks. This Giratina is a perfect example of this blend.

With a nightmarish, psychedelic art style, a heavy-hitting Attack, and perfect synergy with Lost Zone strategies, this card is one to track down.

6. Charizard ex (199/165)

One of the most recent cards out of this list, Charizard ex is arguably one of the best Charizard cards on the market right now. Coming from the iconic Scarlet & Violet – 151 set, this card combines ethereal artwork with brutal attacks.

Explosive Vortex alone has the potential to one-shot most Pokemon, dealing a nasty 330 for just 4 Energy in return. Brave Wing has the potential to stack, too, and the card has a sturdy HP pool to pull from.

Alongside the competitive viability, this is a genuine work of art. It has an exquisite color scheme and dynamic take on Charizard in flight, pairing perfectly with the rest of its evolutionary cards from the 151 set. It’s a deeply treasured chase card for many Pokemon TCG collectors.

5. Umbreon VMAX (215/203)

If you asked a Pokemon fan to name an iconic card, chances are that this Umbreon VMAX would be one of them. Affectionately known as Moonbreon, this stunning Eeveelution card from Evolving Skies has an immense reputation in the Pokemon community.

It’s hard to come by and still quite expensive on the market at the time of writing. This is a card where social media arguably had a huge influence on its popularity. It’s reached almost meme status in the Pokemon community, thanks to its scarcity, enchanting artwork, and punchiness.

4. Origin Forme Palkia V (167/189)

While most Pokemon cards tend to just focus on the titular Pokemon themselves, the most memorable ones in history paint entire scenes and show the Pokemon in the middle of combat or interacting with the world around them.

That’s the case here – the Origin Forme Palkia V would feel more at home in a frame or as a full-sized, glossy poster. It’s surreal and jarring, with a fantastic set of moves to boot. Rule the Region is an intriguing Ability that has real competitive potential, and Hydro Break is an immensely powerful Attack.

3. Slowking (14/111)

While this may seem like a standard old-school card, it’s actually somewhat infamous in the Pokemon community thanks to a translation error.

The Pokemon Power Mind Games has a chance of making your opponent’s Trainer card useless. The Japanese version of this card specifies that the Pokemon Power can only be used if Slowking is your active Pokemon – but the English version doesn’t. As a result, this card ended up getting banned from some official formats in 2002.

Alongside this, it’s also a fantastic example of the iconic Neo Genesis artwork. This card will feel incredibly nostalgic for some readers thanks to its painterly artwork and eye-catching holo.

2. Illustrator Pikachu

Illustrator Pikachu is an infamous Pokemon card – it’s the most expensive and valuable card out there at the time of writing.

Originating from the Japanese magazine CoroCoro’s competition in 1997, this card is highly valued and very scarce. Celebrities like Logan Paul have paid millions of dollars to get their hands on a copy, and it’s become a core part of the Pokemon TCG history.

This card doesn’t have any Attacks or Abilities. It’s purely a collector’s piece to commemorate the legendary competition. The artwork is notable, though, as it’s incredibly dynamic and engaging, fitting the theme of the CoroCoro contest perfectly.

1. The Creation Trio & Arceus VSTAR set

It would be incorrect to pick one of these four cards – they can only be truly appreciated when seen altogether. These VSTAR gems marked the end of the Sword & Shield era of the Pokemon trading card game, and they feature arguably the best VSTAR designs in the game.

With an almost oil painting-esque art style and a myriad of heavy-hitting attacks (like Lost Impact and Subspace Swell), these would make an exceptional addition to any collection.

They’re still somewhat pricey, with most being in the realm of $50 at the time of writing. The most expensive by a mile is the Giratina VSTAR (GG69/GG70) which is the strongest card out of the quartet. If you want to invest in these cards, make sure to get a 4-card display, too.

That wraps up our list of the most iconic Pokemon cards in history – although we’re sure to change it as the year progresses as there are lots of exciting releases on the way. For now, check out some of our other key Pokemon TCG guides and explainers:

Best Pokemon card packs to buy | How many Pokemon cards are there? | Most valuable cards in Scarlet & Violet expansion

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