woahpoke, Author at woahpoke

The 17 Rarest & Most Sought After Sonny Angels

If you've spent any time collecting Sonny Angels, you know the feeling: you open a box hoping for the one and get a duplicate radish instead. With around 650 figures out there and a secret hiding in most series, some of these babies have become properly hard to find, and prices to match. Here are the Sonny Angels collectors chase hardest, plus a few sought-after ones you can still realistically get your hands on.

A quick note if you're new here: most Sonny series include a secret figure that's much rarer than the regular lineup, and those secrets are almost always the ones driving the big prices! And one last heads up. Many of these Sonnys are rare and sellers name these all sorts of different ways. If you don’t see the Sonny initially, scroll down the pages we link and you'll often find what you're after. If not, it's worth checking back another day since new listings appear all the time.

We're a small team of two and our links keep woahpoke running. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Peanut · Creatures Series

Our personal favorite and one we were lucky enough to pull ourselves on a trip to Bangkok. Peanut remains one of our most prized shelf pieces (that’s him in the photo below), so we're biased, but he's one of the most beloved secrets in the whole hobby. The Creatures Series was a collaboration with British textile artist Donna Wilson, whose characters were reimagined as Sonny Angel outfits, and that origin gives the whole series an oddness and artistry you don't get anywhere else in the lineup.

Shortly after we pulled Peanut in early 2024, the series was discontinued, so we really lucked out. That's also pushed prices up across the whole Creatures line, with Peanut sitting at the top as the secret. The upside is that the regular figures from the series are a bit more attainable, so there's still a way in.

Peanut · Creatures Series on eBay

Rare Peanut Sonny Angel

Secret Chef · Sweets Series

A perennial favorite that gets named in every "what should I chase" thread. Chef is the secret from the Sweets Series, and he sits comfortably below typical grail pricing while still being a genuine secret figure, which makes him one of the better value chases out there. We're personally still chasing him more than two years into collecting Sonnys.

Secret Chef · Sweets Series on eBay

Rare Secret Chef Sonny Angel Image via u/iamnolongertalking on Reddit

Vintage Rarities

The actually vintage Sonny figures are a different tier altogether. Early 2000s pieces like Sunburn (with 166 ever made) and T-shirt Chuu surface rarely, disappear fast, and are often the price of a designer bag. These aren't really "buy it now" figures so much as things you keep an eye out for over years.

Rare Vintage Sonny Angels on eBay

Rarest Vintage Sonny Angel

Brian · Creatures Series

One of the most recognizable Sonny Angels going and proof that a figure doesn't need a wild concept to become iconic. Brian is the bunny from the same Donna Wilson collab that gave us Peanut, and he's become properly emblematic of the brand. There's enough demand that people make DIY versions rather than pay resale, which tells you something. Still, as a regular rather than the secret, he turned up far more often than Peanut did, which makes him a realistic way into that series. This was another we were fortunate enough to pull when the Creatures series was in circulation!

Brian · Creatures Series on eBay

Rare Brian Sonny Angel Creature

Robby Angels

Robby Angel is Sonny's friend, and he's the chase within the chase. Where Sonny only ever changes his headwear, Robby transforms completely from series to series, which is why he's officially described as chameleon-like. Collectors have argued for years over whether he's a mouse, a rabbit, or a rat, and it's never been confirmed.

You'll know you've got one before you even open the inner bag, because a Robby box contains two packages: the figure plus a little platform for him to stand on, like a trophy. The one time we pulled one, the odd packaging and how much lighter the box felt completely threw us before we realized what it was.

At around 1 in 144, he's as rare as any secret, and hunting Robbys across series is one of the most satisfying collecting themes going. Best of all, there are enough of them that there's often a Robby within reach of different budgets.

Robby Angels on eBay

Rarest Robby Sonny Angels Images via @alynnemelody and @sonnyangelgallery on Instagram

Lucky Daruma · Japanese Good Luck Series

One of the loveliest ideas in the whole Sonny Angel catalog. The Japanese Good Luck Series dresses Sonny in traditional Japanese lucky charms, and its four Lucky Daruma figures each carry a different kanji: Great Blessing (said to be the luckiest outcome in Japanese omikuji fortunes), Good Luck, Love, and one for success in competitions like exams. Pick the one that matches what you're hoping for, which is a nicer way to choose a figure than most. The series also hides two proper secrets: a Golden Lucky Cat and a Daruma Robby.

These are some of the most affordable rare Sonnys on the list!

Lucky Daruma · Japanese Good Luck Series on eBay

Lucky Daruma Sonny Angel

Secrets & Lucky Cats · Cat Life Series

Cat Life is unusual in having three tiers: 9 regular cats, 3 Lucky Cats, and 2 secrets. The Lucky Cats come in orange, pink, and purple, and you can spot them by the bold heart print and the long heart-shaped tail. We got lucky with the Lucky Orange on the same Bangkok trip where we pulled Peanut, so this series has a soft spot for us. Worth knowing the two true secrets sit above even these: Happy Pink, holding a large golden fish, and a Happy Pink Robby riding a cat food can.

Rare Cat Sonny Angels

Secret Bee · Flower Series

A collector favorite and one of the more charming secrets out there, since a bee hiding in a flower series is exactly the kind of gentle joke Sonny Angel does well. Worth knowing there are two versions: the original from the 2011 Flower Series and a refined 2019 release, so check which one you're buying since prices differ between them. Like most secrets it sits at around a 1 in 144 pull rate, so pulling one yourself takes real luck.

Secret Bee · Flower Series on eBay

Rare Secret Bee Sonny Angel

Happy Bear · Afternoon Tea Series

The one that comes up first in almost every conversation about expensive Sonny Angels. Officially named Happy Bear, this secret has clothes with a soft fuzzy texture instead of the standard smooth vinyl, which is a big part of why collectors covet it. At roughly a 1 in 144 pull rate, most people will never see one in the wild. If you're building toward a single centerpiece, this is usually it.

Happy Bear · Afternoon Tea Series on eBay

Happy Bear Sonny Angel

It's Bananas!

Arguably the hardest Sonny Angel to get hold of right now. Released once in June 2023 and never again, It's Bananas! broke the usual formula by skipping blind boxes entirely and were sold instead in clear blister packs so you could see exactly which of the three colorways you were getting: yellow, green, or pink. That one-and-done release has pushed resale into serious territory, listing at four figures.

It's Bananas! · Limited Series on eBay

Banana Rarest Sonny Angel

Ladybug & Bumblebee Robby · Bug's World Series

Proof that a figure doesn't need to be a secret to become a chase. The Ladybug is a regular from the 2022 Bug's World Series, which normally means easy to find and cheap, but demand has pushed it into the hundreds anyway. It's a fun piece of design too with wings that open like a little cape in the back. When a regular outprices the secrets in other series, you know people really want it. The Bumblebee Robby from the same series commands a pretty penny as well, so this set punches above its weight all round.

Rare Ladybug & Bumblebee Robby Images via @sonnyangelgallery and @sassysonny on Instagram

Relaxing Moment · Enjoy the Moment Series

A quick naming note, because it trips people up: collectors call this one Latte Cat, but its official name is Relaxing Moment. It's Sonny with a coffee, admiring the latte art Robby has made for him, which is exactly the gentle everyday scene the Enjoy the Moment series was built around. It has a big following, especially among coffee people who see themselves in it.

Relaxing Moment · Enjoy the Moment Series on eBay

Latte Cat Sonny Angel Images via @sonnyangelwatch and @sonnydreaming

Anniversary Series Figures

The limited anniversary releases, including the much-discussed 18th anniversary figure, have become collector favorites. Anniversary drops are limited by nature, so they tend to hold their desirability better than standard series.

Anniversary Limited Figures on eBay

Limited Edition Anniversary Sonny Angel

That's our rundown of the Sonny Angels collectors chase hardest. Got a grail you're still hunting? Let us know in the comments!

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by woahpoke

The 19 Funniest Pokémon Cards (Goofy, Derpy & More)

Some Pokémon cards are gorgeous. These are not those cards, and that's exactly why we love them.

The TCG has a long, proud history of derpy faces, cursed poses, weird expressions, and Pokémon caught mid-blunder, going all the way back to the vintage days. We've rounded up our favorite goofy, silly, and just funny cards in the hobby!

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Dedenne GX · Unbroken Bonds #195a

A legend of the derp genre. This Dedenne's blissed-out, cheeks-puffed expression became an instant meme the moment it dropped, and it's still one of the most recognizably goofy cards in the hobby. If funny Pokémon cards had a mascot, it might be this one.

Dedenne GX · Unbroken Bonds #195a on eBay

Funny Dedenne Pokemon Card

Eevee GX · Sun & Moon Promos #SM233

Eevee is usually drawn to be as cute as possible, which is exactly why this one lands, it's the rare official card that lets one of the most marketable Pokémon in the world look like a total goofball. It’s become a low key collector favorite for that exact reason.

Eevee GX · Sun & Moon Promos #SM233 on eBay

Funny Eevee Pokemon Card

Recall · Gym Heroes #116

A vintage trainer card that's quietly become a cult favorite, and a reminder that the funniest cards aren't always Pokémon. The Slowpoke art is pure unhinged energy, and it's a fun, affordable deep cut that a lot of collectors have never seen (including us until we put this round-up together!)

Recall · Gym Heroes #116 on eBay

Goofy Pokemon Card

Chansey · Vending Series 1 #113

This Komiya Chansey is pure goofy joy. It comes from the Japanese Vending Series, a late 90s set sold as punch-out cardboard sheets from arcade machines rather than packs, which is one of our favorite corners of the hobby and criminally slept on. Full of underrated art like this, and worth digging into if you've never explored it.

Want to browse more cards like this? We have a full round-up of the cutest Pokémon cards in the TCG!

Chansey · Vending Series 1 #113 on eBay

Silly Chansey Pokemon Card

Ditto · XY Promos #XY40 & Crown Zenith #GG22

Ditto's whole thing is turning into other Pokémon, and its cards love the joke. The XY promo has Ditto doing a wobbly pink Pikachu impression, while the Crown Zenith card is a whole meadow of Ditto badly impersonating a herd of other Pokémon, half-melted and grinning. Exactly the kind of gag Ditto was made for.

Funny Ditto Pokémon Cards

Grimer · Aquapolis #79

Another Expedition-era gem, from that early 2000s stretch when the art direction leaned weird and it worked. Grimer is already one of the goofier designs in the Kanto lineup, and this card leans all the way into a panic-stricken side of that. An easy-to-miss vintage pull that rewards anyone who loves the ugly cute stuff.

Grimer · Aquapolis #79 on eBay

Silly Grimer Pokemon Card

Psyduck · PokéKyun Collection

Psyduck is perpetually confused by design, so it's basically the patron saint of this list. This Komiya-drawn PokéKyun promo cranks the wide-eyed befuddlement to the max, exactly the "what is happening" energy that makes Psyduck cards so fun. It's one of the priciest cards here and a real collector's grail.

Psyduck · PokéKyun Collection on eBay

Funny Psyduck Pokemon Card

Imakuni? Cards

No funny cards list is complete without Imakuni?, the chaotic musician who's the closest thing the TCG has to an in-universe comedian, and yes, that's a real photo of him on his own trainer card. His cards are famously bizarre, from that card (which just Confuses your own Pokémon) to Imakuni?'s Doduo, whose Pokémon Power literally instructs you to throw the card across the room. They're a rite of passage for anyone who collects the weird stuff.

Funny Imakuni? Pokemon Cards

Typhlosion · Expedition #64

A beloved accidental derp from the e-Card era, back when Expedition's rougher, painterly art style produced some real oddballs. Typhlosion is meant to be a fearsome fire beast, so catching it looking like it wants a hug instead is exactly the kind of off-model charm vintage collectors hunt for. One of those cards the community adopted precisely because it missed the mark.

Typhlosion · Expedition #64 on eBay

Goofy Typhlosion Pokémon Card

Bonsly · Diamond & Pearl #71

Bonsly cries a lot to get rid of its excess moisture, so this card is both funny and on-brand. It's also gone weirdly viral: harpist and content creator Emily Hopkins (better known online as the "Bonsly lady") has amassed a whole binder of hundreds of this exact card, with fans mailing her more to add to the pile, and the whole phenomenon actually spiked demand for what was once a humble common.

Bonsly · Diamond & Pearl #71 on eBay

Funny Bonsly Pokemon Card

Ooyama's Pikachu

The grail of goofy cards. Drawn by original TCG designer Kouichi Ooyama in a crude, childlike scribble that looks nothing like official Pikachu art, this 1998 vending series card has become one of the most iconic and sought-after oddities in the entire hobby. It never got an international release and raw copies run well into four figures. But it might be the single most beloved "so bad it's perfect" card ever made, and no list like this is complete without it.

We dug into cards like it in our most unique Pokémon cards post if you want to go further down the rabbit hole!

Ooyama's Pikachu · Vending Series III on eBay

Derpy Ooyama's Pikachu Card

Simisear VSTAR · Crown Zenith #GG37

Simisear is a Pokémon almost nobody was clamoring for, which is half the joke of it getting a full chibi VSTAR at all. Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery was full of these treatments, and this is one of the most charming, proof that the TCG has a real sense of humor about its more forgettable Pokémon.

Simisear VSTAR · Crown Zenith #GG37 on eBay

Funny Simisear Pokemon Card

Slowking · CoroCoro Promo

A celebrity card with a great backstory. This Slowking was drawn by Masatoshi Hamada, one half of the legendary Japanese comedy duo Downtown, who voiced the talking Slowking in Pokémon the Movie 2000, fans call him "Hama-chan," which is why the card's known as Hama-chan's Slowking. He illustrated the crude, goofy art himself and is credited right in the illustrator slot.

Given out inside a 1999 issue of CoroCoro Comic, it's rare but surprisingly attainable (around $130 USD at the time of writing) for a card with this much history behind it.

Slowking · CoroCoro Promo on eBay

Silly Slowking Pokemon Card

Charmander · Scarlet & Violet Promos #044

Proof that a card doesn't need a wild expression to be funny, sometimes the internet does that for you. This grumpy little promo blew up into a full-on meme card, the kind that's now instantly recognizable to anyone in the hobby. It's become a genuine must-have and a modern icon, so it's a bit of an odd one out on this list: not so much derpy as beloved, and all the better for it.

Charmander · Scarlet & Violet Promos #044 on eBay

Funny Charmander Pokemon Card

M Sachiko ex

Easily one of the strangest official cards ever printed, and that's saying something. M Sachiko ex is the Mega Evolution of Sachiko Kobayashi, a real Japanese singer whose over-the-top stage persona earned her the fan nickname "The Final Boss." Its attack, Galaxy Voice, has you sing "Ah" out loud for as long as you can while your opponent counts the seconds, doing 10 damage per second. It was handed out to just 100 people at the TCG's 20th Anniversary event in Tokyo, making it as rare as it is bizarre.

We haven't linked this one since it's so rare it basically never shows up for sale, but we couldn't leave it off a list this weird!

Silly Sachiko Pokemon Card

Yu Nagaba Eeveelution Cards

Illustrator Yu Nagaba's Pikachu and Eeveelution cards have a loose caricature style that’s charmingly offbeat next to standard card art. They're beloved and collectible, and the full Eeveelution set makes for a fantastic slightly-weird binder page.

Derpy Yu Nagaba Eeveelution Cards

Paldean Wooper · Phantasmal Flames #102 & Paldea Evolved #221

Paldean Wooper has a face engineered for derp, that flat, unbothered little smile is comedy gold. One card has it standing in the mud looking pleased with itself, the other has it face-down floating in a puddle having completely given up. Both lean into its dopey charm, and it's a modern fan favorite for exactly that reason.

Funny Wooper Pokemon Cards

Gulpin · Generations #RC12, Stellar Crown #154 & Arceus #40

Gulpin is basically a stomach with a face, so its cards trend hilarious. The Stellar Crown card has it inhaling an entire cake whole, the Generations card has it drooling face-down at the dinner table next to a kid doing the same, and the Arceus one is just a wide-open mouth mid-gulp. Peak "having the time of its life eating something it shouldn't" energy.

Goofy Gulpin Pokemon Card

Slowpoke · Mega Evolution Promos #086

The perfect closer, because the joke is fully official. Its Pokédex category on the card is literally "Dopey Pokémon" and its ability is named Dopey Face, and Slowpoke lives up to both, gawping mouth-wide-open in the rain without a thought in its head. Slowpoke is the original derp, and this Pitch Black promo card knows it.

Slowpoke · Mega Evolution Promos #086 on eBay

Funny Slowpoke Promo Card

That's our roundup of the goofiest, derpiest Pokémon cards out there! Got a funny card that makes you laugh? Let us know in the comments.

by woahpoke

The 10 Most Whimsical Pokémon Cards

Some Pokémon cards just have a little extra magic to them. Whether it's a dreamy sunset, a candy-covered daydream, or a Pokémon floating over an amusement park, whimsical cards feel less like pieces of a TCG and more like tiny storybook illustrations. Here are our favorite whimsical Pokémon cards, from dreamscapes to pure candy-coated fun!

We're a small team of two and our links keep woahpoke running. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Mesprit · Surging Sparks #204

Mesprit is the Being of Emotion, and its best card leans right into that, all the wistful, bittersweet feeling of a sunset you don't want to end. It's part of the Lake Guardian trio with Uxie and Azelf, so if you love a themed binder page this is one to build around. Easily one of the most atmospheric illustration rares of the last year.

Mesprit · Surging Sparks #204 on eBay

Mesprit Sky Card

Milcery · Stellar Crown #152

A total sugar rush of a card. Milcery is the Cream Pokémon, so it's fitting that its best card buries it in an entire dessert spread, but the real fun is in the details, there are tiny Pikachu and Poké Ball cookies hidden in the spread if you look. One of the most joyful cards in Stellar Crown and a candy-shop centerpiece for any aesthetic collection.

Milcery · Stellar Crown #152 on eBay

Milcery Sky Pokemon Card

Cleffa · Obsidian Flames #202

There's a real story behind this one. Cleffa is said to arrive on shooting stars, and the card leans all the way into that origin, which is what elevates it beyond just a pretty night sky. Quiet, wistful, and one of the most quietly beloved illustration rares of its era, it's a card that rewards sitting with it for a minute.

Cleffa · Obsidian Flames #202 on eBay

Cleffa Night Sky Pokemon Cards

Cresselia · Shrouded Fable #071

If any Pokémon was destined for a whimsical card, it's the one based on the crescent moon and lunar dreams. Cresselia's whole identity is soft, ethereal, dream-bringing energy, and this card delivers exactly that. A natural fit for the theme and one of the loveliest pulls in Shrouded Fable.

Cresselia · Shrouded Fable #071 on eBay

Cressalia Pokemon Card

Mienshao · Paradox Rift #200

An underrated one that flies under the radar. Mienshao usually gets drawn as a fast, fierce fighter, so seeing it rendered as this calm, painterly, almost meditative scene is a lovely surprise. It's the kind of quiet card that gets overlooked at release and appreciated later.

Mienshao · Paradox Rift #200 on eBay

Mienshao Pokemon Card

Galarian Rapidash V · Chilling Reign #168

The storybook unicorn card, and one of sui's most beloved works. This is the card that helped put sui on the map for a lot of collectors, and it still holds up as one of the definitive whimsical cards of the Sword & Shield era. If you only chase one dreamy card, plenty of people would point you here.

Galarian Rapidash V · Chilling Reign #168 on eBay

Galarian Rapidash Pokemon Card

Phione · Twilight Masquerade #175

A gentle, easy-to-love card that doesn't ask for much attention but earns it anyway. Phione is a minor Pokémon that rarely gets the spotlight, so a soft, floating underwater card like this feels like a nice little gift to anyone who's fond of it. Understated and quietly one of our favorites.

Phione · Twilight Masquerade #175 on eBay

Phione Pokemon Card

Gardevoir ex · Paldean Fates #233

Gardevoir has always had that fairy-guardian quality, and this card leans into it fully, moonlit, elegant, and a little enchanted. It's one of the more sought after cards in Paldean Fates, helped by Gardevoir being a longtime fan favorite, so it doubles as a beautiful card and a solid pickup.

Gardevoir ex · Paldean Fates #233 on eBay

Gardevoir Whimsical Card

Whimsicott ex · White Flare #165

We couldn't do a whimsical cards post without the Pokémon that literally has "whimsy" in its name. Whimsicott is the Windveiled Pokémon, a mischievous little cotton sprite in the games, and this card captures that warm, playful charm perfectly. Call it an on-the-nose pick if you want, it earns the spot.

Whimsicott ex · White Flare #165 on eBay

Whimsicott Pokemon Card

Drifloon · 30th Anniversary #136

The one we're most excited about, dropping in the 30th Anniversary set this September. Drifloon is literally the balloon Pokémon, so putting it over an amusement park is the kind of perfect concept-meets-execution that makes a card special. This one is playful and an easy day one chase for us. We love the art by Whisker too.

This one is coming soon!

Drifloon Pokemon Card

That's our list of the most whimsical Pokémon cards! Got a dreamy or playful card we missed? Let us know in the comments.

by woahpoke

The 16 Best Camping & Outdoors Pokémon Cards

Some of the best Pokémon cards put you right in the middle of a campsite. Whether it's a Pokémon roasting food over a fire, curling up under the stars, or a full on Paldea picnic scene, the TCG is full of cozy outdoor moments if you know where to look. Here are the camping Pokémon cards we're chasing, or ones where we just really love the art!

We're a small team of two and our links keep woahpoke running. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Gengar · Lost Origin #TG06

A camping card with a mischievous twist. Gengar lurks just outside the glow of a campfire while the group settles in for the night, and that mix of cozy warmth and creeping shadow is exactly what makes it so good.

Gengar · Lost Origin #TG06 on eBay

Gengar Camping Card

Fletchinder · Paldea Evolved #199

A warm little moment of camp cooking. Fletchinder helps out (or is warming up) at the campfire and the whole thing has a snug cozy glow. A lovely fire type pick for the theme!

Fletchinder · Paldea Evolved #199 on eBay

Fletchinder Camping Card

Mabosstiff · Scarlet & Violet #218

Arven's loyal partner out in the Paldea wilds. Mabosstiff stands watch in a grassy outdoor picnic scene, and if you know the Path of Legends story it hits a little harder. A great companion piece to the Arven cards further down.

For more cards like this, check out our running list of the best food-themed Pokémon cards!

Mabosstiff · Scarlet & Violet #218 on eBay

Mabosstiff Camping Pokémon Card

Skarmory · Surging Sparks #209

Pure road trip energy. Skarmory perches on the roof racks of a van parked out in the desert, all sun bleached sky and open highway, with a Joshua-Tree-meets-Mad-Max feel to it. A super underrated full art and great pick for the overland side of the camping theme!

Skarmory · Surging Sparks #209 on eBay

Skarmory Pokémon Card

Magmortar · Crown Zenith #GG03

Who better to handle the campfire than Magmortar? This one leans into the cooking outdoors angle, with Magmortar putting its heat to good use. A fun, characterful trainer gallery card.

Magmortar · Crown Zenith #GG03 on eBay

Magmortar Pokémon Card

Arven's Mabosstiff ex · Destined Rivals #235

The emotional heart of Arven's whole story on one card. Mabosstiff at full strength alongside Arven, out in the field where their journey played out. A must for anyone who got attached to the Path of Legends arc.

Arven's Mabosstiff ex · Destined Rivals #235 on eBay

Arven's Camping Card Pokémon

Oranguru · Brilliant Stars #TG12

Oranguru kicks back in a hammock inside a decked out camper van, surrounded by streamers, coffee gear, and color everywhere. It's the most laid back card on this list, pure van life relaxation, and it makes a vibrant, cozy addition to an outdoor binder page.

Oranguru · Brilliant Stars #TG12 on eBay

Oranguru Pokémon Card

Light Toxtricity · Sword & Shield Promos #SWSH137

Toxtricity brings the music to the campsite. This one's all good vibes, an outdoor scene with a laid back jam-session-around-the-fire feel with Oddish. A fun and underrated promo!

Light Toxtricity · Sword & Shield Promos #SWSH137 on eBay

Light Toxtricity Pokémon Card

Charjabug · Temporal Forces #169

A charming little outdoor scene with Charjabug out in the grass. It's small and unassuming, but that's the appeal, a cozy slice of camp life starring a bug that literally stores energy like a battery.

Charjabug · Temporal Forces #169 on eBay

Charjabug Card Pokémon

Tyranitar V · Battle Styles #155

A big one, literally. Tyranitar looms over a campsite in this alternate full art, a hulking presence against the outdoor backdrop that makes for one of the more dramatic camping cards out there. A stunning and highly sought-after alt art!

Tyranitar V · Battle Styles #155 on eBay

Tyranitar Outdoor Pokémon Card

Kangaskhan · Destined Rivals #204

The least camp-y card on the list, but too good to leave off. A weary Kangaskhan stops by a country road at dusk, mountains fading behind it and a Wooper peeking out. A little slice of life on the road that fits the outdoor adventure theme nicely.

Kangaskhan · Destined Rivals #204 on eBay

Kangaskhan Outdoor Pokémon Card

Arven's Greedent · Destined Rivals #205

Another fun, food-focused pick that fits Arven's whole cooking and snacks theme. Greedent's cheeks stuffed with outdoor snacks is exactly the picnic energy this list is about.

Arven's Greedent · Destined Rivals #205 on eBay

Arven Squirrel Card

Arven · Paldean Fates #235

Arven front and center, packed for the outdoors. If there's one trainer who embodies this whole camping and cooking theme, it's him, and this is a great card to build the section around.

Arven · Paldean Fates #235 on eBay

Arven Paldean Fates Card

The Arven Camping Set

Arven is the camping trainer, full stop. His entire Path of Legends journey is built around outdoor cooking, sandwiches, and traveling Paldea with his partner, so it's fitting he has a run of Scarlet & Violet cards that capture exactly that. Across these three you get Arven out in the field with his gear and his Pokémon, and together they make a perfect little camping subset to chase.

The Arven Camping Set Pokémon

That's our running list of the best camping Pokémon cards! Got a cozy campsite card we missed? Let us know in the comments.

by woahpoke

Pokémon Center Tips & Tricks: How to Survive a Drop

Landing a Pokémon Center drop can feel like a lottery, between queue times that make no sense, errors that boot you at checkout, a website that feels like it was made in 2010, and stock that vanishes in minutes.

We've been through all of it, so here's our running guide, walking you through what to do before, during, and at checkout, plus a full breakdown of every error code and what it means. We'll keep adding to it as new issues come up!

We're a small team of two and our links keep woahpoke running. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Before the Drop

Use Chrome or Firefox

These are the browsers the site and its queue system play nicest with, and they're what we've had the most consistent luck on. Use a normal browser window and avoid private or incognito windows (they can trip the bot detection too).

Avoid Safari if you can. Its stricter default privacy features tend to interfere with the queue's cookies and session handling, which means Safari users hit session errors more often than they should.

Be on a computer

Use a computer as your primary device, not your phone. This one matters more than people think. On a phone, the moment your screen locks or you switch to another app, the browser tab can unload and drop your session and kick you back to the end of the queue. On a computer you can leave the window open and completely untouched for the entire wait without it backgrounding on you (as long as it doesn’t fall asleep). If a drop matters to you, do it on a desktop or laptop!

Have 2 devices on 2 networks

That said, your phone still has a role to play as a backup. One of the most reliable community tactics is doubling your entries: as soon as the queue opens, join on your computer on WiFi and join on your phone on cellular data. Because the two are on different IP addresses, they count as separate entries, giving you two shots at getting through instead of one. Your computer is still your main horse for all the reasons above, but running your phone alongside it means you've got a second ticket if your desktop gets booted or lands a bad queue ETA.

(Just remember the one order per household rule at checkout. This is about improving your queue odds and not buying twice.)

Sign in ahead of time

Log into your Pokémon Center account before the drop goes live, not during it. Trying to sign in mid-rush is a great way to lose your spot or trigger an error. If you don't have an account, you can check out as a guest, but being logged in beforehand is smoother. Add your shipping info while you’re in there too!

Clear your cache

Clearing your browser cache before a drop is one of the best ways to preempt an Error 17. A fresh browser state means fewer weird session hiccups when traffic spikes. Do it in advance, get logged in, and then leave the site alone until go time. We cover all the common error codes below and what to do if you run into one of them!

Know when it's happening

Half the battle is just knowing a drop is live. Restocks and new set releases often go up with little warning and sell out fast, so following the accounts that track them in real time is the single best thing you can do.

On X (Twitter), tracker accounts post the moment the queue or products go live and often catch surprise restocks. Turn on notifications for a couple of reliable ones:

Pokémon Alerts and News on X
Celadon on X (great for Canada)

Plenty of Discord servers also have channels that ping the instant a drop is detected. Find an established Pokémon collecting or restock community and set that channel to notify you.

Pokémon Center drop Alerts & Notifications

When do drops usually happen?

Drops almost never come with an official announcement, they tend to go live at random, which is half of what makes them so stressful. That said, there's a loose pattern: they usually happen in the morning Pacific time, around lunchtime ET.

The table below shows the windows we've historically seen, converted across time zones, so you know roughly when to be ready. Nothing here is guaranteed, so between these windows and the trackers above, you'll have the best shot at catching one. It just helps to be near your computer around these times.

Pokémon Center Drop Times

Be ready for the CAPTCHA

Before you even reach the queue, Pokémon Center often throws a CAPTCHA at you, and they can be strange. We've been shown a photo of a phone and asked to select the things that cost more than it, like a plane. They're not always the straightforward "select the traffic lights" kind, so read each one carefully.

Take it slow here because getting one wrong means more screens. We've been hit with as many as 7 CAPTCHA screens in a row before getting into the queue.

The trick is to be calculated but still swift, accurate enough to pass each one on the first try, quick enough that you're not falling behind. Rushing and misclicking is the fastest way to end up stuck cycling through extras while everyone else moves ahead.

Pokémon Center CAPTCHA

Have direct links ready (but don't click yet)

The tracker accounts above will post the direct product link the moment an item loads into the store. Have those links handy, but don't click them while you're still in the queue (doing so resets your queue time and sends you back). Once you're actually in the store though, clicking the product link is a safe and handy shortcut to jump straight to the item instead of hunting for it.

In the Queue

Understand the queue

When you join the queue, you'll be greeted by Psyduck and an estimated wait time in HH:MM:SS. Don't panic when it looks insane. It jumps around a lot and it's normal, we've been assigned a 30 hour ETA and then watched it immediately drop to 5 hours, then 1. The number isn’t linear and takes a while to sort itself out, so hang tight!

Pokémon Center Queue Tips

Don't refresh while in the queue

Once you're in the queue, leave the page alone. Refreshing doesn't move you up, it kicks you back to the end of the line. The queue is holding your place automatically, so the best thing you can do is nothing. Let it run, even when the estimated time looks scary.

Don't change networks while in the queue

Switching networks mid-queue (jumping from WiFi to cellular, or reconnecting to a different WiFi) changes your IP address, and the queue often reads that as a brand new session. That means losing your place and starting over. Pick the most stable connection you have before you join, and stay on it the whole way through!

Once you’re in

Slow your clicks

The site's anti-bot security watches how fast you interact with it. Leave roughly two seconds between clicks, and don't spam refresh or panic click during a drop. Fast, machine-like activity is the number one thing that triggers a block, so moving deliberately actually gives you a better shot than racing.

Don't open a pile of tabs

Having lots of product pages open at once is another common trigger for the anti-bot system. Keep it to a single tab and work through it calmly.

Match your billing to your shipping

Make sure your billing information matches your shipping address. Mismatches are a common cause of payment failures at the final step, and during a fast checkout that can cost you the order.

Use the right card

We've run into repeated issues with American Express getting declined or flagged at checkout, while Visa and Mastercard have gone through cleanly. If you have the choice, use Visa or Mastercard for the smoothest checkout.

One order per household

Pokémon Center typically limits drops to one order per household. Trying to sneak multiple orders through can get them all cancelled, so it's safest to stick to one.

Pokémon Center Error Codes Explained

If something breaks mid-drop, here's what each error actually means and what you can do about it from our and community members’ experience. Most of them come down to the same root cause: the site's anti-bot security thinks you might be automated.

"Let's get you back on track, Trainer"

This means you've been temporarily blocked by the anti-bot system, triggered by fast clicking, too many open tabs, or strict browser extensions like ad blockers and privacy shields.

What to do: honestly, we haven't found a reliable fix for this one. Every time it's happened to us, we've just been booted back into the queue. Prevention is your best bet, keep it to one tab, click calmly, VPN off, and turn off privacy extensions before a drop.

Pokémon Center Errors

Error 15 (Access Denied)

The firewall has blocked your IP or browser setup because it suspects automated traffic. It's the most common one for people using a VPN, a proxy, or aggressive privacy and ad-blocking extensions.

What to do: turn off any VPN or proxy, disable ad blockers and privacy extensions, and try again. Networks that share an IP across many users can also trigger this (see the VPN and Starlink section below).

Error 16

Another access/session block from the same security system, showing up in the same situations as 15, a flagged connection or fast activity.

What to do: same fix as 15. Drop the VPN, disable extensions, slow down, and retry.

Error 17 (Session Block)

Your browsing session has been temporarily frozen, usually from refreshing too fast, panic-clicking, or moving through forms at machine-like speed.

What to do: slow down and start a fresh session. Clearing your cache before the drop (see above) helps prevent this one in the first place.

Error 18 & Error 20

Connection or rate-limit blocks from the server side. The site is restricting your IP because it's seen too many rapid requests in a short window.

What to do: wait it out. These are time-based, so a few minutes of not hammering the site usually clears them. Refreshing only resets the clock against you.

Error 43 & Error 503

Server-side errors that appear when the site is overwhelmed, usually right as a big drop goes live. A 503 means the server is temporarily unavailable because too many people are hitting it at once.

What to do: this one's not on you, it's the site buckling under load. Stay in the queue, don't close out, and wait. Refreshing can send you to the back of the line.

"Error while processing payment"

This hits right at checkout. It usually means the payment step timed out or got flagged, often because the item sold out while you were queuing, or the session got shaky under load.

What to do: don't immediately re-submit. Check for a confirmation email to see if the order actually went through before trying again.

Why VPNs and Starlink Get You Blocked

The most common cause of errors 15 and 16 is your IP looking suspicious, and there are two culprits people don't expect.

VPNs route your traffic through a shared server that thousands of others also use, so the site sees a flood of requests from one IP and reads it as a bot attack. If you're getting error 15, turn your VPN off completely before you load the page.

Starlink catches a lot of people out. It uses CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT), meaning many Starlink customers share the same public IP rather than each having their own. So even with no VPN, the site can see what looks like a crowd all hammering it from one address, and flags it as bot traffic. There's no clean fix if Starlink is your only connection, but switching to another network for the drop (like a cellular hotspot) sidesteps it.

The rule of thumb: the site wants to see a normal single-user connection. Anything that makes many users look like one, or one look like many, tends to trigger a block.

That's everything we've learned the hard way about surviving a Pokémon Center drop. Got a tip or an error we didn't cover? Let us know in the comments.

by woahpoke

The 23 Best Pokemon Card Artists & Illustrators to Collect

Every Pokémon card has an illustrator credit in the bottom corner, and once you start reading them you can't stop. Some artists have been drawing cards since 1996, others debuted last year. Some paint in watercolor, some sculpt in clay, some work entirely in flat vector shapes. This is our running list of the Pokémon card artists worth knowing, what makes each one recognizable, and where to start if you want to collect them!

We're a small team of two and our links keep woahpoke running. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Tomokazu Komiya

If you've ever looked at a card and thought "that's trippy," there's a good chance Komiya drew it. His work is loose, sketchy, with scratchy linework and Pokémon whose proportions get pushed way past what's normal, stretched faces and oversized eyes that make them look a little lumpy and a lot more alive for it. He paints everything physically in gouache, watercolor, and oil, which is rare now and part of why his cards feel so different from everything around them. There's a storybook quality to it that goes completely against the polished official art look, and that's exactly why collectors love him. We picked the many cards below with restraint, and even then it's a long list. He's easily one of our favorite artists in the TCG.

Our Picks:

Komiya Pokémon Card Artist

Shinji Kanja

Kanda's cards look like nothing else in the TCG. Dense scratchy ink, heavy cross hatching, and warped perspective give his work a woodblock-print quality that feels closer to old Japanese scroll art than modern card illustration, which makes sense given he's a fine artist who trained at the Kyoto University of the Arts. It's chaotic in a very controlled way, and since debuting in Brilliant Stars in 2022 collectors have caught on fast. His cards tend to carry a premium purely on the strength of the art.

Our Picks:

Shinji Kanja Pokémon Card Artist

Akira Egawa

Egawa is the artist to know if you like your cards cinematic. She works digitally in Photoshop with a background in 3D modelling, and it shows in the depth and lighting. Everything has real weight and scale, with dramatic contrast and texture work on fur and scales that most illustrators don't attempt. She debuted in Unified Minds in 2019 and has since become a reliable source of chase cards, most famously the four gold alternate art VSTARs in Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery. She also illustrates for the One Piece TCG, where her work is just as striking.

Our Picks:

Akira Egawa Pokémon Card Illustrator

Naoyo Kimura

One of the true veterans, illustrating for the TCG since the very beginning! Kimura's cards are soft and hand-drawn, some in watercolor and some with a grainy colored-pencil texture, always with warm light and natural settings instead of hard outlines. That look defined a whole era of how Pokémon appeared on cardboard. She's behind the 1999 Southern Islands set, one of the most beloved collections ever printed thanks to its dreamy tropical backdrops that connect into a single image, and a good chunk of the vintage Eeveelution cards collectors still chase. More recently she illustrated Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat for the Van Gogh Museum collaboration, which became one of the most talked about promos in years.

Our Picks:

Naoyo Kimura Pokémon Card Artist

sowsow

sowsow paints places, not portraits. Their cards drop Pokémon into warm, densely detailed environments like bakeries, antique shops, overgrown gardens, and let you wander around in them. The rendering is soft and painterly with a watercolor warmth, and there's always more going on in the background than you catch on the first look.

Mostly slice of life rather than battle scenes, though they'll go chaotic when the Pokémon calls for it, like the swirling vortex on the Gengar VMAX. They've been at it since Forbidden Light in 2018 and are one of the most quietly rewarding artists to collect.

Our Picks:

sowsow Pokémon Illustrator

Oswaldo KATO

Kato's cards look like storybook pages. Chunky confident outlines, flat blocks of color, and simplified shapes that feel closer to picture-book illustration than typical TCG art, with every card framed as a wide view of a place rather than a portrait of a Pokémon. He's Brazilian-born and Tokyo-based, debuting on a Venipede in Chilling Reign, and he's spoken publicly about building narrative into images (and even wrote a book on it). That approach shows: his cards always feel like a moment from a bigger story. He also illustrated the Chinese-exclusive 151 Pikachus.

Our Picks:

Oswaldo KATO Pokémon Cards

Gapao

Gapao is one of the smaller libraries on this list, but the style is impossible to miss. Thick visible brushstrokes, swirling texture in the skies, and colors laid down in dabs rather than blended smooth, closer to an impressionist painting than to card art. The Braviary from Surging Sparks is our favorite, a wildly underrated illustration rare with a sky that looks like it's moving. Gapao debuted on a Roserade in Temporal Forces in 2024.

Our Picks:

Gapao Pokémon Cards

Kagemaru Himeno

Himeno came to the TCG from shoujo manga and it shows. She's been drawing cards since the Japanese Jungle set in 1997 with over 650 to her name, including the beloved Birthday Pikachu, which means if you collect vintage at all, you already own her work whether you knew it or not. Her style has evolved a ton throughout the years, with newer illustrations looking much more polished and cinematic than her soft vintage work.

Our Picks:

Kagemaru Himeno Pokémon Cards

Atsuko Nishida

Nishida is one of the most consequential people in Pokémon, full stop, and most of it happened before she ever illustrated a card. She was on the graphics team at Game Freak alongside Sugimori and Satoshi Tajiri, and during development of the first games she designed a huge share of the creatures, generally the cuter ones. That includes Pikachu, which she has said started out looking like a vertically long daifuku with ears, with the electric cheeks modelled on squirrels storing food. She also deemsigned the original starter Pokémon, Charizard, almost all of the Eeveelutions except Jolteon and Flareon, and many more faves.

As an illustrator she's been drawing cards since the earliest Japanese promos, with roughly 450 to her name. Her style is soft and airbrushed, warm palettes and gentle light used to pick out one part of the image without ever getting harsh, and it always feels like the Pokémon belongs in the scene rather than posed on top of it. Her Eevee from the Munch collaboration is one of the most beloved Pokémon cards inspired by real art.

And if her resumé wasn't impressive enough, she also drew the Pikachu Illustrator, the 1998 contest promo that only 39 copies were ever handed out for. It's the rarest Pokémon card and the most expensive trading card ever sold.

Our Picks:

Atsuko Nishida Pokémon Card Artist

Narumi Sato

Sato paints in soft traditional watercolour, and her cards are some of the calmest, coziest illustrations in the modern TCG. Instead of action she goes for quiet everyday moments. She placed second in the first Pokémon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix and became an official illustrator in 2020, and her work has a lived-in tenderness that makes it easy to fall for.

Our Picks:

Narumi Sato Pokémon Card Artist

danciao

danciao makes some of the most dramatic, high voltage cards in the modern TCG. Their style is all bold neon color against dark backgrounds, with electric arcs, glowing flame, and shadowy energy pushed to the absolute max, so every card feels like a splash panel climax. It's flashy in the best way and reads incredibly well as a full art. If a card looks like it's about to leap off the page in a burst of color, there's a good chance it's theirs.

Our Picks:

danciao Pokémon Card Artist

sui

sui's cards have a dreamy, glowy quality that's instantly recognizable. Everything looks lit from within with hazy edges and a shimmer that makes the whole card feel like it's caught mid-sparkle. The palettes lean into pastels and jewel tones, and there's a romantic, almost storybook softness to how the Pokémon sit in their scenes. If a card stops you because it seems to be quietly glowing, there's a good chance sui drew it.

Our Picks:

sui Card Artist Pokémon

Ken Sugimori

The most foundational name in Pokémon cards, full stop. Sugimori has been with Game Freak since the beginning and drew the official artwork for the original 151, giving the entire franchise its visual identity in one consistent hand. He's since illustrated over 1,000 cards, more than almost anyone in the hobby. Worth knowing that he didn't design all of the originals alone, despite how often that gets repeated. The creatures came from a team, but Sugimori drew the final art so everything would look like it belonged together. He's a different kind of pick than the rest of this list: you don't collect Sugimori for a distinctive flourish, you collect him because his is the definitive version of every Pokémon.

Our Picks:

Ken Sugimori Pokémon Cards

Mitsuhrio Arita

If Sugimori gave Pokémon its look, Arita gave the cards theirs. He drew the Base Set Charizard, which is about as close to hobby royalty as it gets, and he designed the original energy symbols on top of it. He's been at it since the TCG launched in 1996 with over 600 cards to his name, and his style has evolved a lot along the way, from soft watercolor and pastel textures in the early days to the dramatic cinematic lighting and bold angles you see in his modern work. He's still producing some of the most sought-after art in the hobby, with Team Rocket's Mewtwo from Ascended Heroes, Mewtwo GX, the beloved Mimikyu promo, and the Squirtle line illustration rares from 151 all bearing his name.

Our Picks:

Mitsuhrio Arita Pokémon Card

Mugi Hamada

Hamada is relatively new to the TCG with a smaller portfolio than most artists on this list, debuting in Twilight Masquerade, but the work stands out immediately. Everything looks unmistakably painted with thick directional brushstrokes left visible rather than blended away, so you can read the texture of the paint in every quilt fold and curtain. Our favorite is the Purrloin full art from White Flare that's as much a still life as a Pokémon card.

Our Picks:

Mugi Hamada Pokémon Card

Yuka Morii

Morii doesn't draw her Pokémon, she sculpts them. Every card starts as a physical clay figure that gets photographed, so the depth, shadow, and rounded form are all real. Hers is the polished end of model work, smooth and clean and instantly recognizable, with a handmade warmth no illustration can replicate. Completely unmistakable once you know to look for it.

Our Picks:

Yuka Morii Pokémon Card

USGMEN

USGMEN is one of the newer names in the TCG, with only a handful of cards to his name since 2024, but already one of the most recognizable. USGMEN's first card was Mew ex from Paldean Fates (Bubble Mew) and he couldn't have debuted with a more iconic card.

His style is completely unlike anything else in the set: flat graphic shapes, heavy uniform outlines, and basically no shading, with faces pared back to two dots and a smile. They read more like sticker design or a children's picture book than traditional card illustration, and the bright poster flat color makes them jump off a binder page.

Our Picks:

USGMEN Pokémon Card Artist

Sachi Matoba

The shortest library on this list with just two cards in the TCG, both from Expedition Base Set in 2002. Matoba was a graphic designer at Creatures Inc. working on spin-off games like Pokémon Ranger and Battle Revolution, and these two cards are essentially a side quest. But they're too good to leave out! Matoba works in loose wet on wet watercolor where the colors bleed into each other and the edges go soft, so the Pokémon feel like they're dissolving into the grass around them. The Bulbasaur is one of our favorite Bulba cards in the TCG.

Our Picks:

Sachi Matoba Pokémon Artist

Mékayu

Mékayu's cards feel like comic panels. Clean even linework, flat cel-style color, and Pokémon caught mid-moment rather than posed for a portrait. There's a lightness and storytelling wit here you don't see much on cards, and it makes every one of them worth a second look. The Drampa illustration rare is one of our favorites in our collection, a super underrated full art!

Our Picks:

Mékayu Pokémon Cards

Miki Tanaka

Tanaka has been drawing cards since 1997, and her work has a bright, happy, storybook quality that's easy to love. She paints by hand in watercolor rather than going digital, favoring clean shapes, cheerful color, and wide natural scenes where the Pokémon get room to breathe. There's a simplicity to her cards that always seems to be aiming for a smile, and it's exactly why they make such lovely binder pieces.

Our Picks:

Miki Tanaka Pokémon Cards

Kazumasa Yasukuni

Yasukuni makes some of the most electric, psychedelic cards in the modern TCG. The palettes are cranked all the way up, with prismatic rainbow color streaking across the frame and Pokémon caught mid-explosion of movement, so every card feels like it's buzzing with energy. He broke in as a semi-finalist in the 2022 Illustration Contest and made his official debut in Twilight Masquerade, and he's quickly become a go-to for anyone who likes their cards bold and kinetic.

Our Picks:

Kazumasa Yasukuni Pokémon Cards

Sachiko Adachi

Adachi doesn't paint her Pokémon, she builds them. Since 2004 she's sculpted each one by hand in stone-powder clay and acrylic, but what sets her apart is everything else she works in: paper, cloth, wire, and string all find their way into her scenes, so a card might have real fabric texture or hand-shaped foliage in it. The result has a crafty, diorama-like warmth, less smooth than pure clay work and all the more charming for it. She's a treat to track down for anyone who loves the handmade corner of the hobby.

Our Picks:

Sachiko Adachi Pokémon Cards

Asako Ito

Ito's cards are crocheted. She hand-stitches each Pokémon as a yarn amigurumi doll, builds a little diorama around it out of felt and craft paper, and photographs the whole scene, so what you're looking at is a real object someone made by hand! The results are super cozy, all soft texture and warm light, and completely unlike anything else in the hobby. She debuted back in the Sun & Moon era on a Poliwag and has become a fan favorite since, and once you've seen one of her cards you'll spot the stitches every time.

Our Picks:

Asako Ito Pokémon Cards

That's our running list of the best Pokémon card artists! We’re excited to keep adding to this round-up as we come across more great illustrators. Got a favorite artist we missed? Let us know in the comments.

by woahpoke

20 Delta Reign Chase Cards: The Best from Storm Emeralda

Delta Reign doesn't hit English shelves until November 6th, but thanks to the Japanese Storm Emeralda reveals, we already know which chase cards are worth watching. This is a Mega Rayquaza set, the first one built around him since Evolving Skies back in 2021, and the full arts coming out of it are some of the most exciting we've seen all year.

Below are the early standouts, based on the Japanese cards. English names and numbering can shift slightly before release, so we'll update as official images land, but the art is the art, and some of these are already generating serious hype.

Note: These cards are only available in low resolution clips for now, so we've upscaled screenshots to give you a clearer idea of how each one looks. We'll swap in official images as soon as they're available!

We're a small team of two and our links keep woahpoke running. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Mega Rayquaza ex

The card the whole set is built around, and the one everyone will be chasing. This Special Illustration Rare is the debut card from Kazuki Minami, one of the winners of the 2024 Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest, and it's the only other card Minami has drawn for the TCG. Rayquaza coils across the frame in a swirl of green and gold, and the color work is stunning. The pose is a fairly classic roar rather than a big storytelling scene, so opinions are split on whether it lives up to the SWSH-era alt arts, but as the flagship of the set it's the one to beat.

Mega Rayquaza ex · Storm Emeralda #110 on eBay

Mega Rayquaza ex Delta Reign

Raikou ex

For a lot of collectors this is the real chase of the set, Rayquaza or not. The Special Illustration Rare has Raikou mid-leap through a storm, lightning cracking around it, and it's got all the motion and drama people wanted. It's one of the most dynamic cards in the set and an easy favorite.

Raikou ex · Storm Emeralda #108 on eBay

Raikou ex Delta Reign

Kecleon

One of our favorites in the set, and unmistakably a Tomokazu Komiya card. Kecleon curls around a vine in a riot of color that's already earned it a "pole dancing" nickname, and the loose, painterly chaos is exactly what makes Komiya's work so collectable. If you love his stuff, this is a must.

Kecleon · Storm Emeralda #088 on eBay

Kecleon Komiya Delta Reign

Growlithe

In a set full of fighters and legendaries, Growlithe gives you a cozy scene instead. It's just a happy pup trotting through a sunlit home, warm and domestic and a total palette cleanser next to the big dramatic cards. An easy pick for dog and cozy card collectors!

Growlithe · Storm Emeralda #078 on eBay

Growlithe Delta Reign

Mega Golisopod ex

Golisopod picks up its second SIR and the fanbase is thrilled. It's a high energy card, all sharp armor and slashing color, and it leans hard into the menacing bug-warrior thing Golisopod does so well.

Mega Golisopod ex · Storm Emeralda #107 on eBay

Mega Golisopod ex from Storm Emeralda

Mega Golurk ex

A bit of a surprise SIR, and a great one. Golurk glows in an ancient ruins scene, the blue and gold body lit against warm red stone, and the sealed-energy detailing gives it real atmosphere. A quietly excellent card with a small but loud fanbase behind it.

Mega Golurk ex · Storm Emeralda #109 on eBay

Mega Golurk ex Delta Reign

Mega Rayquaza ex Gold

The gold hyper rare version, and a chase in its own right. Gold cards can feel like an afterthought, but this one's a standout with the Rayquaza motif etched into a full sheet of gold detailing. If the SIR is the emotional centerpiece, this is the flex.

Mega Rayquaza ex · Storm Emeralda #113 on eBay

Rayquaza ex Gold Card from Delta Reign

Azurill

A lovely little surprise, and one nobody expected to get a full art. Azurill bounces on its tail in a soft watercolor garden by Narumi Sato, all gentle light and flowers. Quietly one of the prettiest cards in the set.

Azurill · Storm Emeralda #086 on eBay

Azurill Delta Reign Card

Altaria

A gorgeous sky scene and the early favorite to end up as the ETB promo. Altaria drifts through cloud and light in a way that really plays up the cotton-bird softness, and it's a strong Hoenn pick either way.

Altaria · Storm Emeralda #087 on eBay

Altaria Delta Reign Card

Inkay

Maybe the most striking of the smaller cards. Inkay drifts through a swirling cosmic wash of color that looks like a galaxy, and the contrast between the tiny goofy squid and the vast starry background is fantastic. A real hidden gem.

Inkay · Storm Emeralda #085 on eBay

Inkay Delta Reign

Kyogre

One third of the connected legendary trio, its art linking up with Groudon and Mega Rayquaza. Kyogre surges through crashing waves here, and it's a great water card on its own. Illustrated by Anderson, another recent illustration contest name.

Kyogre · Storm Emeralda #080 on eBay

Kyogre Delta Reign Card

Groudon

The other half of the duo, and the backgrounds connect across all three legendary cards. Groudon rises out of lava and molten rock here, fierce and glowing, and it's the fiery counterweight to Kyogre's waves. Grab both if you can.

Groudon · Storm Emeralda #084 on eBay

Groudon Delta Reign Card

Electivire

All motion and electricity, with a bold angular style that really pops. Electivire charges forward mid-attack in a storm of yellow and purple, and the geometric, almost low poly look sets it apart from the rest of the set.

Electivire · Storm Emeralda #081 on eBay

Electivire Delta Reign Chase Card

Zinnia's Trust

A big nostalgia hit for anyone who remembers the Delta Episode. Zinnia gets a soft, warm character portrait that's easily one of the prettiest trainer cards in the set, and it's a must for Hoenn and gym leader binders. Illustrated by Teeziro, and it shows.

Zinnia's Trust · Storm Emeralda #112 on eBay

Zinnias Trust Delta Reign Card

Aarune

A charming full art that's a lot cuter than expected. Aarune bounds through a bright, blocky wilderness scene with flag in hand, and the whole thing has a playful, adventurous energy. A fun surprise inclusion.

Aarune · Storm Emeralda #111 on eBay

Aarune Delta Reign

Masquerain

An underrated one, and a really pretty card. Masquerain hovers in a soft green forest scene, the eyespot wings catching the light and the whole thing shimmering. Easy to overlook, well worth a second look.

Masquerain · Storm Emeralda #077 on eBay

Masquerain Storm Emeralda

Magmortar

A fiery, high drama card that goes all in on the heat. Magmortar looms over a river of lava with flames pouring off it, and it's about as intense as the set gets. A great fire type pickup!

Magmortar · Storm Emeralda #079 on eBay

Magmortar Delta Reign Card

Pincurchin

A sleeper that's better than it has any right to be. Pincurchin sits in a dim, glowing underwater cave surrounded by bubbles and coral, and the atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting. One of those cards that quietly wins people over.

Pincurchin · Storm Emeralda #082 on eBay

Pincurchin Storm Emeralda

Enamorus

A soft, dreamy card with a lot of charm. Enamorus floats above a misty mountain landscape dotted with flowers, and the pastel palette gives it a gentle romantic feel that suits it perfectly.

Enamorus · Storm Emeralda #083 on eBay

Enamorus Delta Reign

Tate & Liza's Training

A great pull for gym leader and Hoenn collectors. The twins get a bright, dynamic full art mid-training pose, and it's a fun, energetic character card that rounds out the trainer lineup nicely.

Tate & Liza's Training · Storm Emeralda #103 on eBay

Tate & Liza's Training Storm Emeralda

Which of these cards are you chasing when Delta Reign drops? Drop your pick in the comments!

by woahpoke

The 48 Best Cat Pokémon Cards (by Pokémon)

Cats have been part of Pokémon since the very beginning, and the TCG is full of them, from the scratch cat that started it all to sleek panthers, fire kittens, and electric lions. Whether you're building a themed binder or just love a good cat card, there's a lot to work with here. This is our running list of the best cat Pokémon cards, sorted by Pokémon so you can jump straight to your favorites.

We're a small team of two and our links keep woahpoke running. As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

Meowth

The original cat Pokémon and still one of the most collectable. Between the classic scratch-cat design, the Team Rocket association, and Gigantamax and special art versions over the years, there's a Meowth card for basically every kind of collector.

Our Picks:

Meowth Pokémon Cards

Persian

Meowth's sleek, spoiled evolution. Persian cards tend to lean into that elegant, slightly smug energy, and the Alolan version added a whole second look to chase. The Shrouded Fable full art is hands down one of our favorite modern cards, and even the vintage ones hold up, we love the colors in its Jungle card.

Our Picks:

Persian Pokémon Cards

Skitty

Pure cute cat bait, and a favorite for pastel and pink binder pages. Skitty shows up in a lot of soft, charming art that fits right into an aesthetic collection.

Our Picks:

Skitty Pokémon Cards

Delcatty

Skitty's graceful evolution, all long lines and pampered house cat vibes. A quieter pick but a lovely one for anyone building the full line!

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Delcatty Pokémon Cards

Glameow

The scrappy, curly tailed cat. Glameow doesn't get a ton of cards, which makes the good ones feel like a nice find for cat completionists.

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Glameow Pokémon Cards

Espeon

The most cat-like of the Eeveelutions, and a longtime collector favorite. Espeon's sleek psychic design has produced some of the most beautiful Eevee cards ever printed.

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Espeon Cat Pokémon Cards

Umbreon

The other cat leaning Eeveelution, and arguably the most sought-after Eevee evolution of all (and one of our all-time favorite Pokémon). Umbreon's dark and gold look is iconic, and its best cards are some of the most coveted in the hobby.

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Umbreon Pokémon Cards

Eevee

Is Eevee a cat? A fox? Some kind of rabbit-dog? Nobody fully agrees, and that's part of the charm. We're including it because it leans cute and cozy in all the ways cat collectors love, and a themed binder is just better with an Eevee in it. Its cards are some of the most consistently adorable in the hobby.

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Eevee Pokémon Cards

Zeraora

The lightning fast electric cat, and a chase worthy Mythical. It leans further from "obvious cat" than most of this list, but the paw pads, whiskered face markings, and lean feline build make the case, and its dynamic, athletic form gives you some of the most striking cards here.

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Zeraora Pokémon Cards

Purugly

Exactly what it says, and kind of beloved for it. Purugly's got attitude, and its cards lean into that grumpy cat charm, usually in cozy domestic settings.

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Purugly Pokémon Cards

Purrloin

The mischievous little troublemaker cat. Purrloin's playful, sneaky design makes for some really charming art across its cards. Mugi Hamada's full art from White Flare is stunning and a super underrated illustration rare.

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Purrloin Pokémon Cards

Espurr

The blank stare cat that launched a thousand memes. Espurr's deadpan expression is the whole appeal, and collectors love it for exactly that.

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Espurr Pokémon Cards

Meowstic

Espurr's evolution, with the male and female forms giving you two distinct looks to collect. The psychic-cat design gets some really striking art.

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Meowstic Pokémon Cards

Litten

One of the most popular starter cats, and a nostalgia pick for a lot of collectors. Litten's grumpy fire kitten design is endlessly likeable.

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Litten Kitten Pokémon Cards

Torracat

The awkward teen middle stage, and better than it gets credit for. Torracat's got a great bell collar design that shows up nicely in its cards.

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Torracat Pokémon Cards

Incineroar

The fire cat wrestler that closes out the Litten line. Even as it goes bipedal, Incineroar stays a cat at heart, and its ex and special art cards are some real showpieces.

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Incineroar Pokémon Cards

Litleo

The little lion cub, and one of the more underrated cute cats. Litleo's small, fluffy design makes for warm, sunny art.

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Litleo Pokémon Cards

Pyroar

Litleo's regal evolution, with the male mane being the showstopper. Pyroar cards have a proud, powerful look that stands out on a page.

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Pyroar Pokémon Cards

Liepard

The sleek, dark panther cat. Liepard's elegant, nighttime energy makes it a favorite for darker-themed binders.

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Liepard Pokémon Cards

Shinx

The electric lion cub, and a hugely beloved Pokémon in its own right. Shinx's cards are consistently charming and it's an easy fan favorite.

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Shinx Pokémon Cards

Luxio

The middle stage electric cat, sharper and moodier than Shinx. A solid pick for collectors building the full line.

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Luxio Pokémon Cards

Luxray

The showpiece of the line, all sleek black-and-blue lines and piercing eyes. Luxray gets some stunning art and is one of the best big cat Pokémon out there.

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Luxray Pokémon Cards

That's our running list of the best cat Pokémon cards! Think we missed a cat or put one somewhere it doesn't belong? Let us know in the comments.

by woahpoke

The 45 Best Summer & Beach-Themed Pokemon Cards

There's something about a Pokémon card with sun, sand, and water that just feels good. Whether it's a Squirtle splashing in a kiddie pool, a Lapras gliding across the open sea, or a whole vintage set that connects into one tropical panorama, beach and summer cards are some of the most joyful art the TCG has to offer. We've gathered our favorites here, from underwater scenes to poolside picnics. Grab a cold drink and dive in!

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Beach Cards

The classic beach cards, sun, sand, shoreline, and everything bobbing on the water in between. Squirtle shows up more than once (no surprise for a water starter), and cards like the hammock-napping Oshawott, Misty's Lapras, and Surfing Pikachu lean right into that carefree summer energy.

Then there's the floaty crew, lazy Psyducks, Marill, and Starmie V just drifting on the surface without a care in the world. Even Clobbopus and Dwebble sneak in from the water's edge. These are the cards that make you want to book a vacation.

Pokémon Cards with a Beach

Summer Fun Cards

Beach isn't the only summer vibe. These cards capture the picnics, pool days, and warm weather treats that make summer summer. Squirtle splashing in a kiddie pool, Alcremie at a picnic, and Vanillish at an ice cream stand, plus Mabosstiff at a summer spread.

Summer Pokémon Cards

Underwater Cards

Some of the prettiest water cards go fully beneath the surface. The Lapras from Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery is a stunner, all sunlit ocean depths, and cards like the coral-reef Horsea, Mantyke, and Wiglett capture that peaceful underwater world. Vaporeon VMAX and a diving Wartortle round out the deep end.

Underwater Pokémon Cards

Beach Locations & Trainer Cards

Not every beach card features a Pokémon, some capture the setting itself. Beach Court and Surfing Beach are Stadium cards that put the scenery front and center, and the Ascended Heroes Surfer Supporter card, riding a board through a wall of stylized waves, is one of the most summery trainer cards ever made. Perfect anchors for a beach-themed binder spread!

Beach Trainer Cards

Southern Islands Set

We couldn't put a list like this together without Southern Islands, an entire set built around island and beach life, and one of our favorite vintage collections of all time. Released in 2001 alongside Pokémon the Movie 2000, it's an 18-card promo set with a twist: the artwork connects, so cards line up to form complete tropical panoramas across beaches, jungles, rivers, and open sea. It's beautiful, nostalgic, and makes you want to collect every single one. The Marill from this set even holds a special place in Pokémon history, it was the card at the center of the early internet "Pikablu" myth before Marill was officially named. If you only chase one set from this whole list, make it this one.

Pro tip: the Japanese versions of these cards tend to be a lot more affordable, so they're a great way to complete the set without breaking the bank.

Pokémon Southern Islands Cards

That's our roundup of the best beach and summer Pokémon cards! Got a sun-soaked favorite we missed? Let us know in the comments below.

by woahpoke

The 78 Best Food Pokémon Cards

There's a whole corner of the Pokémon TCG that's just… food. Pokémon cooking, Pokémon eating, Pokémon that basically are dessert. Once you start noticing it, you can't stop. Curry scenes, café backdrops, a Lechonk passed out after a big meal, and everything in between. This is our running list of the best food cards in the hobby, sorted by theme so you can build the binder page that speaks to you!

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Restaurant Pokémon Cards

Some of the most charming food cards put Pokémon right into the dining scene. Burgerchu from the McDonald's 25th Anniversary set is an obvious pick, a promo a lot of us have a soft spot for. Jasmine's Gaze leans into a peaceful meal atmosphere, and Snorlax is fully pigging out in its Lost Origin card.

Our Picks:

Restaurant Pokémon Cards

Fruit Pokémon Cards

The grass-and-fruit overlap runs deep, especially through the Applin line. Appletun, Flapple, and Applin give you a whole evolutionary family built around a single fruit, and the Surging Sparks versions are some of the nicest art the line has gotten. Tropius is the classic here (fruit literally growing under its chin), and Hydrapple ex from Stellar Crown is the showpiece pull. We also love Eevee ex nestled in a bed of Prismatic-y fruit.

Believe it or not, apples got their own deep dive, so we’ll link our full apple Pokémon cards post rather than repeat ourselves too much.

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Pokémon Cards with Fruit

Cooking Pokémon Cards

This is where the supporter cards shine. Crispin leans hard into the chef energy, and Melony's Crown Zenith gallery card is a fan favorite for the cozy kitchen vibe. The Cook supporter across Lost Origin, Twilight Masquerade, and Fusion Strike is exactly what it sounds like, and Saguaro rounds it out nicely with a Jigglypuff cameo.

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Cooking Pokémon Cards

Kitchen & Home Food Pokémon Cards

This is the cozy extension of the cooking bucket, but the Pokémon here are on the eating side of things (or getting ready to). Lechonk passed out after a meal is the whole mood, Eiscue browsing the fridge in the middle of the night fits right in, and the Plusle and Minun Paradox Rift pair connect into a little pizza night scene. We love the Gulpin by Tomokazu Komiya too.

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Kitchen & Home Food Pokémon Cards

Dessert Pokémon Cards

From cakes to bakeries to pastries and everything in between, this is one of the deepest buckets in the whole post. Alcremie, Slurpuff, and Swirlix run this category, Dachsbun is a literal bread dog, and Sylveon sneaks in with a dreamy bakery pastel feel.

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Dessert Pokémon Cards

Candy & Sweets Pokémon Cards

Morpeko is the anchor here, a Pokémon whose whole design is built around snacking, and both the Paradox Rift and Marnie's versions are worth grabbing. Milcery is the pre-dessert Alcremie for anyone building the full line, and the Minccino and Cinccino Legendary Treasures pair rounds it out with lots of candy surrounding them.

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Candy & Sweets Pokémon Cards

Picnic & Outdoor Food Pokémon Cards

The Scarlet & Violet era leaned hard into picnics, and it shows here. The Picnic Basket item card and both Arven cards are the obvious core, since Arven's whole thing is sandwiches. Miltank brings the fresh milk angle, Tatsugiri is a swimming piece of sushi, and Alcremie shows up again for the outdoor dessert spread.

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Picnic & Outdoor Food Pokémon Cards

Grocery Store & Food Market Pokémon Cards

These cards are all about the shopping for food scene rather than the eating. Drayton and the Fuecoco line bring the supermarket energy, while Machamp and Falinks are busy hauling the goods. Kieran and Carmine round it out with stunning night market scenes in their Twilight Masquerade cards.

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Grocery Store & Food Market Pokémon Cards

Café & Drinks Pokémon Cards

From Pokémon that are literally tea to full café scenes, we’re closing it out with these cozy cards. The Sinistea and Polteageist line is the heart of it (a haunted teapot Pokémon is exactly the kind of thing this hobby does best), and Rika, Morty’s Conviction, and the Café Master cards from Brilliant Stars lean all the way into the coffee shop aesthetic.

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Café & Drinks Pokémon Cards

Food Item Pokémon Cards

Sometimes the food is the card. This bucket is all trainer and item cards that put actual dishes front and center, from Arven's Sandwich to Jumbo Ice Cream to the Moomoo Cheese. Leftovers and Rare Candy are the two that most collectors already know, since they've been staples for years.

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Food Item Pokémon Cards

What’s your favorite food-themed Pokémon card? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments!

by woahpoke