Coolest Pokémon card list

49 cards that look the coolest, picked by hand, rarest first: from the 5 Rare Secrets down to the Rares.

Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR Rare Secret — Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR

Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR Rare Secret — Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR

Giratina VSTAR Rare Secret — Giratina VSTAR

Coolest Pokémon in numbers

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Coolest Pokémon at a glance

49cards

30different Pokémon

20sets and promos

2000first card

First seen in Team Rocket

Most cards

The Pokémon with the most cool cards.

Mewtwo5 cards

Charizard4 cards

Reshiram4 cards

Dragonite3 cards

Zekrom3 cards

Pikachu2 cards

Mewtwo leads with 5

Rarity breakdown

Rarest at the top.

Rare Secret5

Special Illustration Rare14

Black White Rare2

Mega Attack Rare3

Rare Ultra2

Illustration Rare3

Rare Holo VSTAR3

Rare Holo V3

Rare Holo6

Promo7

Rare1

By generation

Different Pokémon, by the generation they first appeared in.

111

Cards per year

Coolest Pokémon cards from 2000 to 2026.

32000

2001

2002

32003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

12013

2014

2015

2016

42017

2018

12019

2020

12021

2022

162023

2024

132025

72026

Busiest year: 2023, with 16 cards

By type

The energy types they were printed as.

Fire9

Water7

Darkness6

Dragon5

Psychic4

Lightning4

Colorless2

Grass1

Who drew them

32 illustrators worked on these cards.

AKIRA EGAWA5

Mitsuhiro Arita5

danciao3

Bun Toujo3

DOM2

kawayoo2

Shinji Kanda2

5ban Graphics2

Every Coolest Pokémon card, rarest first

Rare Secret

5 cards from 2 sets: 5 Pokémon cards.

Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR Rare Secret card from Crown Zenith — Origin Forme Palkia VSTARCrown Zenith, GG67

Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR Rare Secret card from Crown Zenith — Origin Forme Dialga VSTARCrown Zenith, GG68

Giratina VSTAR Rare Secret card from Crown Zenith — Giratina VSTARCrown Zenith, GG69

Arceus VSTAR Rare Secret card from Crown Zenith — Arceus VSTARCrown Zenith, GG70

Mewtwo-GX Rare Secret card from Shining Legends — Mewtwo-GXShining Legends, 78/73

Special Illustration Rare

14 cards from 8 sets: 13 Pokémon cards and 1 Trainer or Energy card.

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex Special Illustration Rare card from Ascended Heroes — Team Rocket's Mewtwo exAscended Heroes, 281/217

Mega Gengar ex Special Illustration Rare card from Ascended Heroes — Mega Gengar exAscended Heroes, 284/217

Mega Dragonite ex Special Illustration Rare card from Ascended Heroes — Mega Dragonite exAscended Heroes, 290/217

Mega Charizard X ex Special Illustration Rare card from Phantasmal Flames — Mega Charizard X exPhantasmal Flames, 125/94

Mega Latias ex Special Illustration Rare card from Mega Evolution Base — Mega Latias exMega Evolution Base, 181/132

Reshiram ex Special Illustration Rare card from White Flare — Reshiram exWhite Flare, 166/86

Zekrom ex Special Illustration Rare card from Black Bolt — Zekrom exBlack Bolt, 166/86

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex Special Illustration Rare card from Destined Rivals — Team Rocket's Mewtwo exDestined Rivals, 231/182

Roaring Moon ex Special Illustration Rare card from Prismatic Evolutions — Roaring Moon exPrismatic Evolutions, 162/131

Venusaur ex Special Illustration Rare card from 151 — Venusaur ex151, 198/165

Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare card from 151 — Charizard ex151, 199/165

Blastoise ex Special Illustration Rare card from 151 — Blastoise ex151, 200/165

N's Plan Special Illustration Rare card from Black Bolt — N's PlanBlack Bolt, 170/86

Black White Rare

2 cards from 2 sets: 2 Pokémon cards.

Zekrom ex Black White Rare card from Black Bolt — Zekrom exBlack Bolt, 172/86

Reshiram ex Black White Rare card from White Flare — Reshiram exWhite Flare, 173/86

Mega Attack Rare

3 cards from 1 set: 3 Pokémon cards.

Mega Gengar ex Mega Attack Rare card from Ascended Heroes — Mega Gengar exAscended Heroes, 269/217

Mega Dragonite ex Mega Attack Rare card from Ascended Heroes — Mega Dragonite exAscended Heroes, 271/217

Rare Ultra

2 cards from 2 sets: 2 Pokémon cards.

Reshiram Rare Ultra card from Legendary Treasures — ReshiramLegendary Treasures, RC22

Illustration Rare

3 cards from 3 sets: 3 Pokémon cards.

Ethan's Typhlosion Illustration Rare card from Destined Rivals — Ethan's TyphlosionDestined Rivals, 190/182

N's Reshiram Illustration Rare card from Journey Together — N's ReshiramJourney Together, 167/159

Magikarp Illustration Rare card from Paldea Evolved — MagikarpPaldea Evolved, 203/193

Rare Holo VSTAR

3 cards from 1 set: 3 Pokémon cards.

Rare Holo V

3 cards from 1 set: 3 Pokémon cards.

Entei V Rare Holo V card from Crown Zenith — Entei VCrown Zenith, GG36

Rare Holo

6 cards from 2 sets: 6 Pokémon cards.

Gyarados Rare Holo card from Skyridge — GyaradosSkyridge, H10

Houndoom Rare Holo card from Skyridge — HoundoomSkyridge, H11

Dark Blastoise Rare Holo card from Team Rocket — Dark BlastoiseTeam Rocket, 3/82

Dark Charizard Rare Holo card from Team Rocket — Dark CharizardTeam Rocket, 4/82

Dark Dragonite Rare Holo card from Team Rocket — Dark DragoniteTeam Rocket, 5/82

Promo

7 cards from 4 sets: 7 Pokémon cards.

N's Zekrom Promo card from Mega Evolution Black Star Promos — N's ZekromMega Evolution Black Star Promos, 031

Mewtwo Promo card from Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos — MewtwoScarlet & Violet Black Star Promos, SVP 052

Kingdra ex Promo card from Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos — Kingdra exScarlet & Violet Black Star Promos, SVP 131

Charizard VSTAR Promo card from SWSH Black Star Promos — Charizard VSTARSWSH Black Star Promos, SWSH262

Pikachu & Zekrom-GX Promo card from Sun & Moon Black Star Promos — Pikachu & Zekrom-GXSun & Moon Black Star Promos, SM168

Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GX Promo card from Sun & Moon Black Star Promos — Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GXSun & Moon Black Star Promos, SM210

Umbreon & Darkrai-GX Promo card from Sun & Moon Black Star Promos — Umbreon & Darkrai-GXSun & Moon Black Star Promos, SM241

Rare

1 card from 1 set: 1 Pokémon card.

Victini Rare card from Black Bolt — VictiniBlack Bolt, 171/86

No.	Card	Set	Rarity	Type	Illustrator
GG67	Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR	Crown Zenith	Rare Secret	Pokémon	AKIRA EGAWA
GG68	Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR	Crown Zenith	Rare Secret	Pokémon	AKIRA EGAWA
GG69	Giratina VSTAR	Crown Zenith	Rare Secret	Pokémon	AKIRA EGAWA
GG70	Arceus VSTAR	Crown Zenith	Rare Secret	Pokémon	AKIRA EGAWA
78/73	Mewtwo-GX	Shining Legends	Rare Secret	Psychic	Mitsuhiro Arita
276/217	Pikachu ex	Ascended Heroes	Special Illustration Rare	Lightning	booota
281/217	Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex	Ascended Heroes	Special Illustration Rare	Psychic	Mitsuhiro Arita
284/217	Mega Gengar ex	Ascended Heroes	Special Illustration Rare	Darkness	danciao
290/217	Mega Dragonite ex	Ascended Heroes	Special Illustration Rare	Dragon	DOM
125/94	Mega Charizard X ex	Phantasmal Flames	Special Illustration Rare	Fire	danciao
181/132	Mega Latias ex	Mega Evolution Base	Special Illustration Rare	Dragon	AKIRA EGAWA
166/86	Reshiram ex	White Flare	Special Illustration Rare	Fire	kawayoo
166/86	Zekrom ex	Black Bolt	Special Illustration Rare	Lightning	danciao
231/182	Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex	Destined Rivals	Special Illustration Rare	Psychic	Iwamoto05
162/131	Roaring Moon ex	Prismatic Evolutions	Special Illustration Rare	Darkness	Shinji Kanda
198/165	Venusaur ex	151	Special Illustration Rare	Grass	Yoriyuki Ikegami
199/165	Charizard ex	151	Special Illustration Rare	Fire	miki kudo
200/165	Blastoise ex	151	Special Illustration Rare	Water	Mitsuhiro Arita
170/86	N's Plan	Black Bolt	Special Illustration Rare	Trainer	REND
172/86	Zekrom ex	Black Bolt	Black White Rare	Lightning	takuyoa
173/86	Reshiram ex	White Flare	Black White Rare	Fire	5ban Graphics
265/217	Mega Froslass ex	Ascended Heroes	Mega Attack Rare	Water	Saboteri
269/217	Mega Gengar ex	Ascended Heroes	Mega Attack Rare	Darkness	Taiga Kasai
271/217	Mega Dragonite ex	Ascended Heroes	Mega Attack Rare	Dragon	DOM
189/203	Umbreon V	Evolving Skies	Rare Ultra	Darkness	Teeziro
RC22	Reshiram	Legendary Treasures	Rare Ultra	Fire	Kagemaru Himeno
190/182	Ethan's Typhlosion	Destined Rivals	Illustration Rare	Fire	GIDORA
167/159	N's Reshiram	Journey Together	Illustration Rare	Dragon	Bun Toujo
203/193	Magikarp	Paldea Evolved	Illustration Rare	Water	Shinji Kanda
GG35	Leafeon VSTAR	Crown Zenith	Rare Holo VSTAR	Pokémon	Jiro Sasumo
GG40	Glaceon VSTAR	Crown Zenith	Rare Holo VSTAR	Pokémon	Gemi
GG44	Mewtwo VSTAR	Crown Zenith	Rare Holo VSTAR	Pokémon	GOSSAN
GG36	Entei V	Crown Zenith	Rare Holo V	Pokémon	Shigenori Negishi
GG38	Suicune V	Crown Zenith	Rare Holo V	Pokémon	Atsushi Furusawa
GG41	Raikou V	Crown Zenith	Rare Holo V	Pokémon	nagimiso
H3	Articuno	Skyridge	Rare Holo	Water	Hajime Kusajima
H10	Gyarados	Skyridge	Rare Holo	Water	Kimiya Masago
H11	Houndoom	Skyridge	Rare Holo	Darkness	Kimiya Masago
3/82	Dark Blastoise	Team Rocket	Rare Holo	Water	Mitsuhiro Arita
4/82	Dark Charizard	Team Rocket	Rare Holo	Fire	Ken Sugimori
5/82	Dark Dragonite	Team Rocket	Rare Holo	Colorless	Mitsuhiro Arita
031	N's Zekrom	Mega Evolution Black Star Promos	Promo	Dragon	Bun Toujo
SVP 052	Mewtwo	Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos	Promo	Psychic	Bun Toujo
SVP 131	Kingdra ex	Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos	Promo	Water	akagi
SWSH262	Charizard VSTAR	SWSH Black Star Promos	Promo	Fire	KIYOTAKA OSHIYAMA
SM168	Pikachu & Zekrom-GX	Sun & Moon Black Star Promos	Promo	Lightning	kawayoo
SM210	Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GX	Sun & Moon Black Star Promos	Promo	Colorless	HYOGONOSUKE
SM241	Umbreon & Darkrai-GX	Sun & Moon Black Star Promos	Promo	Darkness	so-taro
171/86	Victini	Black Bolt	Rare	Fire	5ban Graphics

Questions about Coolest Pokémon cards

How many cards are on the cool list?

49 so far, from Dark Blastoise in Team Rocket (2000) to the newest sets, and 7 of them are promos. They're all in the list above, rarest first.

What is the rarest Coolest Pokémon card?

The top of the list is the 5 Rare Secrets, like Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR from Crown Zenith (GG67) and Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR from Crown Zenith.

Which Pokémon has the most cool cards?

Mewtwo, with 5 cards. Charizard (4), Reshiram (4) and Dragonite (3) are next.

What makes a card one of the coolest?

Cards with art that simply looks cool: dramatic poses, bold colours, action scenes and striking designs. Each card was picked by hand by looking at the art, so the list is a selection, not every card with an action pose.

Who drew the most cool cards?

AKIRA EGAWA, with 5 cards, followed by Mitsuhiro Arita (5) and danciao (3).

Coolest Pokémon card list

Coolest Pokémon in numbers

Coolest Pokémon at a glance

Most cards

Rarity breakdown

By generation

Cards per year

By type

Who drew them

Every Coolest Pokémon card, rarest first

Questions about Coolest Pokémon cards

How many cards are on the cool list?

What is the rarest Coolest Pokémon card?

Which Pokémon has the most cool cards?

What makes a card one of the coolest?

Who drew the most cool cards?

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