When I noticed the trailer for Extradimensional Crisis, it instantly pulled me back to the Sun and Moon period. That was after I began being attentive to how unusual and artistic the Pokémon TCG might get.
Seeing Ultra Beasts show up in Pocket with all their bizarre designs and chaotic vitality jogged my memory of cracking open Crimson Invasion packs and not realizing what dimension half these creatures got here from. It was messy, daring, and (form of) good. So I believed, let's go for a journey back to Alola and go over some of my favourite playing cards from the Sun and Moon expansions.
My Favorite Sun and Moon Pokémon Cards
This new set feels prefer it's pulling threads from throughout that period. Buzzwole, Nihilego, Type Null, even Lusamine together with her oddly particular vitality impact, it feels acquainted in one of the simplest ways. It jogs my memory of Forbidden Light’s unpredictability, Ultra Prism’s flash, and the shiny overload from Hidden Fates.
Cosmic Eclipse
Cosmic Eclipse closed out the Sun and Moon period and went out with one thing particular: Character Rares. I noticed the Arceus, Dialga and Palkia GX card laid out at a commerce desk and it appeared so epic.
Rosa’s Full Art card had this mild power to it, and the Pikachu Character Rare genuinely made me smile the primary time I noticed it. There was a heat to that art work that felt totally different from anything.
Hidden Fates: Shiny Vault
Hidden Fates hit in August 2019 and immediately rewrote the hype meter. The Shiny Vault was stacked. Shiny Charizard GX was the crown jewel.
I by no means pulled it, however I noticed somebody do it at a native and the desk simply froze. I opened a few packs, pulled a shiny Rowlet, and instantly realized how deep the rabbit gap went.
Between shiny Umbreon GX, Mewtwo GX, and the total artwork birds trio, each pack felt prefer it might explode.
Unified Minds
Unified Minds saved the trend going sturdy. Mewtwo and Mew GX felt like one thing out of a fan fiction crossover that truly labored.
I by no means owned it, however I’ve performed towards it enough to understand it was no joke. Slowpoke and Psyduck GX made me snicker the primary time I noticed it, then made me nervous as soon as I noticed what it might do.
Cherish Ball additionally got here from this set and it turned one of these playing cards you needed even when it didn’t look flashy. It simply labored.
Unbroken Bonds
Unbroken Bonds leaned even tougher into the tag staff thought. Reshiram and Charizard GX was the massive pull and one of my associates on the time had one. He appeared utterly shocked when he pulled it, like he wasn’t even sure if it was actual.
Gardevoir and Sylveon GX had some actual visible chemistry and felt like a card that may beat you politely. Dedenne GX, bless it, turned a must-have in so many decks. I traded for one later simply to have it and instantly understood the hype. It was the utility knife in most decks.
Detective Pikachu
Detective Pikachu got here out in April 2019 driving the wave of the film hype. If I’m being sincere, it was one of the stranger units I’ve opened. Every card within the set used the dwell action CGI designs from the movie, which meant you have been pulling ultra-realistic Bulbasaurs and barely unnerving Charmanders that appeared like they’d blink at you.
I didn’t open a lot of this set myself, simply a few promo packs from one of these mini tins, however I bear in mind somebody at a card evening pulling the Mewtwo GX and getting method too enthusiastic about how menacing it appeared.
Team Up
Team Up got here subsequent and it modified the game with Tag Team GX playing cards. I bear in mind seeing Latias and Latios GX for the primary time and pondering it appeared like a poster for an anime film. The synergy, the artwork, it simply clicked.
Pikachu and Zekrom GX was a monster on the aggressive scene and I noticed more than one deck constructed round that combo alone. Gengar and Mimikyu GX was pure chaos and I liked it. That bizarre combine of spooky and playful made it immediately memorable.
Lost Thunder
Lost Thunder was large, actually. At the time it was the most important set Pokémon had ever launched and it felt prefer it. Lugia GX remains to be one of my favourite artworks from the Sun and Moon period although I’ve by no means owned one. It simply has that majestic, don’t-mess-with-me vitality.
Alolan Ninetales GX made one other look right here and it was simply as attractive and helpful as the sooner model. Zeraora GX was one of these playing cards that felt prefer it ought to be quicker simply by taking a look at it. I noticed somebody build an complete lightning deck round it and you might inform they have been having method more enjoyable than they need to be allowed to.
Dragon Majesty
Dragon Majesty dropped in September 2018 and the identify alone had me . You say dragons, I show up. Like Shining Legends, it wasn’t obtainable in booster bins, solely in particular merchandise like pin collections and premium bins, which made opening the packs really feel like a deal with slightly than a routine. I by no means had superb luck with this set, however I nonetheless bear in mind seeing somebody pull the gold Ultra Necrozma GX at a native occasion and everybody went nuts.
Dragonite GX was one other standout and I’ve all the time liked how unapologetically large and daring the art work felt. Reshiram GX and Salamence GX rounded out the heavy hitters, wanting like they have been drawn with most drama in thoughts. I’d nonetheless love so as to add a Shiny Charizard from this set to my assortment at some point. It’s shiny, it’s Charizard, and principally Pokémon cardboard royalty.
Celestial Storm
Celestial Storm felt prefer it had one foot prior to now and one within the current. Rayquaza GX was the massive headliner, I nonetheless bear in mind the primary time I noticed somebody lay it down during a game as an absolute flex. Lisia’s Full Art card was additionally a large one and it has this vivid pop to it that makes it really feel immediately collectible. Articuno GX was half of this set too and although I’ve by no means pulled one, I all the time appreciated how icy and elegant it appeared. It has a quiet form of energy.
Forbidden Light
Forbidden Light had a actually cool focus in Ultra Necrozma GX. I’ve by no means pulled one myself however I bear in mind a child displaying it off at league evening and being so pumped he forgot to put it in a sleeve. We fixed that rapidly. Greninja GX is one other one which caught with me because it's one of the perfect starters from later generations. Diantha’s Full Art card can also be on this set and it has this understated magnificence that makes it one of the nicer wanting Trainer playing cards.
Ultra Prism
Ultra Prism was a turning level. Prism Star playing cards have been a new idea and they added some actual pleasure to pulls. I’ve by no means pulled the Full Art Lillie from this set however I did as soon as get to take a look at one up close during a native binder commerce session and truthfully, I wasn’t even mad it wasn’t mine. It simply appeared too good. Cynthia’s Full Art was one other head-turner. I’ve solely seen that card as soon as in particular person at a event, and I swear everybody who handed by the desk took a re-assessment. The gold Solgaleo GX and Lunala GX have been on this set too. I haven’t seen both in particular person, however they’ve develop into that dream duo I quietly hope to seek out for a good price at some point.
Crimson Invasion
Crimson Invasion was a little more muted in hype however nonetheless had its moments. The Ultra Beasts made their debut and whereas they have been a bit of a bizarre match thematically, I form of appreciated the chaos. I noticed a Gyarados GX from this set early on and thought, yeah, that is what Gyarados ought to all the time seem like. Fierce, sharp, and simply a little bit harmful. The Full Art Lusamine and Olivia Trainer playing cards introduced some a lot needed aptitude to the set, nevertheless it wasn't the perfect pack opening expertise I've had in any respect.
Shining Legends
Shining Legends got here out in October 2017 and felt a little totally different from the beginning. It wasn’t half of the same old release lineup, more of a particular mini set. I by no means pulled something wild from the few packs I opened, however I did see somebody hit a Shining Mew at a card evening as soon as which was cool. That card glows in a method no scan or photograph actually captures. The Secret Rare Mewtwo GX within the check tube is one I’ve solely ever seen behind glass at a vendor desk. Shining Rayquaza and Shining Arceus additionally stood out within the set, and whereas I haven’t been fortunate enough to own both, I nonetheless examine listings as soon as in a whereas, simply in case the celebrities align. Shining Legends could have been small, however the hits have been mighty, and it’s one of these units that aged very well.
Burning Shadows
Burning Shadows confirmed up in August 2017 and let’s be sincere, this set will without end be outlined by one factor. Rainbow Rare Charizard GX, which was a bugger to tug. I did pull a Gardevoir GX which was really one of the highest deck building chases on the time and the Secret Rare Fairy Energy, which is beautiful, however let’s not fake these issues helped ease the sting. That Charizard nonetheless mocks me from behind its graded slab in another person’s assortment.
Guardians Rising
Guardians Rising got here out a few months after Sun and Moon base, and this was when Tapu Lele GX began displaying up in every single place. I didn’t pull one, however I bear in mind watching somebody get one from their third pack and simply casually shrug prefer it wasn’t one of probably the most playable playing cards on the time. I did see an Alolan Ninetales GX up close at a card show that summer season and I swear the holo appeared higher beneath these terrible overhead lights than it had any proper to. Sylveon GX was one other standout from this set. It was one of these playing cards that got here with its own fanbase. And of course, that Secret Rare Double Colorless Energy was pure gold, however it will be good to see more epic Pokémon GX's within the earlier Sun and Moon units slightly than energies and trainers.
Sun and Moon Base
Sun and Moon Base Set dropped in early 2017 and truthfully, it felt like the start of one thing contemporary. Alolan types confirmed up with bizarre haircuts and vivid colours, and I used to be into it. The GX mechanic was new on the time and it hit laborious. I don’t own many playing cards from this set personally, however I bear in mind seeing a Full Art Lillie in somebody’s commerce binder at my first actual native occasion and it oddly jogged my memory of Evolutions Misty's Determination. Then somebody pulled the Secret Rare Ultra Ball on the identical occasion and instantly double-sleeved it prefer it was a new child. I’ve solely ever pulled a common Lunala GX from a random pack at a game retailer checkout, and even that felt like a win. Those early GX playing cards had actual presence. They didn’t simply shine, they appeared like they meant business. Probably as a result of I used to be the one one who wasn't curious about gold merchandise playing cards.
This Weeks Crashers And Climbers
It's turning into abundantly clear that buying up singles on the Pokémon TCG collector market is the best way ahead for trainers proper now.
Some chase cards that have crashed recently are cheaper than some overpriced booster bundles at the moment.
Some of the costs above look loopy, however some of them we're practically double simply a couple of weeks in the past, with the latter 5 playing cards climbing increased and increased.
If your coronary heart is about on ripping open booster packs, let's get into one of the simplest ways to do exactly that with out destroying your life financial savings (a lot).
More Pokémon TCG Sealed Products
If you're determined for some large field retailer merchandise, right here you go.
Just make sure to be savvy earlier than shopping for, as 9 times out of 10 TCG Player will be cheaper on this local weather.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN protecting every little thing collectable and offers. Christian has over 7 years of expertise within the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian additionally makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian can also be the writer of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.