Posted in: Card Games, Games, Pokémon TCG, Tabletop | Tagged: pokemon, pokemon cards, Scarlet & Violet, Sword & Shield

The Best Pokémon TCG Cards Of 2023: End Of Year List

These are our top five Pokémon TCG cards that were released in 2023. Did any of these make your list? Can you guess which made ours?

With 2023 wrapping up, it's time to look back at the adventures that Pokémon fans have taken this year. Bleeding Cool will count down the best that this beloved franchise has had to offer us, from the excitement (and controversy) of Niantic's mobile Pokémon GO game to the new era kicked off by the Pokémon TCG. Now, this is all personal taste, so please be sure to list your favorites in the comments as well. Today, let's count down the best Pokémon TCG cards of the year. I'm going to note here that we're limiting it to one card per set, as this year of Illustration Rares could go far beyond a top-five list. Ever since Sword & Shield – Battle Styles reintroduced Alternate Arts in 2021, the Pokémon TCG has been in a golden age. So, let's get into it.

• Arceus Gold Alternate Art VSTAR from Crown Zenith: This is the card I mused could be the most beautiful in the hobby's history when released. This is the best illustration of AKIRA EGAWA's stunningly gorgeous collection of four Gold Alt Arts depicting Arceus, Origin Forme Dialga, Origin Forme Palkia, and Origin Forme Giratina. It's a shame that the Pokémon TCG isn't continuing this style with their Gold Hyper Rare cards of the Scarlet & Violet era. These remain the only four Gold Alt Arts in the hobby.
• Gardevoir ex Special Illustration Rare from Scarlet & Violet: Artist Jiro Sasuma illustrates the entire Ralts line of Illustration Rares, which shows the Pokémon evolve over time with its family. I love how the concepts behind Illustration Rares of "show the Pokémon in its environment" plays that loosely, with a common environment being the Trainer's home. The line culminates in this beautiful, homey card.
• Iono Special Illustration Rare Trainer Supporter from Scarlet & Violet – Paldea Evolved: Many may be wondering what is so special about this Iono card. The card is a Special Illustration Rare Trainer Supporter card, which is essentially the equivalent of an Alt Art for a Trainer. The Japanese version of the Iono card was selling for over $1,000 in the secondary market. Iono is, very simply, a breakout character from the Scarlet & Violet games, similar to how Marnie was in Sword & Shield. The English-language version of the card is the top card of Scarlet & Violet – Paldea Evolved when it comes to value, currently worth $82.46. This card, illustrated by kirisAki, set off a new but brief interest in female-driven Trainer Supporter cards, leading to momentary spikes in value for multiple Full Art Trainer Supporters from the Sword & Shield era. This is also no surprise, considering the artist here. kirisAki is one of the top Full Art Trainer artists in the Pokémon TCG, creating some major chase cards.

• Cleffa Illustration Rare Trainer Supporter from Scarlet & Violet – Obsidian Flames: It might be controversial to not choose the Charizard Special Illustration Rare, which I love… but the Scarlet & Violet era is memorable because of cards like this. It gives major Secret Rares to unevolved species, letting us see Pokémon art like we never have before. Artist HYOGONOSUKE takes on the minimalist Cleffa card, which shows it standing on a perfectly clear sheet of ice that reflects a shooting star in the sky. This card is perfectly illustrated to shine on this holographic card, using a beautiful, clear sky as the backdrop to let this Baby Pokémon design shine.
• Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare from Scarlet & Violet – 151: The king of the Pokémon TCG had to be in here somewhere. This one initially took me off guard. Charizard Secret Rares tend to become immense chase cards. Charizard fans tend to value certain art styles, and this card purposely goes against expectations, delivering a cartoony and neckless depiction of the fearsome Fire-type, draconic beast. However, I think this is yet another strength of the Sword & Shield era. The Pokémon TCG is letting artists, in this case miki kudo, be themselves and show their own styles and strengths.
• Roaring Moon ex Special Illustration Rare from Scarlet & Violet – Paradox Rift: Roaring Moon is a Paradox Pokémon and an ancient relative of Mega Salamence. Multiple other Paradox Pokémon that feature on cards in this set are drawn into the image, including Scream Tail, Brute Bonnet, Flutter Mane, and Slither Wing. This card is illustrated by Ryoto Murayama, whose work on this card made it one of the most valuable of this era so far and certainly one of the most beautiful.

There were also many great SV Black Star Promos this year, so please allow honorable mentions to:

• Pikachu Illustration Rare SVP 027
• Charmander Illustration Rare SVP 044
• Mew ex Special Illustration Rare SVP 053
• Scream Tail Illustration Rare SVP 065
• Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat Illustration Rare SVP 085

Be sure to check back on Bleeding Cool for daily updates on all things Pokémon GO. You can also follow our in-depth Pokémon TCG coverage as we explore the hobby's past, present, and even future with upcoming set reveals.

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