The (Starfall) Streets Won’t Forget These Underrated Pokémon TCG Cards

23rd June 2025 EDT FEATURES

The (Starfall) Streets Won’t Forget These Underrated Pokémon TCG Cards

We're putting the spotlight on cards which have, for various reasons, never received the widespread popularity and appeal that many fans believe they should've.

“Bubble Mew”. “Moonbreon” and “Sunbreon”. “Mewtube”. “Van Gogh Pikachu”. “Beauty Looking Back”.

While not the official names of those cards, you probably knew what they were and could picture them in your mind with each nickname listed. These cards are among a select few that have become so iconic that they only need to be referred to by their unofficial names for Pokémon TCG fans everywhere to know which card is being talked about.

On the other hand, there are cards which, while not necessarily at the level of the cards just mentioned, undoubtedly deserve more of a spotlight than what they have received to this date. Despite their high rarity as well as their impressive illustrations (and usually, their hefty price tags too), these cards have always been the type of cards which “those who know, know”; however, those who actually do know understand and appreciate the hidden gems that these cards truly are.

Without further ado, let’s go through our selection of some of the most underrated Pokémon TCG cards of recent years.

Most Underrated Pokémon TCG Cards

Tyranitar V (Battle Styles [S5I] 077/070)

Tyranitar V SR: SA[S5I 077/070](Expansion Pack “Ichigeki Master”)

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Starting off the list is a card that, when first released, didn’t receive much hype and was not regarded as the set’s biggest chase card until several years later. However, even though it has today received its rightful credit as the standout pull of Battle Styles [S5I], on the whole this card remains relatively underappreciated by large swathes of the Pokémon TCG community, largely because the set it’s in is commonly regarded as, unfortunately, rather mediocre.

With a Full Art illustration depicting the normally fearsome Tyranitar V asleep under a tree, the imagery showcases a side of the Rock/Dark-type pseudo-Legendary that is rarely ever seen. It’s a complete contrast to the overwhelming force and awe-inspiring power that ordinarily typifies Tyranitar cards. Largely for that reason, many collectors think highly of this Super Rare (SR) card and claim that it deserves much more shine than it has historically gotten.

Galarian Zapdos V (Peerless Fighters [S5a] 076/070)

Galarian Zapdos V SR: SA[S5a 076/070](Enhanced Expansion Pack “Peerless Fighters”)

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The Galarian Zapdos V card from Peerless Fighters [S5a] has always ranked as one of its set’s most impressive pulls; however, it’s largely been overshadowed by one of its counterpart cards in the same set: Galarian Moltres V. However, by no means does this mean that Galarian Zapdos V ought to be as overlooked as it is. A decent number of collectors regard this card as one of the best value-for-money buys in the entire Pokémon TCG—its price has remained affordable due to its relative lack of buzz.

This SR card depicts Galarian Zapdos V running up the side of a mountain—a reference to the lore that surrounds it. The Galarian form of one-third of the Legendary bird trio has legs so powerful that it’s able to run up mountains at breakneck speeds. The card’s art style creates a stark contrast when juxtaposed with the ferocity of the Pokémon it depicts, making the imagery stand out all the more.

Blaziken VMAX (Peerless Fighters [S5a] 086/070)

Blaziken VMAX HR: SA[S5a 086/070](Enhanced Expansion Pack “Peerless Fighters”)

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To say that this card’s art style was “divisive” and “controversial” when first released would be an understatement. Even to this day, many would say they either love it or hate it—it’s more polarizing than the magnetic energy of Mt. Coronet. It was actually the loudest of the haters’ voices that caused this card to become somewhat underrated; however, among its backers, Blaziken VMAX remains an epic pull, arguably the biggest chase card of Peerless Fighters [S5a].

Depicting the Dynamaxed form of the Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon, this Hyper Rare (HR) card is most notable for its art style reminiscent of street art. For some, this was too radical a departure from the norm for their tastes; for others, it elevated the card to new heights. That said, Blaziken itself is generally a highly popular Pokémon; as such, most cards featuring it, such as this one, do carry a degree of inherent value, and with this card, that value should probably be higher than its actual one right now.

Cramorant (S-P Promotional Cards 226/S-P)

Cramorant: PROMO[S-P 226](S-P Promotional cards)

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We mentioned the “Beauty Looking Back” Pikachu card earlier—undoubtedly one of the most well-known and iconic Pokémon TCG cards ever. That card was one of two promotional cards released alongside the Pokémon Stamp Box in August 2021—the other was this Cramorant card. While impressive in its own right, this card has since been overshadowed by its counterpart. In reality, however, this card more than holds its own as-is.

Boasting a Full Art illustration based on Utagawa Hiroshige’s ukiyo-e painting “Wild Geese Flying Under the Full Moon”, this card was only obtainable via Pokémon Stamp Box sets to be purchased via participating post offices, the Japan Post Service website, or at the 2021 Japan World Stamp Championship Exhibition. This card commands high prices and is extremely rare owing to its limited run; however, purely because of its juxtaposition alongside a true icon of the TCG, it hasn’t received the recognition it merits.

Mew (VSTAR Universe [S12a] 183/172)

Mew AR[s12a 183/172](High Class Pack “VSTAR Universe”)

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This is a card that has received tremendous acclaim from many in the fanbase; however, oddly enough, the card’s market value hasn’t responded accordingly. Its relatively affordable price tag is the result of its rarity of Art Rare (AR)—just the fourth-highest of Pokémon TCG card rarities. That being said, when discussions of “underrated Pokémon TCG cards” are had, this card comes up time and again.

The card’s Full Art illustration depicts Mew sleeping in a forest with various Pokémon looking on—seemingly in awe that they are laying eyes upon the Mythical Pokémon itself. It’s a scene that depicts the immense power as well as the gentle, carefree nature of Mew at the same time. Additionally, a “side plot” in the imagery can be seen in how the Cramorant is eyeing the Arrokuda. This card is a clear example of why any card, regardless of rarity, should never be dismissed on the spot.

Chi-Yu ex (Clay Burst [SV2D] 092/071)

Chi-Yu ex SAR[SV2D 092/071](Expansion Pack “Clay burst”)

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Clay Burst [SV2D] is often referred to as the “Iono set” because of the card that single-handedly crashed the Pokémon Center’s official website almost as soon as pre-orders began. However, what often gets forgotten is the fact that Iono was never the set’s headliner. Those cards were instead the cards depicting the four Treasures of Ruin; among the cards featuring this Legendary quartet across Clay Burst [SV2D] and Snow Hazard [SV2P], the pick of the bunch is Chi-Yu ex from Clay Burst [SV2D].

This Special Art Rare (SAR) card’s spectacular Full Art illustration depicts Chi-Yu ex in a forest with the sun streaming down onto the Dark/Fire-type Legendary Pokémon through the treetops. Enhancing the card’s stunning imagery is the holofoil, which brings out the sun’s glow in the illustration. It’s frequently said that if Iono were not in Clay Burst [SV2D], this card would be widely lauded as the truly top-tier pull it ought to be seen as.

Brute Bonnet (Ancient Roar [SV4K] 077/066)

Brute Bonnet AR[SV4K 077/066](Expansion Pack “Ancient roar”)

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Earlier this year, many cards illustrated by Tomokazu Komiya saw a stunning surge in demand and value. All featuring Komiya’s trademark psychedelic art style, this spike drew attention to many cards that had long been overlooked. However, when all was said and done, many of the cards faded back into obscurity—a true shame given the fact that some of those cards were legitimately very impressive. One such card was the AR Brute Bonnet card from Ancient Roar [SV4K].

This card featuring the Ancient Paradox counterpart of Amoonguss once again clearly exhibits Komiya’s psychedelic aesthetic, featuring vivid colors and trippy lines and shapes that give the card a unique quality and a reputation that exceeds its rarity of AR. Additionally, this card’s profile has risen among players as well because, in its less rare version, this card has become a key piece of the Klawf/Terapagos ex deck, which recently won the 2025 Pokémon Europe International Championships (EUIC).

Sawsbuck (Cyber Judge [SV5M] 074/071)

Sawsbuck AR [SV5M 074/071](Expansion Pack “Cyber Judge”)

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Rounding out our list is the Sawsbuck card from Cyber Judge [SV5M]. In a dual set (alongside Wild Force [SV5K]) focused on Ancient and Future Paradox counterparts of two different Legendary trios, one of the set’s less heralded cards, which has nonetheless garnered interest from a considerable number of Pokémon TCG cards, is the AR Sawsbuck card.

This card’s Full Art illustration is the continuation of a narrative that started on the same set’s AR card depicting Deerling, Sawsbuck’s pre-evolution. When put together, the two cards tell a story of Deerling evolving into Sawsbuck as it makes its way through a background setting of multiple different seasonal environments, changing forms to suit the environment along the way. Even more so than the already appealing illustration, it’s this narrative element that justifies this card being regarded as an underrated one.

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