In light of the overwhelmingly positive response that the recently-released Pokémon TCG set Battle Partners [SV9] has received, some might believe that its success came out of the blue—that Battle Partners [SV9] is no more than an “overnight sensation”. However, this isn’t the case at all. To understand the build-up to Battle Partners’ success, we need to look at a previous card type—Trainer Gallery Cards!

What Are Trainer Gallery Cards?

In the seventh and eighth generations of the Pokémon TCG, a series of cards known as “Trainer Gallery” cards were released across various sets. They were so named because each card had a Full Art illustration of a Pokémon alongside its Trainer. Most Trainer Gallery cards had a rarity of either Character Rare (CHR) or Character Secret Rare (CSR); there were very few exceptions.

Sets That Contain Trainer Gallery Cards

• Dream League [SM11b]—the only Gen 7 set with Trainer Gallery cards
• Skyscraping Perfection [S7D] / Blue Sky Stream [S7R]
• VMAX Climax [S8b]
• Battle Region [S9a]
• Dark Phantasma [S10a]
• Incandescent Arcana [S11a]

Additionally, two Trainer Gallery cards were released as promotional cards while two others were part of the Ash vs Team Rocket Deck Kit [SMD].

The Role of Trainer Gallery Cards on Battle Partners [SV9]’s Success

Trainer Gallery cards can be said to have paved the way for Battle Partners [SV9] and all its success. That’s because when Trainer Gallery cards debuted in Dream League [SM11b] in 2019, Trainer’s Pokémon cards (then known as Owner’s Pokémon) had not been seen in either a main set or subset for more than 13 years—the most recent appearance at the time had been in Holon Phantom, a third-generation set.

Gen 4 saw Pokémon SP and Gen 5 introduced Team Plasma-affiliated Pokémon; however, none of these were exactly the same as Owner’s Pokémon cards which had been sporadically released as promotional cards from Gens 4 to 8.

Although Trainer Gallery cards were not the same as Owner’s Pokémon, the considerable demand for them proved to Creatures Inc. that many of the fans were eager for Pokémon owned by Trainers to be a part of the TCG. Thus, when Owner’s Pokémon were rebranded as Trainer’s Pokémon and brought back to the TCG in Battle Partners [SV9], the hype for the set went to a new level—and none of this would’ve been possible without the impact of Trainer Gallery cards.

Trainer Gallery cards are closely linked enough to Battle Partners [SV9] that leading up to and immediately following the release of Battle Partners [SV9], the community’s desire for Trainer Gallery cards increased as well.

As such, the values of many Trainer Gallery cards have increased rapidly during the period leading up to and since the launch of Battle Partners [SV9] in January 2025, as can be seen by this graph taken from Reddit.

Now, let’s go through our selections of the best Trainer Gallery cards released throughout the short yet memorable era that they were around. We’ve selected eight cards in total—each representing one of eight different Trainer types: Gym Leader, villainous team, protagonist, rival, Elite Four or Champion, Hisuian Trainer, generic Trainer, and other Trainer.

The Best Trainer Gallery Cards by Trainer Type

1. Generic Trainer – Hoothoot (Battle Region [S9a] 073/067) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$55)
Trainer: Sage

Hoothoot CHR[s9a 073/067](Enhanced Expansion Pack”Bttle Region”)

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Starting off our list is this Character Rare (CHR) Hoothoot card from Battle Region [S9a]. This card’s illustration depicts the Normal/Flying-type Pokémon perched on top of a rocky cliff, overlooking a Sage who’s deep in meditation. That Sage also happens to be Hoothoot’s Trainer—a reference to several in second-generation main series video games Pokémon Gold and Silver as well as their sequels HeartGold and SoulSilver who either own a Hoothoot or a Noctowl, Hoothoot’s evolution.

The Full Art illustration is very much in-character not only with regard to the Trainer depicted, but also Hoothoot itself. The placidity and silence of the imagery is palpable with just one look. Additionally, the illustration alludes to Hoothoot’s Ability of Stand Sentry; it can be implied that Hoothoot is watching for any threats that might target its Trainer.

2. Hisuian Trainer – Enamorus V (Dark Phantasma [S10a] 088/071) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$59)
Trainer: Cogita

Enamorus V CSR[S10a 088/071](Enhanced Expansion”Dark Phantasma”)

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In Gen 8 spin-off video game Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Cogita befriended and traveled across the Hisui region with Enamorus, the fourth of the Legendary forces of nature. On this Character Secret Rare (CSR) card from Dark Phantasma [S10a], Cogita is shown alongside Enamorus V in its Incarnate Forme in front of a dark multi-colored background with flower petals across the image.

The card’s Full Art illustration is a direct reference to a major plot point in Pokémon Legends: Arceus; in the post-game, Cogita summons Enamorus to give the player the opportunity to capture it. The imagery depicts Enamorus V unleashing its Blossom Tail attack as shown by the swirling flower petals; this also alludes to the lore surrounding Enamorus whose Pokédex entry states that it is the bringer of new life to the Hisui region. Of course, the “female character value boost” is in play as well thanks to Cogita’s presence.

3. Rival – Flareon (VMAX Climax [S8b] 188/184) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$80)
Trainer: Blue

Flareon CHR[s8b 188/184](High Class Pack”VMAX Climax”)

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Blue, the original rival from Gen 1, took an Eevee as his starter in Pokémon Yellow; as such, there are three Trainer Gallery cards in VMAX Climax [S8b] featuring Blue and an OG Eeveelution. Of the three, the most impressive is the card with Fire-type Eeveelution Flareon shown on it—a reprint of a card originally from Amazing Volt Tackle [S4].

The Full Art illustration on this CHR card makes use of gentle colors and a watercolor-like art style to convey the close bond between Blue and his Starter. This unique art style is part of the reason why this card outvalues the Vaporeon and Jolteon Trainer Gallery cards from VMAX Climax [S8b]. The card also owes part of its value to the sentiment captured by the artwork as it’s the only one that shows Blue’s softer side—something not shown at all in the video games.

4. Gym Leader – Starmie V (Battle Region [S9a] 083/067) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$218)
Trainer: Misty

Starmie V CSR[S9a 083/067](Enhanced Expansion “Battle Region”)

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Misty is best known as one of Ash’s two travel companions throughout the first two generations of the Pokémon anime. However, it must also be remembered that she’s the Cerulean Gym Leader—and of all Gym Leader cards in the Trainer Gallery, the CSR card from Battle Region [S9a] that features her Starmie V is the clear standout.

This card gets the usual value boost for depicting a female character—and then some. Due to her role in the Pokémon anime, Misty is probably the most well-known of all female characters in Pokémon. She’s also shown in a swimsuit—a factor that’s certain to appeal to a big chunk of the fanbase’s main demographic. Even the fact that it’s Starmie V is relevant because Starmie is the Pokémon most closely associated with the Water-type specialist—certainly in the games, and arguably the anime as well.

5. Elite Four/Champion – Umbreon VMAX (VMAX Climax [S8b] 245/184) (PSA 10 Price: ~$225)
Trainer: Karen

Umbreon VMAX CSR[S8b 245/184](High Class Pack”VMAX Climax Box”)

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“Hang on,” some of you might say, “this card looks awfully familiar, doesn’t it?”

It does indeed—this VMAX Climax [S8b] Trainer Gallery card is a CSR reprint of the Umbreon VMAX card from Eevee Heroes [S6a]. That’s right—it’s a Trainer Gallery version of “Moonbreon”. Although this card is, of course, nowhere near the level of its Hyper Rare (HR) counterpart that ranks as one of the greatest Pokémon TCG cards of all time, the Trainer Gallery version of a card featuring a Dynamaxed Umbreon alongside Indigo Elite Four member Karen is an impressive pull in its own right.

Umbreon’s status as the most popular of all Eeveelutions inherently raises the value of this card. Couple that with the fact that the card depicts a female character and it’s easy to see why this card has accumulated the value which it has. On top of that, the fact that this card is so closely tied to a defining card in the history of the Pokémon TCG further burnishes its reputation—even more so right now when the Eeveelutions, and especially Umbreon, are in the spotlight due to the Terastal Festival ex [SV8a] effect.

6. Protagonist – Pikachu (Dream League [SM11b] 054/049) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$250)
Trainer: Red

Pikachu CHR[sm11b 054/049](Enhanced Expansion Pack”Dream League”)

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This card from Dream League [SM11b] can be seen as the counterpart of the Flareon card mentioned earlier (as well as the Trainer Gallery Vaporeon and Jolteon cards). In Pokémon Yellow, protagonist Red’s starter is always locked to be Pikachu—and the scene displayed on the card’s imagery alludes to this; it’s Red selecting Pikachu as his starter in Professor Oak’s Laboratory.

The nostalgia factor does much of the heavy lifting as far as this CHR card’s value is concerned as it features Red, the first-ever protagonist of the Pokémon video games. The scene being portrayed is relevant too—it shows Red taking his first steps on his journey as a Pokémon Trainer. Of course, since Pikachu is the face of the Pokémon franchise, its presence adds further demand to this card.

7. Other Trainer – Clefairy (SM-P Promotional Cards 381/SM-P) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$449)
Trainer: Lillie

Clefairy (Lillie) : PROMO[SM-P 381](SM-P Promotional cards)

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One of two Trainer Gallery cards which was exclusively released as a promotional card, this Clefairy card featuring Lillie is a Trainer Gallery reprint of a card from Dream League [SM11b]. Over a limited period starting from the release day of Dream League [SM11b] on 2 August 2019, everyone who purchased a Japanese Dream League [SM11b] booster box would have this card bundled with it. Backing this fact up is the Dream League [SM11b] logo in the card’s bottom-right corner.

Part of this card’s hefty price tag stems from the fact that it was only available over a limited time period. In addition, this isn’t just any female character—it’s Fairy-type specialist Lillie, who’s well-known for appearing on the iconic Extra Battle Day promotional card from 2019 and whose popularity is now spiking thanks to Battle Partners [SV9]. The latter is true of Clefairy as well; it’s also worth noting that Clefairy, not Pikachu, was initially intended to be Pokémon’s series mascot, giving the Fairy-type Pokémon a unique position in Pokémon history.

8. Villainous Team – Reshiram & Zekrom GX (Dream League [SM11b] 064/049) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$450)
Trainer: N

Reshiram & Zekrom GX (N) SR :SA [SM11b 064/49](Enhanced Expansion Pack “Dream League”)

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This Super Rare (SR) card from Dream League [SM11b] is the most valuable of all Trainer Gallery cards—and it’s easy to see why. The spectacular Full Art illustration depicting two members of the Tao trio overlooking N of Team Plasma—a major fan favorite as far as male characters go. The illustration combines the finales of Gen 5 main series video games Pokémon Black and White in which N summons Reshiram and Zekrom respectively.

Reshiram’s blazing fire and Zekrom’s crackling electricity are in full view—the display of their powers serves as a stunning backdrop in front of which N stands ready to confront the protagonist for the climactic battle at Team Plasma’s main base known simply as “N’s Castle”. Topping off the whole package is a reference to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire—the Gen 6 remakes of Gen 3 games Ruby and Sapphire. This TAG TEAM card has the Fabled Firebolts attack; its name is derived from the Fabled Cave—the dwelling of Reshiram in Omega Ruby and Zekrom in Alpha Sapphire.

Now that you’ve seen our top Trainer Gallery picks, why not browse our extensive selection of Trainer Gallery cards as well as other cards from the Pokémon TCG sets containing them on the SNKRDUNK App?

Dream League [SM11b]
Skyscraping Perfection [S7D] / Blue Sky Stream [S7R]
VMAX Climax [S8b]
Battle Region [S9a]
Dark Phantasma [S10a]
Incandescent Arcana [S11a]

No matter which Trainer happens to be your favorite, we’ll almost certainly have the cards you’re after.

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