Gen 1: Expansion Pack (1996) (English Name: Base Set)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120653\/Feature-Product-Image-64.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re starting things off by going back to the beginning\u2014and we mean all the way back to the beginning. The set that launched the Pok\u00e9mon TCG is unsurprisingly the clear standout among the first generation\u2019s main expansion sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While other Gen 1 sets may contain rarer cards, have greater gameplay viability, are more aesthetically appealing, or a combination thereof, none of them\u2014or any other set that will ever be released\u2014will have the sheer impact that Expansion Pack did. For that reason, the prices of the Expansion Pack\u2019s most notable cards rank among the highest in the entire Pok\u00e9mon TCG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cards from Expansion Pack that are most eagerly sought include the Holographic Rare trio of Mewtwo, Alakazam, and of course, Charizard\u2014probably the single most iconic card in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history. Even one Charizard card from the Expansion Pack can sell for immense prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an ironic twist, two of the biggest pulls from Expansion Pack were overshadowed by that same Charizard card: Venusaur and Blastoise. Both Holographic Rares, the other two final evolutions of Gen 1 starters often end up overlooked in favor of their Fire-type counterpart. This, however, doesn\u2019t change the fact that those two cards remain among the set\u2019s major gets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 2: Mysterious Mountains (2002) (English Name: Skyridge)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120649\/Feature-Product-Image-63.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBack in the second generation, two sets stood head and shoulders above the rest for the same reason. Cards from Split Earth and Mysterious Mountains are some of the rarest in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history as those sets had just one print run. Between the two, Mysterious Mountains gets the nod as it just about wins out with regard to major pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Easily the two standouts of Mysterious Mountains are the Holographic Rare Charizard and Celebi cards bearing the Crystal Type Pok\u00e9-Body (the predecessor to today\u2019s Abilities). Known as \u201cCrystal Pok\u00e9mon Cards\u201d, their rarity and unique art style combined with this Pok\u00e9-Body allowed them to change type when certain Energy card types were attached to form two of the most iconic cards of the entire generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another trio of Holographic Rares also rank among the most valuable cards of the set. These are the Crystal Crobat, Moltres, and Gengar cards. Once again, the driving factor behind their value is their scarcity. Due to this scarcity, even cards from Mysterious Mountains which aren\u2019t exceedingly rare might still \u201cpunch above their weight\u201d as far as their price tags are concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For these reasons, Mysterious Mountains is commonly cited as the best expansion set of the 2000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 3: Holon Research Tower (2005) (English Name: EX Delta Species)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120659\/Feature-Product-Image-66.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMore than a decade and a half before the Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet and Violet video games introduced the Terastallization mechanic, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG tried something similar. Holon Research Tower introduced Delta Species cards featuring Pok\u00e9mon bearing a type different from what they would normally have. The many cards with this novelty factor made this set the pick of the Gen 3 bunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, none of the Delta Species cards figure at the very top of this set\u2019s most prized pulls. That honor goes to its three Pok\u00e9mon Star cards\u2014Groudon, Kyogre, and Metagross. Each of these mega-rare and highly valuable cards depicts the Shiny form of the Pok\u00e9mon mentioned as is the case with all Pok\u00e9mon Star cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for the Delta Species cards themselves, the Dragonite, Umbreon, and Espeon cards coming in Electric\/Steel, Dark\/Steel, and Psychic\/Steel types respectively are Holon Research Tower\u2019s highlights. In addition to their status as part of the first wave of Delta Species cards, all three featured Pok\u00e9mon have also always ranked among the biggest favorites among the Pok\u00e9mon fandom in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 4: Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] (2009) (English Name: Supreme Victors)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120646\/Feature-Product-Image-62.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost Pok\u00e9mon TCG experts regard the fourth generation as its nadir. Everything that could\u2019ve gone wrong did\u2014the global recession impacted product quality, many who had grown up with Gen 1 and 2 had abandoned the franchise, and most of the two new card variants\u2014Prime and Lv. X cards\u2014ended up being total flops relative to their predecessors and successors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, by no means does this mean that there weren\u2019t any gems buried in Gen 4. The set that tops the generation\u2019s chart? Beat of the Frontier [Pt3]. The set\u2019s three Secret Rares which depict the Legendary bird trio of Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos are the set\u2019s flagship cards largely due to their backstory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These three cards were first released in 1999 as promotional cards distributed via a campaign held by ANA. However, it wasn\u2019t until the release of Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] a decade later that, after years of pleading by fans, they were finally added to a main expansion set. It wasn\u2019t long before demand for the new versions dwarfed those for the original promotional cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other cards to look out for from this set include Rayquaza C Lv. X as well as the Shiny versions of the Milotic and Relicanth cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 5: Spiral Force \/ Thunder Knuckle [BW8] (2012) (English Name: Plasma Freeze)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120643\/Feature-Product-Image-61.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120639\/Feature-Product-Image-60.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile over the years there have been many Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets based on the villainous team of its generation, the two-part set containing Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8] is generally regarded as the pick of the lot. And not only that\u2014it\u2019s the consensus choice as the best fifth-generation Pok\u00e9mon TCG main expansion set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As is the case with most sets centering a villainous team and their \u2018mons, many Pok\u00e9mon in the set are owned by members of Unova\u2019s Team Plasma. On those cards, Team Plasma\u2019s logo can be seen. Among all of the Team Plasma-owned Pok\u00e9mon in Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8], by far the most sought-after and valuable is the Super Rare (SR) version of the Deoxys ex card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also several non-Plasma related cards which to this day are also among Gen 5\u2019s rarest and most sought-after cards. These include Ultra Rare (UR) versions of Garchomp, Garbodor, Empoleon, and Ultra Ball as well as a Professor Juniper card of SR rarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, that Garbodor card was one of the greatest cards of all time from a gameplay perspective. A reprint of a card from Dragon Blast [BW5], its Ability of Garbotoxin nullified all other Abilities in play when Garbodor had a Pok\u00e9mon Tool card attached, almost always swinging the balance of the game in the player\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 6: Emerald Break [XY6] (2015) (English Name: Roaring Skies)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120708\/Feature-Product-Image-69.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMid-Gen 6, spanning from the end of 2014 through most of 2015, was the golden age of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. The folks at Creatures Inc. were in their bags, churning out three of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-adored sets of all time within a nine-month span: Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5], Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8], and the crown jewel: Emerald Break [XY6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon its release, Emerald Break [XY6] truly pushed the boundaries of what \u201ca great Pok\u00e9mon TCG set\u201d was thought to be. Highlighted by the iconic Shaymin ex card in its SR rarity version, other standouts included the VS Seeker card as well as UR rarity forms of Winona, Wally, and Mega Rayquaza ex\u2014all cards which could easily have been the headliner of a great many other sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of its immense rarity and value, Shaymin ex was a card that ran rampant through the meta. The Mythical Pok\u00e9mon was the ultimate draw engine\u2014its Ability of Set Up allowed the player to draw cards until the player had six in hand after being placed on the Bench from the hand. As if that weren\u2019t enough, Shaymin ex\u2019s Sky Return attack brought it and all cards attached to it back to the player\u2019s hand, allowing the cycle to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, it\u2019s no surprise that Emerald Break [XY6] is almost unanimously regarded as the single best expansion set of the 2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 7: Forbidden Light [SM6] (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120705\/Feature-Product-Image-68.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120703\/Feature-Product-Image-67.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120656\/Feature-Product-Image-65.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120715\/Feature-Product-Image-71.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Pok\u00e9mon](\"https:\/\/snkrdunk.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/11120712\/Feature-Product-Image-70.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re starting things off by going back to the beginning\u2014and we mean all the way back to the beginning. The set that launched the Pok\u00e9mon TCG is unsurprisingly the clear standout among the first generation\u2019s main expansion sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While other Gen 1 sets may contain rarer cards, have greater gameplay viability, are more aesthetically appealing, or a combination thereof, none of them\u2014or any other set that will ever be released\u2014will have the sheer impact that Expansion Pack did. For that reason, the prices of the Expansion Pack\u2019s most notable cards rank among the highest in the entire Pok\u00e9mon TCG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cards from Expansion Pack that are most eagerly sought include the Holographic Rare trio of Mewtwo, Alakazam, and of course, Charizard\u2014probably the single most iconic card in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history. Even one Charizard card from the Expansion Pack can sell for immense prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an ironic twist, two of the biggest pulls from Expansion Pack were overshadowed by that same Charizard card: Venusaur and Blastoise. Both Holographic Rares, the other two final evolutions of Gen 1 starters often end up overlooked in favor of their Fire-type counterpart. This, however, doesn\u2019t change the fact that those two cards remain among the set\u2019s major gets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 2: Mysterious Mountains (2002) (English Name: Skyridge)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBack in the second generation, two sets stood head and shoulders above the rest for the same reason. Cards from Split Earth and Mysterious Mountains are some of the rarest in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history as those sets had just one print run. Between the two, Mysterious Mountains gets the nod as it just about wins out with regard to major pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Easily the two standouts of Mysterious Mountains are the Holographic Rare Charizard and Celebi cards bearing the Crystal Type Pok\u00e9-Body (the predecessor to today\u2019s Abilities). Known as \u201cCrystal Pok\u00e9mon Cards\u201d, their rarity and unique art style combined with this Pok\u00e9-Body allowed them to change type when certain Energy card types were attached to form two of the most iconic cards of the entire generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another trio of Holographic Rares also rank among the most valuable cards of the set. These are the Crystal Crobat, Moltres, and Gengar cards. Once again, the driving factor behind their value is their scarcity. Due to this scarcity, even cards from Mysterious Mountains which aren\u2019t exceedingly rare might still \u201cpunch above their weight\u201d as far as their price tags are concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For these reasons, Mysterious Mountains is commonly cited as the best expansion set of the 2000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 3: Holon Research Tower (2005) (English Name: EX Delta Species)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMore than a decade and a half before the Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet and Violet video games introduced the Terastallization mechanic, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG tried something similar. Holon Research Tower introduced Delta Species cards featuring Pok\u00e9mon bearing a type different from what they would normally have. The many cards with this novelty factor made this set the pick of the Gen 3 bunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, none of the Delta Species cards figure at the very top of this set\u2019s most prized pulls. That honor goes to its three Pok\u00e9mon Star cards\u2014Groudon, Kyogre, and Metagross. Each of these mega-rare and highly valuable cards depicts the Shiny form of the Pok\u00e9mon mentioned as is the case with all Pok\u00e9mon Star cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for the Delta Species cards themselves, the Dragonite, Umbreon, and Espeon cards coming in Electric\/Steel, Dark\/Steel, and Psychic\/Steel types respectively are Holon Research Tower\u2019s highlights. In addition to their status as part of the first wave of Delta Species cards, all three featured Pok\u00e9mon have also always ranked among the biggest favorites among the Pok\u00e9mon fandom in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 4: Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] (2009) (English Name: Supreme Victors)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost Pok\u00e9mon TCG experts regard the fourth generation as its nadir. Everything that could\u2019ve gone wrong did\u2014the global recession impacted product quality, many who had grown up with Gen 1 and 2 had abandoned the franchise, and most of the two new card variants\u2014Prime and Lv. X cards\u2014ended up being total flops relative to their predecessors and successors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, by no means does this mean that there weren\u2019t any gems buried in Gen 4. The set that tops the generation\u2019s chart? Beat of the Frontier [Pt3]. The set\u2019s three Secret Rares which depict the Legendary bird trio of Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos are the set\u2019s flagship cards largely due to their backstory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These three cards were first released in 1999 as promotional cards distributed via a campaign held by ANA. However, it wasn\u2019t until the release of Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] a decade later that, after years of pleading by fans, they were finally added to a main expansion set. It wasn\u2019t long before demand for the new versions dwarfed those for the original promotional cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other cards to look out for from this set include Rayquaza C Lv. X as well as the Shiny versions of the Milotic and Relicanth cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 5: Spiral Force \/ Thunder Knuckle [BW8] (2012) (English Name: Plasma Freeze)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile over the years there have been many Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets based on the villainous team of its generation, the two-part set containing Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8] is generally regarded as the pick of the lot. And not only that\u2014it\u2019s the consensus choice as the best fifth-generation Pok\u00e9mon TCG main expansion set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As is the case with most sets centering a villainous team and their \u2018mons, many Pok\u00e9mon in the set are owned by members of Unova\u2019s Team Plasma. On those cards, Team Plasma\u2019s logo can be seen. Among all of the Team Plasma-owned Pok\u00e9mon in Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8], by far the most sought-after and valuable is the Super Rare (SR) version of the Deoxys ex card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also several non-Plasma related cards which to this day are also among Gen 5\u2019s rarest and most sought-after cards. These include Ultra Rare (UR) versions of Garchomp, Garbodor, Empoleon, and Ultra Ball as well as a Professor Juniper card of SR rarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, that Garbodor card was one of the greatest cards of all time from a gameplay perspective. A reprint of a card from Dragon Blast [BW5], its Ability of Garbotoxin nullified all other Abilities in play when Garbodor had a Pok\u00e9mon Tool card attached, almost always swinging the balance of the game in the player\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 6: Emerald Break [XY6] (2015) (English Name: Roaring Skies)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMid-Gen 6, spanning from the end of 2014 through most of 2015, was the golden age of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. The folks at Creatures Inc. were in their bags, churning out three of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-adored sets of all time within a nine-month span: Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5], Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8], and the crown jewel: Emerald Break [XY6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon its release, Emerald Break [XY6] truly pushed the boundaries of what \u201ca great Pok\u00e9mon TCG set\u201d was thought to be. Highlighted by the iconic Shaymin ex card in its SR rarity version, other standouts included the VS Seeker card as well as UR rarity forms of Winona, Wally, and Mega Rayquaza ex\u2014all cards which could easily have been the headliner of a great many other sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of its immense rarity and value, Shaymin ex was a card that ran rampant through the meta. The Mythical Pok\u00e9mon was the ultimate draw engine\u2014its Ability of Set Up allowed the player to draw cards until the player had six in hand after being placed on the Bench from the hand. As if that weren\u2019t enough, Shaymin ex\u2019s Sky Return attack brought it and all cards attached to it back to the player\u2019s hand, allowing the cycle to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, it\u2019s no surprise that Emerald Break [XY6] is almost unanimously regarded as the single best expansion set of the 2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 7: Forbidden Light [SM6] (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBack in the second generation, two sets stood head and shoulders above the rest for the same reason. Cards from Split Earth and Mysterious Mountains are some of the rarest in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history as those sets had just one print run. Between the two, Mysterious Mountains gets the nod as it just about wins out with regard to major pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Easily the two standouts of Mysterious Mountains are the Holographic Rare Charizard and Celebi cards bearing the Crystal Type Pok\u00e9-Body (the predecessor to today\u2019s Abilities). Known as \u201cCrystal Pok\u00e9mon Cards\u201d, their rarity and unique art style combined with this Pok\u00e9-Body allowed them to change type when certain Energy card types were attached to form two of the most iconic cards of the entire generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another trio of Holographic Rares also rank among the most valuable cards of the set. These are the Crystal Crobat, Moltres, and Gengar cards. Once again, the driving factor behind their value is their scarcity. Due to this scarcity, even cards from Mysterious Mountains which aren\u2019t exceedingly rare might still \u201cpunch above their weight\u201d as far as their price tags are concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For these reasons, Mysterious Mountains is commonly cited as the best expansion set of the 2000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 3: Holon Research Tower (2005) (English Name: EX Delta Species)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMore than a decade and a half before the Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet and Violet video games introduced the Terastallization mechanic, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG tried something similar. Holon Research Tower introduced Delta Species cards featuring Pok\u00e9mon bearing a type different from what they would normally have. The many cards with this novelty factor made this set the pick of the Gen 3 bunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, none of the Delta Species cards figure at the very top of this set\u2019s most prized pulls. That honor goes to its three Pok\u00e9mon Star cards\u2014Groudon, Kyogre, and Metagross. Each of these mega-rare and highly valuable cards depicts the Shiny form of the Pok\u00e9mon mentioned as is the case with all Pok\u00e9mon Star cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for the Delta Species cards themselves, the Dragonite, Umbreon, and Espeon cards coming in Electric\/Steel, Dark\/Steel, and Psychic\/Steel types respectively are Holon Research Tower\u2019s highlights. In addition to their status as part of the first wave of Delta Species cards, all three featured Pok\u00e9mon have also always ranked among the biggest favorites among the Pok\u00e9mon fandom in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 4: Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] (2009) (English Name: Supreme Victors)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost Pok\u00e9mon TCG experts regard the fourth generation as its nadir. Everything that could\u2019ve gone wrong did\u2014the global recession impacted product quality, many who had grown up with Gen 1 and 2 had abandoned the franchise, and most of the two new card variants\u2014Prime and Lv. X cards\u2014ended up being total flops relative to their predecessors and successors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, by no means does this mean that there weren\u2019t any gems buried in Gen 4. The set that tops the generation\u2019s chart? Beat of the Frontier [Pt3]. The set\u2019s three Secret Rares which depict the Legendary bird trio of Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos are the set\u2019s flagship cards largely due to their backstory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These three cards were first released in 1999 as promotional cards distributed via a campaign held by ANA. However, it wasn\u2019t until the release of Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] a decade later that, after years of pleading by fans, they were finally added to a main expansion set. It wasn\u2019t long before demand for the new versions dwarfed those for the original promotional cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other cards to look out for from this set include Rayquaza C Lv. X as well as the Shiny versions of the Milotic and Relicanth cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 5: Spiral Force \/ Thunder Knuckle [BW8] (2012) (English Name: Plasma Freeze)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile over the years there have been many Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets based on the villainous team of its generation, the two-part set containing Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8] is generally regarded as the pick of the lot. And not only that\u2014it\u2019s the consensus choice as the best fifth-generation Pok\u00e9mon TCG main expansion set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As is the case with most sets centering a villainous team and their \u2018mons, many Pok\u00e9mon in the set are owned by members of Unova\u2019s Team Plasma. On those cards, Team Plasma\u2019s logo can be seen. Among all of the Team Plasma-owned Pok\u00e9mon in Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8], by far the most sought-after and valuable is the Super Rare (SR) version of the Deoxys ex card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also several non-Plasma related cards which to this day are also among Gen 5\u2019s rarest and most sought-after cards. These include Ultra Rare (UR) versions of Garchomp, Garbodor, Empoleon, and Ultra Ball as well as a Professor Juniper card of SR rarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, that Garbodor card was one of the greatest cards of all time from a gameplay perspective. A reprint of a card from Dragon Blast [BW5], its Ability of Garbotoxin nullified all other Abilities in play when Garbodor had a Pok\u00e9mon Tool card attached, almost always swinging the balance of the game in the player\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 6: Emerald Break [XY6] (2015) (English Name: Roaring Skies)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMid-Gen 6, spanning from the end of 2014 through most of 2015, was the golden age of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. The folks at Creatures Inc. were in their bags, churning out three of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-adored sets of all time within a nine-month span: Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5], Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8], and the crown jewel: Emerald Break [XY6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon its release, Emerald Break [XY6] truly pushed the boundaries of what \u201ca great Pok\u00e9mon TCG set\u201d was thought to be. Highlighted by the iconic Shaymin ex card in its SR rarity version, other standouts included the VS Seeker card as well as UR rarity forms of Winona, Wally, and Mega Rayquaza ex\u2014all cards which could easily have been the headliner of a great many other sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of its immense rarity and value, Shaymin ex was a card that ran rampant through the meta. The Mythical Pok\u00e9mon was the ultimate draw engine\u2014its Ability of Set Up allowed the player to draw cards until the player had six in hand after being placed on the Bench from the hand. As if that weren\u2019t enough, Shaymin ex\u2019s Sky Return attack brought it and all cards attached to it back to the player\u2019s hand, allowing the cycle to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, it\u2019s no surprise that Emerald Break [XY6] is almost unanimously regarded as the single best expansion set of the 2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 7: Forbidden Light [SM6] (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMore than a decade and a half before the Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet and Violet video games introduced the Terastallization mechanic, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG tried something similar. Holon Research Tower introduced Delta Species cards featuring Pok\u00e9mon bearing a type different from what they would normally have. The many cards with this novelty factor made this set the pick of the Gen 3 bunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, none of the Delta Species cards figure at the very top of this set\u2019s most prized pulls. That honor goes to its three Pok\u00e9mon Star cards\u2014Groudon, Kyogre, and Metagross. Each of these mega-rare and highly valuable cards depicts the Shiny form of the Pok\u00e9mon mentioned as is the case with all Pok\u00e9mon Star cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for the Delta Species cards themselves, the Dragonite, Umbreon, and Espeon cards coming in Electric\/Steel, Dark\/Steel, and Psychic\/Steel types respectively are Holon Research Tower\u2019s highlights. In addition to their status as part of the first wave of Delta Species cards, all three featured Pok\u00e9mon have also always ranked among the biggest favorites among the Pok\u00e9mon fandom in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 4: Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] (2009) (English Name: Supreme Victors)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost Pok\u00e9mon TCG experts regard the fourth generation as its nadir. Everything that could\u2019ve gone wrong did\u2014the global recession impacted product quality, many who had grown up with Gen 1 and 2 had abandoned the franchise, and most of the two new card variants\u2014Prime and Lv. X cards\u2014ended up being total flops relative to their predecessors and successors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, by no means does this mean that there weren\u2019t any gems buried in Gen 4. The set that tops the generation\u2019s chart? Beat of the Frontier [Pt3]. The set\u2019s three Secret Rares which depict the Legendary bird trio of Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos are the set\u2019s flagship cards largely due to their backstory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These three cards were first released in 1999 as promotional cards distributed via a campaign held by ANA. However, it wasn\u2019t until the release of Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] a decade later that, after years of pleading by fans, they were finally added to a main expansion set. It wasn\u2019t long before demand for the new versions dwarfed those for the original promotional cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other cards to look out for from this set include Rayquaza C Lv. X as well as the Shiny versions of the Milotic and Relicanth cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 5: Spiral Force \/ Thunder Knuckle [BW8] (2012) (English Name: Plasma Freeze)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile over the years there have been many Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets based on the villainous team of its generation, the two-part set containing Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8] is generally regarded as the pick of the lot. And not only that\u2014it\u2019s the consensus choice as the best fifth-generation Pok\u00e9mon TCG main expansion set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As is the case with most sets centering a villainous team and their \u2018mons, many Pok\u00e9mon in the set are owned by members of Unova\u2019s Team Plasma. On those cards, Team Plasma\u2019s logo can be seen. Among all of the Team Plasma-owned Pok\u00e9mon in Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8], by far the most sought-after and valuable is the Super Rare (SR) version of the Deoxys ex card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also several non-Plasma related cards which to this day are also among Gen 5\u2019s rarest and most sought-after cards. These include Ultra Rare (UR) versions of Garchomp, Garbodor, Empoleon, and Ultra Ball as well as a Professor Juniper card of SR rarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, that Garbodor card was one of the greatest cards of all time from a gameplay perspective. A reprint of a card from Dragon Blast [BW5], its Ability of Garbotoxin nullified all other Abilities in play when Garbodor had a Pok\u00e9mon Tool card attached, almost always swinging the balance of the game in the player\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 6: Emerald Break [XY6] (2015) (English Name: Roaring Skies)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMid-Gen 6, spanning from the end of 2014 through most of 2015, was the golden age of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. The folks at Creatures Inc. were in their bags, churning out three of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-adored sets of all time within a nine-month span: Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5], Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8], and the crown jewel: Emerald Break [XY6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon its release, Emerald Break [XY6] truly pushed the boundaries of what \u201ca great Pok\u00e9mon TCG set\u201d was thought to be. Highlighted by the iconic Shaymin ex card in its SR rarity version, other standouts included the VS Seeker card as well as UR rarity forms of Winona, Wally, and Mega Rayquaza ex\u2014all cards which could easily have been the headliner of a great many other sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of its immense rarity and value, Shaymin ex was a card that ran rampant through the meta. The Mythical Pok\u00e9mon was the ultimate draw engine\u2014its Ability of Set Up allowed the player to draw cards until the player had six in hand after being placed on the Bench from the hand. As if that weren\u2019t enough, Shaymin ex\u2019s Sky Return attack brought it and all cards attached to it back to the player\u2019s hand, allowing the cycle to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, it\u2019s no surprise that Emerald Break [XY6] is almost unanimously regarded as the single best expansion set of the 2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 7: Forbidden Light [SM6] (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost Pok\u00e9mon TCG experts regard the fourth generation as its nadir. Everything that could\u2019ve gone wrong did\u2014the global recession impacted product quality, many who had grown up with Gen 1 and 2 had abandoned the franchise, and most of the two new card variants\u2014Prime and Lv. X cards\u2014ended up being total flops relative to their predecessors and successors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, by no means does this mean that there weren\u2019t any gems buried in Gen 4. The set that tops the generation\u2019s chart? Beat of the Frontier [Pt3]. The set\u2019s three Secret Rares which depict the Legendary bird trio of Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos are the set\u2019s flagship cards largely due to their backstory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These three cards were first released in 1999 as promotional cards distributed via a campaign held by ANA. However, it wasn\u2019t until the release of Beat of the Frontier [Pt3] a decade later that, after years of pleading by fans, they were finally added to a main expansion set. It wasn\u2019t long before demand for the new versions dwarfed those for the original promotional cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other cards to look out for from this set include Rayquaza C Lv. X as well as the Shiny versions of the Milotic and Relicanth cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 5: Spiral Force \/ Thunder Knuckle [BW8] (2012) (English Name: Plasma Freeze)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile over the years there have been many Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets based on the villainous team of its generation, the two-part set containing Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8] is generally regarded as the pick of the lot. And not only that\u2014it\u2019s the consensus choice as the best fifth-generation Pok\u00e9mon TCG main expansion set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As is the case with most sets centering a villainous team and their \u2018mons, many Pok\u00e9mon in the set are owned by members of Unova\u2019s Team Plasma. On those cards, Team Plasma\u2019s logo can be seen. Among all of the Team Plasma-owned Pok\u00e9mon in Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8], by far the most sought-after and valuable is the Super Rare (SR) version of the Deoxys ex card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also several non-Plasma related cards which to this day are also among Gen 5\u2019s rarest and most sought-after cards. These include Ultra Rare (UR) versions of Garchomp, Garbodor, Empoleon, and Ultra Ball as well as a Professor Juniper card of SR rarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, that Garbodor card was one of the greatest cards of all time from a gameplay perspective. A reprint of a card from Dragon Blast [BW5], its Ability of Garbotoxin nullified all other Abilities in play when Garbodor had a Pok\u00e9mon Tool card attached, almost always swinging the balance of the game in the player\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 6: Emerald Break [XY6] (2015) (English Name: Roaring Skies)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMid-Gen 6, spanning from the end of 2014 through most of 2015, was the golden age of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. The folks at Creatures Inc. were in their bags, churning out three of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-adored sets of all time within a nine-month span: Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5], Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8], and the crown jewel: Emerald Break [XY6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon its release, Emerald Break [XY6] truly pushed the boundaries of what \u201ca great Pok\u00e9mon TCG set\u201d was thought to be. Highlighted by the iconic Shaymin ex card in its SR rarity version, other standouts included the VS Seeker card as well as UR rarity forms of Winona, Wally, and Mega Rayquaza ex\u2014all cards which could easily have been the headliner of a great many other sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of its immense rarity and value, Shaymin ex was a card that ran rampant through the meta. The Mythical Pok\u00e9mon was the ultimate draw engine\u2014its Ability of Set Up allowed the player to draw cards until the player had six in hand after being placed on the Bench from the hand. As if that weren\u2019t enough, Shaymin ex\u2019s Sky Return attack brought it and all cards attached to it back to the player\u2019s hand, allowing the cycle to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, it\u2019s no surprise that Emerald Break [XY6] is almost unanimously regarded as the single best expansion set of the 2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 7: Forbidden Light [SM6] (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile over the years there have been many Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets based on the villainous team of its generation, the two-part set containing Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8] is generally regarded as the pick of the lot. And not only that\u2014it\u2019s the consensus choice as the best fifth-generation Pok\u00e9mon TCG main expansion set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As is the case with most sets centering a villainous team and their \u2018mons, many Pok\u00e9mon in the set are owned by members of Unova\u2019s Team Plasma. On those cards, Team Plasma\u2019s logo can be seen. Among all of the Team Plasma-owned Pok\u00e9mon in Spiral Force and Thunder Knuckle [BW8], by far the most sought-after and valuable is the Super Rare (SR) version of the Deoxys ex card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also several non-Plasma related cards which to this day are also among Gen 5\u2019s rarest and most sought-after cards. These include Ultra Rare (UR) versions of Garchomp, Garbodor, Empoleon, and Ultra Ball as well as a Professor Juniper card of SR rarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, that Garbodor card was one of the greatest cards of all time from a gameplay perspective. A reprint of a card from Dragon Blast [BW5], its Ability of Garbotoxin nullified all other Abilities in play when Garbodor had a Pok\u00e9mon Tool card attached, almost always swinging the balance of the game in the player\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 6: Emerald Break [XY6] (2015) (English Name: Roaring Skies)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMid-Gen 6, spanning from the end of 2014 through most of 2015, was the golden age of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. The folks at Creatures Inc. were in their bags, churning out three of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-adored sets of all time within a nine-month span: Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5], Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8], and the crown jewel: Emerald Break [XY6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon its release, Emerald Break [XY6] truly pushed the boundaries of what \u201ca great Pok\u00e9mon TCG set\u201d was thought to be. Highlighted by the iconic Shaymin ex card in its SR rarity version, other standouts included the VS Seeker card as well as UR rarity forms of Winona, Wally, and Mega Rayquaza ex\u2014all cards which could easily have been the headliner of a great many other sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of its immense rarity and value, Shaymin ex was a card that ran rampant through the meta. The Mythical Pok\u00e9mon was the ultimate draw engine\u2014its Ability of Set Up allowed the player to draw cards until the player had six in hand after being placed on the Bench from the hand. As if that weren\u2019t enough, Shaymin ex\u2019s Sky Return attack brought it and all cards attached to it back to the player\u2019s hand, allowing the cycle to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, it\u2019s no surprise that Emerald Break [XY6] is almost unanimously regarded as the single best expansion set of the 2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 7: Forbidden Light [SM6] (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMid-Gen 6, spanning from the end of 2014 through most of 2015, was the golden age of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. The folks at Creatures Inc. were in their bags, churning out three of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-adored sets of all time within a nine-month span: Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5], Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8], and the crown jewel: Emerald Break [XY6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon its release, Emerald Break [XY6] truly pushed the boundaries of what \u201ca great Pok\u00e9mon TCG set\u201d was thought to be. Highlighted by the iconic Shaymin ex card in its SR rarity version, other standouts included the VS Seeker card as well as UR rarity forms of Winona, Wally, and Mega Rayquaza ex\u2014all cards which could easily have been the headliner of a great many other sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of its immense rarity and value, Shaymin ex was a card that ran rampant through the meta. The Mythical Pok\u00e9mon was the ultimate draw engine\u2014its Ability of Set Up allowed the player to draw cards until the player had six in hand after being placed on the Bench from the hand. As if that weren\u2019t enough, Shaymin ex\u2019s Sky Return attack brought it and all cards attached to it back to the player\u2019s hand, allowing the cycle to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All things considered, it\u2019s no surprise that Emerald Break [XY6] is almost unanimously regarded as the single best expansion set of the 2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 7: Forbidden Light [SM6] (2018)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nForbidden Light [SM6] was one of the few sets to feature some of the Ultra Beasts\u2014a group of 11 mega-powerful Pok\u00e9mon that originated from Ultra Space and arrived in the Alola region via Ultra Wormholes. However, none of the Ultra Beasts found themselves on any of the set\u2019s standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s because Forbidden Light [SM6] contained three Prism Star cards and a remarkable 15 Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards\u2014including five Pok\u00e9mon-GX cards with the HR rarity. The five cards in question were the Hyper Rare (HR) versions of Greninja GX, Yveltal GX, Xerneas GX, Ultra Necrozma GX, and Zygarde GX that all featured rainbow-colored illustrations of those Pok\u00e9mon. These were far and away the set\u2019s biggest pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d was at work in this set too\u2014most notably with the SR versions of the Bonnie and Diantha cards. Mysterious Treasure deserves a mention as well. This card not only appealed to collectors via its UR form; it was also highly useful in gameplay, particularly among players who ran primarily Psychic-type or Dragon-type decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 8: Sword [S1W] \/ Shield [S1H] (2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nGen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo say that the eighth generation of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG arrived with a bang would be an understatement. One of just two generations for which our pick is the very first set of the era, the simultaneously-released Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon V and Pok\u00e9mon VMAX\u2014some of which are today still among its generation\u2019s most coveted cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By a considerable margin, the card that\u2019s the single biggest get in Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] is the Zacian V card from [S1W]. This card\u2019s UR version is not only notable for its striking illustration, extremely high rarity, and status as one of the first-ever Pok\u00e9mon V cards; Zacian V was also a metagame powerhouse and the cornerstone of many leading decks of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the other highlights from Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] include the HR version of Marnie as well as the UR versions of Quick Ball, Zamazenta, and Air Balloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we can\u2019t conclude this section without mentioning Pok\u00e9mon VMAX cards which depicted Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed versions of Pok\u00e9mon. Sword [S1W] and Shield [S1H] introduced Pok\u00e9mon VMAX to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG. Of these first-ever Pok\u00e9mon VMAX, the most notable were Lapras VMAX from Sword [S1W] and Snorlax VMAX from Shield [S1H]\u2014both of which featured rainbow-colored Full Art illustrations in their UR forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen 9: Ancient Roar [SV4K] \/ Future Flash [SV4M] (2023) (English Name: Paradox Rift)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nMore SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong>
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the ninth generation is still ongoing as of this article, the leading main expansion set thus far is the dual set of Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M]<\/a>. Spotlighting Ancient and Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon respectively, many of the standout cards from Ancient Roar [SV4K] and Future Flash [SV4M] were indeed those featuring Paradox \u2018mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roaring Moon ex from Ancient Roar [SV4K] leads the pack largely thanks to a combination of its striking Full Art illustration, rarity of UR, and viability in gameplay. The Special Art Rare (SAR) version of Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality comes a close second among Ancient Roar [SV4K] cards\u2014after all, Full Art illustrations of female characters are always major hits. Professor Sada\u2019s Vitality is also a key card in many decks built around Ancient Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Future Paradox Pok\u00e9mon do get a moment in the limelight too, with the SAR version of Iron Hands ex and the UR version of Iron Valiant ex, both from Future Flash [SV4M], among the most noteworthy attractions themselves. Finally, another Future Flash [SV4M] card which is a seriously impressive pickup is Altaria ex in its SAR form. Despite not being particularly powerful or featuring a stereotypical fan-favorite Pok\u00e9mon, that card\u2019s high rarity is more than enough to give it a major reputation and value boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that wraps up our list of picks for each Pok\u00e9mon TCG generation’s best expansion set. There’s no doubt that in the years and decades to come, future generations will have their own sets that go on to become iconic and forever enshrined in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase’s pantheon. Whatever they may be, they’ll undoubtedly redefine the standards as far as Pok\u00e9mon TCG expansion sets are concerned\u2014just as the ones here already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a> and @snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App<\/a> too and don\u2019t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, if you would like to try a pair out, visit our stores<\/a> in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n More SNKRDUNK Features:<\/strong> Ever since bursting onto the scene with all the impact of the most powerful Z-Move way back in 1996, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG has to this day retained its status as the world\u2019s leading TCG franchise. The flagship creation of Creatures Inc., almost every Pok\u00e9mon expansion set to date has been greeted with tremendous fanfare; it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":271511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271398"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271761,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271398\/revisions\/271761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
The Story of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]: How An Epic Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set Came to Be<\/a>
[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Rising Rampage<\/a>
Not \u201cJust Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set\u201d: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters<\/a>
Better Than Heavy-Duty Boots: Top 8 Pok\u00e9mon Collaborations Since 2016<\/a>
[SNKRDUNK Selects] Best TCG Products To Buy Now (April 2024)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"