{"id":303052,"date":"2024-08-08T18:01:32","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T10:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=303052"},"modified":"2024-08-08T18:07:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T10:07:45","slug":"best-poison-pokemon-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/2024\/08\/08\/best-poison-pokemon-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"With the Best Poison-Type Pok\u00e9mon TCG Cards, “Toxicity” Is a Good Thing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For many years, Poison Pok\u00e9mon had been the punchline of the franchise\u2014not only in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG but in the video games, anime, and manga as well. Constantly derided as the weakest of all 17 (at the time) types due to their relative lack of advantageous matchups, the Poison type was especially regarded as a liability in the Pok\u00e9mon video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The producers of the Pok\u00e9mon anime even alluded to the general incompetence of the Poison type during Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s early days. After all, the ever-fumbling Team Rocket operatives Jessie and James were made Poison-type specialists for a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Poison type\u2019s fortunes turned when Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s sixth generation introduced the Fairy type. Poison had a favorable matchup against Fairy, thus lifting it off the basement and making it somewhat viable after a decade and a half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Pok\u00e9mon TCG, the Poison type has a unique status as the only type to use three different Energy cards over the TCG\u2019s history. Poison-type Pok\u00e9mon used Grass Energy cards from Gen 1 to 3, Psychic Energy cards from Gen 4 to 7, and have used Dark Energy cards since Gen 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve given a quick backstory about the Poison type, let\u2019s look at some of the best Poison-type Pok\u00e9mon TCG cards of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crobat (Mysterious Mountains 090\/088) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$2,025)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While some might not classify the Crobat depicted on this card as a Poison-type Pok\u00e9mon due to its Pok\u00e9-Body of Crystal Type, the base Pok\u00e9mon which is depicted is indeed a Poison-type; as such, it will be included on this list. Although Crobat might not be the most popular Pok\u00e9mon\u2014especially considering the fact that it\u2019s the final form of Zubat, one of the most divisive Pok\u00e9mon ever\u2014there are clear reasons why this is an epic card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First off, almost every card from second-generation dual sets Mysterious Mountains and Split Earth<\/a> carries an impressive price tag on account of the fact that the two sets were never reprinted. In addition, Crobat\u2014like all the other Crystal Type cards\u2014was one of the rarest cards of the entire dual set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of all that, going back to the point about Crobat\u2019s type, despite being a Poison\/Flying-type Pok\u00e9mon, Crobat\u2019s Crystal Type Pok\u00e9-Body ensures that it presents as a Normal-type card\u2014and this gimmick makes the card unique because no other Crobat card is a Normal-type. Finally, the Crystal Pok\u00e9mon mechanic was discontinued at the end of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG\u2019s second generation, making this card a \u201ctime capsule\u201d of sorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nidoking (Wind from the Sea 088\/087) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$2,200)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the topic of Crystal Pok\u00e9mon, Nidoking from Wind from the Sea is another Poison-type Pok\u00e9mon card in this category. Another Gen 2 card, Nidoking also has the Crystal Type Pok\u00e9-Body. Nidoking and the aforementioned Crobat card are two of just nine Crystal Pok\u00e9mon cards to ever have been released; this is the primary reason why this card\u2019s value is as high as it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as is the case with Crobat, Nidoking\u2019s Crystal form as shown on this card is presented as a Normal-type card that\u2019s able to modify its type according to which Energy card is attached to it. Once again, it\u2019s the only Nidoking card to show up as a Normal-type, making the card stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wind from the Sea was also the set in which Crystal Pok\u00e9mon were introduced to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG, making this Nidoking card one of the three inaugural Crystal Pok\u00e9mon. This status has further elevated the card\u2019s value and made it one of the second generation\u2019s most iconic and desired cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nidoqueen (Legendary Collection 32\/110) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$472)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nidoking\u2019s female counterpart shows up with an impressive card in its own right. A card from the English-exclusive second-generation set Legendary Collection, this Nidoqueen card is actually a reprint of a card first released in Gen 1\u2019s Pok\u00e9mon Jungle set. There are several reasons why the Gen 2 version is generally regarded as the bigger pull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the Legendary Collection was only ever released in English. For that reason, there are fewer copies of this card to go around when compared to those released in both English and Japanese. There\u2019s also the fact that this card, like all others in the Legendary Collection, came in reverse holofoil\u2014this version was substantially rarer and thus more valuable than the ordinary version of the card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the cards from the Legendary Collection were among the first cards to ever cater to the \u201cnostalgia factor\u201d. It was the first-ever set to reprint sets from a prior generation. That\u2019s right\u2014more than two decades before Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a], Creatures Inc. had already released a set with a similar concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Venusaur (Expansion Pack) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$1,199)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now we\u2019ll go back to the actual first generation. As the final form of one of the three original Pok\u00e9mon starters, Venusaur is unquestionably one of the best-known \u2018mons there is. It\u2019s therefore only to be expected that its very first card ever is quite the pull. Though overshadowed to an extent by the Expansion Pack\u2019s original Charizard card, this Venusaur card deserves to be highlighted in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every card from Expansion Pack has a permanent place in the history of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG simply because it was the set that started it all. How much more so, then, this would apply if the Pok\u00e9mon on the card in question were the same Pok\u00e9mon that countless people all over the world started their journey into the Pok\u00e9mon universe with. That, above all, is the factor that draws people to this card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Venusaur isn\u2019t quite as \u201cglamorous\u201d as its Gen 1 starter counterparts Charizard and Blastoise, this card nevertheless benefited from those two Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s reputations to become one of Expansion Pack\u2019s biggest hits\u2014even if it had to be the \u201cthird wheel\u201d of the starter trio to be that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gengar (Base Expansion Pack 117\/128) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$1,382)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cards from Gen 2 dominate this list\u2014and the Gengar card from Base Expansion Pack (not to be confused with Gen 1\u2019s Expansion Pack where the previously-mentioned Venusaur card was from) is another standout Poison-type get from the second generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Gengar is indeed one of the most popular Pok\u00e9mon, that isn\u2019t the sole reason why this card is as coveted as it is. A lot of it has to do with its set; Base Expansion Pack was a set that at the time of its release changed the Pok\u00e9mon TCG in many ways. For example, Base Expansion Pack introduced Pok\u00e9-Powers and Pok\u00e9-Bodies\u2014the predecessors to the Abilities of today. The set also featured all-new card designs and layouts as well as a revamped design for all holofoil cards\u2014these were all elements present on this Gengar card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, cards from the Base Expansion Pack were the first to ever be compatible with the Nintendo e-Reader. Introduced at the end of Gen 2, it supported Pok\u00e9mon TCG cards up until partway through the third generation. For this reason, this card\u2019s value is partially propped up by its status as a \u201ctime capsule\u201d of sorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Garbodor (Thunder Knuckle [BW8] 056\/051) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$1,272)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we come to the newest of our six cards here\u2014it\u2019s from the fifth generation. A reprint of an earlier Gen 5 card from Dragon Blast [BW5], Garbodor was one of just three Ultra Rare (UR) cards in the set. The high value of this card was originally driven by the immense demand from both players and collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to its exceptional rarity, Garbodor was also one of the single most metagame-defining cards for the entirety of its legality in tournament play. This was due to its Ability of Garbotoxin. That Ability negated the effects of all other Abilities of any other Pok\u00e9mon in play as long as Garbodor had a Pok\u00e9mon Tool attached to it, ruining many an opponent\u2019s strategy and taking decks built around Garbodor to countless tournament victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the Thunder Knuckle [BW8] UR reprint of this card depicts Garbodor in its Shiny form. Any card showcasing the Shiny form of a Pok\u00e9mon is almost certain to yield an elevated level of demand owing to the prestige around them that stems from their extreme rarity in the Pok\u00e9mon video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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

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Don\u2019t Fall for Fakes\u2014Use These Methods to Determine If a Pok\u00e9mon TCG Card Is for Real<\/a>
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[TCG Throwback] Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Stardust Overdrive<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For many years, Poison Pok\u00e9mon had been the punchline of the franchise\u2014not only in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG but in the video games, anime, and manga as well. Constantly derided as the weakest of all 17 (at the time) types due to their relative lack of advantageous matchups, the Poison type was especially regarded as a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":303057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,19,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-303052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-releases","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303052"}],"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=303052"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":303292,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303052\/revisions\/303292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/303057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}