{"id":465500,"date":"2025-06-04T17:39:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=465500"},"modified":"2025-06-04T21:53:33","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T13:53:33","slug":"the-fandoms-faves-the-top-10-most-popular-pokemon-and-their-standout-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/2025\/06\/04\/the-fandoms-faves-the-top-10-most-popular-pokemon-and-their-standout-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fandom’s Faves: The Top 10 Most Popular Pok\u00e9mon and Their Standout Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The most recent poll held to determine the popularity of all 1,025 Pok\u00e9mon among the Pok\u00e9mon fandom was held in December 2023 and hosted on Japanese video game website GameWith<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will list the standout card of each of the Pok\u00e9mon which ranked within the top 10. We\u2019ll talk about why the fandom loves them as well as why the card in question makes for an impressive pickup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, before we proceed to the top 10, let\u2019s first list a few notable Pok\u00e9mon which many of you will be surprised to find out polled much lower than you might have expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mewtwo (Not in top 100)
Rayquaza (T-98th)
Mew (96th)
Vaporeon (77th)
Snorlax (71st)
Pikachu (38th)
Eevee (31st)
Greninja (29th)
Charizard (23rd)
Umbreon (12th)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWHAT?!\u201d some of you might be thinking upon seeing this list. \u201cHow is that even possible?\u201d Well, let us explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main reason why many stereotypical TCG favorites didn\u2019t rank as highly as many Pok\u00e9mon TCG enthusiasts might expect was because this poll was for fans across the entire spectrum of the Pok\u00e9mon fandom\u2014not just those who are mainly into the TCG, but also the video games, manga, and anime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality of the TCG segment of the Pok\u00e9mon fandom is that compared to the video game, manga, or anime segments, the Pok\u00e9mon TCG fanbase is generally far less diverse\u2014it\u2019s dominated by straight Millennial men to a degree that none of the others are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, the Pok\u00e9mon that end up regarded as the most popular to the fanbase often wildly differ from those which the Pok\u00e9mon TCG community in particular love the most; notably, \u201cGenwunners\u201d\u2014people who love Gen 1 far more than any other and often even look down on later generations\u2014are much more common among TCG fans than in other realms of the Pok\u00e9mon fandom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that out of the way, let\u2019s look at the Pok\u00e9mon which the fandom as a whole picked as well as their respective standout cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10) Gardevoir (Dark Rush [BW4] 074\/069) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$898)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Gardevoir UR :1ED [BW4 074\/069](Expansion Pack “Dark Rush”)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This Psychic\/Fairy-type is a highly popular and controversial Pok\u00e9mon\u2014and it\u2019s indeed the controversy which has partially fueled its popularity. We\u2019re not going into too much detail on this matter\u2014you\u2019ve probably already figured out why it\u2019s so popular. We\u2019ll leave it at that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of all the Gardevoir cards released to date, the pick of the bunch is the Ultra Rare (UR) card from Gen 5 set Dark Rush. This card depicts Gardevoir\u2019s Shiny form in front of an aurora-like background; the holofoil that covers the card gives it a mystical, cosmic vibe that befits Gardevoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The illustration itself almost makes it seem as though Gardevoir is levitating via its psychic powers (even though canonically it can\u2019t actually do so). Finally, the lower half of the card has the Psychic Energy symbol on it; no other Gardevoir card has this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


9) Gengar (Mysterious Mountains 044\/088) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$2,454)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Gengar :1ED [e5 044\/088](Expansion Pack Vol.5 “Mysterious Mountains”)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Day 1, Gengar has been among the most popular Pok\u00e9mon of them all. This Ghost\/Poison-type Pok\u00e9mon known for its mischievous nature has been featured not only on some of the most coveted Pok\u00e9mon TCG cards ever\u2014but has also made major appearances in the Pok\u00e9mon anime, on Pok\u00e9mon merchandise, and even in the iconic opening trailer of the original Pok\u00e9mon Red and Blue video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The standout Gengar card is the one from Mysterious Mountains. Part of its appeal lies in the fact that it\u2019s from this set as it was a set which was never reprinted after its original print run, making the task of obtaining even one copy of this card much more difficult than it would be for just about any other card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This card’s holofoil adds visual spectacle to the dark background of the illustration, making it seem as though Gengar is standing in front of a night sky filled with stars. The card also contains map data for the Construction: Action app on the now-defunct e-Reader; as such, those who owned an e-Reader now had an additional reason to seek this card. It also adds appeal to collectors today as it thus provides a glimpse into a bygone era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


8) Paldean Clodsire ex (Shiny Treasure ex [SV4a] 334\/190) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$25)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Paldea Clodsire ex SSR [SV4a 332\/190](High Class Pack “Shiny Treasure ex”)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First off, for those who are wondering \u201cwhy is it called \u2018Paldean\u2019 Clodsire when Clodsire doesn\u2019t have any regional variants?\u201d there\u2019s a simple answer: because it evolves from Paldean Wooper. Naming it \u201cPaldean\u201d Clodsire avoids ambiguity even though no one really refers to it as such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to understand why the fandom so readily took to Clodsire\u2014more than almost any other Pok\u00e9mon, it epitomizes \u201cif not friend, why friend-shaped?\u201d The most impressive of this Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s cards came in Gen 9 set Shiny Treasure ex [SV4a], featuring a Shiny Clodsire in front of a background designed to resemble the visual effect which appears in the video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clodsire\u2019s trademark blank expression can clearly be seen in this card\u2019s illustration\u2014part of what has endeared it to so many Pok\u00e9mon fans. The fact that the card depicts the Spiny Fish Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s Shiny form further jacks up its value because of the prestige and rarity associated with Shiny Pok\u00e9mon within the Pok\u00e9mon canon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


7) Mimikyu (SM-P Promotional Cards 289\/SM-P) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$5,876)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Mimikyu Munch Exhibition: PROMO[SM-P 289](SM-P Promotional cards)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mimikyu was created as an in-universe nod to the status of Pikachu as the face of the Pok\u00e9mon franchise; the idea was that there was a Pok\u00e9mon which desired so badly to be as popular as Pikachu so much so that it disguised itself so as to resemble one. As things turned out, this story actually endeared it to real-life fans; in every poll since its introduction in Gen 7, Mimikyu has consistently ranked well ahead of Pikachu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of five cards from the Munch Collection, this Mimikyu card was only available as part of the Pikachu\/Eevee Scream Mini Card File which could be purchased either from the Munch: A Retrospective exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum or from the exhibition and the Pok\u00e9mon Center Online between 27 October 2018 and 20 January 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All five cards from the Munch Collection, including this Mimikyu card, have linked illustrations. For example, on this Mimikyu card, the silhouette of the Pikachu from the corresponding card in the collection can be seen in the background. The limited-time nature and unique art style of this card as well as the general status of the Munch Collection have made this card one of its era\u2019s greatest chase cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


6) Lucario (Melee! Pok\u00e9mon Scramble 012\/016) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$702)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Lucario<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lucario is best-known among the Pok\u00e9mon fandom for its major role in Pok\u00e9mon anime movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, in which it was the first-ever Gen 4 Pok\u00e9mon introduced in the anime. Due to its role in the movie, many fans mistakenly believed it to be a Legendary Pok\u00e9mon at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Melee! Pok\u00e9mon Scramble cards were released in 2009 in conjunction with the launch of WiiWare video game Pok\u00e9mon Rumble. As such, all illustrations were taken directly from the video game\u2014and this has given this Lucario card as well as all the other Melee! Pok\u00e9mon Scramble cards a special charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the card\u2019s illustration, another factor linking this card to Pok\u00e9mon Rumble is the presence of the video game\u2019s logo on the card\u2019s right side. Although for many, Gen 4 represented something of a low point of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG, this quirky Lucario card\u2014just like its Pok\u00e9mon Rumble peers\u2014was proof that the era wasn\u2019t completely bereft of great pulls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


5) Tinkaton ex (Clay Burst [SV2D] 093\/071) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$55)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Tinkaton ex SAR[SV2D 093\/071](Expansion Pack “Clay burst”)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are several reasons as to why Fairy\/Steel-type Tinkaton is as popular as it is\u2014from its utility in the video games to the lore behind it to its concept and design; however, above all there\u2019s one word that sums it up: \u201cBONK\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Special Art Rare (SAR) card from Clay Burst [SV2D] depicts Tinkaton ex raising its hammer, ready to deal a massive blow with either its Big Hammer or Pulverizing Press attack. The card\u2019s holofoil adds to the visual impact by making it seem as though light is streaming down through the trees of the forest and reflecting off the crystals on the forest floor where Tinkaton ex is standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The almost unhinged look on Tinkaton ex\u2019s face encapsulates why so many fans have taken to the Pok\u00e9mon: a tiny sprite wielding an enormous hammer, excited to unleash massive destruction with every hit. This card is also the conclusion of a narrative which started in the illustrations of the Full Art versions of its pre-evolutions Tinkatink and Tinkatuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


4) Sylveon ex (Terastal Festival ex [SV8a] 212\/187)<\/strong> (PSA 10 Price: ~US$167)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Sylveon ex SAR [SV8a 212\/187](High Class Pack “Terastal Festival ex”)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While Umbreon might be far and away the most popular Eeveelution among the TCG community, the Pok\u00e9mon fandom as a whole prefers Sylveon. For one thing, it\u2019s a Fairy-type\u2014one of the most popular types; it\u2019s also the only one introduced without a counterpart Eeveelution. Sylveon has also become something of an \u201cemblem\u201d for LGBTQ+ Pok\u00e9mon fans, especially transgender fans, due to its color scheme which resembles the trans flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terastal Festival ex [SV8a] is one of the most popular Pok\u00e9mon TCG sets of all time, and its Sylveon ex card in its SAR form is truly an epic addition to any collection. The Full Art illustration depicts the Intertwining Pok\u00e9mon after it has Terastallized into the Stellar type with the card\u2019s background taking on a crystalline aesthetic to match it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of the chase cards of arguably the most-hyped set in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history, this card was always set to be a truly epic pickup. The Eeveelutions and the concept behind them resonate with just about every Pok\u00e9mon fan\u2014so when the most popular one of them all appears on a card like this and is one of the standouts of a set like Terastal Festival ex [SV8a], it’s certain to spark an incredible amount of fan demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


3) Chandelure (Hail Blizzard [BW3] 057\/052)<\/strong> (PSA 10 Price: ~US$498)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Chandelure UR :1ED [BW3 057\/052](Expansion Pack “Hail Blizzard”)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cChandelure? But\u2026 how?!\u201d some of you might be thinking. In actuality, Chandelure has always been a \u201ccult favorite\u201d ever since it debuted back in Gen 5; it\u2019s long been one of the biggest \u201cunder-the-radar fan favorites\u201d, especially in Japan where it ranks as the most popular Gen 5 \u2018mon by a wide margin. However, this popularity is primarily concentrated among the video game crowd as it tends to have more Gen Z fans who would’ve grown up with the fourth through sixth generations than the TCG crowd does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The standout among all Chandelure cards is the UR card from Gen 5 set Hail Blizzard [BW3] which features the Ghost\/Fire-type Pok\u00e9mon in its Shiny form. Chandelure\u2019s Shiny form is one of the fandom\u2019s most beloved as the Luring Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s flames and eyes turn a sinister red while its body turns black and white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the card\u2019s rarity and its depiction of a Shiny Chandelure, the card\u2019s appeal also has to do with its illustration. Chandelure is shown in an abandoned building, its eerie flames illuminating the surrounding area in a way that conveys a sense of foreboding befitting of the in-universe lore behind Chandelure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


2) Fuecoco (Gem Pack Vol. 1 [CBB1C] 0309\/09) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$127)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Fuecoco AR [CBB1C 03 09\/09] [CN] (Pokemon Card Gem Pack Flash Card)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fuecoco is by far the most popular of all three Gen 9 starters. The Fire-type Pok\u00e9mon can be summed up as quite simply \u201cno thoughts, head empty\u201d\u2014and this has endeared it to many fans. In addition, Fuecoco plays a major role in the Pok\u00e9mon Horizons anime series where it\u2019s Roy\u2019s starter Pok\u00e9mon. As an added bonus, it fulfilled the wish of many fans by not evolving into a bipedal Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fuecoco card from the Simplified Chinese-exclusive Gem Pack Vol. 1 is the top pick among all Fuecoco cards. It depicts a scene from Pok\u00e9mon Horizons, showing Roy on the Brave Olivine with his Fuecoco on his lap and his Tera Orb on his left index finger. It\u2019s a card which will appeal mainly to fans of Pok\u00e9mon Horizons\u2014but also to many collectors.

The card\u2019s holofoil adds visual realism by making it appear as those sunlight is streaming down onto the deck of the Brave Olivine. As a final touch, the Pok\u00e9mon Horizons logo is in the bottom-right corner of the card to highlight its status as a card derived from the anime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n



1) Meowscarada ex (Triplet Beat [SV1a] 101\/073)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>
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Meowscarada ex SAR[SV1a 096\/073](Scarlet & Violet Enhanced Expansion Pack “Triplet Beat”)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Topping the chart and securing the honor of \u201cthe most popular Pok\u00e9mon among the fandom\u201d is Meowscarada. Once again, much of its appeal has to do with Pok\u00e9mon Horizons as it\u2019s the final form of Sprigatitio, Liko\u2019s starter Pok\u00e9mon. There was also controversy associated with Meowscarada as when it was first revealed, many fans decried the fact that it was bipedal while others liked that fact\u2014and this controversy led to increased interest in the Pok\u00e9mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest get among all Meowscarada cards is the SAR Meowscarada ex card from Triplet Beat [SV1a]. The card\u2019s Full Art illustration depicts the Grass\/Dark-type Pok\u00e9mon standing on a tree branch, its leaf cape blowing in the breeze. For further visual effect, the card\u2019s holofoil makes it appear as though sunlight is streaming through the treetops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As already mentioned, part of this card\u2019s appeal has to do with the fact that Meowscarada is one of the most featured Pok\u00e9mon in Pok\u00e9mon Horizons\u2014especially after Liko\u2019s Floragato evolved into Meowscarada in episode 88. Since the buzz over the “will it\/won’t it” nature of Meowscarada being bipedal prior to its reveal also added to the Pok\u00e9mon’s profile, the first Full Art card depicting Meowscarada standing upright was always likely to draw much attention as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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