Favourite Trading Card Designs?

[Moonface]

So when I was in class yesterday I learned that The Pokémon Company holds a yearly contest for people to design the illustration for a future Pokémon card, so long as it's for one of the Pokémon that are listed for that particular contest. I also learned that the official Pokémon website has an entire database of pretty much every card ever made, and I found it cool to get to see so many card designs I had never seen before and probably never would have seen either: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/pokemon-cards/

Rather than ask folks what their favourite designs from that website are though, I figured it would be better to just expand this thread to cover all cards, since I know some of you here have experience/knowledge of other card games.


I've never personally had (or at least can't recall) a favourite card design from when I collected Pokémon cards, but I did like this Mewtwo one I came across while making this thread and looking up random Pokémon: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/p...smp/SM191/
I just love how he's just so done with Mew's shit in this.

Also I can't link to the singular card because it's a set, but I always liked cards that do a big design across multiple, like the Mewtwo one that comes as a set of four on this page: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/p...ame=mewtwo
The only thing that sucks is they don't seem to ever do that design on one singular piece, so although it looks cool they're harder to appreciate the designs for.

[Mr EliteL]

Makes me wonder how someone would've had to collect that set of four Mewtwo, did it come guaranteed with each other in a pack or like they do with some nowadays where there's a featured card so set in this case, or had to hunt for them individually? Darn the classic Mewtwo card looks so meh, both design and it's abilities.

Anyway one of my favourites that isn't even on the card database was Dark Charmeleon, and just because I had it, Dark Charizard too.

Can't think of anymore right now, just the EX cards are a bit much but I suppose they aren't so bad really.

[Moonface]

Makes me wonder how someone would've had to collect that set of four Mewtwo, did it come guaranteed with each other in a pack or like they do with some nowadays where there's a featured card so set in this case, or had to hunt for them individually? Darn the classic Mewtwo card looks so meh, both design and it's abilities.

I'd imagine it was probably sold in one of those box sets where they showcase some cards on the front through the plastic window so you're always guaranteed the four. Not sure if this is the actual set but this is what I'm referring to: https://www.amazon.com/Pokemon-TCG-Mewtw...B01M1VMURA

Anyway one of my favourites that isn't even on the card database was Dark Charmeleon, and just because I had it, Dark Charizard too.

Are those official cards? Seems odd for them to not be in the database, but then it's also odd if they are official for Pokemon to get given a variant that hasn't existed in the games.

[shadow]

Other card designs are different Dark Magician Girl variants from YuGiOh, the god cars. My personal favorite being the Winged Dargon of Ra. There's also Magic the Gathering if you're into that, my brother is. I tend to think the cards are overly priced, thus I stay out.

There are also video games with cards in mind, one such I'm playing with is Moonstone Isle.
https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/upload...jpg?w=1200
^This is just the kind of cards you get in your hand, depending on the monster.

[queenzelda]

My favorite Dark Magician Girl design so far. My favorite god card from YGO is Slifer the Sky Dragon. 💖

[Mr EliteL]

Anyway one of my favourites that isn't even on the card database was Dark Charmeleon, and just because I had it, Dark Charizard too.

Are those official cards? Seems odd for them to not be in the database, but then it's also odd if they are official for Pokemon to get given a variant that hasn't existed in the games.

I thought they were official, can't remember where I bought them but I assume they were with other Pokémon card packs, I got quite a few "R"/Team Rocket versions of Pokémon but perhaps they were discontinued or something thus no longer featured on the database? Ah, mentioned here on Bulbapedia as a set that released after the Mystery of the Fossils set so seems to be official.

[Moonface]

I... I must be missing something here.
I thought this person was joking but the comments are all saying they like the card too but this just looks so darn messy to me. Anyone else here agree with me or no?

[ShiraNoMai]

When the UV/Foiling is shining on it, it doesn't look as visually assaulting as the raw art here, but yeah... whew.

[Moonface]

Yeah, when it's printed to help differentiate the background from the character art it looks fine. Otherwise it absolutely needs the background darkened or slightly blurred when just shown as the raw design like that to stop it looking so bad.