Summary
Nothing beats the thrill of pulling a new rare card inPokemon TCG Pocket. Since the real rarities (Crown Rarities and Immersive cards) are frustratingly unlikely to appear in casual booster packs, players naturally turn their attention to the next rarest group:the full art variants. The Genetic Apex expansion includes 60 full-art cards, which also feature Gold (Crown), Immersive, and rainbow-bordered cards. The new mini-set, Mythical Island, has expanded this list with additional art variants, but we’ll save those for another list.
The Ranking Criteria
The following list ranks five of the most eye-catching full art variants inPokemon TCG Pocket, based solely on their art style. This ranking is not related to these Pokemon’s current standing on competitive tier lists but focuses purely on the beauty of the artwork.
Please note that this list includes Special Illustrations fromthe Genetic Apex expansion, which is why the Mythical Island full-art cards are not included.
5Machamp ex A1 #278 (Rainbow-bordered)
Illustrator: Akira Egawa
The rainbow-bordered Machamp ex card stands out with its bold design. Fluorescent colors and messy lines give this variant a modernistic look, a departure from the more traditional styles seen in classicPokemon TCGcards. It’s likely inspired by Machamp VMAX’s design by N-DESIGN Inc., which was released in the Astral Radiance expansion.
Among allMachamp exvariants in the real-lifePokemon TCG, N-DESIGN’s illustration is the only one with such a bold color approach. Most other cards feature Machamp with its usual color palette, making this full art feel more unique.
4Snorlax A1 #250
Illustrator: HYOGONOSUKE
Snorlax leaves little room for creativity, as it often sticks to its signature pose of sleeping and snorting in most illustrations. However, the full art variant ofSnorlax inPokemon TCG Pocketwent viral shortly after the game’s release for one cute reason: Fans realized this particular card shows a top-down view of a scene already depicted in three different illustrations of Oddish, Bellsprout, and Venonat.
It’s unclear which originalPokemon TCGillustration inspired this Snorlax full art, but there are two possible sources: 0313’s design from the Lost Origin expansion and Gossan’s illustration from the Scarlet & Violet Promo Cards expansion. Both cards show Snorlax sleeping near a bed of water, similar to the full art inPocket, which depicts Snorlax snorting on a dock.
3Squirtle A1 #232
Illustrator: Taira Akitsu
The gorgeous illustration of Squirtle’s full art card is simply too adorable to ignore. This one-star card offers a glimpse into the lovely creature’s daily life, showing it doing its favorite activity: Swimming. What makes this variant special is that it appears to depict the same scenery fans saw in Sowsow’s Squirtle illustration from the Pokemon TCG: Pokemon GO expansion. The river and floral background seem identical, though the two cards have different art styles, making their connection hard to confirm.
Taira Akitsu, the illustrator for Squirtle A1 #232, has become a popular artist in thePokemoncommunity over the past few years. They have illustrated over 50 cards for the physical TCG and have three designs inPokemon Pocket, including the full-art Squirtle, full-art, Brock (A1 #224), and full-art Rapidash, one ofthe best Fire-Type cards inPocket.
2Porygon A1 #249
Illustrator: Akira Komayama
Fans of the physicalPokemon TCGknow that Porygon illustrations span a wide range of art styles. However, the full-art variant of this Pokemon inPockettruly stands out with its unique 2D style and color palette. This design is likely inspired by Porygon’s Paradox Rift illustration by Taiga Kayama, which similarly emphasizes turning Porygon into a 2D character reminiscent of Disney animation.
InPokemon Pocket’s full-art variant, Porygon is depicted as being celebrated, seemingly performing a walkdown or final bow while surrounded by food and sweets. While fans know that Porygon isan artificial Pokemoncapable of surviving without eating or drinking,Pokemonlore also confirms that it can accept food if offered.
1Eevee A1 #248
Illustrator: Sowsow
With so many gorgeous full-art variants inPokemon Pocket, picking the most exquisite card is an overwhelming challenge. Despite this, Eevee’s A1 #248 can easily claim the championship for its nostalgic art style and cozy vibes. Sowsow appears to have drawn inspiration from Eevee’s Twilight Masquerade variant from the physicalPokemon TCG, featuring a similar style and likely the same location.
What elevates Eevee’s full-art variant is its hand-drawn style. This illustration stands out as one of the few cards that preserve the classic TCG feel—without digital glamor, shine, glitter, or “immersive” effects. Instead, it showcases the artistry of simple yet admirable drawings. Sowsow’s Eevee full-art inPokemon Pocketcaptures that same nostalgic vibe through soft lines and a colored pencil coloring style.
Players who enjoy the art style of Eevee A1 #248 will likely appreciate Tomokazu Komiya’s illustration of Golbat. It evokes the same nostalgic vibes but with a more abstract take on Pokemon design.
