With thousands of cards in the Pokemon TCG, it’s no surprise the illustrators have found ways to get creative when it comes to depicting the various Pokemon across the series, placing them in different scenarios. There are a few cards that tell a story about the Pokemon they feature, whether that be more in-depth stories that span multiple cards or singular cards that show something just as meaningful.
These cards give you a glimpse into the Pokemon world, showing the everyday happenings you might not see elsewhere in the series. See how Pokemon interact with each other without humans and how deep Pokemon and trainer bonds can go.
We’ve chosen these cards because they either showcase environmental detail in a singular card or continue a story or theme across multiple cards.
Updated on September 29, 2024 by Casey Foot: As more sets for the Pokemon TCG come out, more Pokemon cards that tell a story join the cohort too. Whether it’s in a singular card or across multiple, the illustrators use various techniques to tell a narrative in their art. We’ve added a few more instances where the artists conveyed something more than just a great picture of a Pokemon.
24 Archaludon (Stellar Crown #155)
An Unforgettable Sight
Archaludon’s colossal size means it stands out straight away in everyday life, as pictured in this full art card by Toshinao Aoki. Archaludon captures everyone’s attention as it walks by, with lots of children staring in awe at the Pokemon.
Aoki’s colorful art style helps to highlight the children’s excitement and how much of a spectacle this is for them. It’s unclear why the Archaludon is walking through the street, but it’s made the children’s day regardless.
23 Squirtle (Stellar Crown #148)
Splashin’ Around
This full art card by Saboteri gives us an insight into what a domestic Squirtle might get up to when its owner isn’t around. Squirtle is making quite the ruckus in its paddling pool, with water spilled all over the balcony and a stream of water directly hitting one of the Pidgeys (which it doesn’t seem too happy about).
Saboteri paid a lot of attention to detail with this card too, with furniture and plants in the background, as well as the hose to fill Squirtle’s pool. You can easily imagine Squirtle hanging out in its pool and annoying the local Pidgeys being a regular occurrence.
22 Duskull (Shrouded Fable #068) / Dusclops (Shrouded Fable #069) / Dusknoir (Shrouded Fable #070)
I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me
Ghost-type Pokemon have a reputation for being creepy, and this set of full art cards by James Turner exemplifies this perfectly. In the first card, the Duskull is following the viewer down the street; in the second card, Dusclops has gotten closer and is watching the viewer in their backyard; in the final card, Dusknoir floats menacingly in the doorway of the viewer’s home.
Fittingly enough, the Duskull card has the move ‘Come and Get You,’ which is exactly what these cards are showing. It’s yet another Pokemon you wouldn’t want to meet alone in a dark alleyway…
21 Deerling (Temporal Forces #165) / Sawsbuck (Temporal Forces #166)
Very Endeering
Susumu Maeya’s first contribution to the Pokemon TCG is this beautiful set of full art cards of Deerling and Sawsbuck; they connect together to show the Pokemon walking through a lush and colorful forest. Similar to Deerling and Sawsbuck, which have different forms depending on the season, the forest is split into different sections to correspond with the changing seasons.
Though all four seasons are depicted on the cards, Maeya’s excellent use of colors makes the environments expertly blend together without the illustration looking too busy. Maeya’s depiction of the seasons evokes the passage of time, with the energetic Deerling evolving into the majestic Sawsbuck.
20 Minccino (Temporal Forces #182) / Cinccino (Temporal Forces #182)
Sparkling Clean
It’s incredible how the Pokemon TCG illustrators are able to showcase a Pokemon’s personality through their artwork, which is what Shibuzah has done through these two cards, showing a Minccino’s development from a Minccino that hasn’t quite perfected its cleaning skills to a Cinccino that is an expert cleaner, keeping the house spotless for its Pokemon friends.
Lots of Minccino’s Pokedex entries say that it prefers to keep its habitat tidy, constantly using its tail as a brush to clean. According to Pokemon Sword, though, “its focus on spotlessness can make cleaning more of a hassle”, which Shibuzah depicts in the card.
Minccino has a shocked expression as it’s surrounded by a mess of falling objects, and the bunting and crafting supplies suggest that Minccino was perhaps trying to host a party. Luckily, there is a happy ending to the story, as the evolved Cinccino is able to host its Pokemon friends in a room so spotless that it’s literally sparkling.
19 Plusle (Paradox Rift #193) / Minun (Paradox Rift #194)
Game Day
This set of full art cards shows a scene that will be familiar to any sports fan, though hopefully the Plusle card is the more familiar scenario of the two. When viewed side by side, these cards by Okacheke show two people watching a sports match alongside their Pokemon, Plusle and Minun.
In its card, Plusle uses its abilities to create electric pom poms to cheer for the team it’s supporting alongside its trainer. Unfortunately, the team Minun and its trainer are supporting appears to not be doing as well, as Minun and its trainer wail in disappointment. The small details Okacheke chose to include help to bring the scene together, including snacks on the table to eat during the game, and a photograph of the trainers on the wall in each card.
18 Ralts (Scarlet & Violet #211) / Kirlia (Scarlet & Violet #212) / Gardevoir ex (Scarlet & Violet #245)
A Forever Friend
Jiro Sasumo’s collection of full art cards based on the Ralts evolution line depicts the inseparable bond between a Pokemon and its trainer. The first card shows a woman moving into a new home with her Ralts and her husband; the second shows the woman sitting with her baby and Kirlia; and the last card shows the couple, older, with Gardevoir holding balls of yarn as the woman knits.
Each card fills with more color and details as the Pokemon evolves, showing how the family has created a life together. The small details in these cards are what make them so special – for example, the baby wears a hood that resembles Ralts, and the photographs on the wall show different events in their lives.
17 Fuecoco (Paldea Evolved #201) / Crocalor (Paldea Evolved #202) / Skeledirge ex (Paldea Evolved #258)
Shopping Buddy
Kantaro’s series of full art cards on the Fuecoco evolution line focus on mundane life with a Pokemon. Fuecoco sits in a shopping cart munching on an apple; Crocalor tries to help pack the bag with food but makes a mess; and Skeledirge uses its strength to help its trainer carry the groceries.
The cards show the different personalities of each evolution stage, with the Skeledirge card depicting how the Pokemon has matured since its first and second evolutions. Kantaro’s vibrant art style helps to add depth and liveliness to the scenes, creating an inviting atmosphere.
16 Riolu (Scarlet & Violet #215)
Wasn’t Me, Promise!
If you’ve ever owned a pet and caught them doing something they weren’t supposed to, you’re definitely familiar with Riolu’s expression on this card by Nelnal. It’s almost as if you’ve walked in on Riolu having just destroyed your living room while training itself.
Nelnal uses environmental storytelling in this card – a vase has been knocked over, the sofa is ripped, and the cushions are strewn across the floor. You can just imagine that Riolu used this card’s move, Reckless Charge, to cause this amount of destruction.
15 Chespin (BREAKthrough #9) / Snorlax (BREAKthrough #118)
Look Out Down Below!
Illustrated by Kouki Saitou, these two Pokemon cards show an unfortunate interaction between Chespin and Snorlax. Saitou’s Chespin card shows the Pokemon climbing along a tree branch to collect the ripe berries growing on the tree’s vines. A sleeping Snorlax can be seen lying on the ground below, unaware that Chespin is above it.
Unfortunately, Chespin appears to have disturbed Snorlax’s sleep. In the second card, Snorlax has awoken suddenly, disturbing the tree behind it and causing Chespin to plummet to the ground alongside the berries it was trying to pick. Luckily, Chespin’s thick shell allows it to take “even a direct hit from a truck” with ease, according to its Pokedex entries, so falling wouldn’t injure it.
14 Cosmog (Celebrations #013) / Cosmoem (Celebrations #014) / Lunala (Celebrations #015)
Growing Together
This Pokemon card set by kirisAki shows the unbreakable bond between Pokemon and trainer – it tells the story of Lillie’s relationship with Cosmog, nicknamed Nebby, as it develops. In the first illustration, Lillie uses a Poke Doll to soothe Nebby as it wails uncontrollably and encourages it to go back inside the bag.
At this point, Lillie and Nebby haven’t yet warmed up to each other; however, in the Cosmoem card, kirisAki depicts how they’ve grown closer, as Nebby sleeps contently alongside Lillie. The final card, Lunala, shows how Lillie and her Pokemon partner have grown as they both look toward the sunrise. Not only is Nebby fully evolved, but Lillie stands with confidence too.
13 Arrokuda (Vivid Voltage #041) / Cramorant (Vivid Voltage #040)
RIP Arrokuda
Arrokuda are Cramorant’s prey in the Pokemon universe, with Cramorant swallowing the fish Pokemon in its Gulping Form. Hitoshi Ariga and Sanosuke Sakuma showed this predator-prey relationship succinctly through these two cards.
Arrokuda swims aimlessly, unaware of the danger it’s in, as Cramorant dives into the water from above, determined to catch its prey. The second card shows Arrokuda’s terrible fate, as it has been swallowed whole by Cramorant, who is trying its best to gulp it down. Not only does the art of these two cards link, but you can also play Cramorant and Arrokuda cards together, thanks to Cramorant’s Continuous Gulp Missile move.
12 Hypno (BREAKpoint #51) / Clefairy (BREAKpoint #81)
Look Into My Eyes…
Hypno and Clefairy couldn’t be further apart in terms of aesthetic, which is demonstrated in this pair of cards by Tomokazu Komiya. In the Hypno card, Komiya splits the environment in two – the side with Hypno’s pendulum has a darker color scheme and what appears to be black particles, as well as lightning striking in heavy rain. The side with Clefairy is brighter, with lush green grass, sparkles, and a rainbow in the sky.
Unfortunately, in the second card, it’s shown that Clefairy encountered Hypno and was hypnotized – it has swirling eyes and seems disoriented. Clefairy runs away from Hypno, who watches it creepily in the background. Komiya’s distinctive art style helps to elevate the story depicted through the cards, as the shadows and creative use of colors emulate what it would be like to be hypnotized.
11 Plusle (Dark Explorers #39) / Minun (Dark Explorers #40)
Up, Up, And Away
This Pokemon card set by Naoki Saito shows Plusle and Minun posing beside and on top of an airplane. Unlike other Pokemon cards that tell a story, these cards show the same moment from different perspectives. Plusle jumps in the air and winks while Minun crosses its arms – you can see the opposite Pokemon in the background of each card.
It seems as though Plusle and Minun are striking a pose together as if they’re part of a photoshoot. Perhaps Plusle and Minun are there to cheer for the airplanes as they land and take off.
Moonlit Gig
The Light Toxtricity card, illustrated by Naoyo Kimura, pays homage to Toxitricity’s musical talent. It shows an Amped Form Toxtricity playing music for a group of Oddish; the card states that, instead of using a guitar to create its melodies, Toxtricity “claw[s] at the protrusions on its chest.”
The story depicted in this card is one of a concert under the moonlight, as the Oddish dance along to the tunes with big smiles on their faces. It’s a quaint scene, showing how Toxtricity uses its musical abilities to entertain other Pokemon outside of using it within battles.
9 Mimikyu V (Brilliant Stars #TG16)
Scary Movie Night
This card emits the Ghost and Fairy-type Pokemon, Mimikyu’s, ghoulish energy. Mimikyu watches something on an old-fashioned TV, absorbed with whatever is on the screen and helping itself to the popcorn strewn all over the floor. Perhaps Mimikyu knocked over the popcorn after getting frightened by what it was watching.
You can’t see what Mimikyu is watching on the TV, but judging from Acerola’s horrified face as she walks through the door, you can safely assume it’s terrifying. This card reveals the behind-the-scenes of life with Acerola and Mimikyu – apparently, they have wildly different tastes in movies.
8 Charmeleon (Legendary Treasures #18) / Swablu (Legendary Treasures #103)
That’s Got To Hurt
These Pokemon cards show the unlucky interaction between a Charmeleon and a Swablu. In the Charmeleon card, Charmeleon is bending down to inspect some fallen berries on the ground. But it accidentally singes Swablu’s cotton wings with the fire on its tail.
The Swablu card shows the results of this unfortunate event as an irate Swablu flies away from the panicking Charmeleon. Sadly, it seems like a friendship between Charmeleon and Swablu isn’t in the cards this time around, as Swablu leaves the scene steaming with anger.
Poor Sobble…
Sobble gets the short end of the stick in this set of Pokemon cards. In the Scorbunny card, Scorbunny chances upon a pile of berries, which Grookey notices but Sobble is unaware of. Grookey takes the opportunity to grab some berries for itself in the Grookey Card, and Sobble finally sees what’s happening.
Sadly, by the time Sobble goes over to get some berries, they’ve already been taken by Scorbunny and Grookey, leading it to burst into tears. This card set tells a simple story that perfectly demonstrates the dynamic of the starters of Pokemon Sword & Shield.
6 Natu (Legendary Treasures #55) / Bouffalant (Legendary Treasures #107)
Keeping Cozy
These Pokemon cards portray the unlikely friendship between two Natu and a Bouffalant. In the Natu card, two Natu huddle together against the harsh and icy elements, shivering from the cold. Bouffalant proves to be their savior as it comes across the freezing Natu, letting them cuddle in the fur on its head to stay warm.
The illustrations by Sanosuke Sakuma do a great job of conveying a sweet story between two species of Pokemon who rarely interact. Bouffalant’s fur has another use besides absorbing damage – it’s the perfect bed for Natu to curl up in, too.
5 Meowth (Roaring Skies #67) / Inkay (Roaring Skies #41)
One Sneaky Inkay
These Pokemon cards show that Inkay isn’t quite as innocent as it first appears. In the Meowth card, Meowth dances in joy as it finds a ripe fruit, unbeknownst to the fact that Inkay seethes with jealousy in the background.
Meowth’s joy doesn’t last long, though, as in the Inkay card, Inkay speeds off with the coveted berry clutched in its tentacles, leaving behind a crying Meowth that now sports a black eye. Inkay isn’t a Dark type for nothing, as it even has a smirk on its face as it makes off with the stolen fruit.
