The Best Special Illustrations in Pokemon Pocket’s Genetic Apex Expansion

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 23, 2024 4 Views 8 Min Read
The Best Special Illustrations in Pokemon Pocket’s Genetic Apex Expansion



Summary

  • Machamp ex A1 #278 stands out with bold, modernistic design inspired by Astral Radiance expansion.
  • Snorlax A1 #250 offers a unique top-down view, potentially inspired by water-themed Snorlax illustrations.
  • Squirtle A1 #232 captivates with adorable swimming art and possibly shares scenery with Sowsow’s illustration.

Nothing beats the thrill of pulling a new rare card in Pokemon 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.

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The Ranking Criteria

The following list ranks five of the most eye-catching full art variants in Pokemon 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 from the Genetic Apex expansion, which is why the Mythical Island full-art cards are not included.

5

Machamp ex A1 #278 (Rainbow-bordered)

Illustrator: Akira Egawa

full art variant of pokemon tcg pokemon.
  • Rarity: Two-Star
  • Booster Pack: Charizard
  • Possible Inspiration: Machamp VMAX in the Astral Radiance expansion pack designed by N-DESIGN Inc.

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 classic Pokemon TCG cards. It’s likely inspired by Machamp VMAX’s design by N-DESIGN Inc., which was released in the Astral Radiance expansion.

Among all Machamp ex variants in the real-life Pokemon 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.

4

Snorlax A1 #250

Illustrator: HYOGONOSUKE

the full art variant of snorlax in pokemon tcg pocket.
  • Rarity: One-Star
  • Booster Pack: Pikachu
  • Possible Inspiration: 1) 0313’s illustration in the Lost Origin expansion, 2) Gossan’s illustration in the Scarlet & Violet Promo Cards expansion

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 of Snorlax in Pokemon TCG Pocket went 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 original Pokemon TCG illustration 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 in Pocket, which depicts Snorlax snorting on a dock.

3

Squirtle A1 #232

Illustrator: Taira Akitsu

the full art variant of squirtle in pokemon tcg pocket.
  • Rarity: One-Star
  • Booster Pack: Pikachu
  • Possible Inspiration: Squirtle illustration in the Pokemon TCG: Pokemon GO expansion by Sowsow.

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 the Pokemon community over the past few years. They have illustrated over 50 cards for the physical TCG and have three designs in Pokemon Pocket, including the full-art Squirtle, full-art, Brock (A1 #224), and full-art Rapidash, one of the best Fire-Type cards in Pocket.

2

Porygon A1 #249

Illustrator: Akira Komayama

the full art variant of porygon in pokemon pocket.
  • Rarity: One-Star
  • Booster Pack: Mewtwo
  • Possible Inspiration: Porygon’s illustration in the Paradox Rift expansion by Taiga Kayama.

Fans of the physical Pokemon TCG know that Porygon illustrations span a wide range of art styles. However, the full-art variant of this Pokemon in Pocket truly 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.

In Pokemon 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 is an artificial Pokemon capable of surviving without eating or drinking, Pokemon lore also confirms that it can accept food if offered.

1

Eevee A1 #248

Illustrator: Sowsow

the full art variant of eevee in pokemon tcg pocket.
  • Rarity: One-Star
  • Booster Pack: Pikachu
  • Possible Inspiration: Eevee’s illustration in the Twilight Masquerade expansion by Narumi Sato.

With so many gorgeous full-art variants in Pokemon 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 physical Pokemon 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 in Pokemon Pocket captures 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.

golbat full art variant in pokemon pocket.

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