The Mythical Pokémon Pecharunt joins the Loyal Three—Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti—in the latest Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable. In this expansion, you’ll find incredible artwork of not just this quartet, but of plenty of other Pokémon, Trainers, and more. Let’s check out some of the standout illustrations that you might encounter in this collection!
Art by burari
The artist burari may be new to the Pokémon TCG, but they’re already displaying their talents with this pair of gorgeous cards. Their Houndoom looks incredibly intimidating as it skulks through a rocky cavern. The wicked gleam in its eyes combined with the way the flames shooting from its mouth are reflected off its face and horns give the Pokémon a genuinely threatening aura. It’s not terribly common for a Pokémon TCG artist to focus their skills on drawing Pokémon and Trainers, and it’s even more unusual for one to illustrate both in the same expansion. So, it’s quite a treat to see burari take on this task in their debut! We see the enigmatic Cassiopeia from inside her computer monitor as she shows off her hacking skills on this special illustration rare card. Like the Houndoom card, light reflections are used to great effect—in this case, it’s the glow of Cassiopeia’s monitor and Rotom phone that help set the scene.
Just Vibing
Ah, to be a Pokémon chilling out in its natural environment…. We noticed a few cards in this expansion that made us want to live the peaceful life of a Pokémon (well, that slice of life in between battles, we mean). Take Rowlet (illus. Yoshimi Miyoshi) here. How content is this little round fella? It knows that knothole was meant for it, and the little Grass Quill Pokémon has settled in for a nice, relaxing sit. Meowth (illus. sui) appears positively transfixed by the stars sparkling in the sky—check out the look of sheer awe on its face. We would absolutely sit down next to Meowth and enjoy the cool night breeze. If we want to enjoy a soak, though, we’d follow Fraxure’s (illus. MINAMINAMI Take) lead. That cliffside perch on this illustration rare card may seem precarious, but the opportunity to hang out amid those gorgeous waterfalls would be worth the risk. What a way to wash your troubles away.
Rarin’ for Battle
Of course, as we suggested, Pokémon can’t spend all their time lazing about—sometimes they need to battle! We were taken quite aback by Sylveon’s (illus. Kuroimori) fierce expression on its card. We’re used to this precious Pokémon appearing gentle and demure, so it’s quite exciting to see its usual smile replaced with a determined frown, its brow furrowed as it stares down an unseen opponent. The dramatic lighting of the scene makes the action seem even more intense. Speaking of intense, that untamed look in Crobat’s (illus. Nisota Niso) eyes is too much for us to handle. Imagine exploring a shadowy cave only to see those bright, flashing eyes barreling towards you through the darkness. No thanks! Even more frightening would be facing down the rampaging Okidogi (illus. AKIRA EGAWA) on this illustration rare card. We love the relative calm near the bottom of the piece that devolves into pure chaos as your eyes move upward. The sketch-like linework of the environment adds to the scene’s raw feeling.
So Gloomy!
If you’re not in a cheerful mood, these cards can help harness your dour power. Drowzee (illus. OKUBO) seems quite content lurking in the shadows. We love the way the restaurant’s lighting mirrors the Pokémon’s coloring. Zoroark (illus. nagimiso) knows that nothing complements a good sullen mood like striking a cool pose. That dramatic stance—surrounded by swirling mist and holding its head down while looking upward, a city silhouetted in the background, and the sun blaring overhead? Yeah, it’s a bit gloomy, but it’s also super rad! This mostly black-and-white Houndoom illustration rare card (illus. Taiga Kasai) is also rad, but in more of a “this is kinda frightening” way. The dynamic poses of the Pokémon combined with the streaked background provides a real sense of speed. We can practically hear this pack of Houndoom charging through the woods, their howls warning challengers of what’s to come.
A Color Explosion
On the opposite end of the, well, spectrum are these cards that are practically bursting with cheerful color. You can always count on illustrator Shinji Kanda to deliver something wild and vibrant, and we get a double dose of their work in this expansion with Iron Moth and Slither Wing. Both pieces are jam-packed with a cornucopia of hues to create a visual smorgasbord. This Eevee card (illus. Susumu Maeya) may not have the psychedelic edge of Kanda’s work, but it’s no less colorful. The sun-dappled Pokémon spread out on the grass beneath a canopy of flowers seems so serene. This artwork leaves us sharing Eevee’s sweet smile. Cufant (illus. Mina Nakai) also can’t help but grin on its illustration rare card—and we can’t blame it. The rich colors immediately draw your eye to the scene, and what a wonderful scene it is! The way the blue water contrasts with the yellow grass. The bold, white spray of water. The fading rainbow etched in the azure sky. Just perfect.
There are plenty more beautiful cards to discover in the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable expansion. Have fun finding new favorites!
