Following our initial exploration into how Pokémon TCG Pocket reemploys iconic artworks from the traditional TCG, it’s time to dive into the next wave. With the latest reveals from this weekend, even more familiar artworks have resurfaced, striking a chord with those who remember them from their childhood battles. Let’s take a closer look at this second batch of Pokemon TCG Pocket cards that brings these nostalgic images back to life, this time with a new layout: first, TCG originals, then TCG Pocket versions.
Eevee by Sekio
Though barely perceivable in the trailer, we can see that Eevee will have an alternative artwork in addition to the one we already seen and the gorgeous full art version, making it so far the first Pokémon represented with 3 different artworks in Genetic Apex.
Just like the previous one, the second art also reuses an existing artwork from the Lost Thunder TCG set. And guess what : it has the exact same stats, HP and attack as the other Eevee!
Vaporeon by Kagemaru Himeno
Yours truly forgot to include it in the first article, but now the generation 1 Eeveelutions are reunited.
Vaporeon reuses the artwork from Majestic Dawn, released in 2008. The only attack of Genetic Apex’s Vaporeon in TCG Pocket has the same cost and does the same damage as Majestic Dawn’s Vaporeon, and its healing effect is reminiscing to the original’s first attack. It’s more than just using the same artwork…
Jolteon by Kouki Saitou
This artwork initially appeared in Hidden Fates, a special expansion in the Sun & Moon series released in 2018. It also shares the same amount of HP.
The Pin Missile attack is recurring in Jolteon’s TCG prints and also consist in flipping 4 coins for damage. Pin Missile is an attack learnt by Jolteon in the video game from generation 1 onward.
Flareon by sui
The last of the generation 1 Eeveelution first appeared with this artwork in Ancient Origins (2015)
Flareon has the most powerful base attack of the four : Flamethrower, one of the most iconic and powerful fire move in the video game, that got printed multiple times on its different TCG iterations, starting from its very first print in Jungle.
Greninja by 5ban Graphics
One of the “Mr 3D” of the TCG artistdom, 5ban Graphics, made this artwork of Greninja for the very first XY set in 2015.
Beyond the art, the resemblance is striking:
- their ability has the same name and a similar effect (TCG Greninja requires you to discard an Energy while Pocket Greninja do 20 damage instead of 30 damage)
- their only attack share the name Mist Slash
Slowpoke by Miki Takano
Briefly seen in the short gameplay footage of the original trailer getting bullied by a Pikachu ex, Slowpoke, like Slowbro, reuses its original artwork all the way back from Fossil, the second set ever printed in the TCG. The Tail Whap attack is a very common one among Basic Pokémon and already printed on Galarian Slowpoke.
By the way, the artist name in the original version contains a mispelling : it’s actually Miki Tanaka.
Kirlia by sowsow
Also seen in the very first trailer, Kirlia from Cosmic Eclipse is back in Pokemon TCG Pocket with the same number of HP.
Raichu by AKIRA EGAWA
Still going with cards quickly shown in the first trailer that featured the Active player with a L deck against a P deck. Raichu’s artwork is also from Cosmic Eclipse.
The Thunderbolt attack is inspired from the video game and is regularly seen in the TCG, usually going with the “Discard all Energy” clause. The last time Raichu had it, it dealt 200 damage! (Paldea Evolved, 2023)
Tynamo by Asako Ito
Asako Ito is one of the unique “illustrators” in the Pokémon franchise, known for creating amigurumi, which are real-life crocheted models, instead of traditional drawings. Such an iconic artist had to be featured in TCG Pocket from the start.
Tynamo’s Tiny Charge attack has appeared in multiple previous prints. Here, it has a stronger base power, perhaps to compensate for its very frail bulk?
Metapod by Yuka Morii
Speaking of iconic and unique artists in the Pokémon TCG, Yuka Morii brings her own distinctive style to the table. She crafts clay models that have become a staple since the Johto (Neo) era in the TCG. Like Ito, Morii’s work adds a three-dimensional charm to the cards and that uniqueness had to be featured in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
For her mobile app debuts, Metapod from Sun&Moon has been picked as a returning art. It even retained its Bug Bite attack, tho cost down both in Energy and power
Primeape by Ken Sugimori
Although we normally wait for better scans to cover cards, I had to mention Hitmonchan for various reasons. First, it uses the official illustration by Ken Sugimori, THE Pokémon designer. Second, this artwork hails from the very first Pokémon Base set. But also Hitmonchan was the holographic rare card available in the Blackout theme deck, one of the first starter deck released in the TCG. Finally, it also features the same Jab attack, although slightly powered-up in TCG Pocket with a base 30 damage.
Primeape by Kagemaru Himeno
This is now the third card by Kagemaru Himeno that we cover, after Slowbro and Vaporeon. And this is an iconic one that goes all the way back from Jungle, the 3rd Pokémon TCG set to be released.
The TCG Pocket version got an HP buff but more importantly an attack that, at full power, can one hit KO a full health Pikachu ex. Definitely something to check if the metagame evolves in that direction.
Cubone by sowsow
Another card drawn by sowsow, Cubone also uses a Growl attack that is identical to its Snivel attack in the Jungle set
Machop by Kyoko Umemoto
The only three-stage fighting Pokemon from game 1 is in the game, with the same bulk as its original counterpart in Guardians rising but unfortunately less prowess in the offensive department
Clefairy by kirisAki
The rare Pokemon from Mt. Moon reuses the artwork from Hidden Fates. Since the fairy type was discontinued in the TCG, it’s now a P type: its HP remains unchanged.
Paras by Naoyo Kimura
Carrying on with Pokémon found in the Mount Moon. Paras reuses the artwork from Team Up and recycle the Scratch attack with the energy cost of Slash and the power of both of them.
Farfetch'd by Miki Tanaka
Lickitung by Kagemaru Himeno
Yet another artwork for one of the longest standing artist in the Pokémon TCG, Kagemaru Himeno : Lickitung from Majestic Dawn. Its Continuous Lick attack comes straight from the Lickitung print for the Detective Pikachu set, except it costs C more and uses 60 as a multiplier instead of 20
Meltan by Shin Nagasawa
Meltan is a peculiar Pokémon exclusive to Pokémon GO. It’s also so far the only Steel-type Pokémon revealed: as Genetic Apex focuses heavily on generation 1, there might be a shortage of this type in the beginning of Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Its only attack Amass deals no damage but set it up for more powerful attacks. Its evolution Melmetal might be energy-hungry to make the most out of it.
Some revealed artworks that reuse older ones are also recognizable, such as those of Poké Ball, Whimsicott, Rapidash, and Salandit, but the poor quality of the available scans means their spotlight will have to wait for another article.
*TCG arts are courtesy of pkmncards.com, TCG Pocket arts come from various sources (trailers, demo booth at Worlds…)
