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Check out some of the beautiful illustrations that can be found in the Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals expansion.
Team Rocket is causing trouble once again in the latest Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals. There’s a wealth of cards here featuring these dastardly villains and their Pokémon—all with illustrations as beautiful as Team Rocket’s schemes are awful. Of course, these scoundrels aren’t the only cards you’ll find in this expansion. Join us for a look at some of the amazing art waiting to be discovered.
Pokémon TCG artist Kazumasa Yasukuni has a penchant for bold colors, dynamic poses, and high contrast lighting. Their cards definitely stand out, and the ones that can be found in this expansion are no exception. You can almost feel the power behind Blaziken’s kick thanks to the extreme viewing angle and the lash of flame swirling around the Pokémon’s leg. Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon doesn’t look nearly as intense as it merrily runs along, but we’re still struck by the beauty of the low sun scattering its beams across the landscape. Both Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet and Marnie’s Scrafty are fine examples of Yasukuni’s use of color to set a gloomy mood.
Given Team Rocket’s importance in this expansion, there was no way we weren’t going to give some attention to these baddies. And why not start with the baddest of all? Team Rocket’s Giovanni (illus. Krgc) is looking as intimidating as always on his special illustration rare card. Flanked by Team Rocket Admins and Grunts, we can’t help but be intrigued by the boss’s extended hand. Sure, he’s a crook, but he’s so darned charismatic! Of course, charisma will only get a villainous team so far—they still need Pokémon on their side. Enter Team Rocket’s Murkrow (illus. Mugi Hamada), who looks especially devious as it…hacks into a computer server? We might not know exactly what the Darkness Pokémon is doing around all this tech, but it can’t be good. Spinning a web of deceit and, well, literal webbing, Team Rocket’s Spidops (illus. NC Empire) looks outstanding in this stylish illustration rare card. This is just a small sampling of Team Rocket cards in Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals, so keep an eye out for more. With card illustrations this excellent, being bad has never looked so good.
Trainer’s Pokémon—cards that showcase the bond between a Trainer and their Pokémon—made a comeback in the Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together expansion, and they’re still going strong in Destined Rivals. We may have already given Giovanni his due, but we couldn’t resist showing off this incredible Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex (illus. Iwamoto05) special illustration rare card. Mewtwo looks remarkably intimidating, and Team Rocket’s Boss sports that gleam of smarmy confidence that comes from having a powerful Pokémon on your side. Speaking of powerful Pokémon, Cynthia’s Garchomp ex (illus. HICO KIM) is especially fierce during its match on this special illustration rare card. Seeing Cynthia looming large on the stadium’s screen as she commands her Pokémon really sells the excitement of battle. It appears that Ethan likes to get into the thick of the action according to this Ethan’s Typhlosion (illus. GIDORA) illustration rare card. We’d be afraid of getting burning being this close to a Fire-type Pokémon as it attacks, but maybe Ethan’s just braver than we are.
Whew! That was a lot of fearsome looking Pokémon, right? Let’s slow things down a bit with a few cards featuring, well, adorable Pokémon! Just look at Growlithe (illus. ryoma uratsuka) here. Chilling amid the trees and flowers…that smirk…its widdle tongue! GAH! We love it. And how peaceful is the scene on this Misty’s Psyduck (illus. OKACHEKE) illustration rare card? That water looks so refreshing, and we can just imagine Psyduck flapping like crazy as it propels itself along the formerly calm surface. We’re sharing Misty’s smile just thinking about swimming alongside this sweetie. Poor Arven doesn’t look quite as relaxed on this Arven’s Greedent (illus. Natsumi Yoshida) illustration rare card. After all, his greedy Greedent seems determined to chow down on Arven’s food before he has the chance to finish building his sandwich. We’re not convinced we could ignore Greedent’s charm—let that Pokémon have a tomato slice!
When a Pokémon needs to get somewhere in a hurry, it’s time to kick things into high gear. Whether it’s to initiate an attack in battle or simply to get from point A to point B, speed is the key in these cards. You can feel the rush on this Electrike (illus. Narano) card. The way light highlights smear across Electrike’s body combined with the ground melting away into a jagged blur let you know that the Lightning Pokémon is moving. Toedscool’s legs may appear spindly and weak, but according to its Pokédex entry, this Pokémon can run 30 mph. That speed is on display on the Arven’s Toedscool (illus. Fujimoto Gold) card. That leg’s motion blur doesn’t come from standing still. Pokémon aren’t the only ones running in this expansion. The Team Rocket’s Raticate (illus. Mékayu) illustration rare card shows a Team Rocket Grunt keeping pace alongside his Pokémon partner. No doubt beating a hasty retreat from authorities as a swarm of other Raticate cause a distraction with their rampant destruction. Check out that Grunt’s expression: he clearly loves his job.
These are just a small sample of the over 240 cards that can be found in the Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals expansion. As you open your new booster packs, be sure to pay attention to the artwork you discover. You’re bound to find some awesome art!
Source: Pokemon.com
Source: Pokemon
