Best pokemon rookie card(s)

I have never felt more personally attacked.

To gather my bonus points, I’ll say this guy right here. I’ve always been partial to this artwork.
image

11 Likes

The OG!

2 Likes

There are a LOT of Arita cards here. :grin:

And, I’m amazed by that Absol. I’d no idea it was the first. Banger!


Here’s my contribution:

I feel that a “best rookie card” really has to stand out among others of that set or species, so here are a few picks from Gen 3.



When have we seen a rookie card look so dismul? And for that, Arita endeers this card in my memory above many MANY others.
Kusube really nailed the nature of the creature here, and it’s also a rare angle that we don’t see often on cards.
I’d be surprised if anyone who collected around this time didn’t remember this shedinja. The color (not shown well here) the foil, and of course the pokemon all stand out.

6 Likes



15 Likes

Didn’t realise this feebas was a rookie card, that’s definitely top tier choise then! A treat when Komiya gets to illustrate the first one

1 Like

that houndour is one of my favorite holos from the wotc era. it’s so subtle, but captures the dark type well despite being a fire type card

3 Likes

This is the Togepi rookie card (Japanese is always first - maybe there’s an exception somewhere…?)

This Corocoro promo along with Marill (as well as any Gen 2 pokemon in Southern Islands) have the original Japanese card layout rather than the Neo card layout which is pretty neat!

corocoro-togepi-promo

2 Likes

I’ve always loved that Houndour.

1 Like

ex5-1

Mt. chimney and the ash fields. I don’t think you can find shuppet here but who cares it works

9 Likes

Yes, your right. I was only thinking of the English side where Neo Genesis was indeed the debut. Southern Island was 2001 in English.

Indeed it is, but I’m only dealing with english. I think that layout is particularly fitting for Togepi given how it’s almost a gen 1 poke in the anime.

1 Like

Going modern with this one. Really. I ask, is there a rookie card that makes you smile as much as this one?

11 Likes

its so unfair to the older mons how gen 9ers had a high chance to start out with an AR/SAR in the same set as their regular debut card

4 Likes

something about how that trio looks in og cgc slabs is just beautiful tbh

The only questionable thing about this one- I’m a little concerned about what’s going on in that creek.

1 Like

we got any murkrow fans? :eyes:

11 Likes

murkrow’s first couple of cards went so hard. this is one of my favorite artworks across all of neo

6 Likes

upon further research, it looks like this promo was first, not as iconic

6 Likes

And yet it is better than both of the above Murkrow.

1 Like

do u mean attack and HP wise? or art wise