The Vs Japanese set enthralled me the moment I saw Kusube’s work with Lance’e pokemon. I remember what led me to first discover it too, looking up Kingdra cards needed to complete a master set back in 2022. Its no surprise around this time my interests started to expand beyond the typical WOTC and modern sets and into Japanese exclusives. After almost three years exactly, I’ve completed the pokemon portion (including promos) of Vs, which is the goal I had set after discovering it.
I think this set’s concept is such a masterpiece. Not only does it check so many boxes that makes any TCG set interesting: powerful theme, popular pokemon, artist cohesion, variety, but also cleverly connects us collectors to the core games in such a tangible way. It packs complete, fully evolved, and battle-ready pokemon teams of all the gym and E4 members.
If you’ll stick around to the end, I’ve also included a side project of mine that drew direct inspiration from the Vs set - a Gen III imagining of a Vs set! I carefully curated 19 teams of 6 pokemon featuring cards released during the R/S/E era that all are of the same artist, including the major in game Gym leaders, Rivals, Enemy team members, and E4 trainers- for all you Hoenn Hoes out there!
Vs: Falkner to Morty
Vs: Chuck to Claire
Vs: Johto E4 (Janine instead of Koga)
Vs: Team Rocket
Vs: Kanto and Movie Promos
Holo Energies
And now, stepping into Hoenn! From my collection I selected a set of 6 Pokemon from the same artist that fit into the theme of a trainer’s team, but this time every card gets a holo finish!
I’ve attempted to stay as true to the typing and themes of each trainer as possible, but for some artists there just wasnt enough definitive overlap of 6 pokemon. So here are the rules I tried to incorporate to make this doable but also in the spirit of the Vs series, as well as the video games. I’ve written up some key abilities/items for the teams as well, imagining all the gym leaders as rematch battles in the game.
- Fully evolved pokemon as of Gen III
- Each team should have the trainer’s ace incorporated if possible
- Any pokemon not the main type of the trainer should have some sort of element that relates to the trainer or have been used in a future game
- In the most dire cases, a pokemon can be included if it gives the trainer a specific type coverage to make their team more competitive (Forretress for Pheobe)
- Delta species, Dark pokemon, and dual type pokemon in the TCG can count towards the trainers type theme, but their original type can also be used.
Roxanne
Starting off the artist spotlight strong with Komiya!
I didnt find many artists with a strong rock type selection - the ground/rock similarities are doing some heavy lifting here. Definitely need some passho berries and hidden power grass/electric for some water type coverage, though.
Brawly
Thanks to Unseen Forces, Nakamura’s Brawly team is actually pretty close to his in game Emerald rematch team. Golem helps with flying coverage, while Aggron add some bulk to the team, resists psychic types, and can punish fairies. Hitmontop can provide the usual intimidate+fake out strats to start off, while a focus sash + unburden hitmonlee should threaten even speedy opposition.
Wattson
Kusajima’s Wattson team in doubles format is filled with some absolute killer artworks. This team has some coverage options into ground types with the Lanturn’s water moves and decent bulk and Gyarados’s held air baloon. Plusle and minun will do their best I suppose with their abilities boosting their stats.
Flannery
Fukuda’s team had a lot of enticing options with the Gold Star lineup, even though I certainly didnt have every option in my collection. I thought the fire gym showcases a lot of great art from the era, especially utilizing the Delta Species mechanic. Groudon can set drought for increased damage and immediate solar beam coverage. Mew will run solar blade, flare blitz, play rough, and dragon dance with a lum berry to hit any type for neutral damage after some boosts.
Norman
Himeno’s Norman team has some generally lower power pokemon, but the coverage is there. Delta Psychic Smeargle and Gardevoir are ready for fighting coverage, Zangoose can run toxic orb toxic boost facade and close combat for coverage on steel and rock types. Dodrio can threaten ghost types with knock off and throat chop
Winona
Winona was another tough team composition to finalize, but I really wanted Umemoto on the Vs roster again. Volbeat and Illumise are certainly not the most threatening pair but they have some utility with dual prankster hoping to spread status and set up screens, with light clay and focus sashes for more benefit. Claydol and Lunatone fit thematically with their levitate abilities and while giving electric and rock coverage and a way to hit ice types.
Tate & Liza
Harada’s poses in the Tate & Liza set are all so interesting and dynamic and I’m happy with the selection I was able to come up with. The Absol will obviously help counter ghosts while the Xatu can take a hit from the bugs, and Medicham will threaten Dark types. Id maybe start with a magic bounce Xatu that can set up tailwind for the slower mons in the back and focus on damage boosting items like chioce band Medicham, dark gem Absol, Sitris gluttony Grumpig and assault vest flipturn regenerator Slowking.
Wallace
Forget Juan, man. Steven is my champion. I feel like Wallace and Nishida were a great pairing, with the backgrounds all feeling underwater to begin with. And this lineup has so many Hoenn staples. Though he’ll have to set up the rain himself, Wallace has some speedy firepower between swift swim Swampert and Ludicolo, and tough to get rid of threats like hydration Vaporeon, marvel scale flame orb Milotic, and a devilish Run and Bun-esque Suicune build.
Enemy Teams
Magma Admin Courtney
As you make your way through Magma Hideout you’ll need to clear Courtney’s team featuring Yukiko Baba. Her teams are quite limited in the games but her Weezing is here with some fire type additions and other general nuisances like lum berry Shedinja and zoom lens Hypno. And she’s wielding the underhanded RNG tactics of quick claw on Magmar, focus band on Onix and bright powder on Pinsir.
Aqua Admin Matt
Next is Archie’s understudy Matt, depicted by Miki Tanaka. I’ll admit it was challenging finding a trainer for an artist’s style so derpy and cartoonish, but I couldn’t leave Tanaka out.
And, theres a solid enough rain core here with grass neutrality, two electric immunities, and Tropius, who at least gets to enjoy one less weakness after damp rock Castform sets up rain dance. Whiscash will look to get off a few dragon dances after its sitris is eaten and doubled-speed Mantine’s perfectly accurate hurricaines can revenge kill for its ground/water teammates.
Maxie
I feel like Maxie’s sharp outfits and stern demeanor fit well with Kimura’s clean lines and fierce poses. Of course, Camerupt is here with its solid rock ability and custap berry to use explosion. His guts Hariyama with fake out can safely get its flame orb activated to boost its damage and his super luck Absol equipped with night slash, stone edge, shadow claw and scope lens is a crit hit machine.
Archie
Another fantastic thematic pairing. Koike’s sinister and foreboding illustrations match Archie’s villainous motives (are they even villainous, actually? Not sure we are ever told). The Kyogre sets the stage with a choice scarf to hit as many high powered water spouts in the rain as possible to make way for Kingdra, Swampert, and Gyarados to continue the monsoon. The Muk will be poised to sludge any grass counters while the Regice soaks up popular electric type special attackers looking to spam thunders and earthquakes them.
Rival Fights
May/Brendan
I think Kizuki’s playful, cartoon, and certainly less threatening style does pair well with your main Rival, especially since you never see their starter fully evolved in the RSE games. I went with a solid team with all around coverage featuring some of my favorite art while incorporating a starter as well.
Wally
Some Wally staples such as Gardevoir and Magneton are here, but I tried to get some true Hoenn classics to round out another balanced rival team. And Ken Sugimori certainly needed a spot on the Gen III Vs series. Maybe he can challenge you in a double battle and use Leftovers Dusclops to skill swap the life orb Slaking and start swinging. And if its still around in two turns swap Truant onto your team too!
The Hoenn League
Sydney
Even without the Dark Pokemon designations I think this team has a thematic fit, but of course I was going to choose TRR for the basis of Sydneys team. Nakaoka is an artist we dont discuss much aside from Dragonite. But I think most would agree they did the Dark theme justice. This hyper offense team actually has great coverage for usual dark weaknesses, with fighting, bug, and fairy resistances, especially Arbok with all three. The double intimidate gives it some room for further pivots around physical threats. I think a hone claws Dragonite set (paired with dragon rush, stone edge, and iron tail) could be fun as it doesn’t learn many dark moves. Maybe the Golduck could be a sweeper stopper with its Cloud nine, taunt, and knock off access.
Pheobe
This is another pairing made for each other, and definitely the first one I locked in during my planning. Kusube’s work exudes spookiness and instills fear. The Marowak and his thick club is here from its lore in the Lavender tower, and Forretress can hit Dark tyes and wall normal types trying to completely evade ghost attacks. The Haunter, well maybe theres an homage to Mindy and her everstone, but I just couldn’t drop it from the lineup despite not being fully evolved. While this set may lack some power it can certainly aim to spam status and other stall strats that Pheobe was known for in RSE with burn, sleep, confusion, and access to its own Ghost immunity.
Glacia
Ueda’s in a unique position of having so many ex cards illustrated and it felt fitting to have a whole team of them showcased in the E4. All the non Ice types certainly have a cold or glacial feel to them. The Steelix can wield Ice Fang and punish steel, fire, and rock types, while Articuno has something to counter fighting. Sneasel will certainly need a focus sash and Articuno could probably use a charti berry, but every other team member has some decent staying power to do some damage despite the Ice types reputation.
Drake
I knew I had to reserve someone special for Drake, and wow, did Arita create some epic Dragons during this era. I probably could have made three separate teams with his body of work this gen. Aside from Altaria we’ve got each final form here. Probably wouldn’t have to try too hard with sets to make this team work, Drake could probably run all oran berries and still wipe some opponents, or maybe at least yache. Iron head on Salamence can maybe pick off a Fairy type too.
Champion Steven Stone
And finally, you’ve reached the Champion. Stevens team is supposed to reflect a trainer who’s explored Hoenn and captured the best there is to tackle in his domain. Kouki Saito certainly drew some of the region’s top prizes, and I knew this slot had to feature art that is iconic but still imposing. Cradily, Skarmory and Metagross are all faithful additions with great art. The classic Skarmory lead that’s here to set hazards and status will cripple your ability to switch in counters to last against the rest of the hard hitting team. And if you do manage to whittle away the steel types, the speedy revenge killers Deoxys and Rayquaza will look to clean up the match at the end.
(didn’t even know there was a brendan in the games!) ohhhh kusube line is the best wowwww.