E4's Favorite Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres (Closed - Results)

[inertgeometry]

How this works:

There will be 3 sections of Voting

Design: the concept aesthetic overall

• the “Design” poll is just to get a rough count of participants. PLEASE make sure to vote in this.

Cards: individual cards

• cards are listed in chronological order based on first release
• • unless it makes sense otherwise to group them with other cards released at a different time.
• cards within a similar release will be grouped together, followed by an option for each individually
• vote for any card that you like.

Sets

• This will be grouped based on my discretion. There may be cards that were not actually released in the same set that end up grouped together (i.e.: Rocket’s _ ex which were released in different ways in JP, but in the same set in Eng)
• Sets will be based on a number ranking between 1 (bad) and 5 (great)
• The option to vote on each trio will be grouped with cards in order to reduce the size of this post.

Example: for Fossil, it will say "1997 - Fossil Trio", followed by the Trio Rating Poll, followed by all 3 images grouped together, followed by a poll for Articuno individually, then Zapdos, then Moltres

• Note: there may be some cards grouped since they are in a set, but without a set rating poll because it is not a trio
  Example: Gym 2/Challenge has a Zapdos and Moltres, but no Articuno

The polls will automatically close on Sunday at 12PM Pacific Time. I will edit this post and title to count down from least to most voted, and we will see which cards are E4’s Favorite.

Most of these images are pulled from quick google searches, eBay, or Bulbapedia if they had a large enough file. If you'd like me to replace an image, you're welcome to post it in the comments.

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Results

Design

• Articuno - 8.65/10 (95 Voters)
• • Galarian Articuno - 5.68/10 (91 Voters)
• Zapdos - 8.55/10 (95 Voters)
• • Galarian Zapdos - 6.34/10 (90 Voters)
• Moltres - 7.54/10 (94 Voters)
• • Galarian Moltres - 7.54/10 (91 Voters)

Cards

Dishonorable Mentions

120th - 2 Votes:

119th - 3 Votes:

116-118th - 4 Votes:

113-115th - 5 Votes:

108-112th - 6 Votes:

101st-107th - 7 Votes:

Top 100

97th-100th - 8 Votes:

92nd-96th - 9 Votes:

90th/91st - 10 Votes:

88/89th - 11 Votes:

84-87th - 12 Votes:

81st-83rd - 13 Votes:

78-80th - 15 Votes:

77th - 16 Votes:

74-76th - 18 Votes:

71st-73rd - 20 Votes:

64-70th - 21 Votes:

62nd/63rd - 22 Votes:

61st - 23 Votes:

59-60th - 24 Votes:

54-58th - 25 Votes:

53rd - 26 Votes:

52nd - 28 Votes:

Top 51

47th-51st - 29 Votes:

43rd-46th - 30 Votes:

41st/42nd - 32 Votes:

40th - 33 Votes:

39th - 34 Votes:

35-38th - 36 Votes:

34th - 37 Votes:

32nd/33rd - 38 Votes:

31st - 40 Votes:

30th - 41 Votes:

29th - 42 Votes:

27/28th - 43 Votes:

Top 26

24-26th - 44 Votes:

22nd/23rd - 45 Votes:

21st - 46 Votes:

19/20th - 48 Votes:

18th - 49 Votes:

15-17th - 50 Votes:

11-14th - 51 Votes:

Top 10

10th - 53 Votes:

8/9th - 54 Votes:

6/7th - 56 Votes:

5th - 57 Votes:

4th - 61 Votes:

Top 3

3rd - 62 Votes:

2nd - 63 Votes:

1st - 68 Votes:

Sets

Less than 2/5

26th

25th

24th

2/5 - 2.5/5

23rd

22nd

21st

20th

2.5/5 - 3/5

19th

18th

16/17th

15th

3/5 - 3.5/5

14th

13th

12th

11th

10th

9th

8th

3.5/5 - 4/5

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

Finalists (4/5 or better)

2nd

1st

---

Polls

Design

Voting Scale:

[ 1 The Worst ] ↔ [ 10 The Best ]

---

Kanto (Original)

Articuno

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

Zapdos

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

Moltres

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

---

Galarian

Galarian Articuno

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

Galarian Zapdos

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

Galarian Moltres

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

---

Cards

Original Era

• 1996 - Zapdos - Base Set

---

1997 - Fossil Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

199? - Test Card Trio - Pokemon TCG 2 (1999 Tropical Mega Battle Prototypes)

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

• 1997 - Jumbo - CoroCoro / Warner Bro’s Store: The Power of One Campaign

---

1998 - Vending Sheet 2, Quick Starter Gift Set (Holo) Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno - Red Deck / 2002 Pokemon League Promo

• Zapdos - Red Deck

• Moltres - Green Deck

---

• 1998 - Rocket’s Moltres - Gym 1 / Heroes

---

1999 - Gym 2 / Challenge

• Rocket’s Zapdos

• Blaine’s Moltres

---

• 1999 - Articuno - Pokemon Snap Contest Winner

• 1999 - Trio Cameo - Grand Party

---

1999 - ANA Everyone’s Happy Campaign Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

2000 - [ANA AA] The Power of One Theatrical Release Promo / Web Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

e / Vs Series

• 2001 - Pryce’s Articuno - Vs Series

• 2002 - Zapdos - Town on No Map / Aquapolis

• 2002 - Zapdos - Town on No Map / Aquapolis AA - P Promo

---

2002 - Trainer’s Magazine Vol 18 Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

2002 - Mysterious Mountains / Skyridge

• Articuno

• Moltres

---

ADV-PCG / EX

---

2004 - PLAY / Tin ex Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

2004 - Flight of Legends / FRLG ex Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

2004 - Rocket’s ex Trio - Rocket Gang Strikes Back + Decks / TRR

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno - Silver Deck

• Zapdos

• Moltres - Black Deck

---

DP-Pt

---

2007 - DP4 / Majestic Dawn Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

2008 - Gift Box DPt Half Decks / Supreme Victors Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno - Piplup Half Deck

• Zapdos - Turtwig Half Deck

• Moltres - Chimchar Half Deck

---

• 2009 - Zapdos SP - Advent of Arceus / Arceus

• 2009 - Zapdos - Melee! Pokemon Scramble / Rumble

BW

---

2011 - BW3 / Next Destinies Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

2012 - Plasma Storm EX Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno - BW7

• Zapdos - Kyurem Black EX Deck

• Moltres - Kyurem White EX Deck

---

• 2012 - Articuno EX SR - BW7 / Plasma Storm

---

2013 - BW3 AA Trio - EBB / Legendary Treasures

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

XY

---

2017 - XY6 / Roaring Skies

• Articuno

• Articuno - Ancient Trait

• Zapdos

---

2016 - XY6 Full Art AA - Generations / 20th Anniversary Starter Pack

• Articuno

• Zapdos

---

• 2016 - Moltres - xy10 / Fates Collide

• 2016 - Moltres - Fates Collide AA Pre Release / CP5

SM

• 2018 - Articuno GX - sm6b / Celestial Storm

• 2018 - Articuno GX SR - sm6b / Celestial Storm

• 2018 - Articuno GX HR - sm6b / Celestial Storm

• 2018 - Moltres - sm7a / Lost Thunder

• 2018 - Articuno GX SSR - sm8b / Hidden Fates

---

2018 - Eevee GX Starter Set / Fall 2018 Collector Chest Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

2018 - Team Up Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno - sm9

• Zapdos - sm8b

• Moltres - sm9

---

• 2018 - Zapdos - CoroCoro Ichiban / Hidden Fates

• 2019 - Zapdos - Team Up AA Pre Release / sm12a

• 2019 - Tag Team GX - sm10b / Hidden Fates

• 2019 - Tag Team GX SR - sm10b / Hidden FAtes

• 2019 - Tag Team GX SR SA - sm10b / Hidden Fates ETB Promo

• 2019 - Tag Team GX HR - sm10b / Hidden Fates

• 2019 - Tag Team GX UR - sm12a

SwSh

• 2020 - Zapdos - s4 / Vivid Voltage

---

2021 - Galarian V Trio - s5a / Chilling Reign

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

2021 - Galarian V SR Trio - s5a / Chilling Reign

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

2021 - Galarian V SR SA Trio - s5a / Chilling Reign

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

2021 - Galarian Trio - s7D / Evolving Skies

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

2021 - Galarian AA Trio - Evolving Skies Pre Release / s12a

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

2021 - Galarian V CSR/TG Trio - VMAX Climax / Astral Radiance

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

2021 - Galarian V UR Trio - Start Deck 100 / Brilliant Stars

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

• 2022 - Moltres - s9 / Brilliant Stars

• 2022 - Moltres - Brilliant Stars AA Pre Release / s0 Charizard VSTAR vs Rayquaza VMAX Deck

---

2022 - Pokemon GO Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos

• Moltres

---

• 2022 - Articuno - s11a/Silver Tempest

---

2022 - Galarian AR Trio [s7D/Evolving Skies] - s12a / Crown Zenith Tin Promos

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Galarian Articuno

• Galarian Zapdos

• Galarian Moltres

---

SV

---

2023 - Pokemon Card 151 Trio

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• Articuno

• Zapdos ex

• Moltres

---

• 2023 - Zapdos ex SR - 151

• 2023 - Zapdos ex SAR (Trio Cameo) - 151

• 2023 - Zapdos ex AA - Champion’s League Prize / Zapdos ex Box

• 2024 - Zapdos - sv5a / Twilight Masquerade

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"E4's Favorite" Polls - Archive

Overview Why I began doing these polls in December 2023 as a way to see how the community here ranks cards of various Pokemon or types of cards. Sometimes we may have an idea of what is #1, but what might round out the top 10? It’s hard to guess, and we always end up surprised in the end. It is also a great avenue to learn about new cards of Pokemon we may not have seen before. As time goes on and the quantity of these becomes overwhelming, I figured it would be beneficial to have them all g…

[ReganRampage]

Holy smokes we made it through

[ddk]

I like birbs

[inertgeometry]

i tried to make everything more consolidated, but it may lead to people skipping over many of the trio rating polls. Try to make sure to cast your opinions on the trios

there were quite a few trios i think are solid as a set, but i like none of the cards specifically (such as the ANA set)

however, there are some trios that don’t have any cohesion necessarily, but are carried by insanely nice art like this beauty

also for full disclosure, my design ratings were:

• Articuno - 7
• Zapdos - 6
• Moltres - 4
• G Articuno - 5
• G Zapdos - 10
• G Moltres - 8

if i were to rate them as a sub-legendary set (similar to like the johto beasts, regis, forces of nature, etc…), i’d say:

• kanto forms - 6
• galar forms - 7

[ReganRampage]

Ill always be a fan of the 3 but articuno was always a favorite

[thsigma]

Lotta good arts early on

[lamplamp]

Articuno is the best bird

[Soda_Eesti]

My brain died during this. Im just glad its over with. Zapdos is king but all 3 have good designs. Altho i dont really like to judge pokemon based on a design.

[ElijahtheTraveler]

I found myself voting for the kanto articuno and the galarian zapdos the most. I do think that articuno got some of the better cards out of the trio.

[inertgeometry]

yeah these big polls are intense. i think this will be the last one with so many options for a while.

[PkmnTrnAnt]

28 minutes later….i think zapdos will prevail, just like he does against the other two birds

[azulryu]

I knew I liked the original trio but I didn’t realize the extent at which I liked them.

Also, I have to say, Moltres was the weakest in my opinion in artwork for the first half (with some noted exceptions) but then absolutely glowed up the second half.

[brendantheclayboy]

Articuno is the best obviously, but it’s even more evident that he consistently gets the best artwork too. Love it.

[bk2021]

How do people feel about Pokemon in sets receiving equal treatment?

Most of the times they have printed, each got recognition with the clear exceptions being the XY Evolutions missing Moltres and when one of them is picked as a rule box/RR card; Articuno in both BW and SM and Zapdos in SV.

[Dyl]

I think @brendantheclayboy said it best; Articuno almost always outshines the other two. When trios were concerned, I mostly voted for Articuno and Zapdos, only to be let down by the Moltres art.

Fossil Articuno is one of my favorite cards ever. I remember the feeling of seeing the legendary birds in Pokemon 2000 and capturing Articuno in Pokemon Blue and Yellow. Oof, such a cool set of legendaries.

[LM23]

Love the original birds, Articuno is my favourite by a distance.

The new fake ones make me a little sick in my mouth but there’s a few nice arts of them that I voted for

[c0ll3ct0r]

Zapdos has always been one of the most important Pokemon to me.

The fourth holo I pulled from Base, a constant companion through six competitive generations, extremely badass soundtrack in Pokemon 2000, great sprites since day one, a focal point on my Stadium teams. The design is almost as pointy as it gets, you catch him in an abandoned Power Plant. Zapdos is maxed out.

Card wise, I think the birds are mostly even. They all have a few great cards, some decent cards, and a lot of bad (mostly modern) cards. But Zapdos is weaker than the others when it comes to modern illustrations.

[joponnes]

That was a rollercoaster. The birbs are absolutely my favourite trio and i voted every single card up to skyridge but after that the quality severely dropped until hidden fates and galarian trio which is imo a very succesful remake of them. Zapdos is my favourite of them by clear margin and i was a bit biased to vote cards of it, but other two really had some top picks too like both molters cards made by Shinji Kanda.

[Drew12]

Some really great cards. I’m surprised the ooyama and kanda moltres donthave more votes. Also, the vending moltres raised foot is drawn so poorly, it makes no sense.
I voted for more moltres and zapdos cards than articuno, and I think the galarian zapdos is the worst of all 6 designs.

I think the best set is the Hitoshi Ariga, really need to pick them up.

[inertgeometry]

it’s annoying for binder collectors lol

at least with 151, the zapdos sar features all three

@Drew12

and I think the galarian zapdos is the worst of all 6 designs.

that’s so funny bc i feel the complete opposite

tbf i have a soft spot for road runners irl. maybe that’s why i like it so much