Is Play! the greatest promo set of all time?

[inertgeometry]

(please forgive the scuffed gallery of images pulled from google searches)

It has everything from cheap/easily obtainable cards that were reprinted in english, unique jp exclusive artworks (quite a decent % tbf), holo energies, and a couple of the most prestigious tcg prize cards short of a trophy card (considering how hard it allegedly was to reach the 50 and 70k points needed for the espeon and umbreon).
I especially like the last three cards and how unique they are for exes where nearly all others of this rarity were cgi by Ryo Ueda

is Play! the greatest promo set of all time? (up to this date)

• great points inert, i totally agree as always
• ex is still bad and these are mid
• too common. snap or art academy is much better
• i’d still take wotc black star over these if i had to choose
• does vending count? if so, that would be my vote

[c0ll3ct0r]

You put the Regis first.

[needszeebs]

You are very right and it is for that exact reason I must request you delete this thread (with love)

[caughtatpoint]

I feel like there isn’t a whole lot of cohesion between ‘subsets’. For example, the _'s cards are incredible, but don’t really flow well into the gold stars (which are also incredible).

I like how the _'s card all got exs though. As a whole I’d still put PLAY promos in the top tier, but wouldn’t feel comfortable saying it’s the best.

[stagecoach]

I adore this set. It single-handedly pushed my strict “Gen I+II” boundary into the RSE era because these cards are irresistible. Some of the most beautiful binder pages I own.

I will never complete the set due to the inaccessibility of the high-level file stars, which also usually deters me from ever collecting a category. But like I said before — I find this set irresistible.

[inertgeometry]

they are 001, 002, and 003 i believe lol

[kamon]

I’ll be honest - I don’t know much about this set. But hot damn those energies look sick.

[inertgeometry]

tbf it isn’t a set like that. it was just random prize packs for signing up for the season and racking up X amount of points. the prize cards were reflective of the era, so exes mainly, powerful special energies, and then the ___'s cards were given out at the start of the year for fun (at least that is my understanding).

the eevee gold stars were the highest tiers of prizes awarded with it getting significantly more unrealistic to obtain as you went up. if you don’t think of this as a “set” and think of it more like a collection of promos, it has cohesion imo

[Dyl]

One of the best sets ever released.

[caughtatpoint]

@inertgeometry

if you don’t think of this as a “set” and think of it more like a collection of promos

That’s a good point. I mean they were given out over 4 years. Most eras are only 3 years.

[sthrnislandstrading]

I think they are incredible, and I don’t dispute their supremacy amongst promos, except (and maybe it’s the fact that I just went through my vending set today) the Masaki Promos edge them out because of the novel mechanic, scarcity, and the delightful art. That Gengar always gets me, even in the Web Series…

[trainerjack]

The best in my opinion. I loved when they would do these point based clubs and players club was the best of them all!

[ddk]

The '___‘s’ promos are super undervalued right now, considering their history, unique artwork and Pokemon featured. Nishida’s Mew, Fukuda’s Groudon and Arita’s Rayquaza are some of the best arts of their respective legendaries.

The Mew ex is also a gorgeous, JP-exclusive prize card that represents the ex era well and won’t [completely] break the bank unlike trophies.

[cyberurchin]

Good on you man. You’ve awakened your third eye. (Cabal Trademark)

[thsigma]

ex bad

[expedition]

As a collector of the set, YES. (also if you wish I can supply some - not all unfortunately - coherent pictures for your gallery?)

[zork]

@ddk

The '___‘s’ promos are super undervalued right now

brb, monkey-brained FOMO kicking in

Nishida’s Mew is one of my favs of all time and has been on my list for a while, but ironically enough it’s too “affordable” compared to my other goals so it hasn’t been a priority for me. But now I’m thinking of acting up.

[needszeebs]

@zork

ironically enough it’s too “affordable” compared to my other goals so it hasn’t been a priority for me.

This

[E-Unit]

McDonald’s will always be my

[tcgmaine]

It is definitely up there, but I’m too bitter at not being able to afford it all to make it number one.