100% Emerging Powers, though it does have a few very cute commons / uncommons.
4 Likes
While I personally agree, the general sentiment online is that its lacking.
1 Like
Steam Siege is one of the best XY sets. I said it. 
4 Likes
Pokémon GO, 6 years too little too late
5 Likes
steam siege hate is brainwash from influencers
real. as far as english, it probably is the best.
5 Likes
Let’s just say that if you offered me Steam Siege or a mystery pack, I’d go with the mystery option
2 Likes
Pogo was the right set at the wrong time.
Steam siege is legitimately good, just put into way too much product and just everywhere at the time.
Crimson Invasion had lusamine.
Emerging powers, especially coming right off the HGSS era, was just disappointing. Even if you are a fan of the genies, the chase cards are just so bland. The C/U/Rs are nice though, but the same can be said about almost every set.
3 Likes
Can’t be right! 
Because you did not include Emerging Powers!
Just giving you a hard time. But Steam Siege does have some home runs…
Seriously tho, I think that what makes a set bad is that it IS NOT a reprint or nostalgia set, but fails to be anything other than present.
Of those sets, Emerging Powers takes the cake with few or no interesting cards. It is sandwiched between the first set of a new gen (BW), and the first set that would include Full Art trainers, and additional ultra rares (Noble Victories). Emerging powers has only 2 ultra rare Full arts, and less popular ones at that, no Full Art trainers, and a small card count.
That last one is a significant point. This means that it has fewer potential cards that people could want, but compare it to other sets that have low counts:
- Jungle
- Fossil
- Rocket
- Neo Disco
- Neo Rev
- Legend Maker
- Unleashed
- Undaunted
- Champions Path
There are others like Aqua Magma, but I think it’s clear: many of these sets above have more set identity than Emerging Powers, and I think this is a big part of it’s failing when combined with the other factors.
1 Like
saw a couple of people say this, but what was so bad about PoGo timing? I like the art and stamps
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It should have come out in 2016 or 2017.
3 Likes
The Pokemon GO sets sucked so hard. They could have done so much more with it.
4 Likes
for sure, you can usually do more with a set.
151 being the notable exception in recent memory. Loved the set coherence throughout and excited for the reprint. 151 being the set that brought me back into the hobby
1 Like
Its special art cards are limited to 2, and are CGI illustrations of Pokémon whose other cards in the set are also CGI. Okay overall execution of what the set represents for the game, but very poorly received amidst what the rest of 2022’s sets had to offer. Unsurprisingly it was the only set that didn’t sell out by the end of that year
1 Like
Pogo would have been much better served reflecting the actual nature of Pokemon Go hype when it came out, and reflecting the community that exists around it now.
Where were the artworks of players crowding around a Pokestop/Gym that was attached to a statue, or landmark of some description. A Pokemon comically running away from a horde of players trying to catch it, or a player riding a bike with 9 eggs stuffed into a basket on the front of the bike.
They could have played with it so much.
8 Likes
pokemon go managed to be the only set to make ugly alt arts
3 Likes
Definitely … The Peelable Ditto mechanic was cool, but it was poorly implemented considering that Ditto could transform in more mons in the game …
Set lacks of references of the events, mechanics from the game (Shadow Pokémon, etc)
What I hate the most about the expansion is that any competitive mon appears in the expansion … Neither Medicham nor G-Fisk appears … and Conkeldurr yes (which is kinda ironic due to by the time the expansion was released, almost anyone had it)
1 Like
I kind of think the Mewtwo Alternate art and the dragonite vstar box were the two well executed parts of the set… the dragonite box represents you catching dragonite and the Mewtwo alt art actually encapsulates the menace of a Mewtwo in your city.
3 Likes
I don’t have a definitive answer but sets like Magma v Aqua, some of the B&W sets…any that are heavy on CG and bland artwork.
Never paid much attention to PoGo before but I just looked at the setlist and it’s mostly a forgettable set. A few decent arts but too much CG and bland art. I also can’t stand big set stamps intruding on cards… it’s why I also have no love for Celebrations.
Forbidden Light is also pretty terrible. Rainbows being the best cards in a set is never good. I specifically like it just because it has Greninja cards, but aside from those everything else is pretty trash.
I’m surprised how many people are saying Emerging Powers. I hear so little chatter about BW era I wouldn’t expect it to come to people’s minds.
1 Like