Setiap Pokémon TCG: Kartu Pikachu Perayaan ke-30, Peringkat

I love Yuu Nishida as an artist! She won the first ever Pokémon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix; a contest that gives unknown artists a shot at having their work turned into a Pokémon card, and has been an Pokémon TCG official illustrator since 2019. Her pastry chef Sylveon V alternate art from Evolving Skies and the Dachsbun ex from Japan’s Stellar Miracle are two of my favorite cards of all time. This is such a classic Pikachu card, but it’s not my personal favorite Pikachu card she’s ever made - I prefer her Celebratory Fanfare Pikachu’s. Still, it’s such a baseline standard Pikachu card, it’s well worth adding to your collection.

29. Pikachu - 044/128

This Pikachu card from akagi, best known for their iconic Greninja ex from Twilight Masquerade, really stands out in binders with its 3D pop. I love how the Pikachu’s look like they’re springing out the card, I’m just not personally a fan of their digital 3D models - they did something similar on their Scream Tail ex from Twilight Masquerade.

28. Pikachu - 032/128

This is easily one of the most abstract pieces of art in the collection, and definitely one of the more polarizing. I appreciate a creative swing on a card, and it’s no surprise it’s the most expensive on the list for that alone. Tomokazu Komiya's cads tend to fetch a pretty penny, known for his eccentric, expressionist art style, especially on cards like Neo Discovery’s Politoed and Scarlet & Violet’s surreal Drowzee.

27. Pikachu - 045/128

When you think of Naoyo Kimura and Pikachu, this isn’t the first card that comes to mind. They are the illustrator behind the infamous Van Gogh Pikachu, and it’s hard to beat that. This is a nice card, a dusky, pastel nighttime scene with a gentle Pikachu mid-step.

26. Pikachu - 049/128

This card is like the evil twin of Van Gogh Pikachu, wish its brushstrokes and determined grin. Smirking directly at the viewer against a gleaming backdrop, this portrait from Nurikabe serves pure sass. I like it, because most of the other Pikachu’s in this set show off its happy demeanour more pure attitude than nearly any other card in the subset.

25. Pikachu - 051/128

This high-voltage card from nagimiso reminds me of the recent Electric-type Gym leaders, with neon aesthetics. Leaping and curling through edy, abstract shapes, it reminds me of their famous Jolteon V artwork, making it a fitting style for Pokémon's premier Electric-type mascot.

24. Pikachu - 050/128

Shimaris Yukichi’s artwork captures a full-cheeked Pikachu stuffing its face in a sunlit meadow, with berries scattered across a field. What really makes the composition pop is Pika’s thick, clean white outline, giving it a fun, pop-art look of an actual sticker pasted onto the card. Known for bringing cute, round Pokémon to life in charmingly simple environments, Yukichi delivers a delightfully goofy slice-of-life moment that stands out as an instant feel-good favorite.

23. Pikachu - 025/128

Satoma has created a peaceful, low-key illustration of Pikachu smiling happily in a sunny flower shop. satoma, who previously drew the coveted Special Illustration Rare for Lillie's Determination brings that same soft, warm feel to this card.

22. Pikachu - 040/128

Unquestionably the busiest card in the set, this card by Shinji Kanda brings their distinct pointillist art style to Pikachu. You might know them best for their iconic Magikarp card from Paldea Evolved, which has a Classic Collection reprint for the 30th Celebration. It’s no wonder that this card is the most expensive on the list.

21. Pikachu - 043/128

I’ve never seen a more relaxed Pikachu; OOYAMA’s little guy is lying asleep on a tropical beach under swaying palm trees. This earned an extra point for its Ability - Tropical Vibes - which puts Pikachu to sleep in order to refresh your hand up to six cards.

20. Pikachu - 024/128

Cool design, very anime-esque! There's a brilliant use of negative space within the electric sparks that makes Pikachu feel even more powerful, but overall, it just doesn’t fully grab me compared to the rest of the lineup.

Pulling off a vicious Volt Tackle, Pikachu cracks the bedrock beneath it. danciao has rapidly become one of the TCG's premier action illustrators, having drawn the Zekrom ex SIR (Black Bolt), Iron Valiant ex SIR (Prismatic Evolutions), and the widely praised Mega Charizard X ex SIR (Phantasmal Flames). This card radiates that exact same explosive, about-to-detonate energy collectors have come to expect from danciao’s high-octane portfolio!

19. Pikachu - 023/128

I might catch some flack for putting the goat this low on the list, but we all agreed on this ranking! The original 1997 'Fat Pikachu' from Ken Sugimori has an unspeakable aura - this remake is lovely, but it just doesn’t hit quite the same as the iconic watercolors of the OG.

Still, it feels completely right for Game Freak's primary art director to be featured in this anniversary subset. Ken Sugimori lovingly pays homage to his classic Jungle expansion artwork here. Having illustrated well over a thousand cards dating all the way back to Base Set Blastoise, Sugimori’s inclusion beautifully bridges the gap between 1996 and today.

18. Pikachu - 042/128

Pikachu leaps through a pastel dreamscape filled with floating geometry that fly past like confetti. Akira Komayama is one of the most prolific freelance artists in the TCG's history, having illustrated over 200 cards since 2010—including iconic pieces like the Chilling Reign Galarian Zapdos V alt art and Ascended Heroes’ Iono's Bellibolt ex TAG TEAM GX.

17. Pikachu - 038/128

I’m a big fan of Tetsu Kayama’s textured, orange peel effect on their cards. The fun little blue sparks coming out of this Pikachu’s cheeks in a starburst pattern, with its grumpy little face, makes me really want to pick up this card.

16. Pikachu - 041/128

Dangling from a thick tree branch, Rianti Hidayat’s Pikachu’s polygonal shape contrasts nicely with the curves of the leaves around it. The low-poly smile really reminds me of the N64 game Hey You, Pikachu, which doesn’t get enough attention when celebrating 30 years of Pokémon.

15. Pikachu - 039/128

Pikachu is loafing on a charmingly rustic doorstep, bathing in the dappled sunlight. While Teeziro is famous for darker, dramatic masterpieces like the Evolving Skies Umbreon V, their ability to handle cinematic lighting carries over perfectly to this cozy urban scene.

For the record, I gave this card a personal 5/5! However, my "impartial" Discord judges docked points because Pikachu is so tiny that he’s technically not the focal point of the card. You decide if that’s fair or not.

14. Pikachu - 046/128

Svlt’s Pikachu rests happily against a sun-warmed stone beside vibrant pink blossoms, soaking up every bit of warmth. He looks like a satisfied old man basking in the afternoon rays! Have you ever been as completely, utterly content as this Pikachu? No, me neither.

13. Pikachu - 033/128

Tucked away inside a blooming bush, this Pikachu peers cautiously through bright pink flowers. Known for soft watercolor storybook scenes, Narumi Sato's naturalistic art is behind my favourite card of all time - Eevee - 188/167 from Twilight Masquerade.

12. Pikachu - 031/128

This is easily the longest Pikachu I have ever seen—complete with a flat, squished face! I have three British Shorthair cats at home, and one of them absolutely loves knocking stuff off my desk while I’m trying to write. This card gives me the same energy; perched on a cluttered desk littered with open books, stationery, and office supplies, this card from Atsushi Furusawa captures a cozy, chaotic slice-of-life moment in the Pokémon world.

11. Pikachu - 027/128

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small, stuffed yarn creatures and characters. Artist Asako Ito works almost exclusively in fiber arts, meticulously stitching each doll and posing them in custom felt environments, giving this card a real tactile feel.

10. Pikachu - 028/128

Lost in thought with an Ability called Lonely Gaze, this melancholic little Pikachu does something a little different from any other card on this list.

sowsow captures a quiet, bittersweet moment here, depicting Pikachu curled up on plush pillows hugging a Poké Ball cushion while staring off into the distance. It displays the exact cozy, domestic charm sowsow is known for, though there is a tragic layer if you look closely at the framed picture hanging on the wall in the background. The storytelling says so much with so little, landing at number 10 on this list.

9. Pikachu - 048/128

Nuzzled deep inside a dense, mosaic-like arrangement of colorful fruit, Pikachu is rendered in thousands of intricate, pointillist dots that feel like looking at a stained-glass window up close. Illustrator Kiyotaka Oshiyama—who famously drew the fan-favorite Charizard VSTAR SWSH262 promo—brings a legendary animation pedigree to the card game. Beyond his TCG contributions, Oshiyama is an acclaimed anime director and animator, having helmed the critically lauded 2024 film Look Back and contributed key animation to powerhouse projects like Chainsaw Man and Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron. His rare TCG appearances are always a treat, and this richly detailed Pikachu is a absolute feast for the eyes!

8. Pikachu - 052/128

After winning Pokémon's 2024 Illustration Contest with a sleepy Pikachu promo and landing a Special Art Rare on Mega Rayquaza ex in Storm Emeralda, Kazuki Minami returns with an energetic, crackling Pikachu, with a washed watercolour effect you can’t help but compare to the legendary Sugimori scans. Going from contest winner to flagship anniversary contributor in two years is an incredible rise, and it’s great to support upcoming artists!

7. Pikachu - 026/128

Pikachu presses his face completely flat against the glass, looking down from an open skylight with its snout squished against the window pane. Takeshi Nakamura candid, unposed style brings fantastic physical comedy to the piece, capturing a hilarious "caught in the act" perspective. Plus, I love that its move is Peer At, and he’s looking down at you while squished on a skylight.

6. Pikachu - 030/128

Soaring through a neon-soaked city street at night, DOM’s urban Pika card is a steal for under a dollar. The sparks flying from it makes Pikachu look like a glowing high-speed projectile, almost like a UFO!

5. Pikachu - 036/128

Peeking out from around a wooden staircase banister, with its iconic red cheeks adorably squished up against the railing, OKACHEKE has pictured Pikachu caught completely mid-sneak, looking like it got caught somewhere it definitely shouldn't be! It’s something so playful, even that high-ish price tag can't knock it from 5th place.

4. Pikachu - 034/128

You can't help but fall in love with this little fella—it’s been memed endlessly across social timelines for good reason! Following the massive success of their iconic "Bubble Mew" Special Illustration Rare in Paldea Fates, artist USGMEN delivers another instant fan favorite. It’s such a simple illustration, yet it captures the feeling of seeing a friend you haven't seen in ages unexpectedly.

3. Pikachu - 035/128

You don’t often see Pikachu portrayed like a feline - it is a Mouse Pokémon, after all! But here it is, lying fully tums-up in a delightfully cat-like pose. I love Susumu Maeya’s soft textures and quiet storytelling style, which give this budget card a very special feel.

2. Pikachu - 029/128

I absolutely love James Turner’s creative eye - the former Game Freak Art Director (Sword & Shield) and current Creative Director at TPCi delivers one of the cleanest cards in the entire set.

Boasting bold, flat lines and zero shading, Pikachu leaps through a shower of flower petals in James Turner’s unmistakable pop-art style.

1. Pikachu - 047/128

Coming in at number one has to be Pikachu’s original creator! One of the first Pokemon designers, Atsuko Nishida was brought on after Sugimori realised he had made his Pokémon designs too scary. We have her to thank for introducing the world to this electric mascot. True to reputation, this card is absolutely adorable and gets a perfect 20 in my eyes, taking the undisputed #1 crown.