Pokemon Fans Are Debating the Ugliest Cards in the Franchise

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Pokémon fans are debating which trading cards are the least attractive, and several examples of particularly disliked cards have surfaced. Surprisingly, some fans actually appreciate these ‘ugly’ cards so much that they’ve intentionally collected them because of their unique artwork.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game launched in the US in 1999 and has released countless sets in the 25 years since. Pokémon card artwork varies greatly, from basic sketches to incredibly detailed and beautiful designs. With so many cards created over the years, it’s inevitable that some haven’t been very popular with collectors.

Pokemon Fans Point to The Ugliest Cards Ever Made

A Reddit user, Significant-Car-4074, was asking for suggestions for the ugliest Pokémon cards to give as a funny Christmas gift. They used the Eevee GX SM233—a card featuring a chubby, strangely-shaped Eevee yawning—as an example. Other players quickly chimed in, with many pointing to Misdreavus, which some said had a large forehead and a crooked face. Another card often mentioned was an Eevee released with the Pokémon Sun & Moon series, noted for its disproportionate features.

As a long-time collector, I’ve been seeing some chatter online about the artwork on certain cards. A lot of people are really not fans of the 3D models used on some of them! One person even called Team Magma’s Rhydon “comically ugly,” though they admitted they kind of liked it because it was so ugly! It’s not just Rhydon either – the Alolan Persian GX and cards featuring Pokémon from the Detective Pikachu movie, like Jigglypuff, Snubbull, and Charizard GX, are getting similar criticism. Honestly, the more realistic designs from that movie were already a bit controversial when it came out, so it doesn’t totally surprise me that some players are having trouble with those cards now.

Like many fans, I’ve noticed some Pokémon cards with particularly unappealing designs over the years. While Grimer is meant to be a blob of sludge, its Aquapolis card just looks strangely off. The Charizard EX from the XY: Generations set has an open mouth that resembles a goose more than a powerful dragon. And the Mewtwo promo card released with the Mewtwo Strikes Back movie looks awkward, as if Mewtwo is crammed into a tiny space.

It’s easy to notice cards that aren’t visually appealing when so many Pokemon TCG cards are beautifully designed. There are plenty of adorable cards, like the Twilight Masquerade Eevee, which depicts a cozy room overflowing with playful Eevee. The Pikachu full art card from the Generations: Radiant Collection is equally charming, showing a delightful heap of Pikachu. Some cards are remarkable for their intricate detail, such as the Cleffa from Obsidian Flames, which features a stunning starry sky reflected around the Pokemon and a shooting star. And the Ancient Mew card remains distinctive after all these years thanks to its unique design resembling an ancient stone tablet.

After 25 years and with over 1000 Pokémon, most fans have strong opinions about which cards look good and which don’t. While a card’s power is often the main reason people want it, sometimes it’s the artwork that makes a card truly memorable.

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2025-11-27 10:04