The beloved mascot of the Pokemon series, Pikachu has been the star of many cards in the Pokemon TCG, appearing in lots of different scenarios and art styles because of the many illustrators who have put forward their own interpretation of this electric mouse Pokemon.

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Because of Pikachu’s popularity, it’s unsurprising that there are over 100 cards depicting this Pokemon. All of them are adorable in their own right, but there are some that stand out from the rest because of the illustrator’s individual style and the composition of the card, including the background, color scheme, and Pikachu itself. Whether they’re old or new prints, these Pikachu cards are some of the best.

10 Sparks Fly: Pikachu (Neo Genesis #70)

Pikachu (Neo Genesis 70)

One of the early Pokemon TCG Pikachu cards, this card’s purple and yellow color scheme balances well, creating a striking card that depicts Pikachu seemingly mid-battle, emitting bolts of lightning. This card’s nighttime scene emphasizes Pikachu’s neon yellow coloring, as it leaps out of the dark in a battle-ready pose.

While many other Pikachu cards have been printed since, this card still holds up because of Pikachu’s dynamic pose and the card’s overall vivid colors. Its distinct style set the precedent for many Pikachu cards today.

9 Somewhere Over The Rainbow: Rainbow Rare Pikachu VMAX (Vivid Voltage #188)

Rainbow Rare Pikachu VMAX (Vivid Voltage #188)

Printed in the Vivid Voltage set, the Rainbow Rare Pikachu VMAX is a secret rainbow recoloring of the standard Pikachu VMAX card. The card depicts Pikachu in its Gigantamax form from Pokemon Sword and Shield, towering over you in all its rainbow glory.

Gigantamax Pikachu has an excellent design that pays homage to the Pokemon’s original look, and this card commemorates this design with an added rainbow flair. In line with the other secret Rainbow Rares, this card has a pastel rainbow look, finished with a shiny sheen.

8 Happy Birthday To You: ____'s Pikachu (Celebrations #24)

____'s Pikachu (Celebrations #24)

Originally printed as part of the Wizards Black Star Promos set, ____'s Pikachu returned to the Pokemon TCG for the 25th-anniversary celebrations, revamping the colors to align with a more pastel theme. Kagemaru Himeno is the illustrator of these cards, and she has illustrated many classic Pokemon cards, such as Eevee from the Jungle set.

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The card features an illustration of Pikachu presenting you with a birthday cake with bright colors to match the celebratory theme. The card also gives you the option to write your name and birthday on it (much to the dismay of collectors), letting you take advantage of the Birthday Surprise move when playing this card.

7 Pikachu Union: Pikachu V-UNION (SWSH Black Star Promos #141)

Pikachu V-UNION (SWSH Black Star Promos #141)

Part of the Sword and Shield Black Star Promos expansion, this Pikachu card features not one but seven Pikachu, with 25 Pikachu included in the full art, all drawn by different illustrators. What makes this card so great is the collaboration between all of these artists, each bringing their own twist to this iconic Pokemon.

From a classically adorable depiction of Pikachu illustrated by Sanosuke Sakuma to the sleepy-eyed, cat-faced Pikachu by Kouichi Ooyama (who's also featured on the Ooyama's Pikachu card), each artist’s interpretation of Pikachu is distinct, but they come together as a cohesive whole.

6 Pile Of Pikachu: Pikachu (Generations #RC29)

Pikachu (Generations #RC29)

The first Full Art Pikachu card released in the Pokemon TCG, this card, illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno (who also designed ____’s Pikachu), has a pile of Pikachu playing together in a flowery field. Each Pikachu has a different expression on its face, but they all seem to be having a great time.

It’s nice to see Pikachu playing together in TCG artwork, as the cards often depict a singular Pikachu. This fun atmosphere is also shown through the brightness of the illustration with clear blue skies and green grass.

5 Bonjour: Pikachu (World Collection #7)

Pikachu (World Collection #7)

Part of only a handful of Pikachu cards illustrated by the original creator of Pikachu, Atsuko Nishida, this card features a Pikachu turned away, peeking over its shoulder cutely, with the floral background taking inspiration from traditional oil paintings. This contrasts Pikachu’s bright yellow coloring, making it stand out as the focus of the card.

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This card is part of the World Collection series, a set of cards depicting different illustrators’ interpretations of Pikachu, with the information of the cards written in languages from around the world.

4 A Fungi: Pikachu (Unified Minds #56)

Pikachu (Unified Minds #56)

Illustrated by Misa Tsutsui and part of the Unified Minds series, this Pikachu card stands apart from others because of the almost ethereal scene it depicts. The card features a happy Pikachu sitting on the forest floor, surrounded by glowing lights and mushrooms, while the moon shines brightly in the background. The whole scene is reminiscent of Glimwood Tangle in Pokemon Sword and Shield, which also has similar glowing flora.

The card’s background and depiction of Pikachu makes for a unique card, especially when considering its lack of rarity.

3 Alola!: Pikachu (Crimson Invasion #30)

Pikachu (Crimson Invasion #30)

This Pikachu card is illustrated by Shibuzoh and is a great example of this illustrator’s unique art style. The card has a hand-drawn appearance and vivid colors, making for a fun card that reflects the vibrancy of the Alola region, which is shown in the background. You can clearly see the protagonist’s house and the Pokemon Centre in the Hau’oli Outskirts as they appear in Pokemon Sun and Moon.

The interpretation of Pikachu is also distinct, as its face is smaller and rounder than the average Pikachu.

2 Iconic Duo: Full Art Pikachu (Cosmic Eclipse #241)

Full Art Pikachu (Cosmic Eclipse #241)

Released as part of the Cosmic Eclipse expansion, this Full Art Pikachu card is illustrated by Hitoshi Ariga and is a Rare Secret card. The card shows Red choosing Pikachu in Professor Oak’s lab, drawn in an art style that’s similar to that of Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee.

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This card has a simple yet impactful design, depicting one of the most pivotal moments in the Pokemon series and the start of a lifelong friendship. Pikachu also looks adorable on this card, staring up at Red with an excited expression.

1 Nothing Beats The First: Pikachu (Celebrations #005)

Pikachu (Celebrations #005)

A Full Art rendition of the original 1999 Pikachu card illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita and released for the 25th-anniversary celebrations, this card features the original round Pikachu design and tones down the brightness of the first release. Pikachu’s design has changed a lot over the years, so it’s great to see the TCG pay homage to where it all began.

Keen eyes might also notice four more Pokemon lurking in the background of this card that weren’t present for the 1999 version - Butterfree, Parasect, Oddish, and Caterpie -, adding more depth to the forest background.

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