From Prismatic Evolutions to Phantasmal Flames, 2025 has been a hell of a year for the Pokémon TCG. There may have been a shortage of products and plenty of stock limits, but there's certainly been no shortage of gorgeous chase cards. With such a variety of preferences, artwork, and even art styles, it's hard to rank them against so many of the best Pokémon cards. But I am going to, so there's that.
A few things to note - this isn't a list of the most expensive Pokémon cards of this year, nor is it a definitive selection. These are my personal favorite cards of the Pokémon TCG from 2025. To make things even simpler, I'm only including the English sets of 2025, so no Mega Dream ex here unfortunately (although, pretty sure that would take home all of the awards). With that all being said, here are my top choices. That also means no Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR - my mother always told me if I had nothing nice to say, then I should keep my Pokétrap shut.
7. Umbreon ex #161 (Prismatic Evolutions)
Adorned with a vibrant Terastal crown, and shining over the rest of the year, Umbreon ex #161 is hard not to mention in a personal chase list. Not only did it kick off the year with an absolute banger, but it was also a metaphorical starting shot, as plenty of people raced to grab as much stock as they could. Part of that is due to Umbreon VMAX Alt Art's continued reign, but it's also due to it being a beautiful card in its own right.
Why is it at 7? Well, as much as I love it, I think 2025's had some better chases. It's still one of this year's top singles, with the moon shining behind the black-navy hues of the Eeveelution, but I personally think it's a little overrated, and calling it this year's biggest chase may be correct, but it's not my opinion. That's data, and I care about feelings, not numbers.
6. Ethan's Ho-Oh ex #230 (Destined Rivals)
Destined Rivals was the only expansion this year I didn't spend all my hard-earned cash on, mainly because I knew that the Team Rocket focus would make it difficult to collect, but also because I wasn't really interested. However, if I did start a master set (maybe once the price tide lowers), my first purchase would be Ethan's Ho-Oh ex #230, an SIR so gorgeous and full of nostalgia that I almost spent all my money on Destined Rivals anyway.
Showcasing the legendary Pokémon soaring above Ethan, graceful and free, it's an absolutely stunning card that makes me look fondly on my days playing HeartGold. On its own, it's gorgeous, but with the rest of Destined Rivals, it truly stands out as a brilliant chase, one that deserves to be above the rest, even that SIR that's too expensive right now.
5. Hop's Zacian ex #186 (Journey Together)
I'm not a huge Sword and Shield fan, but I absolutely adore Zacian's design, and whenever there's a Zacian chase, I'm all in. As soon as I saw Hop's Zacian ex #186 as part of Journey Together's gorgeous card list, I was hooked, and while it's eluded me so far, I'm still buying these packs solely in my attempt to pull it eventually.
Why do I love it? That's easy. It's not showcasing Zacian's power, nor is it showing him in a destructive pose - it's an adorable sign of comfort, with Hop gently stroking the legendary 'mon as it looks over fondly at its trainer. It captures the heart of Pokémon; it's not about battles, it's not about catching 'em all, but rather, the bond between a trainer and his team, and I think this artwork captures that extremely well.
4. Rotom ex #126 (Phantasmal Flames)
If Hop's Zacian from Journey Together is a showcase of the bond between trainer and Pokémon, the Rotom ex #126 SIR from Phantasmal Flames is a display of how amazing the designs of 'mon can be. With Rotom in all its glory, and a background full of electronics and previous gadgets that Rotom has taken over, it's a gorgeous SIR that retains and highlights the 'mon's unique style.
Even though there's a double Charizard chase, which I'm not going to complain about here (you can read my Phantasmal Flames review for more of that), the entire card list is full of incredible hits. Rotom ex #126 stands out as an excellent chase - and it's definitely not helped by my love of Pokémon Platinum (okay, maybe it is).
3. Vaporeon ex #149 (Prismatic Evolutions)
Sure, Umbreon may be the most expensive, but which one do I love the most? That honor goes to Vaporeon ex #149 from Prismatic Evolutions, with an adorable take on one of the cutest Pokémon, wearing the familiar Terastal crown while splashing in a shallow puddle. It's glorious, it's utterly beautiful, and it should be illegal for people put Sylveon and Umbreon over this cute little fella.
All of the Eeveelutions are absolutely fantastic, but the one I truly love is Vaporeon. Do I own this chase? Not a chance - in fact, I haven't managed to get any packs of Prismatic since I got some ETBs at launch, but when the dust settles, I'm definitely trying to get this chase once again.
2. Zekrom ex #166 (Black Bolt)
Black Bolt and White Flare were a special pair of Pokémon sets when they were released, and I imagine they were better if you could actually get some. However, in my eyes, Black Bolt is the preference, and even as a Reshiram stan, I cannot deny the beautiful power behind Zekrom ex #166, a gorgeous SIR that displays the aura of the legendary 'mon.
Floating lightly off a clifftop and creating a thunderstorm of power, with lightning strikes chaotically surrounding it, Zekrom ex #166 is a personal favorite of mine. It was tough to pick between this and the all-black SIR that remains Black Bolt's priciest card, but both are solid choices over the Red Victini.
1. N's Reshiram #167 (Journey Together)
It was hard to pick a chase from White Flare, especially when Journey Together already had my favorite take on Reshiram. As soon as I saw this card revealed with the Japanese Battle Partners set, I was hooked, and it was the first time I bought a single, ever (and that started a whole new trend of me buying chases). N's Reshiram #167 has been painstakingly designed with loads of beautiful details and depicts the mythical Pokémon effortlessly carrying N and floating gracefully in front of hues of white and grey.
It's an absolutely stunning pick, and while there is technically a stamped version with the Journey Together Enhanced booster box, it's also available within packs. For that reason, it counts as a chase, and for that reason, it is my top pick for 2025. Few cards have captured my heart instantly, and it's hard not to remember the feeling I had the first time I saw it.
Agree with me? Don't agree with me? Either way, make sure to join our Wargamer Discord so you can chat with me and other like-minded trainers about the latest sets or any upcoming expansions.