Exclusive GLC Arts!
Hello my name is Loni and I am here to show you all of the cool alternate arts for GLC relevant cards :)
Supporters
Green’s Exploration 196/173
Not playing basics with abilities can be off-putting but it allows you to use this amazing supporter for the early game, or trick your opponents when under ability lock. She has a unique full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag Team GX: Tag All Stars”.
Blue’s Tactics 193/173
Please don’t play this card, but if you really want to at least do it in style as it has a unique full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag All Stars”.
Red’s Challenge 201/173
Computer Search used to be the best ace spec in the game but what if we have a little searching in GLC too? You could use the vibrant full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag All Stars”.
Clay 199/173
Do you like PokéStop? What about mega PokéStop on a supporter? Then I have the perfect guy for you. He has a unique full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag All Stars”.
Will 189/173
Coinflip effects can ‘sometimes’ reward you with amazing benefits, but why take the gamble when you can use my dear friend Will over here. Showing off his magic tricks in this full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag All Stars”.
Hapu 195/173
This card is not seeing a lot of play but it can be a second copy of the recent Explorer’s Guidance which has a some usage in control decks. Like recently in Ursaluna Control! She has a unique full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag All Stars”.
Erika’s Hospitality 190/173
An underplayed draw supporter that has seen a slight increase in popularity for decks without a lot of on board draw abilities like Dark or Fighting. She has a unique full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag All Stars”.
Bellelba & Brycen-Man 194/173
If you are committed to your control deck this card is a must have. It even got banned in standard, the card must be broken then right? They have a unique full art only available from the Japanese set “Tag All Stars”.
Cynthia 95/95
Her time may be eventually over but until Lillie’s Determination comes out later this year, may we shuffle up and draw 6. We have the Japanese holo from “Double Blaze” which was a Play! Pokemon promo in the west, handed out at a Regional Championship. She also got an “Extra Battle Day” promo handed out in Japan only when attending one of their Expanded Events via packs.
Welder 64/64; 200/173
This card also has two alternate versions. The Japanese holo from “Remix Bout” which again, was a Play! Pokemon promo in the west, handed out at a Regional Championship. But also a unique full art from the Japanese Set “Tag All Stars”.
Tate & Liza 54/54
Twins hanging out together with their favorite pokemon, what more can you ask for? This card is part of the Japanese Set “GG End” and was turned into a “Battle Arena Deck” exclusive in the west.
Marnie
This card has one to three alternate versions, depending on how you want to look at it. The SWSH promos 120 & 121 are well known by players but there is mainly one less known alternative art, the exclusive “Extra Battle Day” promo which was obtained by attending some of the Japanese Expanded events.
Gladion 52/54
Sometimes a card is very important to your strategy and prizing it can be annoying. Gladion is occasionally played in decks like Rillasaur that have many evolving Pokemon. Maybe one day we will get a “Hisuian Heavy Ball” for evolutions, that would be sweet. Until then you may use this unique Japanese holo version from the set “Sky Legend”.
Volkner 95/95
A card that has been a Lightning staple slowly creeping into “Dragobox” and the like. He has a Japanese holo version from the set “Tag Bolt” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Challenge Reward for the Top 4 of said tournaments. It has an extra stamp depending on how well you placed at them.
Mallow & Lana
Tank and heal has fallen out of favor with all the turbo decks in the format but a well timed Mallow & Lana can still be game winning! This card got an exclusive promo card, again from the “Extra Battle Day” packs handed out in Japan if you attended one of their Expanded events and won a game.
Irida
A must play for every Water deck. Other types yearn for a card like that. Flex on them with this exclusive promo card from the “Extra Battle Day” packs handed out in Japan if you attend one of their expanded events. Quite new as it just released this year.
Raihan
In my opinion one of the strongest supporters for pretty much every deck. Most decks need a reason to not play this card and it happens to have an exclusive promo card from the “Extra Battle Day” packs.
Acerola 54/54
Denying prize cards is a very strong game mechanic and Acerola may be the best at that. There are two alternate versions, we have the Japanese holo one from “Full Metal Wall” which was a Play! Pokemon League Challenge Reward for the Top 4 of said tournaments, with an extra stamp depending on how well you placed at them. As well as a Japanese exclusive full art promo you were only able to receive for winning one of those “Extra Battle Day” Expanded tournaments in Japan.
Lusamine 54/54
Getting back important resources in a singleton format is very strong and who does that better than Lusamine? She has a Japanese holo print from the set “Sky Legend” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Challenge Reward for the Top 4 of said tournaments, with an extra stamp depending on how well you did at them.
Delinquent
“Scary miss” as it is called in Japanese has gotten a very fabulous full art Print in the “2017 Pokemon Premium Trainer Collection” but also a more unknown alternate print only found in the “Arena Battle Decks: Mega Charizard X vs. Mega Blastoise” showing her bathing a cute Poochyena.
Guzma 55/55
Our most beloved gust effect has two alternate versions. The Japanese holo from "Night Unison” which was turned into a Play! Pokemon promo in the west, handed out at a Regional Championship. But also a unique full art only handed out to winners of “Extra Battle Day” Expanded tournaments in Japan.
N
“N to 1” has won countless games but what if you pull up with the alternate art version? First released as a promotional card in Japan for purchasing product of Japan’s “Plasma Gale” set which was turned into a Play! Pokemon League reward in 2013/14 featuring a cool stamp and then reprinted in the “Battle Arena Decks: Rayquaza vs Keldeo” as non holo.
Professor Sycamore
Later known as “Professor’s Research", Professor Sycamore was a staple in every deck back in the day and he got treated with a unique printing in both holo as well as non holo in the "Battle Arena Decks: Black Kyurem vs. White Kyurem”
Roxanne
She joins us as the newest of the “Extra Battle Day” promos with a unique artwork showing off her love for rocks, or are they minerals?… It’s not even out yet.
Items
Electropower 52/55; 119/173
Lightning has had this card forever but Fighting is next! Every type would love such an item but not everyone gets blessed by big pika. Electropower has two alternate prints, the Japanese holo from “Night Unison” which was a Play! Pokemon League Reward in the west. But we also have unique Japanese artwork from the set “Tag Team GX: Tag All Stars”.
Escape Rope 51/54
Switch in style with this amazing Japanese holo from the set “GG End”.
Pal Pad 91/94
Very powerful in decks that can get the shuffled supporters right back from the deck like Psychic or traditional Dragon. It can function as a second VS Seeker. This card has a unique Japanese holo version from the set “Miracle Twin”.
Aqua Patch 92/95
You may play this fresh out of the box Aqua Patch Japanese holo from the set “Tag Bolt”.
Professor’s Letter
The best way to search out your energies and it got treated with a unique printing as both holo as well as non holo in the “Arena Battle Decks: Mega Charizard X vs. Mega Blastoise”.
Adventure Bag 93/95
In need of tools? Use this unique Japanese holo version from the set “Alter Genesis”.
Beast Ring 52/54
Dark has been hit quite hard with the latest bans of Double Colorless/Twin Energy and Guzzlord is still in need of energies. Perhaps this Japanese holo version from the set “Full Metal Wall” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Reward does him justice.
Mysterious Treasure 93/94; 135/173
Psychic and Dragon are regarded as two of the best types currently and these cute alternate printings were always right there to spice up your deck. This card has two alternate versions. We have the Japanese holo one from “Miracle Twin” which was a Play! Pokemon League Reward in the west. But we also have an unique Japanese artwork from the set “Tag All Stars”.
Acro Bike 61/64; 122/173
Need for Speed? Turbo up your deck with these amazing printings of Acro Bike. The card has two alternate versions. First the Japanese holo one from “Remix Bout” which was a Play! Pokemon League Reward in the west. But we also have gotten unique Japanese artwork from the set “Tag All Stars”.
Rescue Stretcher 93/95
The best recovery card to ever be printed is not unknown to most people but everybody can just buy a gold one. What about this Japanese holo version from the set “Double Blaze” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Reward?
Field Blower 93/95
Only the most confident players dare to cut this card from their deck. This artwork is very well known but still funny and originally a Japanese holo from the set “Tag Bolt” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Reward.
Enhanced Hammer 53/55
Ain’t no Okidogi bullying you ever again if you run this Japanese holo from the set “Night Unison” or the Play! Pokemon League Reward.
Max Potion 54/55
Why have only one Max Potion when you can have the whole stock with this Japanese holo from the set “Night Unison” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Reward?
Nest Ball 52/54
Not as good as Quick Ball but still a lovely card with an even lovelier alternate printing from the set “GG End”.
Ultra Ball 51/54
The card that has not rotated out of Standard for almost 15 years and while not being the greatest card, it’s still a must pick for many decks to ensure consistency. Discarding two cards can feel very rough but maybe it becomes a little bit easier using the Japanese holo version from the set “Full Metal Wall” or the western equivalent, a Play! Pokemon League Cup Reward.
Rare Candy 71/80
This is one of my favorite but also most unique alternate printings of a card. Rare Candy from the Japanese set “Reviving Legends” making it the oldest playable alternate art card.
Net Ball 51/54
Giving the Grass players some love with this Japanese holo from the set “Sky Legend” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Reward.
Pokégear 3.0 92/94;
This card has two alternate versions. We have the Japanese holo one from “Miracle Twin” which was a Play! Pokemon League Cup Reward in the west. But there is another Japanese artwork from the set “Tag All Stars” that was only available in the “Trainer’s Toolkit 2020”.
Pokédex
First printed in the Base Set it never got a lot of usage but a unique promo print in 2011 in cooperation with the clothing brand “Uniqlo”.
Trainer’s Mail
Did you know that you can not take “Trainers’ Mail” off a “Trainers’ Mail”? Anyway. It got treated with a unique printing as both holo and non holo in the "Battle Arena Decks: Black Kyurem vs. White Kyurem”.
Fiery Flint 92/95
Explosive way to find all your fire energies with this Japanese holo from the set “Double Blaze” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Reward in the west.
Rotom Dex 53/54
This card will probably never see any play again with Redeemable Ticket in the format but Rotom Dex was appreciated for its unique way of manipulating your prize cards on an item. The card has a unique Japanese holo from the set “GG End”.
Pokemon Communication 94/95
A potentially underplayed card that reads nice but can not find its way into many decks. Maybe these two alternate versions can convince you to give it a shot. We have the Japanese holo one from “Alter Genesis” which was a Play! Pokemon International Championships Reward internationally. But there is another Japanese artwork from the set “Tag All Stars” that was only available in the “Trainer’s Toolkit 2020” in the west.
Reset Stamp
Playing both hand interruption plus Boss or Hex in the same turn is extremely strong. Few decks can allow themself to play this powerful item card but it does see play. You can join the club with this Japanese artwork from the set “Tag All Stars” that was only available in the “Trainer’s Toolkit 2020” in the west.
Battle VIP Pass
The most expensive alternate art card for GLC is a simplified Chinese exclusive golden VIP Pass. Only obtainable from the 2nd “Radiant Energy Gift Set”, it is the ultimate bling.
Tools
Metal Frying Pan 53/54
Protect your metal guys from the new chick(en) on the block with this trusty frying pan. It has a Japanese holo version from the set “Full Metal Wall” that was turned into a Play! Pokemon League Reward.
Escape Board 62/64
Some more love for metal in the tools department as this card is perfectly tailored for Jirachi TEU. Go and grab yourself a copy of the Japanese holo from the set “Remix Bout” or the Play! Pokemon League Reward.
Pokemon
Alolan Vulpix GRI
Originating from Japanese promo cards, it came to us in the form of a “Ultra Prism Three Pack Blister” promo.
Mimikyu GRI
Tired of your opponent using strong attacks? Just use them yourself with this Mimikyu from Guardians Rising, which got a promo in the “Mimikyu Sidekick Collection” featuring never before seen artwork.
Zoroark BLW
Enjoy the idea of making your opponent cautious with whom they attack? Look no further because Dark also has access to such an attack and using the promo version from the "Victini Box” you can do it like nobody else.
Arctibax
First released in the “Pokemon Card Gym promo Card Pack 2” this card came to us in the form of a “Paradox Rift” Three Pack Blister promo.
Simplified-Chinese “Pokemon Go” set
There aren’t that many playable cards from the Pokemon Go set for GLC but we do have some and every single Pokemon has gotten an alternate art for the simplified Chinese Release (CS5bC). Here are examples for the “Vitality Springs” Blastoise and the “Burn Brightly" Charizard.
Honorable Mentions
Prerelease Promos
We all know the different art used for Prerelease promos and some of them look really cool but can get pretty expensive, especially the older ones. Most often those alternate artworks are first released in the west and later picked up to be included in japanese sets at the end of the year. That is the case for a very large number of them. Not every single one but quite a few neat ones. I really enjoy the Giratina LOT with the alt art from the japanese set “Tag All Stars” or the Cherrim BST which got the super cute Prerelease alt art printed on a regular holo in the japanese set “VMAX Climax”.
Exclusive Japanese Poké Ball Reverse Holo:
The paragraph above also includes promos from the latest year which were put into the end of year set “Terrastal Festival” featuring the Poké Ball reverse holo patterns we all love. I am a big fan of the Metang or the Chi-Yu Prerelease Art Poké Ball reverse holo for my decks. The set also features some items that weren’t printed in the western equivalent “Prismatic Evolutions” and chances are you have never seen a Poké Ball reverse holo Night Stretcher before. They do exist but that is a topic for a different time.
Thank you for taking the time to look at alternate artworks cards that can be used in Gym Leader Challenge. If I missed any please let me know!
:3