The Pokémon Trading Card Game’s Black Star Promo sets have some disappointing cards among their ranks. The Black Star Promo cards have an inherent allure to them as they can only be found at special events or within specific packs. As such, they are typically more rare than other set cards and feature more unique artwork.
In saying that, not all Pokémon TCG Black Star Promo cards are worthy of this elevated status. Part of the fun of receiving these cards is that special feeling of obtaining a limited edition card that will never be produced again. But due to some disappointing artwork or lackluster abilities, some cards fail to satisfy their recipients. The purpose of naming and shaming these disappointing cards is to point out how to make future Black Star Promo cards more exciting for the player.
Pokémon TCG - Misdreavus Is A Disappointing Wizards Of The Coast Promo
The original set of Black Star Promo cards come from Wizards of the Coast, who produced all the Pokémon TCG cards for the first two generations. While the art style is generally outdated, most cards still have a charm to them. This isn’t the case for Misdreavus: The illustration for this card looks like an outsourced off-model animation. Perhaps the card is meant to look weird on purpose thus evoking Misdreavus’ scary Ghost-type Pokémon nature, but this effect doesn’t quite land. The background is also far too plain, with wisps of fog hardly being enough to override Misdreavus’ comparatively goofy appearance.
Pokémon TCG Latias - Nintendo Promos
After the Pokémon Company took over production of Pokémon TCG cards, more personality was etched into each design starting with the Pokémon from Ruby and Sapphire. Unfortunately, whoever illustrated the Latias and Latios cards didn’t get the memo. Both Pokémon look like they’re tacked on to a generic background with no context; disappointing considering they’re Legendary Pokémon. Latias is slightly worse though: It has 10 less HP than Latios and 10 less attack on its secondary move Searing Flame.
Hoothoot Disappointed With Pokémon TCG's HeartGold & SoulSilver Promos
The idea of a Black Star Promo Pokémon TCG card is to feel special, so perhaps the most disappointing thing to see when the pack is opened is something purely generic. That’s the issue with this Hoothoot: The dark forest behind it is nothing unique, and the Hoothoot’s pose is stock standard.
Even worse, its only attack is Peck making it weak as well. In fairness, there was a Noctowl given out in the same promotion to evolve Hoothoot into, but the artwork on the Noctowl card feels bland compared to other Pokémon TCG cards as well.
Axew's Black & White Promos Was A Pokémon TCG Letdown
These Axew cards have nothing inherently wrong with them: the art looks decent and shows off Axew’s cute yet fierce nature. However, the issue is that the Black and White Promos have two nearly identical Axew cards that were released close together. The first card in which Axew roars next to a cliff side was released in the Pokémon Black and White collector’s album box, while the second Axew surrounded by spiky berries was released in Toys ‘R Us Mystery Egg Promo blister packs. A full set of Promo cards should have a much greater variety of Pokémon to keep the avid Pokémon TCG collector entertained.
Black & White's Victory Cup Reminds Pokémon TCG Players Of Not Winning
The Victory Cup card was handed out to people who came first, second or third at various Pokémon TCG Battle Road tournaments between 2011 and 2013. However, depending on a player's exact ranking they received a card with slightly different artwork: first place has Victini in a gold cup, second in a silver cup and third with a bronze cup as pictured above. The card itself still looks fantastic, and Victini is particularly adorable peeking out of the cup, but the bronze Pokémon cup is a permanent reminder to the recipient that they came so close to victory but fell at the last hurdle.
Pokémon TCG's Black Star Pyroar Has Disappointing Artwork
Pyroar’s Black Star Promo card isn’t nearly as offensively lackluster as some other disappointing cards, but this one is a matter of expectations. Firstly, Pyroar is a fantastically designed Pokémon with great potential for intimidating or powerful artwork. Secondly, this card is handed out in special Pyroar-themed Pokémon boxes: As the star of the show, one would expect that Pyroar’s card itself would have a spectacular design. Instead, the image has a 3D art style that hasn’t aged well, and the pose fails to show off Pyroar’s unique characteristics.
Pokémon TCG - Manaphy's Black Star Promo Didn't Live Up To The Hype
The Magearna Mythical Collection contains the best Legendary Pokémon from across the generations, all of which are Black Star Promo cards. However, Manaphy’s card doesn’t live up to the hype of most Legendary cards. Although it’s a Holo card, the background of tall grass is dark and featureless. Additionally, Manaphy looks like it was cut and pasted into the scene rather than belonging to it. The parted grass in the foreground implies that the viewer has caught a glimpse of Manaphy, yet it seems to be posing happily for Pokémon TCG players rather than being surprised.
Pokémon TCG's Disappointing Legendary Black Star Promos - Shining Celebi
This Shining Celebi is yet another disappointing Legendary Black Star Promo card. Celebi has the same issue as Manaphy, feeling tacked onto an unrelated background. Yet in this case the background is even more egregious, looking like a generic 90s anime background. Given that this is not only meant to be an incredibly rare Shiny version of Celebi, but the artwork should also show off the allure and mystique of the Pokémon. Perhaps the art could have instead called on Celebi’s ability to time travel to create a more unique-looking Pokémon TCG card.
Sun & Moon Promo Pikachu Can't Compete With Other Pokémon TCG Cards
This Pikachu Black Star Promo card has one major thing going against it: The sheer quality of every other Pikachu Pokémon TCG card. Pikachu has featured on close to 200 different cards, showing off its adorable nature, taking part in activities like surfing, or paired with other Pokémon. But this Pikachu card lacks the appeal of those other versions: The colors are dull and brown, Pikachu is awkwardly offset to fit its tail into the frame, and the background is, again, generic. The move set follows the artwork’s lead, featuring the worn-out combination of Quick Attack and Thunderbolt.
Disappointing Pokémon TCG Black Star Promos - Sword & Shield's Phanpy Lacks Action
Pokémon TCG's Chilling Reign set features an abundance of stunning wintry landscapes and elegantly cool Pokémon designs. Phanpy’s card features neither of these: instead, as with many of the other disappointing Black Star Promo cards, Phanpy seems entirely detached from its background. Its pose suggests that it should be running through a low carpet of icy weeds, but the drawing has no motion to it, no force or life apart from a couple of kicked-up leaves. Additionally, Phanpy’s bright color scheme is at odds with the muted winter palette of the background, creating an amateur Photoshop effect.
As the Black Star Promo sets moved on, more and more cards were released per generation. By the time of Sword and Shield, there were over 300 Black Star Promo cards made in that generation alone. It’s a testament to the Pokémon Company that so many of these cards are genuinely exciting to obtain. However, the few failures disappoint fans due to generic, outdated artwork that fails to capture the personality and power of the Pokémon it’s depicting. Moving forward, one can only hope that The Pokémon Trading Card Game will feature more exciting, passionate, and unique artwork for future Black Star Promo cards.