introduced in Shining Revelry, and their inclusion in the new set makes it seem like they'll be a regular part of the game moving forward.

However, the new set continues to use a familiar motif for Shiny Pokémon cards. Every Shiny Pokémon card features artwork of the Shiny Pokémon in a generic pose with a sparkly pattern behind it. Although all the card art is technically new, the Shiny card motif feels incredibly generic, especially compared to the Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare variants. Even though Pokémon TCG Pocket is continuing a motif found in the physical card set, the digital card game should look to innovate instead of using a bland card style.

Shiny Cards In Pokémon TCGP Feel Like A Cop Out

Shiny Cards Feel Generic Instead Of Exciting, Which Is Disappointing Given Their Rarity

Shiny Pokémon cards have a long tradition in the Pokémon TCG, with two distinct card types. Shining Pokémon cards are mechanically unique cards, with players limited to having only one Shining Pokémon card per deck. Shiny Pokémon cards are variant versions of existing Pokémon cards, featuring Shiny Pokémon art in front of a foil background. The Pokémon TCG started to mass-produce the latter Shiny Pokémon card with the Hidden Fates set from the Sun & Moon series, providing the current card design that Pokémon TCG Pocket uses today.

The difference between Shiny cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket and the physical Pokémon TCG is that the physical card game reserves Shiny cards for special occasions. On average, there's only one special expansion per card series with Shiny Pokémon cards, which makes them feel like much more of an event even though they use generic-looking card art. The most recent Shiny Pokémon set, Paldean Fates, also introduced Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards featuring Shiny Pokémon in unique card illustrations, adding further chase cards to the set.

A New Card Rarity Deserves To Break The Mold

Pokémon TCG Pocket Should Experiment With How Shiny Pokémon Cards Are Presented

Assuming that Shiny Pokémon are here to stay in Pokémon TCG Pocket, they deserve to have unique card art beyond what the current style offers. Showing various Pokémon in generic poses isn't enough for a brand-new rarity — it should have more pop that helps make obtaining the card feel like something of an accomplishment. The current card motif feels like a letdown, especially since Shiny Pokémon cards are now variants of older, often outdated, and no longer relevant cards.

The new cards come across as a way to pad out card packs with "rare" cards that don't feel either exciting or rare. Personally, I'd like to see Shiny Pokémon cards that either skew more towards Shining Pokémon cards with mechanically unique abilities that can reshape and redefine the card game, or artwork that better leverages the digital capabilities of the game. Instead of generic card art, cards with more of a visual effect would be nice and make collecting Shiny Pokémon art feel like more of an event.

Right now, Pokémon TCG Pocket is letting down players with the presentation of Shiny Pokémon cards, making them feel like filler instead of a unique and exciting new card rarity. As Pokémon TCG Pocket continues to grow, the card game should experiment with how it presents Shiny Pokémon cards to make them feel more exciting.