Your Favourite 5 Sets

General
1

We do this topic every now and then, and it’s always fun.
Simple, which sets are your top/favourite 5?

(1st ed/Shadowless/Unlimited Base Set all count as Base Set)

For me it’s:

  1. Team Rocket
  2. Neo Revelation
  3. Skyridge
  4. Stormfront
  5. Base Set
6 Likes
2

I like this idea :blush: Mine may have changed over the years so I’m curious to go back and check.

  1. Base set
  2. Topsun
  3. Jungle
  4. Team Rocket
  5. Neo Revelation
3
  1. Base set
  2. Team Rocket
  3. Jungle
  4. Neo Destiny
  5. Skyridge
2 Likes
4

English FRLG
English Team Rocket
English Base
Japanese Gym 1
Japanese Neo 1

5 Likes
5

  1. Gym Heroes/Gym Challenge - As a kid I thought these sets were the coolest thing since sliced bread. The Pokemon were actually owned by trainers from the games/TV show, and the Pokemon really popped off the cardboard. These sets don’t get a lot of love today, with many noting the lack of unique artwork, but the Sugimori designs best instill the true essence of Pokemon like no other artistic interpretation can. I also like the massive size of these sets despite having different designs for the holos and regular rares.

  2. Neo Revelation - A trend on my top 5 list is an appreciation for the unqiue split in holo rares and regular rares. I always disliked having to collect both the holo rare and the regular rare in sets like Jungle and Fossil, not so much because it increased the number of cards that I needed to get to complete the set, but mostly because I didn’t want repeats of the same artwork–I wanted more unique cards. Neo Revelation, although a small set, provided a unique card with every one of its set slots. The holo rare Legendary Dog (Cat?? I think they’re actually cats!) Trio really defines this set well. Absolutely gorgeous cards. The set also introduced Shining Pokemon. I’d say that Neo Rev is probably the most forgotten of the WotC era old format cards, but it is still a gem.

  3. Neo Discovery - While this set did have the cursed holo/rare repeats (although it offered a few unique rares), what makes Neo Discovery such a showstopper is the sheer beauty of its cards. The illustrators must have gained some sort of incredible inspiration at this point, because the artwork of Neo Discovery is truly unmatched–the best of any WotC set. Espeon, Umbreon, Kabutops, Scizor, Houndour, Poliwhirl, Weedle–just to name a few–are unforgettable artworks for any Neo collector.

  4. Base Set - What can I really say about Base Set that hasn’t already been said a thousand times in the past? It helped introduce the world to Pokemon. Along with the games and the TV show, the Base Set started off the Pokemon TCG with a bang and made it a vital factor in driving Pokemon’s popularity. Pokemon as a franchise wouldn’t be the same today without Base Set. But what exactly made it so great? The cards are rather plain, but that’s all they needed to be. The art didn’t have to be beautiful. All it needed to be was simple, to give each Pokemon a defined form. Its no-nonsense designs are forever ingrained within the minds of the populace, and that’s because they were so easy to absorb. For its impact on the franchise, Base Set really should be #1 on any list like this buuuuuuut I’m gonna be a stinker and say…

  5. Neo Genesis - In my eyes, the peak of the TCG and the Pokemon franchise as a whole. Pokemon was the greatest concept to ever dazzle my young mind, and Generation 2 was like fireworks going off in every cell in my brain. It was bright, it was colorful, it was cool, and it was amazing. An expansion of a world that I already loved, I never really thought as to WHY I loved it so much until just now, and it didn’t even take that much thinking to decipher it: Generation 2 and Neo Genesis just make me happy. The mesmerizing colors and crispness of the Sugimori starter designs, the sleek new Steel types, the awe-inspiring Lugia, and the sheer presentation of every single card in the set is just so easy on the eyes. I could stare at these cards all day. Whenever I flip through my binders, Neo Genesis always captures my gaze longer than anything else. It’s not the most important set in the franchise, and it’s not the most beautiful, but it is by far the most appealing and fun to collect. And that is why I collected Pokemon 20 years ago and still do to this day: because it’s fun:)

8 Likes
6

Ooo I completely forgot about FRLG, quality set.

1 Like
7
  1. Ex Emerald
  2. Ex Dragon
  3. Ex Delta Species
  4. Platinum Supreme Victors
  5. DP Majestic Dawn
5 Likes
8
  1. Black Star Promos - A true chase back in the day.
  2. Base set - Iconic
  3. Evolutions - The set that got me back into the hobby.
  4. Team Rocket - Dark Pokémon, cool secret rare.
  5. Fossil - Great theme
2 Likes
9

Mine has definitely changed in the past year:

  1. Japanese PCG-P promo set
  2. Japanese DPT-P promo set
  3. Expedition Base Set
  4. Japanese Intro Pack Neo
  5. English WotC Black Star promo set
10
  1. EX Team Rocket Returns
  2. Neo Destiny
  3. Expedition
  4. Gym Challenge
  5. Jungle
1 Like
11

Very old school with my choices!

  1. Jungle
  2. Gym challenge
  3. Base
  4. Rocket
  5. Fossil
1 Like
12

Aquapolis
Gym challenge
Skyridge
Base
Burning shadows

1 Like
13

I’m not going to do a Top 5 list because I only really have familiarity with the vintage WOTC-era and old Japanese sets, but I’ll say that 1st edition (or Shadowless) Base Set and Neo Genesis really stand out to me.

Some of my favorite cards from each -

1st edition (or Shadowless) Base Set

Neo Genesis

Among the “newer” sets, I’ve recently discovered that I really like EX FireRed & LeafGreen and plan on purchasing a complete Near Mint set of that soon. :blush:

1 Like
14
  1. Neo Revelation
  2. Neo Genesis
  3. Team Rocket
  4. Aquapolis
  5. Base Set
15

I agree with the Black Star Set. I didn’t think of it:)

1 Like
16

Base Set
EX Deoxys
EX Team Rocket
Neo Genesis
Skyridge

1 Like
17

Why nobody said Steam Siege yet?

3 Likes
18

In no particular order.

Base Set
Platinum Rising Rivals
EX FRLG
EX Crystal Guardians
Neo Genesis

I would be interested to hear what everyone’s idea of the iconic Gen 3 set is? I dont think EX R+S is that iconic.

19

I would say Team Rocket Returns. It has lots of great cards, unique concepts with Dark Pokemon and Rocket’s ex Pokemon. Ex Deoxys could be another one due to the popular GS cards.

Like I posted before, my personal favorite is Ex Emerald which I know many people don’t like very much, but I do. I love the whole ex era overall tbh.

2 Likes
20
  1. Legendary collection-used to by these all the time at my LCS back in 09
    2)Base set- Same Reason as number 1
    3)Fossil- went to an antique shop in 2011 and found 20 packs for real cheap, pulled around 6 holos
    4)gym challenge- I remember buying a few packs and never pulling anything good besides holo trainers
    5)Diamond and pearl stormfront- Was a set I grew up with and remember buying packs at toys r us and Kmart

These sets became my favorite due to the memories I had with them.

1 Like