ThePokémon Trading Card Gamehas released theTrick or Trade BOOster Bundleset for the 2024 Halloween season, and there are numerous cards that players will want to get their hands on. Much like the sets from previous years,Trick or Tradewill featurenumerous Halloween-themed Pokémon, with each card featuring a special pumpkin Pikachu stamp. Furthermore, some cards be re-released with a special holofoil material, meaning that there will be many cards that players will want to add to their decks.
Withonly thirty cards available, players' options are limited regarding potential additions to their collections. Fortunately, not only do many of the cards in theBOOster Bundlehave incredible artwork, but it also includes many Pokémon that are incredibly powerful. With only a limited time to collect these unique cards,Pokémonfans will want to know which cards from the set are the very best.
10Scream Tail (077/162)
From Temporal Forces
Scream Tail is not the first Pokémon that comes to mind when one thinks of Halloween, but this card serves asa useful supporter in battles. Its first move, Supportive Singing, is able toheal a large amount of damage from any benched Pokémonof the player’s choosing. Even if its health and attack values are not particularly high, this healing mechanic makes Scream Tail a useful addition to any Pokémon card deck.
Although Scream Tail resembles the iconic pokémon Jigglypuff, its appearance is strikingly different. Whereas Jigglypuff appears to be very cute and friendly, Scream Tail is instead shown to be fierce and aggressive, with fangs, piercing yellow eyes, and wild hair. The artwork created by kawayoo depicts Scream Tail leaping out of the foliage as if to attack something, clearly showing off why it is a truly threatening ancient Paradox Pokémon.
9Gourgeist (078/182)
From Paradox Rift
Gourgeist’s card art is truly mesmerizing with its beautiful colors, giving this Grass- and Ghost-type Pokémon a haunting appearance. Created by nisimono, this card gives an almost chilling feeling, as if a spirit is looming nearby, preparing to strike without warning. Complete with its jack o' lantern-inspired design, Gourgeist really is one of the perfect Pokémon for a Halloween-based set.
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The card’s ability and attack are also incredibly useful. Not only does Gourgeist allow the player to deal some decent damage, but it can alsoprevent the opponent’s Pokémonfrom retreating, as long as it has enough energy. And even when Gourgeist itself gets knocked out, it can still punish the opponent by discarding two random cards from their hand, meaning there is a chance for an opposing player to lose an essential card they might need to win the game.
8Chandelure (038/167)
From Twilight Masquerade
Chandelure’s card might seem underwhelming at first glance, but its true strength lies in its ability to punish opponents who have large hands of cards. Its second move, Mind Ruler,multiplies its damage value by the number of cards the opponent currently holds, allowing it to potentially knock out even the toughest foes. This can be further exploited by utilizing Chandelure’s ability Alluring Light, which forces both the player and their opponent to draw more cards, thereby allowing Chandelure’s damage output to continue rising.
The art depicts Chandelure floating through a city at night, possibly looking for its next victim. It is a pokémon known toput humans in a hypnotic trance with its flames, which are fueled by the spirits of the dead. Should any human find themselves in the presence of a Chandelure, they might soon find themselves unknowingly under its trance — a fact that is truly unsettling.
7Umbreon (130/197)
From Obsidian Flames
One of thenumerous beloved evolutions of Eevee, Umbreon is a dark type that can deal immense damage to opponents. Its first attack might deal a set amount of damage, but it is useful in the fact that itignores both resistances and effects, allowing Umbreon to deal significant blows to opponents. Its second move, Pitch-Black Blade, not only sounds foreboding but also deals significant damage that will knock out most basic and first-stage Pokémon in a single hit.
Even if Umbreon is not particularly terrifying, the illustrator Rika still manages to make it appear threatening. Its piercing red eyes stare directly at the player as if to challenge them. Themoonlit waters in the backgroundmake this card’s artwork particularly beautiful, meaning that any fan of Eevee and its evolutions will want to get their hands on it.
6Gengar (057/091)
From Paldean Fates
Gengar is an iconic Generation 1 ghost-type, both in terms of its appearance and power. Not only does its high 130 hp value make Gengar incredibly bulky, butthe move Nightmare deals a high amount of damage and puts the opponent to sleep, leaving them vulnerable and without the chance to fight back. This level of power, combined with the ability to swap between active and benched pokémon without the need to spend any energy, makes Gengar a terrifying force when in play.
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The artwork created by the illustrator Nelnal clearly depicts Gengar’sfrightening and mischievous nature. With its piercing red eyes and gaping mouth, this ghost is drawn as if it is currently in the process of scaring someone. Combined with the both beautiful and unsettling moonlit background, this card is perfect for Halloween fans who still love the iconic first generation ofPokémon.
5Trevenant (013/167)
The main draw of Trevenant, besides its impressive card art that showcases its immense size, lies in itsability to heal itself. Giga drain is a very useful move, allowing for players to chip away at their opponent’s health while simultaneously regaining that same amount of health points back. This, combined with its second move Forest Dump, makes Trevenant a powerful foe that can deal significant damage if given enough time.
Unfortunately, such strength does not come easily to those who have Trevenant in their deck. Players will need toensure that their decks have enough energy cardsto allow Trevenant to deal these powerful moves in the first place. Without a strong move like Forest Dump, it becomes only a matter of time before a stronger Pokémon comes around that can deal more damage than Giga Drain can restore.
4Mimikyu (097/193)
Paldea Evolved
Mimikyu is a beloved Generation 7 Pokémon that has captured the hearts of fans with its adorable appearance, butthere is a terrifying power that awaits underneath. This card is primarily sought after due toits Safeguard ability, which prevents Mimikyu from taking any damage dealt to it by EX or V Pokémon. This, ultimately, prevents many powerful Pokémon cards from being able to knock out Mimikyu at all, although it is not impossible to find a workaround to defeat it.
This is one of the many cards being reprinted with unique cosmo holofoil material, making an already highly sought-after card even more valuable. This card has seen play in numerous competitive decks in the past couple of years, and there’s no doubt that theTrick or Trade BOOsterset will cause a resurgence of this adorable yet terrifying little creature.
3Flutter Mane (078/162)
The card for Flutter Mane is a true embodiment of thisancient Paradox Pokémon’s mischievous nature. The best aspect of this card is Flutter Mane’s Midnight Fluttering ability, whichremoves all abilities from the opponent’s active Pokémon, replacing them with its own. This, in turn, prevents the opponent from utilizing many strategies that their deck would usually rely on to win.
While the card art drawing by kodama looks fantastic with the holofoil material, there are a few things that make Flutter Mane difficult to use. Its only attack, Hex Hurl, is somewhat useful for chipping away at the health of both benched and active Pokémon, but requires a lot of energy to use. Furthermore, it is limited by only having 90 health points, meaning that a lot of stronger Pokémon are able to knock it out in a single attack.
2Houndoom (133/227)
Houndoom was one of the first dark-type pokémon to ever be introduced back in Generation 2, and this card truly demonstrates its ferocity both in terms of its appearance and power. Its first move Daring Strike candeal over 100 damage to any evolution pokémon, nearly matching the full strength of its second move Shadow Slash. Furthermore, the fiery colors of the sky behind Houndoom make it appear to be surrounded by an inferno — a sight that is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
As great as Houndoom’s power is,it requires a high number of energy cardsin order to utilize its full potential. And while Shadow Slash might be powerful, the fact that using said move requires the player to discard an energy card means that it can only be used sparingly. Overall, Houndoom might be a heavy hitter, but it will require players to take their time and carefully strategize to utilize its full strength.
1Darkrai (136/197)
Darkrai is amythical Pokémoncapable of causing nightmares, and its card is a true embodiment of that terrifying ability. With its first move Dark Slumber, it isable to put the opponent’s Pokémon to sleep, with the only requirement being a single dark energy card. This makes the art drawn by illustrator Bun Toujo incredibly fitting, as Darkrai clearly resembles the stuff of nightmares.
With enough time, the player is then able to utilize its second move, Night Cyclone, which not only deals a massive amount of damage but is alsoable to distribute Darkrai’s energy cards in any way.This is the absolute best feature of Darkrai’s card, as itensures that the player never truly runs out of the energy they need to attack. Furthermore, the holofoil material only serves to make thisPokémoncard even more beautifully terrifying, so players will surely want to get their hands on it before it’s too late.
