Pokémon Champions is a competitive multiplayer strategy game that has been out for 4 months now, and the meta has become quite prevalent and consistent. If you want to collect affordable cards based on your favorites from the meta, here are some amazing options you may want to obtain for your personal collection!
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1. Hisuian Sneasler V - $35.49
Set: Astral Radiance
Card Number: 175/189
Rarity: Ultra Rare
Sneasler quickly established itself as one of the most defining Pokémon of the early Pokémon Champions metagame and has remained a consistent threat ever since. Its incredible speed and strong offensive pressure make it especially valuable against some of the other popular Fairy type Pokémon in the meta, such as Mega Floette and Sylveon. The bright colors and beautiful Hisui landscape make this Sneasler card fit such an amazing piece! It’s a great card for anyone who enjoys Sneasler in Champions, but also for anyone who simply appreciates how beautiful the Hisui region can look.
2. Pelipper - $3.14
Set: Paldean Fates
Card Number: 204/091
Rarity: Shiny Rare
Pelipper may not look as strong or intimidating as Pokémon like Charizard or Garchomp, but don't let its goofy appearance fool you. Its ability to set up rain can completely change the way a team plays, while moves like Tailwind give its partner a huge Speed boost. This makes Pelipper a popular choice for Rain teams and a surprisingly important support Pokémon in the meta. Shiny cards like this Pelipper always stand out, and I love how the different colors give the card even more personality. It takes a Pokémon that already has a goofy and lovable design and gives it a fresh look that makes the card really fun to admire.
3. Archaludon - $3.68
Set: Stellar Crown
Card Number: 155/142
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Archaludon has been dominant in competitive play since the Scarlet and Violet era and continues to stay dominant! Following up with Pelipper, Archaludon is the most unreplaceable Pokémon in Rain teams, with its exceptional Steel Dragon typing, amazing ability to increase its defenses, and moves such as Electro Shot to synergize perfectly with the rain to move on the first turn rather than the second! This card makes a Pokémon that resembles a steel bridge show so much personality walking around at an outdoor market attracting the attention of everyone around it! Very fun card with lots of bright colors.
4. Farigiraf - $12.87
Set: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 228/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Farigiraf can be a huge part of a team’s strategy, especially with its ability Armor Tail, which shuts down opposing priority moves like Fake Out and Sucker Punch. Both moves are extremely common in Pokémon Champions, making Farigiraf a great way to disrupt some of the most popular strategies in the game. On top of that, Farigiraf is surprisingly bulky and can use Trick Room to completely flip the speed order, allowing slower Pokémon to move before faster ones. But what makes this card even better is how funny the artwork is. Farigiraf is just standing there with a smug look on its face, while the herd is looking threatening with their jaw like helmets. It honestly gives off the same energy as the Disaster Girl meme, where the little girl is casually smirking while a building burns in the background. For a Pokémon that can cause just as much misery on the Champions battlefield, I think the artwork is pretty fitting.
5. Kingambit - $8.98
Set: Scarlet & Violet
Card Number: 220/198
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Kingambit is the kind of Pokémon that can completely change how an opponent approaches a battle with just its existence on your team. It has the ability Defiant which completely counters the popular ability Intimidate from other meta defining Pokémon such as Staraptor and Incineroar because Kingambit's attack would increase rather than getting lowered and has strong offensive moves such as Sucker Punch and Kowtow Cleave. Kingambit may essentially be a part of almost any team as its typing and presence has such an impact on the meta! This card is appealing as it makes Kingambit look like the "boss man" main character with the Pawniards and Bisharps standing guard for it and I highly recommend getting it!
6. Whimsicott EX - $26.79
Set: White Flare
Card Number: 165/086
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Whimsicott might look like one of the most harmless Pokémon in the game, but anyone who has played Pokémon Champions knows just how annoying this little cotton ball can be. With Prankster, Whimsicott’s status moves get priority, letting it disrupt the opponent before they even have a chance to react. It is also the fastest Pokémon that can immediately set up Tailwind for its partner, giving them a huge Speed boost right from the start. On top of that, moves like Encore give Whimsicott even more ways to mess with the opponent and control the flow of the battle. As annoying as this mischievous cotton ball can be in Pokémon Champions, the Special Illustration Rare from White Flare shows off a much more lovable side of Whimsicott. The artwork does a great job of capturing its playful and cute personality, making it a card that really stands out. It’s a funny contrast to see the same Pokémon that can cause so many headaches in a battle looking this happy and innocent on a card.
7. Mega Floette EX - $24.19
Set: Chaos Rising
Card Number: 117/086
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
As of right now in the Pokémon metagame, Fairy types are one of the most dominant types due to their powerful moves and effectiveness against common types such as Dragon, Dark, and Fighting. Floette may look innocent and delicate, but Mega Floette turns that little flower into something that deserves to be taken seriously. As one of the strongest Fairy types currently in Pokémon Champions, Mega Floette can deal massive damage even to Pokémon that resist Fairy type attacks, making it incredibly difficult to switch into and safely tank its hits. One of the newest sets, Chaos Rising, has released a beautiful Special Illustration Rare of Mega Floette, featuring amazing colors and artwork. Whether you know Floette from Pokémon Champions or Pokémon Legends: Z-A, this card is a fantastic addition to any collection and a perfect showcase of just how much power comes from a little flower.
8. Incineroar GX - $16.67 / $32.83
Set: Incineroar GX Premium Collection – SM Black Star Promo / Guardians Rising
Card Number: SM38 / 147/145
Rarity: Promo / Rare Rainbow
Here I have two versions of the same Incineroar GX, but with different colors and prices. Personally, I like the red background more since it really brings out Incineroar’s colors, but the rainbow version is just as sick! Incineroar is widely known as a competitive VGC killer (shoutout Wolfe Glick) and has been one of the most used Pokémon since it was introduced in 2016. Its Fire and Dark typing, Intimidate ability, and access to super impactful utility moves like Fake Out and Parting Shot make it a huge pain to deal with. I also really like how these cards fit Incineroar’s whole design. It was clearly made to look like a wrestling champion, and the pose really captures that feeling.
9. Sinistcha EX - $34.68
Set: Twilight Masquerade
Card Number: 210/167
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Sinistcha may look like a cute little cup of tea, but in Pokémon Champions it can be a huge problem to deal with. Its ability Hospitality allows it to heal its partner when it enters the field, making this Pokémon prominent in Doubles VGC! It has moves like Matcha Gotcha that allow it to deal damage to BOTH foe Pokémon while also healing itself. Sinistcha can also use Rage Powder to redirect attacks, allowing its partner to either get free setup to boost its stats or deal damage to the enemy, making it a very annoying support Pokémon to deal with! This Sinistcha card is one of my personal favorites as it actually has a story behind it with a card from its pre-evolution, Poltchageist 171/167. Essentially in its pre-evolution, Poltchageist is seen helping its trainer put together photos and as Sinistcha, it is seen looking at its trainer who has grown old admiring the picturebook it had created with it! Makes me appreciate the art even more when the artist draws with intentions to connect with another!
10. M Charizard EX - $39.88
Set: Evolutions
Card Number: 13/108
Rarity: Ultra Rare
Last but definitely not least, because it is in fact the strongest, is Mega Charizard Y. This Pokémon has been a menace since day one and has been one of the most threatening Pokémon in Pokémon Champions. It is so strong that you almost always need to bring something to counter it, whether that is Aerodactyl, Lycanroc, Ceruledge, or even another Pokémon that can change the weather. As a borderline vintage card, the artwork really makes Charizard feel like the powerhouse it is, with the flames and aggressive pose making the card stand out right away. If you’re already a Mega Charizard Y fan from Champions, this is definitely one of the most affordable and aesthetically pleasing Charizard Y cards that deserves a spot in the collection.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I just wanted to combine two things I really enjoy, playing Pokémon competitively and collecting cards. One of the coolest parts about Pokémon Champions is seeing certain Pokémon that normally might not be an all time favorite become such a huge part of the meta, and then finding a card of that same Pokémon that you really like makes collecting them even more fun. You also don't always have to spend a ton of money to find a card worth picking up. Whether you're a competitive player, a collector, or just have a favorite Pokémon from Champions, I hope you found something on this list that caught your eye.
