Genetic Apex is Pokemon TCG Pocket’s inaugural set, and it’s looking to be actually bonkers with rare cards to chase. Focused on Kanto Pokemon and characters, Genetic Apex has cards that are driving fans absolutely wild.

In fact, the artwork for these cards is so good that a lot of fans of the physical card game are feeling a little bit miffed at them not being included in a modern, printed set. However, if you think about it, Pokemon’s spent a ton of time and resources on developing this game. It makes sense they would need to make these cards so good and different from what you can get from packs that Pokemon card collectors themselves would be intrigued.

With that being said, let’s look at the cards that are already driving everyone wild as we wait with bated breath for the full Pokemon TCG Pocket release on October 30, 2024.

#1 Charizard ex – Immersive Art

Charizard ex’s artwork is crazy. I’m not sure what’s going in this card exactly because it looks like he’s shooting flames nearby a Taurus but perhaps that’s just part of its charm! The card looks insanely gorgeous and if it were printed on paper instead of digital, it would fetch a high value. Regardless of the medium, this card is going to be absolute fire, driving lots of premium subscriptions from collectors looking to pull this worthy chase.

You can tell from the three stars at the bottom left of the card that this card is an Immersive experience card. These Immersive experience cards are the rarest kind of cards, and they come with unique animation effects that tell a bigger story than what you can simply see from the card frame itself.

Watch the video of this card and you’ll see that Charizard is pitted in battle alongside a bunch of other iconic Pokemon. What a time to be alive for a Pokemon TCG collector!

#2 Gyarados – Illustration Rare

You can’t look at this gorgeous artwork and not be reminded of the Shining Gyarados from one of Pokemon TCG’s most iconic sets. This Gyarados Special Illustration Rare is one of the most gorgeous versions of Gyarados I’ve ever seen, and it doesn’t hur that you see a Magikarp flung helplessly into the air.

#3 Eevee – Illustration Rare

This Eevee Full art card features a regular old Eevee reaching for its destiny – one of the iconic evolution stones from the original Pokemon games. You kind of get the idea from the glazed look in its eyes that somehow Eevee knows these stones are out of reach for it – for now.

This card reminds me a lot of the famous one from Twilight Masquerade. Although its artwork is more painterly here than what we saw in the physical card, the homey setting feels very similar, and Eevee looks right at home in it.

#4 Lapras – Illustration Rare

I need no further reason to download this game and try it out than an exclusive Lapras card with gorgeous water art and Pikachu floating in the background.

#5 Dragonite – Illustration Rare

Dragonite has always been one of my favorite Pokemon and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way. Maybe it’s because of the way it flies into view to an incredible score of music in the first Pokemon movie, or maybe it’s because of its legendary status in the Indigo League – whatever the reason, people love Dragonite. This Dragonite (while not being an ex) has an interesting attack, one that has the potential to devastate the board if left unchecked.

I’m not sure how helpful that will be in the Pokemon TCG Pocket battle system where bench space is limited, but the card art itself looks great.

#6 Gengar ex – Special Illustration Rare

If you couldn’t tell by now, Pokemon is really pulling out all the stops for this incredible digital set: it feels like every Pokemon favorite from gen one is included here. And of course, that means including the spookiest fan favorite of them all: Gengar. There’s something about Gengar that drives people wild – even kids brand new to Gengar seem to love it (my son included).

Is it its purple color? Friendly, blobby shape? I’m not sure, but this card artwork leans heavily into Gengar’s mischievous side – the side we saw in that crazy episode in Lavender Tower where Ash and Pikachu sort of die and fly outside their bodies.

Honestly, this artwork almost looks like it could be taking place in Lavender tower, and someone is about to walk in on this pesky poltergeist. Could that shadowy silouhette be Ash? Or maybe red? I guess because this card isn’t immersive we may never really know for sure.

#7 Moltres ex – Special Illustration Rare

If there was any question as to how different battling in Pokemon TCG Pocket is going to be versus regular Pokemon TCG, I think this Moltres ex card’s low HP says a lot. There aren’t any Pokemon ex in the mainline game with HP like that – undoubtedly the power scaling of the rest of the cards in the game will be more in line with this reduced HP.

Another interesting thing about this card is that we haven’t actually had a Moltres ex in the current era of Pokemon TCG. Could we be getting one soon? I don’t think the inclusion of this card in Genetic Apex confirms or denies that, but it’s still fun to think about.

The card’s artwork itself is something to marvel at indeed: a blazing legendary lighting up the sky as two simple fighting Pokemon gaze on in wonder!

#8 Misty – Special Illustration Rare

Misty printed as a Special Illustration Rare is sure to draw a lot of attention. She’s an iconic character printed on a dazzling card. And that’s all you really have to say about that. Surely she will be a huge chase card for many in this set.

#9 Mewtwo ex – Immersive Art

Apart from looking really cool, this Mewtwo is also an Immersive Card, meaning it will be at the top of a lot of people’s list just for how rare it is. It also features one of the franchise’s most well known Pokemon, dating back to its very earliest days.

This card shows the moment Mewtwo smashes through the glass at the Cinnabar Island Mansion. Regardless of the artwork’s illusion to lore, one thing that stands out about this card is the solitary nature of Mewtwo. In the immersive experience, you don’t look around and see a ton of Pokemon lingering. Instead, you really get to feel this moment, frozen in place, and wondering what exactly Mewtwo is reaching for looking so uncharacteristically concerned.

#10 Pikachu ex – Immersive Art

Last but certainly not least we have the Pikachu ex Immersive Experience Art card. Featuring Pikachu’s premiere character, This Pikachu rests on a log in a leafy glade, surrounded by lazily dozing Poliwags and cheerfully chattering Butterfree. While this is easily the most tranquil of the Immersive Arts, it’s every bit as intriguing, and brings to mind some of the artwork from the original base set also featuring Pikachu in a similar pastoral setting.

#11 Mew

Last but not least, in a way the ultimate chase card in Pokemon TCG Pocket is not a card that you’re going to pull from booster packs – it’s one that you can only get from collecting one card of each of the original 151 Pokemon in the set. If you manage to do this, you can unlock this easter egg Mew Pokemon. That’s pretty exciting, and going to make this Mew card a chase in its own right.

Pokemon TCG Pocket: Genetic Apex Chase Cards