Best of Game (TCG)

Best of Game
SetSymbolBest.png
Cards in set 9
Release period December 2002 - July 2003

The Best of Game is the name of a special collection of cards for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, commemorating some of the best cards to be produced by Wizards of the Coast.

Information

These cards were released through BattleZone tournaments and were essentially a 'parting gift' to the fans of the TCG, as Wizards knew their license to produce the cards was to terminate.

Despite the collection being made to commemorate some of the best playable cards, four new cards that had never previously been released in English were produced. Rocket's Scizor, Rocket's Sneasel, Dark Ivysaur and Dark Venusaur were promotional cards in Japan (Dark Ivysaur and Dark Venusaur were also subsequently reprinted in Pokémon Web). Their release was not anticipated and was a surprise for those attending the events. While these cards remained plain, the other cards received a special reverse-holographic treatment.

There were also several variants of the cards released. Pokémon Professors and Tournament Organizers received versions of some cards, which have a gold foil "Winner" stamp in the bottom right corner of the illustration, called Winner Cards. The regular cards given to participants are often referred to as "non-Winner" versions. Exceptions to these include Professor Elm, Rocket's Mewtwo and Rocket's Hitmonchan, as the scheduled BattleZone tournaments were canceled after Wizards lost their license. Jumbo versions of all cards except Professor Elm cards were also released, which lack the reverse-holographic treatment. Professor Elm is also the only card not to have a version with the gold foil "Winner" stamp in the bottom right corner of the illustration.

In addition, all of these cards had an error. The energy symbols in place, by the attacks, are slightly misplaced and are put a little more to the left than usual. In an interview with Ike Lawliet in 2022, it was revealed the errors on these cards and cards on other sets released at the time were done intentionally due to Wizards of the Coast's at the time Vice President, Vince Calouri; finding out their license to print Pokémon TCG cards was not going to be renewed.

Card list

Best of Game
No. Image Card name Type Promotion
1   Electabuzz   BattleZone (December 2002)
2   Hitmonchan   BattleZone (February 2003)
3   Professor Elm T Gencon 2003
4   Rocket's Scizor   BattleZone (March 2003)
5   Rocket's Sneasel   BattleZone (January 2003)
6   Dark Ivysaur   BattleZone (April 2003)
7   Dark Venusaur   BattleZone (May 2003)
8   Rocket's Mewtwo   BattleZone (June 2003)
9   Rocket's Hitmonchan   BattleZone (July 2003)
 



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  This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.


Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions and releases
Bold indicates a main expansion. Italics indicate a special set. Releases that are entirely composed of prints from other releases are small.
e-Card Series
Sample Set
Expedition Base Set: Box TopperEchoElectric Garden
Best of Game
Aquapolis: Rock GardenAbyss
Skyridge: EeveelutionMind Machine
e-Card Era
P Promotional cardsJ Promotional cardsT Promotional cards
Base Expansion Pack: Pokémon-e Starter Deck
McDonald's Pokémon-e Minimum Pack
The Town on No Map
Wind from the Sea
Theater Limited VS Pack
Split Earth
Mysterious Mountains