Top 10 Pokemon and Trainer Pairs We Hope to See Added to the TCG

Which other Trainers would make the TCG ’s very expert list ?

Which Trainer and Pokemon pairs do we hope to see make an appearance in the Pokemon TCG ? Here are our top 10 picks .

Pokemon and Trainer Pairs Honorary Mentions

Honorary Mention: Ethan and Spiky-Eared Pichu

While this list is meant to encompass Pokemon and Trainer pairs that were n’t confirmed in theanimated declaration TV at the Pokemon World Championshipsin Honolulu , we have to make an exception for this honorary honorable mention . We know Ethan will be making a TCG appearance with Pichu , which is already a huge deal : besides a lone Japanese - exclusive promo card , Pichu has n’t come out in the Pokemon TCG since the HeartGold & SoulSilver epoch . That ’s 15 years ago ! But what ’s more baffling than a Pichu Pokemon card ? A Pichu with spiky capitulum .

The Spiky - eared Pichu is a limited Pichu that participant could only get in HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions from an event distribution . It could n’t be traded or transfer , essentially trapping it in these game for over 15 long years . In the Owner ’s Pokemon trailer , Ethan ’s Pichu ’s capitulum are conveniently off - cover , meaningthere ’s a possibility — no matter how slight — for Ethan to not just bring Pichu back to the TCG , but to contribute the Spiky - eared Pichu back and into the mod geological era . We ca n’t think of a better reference to this elusive outcome Pokemon than in a particular Pokemon card .

Honorary Mention: Erika and Dragonite

Owner ’s Pokemon in the TCG have historically featured Pokemon that their Trainers have had in the picture game or the anime . The few Pokemon that deviated usually made sentiency for the Trainer thematically , such as the Fire - eccentric specialiser Blaine with Moltres . But Erika had an especially unparalleled set of Pokemon in the TCG that she did n’t have in the games or anime : a Clefairy , a Dratini , and a Dragonair .

The Dragonair was especially memorable , with beautiful art and not being anywhere close to the Grass type she specializes in . Its cushy , gentle innovation still made it a great collaborator for Erika , while show a side of her that was exclusive to the TCG.Erika ’s Dragonair never got to evolve into a Dragonite , but the forthcoming getting even of Owner ’s Pokemon could be just the chance for it to reach its last evolutionary leg . Erika ’s Dragonite would be both entirely new and a nostalgic throwback to a classic card .

Honorary Mention: N and Zekrom

This is the “ follow our heart ” honorable mention ingress . N ’s Reshiram was revealed with a jaw - droppingly beautiful illutration rare in the Owner ’s Pokemon announcement drone , yetwe ca n’t help but hope that N will also have a Zekrom to go along with his Reshiram .

away from a few manga series and the Reshiram & Zekrom Tag Team GX card , N was predominantly associated with Reshiram across the Pokemon series until Pokemon Masters EX added him in 2020 . Since then , we ’ve start up seeing N with Zekrom more often , such as in the 2021 Pokemon Evolutions liven up mini serial publication and the beautiful Zekrom character rare carte from the Brilliant Stars set .

Hopefully , N will partner up with Zekrom in the TCG this time around , too — but if not , at least let Hilda or Hilbert , the protagonists of Pokemon Black and White Versions , seem with it rather , and make a point of reference to their clash with N in an epic illustration rarefied card .

Illustrations of Sabrina and a black silhouette of Mimikyu with a white question mark inside it from the Pokemon TCG and Pokemon Sun and Moon.

Top 10 Pokemon and Trainer Pairs We Hope Get Added to the TCG

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #10: AZ and Floette

With Pokemon Legends : Z - A on its elbow room , it ’s prime prison term for X and Y ’s AZ to make a return with his unparalleled Floette . Whether AZ and his Floette make an appearance in Legends : Z - A or not , this duo was incredibly underutilized in X and Y , and deserve some public eye .

The iconic “ It ’s been 3000 years ” aspect can be replicated in illustration rare form for this Pokemon board , and would be an overall comforting choice for a Trainer and Pokemon duet in the TCG .

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #9: Iris and Excadrill

Some of the classic Owner ’s Pokemon were understandably inspire by Trainers ’ teams in the gum anime , include the Rock - eccentric Gym Leader Brock and his Fire - type Vulpix . Part of the playfulness of the Pokemon TCG is seeing the unique ways it play around with and even combines element from the games and anime , such as the Sword & Shield serial ’s Rapid Strike , Single Strike , and Fusion Strike styles , and the Scarlet & Violet series ’s Future and Ancient cards .

There are some other obvious choices for Trainers and anime - exclusive Pokemon pairs like Lillie and Alolan Vulpix . But we make love from the announcement trailer that Lillie will focus on Fairy case , makingAlolan Vulpix , which evolves into the Fairy - type Alolan Ninetales , a fairly safe plectron .

Iris and Excadrill , on the other paw , are less expected while being just as possible to come about in the TCG . From a gameplay perspective , it would be interesting to see how the TCG Fighting - case Excadrill could possibly synergize with Iris ’s other Pokemon , which will be flying dragon - type first and first of all . Even if it does n’t plough out to be competitively viable , Iris ’s Excadrill would still be a fun card to sum to any collection .

Images via the official Pokemon YouTube Channel and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #8: Crasher Wake and Hawlucha

We think the forthcoming Owner ’s Pokemon would be a great chance for more unique Pokemon and Trainer jazz band in the same mineral vein as Erika ’s Dragonair . And who better to stand up alongside the masked matman Crasher Wake than the luchador Pokemon Hawlucha ?

Unlike subsequent wrestler Trainers like the Masked Royal , Crasher Wake never had the opportunity to use Hawlucha , which was premise two generation after his home game of Diamond and Pearl Versions . What ’s more , Crasher Wake does n’t specialize in Fighting - types or even Dark - type to represent wrestling heel — he ’s a urine - case Gym Leader whose teams across the generations do n’t say “ grappler ” in any mode .

But that can change in the TCG with a Hawlucha by his side , even if it goes against his typical taste sensation in type .

Images via the official Pokemon YouTube Channel and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #7: Lear and Gholdengo

The Pokemon TCG has featured characters from the gum anime and movies throughout its history , so why not add Trainers from twist - off games , too?Lear would make a great spokesperson from Pokemon Masters EXand may even contribute his consideration Sawyer and Rachel along for the ride .

There are a few Pokemon partners that could make alongside Lear , but the one we need to see most is Gholdengo . It would be a outstanding paroxysm for the current Scarlet & Violet revolution , and it may also give us a stunning illustration rare card featuring Lear in his snazzy fifth - day of remembrance sygna suit .

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #6: Emma and Espurr

Emma is an underrated character from the post - halting “ Looker Episodes ” of Pokemon X and Y , and it would be wonderful for her to get some time to shine in the Pokemon TCG . Throughout the game , she ’s most often construe with an Espurr , who would make for a solid TCG companion .

Espurr might not seem like a powerhouse , but during the Sun & Moon era , it was a fundamental piece of the “ Caturday ” scheme . This deck used a Persian with the power “ Gathering of Cats , ” which make it so that you disregard all Energy costs for the moves of your Pokemon as long as one of their move is “ Caturday . ” Yes , you could employ any of their attacks , no Energy attached — literally .

Espurr ’s Ear Kinesis unite well with Glameow ’s Boing Boing Tail and Meowstic ’s Perplexing Eyes , allow it to snipe herculean Pokemon - EX and -GX off the opposite ’s bench . It was a slow , budget pack of cards , but play for passing matches . Emma , who live on the streets of Lumiose City , could seem in the TCG with her Espurr and a quite a little of “ street Arabian tea ” to recreate the Caturday archetype .

Images via the official Pokemon Trading Card Game

If not , at least the illustration rare of an Emma ’s Espurr would be undoubtedly heartwarming .

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #5: Hatsune Miku and Meloetta

The Pokemon TCG has featured some very interesting Trainers throughout its history beyond anime and flick character . For a few example , the Pichu promo mentioned in the Honorary Mentions subdivision was made as a part of a campaign with Nipponese YouTuber Hajime Syacho , and an Altaria promo was release in Japan featuring Tomohisa Sako , a musician who has worked on the Pokemon Zanzibar copal .

It only seems meet , then , thatHatsune Miku could also make her debut in the Pokemon TCG . Along with the extremely popular Project potential drop song aggregation was a set of illustration andcostumes of Hatsune Miku as a Trainer of unlike Pokemon eccentric specialities .

She could easy come along in the Pokemon TCG alongside Meloetta , or even another one of her many dissimilar Pokemon partners , include Miraidon or Obstagoon . Illustration rare version of Hatsune Miku ’s Pokemon would no doubt be vast Salmon P. Chase visiting card for collectors , and we certainly would n’t be opposed to seeing the TCG make some reference ( or references ) to Project VOLTAGE .

Images via the official Pokemon Trading Card Game

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #4: Red and Espeon

Battling Red at the peak of Mt. Silver in Gold , Silver , and Crystal Versions is one of the Pokemon series ’s most iconic minute . In HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions , Red ’s team was modify to include a Lapras . It synergized well with the newfangled accession of ever - present Hail , but apply his squad two overlapping Water - case and murder his only Pokemon from Johto : Espeon .

Espeon was the most interesting fellow member of Red ’s squad in Gold , Silver , and Crystal , story - wise . It indicated that he had the popular Pokemon Eevee , probably from Kanto , and raised it with erotic love to become an Espeon . It may have even been an indirect nod to the Zanzibar copal : while Red ’s anime counterpart Ash did n’t have an Eevee of his own , his rival Gary did , and it evolve into Espeon ’s counterpart Umbreon in the Gold and Silver series .

Besides Gold , Silver , and Crystal , the only clock time Red ’s Espeon has been take in was all the way back in Pokemon Stadium 2 . We would be intimate to see Red ’s Espeon finally make a counter , and the TCG may be the serious place for that to hap .

Image via the official Pokemon Trading Card Game

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #3: Kieran and Terapagos

Kieran beguile the legendary Pokemon Terapagos for only a brief fight in The Indigo Disk , but it ’s a memorable point for both the taradiddle and Kieran ’s grapheme arc .

The Pokemon TCG is a great vehicle for highlight unique moment across the series such as this . Kieran ’s Terapagos has the potential to extend unique strategies with other Kieran ’s Pokemon , specially if he also gets his competitive BB League Champion teammates like Politoed , Dragonite , and Incineroar .

It would be a peachy chase poster for collector , particularly if it get an illustration rarified variant — we can only conceive of how coolheaded it would be to catch the second of Kieran using his freshly - caught Terapagos in circuit board configuration . As forthe Ogerpon he so wanted but could never have … we ’ll wait on Pokemon Masters EX to give Kieran another shot to snag his darling monster .

Image via the official Pokemon Trading Card Game

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #2: Ghetsis and Seismitoad

In the Owner ’s Pokemon announcement video , we attend that the replication of owner ’s Pokemon could also bring back classic cards with a new pelage of blusher . N ’s Zoroark - ex was revealed as an all - raw “ Trade Zoroark , ” or Zoroark - GX . Zoroark - GX was a top tier tie engine back in its daylight thanks to its Ability “ Trade . ” If Zoroark - GX can make a comeback , why not another classic threat ? Seismitoad - EX was a powerful Pokemon with the move “ Quaking Punch . ” For just two Colorless Energy ( or one Double Colorless Energy ) , Seismitoad - EX could lock in the antagonist out of playing Item cards from their deal , shutting down plentifulness of strategy .

There are two main contenders to expend Seismitoad in the Pokemon TCG . One is N , and the other is Ghetsis . N does n’t use Seismitoad in Pokemon Black and White Versions , but he does use its pre - evolution Tympole , so it ’s not a far reach for him to have Seismitoad in the TCG . Ghetsis , on the other paw , does use Seismitoad in Black and White and their sequels . Seismitoad - EX is a perfect Pokemon for Trainers who want to watch the world fire ( or , in some cases , freeze over ) , making Ghetsis as its Trainer a lucifer made in the Distortion World .

Pokemon and Trainer Pair #1: Volo and Giratina

When Volo received a Supporter plug-in in the Lost Origin TCG band , we were surprised that he did n’t make any appearances alongside his Pokemon in a character rare representative card . The return of Owner ’s Pokemon is a great opportunity for Volo to get more TCG limelight .

While Pokemon like Garchomp and Togekiss are loose choices — and welcomed all the same — we thinkGiratina would make for an exciting option that captures Volo at his most menacing . If Volo ’s Giratina had an Ability that allow it to be played even when your bench is full , and it can change variant alternatively of being rap out once … it may very well split up the game , but it would also instill the same fear into TCG players as it did to everyone who play Legends : Arceus . plot - break mechanics or not , we ’d love for Volo and Giratina to team up once again , even if it ’s not in our best pastime .