The Secret Rare cards in Pokémon TCG’s Temporal Forces expansion for Scarlet and Violet will likely be the most sought-after items in the collection. Not only are they hard to obtain from boosters given their low pull rate, but they also boast exclusive artwork. Secret Rares tend to be the most valuable cards in any set and are composed of different categories. As of the start of the Scarlet and Violet series, Illustration Rare Pokémon, Full Art Pokémon, Full Art Supporters, Special Illustration Rare Pokémon, Special Illustration Rare Supporters, and Gold Cards are all considered Secret Rare cards.
The release of Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces will allow players in the Western market to obtain most of the cards from the Wild Force and Cyber Judge sets that were released exclusively in Japan. The main focus of this expansion is to bring more Paradox Pokémon from the Gen 9 Scarlet and Violet video games into the world of the Trading Card Game. In fact, Walking Wake and Iron Leaves are the mascots for the set and will be featured in many of the thematic products, from boosters to Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces’ Elite Trainer Boxes.
10 Snom (Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Water
The Illustration Rare version of Snom is one of the most beautiful pieces of art in the Temporal Forces expansion, as seen on Justinbasil. The Secret Rare card’s artwork features the simple Ice- and Bug-type Pokémon delicately attached to the underbelly of a tree branch as snow covers the upper portion of the branch. Around it are icicles and, what makes this Pokémon TCG card even more beautiful is the lighting.
Faint sunlight is illustrated in the Secret Rare card, and it reflects on the icicles and Snom’s own icy shell. The Temporal Forces card does not have too much gameplay value with its low HP and small attack potential, but it boasts a rare illustration that should certainly instigate collectors into finding or buying it.
9 Iron Boulder ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Fighting
The Special Illustration Rare version of Iron Boulder ex is also a treat for the eyes with its unique design in Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces. The Secret Rare card depicts the Future Paradox Pokémon standing in the middle of an energy pool that looks a lot like hot lava.
Around Iron Boulder are other pools of energy and even some plants, as if it were standing in some sort of post-apocalyptic scenario. The Secret Rare card is exuberant, but its potential is only cut short due to the fact that Iron Boulder’s own design is underwhelming. Nevertheless, this should be one of the most desirable cards in Temporal Forces.
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8 Deerling & Sawsbuck (Illustration Rares)
Card Types: Grass
The Illustration Rare versions of Deerling and Sawsbuck are a single piece of artwork. Despite being two separate cards, they fit in together. It is common for Illustration Rare cards to tell small stories within evolution sequences, but these two complement each other aesthetically too. The Pokémon are featured in the center of these Secret Rare cards in Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces, but the star of the show is the background.
The artwork behind each Pokémon is split into three different columns, each representing a different season of the year. When placed next to each other, the cards show off the four seasons of the year. This is even more special when considering that Deerling and Sawsbuck undergo changes to their appearance based on the seasons and weather conditions, making the duo of cards a masterwork.
7 Flutter Mane (Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Psychic
The Ancient Paradox Pokémon Flutter Mane, said to be a relative to Misdreavus, also has an Illustration Rare version of its card, and it is a beauty. According to Justinbasil, this Secret Rare card cannot be found in the set itself, but will instead be a promo card obtained in certain products with Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces products.
Because of how it will be made available, it should not be too difficult to obtain. Nevertheless, this is a rare promo card with limited supplies and a pretty one at that. It depicts Flutter Mane flying away with ghastly flames surrounding it. The main detail to notice is that the Pokémon’s eye is turned toward the player as if it were aware of its observer’s presence.
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6 Iron Thorn (Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Lightning
Iron Thorn, the Future Paradox form of Tyranitar, will have an Illustration Rare version of its card in the set and, like Flutter Mane, it is also expected to be a promo card instead of one obtainable through boosters. As such, players who desire the card will not have to struggle against the odds of pulling it but instead find and purchase the right product in the Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces set that offers it.
The Secret Rare card for Iron Thorn features the Paradox Pokémon front and center with a beautiful illustration, while the sun sets in the background. The color composition of the piece and general lighting technique make it a superb addition to any enthusiast’s collection.
5 Iron Leaves ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Grass
Listed among the Special Illustration Rare Pokémon cards is the Iron Leaves ex Secret Rare. This card highlights the Future Paradox Pokémon, said to be the futuristic version of Virizion, jumping about. What makes this Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces card interesting, however, is the background.
While Iron Leaves is the main Pokémon, the card offers some insight into the futuristic scenario from which the Paradox creature comes. There are jagged stones and the moon seems very close to orbit, instigating the player’s imagination, as these locations are not explored in the games.
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4 Gouging Fire ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Fire
In the past, Gouging Fire was a menace, and that can be seen in the Pokémon ex’s Special Illustration Rare card. The Secret Rare card depicts the exquisite Paradox Pokémon walking in the middle of a lush jungle. The way its body language is portrayed in the Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces Secret Rare card seems to indicate that it is stalking prey.
Gouging Fire is shown sideways, proving that it is not a compact monster but instead an elongated one with decent body proportions. The creature’s brown and yellow hues contrast with the vivid green of the environment, composing a beautiful piece of art for the Trading Card Game.
3 Raging Bolt ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Dragon
The Special Illustration Rare version of Raging Bolt ex is one of the best Ancient Paradox Pokémon cards so far. The Secret Rare showcases the Electric- and Dragon-type Pokémon calmly standing in what seems to be a prehistoric valley. What is surprising is its height, as it towers over palm trees and seems to reach the height of the canyon walls.
The sky’s purple clouds and lightning bolts give further power to Raging Bolt, as this creature is said to be a bringer of thunderstorms. The way this creature is shown in the environment that is illustrated in the Secret Rare card for Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forcesreally gives into Raging Bolt’s inspiration from sauropod dinosaurs.
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2 Walking Wake ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Water
Suicune’s Ancient Paradox form, known as Walking Wake, has a Special Illustration Rare version of its Pokémon ex card that rivals that of Raging Bolt ex. The illustration for the Water-type Secret Rare card features Walking Wake gently looking up as a waterfall falls in the background.
The raptor-like creature’s color palette fits in perfectly with the palette chosen for the scenario so, instead of relying on heavy contrast, this Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces Secret Rare leans into color theory. Walking Wake is portrayed on top of a thick tree branch, perhaps representing its agility in the prehistoric jungles of old.
1 Iron Crown ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Card Type: Psychic
The best-looking Secret Rare card in the set is Iron Crown ex’s Secret Illustration Rare. The artwork for this Secret Rare is befitting of the Pokémon’s name and showcases the Paradox creature as if it were royalty. Iron Crown is depicted standing elegantly atop a cherry blossom tree.
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To complement the royal look, a bright yellow celestial body is seen in the background, as if its contrast were a means to highlight Iron Crown even further. Much like the illustration style used in Iron Leaves ex and Iron Boulder ex – they were all made by Nagimiso – this artwork has delicate linings and great lighting, making it the most beautiful Secret Rare among the many exquisite cards of Pokémon TCG: Temporal Forces.
Pokemon Trading Card Game
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Released
- October 20, 1996
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company , Wizards of the Coast
- Genre(s)
- trading card game
