Charizard - love it or hate it, there’s no denying that this Pokémon is an icon in its own right. It may be #0006 in the Pokédex, but it’s #1 in the hearts of Trainers across the globe. Since taking place front-and-center on Pokémon Red’s cover art 30 years ago, this Fire-type is iconic in its own right.
Since its debut in the Base Set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, back in 1996, Charizard has been printed on a whopping 50 unique cards. But which is the most iconic? Let’s settle it, once and for all.
10. Charizard VMAX (Champion's Path 074/073)
A battle of legends is automatically iconic - this is exactly how it felt on the playground playing the TCG all those years ago. Originally released in the 2022 Charizard Ultra-Premium Collection, this card features a breathtaking action shot by Kiyotaka Oshiyama. Fun fact - this card connects with the Mewtwo VSTAR card from Crown Zenith.
4. Shining Charizard (Neo Destiny #107)
Pokemon Skyridge was one of the final sets produced by Wizards of the Coast, meaning this card only ever saw a single print run. Its "Crystal Type" Poké-Body gimmick allowed it to change types based on Energy attachments, which feels very reminiscent of Generation 9’s Tera mechanic - something we’d only see in Generation 9, 20 years later.
2. Blaine's Charizard (Gym Challenge 1st Edition #2)
Without doubt, Mitsuhiro Arita’s original 1999 illustration is the most famous piece of cardboard in history. This Charizard card is the de facto face of Pokémon TCG. This specific "Shadowless" version lacks the drop shadow on the right side of the art frame, identifying it as a first edition copy of the card. With record-breaking auction prices and universal recognition, it remains the gold standard for Pokémon collectibles.
Sara Heritage is a freelance contributor to IGN.
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