Shiny Pokémon: All shiny cards at a glance - A brilliant journey through the history of the valuable cards

Since their introduction in 2001, shiny Pokémon cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game have held a special fascination for collectors and players alike. Known for their unique coloring and rarity, these cards are not only valuable collectibles, but also testaments to the evolution of the Pokémon universe. In this article, we take a comprehensive look at the history and special features of these shiny treasures and answer frequently asked questions.

The Beginnings: Neo Revelation

The journey of shiny Pokémon cards began with the 'Neo Revelation' expansion in 2001. This set introduced the first two shiny cards: Shiny Gyarados and Shiny Magikarp. These cards became instant icons, not least because of their already high profile from the Pokémon video games and anime. The odds of finding one of these cards in a booster pack were 1 in 300, making them extremely sought-after and valuable collector's items.

What are shiny Pokémon cards?

Shiny Pokémon cards are special collectible cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game that are characterized by their unique coloring and rarity. They were first introduced in 2001 and have been highly sought after ever since.

The next step: Neo Destiny

A year later, in 2002, the expansion 'Neo Destiny' followed, which presented a total of eight new shiny Pokémon cards. These cards were characterized by a unique rarity symbol with three stars, which was never used again. Particularly noteworthy is the holographic effect, which only covers the Pokémon itself and not the entire background. Cards such as Shiny Celebi, Shiny Charizard and Shiny Mewtwo are among the outstanding examples of this era.

How do you recognize shiny Pokémon cards?

Shiny Pokémon cards are easily recognizable by their special coloring and the addition of 'Shiny' in the card name.

Return after 15 years: Shimmering legends

It wasn't until 2017, a full 15 years after Neo Destiny, that shiny Pokémon cards returned with the 'Shining Legends' expansion. This new series brought nine shiny Pokémon cards, three of which were released as exclusive promo cards. The changes in card design, such as the new silver rarity symbol and the removal of the '1 Pokémon rule', reflect the game's evolution. Cards such as Shiny Genesect, Shiny Mew and Shiny Rayquaza are particularly sought after.

Which shiny Pokémon cards are the most valuable?

The most valuable shiny Pokémon cards include Shiny Charizard, Shiny Mewtwo, and Shiny Celebi from the Neo Destiny expansion.

Special editions and exclusive cards

For the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon series in 2021, the expansion 'Celebrations' was released, which included a reprint of the Shiny Magikarp from Neo Revelation. This special version is characterized by the '25 Years of Pokémon' logo and a new holographic effect. Another exclusive card that never appeared outside of Japan is the Shining Mew, which was published as an insert in the Japanese 'CoroCoro' comic magazine in 2000. This card is a highlight for collectors, especially because of its Cosmos holofoil effect and its rarity.

How rare are shiny Pokémon cards?

Rarity varies, but generally they are very rare. For example, the odds of drawing a shiny card from a Neo Revelation booster pack were 1 in 300.

Where can you buy shiny Pokémon cards?

Shiny Pokémon cards can be purchased from various online retailers such as eBay, Amazon and cardcosmos . Pay attention to the authenticity of the cards and the seller's ratings.

List of shiny Pokémon

Map	Type	Extension(s)
Shimmering Gyarados	Water	Neo-Revelation
Shiny Magikarp	Water	Neo-Revelation
Shimmering Celebi	plant	Neo Destiny
Shiny Charizard	Fire	Neo Destiny
Shimmering Kabutops	Battle	Neo Destiny
Shiny Mewtwo	Psycho	Neo Destiny
Shimmering Noctuh	Colorless	Neo Destiny
Shimmering Raichu	Electric	Neo Destiny
Shimmering Steelos	metal	Neo Destiny
Shimmering Despotar	darkness	Neo Destiny
Shimmering Genesect	plant	Shimmering legends
Shimmering Volcanion	Water	Shimmering legends
Shimmering Mew	Psycho	Shimmering legends
Shiny Jirachi	Psycho	Shimmering legends
Shimmering Rayquaza	Dragon	Shimmering legends
Shimmering Arceus	Colorless	Shimmering legends
Shimmering Ho-Oh	Fire	SM Black Star Promos
Shimmering Celebi	plant	SM Black Star Promos
Shiny Lugia	Colorless	SM Black Star Promos

Maps published only in Japanese

Map	Type	Extension(s)
Shimmering Mew	Psycho	Unnumbered Japanese promo cards

Special features of the shiny Pokémon

Shiny Pokémon are special Pokémon cards in the Trading Card Game, similar to the Shiny Pokémon from the main games. In the Neo Destiny expansion, they have the rarity symbol of three stars arranged in a triangle: Rare Holographic Trading Card.

Like Shiny Pokémon, Shiny Pokémon are a different color and often have powerful attacks that require many different Energy cards to use. These very rare cards are therefore extremely sought after and fetch high prices, even though their strength is limited by the fact that only one Shiny Pokémon is allowed per deck. All Shiny Pokémon count as Basic Pokémon.

Aside from the Shining Mew promo card, the first Shiny Pokémon only appeared in the Neo Revelation and Neo Destiny expansions of the Neo cycle, but a similar idea was implemented again in Crystal Pokémon and Pokémon.

In the Shining Legends expansion, Shiny Pokémon were reintroduced and have a new rarity symbol (Rare Shiny Trading Card). It is now possible to have more than one Shiny Pokémon in your deck, as these cards are not superior to normal cards in terms of power.

Conclusion

Shiny Pokémon cards are not only visually stunning, but also an important part of the history of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Their rarity and the challenge of collecting them make them coveted items for collectors around the world. From their first appearances in Neo Revelation to the most recent releases in Shining Legends and Celebrations, these cards have fascinated and delighted the Pokémon community for over two decades.

If you're a passionate collector or just appreciate the history and beauty of these cards, it's worth taking a look at the shimmering Pokémon cards. Their shiny presence and historical value make them an indispensable part of any Pokémon collection.