Five best looking Special Illustration Rares in Ascended Heroes

Ascended Heroes is the newest Pokemon set to hit shelves and the most unique thing about it is the number of Special Illustration Rares in the set. Coming in at a total of 22 SIRs, that makes for the highest number of SIRs we’ve seen in a set in the, albeit brief, Mega Evolutions era. In fact, Mega Evolution and Phantasmal Flames have a combined total of 15 SIRs, making Ascended Heroes a particularly great set to chase them. 

The sheer number of SIRs also makes for a fun opportunity for me, as I typically focus on a set’s Illustration Rares because the quantity of SIRs doesn’t typically allow for a ranking with any kind of selection. Ascended Heroes deviates from that trend and it is incredibly exciting to see such a wide scope of premium hits. 

Fezandipiti ex

Fezandipiti isn’t one of my favorite Pokemon, and that would likely be the common sentiment among most fans. Of the Loyal Three of Fezandipiti, Okidogi, and Munkidori, Fezandipiti is the one I am most drawn to, and all three of them do have some really nice arts. This Fezandipit is the best among them, taking a bit of inspiration from the Munkidori Illustration Rare from Shrouded Fable. The influx of pink color brought by both Fezandipiti itself and the cherry blossom tree complement each other well, making for an overall beautiful piece of artwork. 

Mega Frosslass ex

Froslass is inspired by Japanese folklore of a spirit haunting the woods waiting for weary travelers to wander through and this Mega Froslass ex SIR encompasses that piece of folklore. The way it stands between the trees, with an enticing, yet sinister, look makes you know the fate of the traveler that finds this Pokemon. Snow aesthetic is always going to get bonus points for me as it is. 

Mega Gengar ex

Mega Gengar is one of the coolest megas solely based on the fact of how terrifying it is. For as haunting as regular Gengar is supposed to be, there is something usually comedic about its appearance but that comedic element goes away when it comes to Mega Gengar. This Mega Gengar ex SIR uses a pretty wonderful blend of darker color, and in a set where most of the cards use brighter colors, the dark colors really pop, especially with the green plasma at the forefront of the card. The orange in the back also makes it look like it’s on some kind of path of destruction. It probably is. 

Pikachu ex

The Pikachu ex SIR makes you feel like you’ve just started your Pokemon journey and have set off into Viridian Forest and have just found this wild Pikachu. It stares at you, with a mix of wariness and intrigue as you prepare to attempt to catch it. The sunlight shining down on it giving it the spotlight effect is fitting, given that PIkachu is always in the spotlight. Pikachu is always at its best when it’s at its cutest and this thing is adorable. What an excellent art for the most iconic Pokemon. 

Mega Dragonite ex

One of the most desirable cards in the set is also the best looking SIR in the set to me. It embraces Dragonite’s fairy-like appearance in a way that no card has done quite like this before, both with its pose on the card and the stunning, bright, whimsical colors in the background. The use of the rest of the evolutionary line in Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite as almost spirit forms in the background do a great job of both blending in and adding a dynamic background. Sometimes the biggest chase cards are in fact the best ones and this is certainly a case of that. 

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Whatever you’re after in Ascended Heroes, there is going to be a little something for every collector. Whether it’s Pokemon’s most popular characters or more niche selections, Ascended Heroes will offer everyone a chance to collect their favorites.