Black Kyurem-EX

The Black Kyurem-EX card from the Legendary Treasures expansion was released in late 2013, serving as a late-lifecycle inclusion for the Black & White series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This set was notable for its focus on 'Radiant Collection' cards and reprints, aiming to provide players with access to powerful cards from previous expansions as the game transitioned into the X & Y era. Black Kyurem, a fusion of the legendary Pokémon Kyurem and Zekrom, was introduced to the game to reflect the powerful mechanics seen in the Black 2 and White 2 video games.

The artwork for this specific card was rendered by Ryo Ueda, a long-time contributor to the Pokémon TCG known for his dynamic, action-oriented style. Ueda utilized high-contrast lighting and metallic textures to emphasize the dragon-type's icy, mechanical nature, aligning with the aesthetic established for EX cards at the time. Upon its release, the card was received as a functional centerpiece for competitive play due to its 'Black Ballista' attack, which allowed players to discard energy to deal significant damage, making it a staple in various deck archetypes of the era.