Judge

The Judge card, numbered 235/264, was released as part of the Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion Fusion Strike in November 2021. The set was designed to introduce the Fusion Strike style, a mechanic focused on synergy and cooperative effects, drawing inspiration from the interplay between the Mythical Pokémon Mew and other associated creatures. As a Supporter card, the Judge serves as a utility tool that forces both players to shuffle their hands into their decks and draw four cards, a classic disruptive effect that has appeared in various iterations throughout the game's history.

The illustration for this specific printing was created by Ken Sugimori, one of the most significant figures in the franchise's visual identity. As a foundational character designer and illustrator for Pokémon, Sugimori’s style is known for its clean, expressive lines and focus on character personality. His portrayal of the Judge character reflects the professional, authoritative aesthetic established in the main series video games, specifically the Sinnoh region, where the character appears as a literal judge at Pokémon Contests. The card remains a practical component of many decks due to its reliable hand-refreshing capabilities.