Misty's Tears

Misty's Tears was released in the year 2000 as part of the Gym Challenge expansion, the second set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game to focus on the specialized decks of Kanto's Gym Leaders. This card, numbered 118/132, represents a Trainer card themed around the Cerulean City leader. It was designed to reflect the anime and game lore surrounding Misty, a character defined by her Water-type specialization and often mercurial personality.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Ken Sugimori, who served as the primary character designer for the original Pokémon games and provided the aesthetic foundation for the franchise. The artwork features Misty in a contemplative, vulnerable pose, a distinct departure from the more action-oriented battle scenes found on other cards in the set. Upon its release, it became a notable subject of discussion due to the decision by the English-language publisher to alter the original Japanese artwork, which had depicted Misty in a more suggestive setting, to ensure it met broader international standards for children's entertainment.