Palossand

The Palossand card (62/147) was introduced in the Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows expansion, released by The Pokémon Company International in August 2017. As a Psychic-type Pokémon, it represents the Alola region's unique ghost-sandcastle entity, known for its ability to manipulate the environment and drain the life force of its prey. This expansion was specifically designed to introduce powerful GX cards and dark-themed narratives to the trading card game, reflecting the more mature tone of the Alolan setting.

The artwork for this specific card was rendered by illustrator Kouki Saitou, a long-time contributor to the Pokémon TCG. Saitou’s design emphasizes the imposing and unsettling nature of the creature, utilizing the Holo Rare finish to catch the light across the sand textures, creating a sense of shifting movement. Upon its release, the card was generally viewed by collectors as a faithful representation of the creature’s in-game presence, celebrated for its cohesive visual integration with the set's aesthetic.

During the era of Burning Shadows, cards were distributed through booster packs, theme decks, and specialized collections, cementing the expansion's place in the competitive landscape of the time. The Palossand card serves as a testament to the design philosophy of the late 2010s, which focused on translating complex 3D character models into expressive, static illustrations that maintain the distinct personality and lore-heavy identity of each Pokémon.