Pokédex

The Pokédex card was released in 1999 as part of the original Base Set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which was published by Wizards of the Coast following the immense success of the Pokémon video games on the Game Boy. As an item card, its design was intended to replicate the functional utility of the titular electronic encyclopedia from the game, allowing players to peek at the top cards of their deck to simulate the gathering of data. The illustration was provided by Ken Sugimori, the primary character designer and illustrator for the franchise, whose clean, minimalist aesthetic helped define the visual identity of the series during its global introduction.

Upon its release, the card was received as a staple utility piece for early deck building, providing a reliable way for players to manipulate the order of their cards during the heat of a match. Sugimori’s art, which captures the handheld aesthetic of the device, grounded the card in the lore of the trainer’s journey. While it never achieved the high-value status of holographic rare cards, it remains a quintessential artifact for collectors documenting the debut era of the card game and the foundational design language of the Pokémon brand.