Pupitar

The Pupitar card, numbered 9/17, was released in 2005 as part of the Pokémon Organized Play (POP) Series 1 set. These cards were not sold in traditional retail booster packs but were instead distributed primarily through sanctioned Pokémon Organized Play tournaments and league events. This distribution strategy was designed to foster a grassroots community, rewarding active players with exclusive promotional cards that were unavailable to the general public through standard commercial channels.

The card features artwork by illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita, a veteran artist in the Pokémon Trading Card Game who has contributed hundreds of illustrations since the game's inception. Arita's approach to the Pupitar illustration captures the Pokémon’s encased, pupal state, focusing on the rigid, angular geometry of its shell to emphasize its defensive nature. The card was well-regarded among the player base at the time, as its inclusion in the limited-run POP Series 1 made it a sought-after component for completing the set during the early years of the organized play program.