To commemorate the launch of White Flare and Black Bolt today, we scraped Reddit to find the top 25 “best” Pokémon from Gen 5. Why? Because a lot of folks who are back in the hobby knew and loved their Gen 1-3, fell off during formative teen years, and came back when they realized Pokémon still is (and always was) cool around Gen 7 or 8.

So for a set that is basically fan service built around a generation of “pocket monsters” that aren’t as popular? We figured we would pull together a list with images so you know what cards might be fun to chase.

In reverse order…

25. Victini

A Psychic/Fire type, Victini is known as the “Victory Pokémon.” It creates an unlimited supply of energy within its body, which it shares with those who touch it. This little guy has appeared in a few highly coveted Asian promos (both Chinese and Japanese) but until the English sets Black Bolt and White Flare? He has not had a special illustration card in this language.

There was huge demand for the striking all-red promo when it launched alongside the Japanese sets earlier this year resulting in this version (which is printed twice #171 and #172- the only Pokemon present in both Black & White sets) fetching a crazy premium out of the gate. At the time of writing, Collectr has the value at $895 while TCGPlayers has one recorded sale on drop day at $400. The other Victini available to collectors is the Illustration Rare which, unlike the Japanese release, will only be available in a special collection box that includes a Jumbo version as well.

24. Leavanny

The “Nurturing Pokémon,” Leavanny weaves clothes from its leaves when it finds small Pokémon, using the cutters on its arms and sticky silk. Based on the Pokédex entry, it should be obvious they are Bug/Grass type. Also worth noting: Leavanny is the final form in the Sewaddle evolutionary line.

On day 1, Collectr has this card at $50 while TCGP has listings for as low as $17.99 in NM condition.

23. Joltik

One of a few on this list who have enjoyed their fair share of the spotlight. Joltik already got Illustration Rares in both Stellar Crown and Paradox Rift, so the IR in White Flare makes three different gorgeous arts you can collect within the Scarlet & Violet era alone. This 1.3-pound bugger packs a charge. So much so, that those that live in cities have discovered a technique for sucking electricity from outlets in houses.

Collectr has this version at $35 while TCGP has market quoted at $18.

22. Cinccino

A furry, grey, chinchilla-like Pokémon, Cinccino is coated in a special oil that makes it easy for them to deflect attacks. Like Joltik and Galvantula, Cinccino has already gotten an Illustration Rare in S&V… during the Temporal Forces drop.

This version is sitting at $20 on Collectr and $12.13 market on TCGP.

21. Vanilluxe

People believe this Pokémon formed when two Vanillish stuck together. It’s body temperature is roughly 21 degrees Fahrenheit and when it swallows large amounts of water, they make snow clouds inside their bodies and attack their foes with violent blizzards.

Collectr has it at $18 while TCGP has $17 market, though the most recent sale was for $18. Three copies were sold on drop day.

20. Oshawott

The Unova starters are easily some of the most beloved Pokémon from Gen 5. Pair that with genuinely great artwork and you have an easy lot of nine to pay attention to. Oshawott, the Sea Otter Pokémon, wields the scalchop (didn’t know this was a word, but the official English Pokédex uses it so…) on its stomach like a knife, blocking moves of its enemies before slashing back at them in swift retaliation.

Collectr on 7/18? $62.63. TCGP has $56.80 market with five sold: low of $39.99 and high of $99.94. There is no telling where this one will net out after some market stabilization, which is common after pre-release and the first real week available, but I think you can feel good about pulling this one irregardless. I imagine it evens out somewhere in the $30-$40 range.

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19. Jellicent

Whenever a full moon hangs in the night sky, schools of Jellicent gather near the surface of the sea, waiting for their prey to appear. Most of this Pokémon’s body composition is identical to sea water. This Ghost/Water type evolves from Frillish and weighs a massive 298 pounds.

Besides Victini, this is the first mon on the list with a Special Illustration Rare (SIR) as opposed to just an Illustration Rare. Typically, in modern sets, these are designed to be more sought after. As such you can anticipate this one to fetch higher amounts. Collectr has this at $92.50 while TCGP has market at $87.59 with three sold.

18. Scolipede

Scolipede engage in fierce territorial battles with another centipede Pokémon: Centiskorch. At the end of these battles, the victor makes a meal out of the loser. These beasts will latch on to its prey with the claws on its neck before slamming them into the ground and jabbing them with its' claws’ toxic spikes.

Currently, it’s sitting at $29.99 on Collectr and $29.32 market on TCGP (three sold with 12 listed).

17. Samurott

Samurott leads its group strictly. Those who do not follow its rules receive a merciless thrashing. A master of sword-drawing art form iaijutsu, Samurott settles its battles with a single swing of either large sword sheathed in its foreleg armor. These mammalian warriors are the final form of Oshawott.

This creature got plenty of love during Sword and Shield, but this is the first time it is making an appearance during S&V. Collectr has this one at $70 while TCGP is at $28.24 market with five sold today.

16. Galvantula

As the second (and final) Pokémon in Joltik’s evolutionary line, they employ an electrically charged web to trap their prey. While iimmobilized by a shock, Galvantula leisurely consumes whatever its target is. When attacked, they create an electric barrier by spitting out many electrically charged threads.

While a Terasterallized Galvantula got the SIR treatment in Stellar Crown, this Illustration Rare in White Flare (in my opinion) is a cooler art. It likely won’t be a breadwinner for the set with Collectr listing the card at $99.50 when TCGP has market at $25. I definitely feel like this will settle in closer to $15-$20 raw.

15. Scrafty

Coming in at 3’7” and 66 lbs., the “Hoodlum Pokémon” Scrafty gathers in groups to beat up anything that enters their territory. Due to their temperament, many people consider them “rude",” but it takes very good care of its family, its friends, and its turf. Each can spit acidic liquid from its mouth.

At a day 1 value of $12.39 on Collectr and $11.26 market on TCGP, Scrafty is the least “valuable” on the list so far. However, its art style is starkly different than so many others in the set which could drive intrigue.

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14. Reuniclus

*Available only in Reuniclus tech sticker collections*

The “Multiplying Pokémon,” inspired by microbiology and the cells that make up all life, Reuniclus has arms made out of a special liquid. They use psychic power to control these arms and crush boulders. Reuniclus is the final stage of the Solosis evolutionary line.

As one of a few cards that were swiped from the regular Japanese TCG and used in true promo format for the English drop, there isn’t as much data around these yet. The Japanese single is at $4.62 on Collectr and TCGP has pre-sale numbers for the English tech sticker collection at $35.82 market. We got another Illustration Rate of this mon earlier in S&V for Temporal Forces. That single has landed in the $7-$8 range.

13. Cofagrigus

An ancient Egyptian ghost, Cofagrigus has a body of sparkling gold. People say it no longer remembers that it once was human. There are many depictions of Cofagrigus decorating ancient tombs. They’re symbols of the wealth that kings of bygone eras had.

Collectr has it at $35 while TCGP has market at $30 with one sold.

12. Excadrill

This tank has been around in the Pokémon TCG for a while now. In S&V, we saw him pop up in Temporal Forces as an Illustration Rare. Forming a drill with its steel claws and head, it can bore through an iron plate, no matter how thick it is. This Pokémon is a great help in tunnel construction.

Collectr: $64.99 | TCGP: $64.99 with 19 listed

11. Darmanitan

Another Gen 5 mon with a fun design, Darmanitan is the “Blazing Pokémon.” Its internal fire burns at 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, making enough power that it can destroy a dump truck with one punch. When one is injured in a fierce battle, it hardens into a stone-like form. Then it meditates and sharpens its mind.

Darmanitan might have gotten “full card arts” in the form of V and VMAX forms previously, but this is the first IR for the powerful nugget with arms and legs. The card sports $24.45 on Collectr with market sitting at $12.07 on TCGP.

10. Serperior

An intimidating gaze and majestic appearance have caused this Pokémon to be known as the Lord of the Forest. It generates energy from sunlight, then amplifies that energy dozens of times within its long body.

Serperior is the final form of the Snivy evolutionary line and as such, has enjoyed being featured on many cards. This card is the most stunning, so I see it having some staying power. Collectr has this at $100 and TCGP is at $57.77, with 21 listed and five sold.

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9. Eelektross

This “ele-fish” Pokémon crawls out of the ocean with their arms. They will attack prey on shore and immediately drag it back into the depths. It latches on to unsuspecting victims with its sucker mouth, sinking its fangs in and shocking it with powerful electricity.

Eelektross might be our most affordable card/Pokémon on this list. For potentially the first time in this article, TCGP has market higher than Collectr at $8.83 and $4.84 respectively. Knowing that the highest we typically see singles in raw form is right out of the gate or months down the road after stabilization, seems like this one may be an easy pick up at any point.

8. Volcarona

Its burning body causes it to be unpopular in hot parts of the world, but in cold ones, Volcarona is revered as an embodiment of the sun. This Pokémon scatters burning scales. Most of the danger of these scales is not in their heat — it’s in the way they rob the surrounding air of oxygen. This one shares a striking resemblance to a Paradox Pokémon introduced in Gen 9 called Slither Wing.

Across both Collectr and TCGP, it looks like you can expect to snipe this one for $25 at the moment.

7. Haxorus

This guy is a hoss. Haxorus nests in caves and abandoned mines. It is docile, but will become incredibly angry if its tusks are touched, so beware. It overwhelms enemies with its prized tusks, which are sharp enough to cut through a metal transmission tower in one strike.

Another single very close in price on both platforms after drop day, Haxorus is sitting at $70. I’m pretty confident this will stay in the $50+ range with a Gem Mint 10 after the first lot of graded cards from the set hit being very popular.

6. Krookodile

Its unique faculty of sight can detect small prey more than 30 miles away, even in the midst of a sandstorm. After clamping down with its powerful jaws, it twists its body around to rip its prey in half — like IRL gators and crocs.

Collectr is at $49.84 while TCGP is at $35.21. 14 have been listed and four have been sold.

5. Zoroark

The “Illusion Fox” has seen a surge in popularity over the last several years with great cards in both SWSH and S&V. Stories say that those who tried to catch Zoroark were trapped in an illusion and punished. Each has the ability to fool a large group of people simultaneously. They protect their lair with illusory scenery.

This copy is at $30 on Collectr and $34.68 on TCGP. Three sold on 7/18. Keep in mind N’s Zoroark was one of the main chases that started at $100+ off the starting block for Journey Together and settled in at ~$60.

4. Chandelure

The spirits burned up in its ominous flame lose their way and wander this world forever. It actually lures these poor souls in by waving the flames on its arms and putting its foes in a hypnotic trance. Chandelure is the final form of cute little candle Pokémon Litwick.

Collectr has this White Flare special at $65 right now, while TCGP has market at $54.49. Fewer have been listed and sold than several of these others. Snag it if you can — celebrate if you can pull one!

3. Hydreigon

The final five on this list are all rockstars. While the easy way to describe Hydreigon’s evolutionary line is Deino simply growing a head at each stage and sprouting wings, the central head is the only one with a brain. It is very intelligent, but it thinks only of destruction. It’s said that Hydreigon grew ferocious because people in times long past loathed it, considering it to be evil incarnate and attacking it relentlessly.

The Surging Sparks SIR featuring Hydreigon was a hot one to grab last Fall but yet it’s sitting at $43.14 today. This beaut from White Flare is at $205 on Collectr and $185.33 market over on TCGP. My only warning here is that while it is awesome, don’t jump the shark. Observe and see what happens!

2. Reshiram

Available in: White Flare

It was only fitting that legendaries from the generation bookend this list. Victini served as our anchor, while the cover models from Black and White sit at 1 and 2. Reshiram can “scorch the world with fire.” It helps those who want to build a world of truth. When Reshiram’s tail flares, the heat energy moves the atmosphere and changes the world’s weather.

Victini, Reshiram and Zekrom are the trio that makes up this set’s BWR exclusives. Victini has an all-red version, Reshiram has both the all-white version and this insane SIR version, and Zekrom has an all-black copy + SIR too.

The white copy is $999.75 on Collectr and the Special Illustration Rare is $499.99, while TCGP has the white one at $495 with 8 listed and 0 sold to-date and the SIR is $277.99. Five have been sold ranging from $210 to $404.98.

1. Zekrom

Available in: Black Bolt

While Reshiram can scorch the world with fire, Zekrom can do the same with lightning. It assists those who want to build an ideal world. If you’re confused about the notes in the Pokédex around helping build a certain kind of world, we definitely know you missed the games that included these two.

The murdered out card in the set is at an outrageous $1,910.99 on Collectr and $486.33 market on TCGP. The SIR, on the other hand, is $450 and undefined as there have been no sales but 17 have been listed. The BWR cards and their IR/SIR counterparts will remain some of the most coveted in these sets.

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Happy hunting!

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