5 Neglected Pokemon That Have the Fewest Cards in the Pokemon TCG

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The Pokémon Trading Card Game has been releasing new sets since its debut in Japan in 1996, meaning many Pokémon have appeared with different artwork over the years. Some fans enjoy collecting every card of their favorite Pokémon, like Psyduck or Umbreon. However, with over 1,000 Pokémon in total, not every one of them has a lot of different card designs. Just because a Pokémon is someone’s favorite doesn’t guarantee it’s widely featured in the card game.

Since the Pokémon Trading Card Game began, Pokémon like Pikachu and Eevee have been featured on hundreds of different cards. However, surprisingly, a few Pokémon have only appeared on one or two unique cards throughout the game’s history. What’s even more surprising is this isn’t just true for newer Pokémon from recent generations. Here are 5 Pokémon that, as of 2026, have the fewest different card designs in the Pokémon TCG.

5) Brambleghast

Total Unique Designs: 3

Brambleghast, a Pokemon from the ninth generation, actually has fewer uniquely designed cards than many older Pokemon. As of 2026, it shares the record for having only three different card designs, a distinction it shares with Galarian Ponyta, Galarian Slowpoke, and Galarian Farfetch’d. What makes this especially surprising is that Brambleghast isn’t a regional form or a Pokemon that evolves – it’s a standalone Pokemon with a very limited number of unique cards.

The first cards featuring Brambleghast were released in 2023 with the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Paldea Evolved set. Since then, it’s appeared in Temporal Forces and Phantasmal Flames, giving it a total of three different card designs. All of these cards were part of the Scarlet & Violet series, and Brambleghast hasn’t been featured in a new design since the series shifted to focus on Mega Evolution.

4) Glastrier

Total Unique Designs: 2

Glastrier is a legendary Pokémon first introduced in the Pokémon Sword & Shield games in Generation 8. It wasn’t available when the game initially launched, but was added later through the Crown Tundra expansion. This limited availability might be why Glastrier, along with its partner Pokémon Spectrier, has relatively few different designs on Pokémon cards.

Glastrier first appeared as a Pokémon Trading Card in the 2022 expansion, Sword & Shield – Lost Origin. It didn’t get another card until the 2026 release of Mega Evolution – Ascended Heroes. Before this, Glastrier was a relatively rare Pokémon in the card game, with only one card available. Now, fans can collect a total of two different Glastrier cards.

3) Spectrier

Total Unique Designs: 2

The Ghost-type Pokémon Spectrier was introduced in the Crown Tundra expansion for Pokémon Sword & Shield, along with its counterpart, Glacia. Since its debut, Spectrier hasn’t appeared often in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Both Spectrier and Glacia are frequently featured together because, as Galarian steeds, they are usually seen as a pair and share the ability to fuse with Calyrex.

Spectrier, like Glastrier, was first featured on a card in the 2022 Lost Origin expansion. For a while, that was the only card design available for it. However, it returned in the 2026 Mega Evolution – Ascended Heroes set, giving Spectrier two different card designs in the Pokemon TCG as of 2026.

2) Arctozolt

Total Unique Designs: 1

There aren’t many Pokémon that have only one design in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. However, Arctozolt, a Fossil Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield, is one of them. Fossil Pokémon generally aren’t as common in the TCG, so it makes sense that a newer Pokémon like Arctozolt has few cards. Even Kabuto, one of the original Pokémon, only has 13 different card designs.

Currently, Arctozolt only has one unique card design in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It first appeared in the 2020 Sword & Shield – Darkness Ablaze set, and the same artwork has been reused for a Black Star Promo and in the Shining Fates expansion. As of 2026, there’s still only that single, original design for Arctozolt cards.

1) Kubfu

Total Unique Designs: 1

Kubfu, a Legendary Pokémon, shares the record for the fewest cards ever released in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It was introduced in the Pokémon Sword & Shield expansion, The Isle of Armor. Interestingly, while its evolved form, Urshifu, has appeared on eight different cards, only one design for Kubfu has ever been made. Unlike some other rare Pokémon, Kubfu hasn’t even been featured on any promotional cards or in later sets.

Kubfu first appeared as a Pokémon card in the 2021 Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield – Chilling Reign expansion. Surprisingly, it hasn’t received a new card design or even been reprinted since then, even though its evolved form, Urshifu, has been featured in later sets like Brilliant Stars.

Do you own any Pokémon trading cards featuring some of the rarest characters? Share in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-05-01 00:14