We’ll Never See the Artwork from These 12 Pokemon Cards Again (Here’s Why)

As a Pokémon card fan, one of the things I love most is the amazing art! We’ve seen so many cool versions of our favorite Pokémon over the years, from Pikachu to even lesser-known ones like Spewpa. Naturally, older artwork gets replaced with new stuff, which is why those vintage cards are so sought after. But did you know that a really small number of artworks have actually been permanently banned from being reprinted? It’s pretty rare, and it’s fascinating to think about which ones they are!

Today, Pokemon card artwork is carefully reviewed before it’s released. This means you can generally trust that modern cards meet the Pokemon Company’s standards. However, older cards from the 1990s and early 2000s didn’t go through the same process, and some featured designs that are now considered inappropriate. Throughout Pokemon’s history, 12 cards have had their artwork censored or completely removed from circulation. Interestingly, one Pokemon and one gym leader appear on multiple cards with problematic art. Here’s a look at every banned or censored Pokemon card and the reasons behind it.

12) Arcade Game (Neo Genesis)

Similar to the Game Corner in the Pokémon games, an early Pokémon card depicting it has become less popular over time. The original Japanese version of the Pokémon TCG’s Neo Genesis expansion showed a line of slot machines, reflecting the gambling found in the Game Corner. However, because of its suggestion of gambling, the artwork was changed when the card was released in Western countries.

When the card was released in English, the artwork was changed from a casino scene to a close-up of one game. It was also renamed “Arcade Game,” removing any mention of “slot” machines from both the image and the title. If you’re interested in collecting rare Pokémon cards, you can still find the original, unaltered version online for around $20.

11) Card-Flip Game (Neo Genesis)

As the card’s name suggests, the artwork was changed when it was released in Western countries, much like the ‘Arcade Game’ card. Both cards feature games found in the Game Corner, and the original Japanese versions showed a line of machines resembling those in a casino.

This change is very similar to what was done with Arcade Corner. For the English version, the focus is now solely on the game itself, removing any suggestion it was part of a casino. The word “card” has been removed from the artwork, although the game is still called “Card-Flip Game.” An original, unrated version of the artwork typically sells for around $16 online, while the U.S. Neo Genesis version is worth about $2.

10) Grimer (Team Rocket)

This card, released in 2000 as part of the Team Rocket set, has a very slight difference that’s easy to overlook. However, there’s a logical reason for the change. The original Japanese version of the Grimer card, which later became part of the English Team Rocket set, shows the Pokémon emerging from a sewer while a woman walks by wearing a skirt. The angle of Grimer’s gaze in the original artwork is a bit inappropriate.

Okay, so the original Japanese Grimer card art… there was some talk about what it might be implying. But when it came to the English version, they actually changed the artwork. The biggest difference? Grimer’s eyes! In the original, it looked like he was watching the girl walking by, but in the English version, he’s looking right at you. It’s a small change, but it makes a huge difference in price. I’ve seen the original, “banned” art selling for around $30, even without getting it professionally graded. But the standard Western release? You can snag that for about $2. Crazy, right?

9) Jynx (Base Sets 1 & 2 & Legendary Collection)

This particular card was printed three times. It first appeared in the very first Pokemon Trading Card Game set, and then again in Base Set 2, which included reprints from the original set and the Jungle expansion. The English version of the card also appeared in the Legendary Collections set as a special reverse holo. Which version you have can affect how much it’s worth. Importantly, the Jynx cards from both the Base Set and Base Set 2 printings feature altered artwork, different from the original Japanese design. This altered artwork, along with Jynx’s skin color, is a key reason why many early Jynx cards are valuable.

The original Japanese version of the Pokémon card Jynx featured dark skin and large lips, which many considered to be similar to blackface. To address this concern, the card’s artwork was changed to give Jynx purple skin. However, since several Japanese Pokémon sets already existed, Western releases had to modify the Jynx artwork before they were printed.

8) Koga’s Ninja Trick (Gym Challenge)

The reason this Pokémon card’s artwork was removed from later versions in both Japan and the United States is immediately obvious. The original 1999 artwork, from the Japanese Challenge from the Darkness set, contains a swastika in the background. While the symbol historically had positive connotations as a Buddhist emblem – possibly explaining its presence in a character like Koga’s gym – it’s now strongly associated with Nazi Germany. Consequently, the artwork has been discontinued.

When this card set was released in the West as part of the Gym Challenge, the artwork was changed to include a new symbol. The original artwork is also prohibited in Japan, which makes it very hard to find. Collectors who specialize in banned card art can find an ungraded Japanese version for around $107. However, the English version of the card is currently worth only about $3.

7) Misty’s Tears (Gym Challenge)

This card underwent a significant art overhaul, with the initial artwork being completely replaced. Unlike most cards which only had slight changes – like closer views or small adjustments – this one is drastically different from its original version. The first artwork, found in a Japanese theme deck, showed Misty nude and holding a damaged Staryu. This depiction was considered unsuitable, so a new image was created for the English release.

The ‘Misty’s Tears’ card appeared in a later set with a completely new illustration. This version shows Misty crying, with her Squirtle comforting her. Interestingly, the original Pokémon artwork wasn’t carried over. Currently, an ungraded copy of the original ‘Misty’s Tears’ sells for around $44, while the English version is worth about $18. This price difference isn’t as large as it is for some rare, banned cards, even though the artwork is so different.

6) Moo-Moo Milk (Neo Genesis)

Similar to the card Misty’s Tears, this card received new artwork because the original image was considered unsuitable. The first version, from the Japanese New World set, showed a Sentret drinking milk straight from a cow – or a container made to look like one, complete with the udder. Considering Moo Moo Milk is usually linked to the Pokémon Milktank, it’s unusual to see a regular cow as the source. However, the main reason the original artwork was changed was the close-up depiction of the cow’s udder.

The Moo-Moo Milk card looked quite different when it was released in English. Instead of the original artwork, the English version features jars of milk decorated with Milktank stickers, and a Clefairy is curiously smiling in the corner. The original Japanese card typically sells for around $16, making it a relatively inexpensive banned card to collect. However, the English version in its original condition usually costs only about $2.

5) Sabrina’s Gengar (Gym Heroes)

Okay, so this is a weird one I noticed as a long-time Pokémon card collector. The original Japanese Sabrina’s Gengar card had this really faint cemetery in the background – seriously, you could easily miss it. But apparently, someone decided a few tombstones were too spooky for us in the West! It’s funny because, like, Lavender Tower in the games is totally a haunted ghost town, so a little graveyard on a card seems kinda tame in comparison.

When the English version of the Pokémon card featuring Sabrina’s Gengar was released, the artwork was changed slightly. The faint tombstones in the original design were removed and replaced with just the floating lights and stars from the initial card. This is a fairly minor alteration, and it’s noticeable. Because of this change, the price difference between the English and Japanese versions of the card is small – around $40 for cards that haven’t been professionally graded.

4) Sabrina’s Jynx (Gym Challenge)

Sabrina’s Pokémon cards often had their artwork changed, likely due to her connection with Ghost and Psychic types. However, the issue with her Jynx card specifically stemmed from the Pokémon itself. The original artwork from the Challenge from the Darkness set showed Jynx with very dark skin, which was later considered insensitive and reminiscent of blackface or minstrel shows.

When this Pokémon card was released in the U.S. as part of the Gym Challenge set, Jynx’s artwork was slightly changed. The only difference is the color of its skin, which went from black to purple. The card still looks mostly the same, and the price isn’t much different – an ungraded Japanese version costs around $12, while the English version sells for about $4.

3) Sabrina’s Jynx (Gym Heroes)

This Pokémon card, sometimes referred to as Sabrina’s Jynx, was first included in the Yamabuki City Gym deck, which came out a little earlier. Since the deck focused on the character Sabrina, it’s fitting that Jynx was part of it. Similar to other Jynx cards printed from 1999 to the early 2000s, the card’s artwork was updated to give the Pokémon purple skin instead of its original black coloring.

The Jynx card from the first English Gym Heroes set featured the same artwork as the original, but with purple skin. It’s very similar to Sabrina’s Jynx from the Gym Challenge set. An ungraded original card typically sells for around $12, while the English version goes for about $3.

2) Sabrina’s Gaze (Gym Heroes)

Remember how I mentioned Sabrina had a history with censored Pokémon cards? Well, her Jynx wasn’t the only one. The artwork for Sabrina’s own card was changed when it came to the English version. The original artwork had a hand position that looked like Sabrina was giving the middle finger, and while that gesture wasn’t considered offensive in Japan at the time, it was deemed inappropriate for the U.S. release and was replaced.

The English version of the Gym Heroes card features brand new artwork of Sabrina. Unlike previous versions that simply changed her hand position, this card shows Sabrina actively throwing a Poke Ball using her psychic abilities. Interestingly, this English card is much more affordable than the original Japanese version – the Japanese card is worth around $20 even without grading, while the English one costs only about $2.

1) Magmortar (Dragons Exalted)

The Magmortar card from the 2012 Dragons Exalted set is the most recently censored card in the Pokemon TCG. The original Japanese version, part of the Dragon Blade set, showed Magmortar with its cannon arm pointed at the viewer, with smoke suggesting it had just fired. This imagery was deemed too similar to gun violence, so the card was altered for its English release. This made it the first card to be censored in over ten years.

The new English artwork shows Magmortar in a different pose, with its cannon arm raised high. While the background is a slightly different view, it’s still the same staircase. The original, now-banned artwork is selling for around $36 on some websites, but the new English version is only worth about $2.

Currently, these are the only Pokémon cards with artwork that has been officially banned in English. Because of this censorship in Western countries, the artwork has never been released on English cards and probably won’t be in the future. As a result, some collectors try to collect the entire set to preserve a complete record.

Do you have any rare or unusual Pokémon cards, like those that were once banned for their artwork? Share them in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-15 23:12