We, as collectors, get so caught up in the chase that it can be difficult to remember that there are plenty of common Pokémon cards with gorgeous artwork that don’t cost hundreds to buy outright. Pokémon Delta Reign’s Nidoran is a prime example, and this debut from a new illustrator is setting tayu up for a truly unique Pokémon TCG career.
The latest Pokémon set, Delta Reign, has finally been released today, bringing a packed year for the Pokémon TCG to an end. But while some things are endings, others are beginnings, and for illustrator tayu, the Mega Rayquaza-led expansion is just the start.
While not a Delta Reign chase card, Nidoran #55 is a unique little gem that sees the familiar Pokémon in an embroidered style. It’s whimsical and charming, with a design that will no doubt appeal to children, and it’s as distinct as a card by Kanda or Turner. Most importantly, it’s the debut card for the new illustrator, and what a way to kick things off.
This isn’t tayu’s first foray into the world of Pokémon, although it’s the first time their artwork has been printed on a card. They received first runner-up in a Pokémon Illustration Contest in 2024, but I imagine this was a huge milestone for the illustrator.
Cards like this, despite not being the ones you’d typically rush to put into Pokémon card sleeves and store safely in toploaders, really remind me how distinctly each illustrator can capture the 30-year-old franchise. Even decades later, there are still new ways to reimagine classic Pokémon—and it seems embroidery is the new way.
I really hope that they get an IR or an SIR in the near future. The hand-stitched look is truly captivating, and I can only imagine the vibrancy of a Pikachu or the dark blacks, reds, and yellows of Giratina in the same style. Either way, what a magical way to debut.
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