The Pokémon Trading Card Game set Shrouded Fable was an in-between smaller set for the game that did not provide many options for players to experiment with. While the Loyal Three deck is a potent strategy, it is also quite complex, making it unappealing as the only archetype for fans to test out a set. Luckily for fans, Stellar Crown is filled with intriguing strategies that cover various playstyles. Furthermore, the set also contains a few nostalgic throwback alternate art, illustration rare cards for collectors to get their hands on.

The most prominent cards in the set focus on the Tera Pokémon, as cards like Sparkling Crystal are phenomenal for Tera Pokémon decks. Decks like Charizard ex can utilize supporter cards like Briar to close out games early, while Stellar Crown‘s highlight chase card, Terapagos ex, perfectly synergizes with the stadium card, Area Zero Underdepths. Overall, Stellar Crown may not be as potent of a set as powerhouses like Paradox Rift, but it still has plenty to offer for collectors and players alike.

Updated on January 29, 2025, by Guillermo Kurten: The Pokémon TCG line of expansions marches on—and even more with the Pokémon TCG Pocket mobile video game—but the Stellar Crown expansion is worth revisiting. The expansion set has several noteworthy cards that appeal to players and collectors alike. This list has been updated to spotlight a couple more useful Pokémon TCG Stellar Crown cards worth considering for your decks.

13

Sparkling Crystal Suits Tera-Focused Decks

Card Number: 142/142

Unsurprising given the theme surrounding the Pokémon Stellar Crown TCG expansion, but the Sparkling Crystal is a notable Tool card to use with Tera Pokémon. The card is also one of the recent additions to the ACE SPEC mechanic that began in the Black & White set Boundaries Crossed.

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Aside from the striking design of the card, players can get some use out of Sparkling Crystal thanks to its ability to reduce a Tera Pokémon’s energy cost by one, which is incredibly beneficial for decks using cards like Dragapult ex from Twilight Masquerade ​​​​​​or Hydreigon ex from the recent Surging Sparks ​​​​​​expansion sets. This brings some welcome versatility to players’ Tera-focused decks, making these powerful Pokémon a bit easier to use.

12

Glass Trumpet Can Let Players Set Up Powerful Pokémon

Card Number: 135/142

For some noteworthy Item cards to consider from Stellar Crown‘s card roster, players should check out Glass Trumpet. The card has since been reprinted in the recent Pokémon TCG Prismastic Evolutions expansion set and lets players set up their benched Pokémon for action. Specifically, Glass Trumpet allows players to attach a Basic energy card from their discard pile to up to two Colorless type Pokémon on their bench.

While the downside is players must have a Tera Pokémon in play to use it, the pros can far outweigh the cons if used carefully. With Glass Trumpet, players can prime powerful Colorless type Pokémon to deal damage faster, like the Twilight Masquerade expansion’s Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex and Stellar Crown​​​​​’s mascot Legendary—Terapagos ex.

Card Number: 175/142

Item cards, tool cards, and supporter cards (collectively referred to as Trainer cards) make up the majority of a player’s deck in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Some of these cards are staples that can be found in several different decks. These types of cards include potent search cards like Nest Ball and Buddy-Buddy Poffin, along with amazing supporters like Professor Sada’s Vitality and Janine’s Secret Art, which are phenomenal for providing Pokémon with the energy they need to attack.

However, some tool cards are more situational in their ability to turn the tide in battle. Bravery Charm is a Pokémon Tool card that gives 50 HP to the Pokémon that it is attached to. This allows decks like Miraidon ex and Raging Bolt ex/ Teal Mask Ogerpon ex to make their relatively weak Pokémon more pesky to knock out. While Turbo decks can easily knock out the empowered Pokémon, some powerful decks like Dragapult ex and Charizard ex will be slowed down by this potent tool.

10

Area Zero Underdepths is a Powerful Stadium Option

Card Number: 174/142

Not every deck in Pokémon utilizes the stadium mechanic as, while the cards are powerful, they can also benefit your opponent in situations where the opponent would otherwise lose the game. Cards like Artazon and Pokéstop are powerful, but both players can benefit from them, so it is important to have expansive matchup knowledge to utilize them properly. However, the stadium card, Area Zero Underdepths, benefits the player using it so much that it is worth the risk.

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Area Zero Underdepths states that while a player has a Tera Pokémon on their side of the board, they can have up to 8 Pokémon on their bench. This is a massive upgrade for decks with many moving parts, but it also helps Tera decks like Galvantula ex and Terapagos ex that thrive off of having multiple attackers set up at once. When paired with Glass Trumpet, Terapagos ex is one of the most formidable options released in Stellar Crown.

9

Grand Tree is Another Worthwhile Stadium Card

Card Number: 136/142

For more Stadium card options, the Stellar Crown expansion’s Grand Tree is worth a look. This ACE SPEC card can be a terrific addition to a player’s Evolution-focused deck. With the Grand Tree card in play, players can search their deck (once per each player’s turn) for a Stage 1 Pokémon card to evolve their Basic one. In the same vein, players could then use the Grand Tree to search their deck for the corresponding Stage 2 Pokémon to evolve it again.

The competitive potential for this Stadium card is tantalizing, as it could certainly allow players to amass several fully evolved Pokémon at a much faster rate—albeit with the condition that the Basic Pokémon must have completed a turn in play first. Checks and balances aside for this card, Grand Tree can let players build a powerful roster of Pokémon ex cards.

8

Dachsbun ex is The Cutest Special Illustration Rare in Stellar Crown

Card Number: 169/142

Some of the concepts for creatures in the Pokémon franchise are simply absurd, but Gamefreak somehow makes the best of them to create some of the most lovable Pokémon in the series. Generation IX is no exception to this rule, as some of its creatures are odd but lovable in the best way. Species like Brambleghast make the most of their simplicity, while others like Fuecoco use their aesthetic to lean into their typing. The adorable Pokémon Dachsbun is perhaps one of the weirdest concepts in Generation IX, but it is also one of the most endearing.

Dachsbun ex is one of the six Special Illustration Rares in Stellar Crown. While it is the least valuable Special Illustration Rare in terms of market price, it is by far the cutest. This beautiful art features the pastry-inspired dog feasting on pies and croissants while staring longingly at the array of tasty treats. The beautiful card may not see play in the meta, as its attack and ability are mediocre, but its art makes it a great pickup for fans of the most recent release in the Pokémon franchise.

7

Briar is Stellar Crown’s Best Supporter Card

Card Number: 171/142

Some supporter cards are necessary for decks in the Pokémon Trading Card Game to function. Cards like Arven are crucial to strategies like Charizard ex and the Loyal Three, while Chien-pao ex likely will not see much play once its main supporter, Irida, rotates out of the format in March 2025. However, Stellar Crown features a highly situational supporter card that provides a buff to some of the game’s best decks.

Briar states that if the opponent has exactly two prize cards remaining and a player knocks out the opponent’s active Pokémon, they take an additional prize card. This allows decks like Charizard ex and Dragapult ex to secure the game faster against one-prize decks like Roaring Moon and Ancient Box. Overall, while this card is situational, it is by far the most intriguing supporter option released in Stellar Crown.

6

A Classic Grass-type Makes a Triumphant Return

Card Number: 143/142

The original 151 Pokémon have carved out a place for themselves in pop culture lore, so any special art that they receive is valuable for collectors. Cards like Charizard ex and Zapdos ex routinely fetch high prices, regardless of whether they are playable or not. Despite the lack of a Venusaur deck in the meta, the Bulbasaur Illustration Rare is one of the most valuable cards in Stellar Crown.

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This Illustration Rare Bulbasaur is one of the most beautiful cards in Stellar Crown, and also one of the most adorable. In this art, Bulbasaur takes a nap on the windowsill while a Pidgey flaps its wings outside the window. While the card is unlikely to see play any time soon, Bulbasaur is still one of the best cards to pull in the entire set.

5

Galvantula ex is the Centerpiece of the Control Deck

Card Number: 168/142

Control and stun decks are quite divisive in the card game community, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game is no exception. Iron Thorns ex, a notorious stun deck, recently won the 2024 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, which pushed stun decks into a more popular state than ever before. One of the most prominent strategies in Stellar Crown makes the most of this with a rather unique way of shutting down the opponent’s turn. Galvantula ex is a 260 HP Electric-type Pokémon that also has the Tera trait.

This allows it to take advantage of support cards like Briar and Area Zero Underdepths. Its second attack, Fulgurite, costs a Grass Energy, a Lightning Energy, and a Fighting Energy. When their attack is used, players must remove all energy from Galvantula ex, but the opponent cannot play item cards on the following turn. This attack locks down crucial cards and doesn’t allow the opponent to retaliate with crucial items like Prime Catcher and Counter Catcher. Stun decks may be frustrating to play against and Galvantula ex is one of the most aggravating examples of the playstyle.

4

Hydrapple ex Finally Gives Grass-type Pokémon a Powerful Strategy

Card Number: 167/142

Most types in the Pokémon Trading Card Game are well-supported, with at least one playable option finding its way into the top 10 decks in the game. However, Grass-type and Fighting-type Pokémon have lacked playable strategies for the longest time and have failed to receive much meta consideration. Teal Mask Ogerpon ex finds its way into the Raging Bolt ex strategy, but that is because of its ability, not its typing. Fighting-type Pokémon are still lacking an option, but Stellar Crown finally gave Grass-types a deck of their own.

Hydrapple ex is another turbo strategy in the Pokémon trading card game. Hydrapple ex’s ability, Ripening Charge, allows players to quickly attack Grass-type energy to their Pokémon, which allows Hydrapple ex to do more damage with its attack, Syrup Storm. Syrup Storm costs two energy of any type and deals 30 damage plus 30 more damage for each Grass-type energy attached to all the attacking player’s Pokémon. Paired with Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, this strategy can take out even the most bulky Pokémon with a single attack.

3

Squirtle is the Best Retro Pokémon to Pull in Stellar Crown

Card Number: 148/142

The original three starter Pokémon are some of the most iconic creature designs in the history of gaming, and their trading card game art stands out among the rest. While the most valuable cards in any given set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game are often the most playable, not every card follows this rule. Often, the best cards to pull are ones with the most unique art.

Squirtle has received many printings throughout the history of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, but there are few versions of the card with art as beautiful as its version in Stellar Crown. In this art, Squirtle is sitting in a pool surrounded by Pidgeys, and he uses his water to clean off the playful birds. The artist of the card, Saboteri has done incredible work for the game in recent years, and this illustration rare version of Squirtle, is one of their best.

2

Lacey is the Most Expensive Supporter in Stellar Crown

Card Number: 172/142

Often, a card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game will be decent, but it will not slot into decks because there are simply better options that fulfill similar purposes. Draw cards will always be compared to disruptive cards like Iono and Judge, while cards with massive draw power like Professor’s Research are some of the most iconic cards that the game has to offer. When a card only offers one of these things, it needs to offer a great benefit to make it better than the cards that are already in rotation. Despite its beautiful art, Lacey from Stellar Crown does not do this.

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Lacey is a card that allows a player to replenish their hand to either four cards—or eight cards if the opponent has three or fewer prize cards left. While this may seem powerful, it is quite situational. Draw cards that can be used at all times, like Radiant Greninja or Bibarel, fulfill the purpose better. Overall, Lacey is a beautiful card, but it will not see play as long as better options exist in the format.

1

Terapagos is the Chase Card in Stellar Crown

Card Number: 170/142

With the Tera Pokémon finally getting the spotlight in Stellar Crown, it made sense that Terapagos would finally receive an ex card. Terapagos ex is the most valuable Pokémon card in Stellar Crown by a wide margin, and for good reason. Terapagos ex is by far the most playable staple Pokémon in this pack. Its best attack, Unified Beatdown, can deal 240 damage with a full bench if a player controls the Area Zero Underdepths stadium.

On top of the card being a great staple, it also features some of the game’s most beautiful art. Much like the illustration rare Squirtle, the art for this card is drawn by Saboteri, and it is a delight to look at. Terapagos ex is one of the most colorful cards in recent memory, and its details make it look like a mosaic. Overall, Terapagos ex is a great card, and it is more than worthy of being the chase card in Stellar Crown.

Pokemon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game, or Pokémon TCG, is a collectible card game developed by Creatures Inc. based on the Pokémon franchise.

Original Release Date

October 20, 1996

Player Count

2

Age Recommendation

6+

Publishing Co

Wizards of the Coast, The Pokémon Company