The Best Art Rares From Heat Wave Arena In The Pokemon TCG

Modern Japanese sets in the Pokemon TCG are packed with incredible artwork that combines detailed action shots with serene slice-of-life moments. Whether you're a Cynthia fan or have been waiting for a top-tier Rapidash artwork, Heat Wave Arena delivers some of the best scenes for any taste.

While values often reflect desirability, they don't always account for some of the most unique, eye-catching designs of Pokemon or trainers who don't always bask in the limelight. However, we're here to give some of the best artworks their deserved flowers, since a card's price doesn't determine its artistic value.

Rapidash – 69/63

Call The Museum

Rapidash is a perfect example of a Pokemon that rarely garners much attention, but if it keeps appearing with bangers like this card, that might change in the future. While it's a long shot and unlikely that Rapidash could earn a Special Art Rare equivalent to some of the best in this set, this card is still stunning and worthy of appreciation.

The foreground's beautiful flowers are the perfect complement to Rapidash's fiery mane, as it surveys the scene. This card's simplistic beauty is unrivaled, as its stylistic differences make it stand out.

Shaymin – 66/63

No Notes Needed

Shaymin is one of the most beloved Mythical Pokemon in the series, but there's no question it can't hold a candle to Mew's unrivaled popularity. Despite settling for second fiddle at best, Shaymin seems oddly happy in this vibrant verdant visualization, as it frolicks among the flowers.

While there are plenty of details to absorb here, Shaymin stands out as the main subject thanks to its pure white color palette, which provides the perfect base for its green and pink accents to shine. You won't find a more underrated card in this set, as its price tag is relatively unremarkable.

Rotom – 74/63

What A Mess

Rotom takes the form of almost any household appliance, but there might not be one that can help this Pokemon clean the messy room around it. Rotom's regular form is adorable, as this Ghost-type Pokemon haunts houses with its wacky antics rather than trying to intimidate people.

Given its more charming personality, Rotom is typically seen as one of the most cheerful Ghost-type Pokemon in the series, and this scene pays homage to its whimsical nature, in part due to the bright, bold color choices.

Misty's Psyduck – 71/63

The Perfect Swim Day

Misty's Psyduck stands out as one of the most visually distinct cards in Heat Wave Arena and is easily one of the set's most valuable chase cards, despite not boasting the Special Art Rare distinction. While Misty's Psyduck is only an Art Rare, there's no falloff in the quality or level of detail this art provides.

Pokemon are frequently depicted in the water, but few versions ever offer this level of nuance in the water's ripples and the rainbow reflections that are perfectly visible thanks to the unusual top-down perspective.

Arven's Greedent – 75/63

A Happy Pair

While Misty's Psyduck is easily one of the most sought-after cards in Heat Wave Arena, Arven's Greedent provides a gorgeous artwork that could be considered even more vibrant than Misty's if you prefer the contrasting colors. Arven and Greedent share this scene equally, though we can't quite appreciate Greedent's bushy tail from this angle.

Even though this card leaves some details out of frame, the tender interaction between Pokemon and trainer is hard to beat, especially given the anime-level quality present here.

Misty's Lapras – 72/63

A Perfect Day At The Beach

There are plenty of valuable Misty cards to collect , and while this popular trainer has already made an appearance with her iconic Psyduck, this moment with Lapras might be even better than what we've already seen. However, the most noticeable difference is the scale of the Pokemon and the trainer, which gives this card a much different feel.

Due to its clear lion's share of the canvas, this feels more like Lapras' card, rather than the equal space allotted to Psyduck and Misty that gave them each half. That said, we still get to see all of Misty, so we can't fault Lapras for being so big when the scene still included both subjects in full.

Ethan's Typhlosion – 70/63

A Beautiful Battle

You're forgiven for doing a double-take if you thought Ethan's Typhlosion was a Special Art Rare, as it stands out as one of the most valuable Heat Wave Arena chase cards. Even Art Rares can command high price tags if the right factors combine to form an in-demand card.

For example, Ethan's Typhlosion combines a decently popular trainer with a very popular Pokemon and depicts them amid an intense fight. Each aspect, combined with the high-quality artwork, gives Ethan's Typhlosion a deserved leg up on the competition.

Cynthia's Roserade – 65/63

Struck With Wonder

Cynthia stands out as the best Art Rare from Heat Wave Arena thanks to the gorgeous moment capturing the trainer in perfect harmony with her Roserade. Cynthia's most valuable cards often feature another Pokemon or trainer, so this card keeps with tradition in that sense.

However, none have the level of detail that this card does, as you can appreciate strands of Cynthia's hair fluttering in the swirling wind around her. While Cynthia's expression seems concerned, there's no need to worry, given that this card's subject and style earn it the place of honor.

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