Asako Ito burst onto the Pokémon Trading Card Game scene back in 2017, right in the middle of the Sun & Moon era, with her now-famous Poliwag card. Instead of sketching or working digitally like most artists, she actually crochets tiny Pokémon by hand using amigurumi, a fun Japanese yarn-craft technique.
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Then she builds little real-life sets for her yarn Pokémon to sit in before snapping the photo that becomes the card art. It’s no surprise she’s earned a loyal fanbase of collectors who chase down every single card she’s ever illustrated, so let’s dive into her best pieces yet.
10. Cherubi 10/156
Cherubi 10/156 dropped in 2018 as part of the Sun & Moon: Ultra Prism expansion. It’s a Common Grass-type Basic Pokémon sitting at 50 HP, making it a handy starting point for Grass decks in draft play. Its main move, Surprise Attack, only needs one Grass Energy and can land 30 damage if the coin flip goes your way. Collectors love this one as a snapshot of Ito’s earliest work in the Sun & Moon days.
9. Pyukumuku 53/214
This little guy showed up in the Sun & Moon: Unbroken Bonds set as an Uncommon Water-type Basic card. With 70 HP, Pyukumuku 53/214 packs a handy attack called Call for Family that lets you dig through your deck for two Basic Pokémon. Its second move, Surprise Fist, throws in a playful twist by having you play Rock-Paper-Scissors for extra damage. It’s become a favorite for anyone who loves a bit of tabletop fun mixed into their card game.
8. Wailmer 015/084
Wailmer 015/084 splashed into the game through the Sword & Shield: Fusion Strike expansion. This Water-type Basic Pokémon surprises everyone with a whopping 120 HP, which is huge for a card that hasn’t evolved yet. It needs a good chunk of Energy to fire off its attacks, matching its big, bulky vibe. Collectors treasure this card as a strong example of Ito’s work in the Fusion Strike lineup.
7. Zubat 089/163
Zubat 089/163 flew in with the Sword & Shield: Battle Styles expansion. It’s a Common Psychic-type card with 40 HP that kicks off the evolution line leading to Crobat. Its low retreat cost makes it easy to shuffle around the battlefield early in a match. For anyone chasing a full Battle Styles set, this little bat is an essential pickup.
6. Swirlix 083/195
Swirlix 083/195 arrived as part of the Sword & Shield: Silver Tempest series. As a Common Psychic-type Basic Pokémon, it carries 60 HP and a simple one-energy attack. It evolves straight into Slurpuff, making it a solid pick for laid-back evolution-focused decks. Fans working toward a complete Ito collection keep this card high on their list.
5. Wigglytuff 111/264
Wigglytuff 111/264 popped up in the Sword & Shield: Fusion Strike expansion as a Colorless Stage 1 Pokémon boasting 120 HP. It evolves from Jigglypuff and hits hard with no-fuss Energy attacks. Since Fusion Strike is the biggest main set from the Sword & Shield era, tracking down uncommons like this one takes some real digging. It’s a standout among Ito’s Stage 1 illustrations from this generation.
4. Snorlax 109/159
Snorlax 109/159 made its debut in Crown Zenith, the grand send-off set for the Sword & Shield era. This Colorless Basic Pokémon rocks 150 HP, giving it serious staying power for a card with no rule box attached. Its attacks lean into heavy hits paired with tricky status effects like putting itself to sleep. Thanks to Crown Zenith’s celebratory spirit, this card is a fan favorite among modern collectors.
3. Altaria GG19/GG70
Altaria GG19/GG70 shines as an Ultra Rare in the Galarian Gallery subset tucked inside Crown Zenith. This Stage 1 Dragon-type Pokémon holds 90 HP and wields the impressive Tempting Tune Ability. Tempting Tune lets you search your deck once per turn for any Supporter card and slide it right on top of your deck. Its rare Galarian Gallery placement and strong casual-play synergy make it a beloved pick among set fans.
2. Electrode 39/181
Electrode 39/181 rolled out during the Sun & Moon: Team Up expansion as a Stage 1 Lightning-type Pokémon. With 90 HP, it evolves from Voltorb and brings energy-shuffling tricks perfect for Lightning-based decks. Team Up is one of the most hunted sets from the whole Sun & Moon era thanks to its limited print runs. Because of that, this card stands out as a classic piece of Ito’s late Sun & Moon artwork.
1. Audino 151/086
Audino 151/086 took the spotlight as an Illustration Rare in the Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt expansion. This Colorless Basic Pokémon carries 100 HP and works like a card-drawing machine thanks to its Return attack. After dealing damage, Return lets you keep drawing cards until you’re holding six in hand. Between its Illustration Rare status and its usefulness, it’s easily one of the most valuable and wanted Asako Ito cards around today.
Asako Ito has quickly become the modern-day successor to Yuka Morii, and her early Sun & Moon commons are only getting harder to find in mint condition, which points to solid growth ahead. Building out her collection is also a lot friendlier than chasing a massive main set, since you’re really only after about 70 cards total. And the fun never really stops, since collectors can always level up their goals, moving from basic English prints to reverse-holos and even the fancier Japanese versions.
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