How Pokédex Entries Shape Persian TCG Card Design

In TCG ·

Persian card art from Shrouded Fable (sv06.5)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

How Pokédex Entries Inform Persian's TCG Card Design

In the world of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, every card carries more than a collection of numbers and names. It channels a tiny piece of the Pokémon’s story, its habitat, and its battles, translating the broad lore of the Pokédex into tangible gameplay. The Persian from the Shrouded Fable arc is a perfect case study in how a creature’s lore guides card design—from its type and HP to its signature moves, and even the art and rarity that collectors chase ⚡️. The flavor of a Ninetales-like elegance, the stealthy menace of a prowling feline, seeps into a Colorless Stage 1 attacker whose mechanics feel like a tactile echo of Persian’s famous claws and swift reflexes 🔥.

Card data at a glance can reveal the careful balance designers strike between theme and playability. Persian in this set, sv06.5, carries 110 HP and is classified as a Colorless type. It evolves as a Stage 1 Pokémon, which mirrors its in-game lineage of Meowth’s family growing into a sleek, independent prowler. The card’s illustrator is Whisker, whose line work captures the poised, rainy-night silhouette of Persian—the kind of image you’d expect to see lurking in a misty alleyway. The holo variant elevates the art, turning the metallic sheen of its fur into a visual poetry that matches the elegance of Pokedex descriptions. Additionally, Persian bears the rarity tag Illustration Rare, a nod to the artistry and the limited print distribution of this particular release in the Shrouded Fable line.

  • Set: Shrouded Fable (sv06.5). Official card count 64 in the official subset, 99 total in the full release, including variants.
  • Stage & Dex: Stage 1; dexId 53, evolving from Meowth in the broader line.
  • Type: Colorless. This choice mirrors Persian’s versatility—neither strictly attacker nor purely support—it’s a flexible palette in many decks.
  • HP: 110 hit points, a respectable baseline for a Stage 1 Colorless attacker.
  • Attacks: Fury Swipes (Colorless, Colorless) costs two energies and flips three coins, dealing 50× damage for each heads; Slashing Claw (Colorless, Colorless, Colorless) deals 100 damage, posing a straightforward finisher.
  • Energy & Mobility: Retreat cost is 1, a manageable toll when you need to retreat after a round of multi-hit Fury Swipes.
  • Rarity & Regulation: Illustration Rare, Regulation Mark H, legal in Standard and Expanded formats as of the latest updates.

When you read the Pokedex-esque lore that accompanies Persian, you often sense a feline that uses precision and timing—traits that designers translate into the card’s two-pronged offensive approach. Fury Swipes embodies the rapid, successive strikes a cat might deliver, contingent on coin flips that reflect a creature’s instinctive unpredictability. The move’s 50× potential is potent but probabilistic, encouraging a clever mix of risk management and timing. Slashing Claw, with its decisive 100 damage, serves as a reliable closer once you’ve built up the right board position. This pairing is a direct homage to the creature’s long-standing reputation as a swift predator with razor-edged claws—translated here into a game state where luck and skill collide 🔥.

Strategic take: turning narrative into deck-building decisions

Persian’s Colorless typing broadens the palette for energy acceleration and splash-friendly build-outs. In practice, Fury Swipes rewards a patient tempo: you’ll want to field two or more Colorless energy attachments across turns, setting up the possibility of multiple high-damage hits from a single Persian. The three-coin flip mechanic invites risk management—your odds of landing several heads improve with stage support, draw-consistency, and board presence. Slashing Claw, requiring an extra Colorless energy, provides a strong payoff for turning a mid‑game position into a knockout. Players who enjoy weaving luck into strategy will appreciate how Persian’s moves hinge on coin outcomes while still offering a reliable damage ceiling if the stars align.

In terms of playstyle, Persian fits nicely into decks that tolerate a bit of tempo variance. The card’s Stage 1 status means a Meowth‑powered evolution on the bench still matters, while the 110 HP helps weather early trades. Its Retreat cost of 1 keeps Persian playable in mid-range decks without too heavy a price tag when you need to reposition. The card’s Regulation Mark H confirms ongoing tournament viability, ensuring it remains a living piece of the evolving Standard/Expanded landscape 🔄.

Art, lore, and the collector’s eye

Whisker’s illustration for Persian in Shrouded Fable elevates the storytelling aspect that draws collectors. The holo variant isn’t merely a shiny surface; it’s a visual reflection of the Pokedex’s glow—the sense that Persian moves through moonlit fog with unerring grace. The rarity designation, Illustration Rare, underscores the artwork’s value for display alongside its tactical utility. For collectors, this is a card where the narrative arc (Meowth → Persian) becomes a tangible piece of a larger, cinematic world, and the holo foil is a gateway to appreciating the artistry that sits behind the statistics.

Market context adds another layer of fascination. CardMarket data points to an average price around €46.53, with a low near €28.89 and a notable upward trend (around 70.16). While holo variants and regional print runs can shift value dramatically, Persian’s Illustration Rare status in a beloved set makes it a standout for those who chase not just power, but storytelling, rarity, and a touch of nostalgia 🔎💎.

For fans of the Pokédex-to-play transition, this Persian demonstrates how a single creature’s lore can ripple outward—from flavor text and art to stat lines, attack design, and long-term collectibility. It’s a reminder that every card is a tiny, well-crafted chapter in a much larger saga—the kind of story that makes opening a booster pack feel like unsealing a page from a friend’s ongoing journey 🎴🎮.

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