Top Persian Pokémon TCG Cards Illustrated by This Artist

In TCG ·

Persian card art illustrated by Naoki Saito from the sv03.5 '151' set

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Spotlighting Naoki Saito’s Persian in the 151 Era

In the neon-bright corridors of the 151 arc, Persian stands out not just for its practical stats but for the character the artist brings to life. Naoki Saito’s rendition captures Persian’s sly, confident aura with crisp linework and a gaze that feels as calculating as the card’s ability. This is more than a simple battlefield snapshot—it's a moment of personality on cardboard, a reminder that the Pokémon TCG thrives on both micro-strategy and storytelling. The sv03.5 release, cataloged under the “151” set, features Persian as a Colorless Stage 1 with 110 HP, a nimble and versatile addition to many decks that prize adaptability alongside power.

Card at a glance: stats and flavor

  • Name: Persian
  • Set: sv03.5 (151)
  • Rarity: Uncommon
  • Type: Colorless
  • Stage: Stage 1
  • HP: 110
  • Ability: Rocket Call — Once during your turn, you may search your deck for a Giovanni's Charisma card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
  • Attack: Slash — 70 damage
  • Retreat: 1
  • Regulation Mark: G
  • Illustrator: Naoki Saito
  • Variants: Normal and Reverse
  • Legal formats: Standard and Expanded

Rarity aside, Persian’s lightweight 1‑colorless retreat cost and a late-stage 70-damage attack give it a surprising amount of tempo in the right hands. The ability Rocket Call is where the strategic texture really shines: fetching a Giovanni’s Charisma card can accelerate your draw power or disrupt an opponent’s plan by timing Charisma to your advantage. In practice, Persian can act as a flexible pivot—the kind of card you slot into a midgame sequence to stretch a lead or claw back momentum with the right Trainer card in tow.

Deck-building notes: how to leverage Rocket Call

  • Fuel a Giovanni’s Charisma engine: Persian’s Rocket Call turns a free search into a potential tempo swing. If your table contains Giovanni’s Charisma as a core pivot, you can set up key turns where you draw into crucial Supporter effects, stall with defensive plays, or load a heavy hitter for a decisive strike.
  • Colorless versatility: Being Colorless means Persian can drink from a broad energy pool, letting you design flexible turn sequences without worrying about specific energy types. This open energy footprint can help you maintain aggression without risking a brick on three different types.
  • Stage 1 with reach: As a Stage 1, Persian benefits from established board control while still presenting a threat through Slash. A well-timed retreat into a safer position can help you preserve threat while the game transitions into late turns where 110 HP sustains you against wary opposing setups.
  • Targeting balance: With 70 damage on Slash, Persian shines when you sequence it with smaller returns from other attackers and Trainers. Don’t rely on it alone for the win—pair it with momentum from Supporters and item-play to pressure your opponent across multiple threats.

Collector’s perspective: art, rarity, and market notes

From a collector’s lens, Naoki Saito’s Persian stands as a vivid example of the 151 era’s art-forward approach. The sv03.5 line—with its blend of iconic Pokémon and lore-rich styling—continues to draw fans who chase both nostalgia and novel colorways. This particular card is non-first edition and non-holo, with normal and reverse variants that offer appealing texture in binder collections. The public print run for sv03.5 sits within a broad 165-card official set count (out of 207 total), a reminder that the era balanced accessibility with enough scarcity to keep prices stable for casual collectors and seasoned researchers alike.

Financial snapshots from CardMarket offer a pragmatic view of its place in today’s market. For the non-holo Persian sv03.5-053, the average price hovers around €0.05, with a low near €0.02 and a positive trend over recent periods. Notably, holo variants—when available—tend to command higher prices, with average holo values around €0.19 and higher monthly trends. For players and collectors, this balance means Persian is typically affordable to acquire for casual collections while still offering occasional upside for long-term speculative holds, especially as Naoki Saito’s work remains a draw for fans of his aesthetic.

As of mid-2025, the card remains legal in Standard and Expanded formats, keeping it accessible for competitive play in established decks and for display in art-forward collections. The 151 set’s signature style—paired with a character as iconic as Persian—provides a compelling snapshot of how Pokémon’s classic cats continue to charm both new players and veteran collectors alike. ⚡🔥💎

Where art meets utility: a little storytelling in every game

The moment Persian slashes for 70, backed by an ability that can reshape a turn’s draw, is a microcosm of the TCG experience: a mix of sharp skill, fortunate timing, and the joy of discovering a new layer to a familiar character. Naoki Saito’s depiction breathes personality into a card that, on paper, might appear straightforward—yet in play, reveals a surprising depth when paired with the right Trainer line and energy strategy. For players, this is a card that rewards thoughtful sequencing; for collectors, it’s a vivid reminder that the best art can elevate a simple stat line into a story you want to tell at every table.

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