If you’ve spent much time collecting Pokémon cards, you’ve probably heard collectors talk about “waifu cards.”
Basically, the female Trainer cards that people really like collecting.
And just like everything else in Pokémon, some of these cards can get stupidly expensive.
But you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get some awesome Trainer cards for your collection. There are plenty of great-looking full arts and special Trainer cards that are still within a reasonable price range.
Here are a few that I really like.
Misty’s Vitality — 111/084
Let’s start with Misty.
Misty is obviously one of the most recognizable Trainers in Pokémon, so naturally her cards tend to get plenty of attention.
Misty’s Vitality 111/084 is a newer card that gives you an awesome Misty Trainer card without immediately jumping into some of the insane prices her older cards can command.
And let’s be honest…
It’s Misty.
That’s already enough reason for me to want it in the binder.
Misty's Vitality
Misty at a great price!
Irida — GG63/GG70
This is probably one of the best-looking cards on this entire list.
The Irida from Crown Zenith’s Galarian Gallery isn’t just the traditional character-standing-in-front-of-a-colorful-background style of Trainer card.
It’s an actual scene.
That’s one of the reasons I love the Galarian Gallery so much. Cards like this feel more like little pieces of Pokémon artwork than regular trading cards.
Irida
Definitely one I’d happily throw in the binder.
Skyla — 072/072
Skyla has had several popular cards over the years, but the Shining Fates Skyla Full Art is still one of my favorites.
It’s bright.
It’s colorful.
It’s unmistakably a Pokémon full-art Trainer.
And compared with some of the ridiculous prices you’ll see on older Trainer cards, this one is still reasonably attainable.
Skyla (Full Art)
This is exactly the kind of card I mean when I say you don’t need to buy the most expensive version of a character to get an awesome card.
Cheryl — 159/163
Cheryl from Battle Styles is another one that I think gets overlooked.
Maybe it’s because Battle Styles isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite Sword & Shield set, but there are still some really nice cards hiding in it.
The Cheryl Full Art is one of them.
It’s a simple full-art Trainer design, but it looks great and can be added to a collection without completely destroying your Pokémon budget.
Cheryl (Full Art)
Sometimes that’s all I want.
A cool card.
A reasonable price.
Into the binder it goes.
Irida — 186/189
Yep.
Irida gets two spots on this list.
Because why not?
The Astral Radiance Irida is the more traditional full-art Trainer compared with the Galarian Gallery version, and honestly, I like having both.
Put these next to each other in a binder and you’ve got the same character represented in two completely different styles.
Irida (Full Art)
And that’s another fun part of collecting Trainers.
You don’t necessarily have to pick one.
If you like the character, collect multiple versions.
But If Money Wasn’t an Option…
Okay.
There’s one card that doesn’t really belong on a list about cheaper Trainer cards.
But I have to mention it.
Misty’s Favor — 235/236
Damn.
This is one I’d love to have in my personal collection.
Misty’s Favor from Unified Minds is an absolutely awesome card, and unfortunately, the price reflects just how much collectors like it.
This definitely isn’t one of those cards I’d casually toss into my TCGplayer cart along with a few $5 cards.
Misty's Favor (Full Art)
But if money wasn’t an option?
Yeah. This one would absolutely be in my collection.
Maybe someday.
You Don’t Need the Most Expensive Trainers
That’s really the point of this list.
It’s easy to browse Pokémon cards online and immediately gravitate toward the huge chase cards.
But there are so many cool Trainer cards that don’t require spending hundreds of dollars.
Skyla, Cheryl, Irida, Misty — you can pick up some great cards featuring popular characters without going completely insane with your budget.
And that’s what makes collecting fun to me.
Buy the cards you actually like.
Put together a binder that makes you want to flip through it.
And every once in a while…
Stare at the price of Misty’s Favor and try to convince yourself you don’t need it.
I haven’t quite mastered that last part yet.
