Zapdos ex Special Illustration Rare from “Pokemon Card 151,” Kanto Starters to Get Illustration Rares!

The Special Illustration Rare of Zapdos ex from Pokemon Card 151 has just been revealed! The set will release in Japan on June 16th and internationally as a special set this fall.

This is the first Special Illustration Rare revealed from the set.

Zapdos ex – Lightning – HP200
Basic Pokemon

Ability: Bolt Float
If this Pokemon has any [L] attached, it has no Retreat Cost.

[L][L][L] Multishot Lightning: 120 damage. This attack also does 90 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon that has any damage counters on it. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)

Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-30)
Retreat: 2

The numbering of the secret rares confirms the Kanto Starters and their Stage 1 Evolutions will get Illustrator Rares.

This is because there are seven cards before Pikachu, but only six other Evolution lines that proceed Pikachu in the Pokedex. Thus the Illustrator Rares would have to be the Kanto Starters, their Stage 1 Evolutions, and one card from another line (e.g. Caterpie or Pidgeotto).

This also means Venusaur ex, Charizard ex, and Blastoise ex should get Special Illustration Rares; it wouldn’t make sense to leave their lines incomplete. (Plus Creatures is obviously going to print a Special Illustration Rare of Charizard ex.)

Here are all of the set’s Illustration Rares revealed so far. Remember, this set is special in that the cards are arranged in Pokedex order: