Collector Favorites: Artist's Persian Card Art in Pokémon TCG

Persian XY11-89 card art from Steam Siege by Anesaki Dynamic

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Persian Card Art: A Collector Favorite from Steam Siege

Among the colorful tapestry of Pokémon TCG artwork, some pieces become fan-favorites not just for their game-mechanics but for the stories they tell in brushstrokes and color. The Stage 1 Persian from the Steam Siege set (XY11) is one such standout. This uncommon Colorless Pokémon evolves from Meowth, boasting 90 HP and a pair of attacks that lean into lucky breaks and calculated risk. Its art, crafted by Anesaki Dynamic, captures a sly elegance—the kind of feline grace that fans memorize as soon as the card is in view. For many collectors, Persian is not just a card to play, but a miniature work of art to behold in a bind of sleeves and binders. ⚡🔥

Artistry at the Edge of the XY Era

The illustrator behind Persian, Anesaki Dynamic, brings a keen sense of motion and personality to the piece. Persian’s piercing eyes, the sweep of its tail, and the subtle play of light across its fur all convey a moment of poised readiness. Steam Siege, with its own reputation for dynamic, story-like art, provides a stage where Persian can shine as a character rather than just a stat line. The color palette and composition invite collectors to pause, study the detail, and imagine the world beyond the card—where Meowth and Persian share a lineage full of mischief and cunning. The holographic variants—normal, reverse, and holo—offer extra sparkle, making this piece especially coveted among variant-seekers. 🎨🎴

Mechanics that Tie Strategy to Aesthetics

Persian is a Stage 1 Colorless Pokémon, evolving from Meowth, with a respectable 90 HP. Its attacks tell a cheeky little story about timing and luck. The first attack, Raid, costs a single Colorless energy and deals 30 damage. The kicker—if Persian evolved from Meowth during this turn—adds 30 more damage. That means a late-turn evolution can propel Raid into a surprising 60-damage burst, punishing opponents who underestimate the speed of evolution in a single turn. The second attack, Fury Swipes, costs two Colorless energies and uses three coin flips to determine damage: 30 for each heads, up to a potential 120 if the coins swing right. In practice, careful timing and a touch of probability makes Persian a nimble engine for momentum shifts. Weakness to Fighting ×2 adds a targeted caveat—positioning matters in a format where your opponent can threaten Persian from a distance. Retreat cost of 1 keeps Persian flexible, allowing you to pivot into safer options or stage another evolution when the moment is right. 🔄

Strategic Tips for Modern Play and Collectors Alike

Evolution timing matters: Because Raid gains power when Persian evolves from Meowth during the same turn, you’ll want Meowth already in play or have a plan to evolve during the turn you attack. This makes Persian a careful tempo piece rather than a raw, brute-force attacker.
Colorless versatility: Being Colorless lets Persian slip into many decks that don’t rely on a single energy type. When paired with support from Trainers and other colorless attackers, Persian can be a surprising late-game finisher.
Risk management with Fury Swipes: The 30× potential rewards you with a strong ceiling, but it’s coin-reliant. In practice, you’ll want to couple Fury Swipes with board control that keeps opposing threats in check while you chase the heads.
Deck-building nostalgia: For collectors, the holo and reverse-holo variants of Persian—especially the XY11 run—offer an appealing fusion of art and rarity, turning a practical card into a centerpiece of a Steam Siege display.
Weakness awareness: The Fighting weakness shapes how you position Persian against meta choices. It’s not a go-to attacker in every matchup, but with smart sequencing and tech support, it remains a valuable finisher choice. 🛡️

Market Pulse: What Collectors Are Seeing Today

Persian’s rarity is listed as Uncommon, and its set details place it squarely in Steam Siege (XY11). The card exists in several variants, including normal, reverse, and holo, each appealing to different collecting priorities. Market data from CardMarket and TCGPlayer offers a snapshot of value and volatility that is typical for XY-era cards that have endured in popularity:

CardMarket—avg around €0.09 for the standard non-holo copy, with a low of around €0.02 and a soft trend of about 0.08. For holo variants, the ceiling is higher: avg near €0.51, low around €0.03, with holo-trend around 0.65, reflecting a modest premium for the sparkle in collector circles.
TCGPlayer—standard non-holo copies often hover in the $0.01–$0.18 range, with market price around $0.16 and occasional peaks. Reverse holo variants show broader spread, sometimes reaching up to approximately $4.95 in high-demand listings, while typical pricing sits in the mid-dollar range as supply tightens. These numbers illustrate how a single card can swing with event-driven demand and binder-collection allure.

For modern collectors, Persian remains an accessible entry point into Steam Siege’s art-driven corner of the TCG world. The mix of low entry-price non-holo copies, collectible holo variants, and the enduring charm of Anesaki Dynamic’s art makes Persian a frequent choice for both new binders and longtime fans revisiting XY-era treasures. The evolving values across marketplaces also reflect broader trends in how players and collectors treat older sets—nostalgia tempered with practical investment considerations. 💎

Nostalgia Meets Niche Artistry

This Persian captures more than a moment in gameplay; it embodies a cross-section of design philosophy from the XY era: bold silhouettes, character-driven poses, and a willingness to celebrate Pokémon as living art. The collaboration with Anesaki Dynamic contributes a distinctive stamp that many fans immediately recognize—an essential piece in any Steam Siege-focused collection. As players climb through different TCG eras, Persian’s elegant balance of offense and charm stands as a reminder that the game is as much about the stories we collect as the battles we win. 🎴

And for fans who want to bring a touch of that collector’s magic into everyday life, the practical side of fandom is ever-present. The same spirit that drives binder layouts and holo-swirl patterns can inspire other purchases and keepsakes—like premium accessories that honor the same sense of style. In that light, the collaboration between art, strategy, and a passionate community is what truly makes Persian a collector favorite beyond its Battle-ready stats. ⚡🔥

Interested in a small but stylish extension of the hobby? Check out the practical gear pairing below and grab a piece of everyday Pokémon fandom that travels with you beyond the binder.

Slim Phone Case for iPhone 16 - Glossy Polycarbonate