2002 Pokemon Trading Card Game Neo Destiny Set List

2002 Pokemon Neo Destiny Set – History

Released in February 2002, Neo Destiny is the 12th set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Its symbol is a blue sparkle above a white sparkle, possibly referring to the Dark and Light Pokémon within this set.

This 113-card set was issued in March 2001 in Japan, and February 2002 in America, and is the fourth (and final) expansion in the “Neo” series. Neo Destiny was the first set to feature Light Pokemon.

Neo Destiny 1st Edition cards were available in 11-card booster packs that consisted of seven common cards, three uncommon cards, and one rare card. Regular holographic cards were inserted in approximately one of every three packs.

There are four Neo Destiny 1st Edition pack wrappers highlighting a different Pokémon, either Togetic, Tyranitar, Noctowl, and Celebi.

Another “unlimited” version of the Neo Destiny cards was manufactured in much higher quantities and is less valuable.

Like the cards in the previous Neo sets, these cards boast yellow borders with the name and HP at the top above the artwork.

2002 Pokemon Neo Destiny Set – Interest and Popularity

This set is the second set with an emphasis on Dark Pokémon, though unlike its predecessor, Team Rocket, these Dark Pokémon don’t seem to have any influences. In this set and only this set, they are counterbalanced by Light Pokémon. Neo Destiny was the first set to feature Light Pokemon. 

Whereas Dark Pokémon have low hit points (health) and do a lot of damage, Light Pokémon have high Hit Points and have attacks and other abilities that revolve around support, such as healing damage.

This set almost completes the Unown alphabet started in Neo Discovery (R was left out, but was eventually given a card in another set years later. J was also left out, being a Promo).

It was also the first issue to boast rare and valuable Shining cards with a design that presented only the Pokémon (and not the background) in foil material in the artwork.

Neo Destiny was the final English expansion that have the 1st Edition symbol.

This was the last of that old style, and there are a lot of people that only collect the old-style cards.

Most of the 16 holographic cards at the beginning of this set are very desirable. Dark Espeon (#4) is one of the most coveted.

Espeon is an Eeveelution card. Eevee is a popular, little dog-type Pokémon that can evolve into Espeon or Umbreon, plus other adorable Pokemon.

“Any cards that evolve from Eevee are going to be very collectible,”

Not surprisingly, the Shining Charizard (#107) is the most valuable.

Neo Destiny 1st Edition cards are not easy to uncover in gem-mint condition. The No. 1 problem with this set is silvering on the border of the cards. Scratches on the holographic material and whitening on the back borders are a few other issues seen on these cards.

This is one of the key reasons that high-grade Neo Destiny 1st Edition cards are so highly pursued.