Look, I know that's a bold claim right in the title, but hear me out. I've been collecting and playing since the early days, and after going through my collection recently, I keep coming back to one conclusion: Evolving Skies might genuinely be the most well-rounded set we've gotten in half a decade.

Before you jump to the comments to tell me I'm wrong (and trust me, I expect some heated disagreements), let me break down why this set still has me impressed years later.

The Eeveelution Factor

First off – those alternate art Eeveelutions. I mean, come on. Sylveon VMAX, Umbreon VMAX, the whole gang really. These aren't just pretty cards; they're absolute works of art that happen to be playable. I remember the first time I pulled that Umbreon alt art – it was one of those moments where you just stop and stare at the card for way too long.

The market prices on these cards tell the whole story, honestly. Even now, they're holding their value better than most cards from sets that came out around the same time. That's not just hype; that's staying power.

Competitive Depth That Actually Lasted

Here's something that really sets Evolving Skies apart from other recent sets: the competitive cards didn't just dominate for a month and then disappear. Rayquaza VMAX was a legitimate deck archetype that shaped the meta for months. Same with some of the other VMAX cards in the set.

I've seen too many sets where the chase cards look amazing but play terribly, or vice versa. Evolving Skies managed to nail both aspects. Cards like Duraludon VMAX and Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX weren't just collection pieces – they were genuine threats that players had to build around.

The Pull Rates Were... Actually Reasonable?

Okay, this might be controversial, but I think Evolving Skies had some of the fairest pull rates we've seen in years. Don't get me wrong – those alternate arts were still rare enough to feel special when you hit one. But it didn't feel like you needed to buy a whole case just to see a single good pull.

I remember opening quite a few booster boxes of this set, and while I didn't hit every chase card, I consistently felt like I was getting decent value. Compare that to some other recent sets where you could open pack after pack and feel like you wasted your money.

The Artwork Direction Was Just Different

There's something about the artistic direction in Evolving Skies that feels more mature than a lot of other sets. The alternate art cards especially – they have this almost painted, storybook quality that makes them feel less like trading cards and more like miniature art pieces.

I've got friends who don't even play the game but bought singles from this set just because the artwork was so compelling. That says something about the visual impact these cards have.

But Is It Really THE Best?

Here's where I might lose some of you – I think the answer depends on what you value most. If you're purely a competitive player, there might be sets with more meta-defining cards. If you're only about the newest mechanics, obviously newer sets have features that Evolving Skies doesn't.

But for that sweet spot of collectibility, playability, artwork, and overall package? I honestly can't think of another set from the last five years that hits all these marks as consistently.

The fact that people are still actively hunting cards from this set, still building decks around its key Pokemon, and still talking about it with the same enthusiasm tells me everything I need to know.

What do you think? Am I giving Evolving Skies too much credit, or does it deserve its reputation as one of the modern classics? I'd love to hear what set you think has been the strongest in recent years – especially if you disagree with my take here.