Elesa

Elesa in the anime: the Nimbasa Gym Leader's fashion following

In Pokémon the Series: Black & White, Elesa first appears in Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!, where Ash and Bianca track her down at one of her modeling shows to ask for a Gym battle. Bianca battles her first, and her Zebstrika knocks out all three of Bianca's Pokémon. Ash earns his Bolt Badge from her in Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!, where his Palpitoad takes down that Zebstrika.

Elesa on cards: from Legendary Treasures to Elesa's Sparkle

Elesa's first English card is a Common Supporter numbered RC20 in Legendary Treasures (November 6, 2013), illustrated by Yusuke Ohmura, three years after her Black and White debut. Her second card, Elesa's Sparkle, arrived in Fusion Strike (November 12, 2021) in three printings: an Uncommon (#233) by Ohmura, and an Ultra Rare full art (#260) and a Secret Rare (#275), both by Ryuta Fuse.

Crown Zenith reprinted Elesa's Sparkle as an Ultra Rare (#147) on January 20, 2023, with new artwork by Megumi Mizutani, closing out her run so far.

How collectors approach Elesa's cards

Her run splits into two eras: a single Common from the Legendary Treasures Radiant Collection in 2013, then the Elesa's Sparkle release in 2021 in three rarity tiers, Uncommon, full art Ultra Rare and Secret Rare. The Crown Zenith Ultra Rare adds a second high-rarity version of that Supporter with different artwork, so collectors of the 2021 card have two illustrators' takes to choose between.

Cards to know

• Elesa (Legendary Treasures #RC20)

  Her first English card, a Common Supporter illustrated by Yusuke Ohmura.

• Elesa's Sparkle (Fusion Strike #233)

  The Uncommon printing of her second Supporter card.

• Elesa's Sparkle (Fusion Strike #260)

  The full art Ultra Rare version from the same set, illustrated by Ryuta Fuse.

• Elesa's Sparkle (Fusion Strike #275)

  A Secret Rare printing of the same Supporter.

• Elesa's Sparkle (Crown Zenith #147)

  An Ultra Rare reprint with new artwork by Megumi Mizutani.