Combusken

Combusken in the anime: May's Contest partner

May received her Torchic from Professor Birch in Littleroot Town in Get the Show on the Road!, choosing it as her first partner. It evolved into Combusken in A Shroomish Skirmish after getting separated from May and coming under attack from wild Shroomish and a Breloom, then fought that Breloom to a draw.

As Combusken it became one of May's most used Contest Pokémon, appearing in both the Hoenn and Kanto Grand Festivals, and it spent 109 episodes in that stage. It finally evolved into Blaziken in Once More with Reeling! while stopping Team Rocket from stealing Pikachu and other Pokémon.

Combusken on cards: an EX era regular that never left

Combusken's first English cards came in Ruby & Sapphire (2003), which printed it twice: an Uncommon by Kouki Saitou and another by Ken Sugimori. The EX era accounts for 12 of the 22 printings in our catalog, including a Nintendo Black Star Promo by Saitou, POP Series 3 and POP Series 4 promos by Mitsuhiro Arita, and two Crystal Guardians cards: an Uncommon by Sachiko Adachi and a Rare by Suwama Chiaki, an unusual step up for a Pokémon almost always printed as an Uncommon.

Since then it has appeared in most eras as a regular Uncommon or Common: Great Encounters and Platinum in Diamond & Pearl, Dark Explorers in Black & White, Furious Fists and Primal Clash in XY, Celestial Storm and Dragon Majesty in Sun & Moon, Darkness Ablaze in Sword & Shield, and Journey Together and Destined Rivals in Scarlet & Violet. For most collectors it is the card that completes a Torchic line, and the EX era printings offer the widest choice of art.

Cards to know

• Combusken (Ruby & Sapphire #27)

  One of Combusken's two first English cards, an Uncommon illustrated by Kouki Saitou.

• Combusken (Ruby & Sapphire #28)

  The other Ruby & Sapphire Combusken, drawn by Ken Sugimori.

• Combusken (Crystal Guardians #16)

  A Rare illustrated by Suwama Chiaki, a step above Combusken's usual Uncommon slot.

• Combusken (POP Series 4 #6)

  A Pokémon Organized Play promo illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita.

• Combusken (Nintendo Black Star Promos #9)

  An EX era promo illustrated by Kouki Saitou.