Top 10 Delta Reign chase cards

Rayquaza twists through orange flames and swirling green energy, with almost no empty space left on the card. This is the artwork version of the set's headline Pokémon and the card most collectors will compare with the gold #141. If you want one Mega Rayquaza ex that shows the Pokémon in colour, this is the printing to look for.

The gold treatment turns Rayquaza into raised lines on a solid gold card, with the coils and headpiece traced as a pattern rather than painted. It is the most uniform finish in the set and the opposite of the busy Special Illustration Rare. Choose #141 if you collect gold cards or Mega Hyper Rares; choose #138 if you want the artwork.

Raikou leaps down between tall grey stone pillars, with white lightning cracking through the canyon around it. The muted greens and greys make it a calmer card than the two Rayquaza printings above it, even though it shows an attack in motion. At launch it was the highest-priced Pokémon in the set that is not a Mega.

Golisopod lunges forward through sweeping streaks of pink, orange and green, drawn as one fast diagonal movement. Of the Delta Reign Special Illustration Rares it is the most action-led, close to a sketch in style. Compare it with Mega Golurk ex if you want one of the two Mega SIRs outside the Rayquaza pair.

Zinnia sits on a rock ledge with sunlight breaking through the clouds behind her. It is a quiet, wide scene rather than a close-up portrait, and one of the set's two Trainer Special Illustration Rares, with Aarune. Zinnia and Mega Rayquaza both come from the Delta Episode, which makes this the natural partner card for a Rayquaza collection.

Eevee peeks out of a leather travel bag, surrounded by a map, a water bottle and bread. It is a small, friendly scene and the highest-priced Illustration Rare at launch. If you collect Eevee across sets, this is the Delta Reign printing to add.

Golurk stands in front of a purple dusk sky and stone ruins, with its seams glowing yellow. The warm glow against the dark purple background gives it a different mood from every other Special Illustration Rare in the set. It is a good pick if you collect Ghost-type Pokémon or prefer darker artwork.

Kecleon is hidden in a dense field of flowers and patterns drawn in a loose, crayon-like style. You have to look for it, which fits a Pokémon that blends into its surroundings. It is the most unusual artwork in Delta Reign and a strong personal chase even when it is not near the top of the price list.

Groudon roars in the middle of red lava and broken rock, filling most of the card. It is the most dramatic Illustration Rare in the set and an easy match for Raikou ex if you are building around legendary Pokémon. The heavy red palette also makes it stand out in a binder page of calmer IRs.

Growlithe waits at an open front door, standing on a pink patterned rug inside a home. It is an everyday scene rather than a battle, and one of the warmest Illustration Rares in the set. A good pick if you collect Growlithe or like Pokémon shown in quiet, homely scenes.