The Biggest Changes hitting the Pokemon TCG When Scarlet & Violet Releases this March!
The next generation of the TCG, Scarlet & Violet base set is due for release on the 31st March 2023 and will feature new Pokemon, new card designs and much more! As revealed in the latestJapanese sets, the series will re-introduce the ex mechanic! We are incredibly excited for the release and the start of a new era! Check out some of the epic things that we can expect from the set down below!
New Pokemon
As expected, a ton of the new Pokemon from the Paldea region will make their debut in base set! This includes the beloved starter Pokemon from Scarlet & Violet as well as fan favourites such as Klawf and new game mascots Koraidon and Miraidon!
Pokemon ex
The returning ex Pokemon will have powerful moves and abilities and will give out 2 prize cards rather than just 1 to compensate for their greater power! The set will include 12 double rare Pokémon ex, including two Tera Pokémon ex featuring Arcanine and Gyarados, as well as 12 ultra rare Pokémon!
New Card Design
Card changes include changing the yellow border to grey to match the Japanese game and the changing of other card elements, such as the trainer subcategories now being in the top left, rather than the top left, energy symbols on energy cards appearing in the bottom right and the scrapping of expansions symbols for universal expansion codes!
Illustration Rares
Including 24 illustration rare Pokémon, 10 special illustration rare Pokémon and Supporter cards! Cards included as an illustration rare include:
- Dolliv
- Armarouge
- Wiglett
- Dondozo
- Ralts
- Kirlia
- Gardevoir ex
- Fidough
- Riolu
- Sandile
- Klawf
- Kingambit
- Starly
- Tarountula
- Toedscool
- Scovillain
- Slowpoke
- Clauncher
- Pachirisu
- Pawmot
- Drowzee
- Greavard
- Mabosstiff
- Bombirdier
- Skwovet
- Many More
Gold Etched Cards
Six hyper rare gold etched cards, which can include Pokémon ex, Trainer and Energy cards!
- Koraidon ex
- Nest Ball
- Fighting Energy
- Miraidon ex
- Rare Candy
- Lightning Energy
Products
Base set comes with a ton of awesome products! Although the old familiar packs and boxes are there, you may find that some of them are changed from before!
Products that will be included in the release are:
- Boosters Booster are relatively unchanged from SWSH and they contain three guaranteed foil cards per booster and all cards with a rarity of rare or higher will now be foil. Booster Packs are available individually or as booster boxes containing 36 packs.
- Elite Trainer Boxes Base Set will feature 2 different ETBs, one showcasing Koraidon and the other showing Miraidon! ETBS are a great way to get a taste for a set and they now include an additional booster pack.
- 9 Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet booster packs
- 1 full-art foil promo card featuring Miraidon or Koraidon
- 65 card sleeves featuring Miraidon or Koraidon
- 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
- A player’s guide to the Scarlet & Violet expansion
- 6 damage-counter dice
- 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
- 2 plastic condition markers
- A collector’s box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organized
- A code card for Pokémon Trading Card Game Live
- Build & Battle Stadium The Build & Battle Stadium contains a massive set of cards, including two Build & Battle Boxes. If you're looking to set up a quick couple of games then this is the product for you.
- 2 individual Build & Battle Boxes, each containing a ready-to-play 40-card deck
- Each deck includes 1 of 4 foil promo cards
- 3 additional Scarlet & Violet booster packs, so you get 11 in all
- 121 Basic Energy cards
- 6 damage-counter dice
- 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
- 2 coin condition markers
- A collector’s box to hold everything
- Build & Battle Box The Build & Battle Box is a great way to get a taste of the game and even includes some awesome.
- A 40-card ready-to-play deck, including 1 of 4 unique foil promo cards
- 4 Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet booster packs
- A code card for Pokémon TCG Live
- Checklane Blisters These awesome Checklane Blisters feature Espathra or Spidops promo and come with one booster pack. If you're a collector and want to grab all the promos then this is a necessity.
- Premium Checklane Blisters Premium Checklanes each have 3 promos and a single booster pack. Two variations exist, one with Gengar's evolution line and another with Machamps, bringing a classic feel into this new era!
- 3-pack Blisters As the name would suggest, both of these blisters have 3 packs and an awesome promo. Promos that available include Arcanine and Dondozo.
- Sleeved Boosters Sleeved boosters are perfect for a sealed collection, they each contain a single booster pack protected in a carboard sleeve.
- Mini Portfolio Each mini portfolio is perfect for storing your trades or a small selection of cards and also comes with a booster box.
Top Cards
Quite a few cards have been revealed in the Japanese game and we are of course expecting them to be included in the English-language Base Set! These include some awesome full art cards that continue the tradition of epic art that we have come to expect from the Sword & Shield era. Some of our favourite picks include the Miraidon ex, Gardevoir ex, Nest Ball, Banette ex, Pachirisu, and Rare Candy! Check out some more in the media gallery below!
Miraidon ex
Ability - Tandem Unit Once during your turn, you may search your deck for up to 2 Basic Electric Pokémon and put them onto your bench. Then, shuffle your deck.
Photon Blaster During your next turn, this Pokémon cannot attack.
Banette ex
Lights Out Your opponent can't play any Item cards from their hand during their next turn.
Poltergeist Your opponent reveals their hand. This attack does 60 damage for each Trainer card you find there.
Gardevoir ex
Ability - Psychic Embrace As often as you like during your turn, you may attach a Basic Psychic Energy from your discard to 1 of your Psychic Pokémon. If you do, put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon.
Miracle Force
Pachirisu
Ability - Electric Pouches This Pokémon cannot be Paralyzed.
Group Zap This attack does 20 more damage for each of your benched Electric Pokémon. This attack's damage isn't affected by Weakness.
Nest Ball
Search your deck for a Basic Pokémon and put it on your bench. Shuffle your deck afterward.
Team Star Grunt
Put an energy attached to your opponent's active Pokemon on top of their deck.
Are you as excited for the upcoming release as we are!? Make sure to stay alert for more news and for when the remaining pre-orders for base set goes live! You can sign up to be notified for pre-orders in the related products section down below and place your pre-orders for Booster and ETBs! In the meantime, make sure to check out our entire range of Pokemon TCG products by clicking the button below!
