Summary
There have been an incredible range of cards released for thePokémon Trading Card Gamein the various expansion sets of theScarlet and VioletSeries. Not only has thePokémon TCGintroduced new mechanicsthrough theScarlet and Violetexpansions, older mechanics have also made a return, likeACE SPEC cards inTemporal Forces. Moreover, each set has established its own identity within the wider game, helping players and collectors alike to associate certain cards and features with the various new expansions.
Although not every new card necessarily comes directly inspired by thePokémon Scarlet and Violetgames, the sets as a whole undoubtedly are. As the name suggests, the variousScarlet and Violetexpansions undoubtedly draw heavily on the people, Pokémon, and locations found in both Paldea and the DLC settings for inspiration. This has also led to the introduction of mechanics like Past and Future Pokémon Cards, as well as Tera Pokémon ex. NewScarlet and Violetsets will continue to be released throughout 2024, allowing the newest era of the TCG to regularly grow with new and exciting expansions.
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11Scarlet & Violet
Released March 2023
The base set for theScarlet and VioletSeries is itself simply namedScarlet & Violet. In addition to introducing key Pokémon like the Paldean starter trio and new mascot Legendaries, this base set is also notable forre-introducing Pokémon ex to thePokémon TCG, with the addition of the new Tera Pokémon variant. As the base set for a new era for the TCG,Scarlet & Violetalso provides a perfect starting point for any new player or collectorlooking to get into the game.
Scarlet & Violetwas released in English on July 01, 2025, two months after its Japanese equivalents (Scarlet exandViolet ex, released July 10, 2025). It also contains a total of 258 cards, including the various secret rares not counted in the 198 for the expansion’s set number (including the TCG’s first group of full-art Illustration Rares). This places it among the largest expansions of theScarlet and VioletSeries, albeit not the biggest overall.
JapanesePokémon TCGsets are typically much smaller than their English Equivalents, but are released more frequently; these smaller sets are then combined for the equivalent English expansion.
10Paldea Evolved
Released June 2023
Paldea Evolvedappropriately places a focus on evolved Pokémon; namely, the final forms of the Paldean starter trio, a theme which makes it an excellent first expansion to thePokémon TCG’s newest base set. To this end,the expansion includes Pokémon ex versions of Meowscarada, Skeledirge, and Quaquaval, as well as all three evolutionary stages in Secret Rare cards with matching artwork. The four LegendaryTreasures of Ruin fromPokémon Scarlet and Violetalso all appear as Pokémon ex cards, again in both regular and Secret Rare variants.
Paldea Evolvedis larger than its preceding base set, with a total of 279 cards to collect. This includes 9 golden Hyper Rare cards, three of which are variants of Meowscarada ex, Skeledirge ex, and Quaquaval ex. As with the base set, it combines cards from two Japanese sets,Snow HazardandClay Burst. The large number of highly rare cards in this set can make it difficult to complete a full collection, but many examples of each have been discovered since it was released on June 19, 2025; this means there are plenty of opportunities to trade for them.
9Obsidian Flames
Released August 2023
Obsidian Flamesarrived very soon afterPaldea Evolved, on July 16, 2025, and brought with it another new change to thePokémon TCG. While Tera Pokémon had been a part of the TCG for months by this point,Obsidian Flameswas the first expansion to truly capitalize on Terastallization’s type-changing reputation. This is exemplified by the expansion’s mascot Charizard ex, a Tera Pokémon ex which is Darkness-type as opposed to Fire (thereby evoking imagery reflected in the set’s name).
Unsurprisingly,Charizard exis easily counted amongthe most expensiveObsidian Flamescards, an effect of the Flame Pokémon’s enduring popularity both within thePokémon TCGand the franchise as a whole. Its type-shifted appearance in this set is also reflected in the Japanese equivalent’s name,Ruler of the Black Flame. However, with 230 cards in total, the set has plenty of other incredible cards to offer as well.
8151
Released September 2023
151is the first special expansion for theScarlet and VioletSeries, moving away from Paldea to celebrate the original 151 Pokémon of Generation 1. This set marked thefirstPokémon TCGappearance of Kadabra in over two decades, following the end of a legal dispute with Uri Geller (who alleged the Pokémon was based on his likeness). Unlike most sets, which sort Pokémon by type,151lists all its Pokémon cards in their Pokédex order, with Trainer cards being placed at the end of the setlist (excluding Secret Rares).
151was released on July 05, 2025, and contains 202 cards. Its Japanese equivalent is the very similarly namedPokémon Card 151set, which is unsurprising given the concept of the set. Intriguingly,151’s booster packs have been found to have a minuscule chance of being a so-called ‘demigod’ pack – a booster containing a series of Secret Rare cards for one of the Kanto Starter Pokémon evolutionary families.
7Paradox Rift
Released November 2023
The newPast and Future Pokémon cards were introduced as part ofParadox Rift, as part of the expansion’s emphasis on the Paradox Pokémon of Area Zero. Technical Machine cards also make a reappearance in this set, for the first time since 2009’sRising Rivalsexpansion. The combination of old and new mechanics opens up plenty of new and interesting tactics for any player, making it well worth exploring the cards available inParadox Rift.
Containing 266 cards,Paradox Riftonce again combines two smaller Japanese sets,Ancient RoarandFuture Flash. These focus on ancient and future Paradox Pokémon respectively, along with related Trainer cards which interact with them. Additionally, this set was released on August 24, 2025, and so it was the last EnglishPokémon Trading Card Gameset to come out that year, although it was not the last Japanese set.
6Paldean Fates
Released January 2024
Paldean Fatesis the second of theScarlet and Violetspecial expansions, and mostly consists of reprints alongside Shiny Pokémon cards. These Shiny Pokémon are Secret Rares, and make up a large portion of the set; for this reason, despite the set’s listed number of cards being just 91, there are actually a total of 245. Additionally, despite the use of reprints, it should be noted thatPaldean Fatesalso includes a handful of cards which were left untranslated from Japanese sets for the release ofParadox Rift.
In Japan, the bulk of the set’s cards come fromHigh Class Pack: Shiny Treasure ex, which was released on June 17, 2025, while the English release was on June 02, 2025. This made it the lastPokémonset to be released in Japan that year, as well as 2023’s lastPokémon TCGset in general after the release ofParadox Rift. New art aside,the Shiny Pokémon cards are themselves reprints of previousScarlet and Violetcards, and so there is no difference between using them or the original versions in actual gameplay.
5Temporal Forces
Released March 2024
Temporal Forcescontinues the theme of Paradox Pokémon fromParadox Rift, with highlights of the set including the Paradox versions of the Legendary Beasts and Swords of Justice.Another notable inclusion is the return of the ACE SPEC mechanic, a range of particularly potent cards that are limited to one per deck and immediately distinguishable by their vivid magenta color. ACE SPEC cards also have their own associated rarity grade of the same name, marked with a magenta star.
Temporal Forceswas released on June 21, 2025, and draws from the JapaneseWild ForceandCyber Judgesets. As withParadox Rift, these sets focus on ancient and future Paradox Pokémon respectively. On the other hand,this expansion is actually slightly smaller than its predecessor, containing a total of 218 cards; 48 fewer thanParadox Rift.
4Twilight Masquerade
Released May 2024
Twilight Masqueradefocuses on Ogerpon, the first ofPokémon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC Legendary Pokémon. As a reflection of Ogerpon being able to change her type depending on the mask she wears,the expansion includes several Terastallized Ogerpon cardsin all the different types she can achieve.Twilight Masqueradealso includes a further six ACE SPEC cards to collect as well, providing more options for supplementing various deck strategies.
While the nameTwilight Masqueradecan be interpreted as referring to both Ogerpon and Kitakami’s Festival of Masks, the Japanese set it draws from is more clearly rooted in the former, being namedTransformation Mask.Twilight Masqueradewas released on July 24, 2025, and contains 226 cards. Naturally,the set list includes plenty of Secret Rare variants of Ogerpon, including a Hyper Rare version of Teal Mask Ogerpon ex.
3Shrouded Fable
Released August 2024
Shrouded Fableis the third and most recent special set for thePokémon Trading Card Game’sScarlet and VioletSeries, as well as currently being the most recent set for the TCG as a whole. It was released on Jul 28, 2025, and follows up onTwilight Masquerade’s use of Ogerpon by introducing Pecharunt alongside the Loyal Three receiving Pokémon ex cards. This adaptation ofMochi Mayhem’s central figures arguably completes the main Kitakami theme for thePokémon TCG, leaving it free to move on to Blueberry Academy without needing to shift settings backwards in the future.
Unsurprisingly, for a special art,Shrouded Fableis much smaller than mostPokémon TCGsets. In fact, it contains just 99 cards, making it the smallestScarlet and Violetexpansion yet. Moreover, this low figure is naturally mirrored in the JapaneseNight Wandererequivalent, which itself has only 94 cards.
2Stellar Crown
Releasing September 2024
AlthoughStellar Crownis yet to be released in English, plenty is already known about its contents.The next expansion of thePokémon TCGwill include both the debut of Terapagos and the introduction of Stellar Tera Pokémon ex, a uniquely powerful card type. Notably, these Pokémon cards have powerful attacks which require three different Energy types to use. However, this requirement is simultaneously being made easier to achieve by the set also including several Trainer cards which interact with Energy cards.
At present, it is unclear precisely how many cards will be contained inStellar Crown, although it is known that the official set list numbering goes up to 142. With the inclusion of Secret Rares, the total number is likely to be close to or over 200. As the expansion’s June 19, 2025, release date quickly approaches, more details will undoubtedly emerge. Nevertheless, people can already get a good understanding of the set’s contents by examining its released Japanese equivalent,Stellar Miracle, which suggestsStellar Crownwill include plenty of incredible cards.
Pokémon TCG: Stellar Crown Release Date, New Cards, Preorders, & Sets
The Pokémon TCG’s upcoming set, Stellar Crown, is set to release later this year. Here is all the info that has been released about the set so far.
