ThePokémon Trading Card Gameis officially moving on from itsScarlet and Violetera. Since 2022, thePokémon TCGhas branded its expansions as part of theScarlet and Violetera, reflecting the game’s focus on characters, Pokémon, and locations from thePokémon Scarlet and Violetgames. However, that era is officially ending later this year, with the launch of Mega Evolution cards and an assumed focus onPokémon Legends: Z-A.
In a press release fromPokemon.comthat was posted as part of the Pokémon Day festivities last week, The Pokémon Company confirmed that it would be shifting thePokémon TCGto new branding.The new Mega Evolution era will launch later this year,with sets featuring Mega Evolution Pokémon ex cards. Mega Evolution Pokémon ex cards have heavily boosted HP and attack damage, but will cost three Prize cards when defeated.
How Mega Evolution Era Impacts The Pokémon TCG
This marks the first time in over a decade that thePokémon TCGhas not had branding focused on a specific video game.The last time this occurred internationally was theCall of Legendsera,which only lasted one expansion back in 2011 between theBlack and Whiteera and theXYera of cards. TheXYera was technically split into two separate eras in Japan, with theXYandXY Breakconsidered separate series of cards.
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The fact that we’re getting a full series ofcards focused on Mega Evolutioncould indicate thatthe next generation ofPokémongames might be released in 2026 or later.It could also mean that we’re getting more new Mega Evolutions inPokémon Legends Z-Ato help justify a lengthier window of Pokémon card sets focusing on this particular gimmick. We’ll likely find out more about this newMega Evolutionseries later this year as the series prepares for launch both internationally and in Japan.
Our Take: An Interesting Twist For The Pokémon TCG
Mega Evolution Will Leave A Long Shadow On Pokémon TCG
The fact that we’re getting a full series ofMega Evolutionsets indicates two things about the future of thePokémon Trading Card Gamein 2025.The first is that we almost certainly get new versions of all Mega Evolution cards,as opposed to a selection of cards. The second is that Mega Evolutions will last longer than previous gimmicks, such as the Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards from last year. The effects of Mega Evolution could linger for years in thePokémon TCGand that’s a very good thing.
