The second expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game‘s Generation 9, Paldea Evolved, is set to release in a little under 2 months, and there is a lot added with it. Along with the continuation of the newly reformed EX cards, Paldea Evolved will also be introducing a handful of new Tera Pokémon-EX. The new Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards will also be continued in this expansion, bringing new breathtakingly beautiful cards to the TCG. Overall, it would seem Paldea Evolved is set to surpass its predecessor and set up the future of Gen 9 in the TCG.The first expansion for Gen 9 focused more on the most notable Pokémon, such as Miraidon and Koraidon, while sprinkling in a few others. However, most of these Pokémon seeing their first action in the TCG were given EX versions or Secret Rare art quality to boost their popularity. This first expansion was also split into Scarlet EX and Violet EX, with certain cards only available in one or the other. Paldea Evolved seems to be abandoning this idea and simplifying the process of searching for higher-value cards.Related: Pokémon TCG Paldea Cards: What’s In The Scarlet & Violet Sets
The Release Date And Cards Suspected/Confirmed For The Paldea Evolved Expansion
As of now, Paldea Evolved’s release date is June 9. This expansion will launch with the usual items up for purchase, but the Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box may be the best purchase for those on a budget. Though it only gives 11 booster packs compared to the 36 from the booster box, it also gives all the side material fans need to play. The $100 price difference also makes the Elite Trainer Box a much safer choice that can be supplemented with additional booster packs. Finally, there is also a Pokémon Center exclusive card only available from the Elite Trainer Box.
Currently, there is no exact number for how many cards will be in this expansion, but initial estimates have around 190 basic cards. This does not include Trainer and Secret Rare cards that put the total number somewhere in the 290s or low 300s. These numbers are flexible due to the likelihood some cards will be cut from the set for later use. One card that will not be cut is the exclusive Full Art Pikachu with the Pokémon Center logo on it, available in the Elite Trainer Box mentioned prior.
Of the around 190 basic cards that are coming with this expansion, there are some confirmed cards that collectors will want to look for. This includes the returning EX card versions of all the Gen 9 starters’ final evolutions, as well as EX versions for the four Treasures of Ruin Pokémon. So far, only three Tera Pokémon-EX have been confirmed in the form of Forretress, Slowking, and Dedenne. A handful of other EX cards are expected to be in this expansion, Lycanroc, Clodsire, and Noivern, to name a few, but these are not confirmed as of now.
In regard to the Secret Rare cards, it’s expected there will be approximately 35 new Illustration Rare cards, with nine more Special Illustration Rare cards; all of which will be EX versions. These nine cards comprise the three starters’ final forms, the four Treasure of Ruin, Tinkaton, and Squawkabilly. Full Art cards will also see 18 new additions, all of them being EX versions of the Pokémon already mentioned above. To conclude the Pokémon cards, five gold cards, Meowscarda, Skeledire, Quaquaval, Chien-Pao, and Ting-Lu, will also be collectible, all in EX form.
Of course, Paldea Evolved will also see the addition to the ever-popular Trainer cards to the Pokémon TCG. Eight new Full Art Trainer cards and another six in Special Illustration Rare form will be added. The big names to look out for with these cards are Ghetsis, Dendra, Grusha, and Iono, though all the cards will likely have some viable market. Trainer cards often do not have the high value that Pokémon cards do, but they can still be valuable parts of collections to the right person.
Cards To Look For In The Paldea Evolved Expansion
Like all expansions for the TCG, Paldea Evolved has cards for collectors and competitive players to search for. On the collector’s side of things, anything Secret Rare, Illustration Rare, or Full Art will likely have great value. The Pokémon TCG‘s Special Illustration Rare cards will probably be the most valuable, making them the big chase, but any card that takes on a unique art style is still valuable in its own right. Any EX card is also an excellent find, either for collecting or to resell to those who use them competitively.
Competitively, most, if not all, the EX cards have some value. These cards are known to be heavy hitters that are just as hard to take down if played correctly. There are also a handful of basic cards, Tinkaton, Shinx, and Spirtatomb, to name a few, that can be beneficial utility cards in a player’s deck. As for trainer/supporter cards, Ghetsis, Giacomo, Grusha, and Iono are the early favorites to make a splash in battles.
Overall, the TCG’s Paldea Evolved is introducing cards for fans of all trades and experiences. Even those who only collect casually will likely feel the call to search for their favorite cards. This is due not only to how strong some of these cards are but the high-level artwork that is going into them. Even some of the basic Pokémon TCG cards are designed so beautifully that most collectors will have to find a spot for them. This is a massive sign of the success the TCG has had the past few years, as the quality of all their cards has increased across the board.
Paldea Evolved is giving TCG fans a much deeper look into all Gen 9 has to offer. The inclusion of more new Pokémon and characters is a great start that will likely continue with future expansions. The appearance of Tera Pokémon is also a welcome sign, and while their numbers will still be small, these new additions will give fans a significant insight into what they can expect going forward. Overall, Paldea Evolved is gearing up to be another considerable expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, filled with new and exciting cards setting up the path for the rest of Gen 9.
