The Pokémon Trading Card Game‘s new Paldea Collection released on January 6, but what are the best cards to find in it? The TCG is nearing the end of its Sword and Shield set with the Crown Zenith expansion, with confirmation that the first sets for Generation 9 will be out around mid-2023. The card game has been very successful for The Pokémon Company in recent years, with products being purchased en masse and prices for new and old cards skyrocketing.This Paldea Collection box is a sneak preview of what fans can expect with the coming Scarlet and Violet set. Inside the box, buyers will receive three foil promos of the starters, one over-sized EX card of either Miraidon or Koraidon, a collector pin, and four booster packs. However, the booster packs are from the Pokémon TCG‘s Sword and Shield series, so any cards from them will not be new.Related: Best Pokémon TCG Cards From The Sword & Shield Sets
EX Koraidon & EX Miraidon Are The Best Pokémon Cards In The Paldea Collection
The two best cards for collectors and players are the EX versions of the new Legendaries. Though they are over-sized, they can still be used in tournaments or if players use the online TCG. For those who aim more at collecting, the over-sized cards are still valuable promotion pieces that, while they will get reprints, are unlikely to get as much as other cards. The biggest draw for these cards, however, is the return of the EX feature.
Why The Return Of EX Cards Is Huge For The Pokémon TCG
EX cards originally made their appearance during the Generation 3 sets, but also ended with them and haven’t been seen since. EX cards have more health and more powerful attacks, making them juggernauts for competitive play. Aesthetically they are also beautiful, with the ones for Gen 9 having Terastallization features added in. The return of the Pokémon TCG‘s EX cards in Scarlet and Violet is something that should excite all TCG fans, as they include new ways to play and gorgeous cards to add to collections.
Overall, the Paldea Collection is a small sample of what players can expect, mainly existing to keep the hype of Gen 9 going until the first expansion is ready. The return of EX cards will likely do that rather than the cards themselves, but the opportunity to get early access to new Pokémon cards may be a great offer to some. This may be a Pokémon Trading Card Game collection box some can go without, but for those who do buy it, Miraidon EX and Koraidon EX are the standout cards.
