“Scarlet ex” and “Violet ex” Sets Officially Revealed!
The official Japanese TCG website has officially revealed Scarlet ex and Violet ex! As posted before, the sets will feature a total of 156 cards (before secret rares).
The set’s first cards were revealed two days ago in an official YouTube video, but now the video has been set to private. Apparently Pokemon didn’t mean to publish it that early, which explains why the official site didn’t post the cards until now. Today’s news is thus the official-official announcement. (Strangely, the Worlds announcement that previewed Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex was also published earlier than intended. Someone at Pokemon is trigger-happy!)
These sets bring back the TCG’s original Pokemon ex mechanic, which ran from 2003 to 2007. Pokemon ex evolve from their normal pre-Evolutions, unlike 2012’s Pokemon-EX (uppercase), which were always fully evolved Basic Pokemon. Though Pokemon-EX were inspired by Pokemon ex, both are entirely different mechanics. This means cards that target “Pokemon-EX” do not work on “Pokemon ex” and vice versa.
The big new mechanic of the Scarlet & Violet games is Terastallization. This gem-like transformation causes a Pokemon to become its Tera type. This is usually one of the Pokemon’s normal types (like a Fire-type Arcanine), but it can also be a completely different type (e.g. a Flying-type Pikachu). Terastalized Pokemon wear a crown to indicate their Tera type.
As such, some Pokemon ex in the Scarlet & Violet block will feature a Terastal effect box to indicate they’re Terastalized. Pokemon with this Terastal effect don’t take damage from attacks when they’re on the Bench. This is seen on Arcanine ex below. Its artwork is crystalized to show it’s Terastalized. It’s also wearing a Fire-type crown to indicate its Tera type is Fire.
There will almost certainly be Pokemon ex in the future that feature a Tera type different from its normal type (e.g. a Water-type Charizard). New blocks tend to start off “simple” in terms of mechanics and power because the allure is the new Pokemon. Later, the blocks start to spice mechanics up after all the new Pokemon have debuted.
If historical patterns hold true, we should get our first Scarlet & Violet set on February 24th, 2023. We should see its English reveal pretty soon, so stay tuned to PokeBeach!
Thanks goes to Bangiras and JustinBasil for the translations!
Smoliv – Grass – HP60
Basic Pokemon[C][C] Tackle: 30 damage.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Growlithe – Fire – HP90
Basic Pokemon[C] Stoke: Search your deck for up to 2 basic [R] Energy cards and attach them to this Pokemon. Then, shuffle your deck.
[R][R][R] Fire Claws: 70 damage.
Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3
Arcanine ex – Fire – HP280
Stage 1 – Evolves from GrowlitheTerastal: This Pokemon doesn’t take any damage from attacks while on the Bench.
[R][R] Raging Claws: 30+ damage. This attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on this Pokemon.
[R][R][R] Bright Flame: 250 damage. Discard 2 Energy from this Pokemon.
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3
Magnezone ex – Lightning – HP330
Stage 2 – Evolves from Magneton[L] Energy Crush: 50x damage. This attack does 50 damage for each Energy attached to all of your opponent’s Pokemon.
[L][L] Pulse Launcher: 220 damage. This Pokemon also does 30 damage to itself.
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3
Pawmi – Lightning – HP50
Basic Pokemon[L] Jolt: Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Miraidon ex – Lightning – HP220
Basic PokemonAbility: Tandem Unit
Once during your turn, you may search your deck for 2 Basic [L] Pokemon and put them onto your Bench. Then, shuffle your deck.[L][L][C] Photon Blaster: 220 damage. During your next turn, this Pokemon can’t attack.
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Koraidon ex – Fighting – HP230
Basic PokemonAbility: Dino Cry
Once during your turn, you may attach up to 2 Basic [F] Energy cards from your discard pile to your Basic [F] Pokemon in any way you like. If you use this Ability, your turn ends.[F][F][C] Wild Impact: 220 damage. During your next turn, this Pokemon can’t attack.
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Lechonk – Colorless – HP60
Basic Pokemon[C] Repulsive Stench: Your opponent switches their Active Pokémon with 1 of their Benched Pokemon.
[C][C] Stampede: 20 damage.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Professor’s Research (Turo / Sada) – Trainer
SupporterDiscard your hand and draw 7 cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn.
Ultra Ball – Trainer
ItemYou can use this card only if you discard 2 other cards from your hand.
Search your deck for a Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn.
Beach Court – Trainer
StadiumThe Retreat Cost of each player’s Basic Pokemon is [C] less.
This Stadium stays in play when you play it. Discard it if another Stadium comes into play. If a Stadium with the same name is in play, you can’t play this card.
As posted before, three 60-card “Starter Set ex” decks will release on the same day as the set. The decks will feature Sprigatito and Lucario ex, Fuecoco and Ampharos ex, or Quaxly and Mimikyu ex. A fourth “Starter Set ex” featuring Pikachu ex and an unnamed Lightning Pokemon will also release on March 10th.
Sprigatito – Grass – HP70
Basic Pokemon[C] Scratch: 10 damage.
[G][C] Leafage: 20 damage.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Riolu – Fighting – HP70
Basic Pokemon[C] Jab: 10 damage.
[F][C] Low Kick: 20 damage.
Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Lucario ex – Fighting – HP260
Stage 1 – Evolves from Riolu[F][C] Low Kick: 60 damage.
[F][F][C] Aura Sphere: 160 damage. This attack does 50 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon (don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon).
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Fuecoco – Fire – HP80
Basic Pokemon[C] Gnaw: 10 damage.
[R][R][C] Flare: 50 damage.
Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Mareep – Lightning – HP60
Basic Pokemon[L] Static: 10 damage.
[L][C][C] Elec-ball: 40 damage.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Flaaffy – Lightning – HP90
Stage 1 – Evolves from Mareep[L] Thundershock: 20 damage. Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
[L][C][C] Elec-ball: 60 damage.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Ampharos ex – Lightning – HP330
Stage 2 – Evolves from Flaaffy[L] Elec-ball: 60 damage.
[L][C][C] Lightning Tail: 140+ damage. You may discard 2 Energy from this Pokemon. If you do, this attack does 100 more damage.
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Quaxly – Water – HP70
Basic Pokemon[C] Pound: 10 damage.
[W][C] Kick: 20 damage.
Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Mimikyu ex – Psychic – HP190
Basic Pokemon[P] Void Return: 30 damage. You may switch this Pokemon with 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
[P][C][C] Energy Burst: 30x damage. This attack does 30 damage for each Energy attached to both Active Pokemon.
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Metal (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Nemona – Trainer
SupporterDraw 3 cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn.
A Cyclizar ex promo has also been revealed. It will be one of four promo cards you can get out of promo booster packs when purchasing the Starter Decks.
Cyclizar ex – Colorless – HP210
Basic Pokemon[C] Power Run: 30 damage. Search your deck for a Basic Energy card and attach it to this Pokemon. Then, shuffle your deck.
[C][C][C] Full Throttle: 180 damage. This Pokemon can’t attack during your next turn.
Pokemon ex rule: When your Pokemon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
The “Scarlet & Violet Premium Trainer Box ex” has also been revealed. It will cost 6,350 yen.
It will come with ten packs of each set, 196 cards (7 Pokemon, 49 Trainers, 4 Special Energy, 136 basic Energy cards), a card box, coin, acrylic damage counters, premium Status markers, and a case to store them.
