Pokémon Trading Card Game Announces Changes, Improvements, And Price Increase For Scarlet And Violet Expansions

The Pokémon Company has announced several changes coming to the Pokémon Trading Card Game, starting with the first expansion in the Scarlet and Violet series hitting in March. In addition to the ex gameplay mechanic that was announced for the series in August at the Pokémon World Championships, players can expect several changes to the cards and the packs in which they are housed.

First up, those yellow borders U.S. players and collectors are so used to will become a thing of the past. To match Japanese cards, the border will change to gray starting with Scarlett & Violet. The move is said to provide a more seamless experience for the Pokémon Trading Card Game while putting a greater emphasis on the actual artwork of the cards. For better visibility, Trainer cards now include subcategories in the upper left corner. These are Supporter, Item and Stadium. To make it easier to track the cards during gameplay, basic Energy cards will include an Energy symbol located at the bottom left. Expand symbols will also be displayed on all cards.

The announcement does not come without some sad news. The bitter part is that the booster pack price will be going up from $3.99 to $4.49, a move The Pokémon Company attributes to global inflation impacting the cost of materials and production. Others products could also be more expensive in the future. However, the sweet side of this news is that the Pokémon TCG team will try to make up for the increased prices by raising the number of guaranteed foil cards per pack to three. Now, all cards with a rarity of “Rare” or higher will be foil. Additional items will be included in larger boxes, like Elite Trainer Boxes. Elite Trainer Boxes include a booster package and full-art promo cards.

If you’re going to miss the yellow border, the Sword and Shield – Silver Tempest expansion launched last month, and we’re expected to get the final Sword and Shield expansion, Crown Zenith, in January. After that, the Pokémon Trading Card Game looks to shift gears to fully embrace the Gen 9 games, along with all the changes detailed above, with the first Scarlet and Violet expansion arriving on March 31.

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