Scarlet & Violet Era (TCG): Difference between revisions

The '''Scarlet & Violet Era''' (Japanese: '''ポケモンカードゲーム スカーレット&バイオレット''' ''Pokémon Card Game Scarlet & Violet'') is a series of [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] sets and products released by [[The Pokémon Company]] (TPC) and [[Pokémon Korea]]<!-- and in the future [[Pokémon Shanghai]]--> in select Asian markets. It began with the Japanese release of {{TCG|Scarlet ex}}, {{TCG|Violet ex}}, {{TCG|ex Starter Sets}} and the {{TCG|Premium Trainer Box ex}} on January 20th, 2023. This was followed by the release of these products (with the exception of the {{TCG|Premium Trainer Box ex}}, which was released later in select markets) in Traditional Chinese on February 3, 2023, in Thai on February 24, 2023, in Indonesian on March 3, 2023 and in Korean on March 15, 2023. <!-- In Mainland China, the Scarlet & Violet Era kicked off with the release of {{ATCG|???}} on February 30, 2024.-->

The Scarlet & Violet Era kicked off with the release of {{TCG|Scarlet ex}} and {{TCG|Violet ex}} and introduces the Trading Card game to [[Generation IX]]. In the SV set release cycle followed by all language releases other than Simplified Chinese, The first Pair of expansions features the box legendaries of {{p|Koraidon}} and {{p|Miraidon}}. It Brought the TCG up to regulation '''G''' and saw the rotation of regulation '''D''' cards shortly thereafter. With this initial pairing of base expansions, {{TCG|Pokémon Tool card}}s were introduced as a distinct class of trainer cards, AR Rarity cards where introduced as secret rares in Main Series expansion releases and SAR rarity cards were introduced, largely replacing HR rarity cards from prior expansions. The base expansions also saw the introduction of {{TCG|Pokémon ex|Pokémon ex and Tera Pokémon ex}} that replace the {{TCG|Pokémon V|Pokémon V, VMAX, V-UNION and VSTAR}} from the Sword & Shield Era. The First Subset, {{TCG|Triplet Beat}} focused heavily on the [[Starter Pokémon#Paldea|Generation IX Starter Pokémon]] with the Final evolutions {{p|Meowscarada}}, {{p|Skeledirge}} and {{p|Quaquaval}} each featuring prominently on the pack artwork and getting Pokémon ex cards with RR, SR, SAR, and UR rarity prints.

The second Main Series set release, the twin expansions of {{TCG|Snow Hazard}} and {{TCG|Clay Burst}} introduced the [[Treasures of Ruin]] and in particularly {{p|Chien-Pao}} and {{p|Ting-Lu}} who featured prominently on the pack art of their respective expansions. Each Treasure of Ruin was given a Pokémon ex card with RR, SR, and SAR prints while Chien-Pao and Ting-Lu also received a UR rarity print. In the second subset, {{TCG|Pokémon Card 151}}, the Mythical Pokémon {{p|Mew}} is featured as the Cover Pokémon as the original 151 [[generation I]] pokémon are reintroduced to this game. Mew along with the final evolutionary forms of the [[Starter Pokémon#Kanto|Generation I Starter Pokémon]] {{p|Venusaur}}, {{p|Charizard}} and {{p|Blastoise}} are all featured among the 12 Pokémon ex in the subset. This expansion is unique as Pokémon cards are given a set number based on their Pokédex order rather than their energy type. It is also notable as it features the original 151 generation I Pokémon, this is the first TCG set to feature {{TCG|Kadabra}} since {{TCG|Split Earth}} released in Japan in 2002.

In markets that have caught up to Japanese set releases, Main Series expansions are released roughly every 3rd month with an Enhanced or High Class subset usually being released 1-2 months between Main Series set releases. A typical expansion consists of between 70-80 cards topped off by 25-30 secret cards with card numbers that exceed the set count. In Japanese, Traditional Chinese and Korean markets, these expansion releases are supplemented with deck releases, special sets and trainer box products that help players complete their collection and generate a viable game deck to play with against other players. In the Indonesian and Thai markets, such supplementary releases are rarer. Cards developed for these releases are instead often distributed through other means as promotional cards.

{{TCG|Trainer card|Trainer}} and {{TCG|Energy card}}s cards got a new header format with the the placements swapped. The type of card (Trainer or Energy) now appears on the right where as the subcategory (Item, Pokémon Tool, Supporter or Stadium for Trainer cards and Basic Energy or Special Energy for Energy Cards) now appears on the left. Additionally Basic Energy Cards are now labelled as such on the card header. The divider in the header is moved closer to the centre of the card and instead displays more of a diagonal pattern. On trainer cards the rulebox has a slightly different shape and is surrounded by a bigger border and the coloured slits on the side of the cards indicating what type of Trainer the card is are further spaced apart, but also bolder in colour. the graphic texture on the card is also given a more matte look with fewer ridge lines.

{{TCG|Pokémon card}}s feature more subtle design changes, none of the information contained on a Pokémon card is relocated, but many design aesthetics have been modified for the new Era. {{TCG|Weakness}}, {{TCG|Resistance}} and [[Retreat cost]] are now displayed between 2 bars on the cards type colour matched background rather than on a wider bar. Energy symbols also lose a white buffer that they had in the Sword & Shield Era. For Pokémon cards with an ability, the ability icon now has a more rounded shape with more distinct borders. On Stage 1 and Stage 2 Evolution Pokémon cards, the evolution window now has a more rounded shape and the strands connecting the evolution bar to the top of the card now follow updated shape of the gap in the header observed on Trainer and Energy cards.

[[File:Mewex205PokémonCard151.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An example of a Special Art Rare card in the Scarlet & Violet Era]]

[[File:MabosstiffexSVPromo55.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An example of a Pokémon ex card in the Scarlet & Violet Era]]

[[File:EiscueexRuleroftheBlackFlame20.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An example of a type-shifted Tera Pokémon ex card in the Scarlet & Violet Era]]

[[File:ExtratightBand159PokémonCard151.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An example of a Pokémon Tool card in the Scarlet & Violet Era]]

These releases were all initially released in the Japanese Market by The Pokémon Company, they all have release numbers that start with prefix "'''SV'''".

| rowspan=3|'''Main Series Expansion'''

| [[File:SetSymbolSV3.png|40px]]

| rowspan=2|'''Subset Expansion'''

| [[File:SetSymbolSV2a.png|40px]]

| rowspan=5|'''Minor Release'''

| [[File:ExStarterSetGrassSetSymbol.png|40px]]<br>[[File:ExStarterSetFireSetSymbol.png|40px]]<br>[[File:ExStarterSetWaterSetSymbol.png|40px]]

| [[File:SetSymbolPremiumTrainerBoxex.png|40px]]

| [[File:ExStarterSetSVCSetSymbol.png|40px]]

| [[File:SetSymbolSVD.png|40px]]

| [[File:SetSymbolSVF.png|40px]]

| [[File:SetSymbolSVP1.png|40px]]

| [[File:SetSymbolWCS23.png|40px]]