Scarlet & Violet is the first main expansion in the Scarlet & Violet Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and is slated for release on March 31, 2023. The Japanese equivalent, Scarlet ex • Violet ex, is the first main expansion in Japan and is set to be released on January 20, 2023.
Scarlet & Violet, and the Japanese Scarlet ex and Violet ex, focus on Koraidon and Miraidon, both of which are included as Pokémon-ex. The set is the first to feature Pokémon, items, characters and places from the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games. Certain Pokémon-ex also include a new Terastal mechanic that works similarly to Ancient Traits.
Releasing on the same day in Japan will be the three ex Starter Sets, each starring one Pokémon-ex and one of the Paldean starter Pokémon. These Starter Sets and the Scarlet ex • Violet ex expansion will be combined to create the English release.
This new expansion introduces various design changes for the Pokémon Trading Card Game that will be implemented starting with the Scarlet & Violet expansion. For international audiences, yellow borders on Pokémon TCG cards will become gray to match the cards released in Japan, providing a more seamless Pokémon TCG experience around the world while allowing the card artwork to shine even further. Additionally, expansion symbols will be replaced by expansion codes and language codes across all cards. All cards with a Rare rarity will be holofoil in booster packs, and booster packs will now contain a guaranteed three Holofoil cards instead of only two. For worldwide audiences, subcategories for Trainer cards — such as Supporter, Item and Stadium — will appear in the top left corner to be more visible in players’ hands. Basic Energy cards will display another Energy symbol on the bottom right corner to make it easier to track during gameplay.[1] Pokémon Tool cards will also now be considered a category of Trainer cards alongside Item cards, Supporter cards, and Stadium cards. They were previously a sub-category of Item cards.
