Pokemon TCG had a great year, with several new sets released. Silver Tempest is the last set that was released this year, though fans can look forward to The Paldea Collection which is set to release in January 2023. It will spark off the Scarlet and Violet era of Pokemon TCG, but things won't be the same. There are design and price changes that are coming, and this could affect fans in big ways.
Although many fans will be disappointed that Pokemon products will cost more in 2023, extra perks are being thrown in to make the price hike worth it. These changes could affect the online marketplace as holofoil cards become more common. The design change will also ensure that there is greater uniformity between Western cards and their Japanese counterparts.
Pokemon TCG Brings Design Changes
Within Pokemon TCG, there is a great variety of cards, including Gold and Black cards, Rainbow Rares, and full art cards. Despite this, there are a few constants that help collectors ensure that their product is authentic. Part of this, for Western fans, is seeing the yellow borders on cards. This will be changing in 2023, as the cards in the Scarlet and Violet era of Pokemon TCG will now feature silver borders. According to The Pokemon Company, this was done to unify the series globally, as Japanese cards already have silver borders.
This isn't the only design change that's on its way. The header stating the subcategory of Supporter cards e.g. Trainer, Stadium, Item, was usually on the right side of the card. With Scarlet and Violet, they will now be moved to the top left of the card. Changes are coming to Energy cards as well. The name of each energy card will now be printed on the top of the card alongside a new subtype tag for each Energy card e.g Basic Energy. The Energy symbol will also be illustrated on the bottom right of the card. These changes have allegedly been made for players to more easily determine the amount of Energy attached to each Pokemon during play.
While none of these changes will directly affect gameplay, the result is that there will be more unity between Japanese cards and their Western counterparts. Furthermore, the repositioning of the labels should make them easier to read and understand during play. Although some gamers may argue that the yellow border is more eye-catching, the silver border brings its own elegance that is also worth appreciating.
Pokemon TCG Raises Its Prices
Due to global inflation, the price of products has gone up around the world. Pokemon has been unable to remain immune to the increasing costs of everything, and as a result, collectors will be forking out a little extra for new cards next year. For example, Pokemon TCG booster packs, which usually have an MSRP of $3.99 will now cost $4.49. To ensure that fans still feel like they're getting their money's worth, a few changes to Pokemon products have also been made.
From next year, fans can expect an extra booster pack and promo card added to Elite Trainer Boxes. Most notably, each booster pack will now feature three guaranteed holofoil cards. Furthermore, all cards with a rarity of "Rare" or higher will now be holofoil. This is great for collectors who are wishing to expand their collection with the prettiest cards. However, it may be bad for traders hoping to make a profit online. The increased production of holofoil cards will cause the value of such cards to drop, and the hunt for Rare cards that are also holofoil also seems to have come to an end. On the flip side, older Rare cards that aren't holofoil may find themselves rising in value as they become increasingly rare.
According to The Pokemon Company, these changes come with Scarlet and Violet. Consequently, although the Crown Zenith set will be released in 2022, it will likely not be affected by these changes, as it is still part of the Sword and Shield era of Pokemon TCG. Thus far, gamers have only seen The Paldea Collection from Scarlet and Violet. This product features a pin of one of the three starters from this generation, an oversized card, and four booster packs.