New Pokémon Generation Unveils New Stars at Scarlet & Violet—151

21.09.2023

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Ana Diaz
(she/her) is a society author at Polygon, covering web society, fandom, and also video clip games. Her job has actually formerly shown up at NPR, Wired, and also The Verge.

When I drew open the crinkly plastic including my very first booster pack of 10 arbitrary Pokémon cards, I located a brand-new type of shock waiting on me inside. Shuffling with the brief pile, analyzing the vintage art, my eye captured a glossy edge of aluminum foil looking out. I intended to see something grand — perhaps a famous bird with the power to transform the environment or possibly a roaring Charizard — yet I didn’t. Instead, I located a lowly Caterpie, a small little insect resting on a fallen leave all on its own. It was a silent minute, yet it symbolizes the ambiance of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet—151.

Scarlet & Violet—151 is the most up to date development for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Fans can locate it to buy at retail beginning Sept. 22 at a number of various cost factors, consisting of the $59.99 151 Elite Trainer Box, $119.99 151 Ultra-Premium Collection, and also the 151 Binder Collection for $24.99. Other items, like 151 ex-spouse Box—Alakazam ex and also 151 ex-spouse Box—Zapdos ex, take place sale Oct. 6 for $21.99 each.

While new Pokémon TCG expansions come a number of times a year, this collection brings something notable for the laid-back collection agency: It revitalizes and also restarts the initial 151 Pokémon from the Kanto area, the very same collection of animals consisted of when the TCG was very first launched in the United States at the end of 1998. It’s a significant fond memories play that has actually currently attracted a great deal of buzz, yet it likewise features a uniquely tough obstacle as the established emulates the heritage of the very first generation of Pokémon and also the prized “base set” of original cards.

Flipping with these brand-new cards, a great deal of the art from Scarlet & Violet—151 appears noticeably much less passionate than the initial cards launched 25 years earlier. I drew a Charizard ex-spouse and also a Kangaskhan ex-spouse, and also both resemble reasonably conventional presents implied to make the Pokémon appearance extreme or effective. And while absolutely nothing will certainly ever before choose at my heartstrings like the splotchy watercolor stains of Ken Sugimori’s original artwork, Scarlet & Violet—151’s ace in the hole is the method it takes another look at formerly forgotten Pokémon — like that Caterpie.

An photo of two pages of a three-ring binder open with Pokémon cards. It shows cards from the Scarlet & Violet—151 set alongside other older cards. — I placed a web page of *Scarlet & Violet—151* cards in the binder of cards from my youth.

This established brings expressive minutes to life for the very first time, consisting of full-card art of Pokemon like Caterpie and also center advancements like Poliwhirl and also Dragonair. Some of these cards are so luxurious, they virtually appear like stills from a Planet Earth-design nature docudrama. Even Pokémon with much less sensational art, like Magikarp, bring a feeling of fancifulness to the collection. Scarlet & Violet—151 advised me that although I’ve never ever had fun with Caterpie and also would certainly have traded it away in a heart beat, it’s constantly existed with me all these years. Now, I ultimately reach absolutely see it as it need to be seen.

Beyond the art, it appears like this collection will certainly be catnip for enthusiasts. Its cards consist of embellishments that make accumulating this development similar to filling in the Pokédex in the video clip games. The collection is phoned number by each Pokémon’s main number in the Pokédex. Some of the transformative lines, like Alakazam’s, consist of art from the very same musician, with corresponding cards that are purposefully created to look good resting aligned in a binder. Additionally, all 3 transformative lines for the starter Pokémon have matching full-card art so enthusiasts can actually curate the excellent web page in their three-ring binders.

We don’t obtain any type of unique Tera Pokémon or various other tricks of that kind this time around about, yet the collection does have a couple of dress up its sleeve. For instance, if a gamer plays a Nidoqueen, they can make use of Nidoking to assault totally free. Similarly, this collection leans much less on its Trainer cards yet restores products like the Snatch Arm, currently relabelled to Grabber, which can allow you seize a challenger’s Pokémon right from their hand and also area it back right into their deck. I’ll leave it to affordable gamers to veterinarian the performance of these brand-new methods, yet in general this collection appears to be providing even more to the accumulating kind.

Ever because the Pokémon Trading Card Game came stateside, followers have actually seen these beasts over and over again. But while various other collections appear material with placing ever before a lot more unique ranges of Pikachu out right into the wild, Scarlet & Violet—151 is for the genuine ones. Whether it’s complete art for whole transformative lines or taking a better take a look at the simple Caterpie, this brand-new collection includes ever before a lot more quality to the initial generation of Pokémon for those that matured caring them.

Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—151 will certainly be launched Sept. 22. The brand-new collection of trading cards was previewed making use of beta items offered by The Pokémon Company. Vox Media has associate collaborations. These do not affect editorial material, though Vox Media might make compensations for items bought through associate web links. You can locate additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.