Shrouded Fable is the firstPokemon TCGrelease in a hot minute that I’ve not been super close to. I usually eye up any leaks, keeping an eye on Japanese sets to see which cards may be making their way to their English counterparts.
For some reason, I haven’t done it this time around. It could be because, like many others, my interest in the TCG is waning, or it could be because I’ve been so busy starting a new role atTheGamer.
But, like the child that I am, as soon as my products arrived from The Pokemon Company, my excitement was reignited, and I got to do something I so rarely get to do — open a Pokemon set with limited prior knowledge.
Presentation And Theme
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The Pokemon Company is on fire with the way the sets are promoted in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
Focused around Pecharunt’s Loyal Three, Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Munkidori, Shrouded Fable is awash with shiny purples accentuating a vivid green background.
It makes sense that this set is presented around Scarlet and Violet’s Teal Mask DLC. The TCG sets tend to roll out in an order similar to the games, and that’s fine, but given that this DLC was the first Pokemon game that I skipped in a while, I’m starting to see why my hype levels weren’t as high.
And back to reality. After an astonishing haul from my pre-releaseTwilight Masquerade packs, thingsweren’t greathere.
Admittedly, given that Shrouded Fable is a special set and there are no booster boxes, I opened fewer packs, but I was still disappointed.
From 20 packs, I pulled one full art trainer, two art rares, which at one in ten packs seems very low, three exs, two of which were duplicates, and a duplicate of the Dangerous Laser card.
Eight “pulls” in 20 packs isn’t the worst, but it’s certainly a disappointing spread.
The Promos
I haven’t covered the promos in my hands-on previews for a little while but I absolutely need to this time around, for one reason and one reason only. The Kingdra ex.
I say this from the bottom of my heart, this card may be one of the best The Pokemon Company has ever produced.
Looking like something from The Great Wave of Kanagawa from artist Hokusai, Kingdra is surfing through the sea in front of a full moon. It’s available from the Kingra ex Special Illustration Collection box, and I can’t recommend it enough.
There’s also a Greninja version of the box which features another stunning promo, and I’ll be picking that up the second it’s released.
Overall Thoughts
I kinda dig Shrouded Fable. Although it features quite a few Pokemon I’m not overly familiar with, which is a rarity for me, it’s another set with fantastic artwork.
The lack of special illustration rare chase cards is a shame, only five in total, but aside from that, I have no complaints.
What is really appealing to me with this expansion is the size. If you’ve read any of my previous previews, you’ll know how I feel about the ever-growing Pokemon TCG expansions, but Shrouded Fable reins things in.
It’s by far the smallest set of the Scarlet and Violet era, with only 99 cards total, and the smallest since 2021’s Celebrations set. Keep it up, TPCI.
