The Scarlet and Violet era of the Pokemon TCG is flying by as we fast approach the fifth main expansion since the most recent games launched. It’s been a tumultuous period with price rises and huge sets, but it’s hard to deny thatScarlet and Violethas produced some of the best-looking cards sincethe TCGbegan.
The latest set, Temporal Forces, is on the horizon, and thanks toThe Pokemon Company, I got to check it out a little early!
Pokemon TCG Pocket Just Seems Pointless To Me
“What if cards but digital” isn’t that compelling.
The Product Presentation
It’s hard to deny that The Pokemon Company has presented thelatest TCG expansionsnear-perfectly. Bold, vibrant colors have adorned the pack arts and product boxes without fail. Temporal Forces is no different.
With a focus on Scarlet and Violet’s DLC Pokemon,Temporal Forcesfeatures Raging Bolt, Iron Crown, Walking Wake and Iron Leaves; Paradox versions of the legendary trios from Pokemon Gold and Silver and Pokemon Black and White. There are two Elite Trainer Boxes in the set, and while the one I received is slightly more understated, with light blues and purples, the other is bold and brash with bright greens and pinks. Yet again, I can’t fault TPCI when it comes to the way this expansion looks.
The Pulls From 49 Packs
Once again, I can’t help but feel a little bit sorry for myself with the cards that I pulled from my 49 Temporal Forces booster packs.
Now, that’s not to say the ones I got aren’t great, because they (mostly) are, with the Deerling being a real standout; however, from an ETB, Booster Box and Build and Battle Kit, I didn’t manage to pull any Special Illustration Rares and I only got three Illustration Rares. Usually, IRs are seeded three per Booster Box, and I only pulled two from mine, so while the sample size is small, it remains to be seen whether these cards just got more difficult to find. It’s entirely plausible that one has been replaced due to the return of Ace Spec Trainers, which, while they look nice, certainly aren’t as good as the Illustration Rares.
Thoughts On The Set
Set Details:
Overall, despite my sub-par pulls, I’m pretty excited for Temporal Rift, especially after skipping three of the last five expansions. The return ofAce Spec Trainer Cardsfor the first time since theBlack and Whiteera is a nice touch, especially for TCG players (provided they don’t lower the chance of pulling other cards), and the art as a whole is top-notch.
The Special Illustration Rares are genuinely some of the best-looking cards in history, particularly the Iron Leaves and Iron Crown, but excluding the Iron Boulder, and the Illustration Rares continue to dazzle.
The Special Illustration Rares are genuinely some of the best-looking cards in history.
However, what excites me most about Temporal Forces is the lack of bloat. It’s the smallest mainline set since Scarlet and Violet was released and contains significantly fewer high-end cards than its predecessors. There are 32 SIR and IR cards to collect in this set, 6 Gold Cards and 18 Full Art cards, for 56 total. Compare that toParadox Rift’s84, and Temporal Forces should be a way easier set to complete for collectors.
