The upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion, “Adventures Together,” will reintroduce Trainer card mechanics and feature iconic characters alongside new additions. Players can expect visually stunning booster packs and a themed Elite Trainer Box centered on N and Zoroark. With over 180 unique cards available, significant changes in Standard rotation will take effect on April 11, 2025, eliminating cards from the Sword and Shield era. This shift will reshape competitive play dynamics, requiring players to adapt their strategies. The expansion launches on March 28, 2025.
The Exciting Comeback of Pokémon Trainers
The Pokémon TCG is set to thrill fans with the introduction of EV9, which heralds the return of Trainer card mechanics. This expansion showcases four iconic fighters alongside the new character Mashynn, as well as familiar faces like Lily from Sun and Moon, Nabil with his powerful Zacian, and the legendary N accompanied by his dark Pokémon. Expect other trainers to make their mark as well.
The booster packs for this expansion will feature stunning visuals of the aforementioned characters alongside their signature Pokémon-Ex. Additionally, the highly anticipated Elite Trainer Box (ETB) will be themed around N and his Zoroark, and will include the following:
- 9 booster packs containing 10 cards each (plus 1 energy card and a code)
- 1 promotional card
- 65 protective card sleeves
- 1 player guide
- 6 dice used as damage markers
- 1 coin
- 2 status markers (for poison and burn)
- 4 dividers
- 1 code for TCG Live
As is customary with each new expansion, “tripacks” will be available, which include 3 card boosters and a promotional card. Furthermore, “Strategies and Battles” preview kits will be up for grabs two weeks prior to the official release at select Pokémon Official League stores.
We can also anticipate the arrival of additional products later on, including boxes packed with various items, potentially featuring each trainer alongside their beloved Pokémon.
To wrap up what the “Adventures Together” expansion has to offer, players will have the chance to collect over 180 unique cards, which include:
- More than 40 Trainer Pokémon
- Over 15 Pokémon-Ex
- More than 15 Trainer cards
- In excess of 30 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special artwork
Significant Changes in the Standard Rotation
With the unveiling of the Adventures Together expansion, it’s essential to address a major shift affecting competitive play: the new rotation of playable cards in the Standard format of the Pokémon TCG, a customary update with each new season.
Beginning April 11, 2025, all cards featuring the regulation mark “F” will be rendered ineligible for the classic competitive format. This encompasses all recent expansions from Pokémon Sword and Shield, signaling the conclusion of the yellow border era. Therefore, only cards from Scarlet and Violet, which display the regulation marks “G” and “H”, will remain playable.
This rotation signifies a substantial transformation for the community, impacting all Meta Decks and changing gameplay dynamics. The removal of all V and V-Star cards means bidding farewell to notables like Regidrago, Lugia, and Palkia/Dialga V-Star.
In broader terms, many current decks will need to adapt to this fresh rotation, including Gardevoir, which will lose its Kirlia that enabled drawing by discarding Psychic energies, as well as the lost-zone strategy that will be without its key Pokémon Guérilande. Players will also have to mourn the absence of Radiant Pokémon such as Amphinobi and Alakhazam.
The elimination of the Sword and Shield block will mark a pivotal moment in Pokémon TCG competition, leading to a slowdown in games as players adjust to more efficient decks. Additionally, the forest-sealed stone will cease to exist, taking away the ability to search for any card within the deck.
However, for “Trainer” type cards, there’s a silver lining; they can still be utilized, provided a more recent card holds a valid regulation mark. For instance, the hyper-ball from Black and White remains playable since it has been reissued with regulation marks “G” and “H”.
We look forward to experiencing these exciting gameplay changes in the Pokémon TCG, and we can’t wait to get our hands on the “Adventures Together” expansion, launching on March 28, 2025.