Typically, when the Pokemon Trading Card Game starts a new era, things are a little underwhelming. Scarlet and Violet’s base set was fine, but it is generally looked at as one of the worst sets in the era, and Sword and Shield and Sun and Moon’s base sets were also pretty disappointing. It generally stems from the Pokemon Company implementing new mechanics and cards, before going wild with the artwork. The new era, though, looks to have bucked that trend.
The Mega Evolution era, focuses on X and Y’s beloved mechanic, which is soon to be implemented in Legends: Z-A, and I got hands-on with the set a little early (although this will be coming out late to NA collectors), and it’s a doozy.
The Good
It’s the first time since 2016’s Evolutions expansion that Mega Evolutions have appeared in the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It’s arguably the most popular gimmick the game series has released, so to have it back in the TCG is an immediate win in my eyes.
Having Mega Evolutions alone isn’t enough, though, and thankfully, the expansion includes some more of the TCG’s best artwork.
Both the Mega Lucario ex and the Gardevoir ex are all-timers in terms of quality art, and all of the Special Illustration Rares, including Venusaur, Latias, Absol, and Kangaskhan, look fantastic. The Illustration Rares are great, too, with Marshadow already super expensive, and Vulpix and Bulbasaur featuring, and that’s before we’ve gotten to the new rarity.
Much like Black Bolt and White Flare, which introduced the BWR, Mega Evolution has introduced a new rarity to the TCG, the MUR, or Mega Ultra Rare. These are new takes on the historically-panned Gold cards, and feature a stunning design on a golden background. They’re expensive, definitely the chase cards, and live up to the Mega Ultra Rare name.
It’s also time for me to take a moment to rejoice. After failing to pull an SIR in any of my previous hands-on previews, which spanned the four previous expansions, all the way back to Surging Sparks, I finally pulled one. It may have only been the Absol, my least favorite of the lot, but my duck has been broken.
The Bad
As I hinted at, pulling an MUR is going to be nigh on impossible for most. Early estimates suggest the odds of pulling one of the golden beauties sit at around one in 1,260 packs. It’s significantly the worst odds of a single rarity type the TCG has ever seen, and once again alienates those looking to complete their Master Sets.
It’s been a growing complaint over recent times that expansions are getting bigger, but it’s made even worse when cards are becoming increasingly difficult to pull, alongside products that are hard to obtain; this alienates a whole subsection of collectors. That being said, if you don’t fall into this category, Mega Evolution is a lot of fun to open. Clocking in at 188 cards also makes it smaller than many of Scarlet and Violet’s expansions.
My only other complaint is that the texture on these new cards feels cheap. I recently returned from a trip to Japan (which is why this preview is late), and opened a bunch of Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia, the equivalent sets, over there. There has always been a disparity in the print quality between Japanese and English cards, but the gulf seems to have grown wider with this new era.
Overall, Mega Evolution is a great set. It shows solid intent from the Pokemon Company to usher in the new era in style, and with Phantasmal Flames up next, it’s only set to get better.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
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