The upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, Scarlet & Violet, arrives on March 31, 2023. The expansion features over 190 cards, including newly discovered Pokémon from the Paldea region, Pokémon ex and Tera Pokémon ex, and a slew of new Trainer cards that are set to define a new era of the Pokémon TCG. Even more Pokémon appear as illustration rare cards, which showcase dazzling illustrations that really bring these Pokémon to life. Before the expansion officially lands, let’s explore a few of the cards that are just waiting to be found in Scarlet & Violet.

Klefki

Some Pokémon have a reputation for being mischievous and playing tricks on unsuspecting Pokémon and humans alike. Klefki is one of them—artist GOSSAN depicts the Pokémon at the center of trouble, juggling delicate plates in the middle of someone’s kitchen.

That playful nature carries over to the Mischievous Lock Ability: as long as Klefki is in the Active Spot, Basic Pokémon in play have no Abilities (except for Mischievous Lock, of course). Mischievous Lock can shut down Basic Pokémon like Comfey, whose Flower Selecting Ability helps set up other cards that interact with the Lost Zone. Klefki may just be the key to unlocking new strategies that slow down the pace of any given game.

Magnezone ex

Pokémon ex are back and bigger than ever! Magnezone ex has 330 HP and grand artwork to match—it is shown breaking out of the frame of its artwork, staring forward with power bursting from its body as the ground around it is ripped apart and strewn in the air by sheer magnetic force.

Along with a commanding presence, Magnezone ex has two powerful attacks: Energy Crush and Pulse Launcher. For a single Lightning Energy, Energy Crush does 50 damage for each Energy attached to all of your opponent’s Pokémon, which is perfect for punishing Energy-hungry attackers. Pulse Launcher can be used for two Lightning Energy, and it does a solid 220 damage at the cost of doing 30 damage to Magnezone ex. You’ll want to be careful when playing Magnezone ex, but this Pokémon is sure to galvanize your collection.

Annihilape

Annihilape makes its Pokémon TCG debut as a newly discovered Pokémon from the Paldea region. The air swirls around the Rage Monkey Pokémon as it marches across a desolate mountain, the perfect place for venting its anger through destruction. Power emanates from this Pokémon as its fur stands up from its body and veins become visible all over.

Annihilape becomes stronger the more frustrated it gets, making its Rage Fist attack a perfect fit in a comeback situation—for one Fighting Energy, the attack does 70 damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken. Dynamite Punch can do a hefty 170 damage for just two Fighting Energy regardless of how many Prize cards your opponent has taken, but it also does 50 damage to Annihilape.

Dolliv

In this scene, artist Oswaldo KATO depicts Dolliv collecting olives in an orchard, with its body perfectly aligned in the path between two groves in the background. The soft colors used in the artwork, from the light blue sky to the baskets of olives, serve to create a bright and welcoming pastoral vista where we can appreciate the everyday life of a Pokémon as helpful and cheerful as Dolliv.

Dolliv also has two inexpensive attacks that can easily be weaved into the mix of battle: Slap and Apply Oil. Slap does 20 damage for one Energy of any type, and Apply Oil does 40 damage for one Grass Energy and another Energy of any type. When Dolliv uses Apply Oil, if the Defending Pokémon tries to attack, your opponent flips a coin. If it’s tails, that attack doesn’t happen.

Gardevoir ex

Bonds made with Pokémon can last a lifetime. Artist Jiro Sasumo illustrates the friendship between a woman and her lifelong Pokémon companion, Gardevoir. Warm, vibrant colors fill the frame as the woman happily knits with Gardevoir’s help. In the background, you can see various photos of family milestones showcasing their bond as Trainer and Pokémon. You can also see their story progress in the Ralts and Kirlia illustration rare cards in this expansion.

Gardevoir ex can show that love to your Pokémon with its Psychic Embrace Ability, which lets you attach a Basic Psychic Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Psychic-type Pokémon as often as you like during your turn. If you attached Energy to a Pokémon in this way, you have to put 2 damage counters on it. You’ll want to be careful about how much damage you put on your attackers, but with near endless Energy acceleration (provided you have Basic Psychic Energy cards in the discard pile), Gardevoir ex can power up even the most expensive of attacks.

Visit Pokemon.co.uk for more details about the Scarlet & Violet expansion ahead of its launch on March 31, 2023.