It’s time to grab your deck and line your Pokemon up on your bench – as we check out the upcoming Pokemon TCG sets in 2023!
We here at Retro Dodo are huge fans of Pokemon – and have been for many years.
That’s not just the video games, but the trading card game (TCG) too!
The Pokemon Trading Card Game is, much like the video games, a phenomenon that has never gone away.
Having recently covered all upcoming MTG sets for 2023 (like the Pokemon TCG, Magic: The Gathering has enjoyed decades of popularity) we also wanted to keep our readers up to date with what they can expect from Pokemon this year.
The problem is that The Pokemon Company don’t seem to lay out their releases as far in advance as Wizards of the Coast do with MTG; so here we have a breakdown of what’s currently available, as well as what to expect over the next few months.
So without further ado, let’s check out the upcoming Pokemon TCG sets!
1. Paldea Collection (January 6, 2023)
Already gracing the shelves of your local retailers – as well as the digital shelves of online stores – the Paldea Collection is three different boxes, featuring the Starter Pokemon from Scarlet and Violet as their centrepieces.
So you have 3 foil promo cards featuring Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly (one in each box, naturally) along with pin badges for the Starter Pokemon your box contains.
The boxes also come complete with a foil oversize card – featuring either Koraidon ex or Miraidon ex – four Pokemon TCG booster packs and a digital code to be used on Pokemon TCG Online or Pokemon TCG Live.
For players looking to bolster their current collection with a few specific cards and a decent number of boosters, these are pretty good value.
Newer players might need to go for something a bit more comprehensive, however.
2. Crown Zenith (January 20, 2023)
The final Special Expansion for the Sword and Shield set, Crown Zenith boosters aren’t available to buy individually.
Instead, they’re available in a number of different products across the range – with the Elite Trainer Box, Elite Trainer Box Plus and Regieleki V/Regidrago V Crown Zenith Collection boxes all having been released on the 20th of January.
On the 17th of February, players can get their hands on a selection of five Crown Zenith Mini Tins, which include two Crown Zenith booster packs and a sticker sheet (as well as the fancy tin itself, of course!).
On the same day, the Crown Zenith Special Collection – Pikachu VMAX box is released. This includes five Crown Zenith booster packs, one etched promo card and one oversize promo card (featuring Pikachu VMAX) and one foil promo card, featuring Pikachu V.
3. Mimikyu ex Box (March 3, 2023)
A foil Mimikyu ex in a standard, playable size is the centrepiece of this set, with the box also including an oversized version of the same card.
As well as these Mimikyu cards, a Greavard foil card is included – and four booster packs too!
4. 2022 World Championship Decks (March 3, 2023)
Though it may seem – to new players at least – that proven World Championship decks will make them unstoppable in the Pokemon TCG, there’s a few things to bear in mind.
Firstly, card backs don’t feature the standard Pokemon card design, which means that, unless you use opaque card sleeves, you won’t be able to use these cards to create a deck with other cards in your collection.
They aren’t tournament legal either, which means you’ll only be able to use the decks in casual play against your friends or family (though for most people, that won’t be an issue, admittedly!).
Lastly, it’s also worth bearing in mind that the tactics needed to use these decks successfully may not be particularly obvious or intuitive for new players.
However, if you’re still looking to get hold of these powerful decks, they offer pretty good value for money.
Each will include a 60-card World Championship deck, along with numerous items from the 2022 World Championships. You’ll get a booklet, pin badge, coin, deck box, playmat, and poster too.
The four available decks are: the ADP Deck, Shape of Mew Deck, Cheryl Again Deck, and Ice Rider Palkia Deck. Each one is based on a deck used by one of the Championship winners.
5. Crown Zenith Tins (March 17, 2023)
Also in March, these larger Crown Zenith tins will include five Crown Zenith booster packs, as well as one of the following full-art promo cards: Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos, or Galarian Moltres.
Want to read our thoughts on currently available tins? Check out our best Pokemon tins list!
6. Klara and Cyrus Premium Tournament Collection (March 24, 2023)
These two boxes are stuffed full of genuinely useful accessories – even card sleeves featuring art of Klara or Cyrus, depending on which box you choose.
Also included are seven booster packs, a deck box, damage dice (so much handier than tokens!), a Pokemon Online/Live code card and a metallic coin.
Lastly, one Full Art Promo card featuring Cyrus (or Klara!) and three copies of a holographic Trainer card (again, with your Trainer of choice on these cards too!).
7. Scarlet & Violet Base Set (March 31, 2023)
A new era kicks off for the Pokemon TCG (just as it did for the video games – check out our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet review here!) with booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes, Build and Battle Stadium boxes – and more – on the way.
Elite Trainer Boxes come in two variations – Scarlet or Violet, as you may expect – and are packaged with 9 booster packs, 1 full art, foil promo card (featuring Koraidon or Miraidon, depending on which box you picked!), 65 card sleeves featuring Koraidon or Miraidon, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide to the Scarlet and Violet expansion, 6 damage counter dice, 1 coin-flip die, 2 plastic condition markers, a collector’s box with 4 dividers and, finally, a code card for Pokémon Trading Card Game Online/Live.
The Build and Battle Stadium box follows the pattern of previous Build and Battle Stadium products, in that they include enough cards for two players to get started with the latest set of Pokemon cards.
Within the Build and Battle Stadium box, you’ll find 2 individual Build and Battle Boxes – one for each player, with each containing a ready-to-play 40-card deck.
There’s also an awful lot of other stuff included: 11 Scarlet and Violet booster packs (not sure how you’re supposed to evenly split those with a second player, however!), 121 Basic Energy cards, 6 damage-counter dice, 1 coin flip die, 2 condition markers and a collector’s box, which will hold everything in the rather comprehensive package!
Looking for more on the video game version of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet? Check out our thoughts on the best team in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet!
8. Crown Zenith Pin Collection (April 14, 2023)
These boxes will arrive with three different character options: Rillaboom, Cinderace, or Inteleon.
The box includes three Crown Zenith booster packs; one promo card featuring a Pokemon from the three on offer – and a corresponding pin badge too.
9. Crown Zenith Premium Playmat Collection – Morpeko V-UNION (April 14, 2023)
Crown Zenith will continue to see more support in April, with this box including no less than five Crown Zenith booster packs.
Additionally, it will also include four Morpeko V-UNION cards, one Professor Burnet card, a playmat, and one oversized Morpeko card.
10. Crown Zenith Premium Figure Collection – Shiny Zacian or Shiny Zamazenta (May 5, 2023)
These huge boxes include 11 Crown Zenith booster packs, along with an etched promo card, featuring either Shiny Zacian V or Shiny Zamazenta V.
A corresponding Shiny figure and a Shiny pin badge (of either Shiny Zacian or Shiny Zamazenta), plus a set of card sleeves – featuring the chosen character – are also included.
11. Cyclizar ex Box (May 5, 2023)
The news of the Cyclizar ex Box is so hot off the press that full details are yet to be finalised – but we know that the box includes a Cyclizar ex Black Star Promo card, a jumbo version of Cyclizar ex, a further holographic card (whose identity is yet to be revealed) and four booster packs.
And that’s a wrap! Thank’s for checking out our Upcoming Pokemon TCG Sets article, and I hope you’re excited for what’s on the horizon!
While you’re here, check out our list of the best Magic the Gathering sleeves, which will protect your Pokemon TCG card decks. You’ll definitely need these, even if you don’t have any of the rare Pokemon cards we’ve previously taken a look at!
Don’t forget to also check out our list of the most valuable McDonalds Pokemon cards for more Pokelicious facts!
Which sets are you most looking forward to? Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Jason – who lives in the UK – has had a lifelong interest in video games, which all started when he discovered Space Invaders in the early 80s. The first game he ever completed was Wonder Boy in Monster Land on the Sega Master System – which remains one of his proudest gaming achievements. Jason is a passionate writer – and has been writing about gaming since the late 90s. He currently runs pop culture blog midlifegamergeek.com, which he updates on a daily basis (and has written more than 700 articles on the blog alone!).
Outside of video games, Jason is a keen tabletop gamer, film buff and comic book fan.
