The Paldea era began with one of the biggest shake-ups in years. Scarlet & Violet released on March 31, 2023 and brought back Pokémon ex, introduced Tera Pokémon ex, switched English cards to silver borders and launched a new rarity system built around Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares. Here's the collector's guide: the dates, the changes, the chase cards and what came in every box.
Scarlet & Violet at a Glance
- Release date: March 31, 2023
- Set code: SV01, the first main expansion of the Scarlet & Violet series
- Set size: 198 cards plus secret rares
- Headliners: Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex
- New: Pokémon ex, Tera Pokémon ex, silver borders and the Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare rarities
What Changed
Pokémon ex return. Lowercase ex cards replaced V, VSTAR and VMAX as the game's big two-Prize Pokémon. Many evolve, so Stage 2 ex like Gardevoir ex became powerhouses.
Tera Pokémon ex. Crystal-crowned ex that take no damage from attacks while on the Bench.
Silver borders and new rarities. English cards moved to silver borders, and the alt art idea became two official rarities: Illustration Rares, full-art scenes of regular Pokémon, and Special Illustration Rares, the set's top-tier art cards.
The Chase Cards
Miriam Special Illustration Rare. The Paldea Academy nurse and her Blissey make up the set's most famous Trainer card.
Gardevoir ex Special Illustration Rare. A gorgeous illustration of one of the era's best decks.
Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex. Special Illustration Rare and gold versions of the box legendaries.
Illustration Rares. Affordable, beautiful binder cards that set the tone for the whole era.
The Product Lineup
| Product | What's inside |
|---|---|
 Booster Pack
|
10 cards plus a basic Energy, in one of four pack artworks |
| Build and Battle Box | 4 packs and a ready-to-play 40-card deck with 1 of 4 promos |
 Elite Trainer Box |
9 packs, sleeves, Energy cards, dice and a storage box, in Koraidon and Miraidon versions |
 Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box |
More packs and extra promos, in Koraidon and Miraidon versions |
 Booster Box
|
36 packs |
Our quick picks: The Booster Box is the way to chase Miriam and the Special Illustration Rares. Pick up both the Koraidon and Miraidon Elite Trainer Boxes for a matched display, and grab single packs for a quick rip.
Tips for Collectors
- Learn the new rarity symbols. Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares use different symbols, so check the bottom of the card to know what you pulled.
- Pair the Elite Trainer Boxes. Koraidon and Miraidon boxes look great side by side.
- Check sold listings. Compare recent eBay sold listings before buying or selling singles.
Keep Collecting With Booster Pack Cards
Browse our Pokémon TCG Booster Boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes and Booster Packs, or shop the full Pokémon TCG collection. Catch up on the previous era with our Crown Zenith guide, or read on with our Paldea Evolved collector's guide.
