Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved - Review & Best Cards

Hello everybody. I'm Rodrigo, bringing news about the Pokémon TCG in general.

With the pace set for the Scarlet & Violet expansion, there's already discussions about the new western logo and the second base expansion, called Paldea Evolved. This western expansion will take the Japanese expansions Triple Beat, Snow Hazard, Clay Burst and probably the cards from the Pikachu ex Starter Deck set.

If you want to check out a review on the Triple Beat expansion, just click here.

In this article, I will review some cards from the Pikachu ex Starter Deck set, some ex cards and other “baby” cards and Trainers cards from Snow Hazard and Clay Burst that will make up the set.

Launched on 03/14/2023 for 1,800 yen, there is a more filling version of the product called “Starter Set ex Pikachu Special Set,” which costs a little more, for 3,580 yen, which includes an extra Pikachu deck box made of plush.

Both versions come with a 60-card deck.

Images and product details

Pikachu ex

Basic

Pika Punch (C): Deals 30 damage.

Dynamic Bolt: (L)(L)(C): Deals 220 damage, and you flip the coin: if tails, discard all Energy attached to this Pokémon.

A good electric attacker, as it is basic and can be easily summoned in play because of the ability of Miraidon ex, and we still have energizers like the Trainer item card Electric Generator, and Flaaffy FST 280.

Magnemite

Basic

Magnetic Charge (C): Attach two basic Electric Energy from your discard pile to one of your Benched Pokémon.

Speed Ball (L)(C): This attack deals 20 damage.

A handy early turn energizer without relying on Mareep's evolutionary line for Flaaffy FST 280, which can pay off in a few plays to streamline your setup.

Shinx

Basic

Ability Loud Howl: If this Pokémon is Active, it forces the opponent to switch one of their Benched Pokémon to Active Position.

Lam (L): This attack does 10 damage.

It has the same function as Volcarona SLG 13 with the similar ability, and being a basic Pokémon, Shinx becomes useful for a quick play with Switch Cart ASR 154, for example.

Pawmi, Pawmo and Pawmot

Pawmi

Basic

Static Shock (L): Deals 20 damage.

Pawmo

Stage 1 - Evolves from Pawmi

Static Shock (L): Deals 20 damage.

Electrobullet (L)(L): Deals 50 damage to the Active Pokémon and 30 damage to one of your opponent's Benched Pokémon (don't apply Weakness or Resistance on the Bench).

Pawmot

Stage 2 - Evolves from Pawmo

Mach Bolt (L): Deals 40 damage.

Electric Fists (L)(L): Deals 100 damage to the Active Pokémon and 60 damage to one of your opponent's Benched Pokémon (don't apply Weakness or Resistance on the Bench).

This evolutionary line is good for Pauper formats and for Gym Leader Challenge (which is the same as Pauper, only with the limitation of only one copy in the deck of all cards). There, this line is excellent to be able to deal sniper damage and a generous amount of damage to the active Pokémon, and for cheap.

Supporters

From left to right, we have the cards: Professor's Research (Turo), Nemona, Youngster and Judge.

These cards, in order, have the same effects as the following cards: Professor's Research BRS 147, Hop CPA 53, Shauna FST 240 and Judge FST 235.

Item reprint

From left to right, first row to second, we have reprints of these cards (except Electric Generator, the last card in the second row in the section): Nest Ball SUM 123, Ultra Ball BRS 150, Pokégear 3.0 SSH 174, Energy Switch SSH 162, Pokémon Catcher SSH 175 and Switch CRZ 144.

These two expansions along with Triple Beat will form the basis for the western set “Paldea Evolved”. Here I'll show you some cards revealed so far.

Forrestress ex

Stage 1 - Evolves from Pineco

Terastral Ability: This Pokémon doesn't take any damage if it's benched.

Ability Trait Explosive Energy: During your turn, you can choose whether this Pokémon can be "Knocked Out" (as a sacrifice). If you do, you search for 5 Energy from your deck and attach them to your Pokémon however you like.

Guard Press (G)(G): This Pokémon does 120 damage, and the opponent takes 30 points less of their attacks for the next turn when they go to attack (after applying Weakness and Resistance).

The skill is similar to Electrode-GX CES 48. In this case, it draws from the discard pile, while Forrestress ex draws from its own deck.

This is positive, for those who play Expanded, they are suffering from high prices tags on Electrode-GX CES 48, and only when starting to play in some decks like Origin Forme Dialga VStar, they want to abuse it; so with the arrival of this new card, it will be a cheaper option for players, in addition to being able to be in Standard as well.

I see that it will be very useful for the Grass (G) archetype in Expanded, where I see possibilities, for example, for heavy Pokémon like Venusaur VMAX PR-SW SWSH102, Venusaur & Snivy-GX CEC 1 and Celebi & Venusaur-GX TEU 1.

Wo-Chien ex

Basic

Devour Ivy (G)(G)(C): You choose 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. This attack does 60 damage multiplied by the amount of prize cards the opponent has taken.

Forest Burn (G)(G)(G)(C): This Pokémon does 230 damage.

The first attack is excellent, as it will give some final plays to the game against targets from the opponent's Bench that have, for example, five prize cards, and can take 300 damage.

It can combine with the Forrestress ex mentioned above, as it can provide two prize cards with the "sacrifice" ability that energizes your Pokémon, and this strengthens its first attack.

Chi-Yu ex

Basic

Scorch (F): Discard two cards from the top of your opponent's deck with this attack.

Flame Surge (F)(F): This Pokémon does 100 damage and targets 3 Benched Pokémon in play: For each Pokémon, you attach a basic Fire Energy (F) from your Deck to those Pokémon. Then, shuffle your deck.

An excellent fire recursive Pokémon, despite the mediocre HP of 190. But it has qualities like discarding the top two cards of the opponent's deck, similar to Houndoom-EX BKT 21. Its energization is also very interesting for many formats.

Baxcalibur

Stage 2 - Evolves from Arctibax

Extremely Low Temperature Ability: On your turn, before attacking, this Pokémon may move Basic Water Energy (W) from your hand to 1 of your Pokémon in any way you want.

Buster Tail (W)(W)(C): This Pokémon does 130 damage.

A Standard-format version of Blastoise PLS 137, which with its ability Deluge, it could move as many Energy as it wanted of Basic Water Energy (W) to its Pokémon.

But Baxcalibur can only move to one Pokémon, but that's not all bad, and will serve to help Chien-Pao ex* attacks (below).

Chien-Pao ex

Basic

Ability Revenge Storm: During your turn, if this Pokémon is your Active Pokémon, you may search your deck for two basic Water (W) Energy, reveal them, then shuffle your deck.

Berseker Tackle (W)(W): You can choose to discard any number of Water Energy (W) attached to this Pokémon. This attack does 60 damage proportional to the amount Water Energy being discarded this way.

The skill is like a Capacious Bucket RCL 156 built into the Pokémon, saving Trainer Item resources from the deck and, yet, having a reasonably efficient attack, being able to use water energy discards with massive damage - that, with 6 energies attached to it, can deal 360 damage.

Raichu

Stage 1 - Evolves from Pikachu

Electrocharge (C): Search your deck for two basic Electric Energy from your deck and attach to this Pokémon. Shuffle your deck after that.

Thunderbolt (L)(L)(C): This Pokémon does 200 damage and discards all Energy attached to this Pokémon.

Bellibolt ex

Stage 1 - Evolves from Tadbulb

Jump Press (C)(C): Deals 50 damage to one of your opponent's Pokémon (don't apply Weakness or Resistance on your opponent's Bench).

Paralyzing Ball (L)(L)(C): This Pokémon does 160 damage and discards two Electric Energy (L) attached to this Pokémon. If you do, the opponent's Active Pokémon is now paralyzed.

An interesting guaranteed paralysis attack, but at the cost of energy discards. A little risky, since he is a stage 1 (even if he is played faster than a stage 2), he still has two turns loss from energy taxation. Even though it's a Pokémon with 280 HP, it's a risk.

Annihilape ex

Stage 2 - Evolves from Primeape

Real Anger (F): Put 12 damage counters on this Pokémon. This attack does 20 times the number of damage counters this Pokémon has on it.

Over Punch (F)(C): This Pokémon does 150 damage.

It has a very risky attack, but if dosed correctly to be able to manage these damage counters, for an energy it does tremendous damage, since it can achieve a lot of damage, and still hitting the weakness of the electric archetype.

Garganacl

Stage 2 - Evolves from Naclstack

Blessing of Salt Ability: At any time during your turn, heals 20 damage from all of your Pokémon in play.

Knocking Hammer (F)(F): This Pokémon does 130 damage and discards the top of your opponent's deck.

A Pokémon with a recursive function to heal and discard from the top of the deck.

Despite the high HP, the downside is that it is a stage 2, which can take a while.

Ting-Lu ex

Basic

Ability Cursed Earth: During your turn, if this Pokémon is active and some of your opponent's Pokémon have any damage counters (except Pokémon ex), those Pokémon have no abilities.

Land Scoop (F)(F)(F): This Pokémon does 150 damage and puts two damage counters on 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon.

The ability is essential to break "baby" Pokémon that use plenty of skills, especially Lost Box decks, since they lost the card Scoop Up Net RCL 165, so Pokémon like Comfey LOR 79, Cramorant LOR 50 and Radiant Charizard CRZ 20 will suffer greatly at its hands.

Spiritomb

Basic

Ability Jet Black Calamity: If Pokémon is set to Active, your opponent's basic V-type Pokémon have no abilities.

Sudden Disappearance (C): This attack does 10 damage, and this Pokémon and all cards attached to it return to your hand.

An excellent Pokémon to lock common basic Pokémon V abilities, such as Lumineon V BRS 40 for example, sabotaging its Support Trainer fetch ability.

Mimikyu

Basic

Ability Disguised: Prevent all damage to this Pokémon from your opponent's Pokémon Ex or V.

Ghost Eye (P)(C): This attack does 7 damage counters to your opponent's Active Pokémon.

An excellent Pokémon to make the famous “lock” of attacks of Pokémon of specific rarities, as we had the Suicune PLB 20 and Sigilyph PLF 118 against Pokémon EX; also the Hoopa SLG 55, Alolan Ninetales BUS 28 and Alolan Ninetales TEU 111 to inhibit Pokémon EX and GX; also the Decidueye DAA 13, Altaria CPA 49 against Pokémon GX and V; and Miltank ASR 126 against Pokémon V.

Every block always has these Pokémon to balance the meta against ultra rares.

Ceruledge

Stage 1 - Evolves from Charcadet

Life Drain (C)(C): Deals 50 damage and heals 30 to this Pokémon.

Will-o'-the-Sword (P)(C)(C): This attack does 100 + 100 damage if your opponent's Active Pokémon is an Ex- or V-type.

An excellent Pokémon to make the famous "lock" attacks of Pokémon of specific rarities, as well as in other blocks.

Murkrow

Basic

Spin Turn (C): Does 10 damage to the Active Pokémon and replaces that Murkrow with a Pokémon on your Bench.

Wing Union (D): This attack does 20 times the damage to each Pokémon in the discard pile that has the Wing Union attack.

This mechanic returned to the current block, and this is not new - cards that used this same line, like Lost March (Sun/Moon), and the recent Mad Party (Sword/Shield). Quite interesting, let's wait for more spoilers.

Flamigo

Basic

Sudden Swarm Ability: When you play this Pokémon from your hand to your Bench, you may search for 3 Flamingo from your deck and add them to your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

Wing Union (C)(C): This attack does 20 times the damage for each Pokémon in the discard pile that has the Wing Union attack.

Here is the same observation with Murkrow, about the synergy of the deck that will perform combos with this archetype.

Squawkabilly ex

Basic

Drawkabilly Ability: During your first turn (before you attack and only in your first game turn), you discard your hand and draw until you have 6 cards. You cannot use more than one Drawkabilly's ability.

Hype Up (C): This Pokémon does 20 damage, and you attach two Energy from the discard pile to your Pokémon in any way you like.

The ability is similar to Talonflame V VIV 29 attack, but I see it as sort of extreme as you need to be lucky enough to have it on the first turn.

It's a simple recursive Pokémon to power up, but just waiting for the future to see how it will fit into decks, if possible.

Reversal Energy

This energy provides the effect of only one colorless energy (C). However, if you have more prize cards left than your opponent (losing the game), that energy will be worth the equivalent of three colorless energies at the same time and still serve any type of your choice. You can only equip this energy to Pokémon that are evolutions and those that don't have a "Rule Box".

With it, we have the return of one of the best special energies: the reprint Scramble Energy DX 95, which came in the Ruby/Sapphire: Deoxys era.

Grusha

Supporter: you draw until you have 5 cards in your hand, but if your Pokémon doesn't have any energy, you draw 7 cards instead of 5 cards.

A very interesting "draw power" for the beginning of the game, in case you discarded your hand a lot for many setups.

Ion

Supporter: You and your opponent shuffle your hands back to the bottom of the deck. And before that, you draw the number of cards equivalent to the number of prize cards based on each player.

It's almost a mixture of the effects of the cards N PR-BLW BW100 with Marnie SSH 169, this type of shuffling being pretty brutal to leave your cards at the bottom of the deck. Make sure that this card will become expensive and will be a Staple for many future decks.

Giacomo

Supporter: You discard all Special Energy attached to all of your opponent's Pokémon in play.

Almost the same effect as Enhanced Hammer DEX 94, only instead of an Item, it's a Supporter card, and with even more destructive power to take away all the opponent's special energies. It will be strong for Control decks - and will power up Expanded decks.

Calamitous Snowy Mountain

Stadium: During either player's turn, if the player energizes any of their Pokémon that aren't Water (W)-types, put two damage counters on that Pokémon.

Calamitous Wasteland

Stadium: During both players' turns, their Pokémon's Retreat Cost requires one more colorless Energy (C) (except Fighting Pokémon (F)).

Super Rod

Item: You choose a combination of 3 cards that are Pokémon and Basic Energy from the discard pile to return to the deck.

It is the reprint of the Super Rod NVI 95 from Black/White: Noble Victories, which had another version reprinted in the same block in the special expansion Dragon Vault, and later in the future, for the last time, in X /Y: BREAKThrough.

Charm of Courage

Tool: The Basic Pokémon that has this card equipped gains 50 more HP.

A version of Cape of Toughness DAA 160 for the Standard format, as that card will rotate on April 14, 2023.

The expansion has shows that new and interesting cards have arrived that have already improved the options.

The Trainers cards are excellent, especially Iono and Giacomo, some Pokémon ex like Annihilape ex, Forrestress ex are great for me, besides the recursive ones like Spiritomb and Baxcalibur.

Did you like the news? Tell me in the comments!

See you next time.