Paradox Rift: Set, Products, Paradox Pokémon, Terastral Pokémon Analyses & More

With a month left, we're heading towards this block's fourth base set, which will be called Scarlet & Violet - Paradox Rift. The cards in this set will be a combination of the Japanese sets, mostly most cards in the sets ”Ancient Roar" and "Future Flash" and some from "Raging Surf" (not all cards from this set will be present in this new product). All guesses so far point to more than 182 cards (disregarding other rarities such as Full Art, Gold Full Art, Illustration Art, Secret Art, etc).

Regarding the rest of the "Raging Surf" cards, there are theories that they might come in another upcoming base set or even in the newest special set, the second set to come as a "sub set", similar to Hidden Fates and Shining Fates, which will be called ”Shiny Treasure ex”. For further information, click here.

(Video released at Yokohama Worlds, in August 2023, announcing the new set.).

The Paradox Rift set will be available in Japan on October 27th, 2023, and in Europe and the Americas on November 3rd, 2023.

Elite Trainer Box

Roaring Moon - Ancient Salamence / Iron Valiant - Future Gallade

Roaring Moon

Iron Valiant

These products include:

- A box that can also be used as a deck box.

- A digital code of the product for Pokémon TCG Live (based on the ETB).

- The ETB's promotional card (based on the ETB Pokémon).

- Eleven Boosters containing 11 cards, plus a digital code for Pokémon TCG Live.

- Six smaller dice and a bigger die to use in the game as damage counters.

- Special condition markers ("bad status").

- Four card dividers.

- 65 sleeves to protect your cards.

- A guide/manual about the set and its cards.

- Basic energy bulk for the player (45 basic energies total).

ETB - Pokémon Center: Differences

The only difference above, besides the same items you get with the other product, is that two promotional cards are included; one of them has Pokémon Center's logo itself.

Booster Box

It has 36 Booster Packs with 11 cards each (10 Pokémon and 1 energy) and another digital code for Pokémon TCG Live.

Build & Battle Stadium

This is a very common product in the United States, Canada and Europe. It is like a kit with pre-built decks and plenty of bulk cards - basically as if it is a more advanced and cohesive "Pre-release" kit.

More specifically, it brings:

- Two decks with 40 cards each.

- Two promo cards.

- Eleven Boosters with 11 cards plus a digital code for Pokémon TCG Live.

- Basic energy bulk for the player (121 cards total).

- Six smaller dice and a bigger die to use in the game as damage counters.

- Special conditions markers ("bad status").

Booster Bundle: “Pre-Release Kit”

It is a common product released when the set is launched, focused mostly on local stores' tournaments.

This product brings:

- Two thematic "decks" based on one of the four "promotional" Pokémon highlighted in the set. One of these decks brings the set's logo, and focuses on this Pokémon as the main deck, and the second comes as a "complement" or "second option".

- Six Boosters that bring 11 cards plus a digital code for Pokémon TCG Live.

Single Blister

This is a product that includes one Booster, one promotional card and a coin.

Triple Pack

This is a product which brings three Boosters and one promotional card.

Based on the VGC, the TCG has the same setup for the Paldea region Pokémon: they suffer from the paradoxes of the Ancient past and the Future.

With that, we have the names of the Pokémon which will be in this set, which are:

Ancient

- Roaring Moon ex: Salamence

- Scream Tail: Jigglypuff

- Brute Bonnet: Amoonguss

- Slither Wing: Volcarona

- Sandy Shocks: Magneton

Future

- Iron Valiant ex: Gallade

- Iron Moth: Volcarona

- Iron Bundle: Delibird

- Iron Jugulis: Hydreigon

- Iron Hands ex: Hariyama

Best Pokémon with the New Mechanics

Ancient

Roaring Moon ex

Its first attack is excellent, as it can knock down any Pokémon you want, but its downside is that it gets 20 damage counters placed on itself - which means, it is dealt 200 damage, with a total of 230 HP.

In the Darkness archetype, there are cards that can support it, such as Dark Patch LOR 216, if Roaring Moon ex is on the bench.

In Expanded, it shines with the card Protection Cube FLF 95. The Pokémon which has this Tool equipped isn't affected by its attack's downsides, so, it can "Instant K.O." any Pokémon you want!

Scream Tail

- Attack Slap (P): this attack deals 30 damage.

- Attack Roaring Scream (P)(C): this attack deals 20 damage to one of your opponent's Pokémon according to how many damage counters Scream Tail has.

To sum up, it is similar to Sun/Moon: Unbroken Bonds' Espurr UNB 79. The difference is that this damage is based on counters placed on your Pokémon, and not on the Pokémon you're targeting, as I listed in the example.

It is a solid "sniper" Pokémon which can become quite relevant.

Future

Iron Hands ex

- Attack Arm Press (L)(L)(C): this attack deals 160 damage.

- Attack Grateful Purification (L)(C)(C)(C): this attack deals 120 damage, and, if this attack ends up knocking out an opponent Pokémon, you get one extra Prize Card.

Iron Hands will probably go in the Electric archetype, with decks using Miraidon ex sv1 81, Miraidon ex sv3 79 with Regieleki VMAX SIT 58 to add 30 extra basic Pokémon damage, which can raise its second attack to 150.

Hypothetically, when you use Boss's Orders PR-SW SWSH251 to pull a Lugia VSTAR SIT 211, it will deal "300 damage" and get you three Prizes.

Iron Bundle

- Ability Hyper Blower: during your turn, if this Pokémon is on your bench, your opponent is forced to swap their active Pokémon with one on the bench, which will be promoted (your opponent will choose which Pokémon to swap).

- Attack Refrigerated Stream (W)(C)(C): this attack deals 80 damage and, if the opponent's Pokémon is an evolution Pokémon, it won't attack on the next turn.

Basically, you'll have another utility Pokémon to the Water archetype which will work as if it is an evolution "counter". As Eiscue ex sv3 42 is a basic Pokémon "counter", and considering their attacks work together, as they both require Water energies for their attack cost, using Baxcalibur PR-SV 19 will be incredible to mobilize these energies.

Iron Jugulis

- Attack Homing Heads (C)(C)(C): this attack deals 50 damage to 3 Pokémon on the opponent's bench that have any damage counters placed on them (don't apply weakness or resistance to the bench).

- Attack Baryon Beam (C)(C)(C)(C)(C): this attack deals 150 damage and, if this Pokémon is equipped with the Future Booster Energy Capsule Tool, the damage cost will be only three colorless energies instead of five colorless energies.

Which means, to discount this Pokémon's second attack, you need to use this card:

This card's effect is the following: any Future Pokémon that has this Tool equipped has their retreat cost zeroed and gets an extra 20 damage against the opponent's active Pokémon.

This way, Iron Jugulis' second attack will deal 170 damage! In the format, we have two ways to speed up our energies, with Archeops PR-SW SWSH272 in Lugia VSTAR SIT 211 decks; and with Baxcalibur PR-SV 19, to mobilize Water energies, to fulfill their energization requirement, as it is only colorless energies.

Mewtwo ex Terastal

- Terastal Ability: this Pokémon is immune to bench damage (be it yours or the opponent's).

- Attack Trans Charge (P): attach two basic Psychic (P) energies from the discard pile to your Pokémon however you like.

- Attack Photon Kinesis (P)(P): this attack deals 10 + 30 damage for each Psychic energy attached to all your Pokémon.

It has been popular in Japan in a few lists, mostly in decks with Clefairy LOR 62 and Clefable ex sv3 82, and you also have the possibility of combining it with Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX ASR TG30.

Garchomp ex Terastal

- Terastal Ability: this Pokémon is immune to bench damage (be it yours or the opponent's).

- Attack Hydro Lander (F): deals 160 damage and also attaches 3 basic Fighting (F) energies from the discard pile to your benched Pokémon however you like.

- Attack Sonic Dive (C)(C): you discard two energies from this Pokémon to attack with it, and, if you do, choose an opponent Pokémon and deal 120 to it (don't apply weakness or resistance to the bench).

With the Terastral mechanic and the aquatic type, it becomes a "counter" to Skeledirge ex sv2 37, Arcanine ex sv1 32 and Charizard ex sv3pt5 6, considering its evolution line is originally a Fighting type line, so you can think of combinations in which it can be an energizer.

It has all of this besides even dealing "sniper damage", if it works for you, and maybe, in a bit more complex and exotic way, you can think of combining it with Tyranitar ex sv3 66:

1) Garchomp can pull energies from the discard pile and attach them to your benched Pokémon; and, automatically, it will become a type of "sponge" to absorb damage.

2) After its role is fulfilled, its retreat cost is zero, so it can go to the bench, promoting Tyranitar and triggering its second attack's effect, which deals an extra 150 + 100 damage, considering your Garchomp is on the bench and has damage counters.

3) In the most insane combo scenario, using Garchomp's second attack asks for any colorless energies, and, as it is a Water type, we can use Baxcalibur PR-SV 19 or Irida ASR 147 to search for it, with Rare Candy PGO 69.

Froslass ex Terastal

- Terastal Ability: this Pokémon is immune to bench damage (be it yours or the opponent's).

- Ability Just Out of Reach: when this Pokémon is knocked out by your opponent, your opponent plays a coin. If it is tails, it gets one less Prize Card.

- Attack Frost Bullet (W)(W): this Pokémon deals 140 damage and also deals 20 damage to one of your opponent's benched Pokémon (don't apply weakness or resistance to the bench).

It is perfect to "counter" Charizard ex sv3 125, as it can deal 280 damage due to the weakness. If your opponent doesn't have Manaphy CRZ GG06 in play, it can still deal "sniper" damage, already dealing damage to another Charmander or even another Charizard ex on the next turn.

Skeledirge ex Terastal

- Terastal Ability: this Pokémon is immune to bench damage (be it yours or the opponent's).

- Ability Explosive Song: you can discard one Fire energy to use this ability. If you do, your Pokémon in play get 60 extra damage to their attacks (before applying weakness and resistance).

- Attack Raster Burn (F)(F): this Pokémon deals 160 damage and isn't affected by any effects coming from your opponent's active Pokémon.

It is perfect to surprise Water/Ice Pokémon, and, mostly, to catch Chien-Pao ex sv2 274 off guard due to its weakness against the Steel type.

Hoopa ex Terastal

- Terastal Ability: this Pokémon is immune to bench damage (be it yours or the opponent's).

- Attack Energy Crush (D)(D): this Pokémon deals 50 damage for each energy attached to all your opponent's Pokémon.

- Attack Scoundrel Fist (D)(D)(D): this Pokémon deals 200 damage and, on the next turn, it can't use the Scouldrel Fist attack.

It is great against the Electric archetype, because of its type advantage. It is also strong against decks which need many energies to attack, such as the Grass archetype - even more so considering its first attack, which is easy to set up, if, for instance, you play Galarian Moltres PR-SW SWSH125 and use Energy Switch sv1 173.

Useful Supporters

Professor Sada's Tenacity

Choose up to 2 "Ancient" Pokémon in play, attach one basic energy from the discard pile to each of them, and, next, draw 3 cards.

Professor Turo's Scenario

Choose a Pokémon in play and place it in your hand.

It is a new version of Acerola BUS 112 with the same effect for the Standard format.

Mela

You can only use this card's effect if one of your Pokémon was knocked out on the previous turn.

You attach one basic Fire energy to one of your Pokémon, and, next, you draw until you have 6 cards in hand.

It is a mix of Raihan CRZ 140 with an excellent "draw power" for the Fire archetype.

Tulip

You recover a combination of 4 cards from the discard pile, which can be Psychic Pokémon or Psychic energies, and place them in your hand.

It is almost the same as Nessa CRZ 136's effect, with the difference that it focuses on the Psychic type.

Parasol Lady

You shuffle your hand and draw 4 new cards. But, if you are second to play, during the first round, you'll shuffle your hand and draw until you have 8 cards instead of 4.

The“Technical Machine” Mechanic Return

Originally from the Johto sets' times, these Tools returned from the dead in this set. The Pokémon Company is reigniting the mechanic, and, for now, they revealed four cards with this mechanic.

Following the image's order, from left to right, we have:

- Technical Machine Blindside (C)(C)(C): this attack deals 100 damage to one of the opponent's Pokémon which has any damage counters (don't apply weakness and resistance to the opponent's bench).

(You need to fulfill this card's energy requirement, and, at the end of the turn if you used this Tool, you'll discard this card.)

- Technical Machine Devolution (C): you force your opponent to devolve all of their evolved Pokémon.

(You need to fulfill this card's energy requirement, and, at the end of the turn if you used this Tool, you'll discard this card.)

- Technical Machine Evolution (C): choose two Pokémon on your bench. Look in your deck for evolutions that evolve those chosen Pokémon in particular and place them on them. Shuffle your deck after this.

(You need to fulfill this card's energy requirement, and, at the end of the turn if you used this Tool, you'll discard this card.)

- Technical Machine Turbo Energize(C): look in your deck for two basic energies and attach them to your benched Pokémon however you like. Shuffle your deck after this.

(You need to fulfill this card's energy requirement, and, at the end of the turn if you used this Tool, you'll discard this card.)

I touched on the return of this type of card in my article about “forgotten Pokémon mechanics which could return”, which you can check out here.

What are your expectations for the new set and the Ancient and Future Pokémon mechanics? What about the new Terastal Pokémon? Comment down below.

See you next time!