Scarlet & Violet—Paldea Evolved

Status: Released (June 2023)

The Starters Take the Stage in Paldea Evolved

The second set of the era, Scarlet & Violet—Paldea Evolved, was released on June 9, 2023, and gave the Paldea starter Pokémon—Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—their time to shine. Their fully evolved forms, "Meowscarada ex," "Skeledirge ex," and "Quaquaval ex," brought powerful new strategies to the game. But the set's true power lay in the "Treasures of Ruin" quartet: Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, Wo-Chien, and Chi-Yu, four legendary Pokémon that immediately impacted the competitive meta.

The Iono Effect

In the collecting world, one card reigned supreme: "Iono." This Special Illustration Rare supporter card, featuring the popular streamer/gym leader, became the most expensive card in the set, continuing the trend of high-value "waifu" cards. However, the set also featured a sleeper hit: the "Magikarp" Illustration Rare. With its stunning, psychedelic artwork, this lowly common Pokémon became a massive chase card, proving that great art can elevate any Pokémon to superstar status. Scarlet & Violet—Paldea Evolved solidified the new era's focus on combining competitive viability with incredible, collector-focused art.