Scarlet & Violet—Obsidian Flames

Status: Released (August 2023)

Type Shifting with Tera Charizard

On August 11, 2023, the meta shifted with Scarlet & Violet—Obsidian Flames. This set introduced the concept of "Type-Shifted" Tera Pokémon ex, where a Pokémon's card type differed from its usual typing. The star was, predictably, "Charizard ex," which appeared as a Darkness-type card. This allowed Charizard decks to hit Gardevoir and Mew for weakness, instantly making it the best deck in the format. Its ability, "Infernal Reign," allowed you to accelerate energy to any Pokémon, solving the consistency issues that plagued previous Charizard cards.

Pidgeot Returns

Alongside Charizard, another Kanto favorite returned: "Pidgeot ex." Its "Quick Search" ability allowed players to search their deck for *any* one card every single turn. This combination of Pidgeot's consistency and Charizard's power created a dominant archetype that ruled tournaments for months. While collectors chased the Ninetales and Cleffa illustration rares, players knew that Obsidian Flames was the set that truly defined the early competitive era of Scarlet & Violet.