Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet, Twilight Masquerade: Hands-On Preview [IGN]

Twilight Masquerade features a slew of cards that will cause a storm in Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet and could trouble opponents from every corner of the trading card game. So, instead of waiting for the light screen to fall, we’ve been lucky enough to get hands-on with a Wailord’s worth of new Twilight Masquerade cards, boosters, elite trainer sets, and more. Let’s dig in.

Pokémon TCG Twilight Masquerade – Build and Battle Box

Available from May 11, the Build and Battle Box box is designed to offer a competitive edge right out of the gate. It includes four booster packs and a 40-card deck, augmented by one of four unique foil promo cards—Thwackey, Infernape, Froslass, or Tatsugiri. These cards enhance your deck and dictate your strategy for any pre-release events, making each box a personalized starting point for exploring the new set. It’s affordable, and the perfect option for anyone after an easy pick-up-and-go deck. You can preorder from Amazon for $19.97 (MSRP: $24.99).

We scored Infernape in our Build and Battle box, which looks stunning. It has a unique artwork that differs from the standard Infernape Twilight Masquerade card, alongside the foil stamp found on all Play and Battle promo cards. Its moves are also the same as the standard card, but it seems like it will still burn rivals with ease. The Pyro Dance ability allows players to add a Fire and Energy card to a trainer’s Pokémon, while its only attack, Scorching Fire, does 200 damage and requires players to discard a fire energy. Its energy cost is one colourless and two fire, so players could evolve and set this attack up in one turn, thanks to Infernape’s ability.

Twilight Masquerade Build and Battle Box Contents:

• 4 Twilight Masquerade booster packs
• A 40-card ready-to-play deck featuring key cards from current and prior sets
• One of four unique foil promo cards; Thwackey, Infernape, Froslass, or Tatsugiri

Pokémon TCG Twilight Masquerade – Elite Trainer Box

The new Elite Trainer box includes everything to jump-start your journey into the Twilight Masquerade. It features eight booster packs, 65-themed card sleeves to protect your new cards, various gameplay accessories like dice and acrylic markers, and a player’s guide that provides invaluable insights into the set’s strategic depth. The box is also a collector’s item with a beautifully designed storage solution. You can preorder from Amazon – $39.02 (MSRP: $49.99).

Elite Trainer boxes really are a great bundle for starter trainers and Pokémon masters alike. For making their first deck, rookie trainers will get everything they need to start their first battle. The included sleeves always have an excellent design, protecting those rare trainers’ deck stars. Star of the box, Ogerpon, has a form for almost any trainer, from quickly setting up its Teal Mask to the powerhouse Hearthflame form that does more damage when it’s close to getting knocked out.

The box is a brilliant way to organise and store extra Pokémon cards, and is immediately useful for anyone starting the hobby. A brilliant change to recent elite trainer boxes is dice with damage values instead of the classic dots, it just makes life easier when keeping track of damage in-game — and it’s also nice to see proper plastic damage counters instead of the pop-out cardboard ones!

Twilight Masquerade Elite Trainer Box Contents:

• 8 Twilight Masquerade booster packs
• 65 card sleeves featuring a specific Pokémon from the set
• 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
• A player’s guide to the Twilight Masquerade expansion
• 6 damage-counter dice
• 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
• 2 acrylic condition markers
• A collector’s box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organised
• A code card for the Pokémon TCG Online

Pokémon TCG Twilight Masquerade – Booster Box

This staple product for collectors and serious players contains 36 booster packs, each with 10 cards and one basic energy, ensuring a substantial boost to your collection. The Booster Box is ideal for potentially uncovering the full range of Twilight Masquerade’s offerings, from the elusive ACE SPEC cards to the new Pokémon ex variants. You can preorder from Amazon – $113.40 (MSRP $129.99).

Across the Booster, Elite Trainer, and Build and Play Boxes, we opened 48 Twilight Masquerade Booster Packs. Including EX, full art, and ACE Spec cards, we pulled 18 rares – tracking at around 37.5% chance. The epic pulls in this set are unreal, with the Secret Box ACE Spec tool card allowing trainers to search for one of every type of Trainer card to add to their hand. Here are some of our favorites overall:

• Teal Mask Ogerpon EX: Its Teal Dance ability allows trainers to drop an extra Grass energy onto Ogerpon per turn. Myriad Leaf Shower, its only attack, causes a base of 30 damage multiplied by how many energy cards are attached to both Ogerpon and the opponent’s active Pokémon.
• Dragapult EX: Its Phantom Drive attack causes 200 damage plus 6 damage counters worth 60 damage for an opponent’s benched Pokémon for one fire and one psychic energy. Mental scenes!

• Hearthflame Mask Ogerpon EX: Talk about a powerhouse! Hearthflame Mask Ogerpon EX shines when it’s nearly knocked out and would pair brilliantly with the ACE Spec card Survival Brace. Wrathful Heart does 20 damage multiplied by each damage counter on Ogerpon, causing a maximum of 400 damage if left with 10 HP. Its secondary attack, Dnamic Blaze, causes 140 damage with an extra 140 damage ready for evolved enemy Pokémon.
• Bloodmoon Ursaluna EX: Looking for a Pokémon to pull out when one’s back is against the wall? Bloodmoon Ursaluna EX is the best choice. Its Ability, Seasoned Skill, allows trainers to knock off one energy cost off its only attack, Blood Moon, based on how many prize cards an opponent has taken. If an opponent has five prize cards, trainers can attack with Blood Moon for free.

What Are The Key Features of Twilight Masquerade?

Innovative Card Mechanics: Twilight Masquerade introduces a series of new gameplay mechanics with the debut of six different Ogerpon cards, each offering unique strategies based on the masks from the Teal Mask video game DLC. This includes four powerful Pokémon ex cards, each designed around a different mask, allowing for dynamic gameplay that can adapt to various situations during a match.

ACE SPEC Cards: Continuing the reintroduction from the previous set, Twilight Masquerade includes new ACE SPEC cards—rare and powerful Trainer and Special Energy cards that can significantly influence the tide of battle. These cards are limited to one per deck and are designed to offer players game-altering abilities that can be pivotal in competitive play.

ACE Spec Cards give trainers a one-time chance per game to turn the tide. With our earlier example of Hearthfire Mask Ogerpon, Survival Brace ensures a Pokémon doesn’t faint and keeps 10 HP. It’s a clever spin to put on the TCG and keeps gameplay spicy!

Rich Illustrations and Rare Finds: The set promises over 160 cards before secret rares, featuring a mix of Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares. These cards are not only a draw for collectors due to their stunning artwork.

They also add a unique flair to gameplay, featuring fan-favourite Pokémon in unique poses and settings. With new Pokémon ex and Tera Pokémon ex cards, players can also expect a varied and exciting lineup. This includes new entries such as Bloodmoon Ursuluna ex and others from The Teal Mask expansion, each bringing their unique abilities and potentially shifting the competitive meta.

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet, Twilight Masquerade is a master course on how to spice up a trading card game without breaking it. Rather than introduce new gimmicks, a few new cards that pack a good punch with equally risky weaknesses only raise the stakes in battle.

Boosters seem to have a fair rare card pull rate which some might not agree with. But if Ace Spec and EX cards were easy to get, it would take the challenge away for trainers. Overall, there’s a lot to like about Twilight Masquerade, including an exciting return to no-holds-barred battles.

Christian Wait is a UK-based freelancer for IGN, you can follow him @ChrisReggieWait on Twitter/X.