Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Stellar Crown Review

Around four times a year the Pokémon Trading Card Game embarks on a mission to create another set that keeps both the competitive players and hardcore collectors happy. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Stellar Crown released on September 13th 2024 and people are already saying it is the best expansion of the Scarlet and Violet era. I sat down with my son, the true Pokémon expert of the household, to see if this is true. So here are our words on his opinions

Based on the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet video games DLC 'The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2: The Indigo Disk', Stellar Crown introduces Pokémon such as the legendary colourless Pokémon Terapagos , Archaludon a powerful steel type Pokémon and Hydrapple an awesome grass type hydra with powerful moves.

Most Impactful Cards in the Trading Card Game

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:Stellar Crown has many great additions that have impacted play in the TCG such as:

⦁ Area Zero Underdepths, this is incredible for Pokémon ex based decks since if you have one in play you can have 3 additional cards on your bench. This is a stadium card, so also benefits your opponent. In my opinion, it is worth it for the extra space available on your bench especially if you look at the Terapagos ex!

⦁ Grand Tree is a very useful ace spec card for evolution-based decks. Grand Tree lets you search your deck for a stage 1 for any of your benched basic Pokémon and if that stage 1 Pokémon has a further evolution you can evolve it again! This card is a stadium, like Area Zero Underdepths, so as long as it is in play you can evolve tons of Pokémon quickly early on in the match . The only limitation is that you cannot use Grand Tree multiple times on one turn, on your first turn or on a Pokémon that has just been put in play.

⦁ Briar is a trainer card with a very useful effect. Only if your opponent has exactly 2 prize cards left can this trainer be used, but, if your tera Pokémon knocks out your opponent’s Pokémon you can draw one extra prize card. This can be especially game changing if you defeat an ex Pokémon, because this means you draw a massive 3 prize cards!

⦁ Terapagos ex is the cover star of Stellar Crown and it deserves that billing! Terapagos ex has an incredibly powerful move, Unified Beatdown. Unified Beatdown is pretty awesome! The power of this move is that for each card on your bench you can deal 30 damage to your opponent’s active Pokemon; so powerful is this move that players going second are not allowed to use it on their first turn. As mentioned earlier, Area Zero Underdepths is a good card to use alongside this attack because of its bench expanding abilities. In total Terapagos ex and Area Zero Underdepths allow you to deal a whopping 240 damage!

⦁ Sparkling Crystal is an ace spec card that is used with tera Pokémon only, but, is very good either way. The Pokémon this card is attached to has its attack energy costs reduced by 1, making using high energy cost attacks easier to access earlier in the game.

Most Sought After Cards for Collectors

People don't just play the TCG though, some people prefer to collect which is why I'll be looking at the most expensive (or at least most nice looking ) cards in Scarlet and Violet:Stellar Crown

⦁ Terapagos ex special illustration rare is a stunning card. It is an incredible piece of artistry by Saboteri, the illustrator of many other beautiful Pokémon cards. Because of this, it is the most valuable card of the set so be prepared to open lots of packs if you want the chance to nab one of your own without paying a fortune for it!

⦁ Lacey special illustration rare is the 2nd most sought after card in the set, it features many of the trainers in the set hanging out around a table with chaos ensuing.

⦁ Squirtle illustration rare goes along with the Charmander promo from the Scarlet and Violet: Obsidian Flames ETB and the Bulbasaur illustration rare from this set, we will talk more about him later. This Squirtle card features an adorable Squirtle in a paddling pool.

⦁ Hydrapple special illustration rare is by far my personal favourite card on this list. Its weathered, rustic appearance gives it a unique look especially when surrounded by more bright/colourful cards in a binder.

⦁ Bulbasaur illustration rare was mentioned earlier, since it finishes of the set of Kanto starters in illustration rare form. Like the other 2 in the collection, it looks absolutely adorable. In the artwork Bulbasaur, accompanied by a Pidgey, is resting next to a window with a bright sun shining through.

Personal Favourites

As a collector, there are always cards that, whilst not the rarest, I just think are really cool.

⦁ Zeraora illustration rare is my second favourite card in the set, it has an amazing array of colours including bright neon blue, yellow and purple that really make it pop!

⦁ Crabominable illustration rare is a fantastically designed card. The art was made by Mitsuhiro Arita illustrator for probably the most famous card in all Pokémon history, Charizard from the original 1995 set.

Conclusion

In my opinion the community is correct, so far Stellar Crown is looking to be the best set in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet era. So, make sure to act fast and open some Stellar Crown if you haven't already!

How can I buy Stellar Crown Cards?

· Booster Packs – A pack of 10 cards, including a holo card.

· Booster Box – A box of 36 boosters!

· Elite Trainer Box – 9 boosters, an ETB exclusive Noctowl, ETB only card Sleeves, damage dice and condition counters.

· Triple Pack – 3 boosters and a promo of either Latias or Tinkaton

· Premium Checklane Pack – A booster, 3 ancient or 3 future cards and a collectable coin.

· Mini Portfolio – A folder to store 60 cards and a 10 card booster pack.