Will VStar Cards be in Scarlet & Violet Pokemon TCG Sets?

So many Pokemon TCG sets are releasing nowadays but it seems we’re coming to the end of the 8th Generation. Recently a trailer was released showing the upcoming mainline Pokemon games, Scarlet & Violet. For the TCG, this means the Sword & Shield expansions will retire soon and we’ll begin seeing Gen 9 TCG sets. Before Scarlet & Violet expansions release we’re already seeing new types of cards such as VSTAR popping up. Will these new VSTAR cards be in the future Pokemon Scarlet and Violet TCG sets as well?

Why VStar Cards Could Be In Gen 9

The Sword & Shield TCG expansion and generation is ending soon. It’s strange that VStar cards were introduced so late into the 8th Generation. Not only is this a new type of card but VStar could be our first introduction to Pokemon Gen 9’s gimmick without anyone realizing. If this is true, this isn’t the first time this has happened. In 2012, Black and White introduced a new type of card called EX. Even through these EX cards started in Black and White, they were also put in the next generation XY sets. The same thing could be happening with VSTAR cards.

Theories and Hints

There are more hints as to why VSTAR is more related to Scarlet & Violet and has nothing to do with Sword & Shield. There’s a lot of information that fans have realized since the release of the Pokemom Scarlet and Violet trailer. One of the most important details is in the Japanese logo for Scarlet & Violet. They both contain a star icon that could be a new stone in Gen 9. Is this star that “VSTAR” is referring to? We’ve collected much more information and theories on this new Gimmick here.

https://pokepatch.wordpress.com/2022/03/09/fan-theories-about-new-stone-in-pokemon-scarlet-violet/

Fan Theories About New Stone in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Pokemon’s 9th generation was recently announced in a short trailer. The new upcoming Pokemon games are Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet and it’s clearly already looking better than previous titles. Aside from the general improvements of graphics, every Pokemon game also has a new gimmick. A gimmick is usually referred to as a new gameplay mechanic in the Pokemon TCG or video games that differentiates it from the previous generations. So what is Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s gimmick?

VStar Cards Could Hint At Gen 9 Gimmick

The first place we should look ironically isn’t at the new gameplay footage, but to the Pokemon TCG. VStar cards were recently introduced in the Pokemon Trading Card Game. A new type of rare, holographic card. This is strange timing considering we’re coming to the end of the Sword & Shield generation. So why would they all the sudden add another type of card? While V cards are parallel to Dynamax Pokemon in the game and VMAX cards are related to Gigantamax Pokemon in the game, VStar doesn’t have a correlation so far. It’s very possible VSTAR will be comparable to a game mechanic introduced in the new Pokemon Scarlet & Violet games!

Star Light Gimmick

A Reddit user by the name of u/Late_Ease4636 pointed out that the Japanese logos for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have a 6 pointed star icon. This is similar to what we’ve seen in previous games and this icon usually references a stone in game that’s used for the game’s gimmick. If that stays true then this star icon is related to a new game mechanic being introduced in Gen 9. But the real question is what will the new gimmick or game mechanic be?

The star icon in the Japanese logo for Pokemon Scarlet

The popular theory right now is that this star will be able to temporarily change or a Pokemon’s move type. For example if your Lapras (water) is battling a Venusaur (grass) you’ll be able to use this Star item to change your water type moves into Fire type so it’s super effective against your opponent. To back up this theory, some fans have pointed out that the types of Pokemon can be compared to a light spectrum because each type is associated with a different color. Scarlet and Violet are at opposite ends of the visible light spectrum and the logos designs may represent the wavelengths of these colors.

Again, this is all just a theory and the release for these games are still far away. We’re not sure if this is the plan for the next generation of Pokemon but it’s starting to look like a good possibility and seems really interesting if true! This game mechanic could also effect the Pokemon’s TCG. We’ll just have to wait and see.

https://atomic-temporary-194989860.wpcomstaging.com/2022/03/05/pokemon-scarlet-violet-hints-easter-eggs-from-past-games/

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Graphics Compared To Past Games

Recently we saw the first glimpse of the 9th generation Pokemon game! This was a pleasant surprise for many fans as we just got the release of Pokemon Legends Arceus and now we have something else to look forward to. We got to see several environmental scenes of this Gen 9 Pokemon game and it looks promising. Something that has always concerned fans and haters of Pokemon games are the graphics. Most people say the graphics are never up to standards while others say people are too critical on them and should be focused on gameplay. Let’s take a look at the new graphics for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet and see if those concerns are valid.

Improved Textures

The most noticeable improvement in the graphics for this upcoming game are the textures. Fans noticed immediately after the trailer was released that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet seem to have higher resolution textures and softer lighting.

Graphics Compared To Sword & Shield

Reddit user u/Minnale101 made some fantastic comparisons from screenshots of the trailer and screenshots of Sword & Shield gameplay. You can clearly see the improvement in these images. The character models of the Pokemon have more depth and the soft lighting doesn’t make it look flat. Some would say they like the art style of Sword & Shield more but it’s undeniable that the graphics have improved overall between generations.

Magnemite from Pokemon Sword & Shield compared to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Lucario from Pokemon Sword & Shield compared to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Graphics Compared to Pokemon Legends Arceus

Some fans say they’re surprised that the graphics between these two games have improved in such a short amount of time. It’s good to note that it’s likely that different teams were working on these two games and the end goal for each title was different. Pokemon Legends Arceus explored game mechanics we’ve never seen introduced to a Pokemon game before and a lot of developer time was spent on that. With Scarlet & Violet, there’s probably a larger team, longer development period, and different focuses. With this being said, there is also a big difference, graphically, here as well. You can see more foliage and vibrancy in the new game.

Pokemon TCG Set Shining Fates Might Be Getting Reprinted and Restocked

Shining Fates Reprint 2022

Last year, a huge standalone set was released for the Pokemon TCG called Shining Fates. This set not only included Amazing Rares and very popular VMax cards but also had over 100 Pokemon cards featuring Shiny Pokemon. This was the first set to have Shiny Pokemon cards since the also popular set, Hidden Fates. Basically, this set became an instant hit because who doesn’t want Shiny Pokemon cards? And that still stands today so many people are asking when will shining fates restock? A lot of fans are looking to buy sets that include these Shiny Pokemon but they’re becoming increasingly expensive with a Hidden Fates ETB going for more than $150 at resale value. Luckily, Shining Fates doesn’t look like it’ll be that expensive anytime soon because we’re seeing a lot of retail stores restock Shining Fates ETBs close to MSRP or retail price.

Where To Buy Shining Fates

One of the best places to buy Shining Fates right now is GameStop. Not only will you be getting packs from a trusted source for a good price, PokePatch also earns commission from some orders, so you’ll be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

Buy on GameStop >
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Is Shining Fates Being Reprinted?

The Shining Fates TCG set is clearly being restocked in several stores. At this point it seems very likely that a Shining Fates reprint may be happening. @SoKRISPY326 on Twitter reported that they found a GameStop that restocked on Shining Fates Elite Trainer boxes. I, myself, also found a ton of Shining Fates ETBs at a local card shop and they usually just get their inventory directly from Pokemon. If you’re someone who’s hunting for Shiny Pokemon cards, make sure to keep an eye out for these products when you’re out at the store because it’s becoming a lot more common.

Is The New Walmart Pokemon Mystery Box Worth It?

Pokemon Mystery Box Walmart

Lately, new Pokemon Mystery Boxes are being sold at Walmarts and by resellers for hefty prices. I watched several PokeTubers open up these Pokemon mystery boxes on YouTube to see if anyone got vintage packs. Of course, this is just a small case study and doesn’t represent what you’ll get in these boxes but it gives you a good idea of what to expect from them. In total 36 of these boxes were opened, here’s what was pulled from them.

What Can You Get?

Most boxes come with 1 Vivid Voltage booster pack, 1 Chilling Reign pack, and 1 Darkness Ablaze pack. Out of the 36 boxes that were opened, 3 chase packs were pulled. This roughly matches what the box says the odds of pulling a chase pack is. On the bottom it reads “Chase pack seeded 1:10“. This means on average you’ll pull one chase pack out of every of these 10 boxes. The 3 chase packs that were pulled were Shining Fates, XY Steam Siege, and Shining Legends. It seems like there’s a wide variety of chase packs but they’re not necessarily vintage.

Are They Worth It?

An important thing to note is that these mystery boxes are about $20 retail. The 3 common packs that you get in these boxes are worth around $4 per pack. That’s an extra $8 for the chance to get a chase pack. On average you’d have to spend $200 to get a chase pack when you buy 10 boxes. But what are the chase packs worth? Well, there is a Base Set booster pack on the front of the box and if you pull that, you’ll easily get your money’s worth but not all chase packs are Base Set packs. Shining Fates is worth about $10, Steam Siege around $10, and Shining legends is roughly $30. Knowing this, I would rather buy vintage packs and open them instead of opening these mystery boxes. Not only are you getting what you want but you don’t have to worry about wasting money if you don’t pull a chase pack.

Research

Here are the videos I went through to get this information. If you’d like to go through the videos and see reactions to the booster packs being pulled, the links will be below.

15 Boxes – PokeRev https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5BpgBSp74E

10 Boxes – SmashCafe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ttV11M0ik

5 Boxes – PokeCuz TCG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u73HTExlqYM

4 Boxes – PokePulch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFAWXNPiEMY

2 Boxes – Jay’s Poke Stop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gQC5ltUvuo

You Can Already Preorder Pokemon Scarlet & Violet At This Store

On Pokemon Day last week, during the Pokemon Direct event, we saw the first glimpse of the upcoming 9th generation Pokemon game. A trailer shows many hints of what the game is about and several clips of environments of an unknown region and some Pokemon battling. This came only a month after the release of Pokemon Legends Arceus, a game which may have changed Pokemon games forever. Naturally there’s a lot of hype and curiosity around this new game and some retailers are letting fans preorder early.

Where to Preorder Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Only a few stores have the option to preorder the game sense the release is still far away. GameStop is one of the only and most reliable places you can preorder Pokemon: Scarlet & Violet. If you’re thinking about getting both games, preordering this early shouldn’t be an issue. But if you only plan on buying one game, it’s always good to wait for more information to come out before you make a decision. For example, we don’t know what legendary Pokemon you’ll be able to catch in each version of the game yet. Knowing this, If you would still like to preorder a copy, here’s where you can do that!

PokePatch Pokemon Scarlet logo
Preorder on GameStop >
PokePatch Pokemon Violet logo
Preorder on GameStop >

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Release Date

On the GameStop website, the release date for these games says 12/31/2022. This is most likely just a placeholder and not a confirmed release date. The Scarlet & Violet teaser trailer states that the release date is “In Late 2022“, so it could be December but we’re not sure until The Pokemon Company or GameFreak confirms it.

Preorder Bonuses

A good question is there any bonus for preordering? As of right now, sense the release of Pokemon SV is still a while away, there aren’t any preorder bonuses. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet pre order bonus has not been announced yet. It’s very likely that there will be, though. It might be a good idea to wait until closer to launch to buy the game to get a bonus.

All Massive Mass Outbreak Icons Explained for Pokemon Legends Arceus Update

Massive Mass Outbreak Symbols

The newest update to Pokemon Legends Arceus brought us new missions and features including the Massive Mass Outbreaks. These Massive Outbreaks are similar to regular ones with a twist. A question mark will appear in an area when a Massive Outbreak is there. Upon traveling there, you will see several questions marks around your map. Each question mark is an outbreak with a random Pokemon but you may also notice other new icons as well. Here’s what each icon means and how to use them to your advantage.

Shiny Outline

Sometimes you’ll see outbreaks with a shiny border. This massive mass outbreak shiny icon is a little misleading because it doesn’t mean there’s a shiny there, it just means its a special outbreak. These are accompanied by an icon that tells you why the outbreaks are special.

Aguav Berry Icon

An important icon you’ll see on outbreaks is a berry. Upon catching Pokemon in outbreaks with this icon, you’ll receive Aguav Berries. These are needed for revealing the map and other useful details.

What are Aguav Berries Used For?

Aguav Berries are extremely useful in Massive Mass Outbreaks, especially if you’re hunting shinys or looking for a specific Pokemon. When you talk to Mai in the main camp, you can give her Munchlax 5 of these berries to reveal all outbreaks on the map. Then you’ll be able to see what Pokemon is in each outbreak instead of them showing as question marks.

Star Icon

This massive mass outbreak star icon is important if you’re trying to get Alphas or possibly Shiny Alphas. The star icon represents that the next wave of the outbreak may contain alphas or the evolution of that Pokemon. They may be harder to catch but are worth the trouble if its the specific Pokemon you want!

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Hints & Easter Eggs From Past Games

The 9th generation of Pokemon games have finally been announced this week called Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. Fans are already quick to analyze everything about the trailer and are finding very specific details that many will miss. Some of those details can also be related to previous games and fans have found Easter Eggs in past games that could hint to the Gen 9 games. Here are some things found so far.

Sword & Shield

Oranges and Grapes have been a strange focus for Scarlet and Violet. We can see them both shown multiple times throughout the trailer and it even matches the colors of the trainer’s outfits. Fans found a room in Pokemon Sword & Shield at the Hotel Ionia in Circhester that is blocked off but you can clearly see the wallpaper has oranges and grapes on it. This could be a coincidence or it was planned to hint at what the next generation will focus on. These fruits could be a clue at what new legendary Pokemon may look like in Gen 9.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Hint in Sword and Shield Oranges and Grapes wallpaper

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

A Reddit user by the name of DDD-Hero found that there may have been a hint to Pokemon Violet and Scarlet in BDSP. In the original Diamond and Pearl games, the color of a flower patch in Twinleaf were Red, White, and Blue. Now, in the BDSP remakes, the same flowers are red and purple just like the Scarlet and Violet colors.

PokePatch Pokemon Scarlet and Violet flower easter egg hint BDSP

Copyright In Real Life

Besides previous games that hint at the upcoming Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games, it’s been known for a while that The Pokemon Company copyrights names that can be used as titles for Pokemon games. In a Yahoo article from 2009, it was reported that Nintendo trademarked Pokemon Scarlet all the way back in 2008. This doesn’t mean that the game was being developed then but the name of the game was at least an idea 14 years before it was officially announced!

Official Hisuian Pokemon Plushies Dropping on Pokemon Center

It’s been more than a month since Pokemon Legends Arceus came out on the Nintendo Switch. Fans have been able to play through the game and catch several new Hisuian Pokemon in the Hisui Region. Enough time has went by that a new generation of Pokemon has been announced, called Pokemon Scarlet and Violet! But we have yet to see Hisuian Pokemon plushies be sold on Pokemon Center until today. A lot of fans have been wanting these new Pokemon in plush form and we may be finally getting them!

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Hisuian Growlithe Plush

On Friday, @PokemonNewsUK on Twitter announced that a Hisuian Growlithe Poke Plush has been added to the PokemonCenter store in the UK. Sadly, this isn’t available to North America or other country just yet but most likely will be soon. If you’re not in the UK, keep your eye out for this plush and other plushies to drop soon. Many fans have been waiting for a Hisuian Zorua plushie to be released by the Pokemon Center. This new plush being added to the store could hint that more Hisuian Pokemon plushies are coming soon.

Crazy Brilliant Stars Errors & Misprints from the New Pokémon TCG Set

The newest Pokemon TCG set, Brilliant Stars, just released which introduces a new card type called VStar cards. This set has been subject to a lot of hype with these new VStar cards and it coming out right after the huge Switch title release, Pokemon Legends Arceus. This TCG set’s art is mostly revolving around the Pokemon, Arceus. There are chase cards in the set that everyone wants, especially the Rainbow Secret Rare VStar cards but other collectors are chasing errors and misprints. Here are some weird error and misprint cards from the new Brilliant Stars set.

Half Card Infernape

This might be my favorite error card I’ve seen in a while. This Infernape card looks like it was only half printed! The top half of the art is completely blank and missing. We haven’t seen this misprint with any other cards but if you’re able to find a card like this, there are plenty of error collectors that want it.

Cheren’s Care Holo Stripe

This Cheren’s Care Secret Rare has a horizontal holographic line on it. We’ve seen these Holo Stripe cards before and fans always argue if it’s damaged or an error but that doesn’t take away from how interesting it is. With how many cards like this are out there, you can definitely start a collection with just this specific error.

Off Center Pikachu

Twitter user @switchstock posted this card that’s incredibly off center. Off center error cards are very common but to have one as drastic as this can be valuable. This one is so far off center, you can see another card on the left side of it. This happens when the sheets of Pokemon cards are being cut during the manufacturing process.

https://atomic-temporary-194989860.wpcomstaging.com/2021/10/12/weird-celebrations-errors-misprints-from-the-new-pokemon-tcg-set/

VStar Errors

Glitter Charizard VStar

This is most likely another damaged card but it’s very unique. The entire bottom half of the card is covered in holographic print, but the wording and art is messed up. A reply in the Reddit thread compared it to messy glitter and that’s exactly what it looks like. With how rare this card is in general, I don’t think many people would be happy to pull it in this condition but other collectors would be ecstatic to have something so unique.

Bent Arceus VStar

Sadly, this is another damaged card that’s not necessarily a misprint but still seems to be a manufacturing error. Damaged cards such as this are usually worth less than usual unless there are collectors that want that specific type of error. This card seems to have a peculiar vertical bend that doesn’t seem like it could be done on purpose. It’s an interesting case, nonetheless.