Scarlet & Violet Era (TCG)

The Scarlet & Violet Era (Japanese: ポケモンカードゲーム スカーレット&バイオレット Pokémon Card Game Scarlet & Violet) is a series of Pokémon Trading Card Game sets and products released by The Pokémon Company (TPC) and Pokémon Korea in select Asian markets. It began with the Japanese release of , , and the on January 20, 2023. This was followed by the release of these products (with the exception of the , which was released later in select markets) in Traditional Chinese on February 3, 2023, in Thai on February 24, 2023, in Indonesian on March 3, 2023 and in Korean on March 15, 2023. 
==Series chronology==
The Scarlet & Violet Era kicked off with the release of and and introduces the Trading Card game to Generation IX. In the SV set release cycle followed by all language releases other than Simplified Chinese, The first Pair of expansions features the box legendaries of and . It Brought the TCG up to regulation and saw the rotation of regulation cards shortly thereafter. With this initial pairing of base expansions, s were introduced as a distinct class of trainer cards, AR Rarity cards where introduced as secret rares in Main Series expansion releases and SAR rarity cards were introduced, largely replacing HR rarity cards from prior expansions. The base expansions also saw the introduction of that replace the from the Sword & Shield Era. The First Subset, focused heavily on the Generation IX first partner Pokémon with the Final evolutions , and each featuring prominently on the pack artwork and getting Pokémon ex cards with RR, SR, SAR, and UR rarity prints.
The second Main Series set release, the twin expansions of and introduced the treasures of ruin and in particularly and who featured prominently on the pack art of their respective expansions. Each Treasure of Ruin was given a Pokémon ex card with RR, SR, and SAR prints while Chien-Pao and Ting-Lu also received a UR rarity print. In the second subset, , the Mythical Pokémon is featured as the Cover Pokémon as the original 151 Generation I Pokémon are reintroduced to this game. Mew along with the final evolutionary forms of the Generation I first partner Pokémon , and are all featured among the 12 Pokémon ex in the subset. This expansion is unique as Pokémon cards are given a set number based on their Pokédex order rather than their energy type. It is also notable as it features the original 151 generation I Pokémon, this is the first TCG set to feature since released in Japan in 2002.
In the third Main Series expansion release, prominently featured a stallized , and introduced the TCG to Tera Pokémon ex who can be a different type than their species would suggest reminiscent of the from the . These Pokémon gain a different weakness that would correspond to their new typing however still utilise the same energy type for their attacks as their species would suggest.
==Set characteristics==
In marketing the sets, The Pokémon Company oversees Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Indonesian and Thai releases, while Pokémon Korea oversees Korean releases. Each of these companies often changes the set numbering of the cards in their releases, or may even tweak some aesthetic features within the individual cards themselves, but broadly all companies feature the same set of cards within the same product releases.
In markets that have caught up to Japanese set releases, Main Series expansions are released roughly every 3rd month with an Enhanced or High Class subset usually being released 1–2 months between Main Series set releases. A typical expansion consists of between 70-80 cards topped off by 25-30 secret cards with card numbers that exceed the set count. In Japanese, Traditional Chinese and Korean markets, these expansion releases are supplemented with deck releases, special sets and trainer box products that help players complete their collection and generate a viable game deck to play with against other players. In the Indonesian and Thai markets, such supplementary releases are rarer. Cards developed for these releases are instead often distributed through other means as promotional cards.
===Card design and layout===
As with the two series that preceded it, the Scarlet & Violet Era sees a redesign in the card aesthetics. are phased out and replaced with . Trainer cards are also given a new category of card as s are made separate class from s. Pokémon Tool Trainer cards are given a purple background and rulebox, distinct from blue s, green s and orange s.
 and s cards got a new header format with the placements swapped. The type of card (Trainer or Energy) now appears on the right where as the subcategory (Item, Pokémon Tool, Supporter or Stadium for Trainer cards and Basic Energy or Special Energy for Energy Cards) now appears on the left. Additionally Basic Energy Cards are now labelled as such on the card header. The divider in the header is moved closer to the centre of the card and instead displays more of a diagonal pattern. On trainer cards the rulebox has a slightly different shape and is surrounded by a bigger border and the colored slits on the side of the cards indicating what type of Trainer the card is are further spaced apart, but also bolder in color. the graphic texture on the card is also given a more matte look with fewer ridge lines.
s feature more subtle design changes, none of the information contained on a Pokémon card is relocated, but many design aesthetics have been modified for the new Era. , and Retreat cost are now displayed between 2 bars on the cards type color matched background rather than on a wider bar. Energy symbols also lose a white buffer that they had in the Sword & Shield Era. For Pokémon cards with an ability, the ability icon now has a more rounded shape with more distinct borders. On Stage 1 and Stage 2 Evolution Pokémon cards, the evolution window now has a more rounded shape and the strands connecting the evolution bar to the top of the card now follow updated shape of the gap in the header observed on Trainer and Energy cards.
The cards introduced in this series that replace cards do not follow the same kind of artistic style as their predecessor and instead take design cues more similar to the cards from the Black & White and XY Eras. These cards feature the same borders as regular Pokémon have but have the text box somewhat translucent so it is possible to make out the Pokémon behind it and have the Pokémon break the borders of the illustration. They also include special characteristics influenced by the card type and the Pokémon depicted. For example, features rocks thrown at the card border while features a debris from its Photon Blaster attack in it's card border. 
In Korean releases, Pokémon Korea has also replaced the yellow borders previously used by TPCi in their sets and aligned the cards in their sets with the silver borders used by TPC.
===Card rarities===
As with every series that preceded it, cards contained within a Main Series expansion always, and within a subset usually carry a rarity marking. The Scarlet & Violet Era saw a shakeup in the card rarity structure that makes up an expansion set. Rainbow Rare cards of both chase Pokémon and Supporters along with the associated rarity are phased out, as is the triple rare rarity associated with VMAX and VSTAR cards in the Sword & Shield Era. In its place the Scarlet & Violet Era introduces the and rarities that were first introduced in the final High Class expansion of the Sword & Shield Era, into its Main Series expansions. Main Series expansions in the Scarlet & Violet Era feature the Following Rarities:
* The (Common) rarity is the most common rarity, It is featured on mostly Basic and Stage 1 Pokémon, occasionally trainer cards are also given this rarity. Approximately 50% of the non-secret cards in any given expansion are given this rarity.
* The (Uncommon) rarity is the second most common rarity, most trainer and energy cards are given this rarity as are some Pokémon. Approximately 30-33% of the non-secret cards in any given expansion are given this rarity.
* The (Rare) the rarest rarity non-Pokémon ex cards can have in the Scarlet & Violet Era expansions This rarity is also occasionally given to Supporter cards. These cards always have holographic prints. Expansions usually contain 8 cards with the R rarity comprising of between 10-12% of the expansion.
* The (Double Rare) rarity is the rarity thats given to Pokémon ex and Tera Pokémon ex. Expansions in the Scarlet & Violet Era typically feature 6 such cards.
* The (Art Rare) rarity is introduced to Main Series expansions after being first appearing in and is akin to the Character Rare cards found in High Class expansions of the Sun & Moon and Sword & Shield Eras. Like Character Rare cards, they are full art cards of regular Basic, Stage 1 or Stage 2 Pokémon but instead of featuring the Pokémon alongside a human trainer or companion, these cards depict Pokémon in its natural environment. When Art Rare cards are from the same evolutionary line, they also furthermore try to depict a story of the Pokémon's life as it evolves. Scarlet & Violet Era expansions typically feature 12 Art Rare cards as secret rares.
* The (Super Rare) rarity is given to full art chase cards such as and s. Unlike in the Sword & shield Era, alternative art prints of Super Rare cards are no longer also afforded this rarity, but are instead upgraded as Special Art Rares. Scarlet & Violet Era expansions typically feature 8-10 Super Rare cards as secret rares.
* The (Special Art Rare) rarity is introduced to Main Series expansions after being first appearing in and is similar to the Art Rare rarity. However, it is exclusively given to and s. These cards also contain an additional layer of glitter foil. Scarlet & Violet Era expansions typically feature 5 Special Art Rare cards as secret rares.
* The (Ultra Rare) rarity is the rarest rarity and features gold foil prints of Pokémon ex, Item, or Energy cards. Scarlet & Violet Era expansions typically feature 3 Ultra Rare cards as secret rares.
Subsets contain the same rarities as are contained within the Main Series expansions, however some subsets, particularly High Class subsets may omit the C, U, & R rarities, when this happens these cards are usually printed without any rarity associated with them.
==Gameplay and card mechanic changes==
As with any series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the Scarlet & Violet Era introduced a number of new card types, and changes to existing card types which introduce new mechanics into the game. This section will go over all the new types of cards introduced in the Scarlet & Violet Era. All cards from the Scarlet & Violet Era have and can be distinguished by a regulation mark of . 
==Releases==
The following tables depict which set releases have been released in the 6 Asian markets that follow the Scarlet & Violet Era of Pokémon Trading Card Game releases.
===SV Series releases===
These releases were all initially released in the Japanese market by The Pokémon Company. They all have release numbers that start with the prefix "SV".
Release Type 	Release Name	Set Symbol	Set Code 	The Pokémon Company	The Pokémon Company	The Pokémon Company	The Pokémon Company	Pokémon Shanghai 	Pokémon Korea
Release Type 	Release Name	Set Symbol	Set Code 	Japanese 	Traditional Chinese	Indonesian 	Thai 	Simplified Chinese	Korean
Promotional Cards 	 	 	SV-P 	 	 	 	 	✘ 	
Main Series Expansion	 	 	SV1SSV1V 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✔
Main Series Expansion	 	 	SV2PSV2D 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✔
Main Series Expansion	 	 	SV3 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✔ 	✘ 	✔
Main Series Expansion	 	 	SV3s 	✘ 	✘ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘
Main Series Expansion	 	 	SV4KSV4M 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘
Subset Expansion 	 	 	SV1a 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✔
Subset Expansion 	 	 	SV2a 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✔
Subset Expansion 	 	 	SV3a 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘
Minor Release 	 	 	SVAMSVALSVAW	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✔
Minor Release 	 	 	SVB 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✔
Minor Release 	 	 	SVC 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✔
Minor Release 	 	 	SVD 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✔
Minor Release 	 	 	SVDs 	✘ 	✘ 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘
Minor Release 	 	 	SVEMSVEL 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘
Minor Release 	 	 	SVF 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✔
Minor Release 	 	 	SVG 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘
Promotional Set 	 	 	SVP1 	✔ 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✔
Other Releases 	 	 	WCS23 	✔ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘ 	✘
==Merchandise==
Merchandise released during the Scarlet & Violet Era varied wildly between different markets, as the different companies distributing the TCG released vastly different products and accessories. Broadly speaking, In Japan, the Pokémon Center stores continued their longstanding tradition of releasing a set of Picture frames, deck boxes, card sleeves, playmats and other accessories on a near-monthly basis largely timing in with every main expansion and subset release. These releases are broadly carried over to the Taiwan and Hong Kong markets. Merchandise releases in other markets where TPC has distribution authority have been more limited.
In Korea, Pokémon Korea typically releases the same deck boxes and sleeves as are available in Japan, in addition to occasionally releasing their own merchandise not available in other markets. Trainer boxes are released more sporadically.
==Gallery==
===Logos===
SV Era Logo J.png|Japanese Series logo
SV Era Logo F.png|Traditional Chinese Series logo
SV Era Logo I.png|Indonesian Series logo
SV Era Logo T.png|Thai Series logo
SV Era Logo K.png|Korean Series logo
==In other languages==
==Resources==
* Japanese Trainers site
* Taiwanese Trainers site
* Indonesian Trainers site
* Thai Trainers site
* Simplified Chinese Trainers site
* Korean Trainers site
ja:ポケモンカードゲーム スカーレット&バイオレット
zh:朱&紫系列（TCG）