Pokémon TCG’s Current Generation Ends On August 1 With Final Expansions

Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket: The Pokémon Trading Card Game has had a stellar run in 2025 so far. Things kicked off with the release of Prismatic Evolutions in January, followed by a steady stream of new products, most recently capped by the launch of Destined Rivals.

Prismatic Evolutions drew criticism over availability concerns, and while similar issues have popped up in other releases, The Pokémon Company is actively working to address them.

The wave of major expansions continues past Destined Rivals, with a landmark new set dropping in Japan on August 1, officially closing the curtain on a key era in Pokémon TCG history.

The standard Pokémon TCG format will hold steady through the rest of 2025. At the recent NAIC, players showcased their flexibility by adapting new expansions into existing competitive decks while also experimenting with new builds.

The August 1 set isn’t responsible for any rotation, so it will join the current meta. Still, it’s a defining moment, the final release of the Scarlet & Violet era, which began in early 2023, and the launch point for Pokémon TCG’s new MEGA block.

Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket  Aligns With Legends: Z-A as Scarlet and Violet Chapter Closes

The upcoming Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket sets for Japan—Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia—have just been revealed. Featuring Mega Lucario EX and Mega Gardevoir EX, these dual sets will mark the end of the Scarlet & Violet chapter and the beginning of a new era.

Set to release in English on July 18, Black Bolt and White Flare will likely serve as the final sets of the Scarlet and Violet era, which included 10 mainline and 5 special expansions. Given the August 1 Japanese debut of Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia, their English release will likely follow on September 26.

Interestingly, this rollout syncs well with the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A release on October 16. The MEGA block will likely remain the core focus of the Pokémon TCG for approximately a year, with a new block likely to debut alongside Gen 10 titles in 2026.

Game Freak’s unexpected change to its development timeline meant the Pokémon TCG had to pivot sooner than usual. That’s why the MEGA block is being introduced—had the schedule remained the same, the Scarlet and Violet block would have continued. Below are the sets that define this era:

• Black Bolt / White Flare
• Destined Rivals
• Journey Together
• Prismatic Evolutions
• Surging Sparks
• Stellar Crown
• Shrouded Fable
• Twilight Masquerade
• Temporal Forces
• Paldean Fates
• Paradox Rift
• 151                  
• Obsidian Flames
• Paldea Evolved
• Scarlet & Violet

Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia Aren’t Just Side Sets: Here’s Why They Matter in Pokémon TCG

While it’s unclear how many expansions the MEGA block will ultimately contain, it may need to run until early 2027 depending on Gen 10’s timeline.

Though the Pokémon TCG has briefly moved away from mainline games in the past, the MEGA block will likely be a longer and more impactful era, covering around 4–5 sets.

Given that Gen 10 is expected to debut in 2026, likely late in the year, the MEGA block has time to fully flesh out the world of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It may even include content inspired by future DLC. Still, this progression also ends the spotlight on Terastallization, a mechanic some fans aren’t ready to part with.

Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket

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