Japanese retailers have revealed that a Detective Pikachu (名探偵ピカチュウ) Pokémon Trading Card Game set will be released in Japan on April 26th, 2019. The set will contain at least 24 cards and booster sets will be sold for 200 yen + tax and include 4 holo cards.

The official Japanese Pokémon Card Game website has confirmed that the Trainer Battle Decks Nibi City Gym's Takeshi (ニビシティジムのタケシ) and Hanada City Gym's Kasumi (ハナダシティジムのカスミ) will be released in Japan on January 25th, 2019 for 3000yen + tax each. Each Battle Deck contains 60 cards, markers, a sheet, a GX Marker, a Pokémon Coin, a play-mat, a deck shield, a deck case and a card box.


Source: https://www.pokemon-card.com/products/sm/smk.html

The Pokémon Company International revealed the Pokémon Trading Card Game Sun and Moon Team Up expansion set on December 7th, 2018. It delivered the highly anticipated TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX cards featuring paired-up and powered-up Pokémon. High resolution artwork from the press release has been added to an Imageboard thread.

Pokémon Battle Teams Await in Sun & Moon—Team Up, the Latest Pokémon Trading Card Game Expansion Releasing February 1

Announced at the 2018 Pokémon World Championships, TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX present a powerful new gameplay mechanic that will offer thrilling battles of high risk and high reward. These cards have unprecedented power and Hit Points, allowing some TAG TEAM GX attacks to Knock Out a Pokémon-GX on the opponent’s Bench with a single blow, but can lead to the opponent taking three Prize cards if a TAG TEAM is Knocked Out.


Launching worldwide on February 1, this latest expansion features dynamic battle teams such as Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, plus additional Pokémon-GX like Lycanroc-GX, Hoopa-GX, Cobalion-GX, and more.

Sun & Moon—Team Up includes:

• Over 180 cards
• Six brand-new TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX
• Six more Pokémon-GX
• Four Prism Star cards
• More than 25 Trainer cards

Fans will be able to try out Sun & Moon—Team Up before launch by participating in one of the many Prerelease tournaments taking place in the US from January 19–27.

Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon Team Up Elite Trainer Box

The Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon Team Up Elite Trainer Box was available at the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold on February 1st, 2019.

TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX are here in the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Sun & Moon—Team Up expansion! To boost your card collection, the Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Team Up Elite Trainer Box is the perfect solution. Whether you’re a collector or a competitive player, this package has the goods you need to get started. In addition to eight Sun & Moon—Team Up booster packs, the box includes 65 card sleeves featuring battle buddies Pikachu and Zekrom, plus 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards. Gaming accessories like high-quality dice and acrylic condition markers keep you playing in style. There’s even a player’s guide filled with useful strategies and a handy card list. Get a step up on the competition with the Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Team Up Elite Trainer Box!

The Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Team Up Elite Trainer Box includes:

• 8 Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Team Up booster packs
• 65 card sleeves featuring Pikachu and Zekrom
• 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
• A player’s guide to the Sun & Moon—Team Up expansion
• 6 damage-counter dice
• 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
• 2 acrylic condition markers and 1 acrylic TAG TEAM GX marker
• A collector’s box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organized
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/sun-moon-team-up-elite-trainer-box

Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon Team Up Torrential Cannon Theme Deck / Relentless Flame Theme Deck

Let It Rain, Let It Pour! Give your opponent a high-pressure soaking with help from Blastoise! Use Golduck's Amnesia to keep the other side off-balance as you power up a devastating Hydro Tackle attack. Wash away the competition with the Torrential Cannon theme deck!

The Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon Team Up Torrential Cannon Theme Deck includes:

• 60 Pokémon card deck
• 1 card checklist
• 1 metallic coin
• 2-player playmat and rulesheet
• 1 code card to play this deck online
• 1 deck box
• 1 Quick Guide to unlock the strategies within
• Damage counters

Flames Dance & Fires Roar! Fire it up with the relentless flames of Charizard! This deck burns super hot, so keep feeding Charizard enough Fire Energy to create an unstoppable Continuous Blaze Ball. Burn bright and burn true with the Relentless Flame theme deck!

The Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Team Up Relentless Flame Theme Deck includes:

• 60 Pokémon card deck
• 1 card checklist
• 1 metallic coin
• 2-player playmat and rulesheet
• 1 code card to play this deck online
• 1 deck box
• 1 Quick Guide to unlock the strategies within
• Damage counters

The official Pokémon has revealed that the Pokémon TCG: Pikachu & Eevee Poké Ball Collection will be available to purchase on November 2nd, 2018.

Pokémon TCG: Pikachu & Eevee Poké Ball Collection

Pikachu and Eevee join up in the Pokémon TCG: Pikachu & Eevee Poké Ball Collection! This collection features two all-time-favorite Pokémon in a joyous, beautifully sculpted figure and two new foil promo cards—a great addition to any collection. Plus, the Poké Ball has a secret compartment inside that holds up to 60 Pokémon TCG cards!

The Pokémon TCG: Pikachu & Eevee Poké Ball Collection includes:

• 1 figure of Eevee and Pikachu playing together
• 2 never-before-seen foil promo cards featuring Pikachu and Eevee
• 1 Poké Ball big enough to hold a stack of Pokémon TCG cards
• 5 Pokémon TCG booster packs
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

The Pokémon TCG: Pikachu & Eevee Poké Ball Collection will be on sale November 2, 2018, in the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/pikachu-eevee-poke-ball-collection/

McDonald’s has announced that their Happy Meals in the United States will contain Legendary Pokémon figures and Pokémon TCG promo cards for a limited time until November 12th, 2018. An activity sheet and coloring sheet from this Happy Meal has been added to an Imageboard thread.


Figures: Latios, Latias, Dialga, Palkia, Zekrom, Reshiram, Tornadus, Thundurus
TCG Cards: Pikachu, Porygon, Dratini, Magnemite, Slowpoke, Psyduck, Machop, Horsea, Cubone, Eevee, Growlithe, Chansey

Get Happy with Pokémon at McDonald’s

For a limited time, look for Legendary Pokémon figures and Pokémon TCG promo cards in McDonald’s Happy Meals.

Something legendary is coming to McDonald's. Through November 12, Happy Meals at participating McDonald's restaurants will feature a toy figure of a Legendary Pokémon, as well as 1 of 12 cool promo cards for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The cards feature a special foil treatment that can only be found in McDonald's Happy Meals.

The Legendary Pokémon-themed Happy Meals won't be around long, and they're only available while supplies last. Enjoy the fun of Pokémon the next time you open a Happy Meal at McDonald's!

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/get-happy-with-pokemon-at-mcdonalds/

Happy Meal Commercial

Happy Meal Toy Video

Source: http://www.happymeal.com/#toys

As part of the Munch: A Retrospective (ムンク展―共鳴する魂の叫び) exhibit at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum which is on display from October 27th, 2018 until January 20th, 2019, 5 promo cards that are based off of Munch's The Scream will be distributed in various ways. Miscellaneous goods based on Munch's The Scream will also be sold at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum "Munch Exhibition" 2F special shop, the Pokémon Center Online and others shops. Higher resolution images of some of the merchandise from this promotion has been added to an Imageboard thread.

Standard Ticket Prices: General Admission 1,600 yen / College student / Vocational School Student 1,300 yen / High School Student 800 yen / Over 65 years old 1,000 yen


Pikachu Promo Card: Visiting the Exibition
Mimikkyu Promo Card: Comes with the Pokémon Card Game Mini Card File Scream Pikachu/Eievui (ポケモンカードゲーム ミニカードファイル 叫びピカチュウ/イーブイ) released on October 27th, 2018 for 450yen + tax.


Koduck/Eievui/Mokuroh Promo Cards: Starting on November 2nd, 2018, those that purchase 2 booster packs at the Pokémon Center or Pokémon Stores will receive 1 of the 3 cards as random. This promotion though can not be combined with any other Pokémon Card Game campaign that is going on at the same time and the Pokémon Center Online will not be distributing these promo cards.

Sources: https://www.tobikan.jp/exhibition/2018_munch.html and https://www.pokemon-card.com/info/2018/20181015_001440.html

Munch's The Scream Pokémon Merchandise

In addition to the TCG cards being distributed, various other Pokémon goods that tie in with the Munch's The Scream exhibit will be available for sale.

The Pokémon Company International announced the Sun & Moon Lost Thunder on October 1st, 2018 and it was released on November 2nd, 2018. To promote the TCG release, Zeraora was distributed at participating retailers from October 1st, 2018 until November 15th, 2018 to players of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. High resolution images from the press release have been added on an Imageboard thread.

Unleash the Power of the Skies with Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder

Latest Pokémon Trading Card Game Expansion Launches This November! Plus, Add Zeraora to Your Team in Pokémon Ultra Sun or Pokémon Ultra Moon

The Pokémon Company International today confirmed details of the forthcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder. Set against a backdrop of forested hills, alive with the fragrance of incense from ancient shrines and the sparks of high-voltage Pokémon, Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder fuses the new with the traditional.

Scheduled to release on 2 November, this latest expansion includes Prism Star variants of Celebi and Ditto, alongside Blacephalon-GX, Lugia-GX, Tyranitar-GX and the newest Mythical Pokémon, Zeraora-GX.

Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder will feature:

• Over 210 cards
• Seven powerful Prism Star cards, including three Stadium cards
• 13 Pokémon-GX and four Ultra Beasts
• More than 20 Trainer cards

GameStop Zerora Event Pokémon Distribution

In addition, Zeraora will also be available for owners of Pokémon Ultra Sun or Pokémon Ultra Moon from October. Simply visit a participating retailer between 1 October and 15 November to receive a secret code and add this lightning-fast Mythical Pokémon to your team.

Zeraora will come with the following stats:

• Level: 50
• Moves: Plasma Fists, Thunder Punch, Close Combat, Thunder
• Ability: Volt Absorb
• Held Item: Air Balloon

YouTube Trailer - Mythical Pokémon Zeraora Strikes at GameStop

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGxf-c80TDM

Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder Elite Trainer Box

The Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon Lost Thunder Elite Trainer Box launched on November 2nd, 2018 at the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold.

An electric discovery awaits in the Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder Elite Trainer Box! This incredible collection contains everything you need to play, including damage-counter dice, condition markers, and card sleeves. It also includes a player’s guide to the latest expansion, full of tips on how to build your next competitive deck. Plus, increase your card collection with eight booster packs from the immense Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder expansion that’s loaded with awesome Prism Star Pokémon and Pokémon-GX. Bring a spark of energy to your next match with the Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder Elite Trainer Box!

The Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder Elite Trainer Box includes:

• 8 Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder booster packs
• 65 card sleeves featuring Zeraora
• 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
• player’s guide to the Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder expansion
• 6 damage-counter dice
• 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
• 2 acrylic condition markers and 1 acrylic GX marker
• A collector’s box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organized
• A code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/product-gallery/sun-moon-lost-thunder-elite-trainer-box

The Pokémon Company International announced through its distribution partner Asmodee, the company that handles the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s in the European Union, that the price of Pokémon Trading Card Game cards will be going up 10% as of September 10th, 2018. This is a similar tariff price increase that also happened in Canada in July 2018, which we reported on at that time.

Asmodee email - September 3rd, 2018

“As of the 22nd June, as part of an ongoing trade dispute with the Trump administration, the European Union imposed retaliatory new import tariffs on certain goods manufactured in the United States, including an additional 10 percent duty on the tariff for playing cards. Unfortunately, this includes the entire Pokémon Trading Card Game range which is made in the USA,” the retail distributor explained.

“Since this development, we have reviewed all available scenarios to be able to defer this extra cost to our customers and have held off any implementation. However, regretfully we must confirm that prices for the Pokémon TCG range will be rising. We have made every effort possible to ensure these price rises are as minimal as possible.

“Prices for Pokémon lines will rise as of September 10th,” they clarify. “Although the tariff is very much out of our hands, we would like to apologise for the inconvenience that we are aware this represents and assure you that when the tariff is removed, or a solution found, that we will rebalance the prices accordingly. We thank you for your understanding.”

During the 2018 Pokémon World Championships, The Pokémon Company announced new game-changing cards for the TCG. TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX cards will be released in early 2019 and they feature pairs of Pokémon of the same type. Also, it was revealed that the Pokémon Detective Pikachu movie will be released in theaters on May 10th, 2019.

TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX for the Pokémon TCG Announced at the 2018 Pokémon World Championships and POKÉMON Detective Pikachu Movie Reveals Surprise Fans

Today at the Pokémon World Championships, The Pokémon Company unveiled new, game-changing cards for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG): TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX, the next evolution of Pokémon-GX.

Taking the stage at the most prestigious Pokémon TCG event of the year, The Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara announced that TAG TEAM cards will feature pairs of Pokémon of the same type, such as the Lightning-type Pikachu and Zekrom, joining forces in battle on a single card.

TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX have unprecedented power and Hit Points, and some TAG TEAM GX attacks can Knock Out a Pokémon-GX on the opponent’s Bench with a single blow. However, when a TAG TEAM is Knocked Out, the opponent takes three Prize cards, leading to thrilling battles that are high-risk and high-reward. For a first look at this powerful new kind of card, watch the teaser video: https://youtu.be/cL8sRm0lWCY

In addition to Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, more Pokémon pairings will be available as TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX, with details to be shared in the future.

TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX will be available soon.

Furthermore, The Pokémon Company and its partners from Legendary Entertainment unveiled the official title and logo for the first-ever live-action Pokémon movie, POKÉMON Detective Pikachu. Mr. Tsunekazu Ishihara, president of The Pokémon Company, welcomed the movie’s director, Rob Letterman, as well as actors Justice Smith and Kathryn Newton to the stage for the surprise reveals. The stars also led the room—full of the world’s top-ranked Pokémon players—in a chant of “Pikachu!” that was recorded for use in the upcoming film, which premieres in cinemas May 10, 2019.


Source: http://www.detectivepikachumovie.com/

YouTube Clip - With TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX, the Pokémon TCG Will Never Be the Same!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WELQLKEeQUo

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has imposed unjustified retaliatory tariffs on the United States on many imported products into Canada. As a result, a 10% playing cards tariff came into effect on July 1st, 2018. This puts Canadian Pokémon TCG players at a competitive disadvantage with the increased price on the already unnecessarily expensive imported TCG cards for upcoming sets such as: Sun & Moon Celestial Storm and Dragon Majesty. Most retailers in Canada are now currently selling a Pokémon TCG 10 card booster pack for over $6CND including tax.

"The tariff on playing cards — which came into force July 1 — applies a 10 per cent charge on a standard deck of cards, but trading cards like Magic the Gathering, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards are also hit. (CBC News)"

"The United States Playing Card Co. reacted to Canada’s tariffs by asking “Is that the best you can do?” — since Canadian sales were only a small share of its overall demand. (Financial Post)"

Sources: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/playing-cards-tariffs-ottawa-1.4746544 and https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/jack-mintz-canada-has-already-picked-a-losing-strategy-for-trumps-trade-war

Update - May 20th, 2019: Finance Minister Bill Morneau says Canadian tariffs on U.S. bourbon, playing cards and licorice have officially been lifted.

Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/5295129/canadian-tariffs-us-products-lifted