2024 was a thrilling year for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, introducing innovative mechanics, stunning artwork, and powerful new cards. From Paldean Fates (Released January 26th) to the recently released Surging Sparks in November, we’ve had quite the selection of great sets for the Scarlett & Violet Expansion this past year.
Each offered unique experiences for collectors and players alike and we got the opportunity to join in the excitement of new set launches with our launch party events for Stellar Crown and Surging Sparks! We hope to continue on this tradition at our store, and we welcome all our customers to join us when a new Pokémon TCG set launches!
Let’s take a journey through the year’s highlights; A Pokémon “Year in Review” and discover the treasures waiting for you at We Love Collectibles
By the way, we’re not just a physical store – you can connect with us online in more ways than ever before.
- Join our discord for card showcases, updates, trading and join our growing community!
- Or, get involved on our TikTok Livestream – where we rip or ship Pokémon product from Wednesday to Saturday!
The Trends of 2024 – Pokémon TCG
Throughout 2024, the Pokémon Trading Card Game continued to evolve and introduce exciting new elements while building upon popular existing concepts from the previous year.
Illustration Rares
Illustration Rares remained a highly sought-after card type in 2024 sets. These beautifully designed cards featured full-art illustrations that captured the imagination of collectors. Notable examples include:
- Squirtle and Bulbasaur Illustration Rares in the Stellar Crown set, which gained significant market value over time.
- Zeraora Illustration Rare in Stellar Crown
The popularity of these cards continued to drive collector interest and market values.
Stellar Type Cards
The introduction of Stellar Type cards was a major trend in 2024, particularly in the Stellar Crown set:
- Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards debuted, featuring a unique mechanic that interacted with the space between the Active and Bench positions.
- These cards had access to attacks costing three separate Energy types, making them potentially game-changing
- Alolan Exeggutor appeared as a Stellar type Special Illustration Rare, showcasing the combination of the new mechanic with popular card styles.
ACE SPEC Cards
The return of ACE SPEC cards, which began in the Temporal Forces set, continued to be a significant trend:
- Stellar Crown included three new ACE SPEC cards, expanding on the concept reintroduced earlier in the year
- These powerful cards were limited to one per deck, adding strategic depth to deck-building
- ACE SPEC cards made Item and Tool pulls more exciting for players
Pokémon ex Cards
Pokémon ex cards remained a central focus in 2024 sets:
- Various forms of ex cards were introduced, including Tera variants like Terapagos, Cinderace, and Lapras
- The Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards in Stellar Crown added a new dimension to this card type
Special Illustration Rares
Special Illustration Rares (SIR) continued to be among the most valuable and sought-after cards:
- In Temporal Forces, cards like Raging Bolt ex SIR, Iron Crown ex SIR, and Walking Wake ex SIR were highly prized
- These cards often featured unique artwork and remained popular among collectors
Shiny Pokémon
Shiny variants of Pokémon continued to be a draw for collectors:
- Sets like Paldean Fates included Shiny Pokémon cards that saw steady value increases over time
Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates - Special Expansion (January 26, 2024)
Paldean Fates kicked off the year as a special expansion, introducing 91 main cards and 154 secret cards
Products: Paldean Fates Elite Trainer Box, Paldean Fates Mini Tins (featuring Pikachu, Meowth, Jigglypuff, Vulpix, and Ditto). Paldean Fates Premium Collection (featuring Mew ex)
Notable Cards:
- Charizard ex (Special Illustration Rare): This card quickly became the set’s chase card.
- Mew ex (Special Illustration Rare): Another highly sought-after card of the set, and we’ve seen a couple of PSA 10 “bubble Mews” come through the store throughout the year – commanding a high price!
- Pikachu (Shiny): A fan-favorite that has seen steady value increase
- As for single cards, we have a vault full of “baby shinnies” available from this set and a number of popular EX’s
Over time, the Shiny Pokémon from this set, particularly the Shiny Charizard ex, have seen significant value increases due to their rarity and collector appeal.
At WLC, we’re constantly updating our inventory of highly sought-after singles. So make sure to stop by our shop in Thanet, Kent – at Westwood Business Park. Not everything that is available is on our website.
Meta Impact – The set introduced powerful ex cards that saw significant play in competitive decks. Charizard ex, in particular, became a staple in many fire-type strategies.
Additionally, WLC currently has a PSA 10 Paldean Fates Iono available in store and online for £80.00 – take a look; Pokémon TCG Paldean Fates Iono 237/091 – PSA 10
Scarlet & Violet—Temporal Forces (March 22, 2024)
Temporal Forces brought 162 main cards and 56 secret cards, featuring a time-travel theme with Ancient and Future Pokémon
Products: Temporal Forces Booster Box (36 packs), Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Temporal Forces Elite Trainer Box – Iron Leaves, Build & Battle Boxes
Rare Cards: Raging Bolt ex Special Illustration Rare: The most valuable card of the set as of this moment. And, of course, the Gouging Fire ex and Walking Wake ex, which rounds out the trio. Others worth mentioning, while not rare, are popular hits; Gastly Illustration Rare, and the Deerling and Sawsbuck sequential pair
Meta Impact – The reintroduction of ACE SPEC cards in this set significantly shook up the competitive scene, providing players with powerful one-of effects. Prime Catcher ACE SPEC became a staple in many decks.
Graded cards WLC has in stock from this set – Pokémon Temporal Forces Iron Crown EX 206/162 – PSA 10 – Pokémon Temporal Forces Bianca’s Devotion 209/162 – PSA 10
Scarlet & Violet—Twilight Masquerade (May 24, 2024)
Twilight Masquerade brought 167 main cards and 59 secret cards, focusing on the land of Kitakami and its folklore
Products: Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Twilight Masquerade Elite Trainer Box – (11 booster packs, promo cards, and accessories), Booster boxes, Special collections featuring Ogerpon
Holy Grail Cards: Greninja ex Special Illustration Rare: The most expensive card in the set. Another worth mentioning is the popular Eevee Special Illustration Rare card. And, lastly, Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex Special Illustration Rare still commands a high price.
Meta Impact: The various forms of Ogerpon Tera ex provided versatile strategies, with the Teal Mask Ogerpon ex becoming particularly popular among players
Pokémon TCG Tera Brawlers Premium Collection Box released in August 2024 – The Tera Brawlers Premium Collection includes:
- A code card for Pokémon TCG Live
- 5 foil promo cards featuring Charizard ex, Dragonite ex, Dedenne ex, Greedent ex, and Skeledirge ex.
- 9 Pokémon TCG: booster packs
WLC has a number of graded cards available from this set – Pokémon Twilight Masquerade Perrin 220/167 – PSA 9 – Pokémon TCG Twilight Masquerade Perrin 220/167 – ACE 10 – Pokémon TCG Twilight Masquerade Carmine 217/167 – ACE 10 – Pokémon TCG Twilight Masquerade Hisuian Growlithe 181/167- PSA 10
Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable – Special Expansion (August 2nd 2024)
Shrouded Fable was released as a special expansion, introducing 64 main cards and 35 secret cards, focusing on dark and night themes.
Products: Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box, Shrouded Fable Booster Bundles, Pokémon TCG Shrouded Fable Kingambit Illustration Collection (£20.00 at WLC, originally £21.99)
Notable Cards:
- Duskull, Dusclops, and Dusknoir Illustration Rare sequential trio: These cards became highly sought after due to their connected artwork
- Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti (The Loyal Three) Special Illustration Rares: Popular chase cards of the set
- Pecharunt ex: The debut of this Pokémon in the TCG
Meta Impact: The Loyal Three Pokémon introduced “Adrena” Abilities, which synergized well with Darkness-type Energy, creating new deck archetypes and strategies in competitive play. There was also the popularity of Fezandipiti ex which was included in many decks due to its “Flip the Script” ability being very powerful.
At WLC, a variety of single cards from the set are available, as well as Elite Trainer Boxes for Shrouded Fable in store. Not everything available is listed on the website, so it’s worth visiting the shop in Thanet, Kent at Westwood Business Park to see the full inventory.
Scarlet & Violet—Stellar Crown (September 13, 2024)
Stellar Crown brought 142 main cards and 33 secret cards, focusing on celestial and cosmic themes and the Terastal phenomenon featured in the Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Switch Games
Products: Stellar Crown Booster Box (36 packs), Elite Trainer Box (9 booster packs, 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, and accessories), Build & Battle Box (23-card Evolution pack, 4 booster packs) And, the Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Terapagos ex Ultra-Premium Collection. This collector’s dream is now on sale for £100 (original price: £120).
What’s Inside?
- This Ultra Premium Collection includes:
- 18 Pokémon booster packs
- 3 exclusive promo cards
- 8 foil “Cracked Ice” Terastal Basic Energy cards
- A playmat, deck box, and metallic coin
- A One-Touch Protector (Ultra PRO) for cards
- Damage-counter dice, condition markers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live
Whether you’re treating yourself or shopping for a serious Pokémon fan, this collection is an incredible deal. Get it while stocks last, especially is your still trying to round out your collection of Stellar Crown.
Booster Box Comparison: Compared to previous sets, Stellar Crown booster boxes maintained the standard 36-pack configuration. However, they introduced new Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards, which added a unique element to the collection experience.
Meta Impact – Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards introduced new mechanics that interacted with the space between the Active and Bench positions, creating unique strategies.
Pokémon TCG Paradox Wisdom Premium Collection Box released in October 2024, and we still have some in stock – as well as many offer collection boxes and tins available.
Scarlet & Violet—Surging Sparks (November 8, 2024)
The year concluded with Surging Sparks, featuring 191 main cards and 61 secret cards, emphasising Electric-type Pokémon and Dragon-types.
Unique Mechanics: Surging Sparks introduced the “Spark Charge” mechanic, allowing Electric-type Pokémon to store energy for powerful attacks. This mechanic was represented by special Spark Counters placed on Pokémon cards.
Notable Cards:
- Pikachu ex (Stellar Tera form): Became a centrepiece in many competitive decks
- Alolan Exeggutor ex: Introduced a new Dragon-type strategy
- New ACE SPEC cards: Continued the trend from Temporal Forces, providing powerful one-of effects
The Pikachu ex – Surging Sparks – 238/191 SIR remains the most popular card of Surging Sparks. And, luckily for avid collectors, we have one in stock on our website, and in store.
Meta Impact: The set boosted Electric-type strategies significantly, with the new Spark Charge mechanic creating dynamic gameplay. Dragon-type Pokémon also saw increased play due to powerful new additions.
Also, the Pokémon TCG Ogerpon ex Premium Collection released in November 2024 which you can grab from our store.
A Look Ahead: Pokémon TCG’s Prismatic Evolution
As we bid farewell to 2024, it’s time to look forward to the first major Pokémon TCG release of 2025—Scarlet & Violet: Prismatic Evolution, launching on January 17th, 2025. This highly anticipated set is already creating a buzz among fans and collectors, and for good reason!
Take a look at our recent page to learn more about the upcoming English Pokémon TCG set – NEWS: New Set Reveal – Pokémon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions with We Love Collectibles!
At We Love Collectibles, we’ve already reached our pre-orders for Prismatic Evolution products both in-store and online. With its widespread appeal, we anticipate stock shortages upon release, so secure your favorite products early to avoid missing out – and, hopefully, we’ll be able to allocate more product upon the sets release.
A Message of Gratitude
As we step into 2025, both of us at WLC want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us in 2024. It was a monumental year for us, marked by the opening of our full-time shop in Thanet, Kent – Westwood Business Park.
This time last year the idea of a pop up shop wasn’t even a discussion that we had. Fast forward 12 months, and we now have had a pop up for 6 months and a full store since September.
From our online community to the customers who visit our store weekly (and sometimes daily!) your support has been nothing short of amazing. Thank you for making this dream possible.
We’re back to our regular hours starting January 2, 2025, and we can’t wait to welcome you all again. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead filled with health and happiness, and full of Pokémon cards and collectibles!
Stay Connected and Shop Online with We Love Collectibles
At We Love Collectibles, we stock all sorts of collectible and TCG products, with a focus on Pokémon, from booster boxes and packs to Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs) and single cards that are perfect for completing your collection.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can find in our store and online:
- Scarlet & Violet Booster Boxes, Packs, and ETBs: All the latest and most sought-after products from the Scarlet & Violet series.
- Japanese products: Including popular sets and exclusive booster boxes like Stellar Miracle, and Supercharged Breaker.
- Single cards: Perfect for collectors on the hunt for that elusive card to complete a set.
- Trading Card Accessories: Keep your collection safe and stylish with binders, sleeves, and more.
Looking for a specific card or set? Use the search feature on our online store to find exactly what you need, whether by card name, set, or even artist!
Follow Us on Social Media for Exclusive Content
Don’t miss out on our latest arrivals and events—follow us on TikTok (@WeLoveCollectibles) and Instagram for exciting product updates and in-store events. We also host live streams featuring unboxings, giveaways, and insights into all things collectibles and TCG, with sessions on:
- Wednesdays (Morning)
- Thursdays (Evening)
- Fridays (Morning)
- Saturdays (Evening)
Whether you’re visiting our store at Westwood Business Park, Margate, or browsing online, you’ll always find something to excite your inner collector. And remember, use code FAMILY5 at checkout for a 5% discount on your next purchase!
Visit Us Today at We Love Collectibles
Visit us in-store at Unit 101, Westwood Business Park, Margate CT9 4JJ, or explore our full Pokémon TCG range online anytime at We Love Collectibles. Join us for unforgettable fun, secure your collections, and become a part of our passionate collector community.
Whether you’re hunting for the perfect holiday gift or looking to expand your collection, We Love Collectibles have got you covered!
Contact Us
Unit 101, Westwood Business Park, Margate CT9 4JJ
Follow us on social media
@welovecollectibles
Mon: Closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 6:00pm
Sunday: from 11am – 4:00pm