Pokémon TCG has been around for 25 years now, and since it first appeared, the game has frequently introduced new mechanics, monsters, and changes to the mate. One of the notable events was the introduction of Ace Spec cards back in 2013, which will now be returning once again next year.
The announcement was made during the Pokémon World Championship in Yokohama, Japan, where the Pokémon Company confirmed that these cards will be coming back after all. A Paradox Pokémon will also be introduced and the designers have explained how it would be implemented into the game.
Not much information was provided about the cards at the present time, but Ancient and Future Pokémon will now come with a special card treatment and labels. Meanwhile, the TCG will also get TM cards back, as previously confirmed by the company, which will be discarded at the end of the turn. These changes should bring around a bit more variety to the current gameplay, and perhaps change the meta a little.
Although we would have to wait until next year for the Ace Spec cards, a forthcoming box set, Paradox Rift, could be when we first see the Paradox Pokémon for the very first time. While they wait, players can check out the Obsidian Flames set which was recently released and brought out the Charizard EX card, one of the most beloved cards in the game as a whole.
Meanwhile, for those who have joined the game too recently to know, Ace Spec cards are powerful item cards. Alternatives in other TCGs call them “relics,” for example, as you can only have one Ace Spec card per deck. Presently, there are 13 different cards in this classification. They were introduced with the Boundaries Cross, Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze, and Plasma Blast expansions and are some of the most exciting ways to spice up your deck.
More of these interesting cards will be arriving in 2024. As an example of what you may expect, Computer Search is an Ace Spec card that allows you to discard two cards from your hand, search your deck and put a card in your hand which can be quite powerful if timed well.