The release of Scarlet and Violet as a Pokemon TCG set, and the introduction of gen 9 cards to the game, is very close. With this, we're seeing a new/old mechanic: Pokemon-ex.  Not to be confused with the slightly more recent Pokemon-EX, which are always Basic, Pokemon-ex are beefed-up versions of Pokemon with high build-around power.  However, this comes at a cost. When a Pokemon-ex (or Pokemon-EX, for that matter) is knocked out, your opponent takes 2 Prize Cards, not just 1.  Despite this, I believe that Pokemon-ex is the perfect mechanic for Scarlet and Violet. Perfect Timing True to the games' endgame theme of time travel, we're seeing a new swath of Pokemon for a past mechanic.  On the surface, this seems like a pretty basic point.  But when you include the specific Pokemon getting a Pokemon-ex, the real genius of this is revealed.  Every single Pokemon is either available in both versions, a new Pokemon, or a past/future form.  This, again, h...

Remember when Wizards of the Coast didn't screw things up on the regular? The Pokemon TCG was originally created by Wizards of the Coast in 1998, after finding huge success with Magic the Gathering. Eventually, control of the game's design went to a team specific to Game Freak and Nintendo. But the influence Magic had on the Pokemon TCG is still felt to this day. In fact, both games have grown in parallel to one another in certain ways. Let's take a look: Power Creep Parallel Power creep can be seen in Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon cards, which both introduced more and more powerful cards with each set. But beyond the simple existence of power creep, certain types of cards in both games have shifted with each other. In Magic, creatures started as very weak, and by today's standards are mostly obsolete. However, non-creature spells, especially instants and sorceries, were often much more powerful than any that could be made today. Not a single member of Magic...