This Pokémon can evolve into any Pokémon that evolves from Eevee if you play it from your hand onto this Pokémon. (This Pokémon can’t evolve during your first turn or the turn you play it.)
This just sounds like how evolution works in the card game?
We begin with the poster Pokémon of this set: Eevee EX. Thematically, it headlines the expansion but when it comes to battle, it is probably the weakest EX card until now. Its only flavor is its ridiculously named ability, Veevee ‘volve, by virtue of which Eevee EX can be evolved into any Eeveelution, EX card or not.
It sounds like the card being an ex card changes how evolution works, but I tried to look into it and all I could find was this:
A Pokemon ex card can be played in the same way as Pokemon cards. Basic Pokemon ex cards can be played right away without evolving them, while Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokemon ex cards require sending their previous forms in the field before they can be played.
Figuring out which decks to play in Pokémon TCG Pocket is a lot harder than it used to be. When the game originally dropped and had just one expansion set, you had roughly five viable decks to choose from – but nowadays, there’s a mountain of meta decks on offer.
Wisdom added plenty of powerful cards into the Pocket scene, giving competitive players even more tools to use during their matches. Here’s a rundown of the best Wisdom of Sea and Sky Pocket decks right now, not listed in any particular order.
The Escapist recaps
Pokémon TCG Pocket Wisdom of Sea and Sky introduced 241 new cards into the game, shaking up the competitive meta and adding new decks into the mix
While it’s not been as disruptive as previous sets, this release did present a variety of new decks to experiment with and a handful of crucial tools for competitive players
Crobat ex stands out as one of the best decks in the game right now with the addition of Sylveon ex. The Intertwining Pokémon also pairs perfectly with the new Espeon ex as well
Other viable decks to consider include Silvally-Pichu, Ho-Oh ex and Lugia ex, and Donphan ex, along with older decks like Dragonite ex, with new cards added in
Crobat-Sylveon
Crobat ex has had people talking since the expansion launched. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
If you saw my rundown of the strongest ex cards in Wisdom of Sea and Sky, you’ll know that Crobat ex has been one of the most hyped cards of the expansion.
It’s not pulling in the tournament numbers that I would’ve expected initially at the time of writing – although I believe in the bat, I think it’ll come out on top over the coming weeks. It’s still a powerhouse, though, especially when paired with Sylveon ex.
Crobat ex provides simple, consistent damage for just one Energy, adding Poison into the mix for chip damage. Sylveon ex also provides a decent chunk of damage, but is mainly played here for the draw power.
When building this list, make sure to use the Wisdom of Sea and Sky Eevee for additional draw power, alongside Supporters like Silver and Lyra to stay ahead of the competition. Choosing the Zubat and Golbat with Poison attacks is also worthwhile.
Some players run a variant of this with Darkrai ex included, capitalizing on the Nightmare Aura ability and stacking up extra damage over time.
Sylveon-Espeon
These two adorable Eeveelutions pack a punch. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
If you like fast-paced decks in Pocket, this is what you need to be playing during this season. It’s quick to get going, with a tasty self-heal and plenty of draw power.
Sylveon ex allows you to set up quickly and get your Espeon ex into position via the Happy Ribbon ability, dealing a decent 70 damage as needed. Espeon ex acts as the main hitter, healing up whenever needed with Psychic Healing and whittling away with Super Psy Bolt.
To ensure that Espeon ex is as hard to kill as possible, I’d suggest running at least one copy of Giant Cape to get an extra sliver of HP on there.
Other crucial cards to have at your disposal here include Sabrina and Cyrus for control, the A4 Eevee for additional draw power, and Eevee ex for speedy evolutions. I could also see Mew ex helping to fill in the damage output gaps with Genome Hacking.
Silvally-Pichu
This surprising duo is a lot of fun to play. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Acting as a riff on Silvally-Oricorio, this deck features plenty of Supporter cards and two copies of the Lightning-type Oricorio to help mitigate any ex threats in battle.
Silvally is the main source of damage thanks to the Brave Buddies attack, putting out 100 damage for just 2 Energy when a Supporter is used. Pichu acts as a crucial source of Energy movement, using Crackly Toss to spread Lightning Energy Tokens around.
Gladion and Silver are vital Supporters to include here, alongside Cyrus and Sabrina for control, Giovanni for a simple damage buff, and Lyra for easy movement.
Ho-Oh ex and Lugia ex
The pack Legendaries are a mighty combination. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
The two-pack Legendaries are decent on their own, but when they’re paired together, they can put out brutal levels of damage.
Ho-Oh ex provides the exact Energy Tokens that Lugia ex needs to use the obscenely powerful Elemental Blast, which deals 180 damage in return for a total Energy discard. Cards like Elemental Switch and Dawn can help to keep the Energy moving quickly.
It’s worth having at least one copy of Pichu if you’re running this deck, along with a couple of Zeraora cards to keep Lugia ex ready.
Donphan ex
With the right list, Donphan ex is a beast. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
I wasn’t overly impressed with Donphan ex when I saw it for the first time, but the tournament results that are rolling out post-expansion launch have changed my mind. With the right list, this Fighting-type can do some serious damage.
On its own, Donphan ex can deal 50 damage for one Energy Token, spiking to 110 damage if there are at least two extra Energy Tokens attached. Adding two copies of Lucario into the mix helps this attack hit even harder.
Alongside Donphan ex and Lucario, it’s important to have Marshadow for re-balancing, Lyra for easy movement, and Red for extra damage boosts against ex-foes.
Some players run Donphan ex with the Rampardos line instead of Lucario and Marshadow, so it’s worth experimenting with this setup as well.
Honorable mentions
I’d strongly encourage you to build the five decks listed above as they’ve got the highest potential out of the newer lists from Wisdom of Sea and Sky.
If you’re looking to enhance an older deck, though, these are the lists you should look into improving with fresh cards:
Dragonite ex. This deck can be taken to a new level by adding in Pichu and Elemental Switch, allowing for easy Energy movement to power up Dragonite ex
Eevee ex. Since Eevee Grove, there have been heaps of iterations on Eevee ex decks. Using Flareon ex, Leafeon ex, Sylveon ex, and the new Eevee alongside Eevee ex might seem unbalanced, but it works a treat
Darkrai-Giratina. This deck was powerful before Wisdom of Sea and Sky dropped, but with the addition of Silver and potentially Lyra, it’s now an absolute demon. It also works nicely to counteract Sylveon-Espeon players
Out of these, I’d urge you to try out Darkrai-Giratina, as this deck is putting on an incredible performance in the tournament scene right now. With Wisdom Supporters in the list, it’s a punchy deck to play.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Wisdom of Sea and Sky has plenty of powerful decks to pick from, with Crobat-Sylveon, Espeon-Sylveon, Donphan, Silvally-Pichu, and the pack’s Legendary duo standing out as the best options. Older decks like Dragonite ex can also be enhanced with cards from the new set.
Ask The Escapist
When did Pokémon TCG Pocket Wisdom of Sea and Sky come out?
Wisdom of Sea and Sky was released on July 30, 2025, making it the fourth main expansion set for Pokémon TCG Pocket.
Which are the strongest ex cards in Wisdom of Sea and Sky?
On their own, Crobat ex and Umbreon ex stand out as the strongest ex cards in Wisdom of Sea and Sky. Make sure you’re opening Ho-Oh packs to get these two gems.
What are the best Supporters in Wisdom of Sea and Sky?
Silver, Lyra, and Will stand out as the most competitively viable Supporter cards in Wisdom of Sea and Sky, and they all feature in prominent decks that are currently swarming the tournament scene.
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Pokémon TCG Black Bolt and White Flare both dropped on July 18, 2025, introducing a plethora of beautiful new cards for collectors to sink their teeth into. Featuring a brand new rarity and artwork by legendary Pokémon artists, it’s a dual set worth watching.
To help you plan which chase cards to go after, I’ve hunted down the most expensive cards in Pokémon TCG Black Bolt and White Flare, using data from a multitude of sites to pick out the most valuable pieces at the time of writing.
The Escapist recaps
Pokémon TCG Black Bolt and White Flare released as a dual special set on July 18, 2025, with 172 and 173 cards apiece.
A new rarity was introduced with this release, called a BWR, or Black White Rare.
Due to the popularity of the Unova Pokémon and the beautiful artwork, the prices for this set have been high since launch day, although some are settling down.
The most expensive cards in Black Bolt and White Flare include all three of the Black White Rares, as well as the Special Illustration Rares for the box Legendaries.
Seismitoad (BLK 105)
Shinji Kanda has an utterly iconic art style. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Card
Seismitoad
Card Number
105/086
Set
Black Bolt
Card Type
Illustration Rare
Selling For
$70-$200
Is anyone surprised to see this card on the list? I honestly thought it’d be higher up – Shinji Kanda is an absolute icon in the Pokémon TCG community, with a following of dedicated fans that adore his mind-melting art style.
Seismitoad isn’t a hugely popular Pokémon by any means, but it looks powerful and otherworldly thanks to the psychedelic artwork on this card.
I spotted auction prices ranging from $70 all the way to $200 while digging around for data on this card, so if you’re keen on getting it, I’d suggest watching the prices and seeing if they settle down in the coming weeks.
Reshiram ex (WHT 166)
This piece accurately captures the strength of Reshiram in the lore. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Card
Reshiram ex
Card Number
166/086
Set
White Flare
Card Type
Special Illustration Rare
Selling For
$120-$215
This card manages to make Reshiram look poised and powerful, which pairs with the Pokémon perfectly. It’s an elegant yet destructive Special Illustration Rare, with spectacular artwork by kawayoo.
It’s one of the most expensive Special Illustration Rare cards in the White Flare list, giving fan-favorites Keldeo and Hydreigon a run for their money.
While researching, I found that the majority of the auction prices for this card sat in the range of $120 to $190, with a few higher prices based on quality. Graded copies, particularly PSA 10 slabs, went for even larger sums.
Zekrom ex (BLK 166)
This card has an electrifying aesthetic. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Card
Zekrom ex
Card Number
166/086
Set
Black Bolt
Card Type
Special Illustration Rare
Selling For
$100-$220
While it’s not selling for quite as much as its Black White Rare counterpart, this iteration of Zekrom ex is still a worthy chase card to pick up for your collection.
With artwork by danciao, Zekrom feels as if it’s ripping out of the card, shredding the sky apart with lightning bolts. It’s a visually stunning piece, so I wasn’t surprised to see prices ranging from $100 to $220, with even higher prices popping up for graded copies.
Reshiram ex (WHT 173)
Much like the next card in the list, Reshiram ex is strong. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Card
Reshiram ex
Card Number
173/086
Set
White Flare
Card Type
Black White Rare
Selling For
$310-$440
Reshiram ex is a magnificent card, topping the charts as one of the most expensive pieces in White Flare. It’s the most affordable Black White Rare currently on the market, but that’s not saying too much as the prices are still decently hefty.
Most auctions that I found for the BWR copy of Reshiram ex placed it between $300 and $380, with a few exceptional prices at either end of that spectrum. There were a few copies up for auction on eBay in the realm of $180, but I can’t see that lasting too long as it’s an immensely popular card right now.
As with any high-value Pokémon card, it’s crucial to make sure that you buy from verified sellers and always do a price check before making a purchase. Despite the set dropping a few weeks ago at the time of writing, prices are still likely to change somewhat.
Zekrom ex (BLK 172)
This card has some competitive potential. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Card
Zekrom ex
Card Number
172/086
Set
Black Bolt
Card Type
Black White Rare
Selling For
$300-$450
There isn’t much of a difference between the BWR cards for Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex, but the Black Bolt card comes out ever-so-slightly on top.
In my opinion, it’s the best looking card out of the bunch – it’s dynamic and polished, with the lighting on Zekrom still managing to make the creature pop despite the overall aesthetic theme being incredibly dark.
The majority of the prices I found while digging into this card ranged from $300 to $400, with a few higher-quality pieces taking the auction price well over the $400 mark.
Graded copies are selling for higher prices, so if you pull this and don’t want to keep it, it could be worth getting it graded before choosing a platform to sell it on.
Victini (BLK 171/WHT 172)
It’s not a powerful card, but it’s exceptionally valuable. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
Card
Victini
Card Number
BLK 171/086 or WHT 172/086
Set
Black Bolt/White Flare
Card Type
Black White Rare
Selling For
$300-$600
At the time of writing, Victini is one of the most expensive cards you can pick up from both Black Bolt and White Flare. Unlike most of the cards in this list, it pops up in both sets, featuring slightly different card numbers.
While searching for live auction data, I found prices in the range of $300 to $600 for good quality copies of the card, but also spotted some PSA 10 copies that were starting to creep into the thousands. It’s a card that’s got the community talking and the current prices reflect this.
Victini is one of the first Black White Rare cards in existence and it has a striking aesthetic, with a vivid red color theme and dynamic design.
I’m predicting that the hype for some cards from Black Bolt and White Flare will start to die down, but I think Victini will continue to be a hugely popular card in the collector’s scene, at least for the next few months.
Pokémon TCG Black Bolt and White Flare both have an impressive roster of cards up for grabs, and they’re worth picking up if you’re a collector looking to stock up on valuable pieces. The prices in this list are sure to fluctuate after publication, so always double check prices on other sites before making a purchase, especially for higher value cards.
Ask The Escapist
Does Black Bolt or White Flare have the most valuable Pokémon cards?
While they both offer plenty of artistic and monetary value, Black Bolt stands out as a slightly better option for avid Pokémon TCG collectors who are looking to invest in top-tier cards.
Where do you find out how valuable a Pokémon card is?
I’d recommend shopping around and using a range of sources – for example, I referenced Cardmarket, Price Charting, TCGPlayer, Collectr, and eBay for this article. If you’re investing in an expensive card, research is crucial.
What’s the difference between Pokémon Black Bolt and White Flare?
Despite being part of the same release, it’s best to think of Pokémon TCGBlack Bolt and White Flare as separate special sets. They have individual card lists and rare hits, with a variety of art styles contained in each pack.
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If you’re a fan of Gigantamax Pokémon, you’re in for a treat. Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale is lined up for August, offering players a slew of powerful encounters with the biggest critters in the game.
To help you prepare for this massive Pokémon event, here’s a complete guide to Max Finale, including everything that you can expect to see and the best events to keep an eye out for during the weekend.
The Escapist recaps
Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale will take place from August 23-24, 2025, running from 10 AM til 6 PM local time.
Trainers can prepare by taking part in the Dark Skies festivities during the weekdays prior.
The event will feature a roster of Gigantamax Pokémon alongside Eternamax Eternatus
Dynamax Pokémon may also appear at Power Spots during the event and will pop up during Dark Skies.
Raids will feature Crowned Shield Zamazenta and Crowned Sword Zacian, as well as costumed event critters.
New field research and wild encounters will be available for players, alongside helpful rewards and resources.
Trainers can prepare for the Dark Skies week
The Galar starters are going to be everywhere in this event. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
While Max Finale is a weekend event, there’s still plenty to look forward to on the weekdays that precede it.
Running from August 18-23, starting and finishing at 10 AM local time, the week before Max Finale is called Dark Skies. It will be a Dynamax bonanza, featuring every Dynamax Pokémon that’s made an appearance in Pokémon GO. This includes beloved starters like Bulbasaur but also Legendaries like Raicou, Suicune, and Entei.
There’ll also be plenty for raid fans to tear into, with both Zacian and Zamazenta appearing in 5-star raids throughout the week.
Also, Crowned Sword Zacian will appear on Thursday, August 21, from 6 PM until 7 PM, and Crowned Shield Zamazenta will appear at the same time on Friday, August 22.
Galarian Farfetch’d and Galarian Weezing will take the 3-star spot, while Sinistea will fill in the 1-star raid space.
Alongside the raids, trainers will see increased spawns for the Galar starters, Skwovet, and Wooloo. There’ll also be timed research to complete, offering Galar starter encounters and candy for both Zacian and Zamazenta, along with event bonuses that make it easier to take part at Power Spots.
Make sure you spend some time exploring during Dark Skies to prepare for Max Finale, and use the special code GOFESTMAX to claim timed research that’ll reward you with an encounter for any of the Galar starters in Gigantamax form.
Dark Skies should be a fun week, especially for fans of the Galarian region, but Max Finale is set to blow it out of the water.
Power Spots will be packed with Pokémon
Some of the most memorable critter designs can be seen in the Gigantamax roster. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
One of the most exciting things about the Max Finale weekend is that every Gigantamax Pokémon ever seen in Pokémon GO will be popping up at Power Spots.
This includes the Galarian starters, Lapras, Gengar, and other fan-favorites. The first ‘mon on the schedule is Gigantamax Lapras (10 AM August 23) and the final one is Gigantamax Toxtricity (4 PM August 24) in its Low Key form.
Eternamax Eternatus will also be making an appearance at Power Spots throughout the weekend. You’ll be able to catch a regular Eternatus via the PokémonGO Pass, but sadly, the Eternamax version will not be catchable.
It should still be an entertaining fight, though, and it’ll provide buckets of essential Eternatus candy to add to your item bag.
Two iconic Legendaries will be popping up in raids
These ferocious Legendaries will be tricky to beat. Image Credit: The Pokémon Company
During the Max Finale weekend, players will be able to take on Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta in 5-star raids. There’s even a chance of finding a Shiny variant of these iconic Legendaries as per the official site.
Costume collectors will be delighted with the other raids on offer. 3-star raids will feature Falinks in Training, which is a regular Falinks in a cute train costume. 1-star raids will feature Dapper Pikachu with red, blue, or yellow accents.
Players in rural locations will be able to take advantage of the remote raid cap being removed throughout the weekend.
Max Finale will be busy and lucrative
This upcoming event should be action-packed for both new and veteran players.While the Gigantamax critters and the Crowned raids will be the stars, the wild encounters are also worth paying attention to.
The Galar starters and the Kanto starters will have an increased chance of showing up, alongside Skwovet and Wooloo.
There’s also a chance of finding these critters:
Beldum
Caterpie
Chansey
Darumaka
Falinks
Gastly
Sableye
Shuckle
Kabuto, Omanyte, and Trubbish will also appear as field research encounters.
Finally, event bonuses will be live from 12 AM to 11:59 PM local time over the weekend.
These will provide double candy from catching Pokémon and double the chance of finding XL candy from catching Pokémon, along with a collection limit boost for Max Particles. Power Spots will also show up and refresh more frequently.
Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale is gearing up to be one of the most exciting events so far this year, with plenty of goodies on offer and iconic Pokémon to encounter. Make sure to take part in Dark Skies during the week days preceding the event to get the most out of the weekend.
Ask The Escapist
Is Pokémon GO Fest 2025: Max Finale an in-person event?
This is an event that you can take part in by exploring your local area! During the event times, make sure to head out and battle at the nearby Gyms or Power Spots to take part.
Are there paid passes for this Pokémon GO event?
Yes, trainers who wish to nab extra rewards can purchase the GO Pass Deluxe: Max Finale boxes on the official web store – there are three to choose from, each offering further items and goodies to unlock during the event.
Can you catch Eternamax Eternatus during Max Finale?
Unfortunately, the Pokémon GO site notes that Eternamax Eternatus will not be available for capture after trainers beat it in a Max Battle. They will get plenty of Eternatus Candy and Eternatus Candy XL for their GO Pass Eternatus, though.
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Pokémon Presents are usually the highlight of the month for dedicated Pocket Monster fans, and July’s showcase was no exception. This livestream unloaded a mountain of reveals for the franchise, particularly for VGC fans.
To help catch you up to speed, we’ve summarized every crucial announcement from the July 2025 Pokémon Presents stream, including everything from video game news to exciting collaborations.
The Escapist recaps
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet fans can look forward to new Tera battles, mass outbreaks, and a free cosmetic.
Pokémon Legends Z-A was shown off in more detail, including a new Mega evolution.
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution cards were highlighted in preparation for their September release.
Pokémon Go Fest: Max Finale is an event that Go players will want to add to their calendar immediately.
Pokémon Champions is looking like a must-play, especially for VGC players looking to sharpen their skills.
Pokémon video game fans have plenty to look forward to
These critters need to be beaten a million times each. Image credit: Pokémon.com
The video game news portion kicked off with information for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players, highlighting the Switch 2 update for the ninth generation of games, which promised a smoother experience.
Alongside this, new Tera battles and mass outbreaks were revealed. The Shiny Treasures of Ruin is an intriguing Tera series that’ll be taking place from July 23 to September 14, 2025, featuring the Treasures of Ruin critters.
What makes this event stand out is that players will only be able to nab a Shiny Ruin critter after they’ve been defeated collectively a million times each.
Mass outbreaks of Shiny Pokémon will be taking place throughout the same time, running up until September 14. This event will include Grass, Ice, Ground, and Fire-types.
To claim a cute tracksuit set in-game via the Mystery Gift tab, Scarlet players can enter STRACKSU1T and Violet players can enter VTRACKSU1T.
Pokemon Z-A hype is building
It wasn’t just Scarlet and Violet getting updates in the Pokémon Presents, either – Pokémon Legends Z-A also received an exciting preview.
Pokémon Legends Z-A is set to be incredible. Image credit: The Pokémon Company
One of the main focuses in the Z-A video was Lumiose City itself. Players saw the main character arriving in Lumiose and joining Team MZ, a group dedicated to protecting the city.
Despite their seemingly noble intentions, Team MZ appears to have some connection to the villains of the game – the Rust Syndicate.
Rogue Mega evolutions are plaguing Lumiose City, meaning players will need to team up with MZ and use their own Mega ‘mons to battle these gigantic creatures in the wild.
One highlight of this segment was the reveal of Mega Dragonite, a previously unseen Mega evolution. Interestingly, it received a mixed response from community members we saw in the live chat.
This Pokémon looks very similar to its regular counterpart, but has elements of its previous form, Dragonair, and appears to be a lot bigger.
Customization features also got plenty of screentime in the Z-A video, with an intricate character creation and customization system being shown off to fans.
In Legends Z-A, players will be able to tailor their avatar to fit their style and even get fun haircuts for Furfrous in their party. One tiny detail that we particularly loved is the text box that implied Scythers were working as barbers.
Pokémon Champions is set to come out in 2026
Pokémon Champions should be a hit with VGC players. Image credit: Pokémon.com
Ever since its reveal, the upcoming Pokémon Champions title has had the competitive community intrigued, with many speculating it could show up at future championship events.
Thanks to this showcase confirming a rough release window, fans can now look forward to it releasing in 2026.
Further details were highlighted in a teaser trailer, confirming that both Switch and mobile players could take part in single and double matches, competing either in ranked matches globally or in private battles with friends.
One element that looked particularly exciting was the training feature, promising intricate levels of detail for trainers to tinker with. Players will be able to tweak their party’s moves, stats, and traits with ease, letting them gear up for matches easily.
Mega Pokémon are almost back in the Trading Card Game
This set is likely to be huge with collectors. Image credit: Pokémon.com
There weren’t many updates for TCG fans in this Pokémon Presents, other than a closer look at some exceedingly beautiful Mega cards that are due to come out in the Mega Evolution set, releasing on September 26, 2025.
The Pokémon cards included in this trailer were:
Mega Lucario ex
Mega Kangaskhan ex
Mega Gardevoir ex
Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Mega Venusaur ex
It’s already been a hype-filled year for the TCG community, but this set is gearing up to be one of the biggest releases of 2025. The Mega cards have the potential to turn the competitive scene on its head, and there are heaps of stellar cards for collectors to chase after as well.
Pokémon Go players received big news – quite literally
Pokémon Go Fest 2025: Max Finale will be a massive event. Image credit: Pokémon.com
Whether you’re a casual collector or a competitive Pokémon Go player, make sure you pencil the dates August 23 to August 24, 2025 in your calendar. A new event called Pokémon Go Fest 2025: Max Finale was revealed during the Pokémon Presents.
Featuring beloved Gigantamax ‘mons like Gengar and Snorlax alongside the newly-debuting Eternatus, the reveal video included a promo code – GOFESTMAX – that players can redeem to catch a Gigantamax critter in-game now up until August 24, 2025.
Other Pokémon games will be getting a sprinkle of new content
This Pokémon Presents featured a handful of smaller updates for other Pokémon titles. Here’s a quick rundown:
Pokémon Masters Ex players will be able to see Carmine and Sinistcha in their featured Poké Fair from July 29 to September 6, 2025.
Pokémon Cafe ReMix players can grab a five-star sea captain outfit for Lapras, starting July 23, 2025, alongside other nautical goodies and cosmetic options.
Pokémon Sleep players will be able to research Raikou, Entei, and Suicune starting September, 2025. There’ll also be a new area called Amber Canyon from November of this year.
UNITE players will be able to play with Latios and Latias to celebrate the game’s fourth anniversary, promising an exciting new playstyle. There’ll also be a new kind of battle called Electrode Volleyball to test out. The Pawmo line was also teased here.
If you’re a Pokémon UNITE player, make sure to redeem the code UNITE0722 to try out a Latios battle for three days. It’s valid up until August 31, 2025.
There are non-gaming updates to get excited about as well
Pokémon Concierge fans won’t have long to wait until new episodes. Image credit: Pokémon.com
Pokémon Concierge fans are in luck – new episodes are set to release on September 4th, 2025, on Netflix.
Additionally, further details about the Aardmaan collaboration with Pokémon were shown off, revealing the title to be The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d and Pichu.
A sneak preview of the animation was shown off, highlighting beloved critters like Wooloo, Sirfetch’d, and Pichu in Aardman’s legendary style. Out of all the announcements, this is one that we’re particularly excited for, though its release window is currently 2027.
PokéPark KANTO also got a look-in, with plenty of charming details about this upcoming, real-world Pokémon attraction. A map was provided for fans to pore over, revealing that the park will have two key sections – Sedge Town and Pokémon Forest.
A new puzzle game for mobile and Switch fans, Pokémon Friends, popped up on app stores just before Pokémon Presents went live too. This adorable game features a whimsical art style and customizable rooms for players to decorate with plushes.
As usual, this Pokémon Presents showcase had something for everyone – plenty for competitive players, collectors, and fans to get excited about, along with a couple of freebies to redeem in-game. We’ll be sure to keep you updated if there’s further news about any of these announcements.
Ask The Escapist
Where can you watch Pokémon Presents?
Pokémon Presents are livestreamed on the official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels. For information about when the next Presents will be taking place, make sure to follow the company on their official social media pages.
When is Pokémon Legends Z-A coming out?
Pokémon Legends Z-A is set to drop on October 16, 2025, meaning fans won’t have too long to wait to play it on their Switch or Switch 2. Thanks to the newly revealed Mega details, customization tools, and lore, the hype has never been more intense.
When is Pokémon Champions coming out?
The upcoming Pokémon Champions game doesn’t have an exact release date yet. As of the July 2025 Pokémon Presents, the only release window available for Pokémon Champions is 2026.
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I was really into pokemon cards when I was little, not so much playing the game (Mostly because I didn’t know how) but collecting them. But that was years ago. I’ve recently decided to whip them out again and am trying to create a 60 card playing deck. I have more than enough, but I can’t figure out how to properly make it. I actually have already created one, however, I got it completely wrong. As in, 15 Pokemon, 10 Trainer, and 35 Energy cards type wrong. I understand this isn’t how a deck should be made, however, there doesn’t seem to be anything on how to balance the card types out correctly.
What should the ‘ratio’ be? (For lack of better words).
The Pokémon Battle Academy box set is a reasonable starting point for a younger child, under 10. It is indeed standard cards, and follows the standard rules.
I would only use them for that purpose though – learning. The decks aren’t remotely competitive, so don’t think of them as something you can take to a league and play with other people playing other levels of decks. They’re well tuned for each other though, and are great if you are playing with your child or with others with the same decks.
For higher level play, there is the ex Battle Deck, which is still not “win games in a tournament” level but is somewhat higher power/difficulty level. I would start at this level for an older child (10+) honestly, as they can pick it up fast enough (but obviously this depends on the kid to some extent).
To get to the “win games in local tournaments” level, you want the League Battle Decks, which are competitive level decks – not “win a regional” level, but absolutely good enough to win games/tournaments at the local level, and the changes needed to make them “win a regional level” are pretty small realistically – just tuning mostly.
