I would sell my soul and all my earthly possessions for one card in Pokémon’s upcoming TCG set, Paldean Fates
It’s happening; everyone stay calm
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For those of you who haven’t been sitting on the edge of your seat since late October eagerly awaiting the arrival of the following Pokémon TCG set,Paldean Fates, this next installment is an incredibly special expansion releasing today on January 26, 2024. If you’re not already, then you ought to be looking forward to it.
Each year, The Pokémon Company releases a ‘shiny’ set. Like the previous collections ofShining FatesandHidden Fates, these ‘shiny’ sets include re-prints of standout cards from the previous years and a higher number of secret rares than usual.Paldean Fatesis similar to theGX Ultra ShinyandShiny Star Vinstallments, as it will focus primarily on secret rare shiny cards. So far, we’ve seen shiny versions of Mew, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, and Gardivoir, but there should be more cards for fans to discover once the set releases.
If you haven’t kept up with all the stellar series releases this year because, in fairness, there have been a lot, thenPaldean Fatesis an excellent refresher if you’re looking for a way to get a foot back in the door. You’ll be able to cash in on all the best cards from this year while hunting for some elusive shiny cards, which is the best way to hunt any Pokémon.
A fair price to pay
Despite spending a lot of time and more money than I’d care to admit collecting premium cards this year, I’m still ecstatic about the release ofPaldean Fates. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, I managed to miss some fantastic cards this year. The brilliant Mew sunset Full Art from the anniversary151set eluded me, as well as the Charizard ex fromObsidian Flames, so it would make my year if I could get my hands on said shiny Charizard ex and the new Mew secret rare shiny.
I also can’t stress enough how excited I am to get an entire set of shiny Shinx, Luxio, and Luxray. Even one rare shiny of these iconic Pokémon would be incredible, but to get the complete evolutionary line is mind-blowingly exciting - especially as Luxray is my favorite pocket monster.
AsPaldean Fateswas released on December 1, 2023, in Japan, players can get a sneak peek as to what to expect, as well as get a good grasp on the pull rates. As we’ve seen already, you’ll likely get a special rare shiny or a Full Art in place of one of the three holo or reverse-holo cards at the end of a pack, which is particularly exciting for thrill-seeking card collectors.
But, regardless of how many shiny rares I’ll be able to find in each pack, I won’t rest until all of the shiny Shinx evolutions are tucked safely in my Pokémon binder, along with a shiny Ditto for good measure.
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Budget-friendly
Pokémon cards aren’t cheap, especially as we’ve recently seen a price hike that raised the base price of a pack. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t still hunt for a great deal.
If you’re buyingPaldean Fatesfor the first time and think that the promo Mimikyu card is irresistible, then an Elite Trainer Box (ETB) is a decent place to start. Clocking in at around $59.99/ £49.99 ETBs may be an expensive upfront charge, but it includes some fantastic items like coins, sleeves, and a promo card which you can’t get anywhere else. ThePaldean FatesETB will also have nine packs inside, which averages out at $6.66/ £5.55 per pack - only slightly more expensive than getting individual packs at retail price.
However, if you just want the joy of getting a couple of packs without all the trimmings, then Mini Tins are where all the action’s at. Mini Tins tend to have a retail price of around $8.99/ £8.99 and only include two packs, making it cheaper per pack than getting a full ETB. Plus, since you can’t purchase individual special-release packs, Tins are undeniably the next best thing.
Other ways you can purchasePaldean Fatesinclude:
If you’re looking for more physical games, then check out thebest board gamesand thebest board games for adults.
Elie is a Features Writer for TechRadar Gaming, here to write about anything new or slightly weird. Before writing for TRG, Elie studied for a Masters at Cardiff University JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries – spending their free time filming short docs or editing the gaming section for their student publications.
Elie’s first step into gaming was through Pokémon but they’ve taken the natural next step in the horror genre. Any and every game that would keep you up at night is on their list to play - despite the fact that one of Elie’s biggest fears is being chased.
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