Every card revealed so far for the Japanese-exclusive Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion set, Paradigm Trigger, set to release in October 2022.
The latest Japanese-exclusive Pokémon Trading Card Game set release, Paradigm Trigger, includes a total of 98 cards, some of which have already been revealed. The set list for Paradigm Trigger features some exciting new promos, trainer cards, and VSTAR Pokémon. Revealed during the Champion’s Tournament live stream, Paradigm Trigger is set to release on the October 21, 2022. Along with Incandescent Arcana, this set is a Japanese-exclusive release set for the fall, before the international release of Silver Tempest.
After debating if Pokémon TCG’s Japanese-exclusive Scarlet and Violet promo is worth it, collectors consider picking up Paradigm Trigger packs as well. Based on what has been revealed thus far for the set, Paradigm Trigger seems to be taking note from its predecessors, the Fossil and Neo Discovery eras of the TCG. These sets were all about encouraging explorations. The blurb for Neo Discovery, which was released in the U.S. in 2001, encouraged collectors and players to contemplate the relationship between strange glyphs and Pokémon. Additionally, the third main expansion to the TCG, Fossil, which was released in the U.S. in 1999, was marketed as the discovery of a remote island where Pokémon, once only known as fossils, came to life. Based on what has been revealed so far for Paradigm Trigger, it seems as if the set will be using a similar theme or direction for its storyline and marketing.
Related- Pokémon TCG: Incandescent Arcana's Best Full Art Cards
Just like how the best of Incandescent Arcana TCG cards will hit Silver Tempest, it’s likely that the best cards from Paradigm Trigger will be the only ones included in the Pokémon TCG international release of Silver Tempest, where “best” could be anything from the rarity status to the abilities of the cards themselves. However, the original two sets are worth collecting, as they contain many more exclusive Pokémon cards than can be condensed into one international set. Depending on the reach of Paradigm Trigger, these cards could also be worth more than the English counterparts released in Silver Tempest. Throughout the eighth generation, Sword and Shield has featured over ten main TCG expansion sets, Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, holiday exclusives, promos, and more. Paradigm Trigger will be one of the final few sets released for Gen 8, as the upcoming release of next gen’s Pokémon Scarlet and Violet rapidly approaches.
Paradigm Trigger will continue to utilize Pokémon TCG’s newest VSTAR mechanic, as it has been confirmed the set will include Regidrago VSTAR and Regieleki VMAX. Paradigm Trigger will also feature Pokémon that haven’t been printed in a while, proving that the Pokémon TCG is expanding its reach to include even more Pokémon, and not just reprint after reprint. Art released in promotion of Paradigm Trigger has revealed multiple evolution lines - Omastar, Armaldo, Stunfisk, and Stonjourner - that will be included in the set, though their official cards have not been revealed yet. Including these ancient Pokémon is another hint that the set has been inspired by Fossil and Neo Discovery. That being said, the following is every card revealed so far:
Trainers might not know Unown’s special forms in the video games or in the TCG because it has been quite some time since there has been a new printing of Unown. Paradigm Trigger features an exciting return for Unown, as the Pokémon gets a V, VSTAR, and alternate art V card. This is in stark contrast to the inclusion of Medicham, who has been featured in Rebel Clash, Evolving Skies, and Lost Origin. Additionally, the Grove Tablet and Earth Tablet trainer cards are entirely new to the Pokémon Trading Card Game, both featuring the ability that the Pokémon the V card is attached to can use the VSTAR power described on the card. If there are more cards like these included in the Paradigm Trigger set, gameplay for the TCG could become quite different.
The next Pokémon TCG release might have missing promos, but the Japanese-exclusive Paradigm Trigger has plenty of its own spectacular promos - five in total. The five individual promos include alternate art Lucia V, alternate art Lucia VSTAR, alternate art Archeops, a new art of Shaymin, and a reprint of Double Twin Energy. A single promo card will be available in every Paradigm Trigger booster box, which will also contain 30 individual packs of trading cards. There is no current pricing available for the booster boxes. However, the promo cards as well as the unique theme and Pokémon within the Paradigm Trigger set make for an enticing addition to any collection.
Related: What Pokémon TCG Lost Origin Cards Are Worth The Most Money
Alongside the promo cards, Pokémon TCG is also releasing a Mystery Box for the Paradigm Trigger expansion set. The mystery box might be structured similarly to Pokémon TCG’s fall collector chest, but there could be secrets inside it that won’t be revealed until after its release. According to the product description, each Mystery Box will contain seven Paradigm Trigger booster packs, one of four deck boxes, one of four card sleeves, and one of the promo cards. Pokémon has released Mystery Boxes in the past, but more commonly releases Elite Trainer Boxes, character-specific collector boxes, 3-booster pack sets, pre-built decks, and Collector Tins. Paradigm Trigger’s Mystery Box is another great collector’s item, especially if its contents are not repeated for the international Silver Tempest set coming on November 11.
The Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Box from Pokémon Center is one of the next international releases for the Pokémon TCG, meaning that it comprises a few different sets. Incandescent Arcana has already been confirmed to be a prominent feature within Silver Tempest, with a few cards from Paradigm Trigger rumored to be included as well. Paradigm Trigger comes at an interesting time, and could be foreshadowing major changes within the TCG. A paradigm is the model for a pattern, something expected, whereas a trigger can cause something to happen. Perhaps Paradigm Trigger is the start of the Pokémon Trading Card Game re-imagining itself, a small step into the future of what the trading card game could look like.
Chloë Rain is a Gaming Features writer for ScreenRant. A writer and editor from the Midwest, she currently works for various magazines and journals. She is pursuing a B.F.A. in Creative Writing, specializing in poetry, prose, and short fiction and, thanks to ScreenRant, gaming features. Her passion for video games started when her stepdad introduced her to Luigi's Mansion. Too, she's passionate about birds and a great story, whether in a book, movie, or video game. Online, Chloë exists everywhere as @bcrainy.