What’s Coming for Pokemon TCG in 2025?

The popularity of Pokémon cards is blasting off again thanks to the timely release of Pokémon TCG Pocket and sets bursting with stunning chase cards, like Surging Sparks and Prismatic Evolutions. Pokémon hasn’t been this hot since the release of Pokémon Go and the vintage boom, but now it’s all about the modern, and it’s not hard to understand why.

If you didn’t have your childhood Pokémon card collection hanging around in your attic, your only choice was to buy the vintage cards for their rather high market value. But with modern, you can buy a booster pack for retail cost and find yourself in possession of the Pikachu special illustration rare (SIR) everyone’s been after.

It’s exciting, it’s fun, and it’s only going to get better with all that 2025 has in store for us.

A Look Ahead at Pokémon TCG in 2025

As fantastic as the new boom is, it also comes with its downsides. More attention on the Pokémon TCG means less stock on the shelves and an influx of people coming into the hobby purely to make a quick buck. It’s more important than ever to mark your calendars with new releases and get those pre-orders in with trusted sellers like Magic Madhouse.

Here are some of the upcoming PokémonTCG sets to look forward to in 2025:

Prismatic Evolutions

17th January-26th September 2025

2025 has started off strong with one of the most anticipated sets in the TCG’s history. Prismatic Evolutions has been all over social media for its £1000+ Umbreon chase card, the enormous size of its master set and how difficult it has been to get ahold of.

Some products have already been released, but we still have the following to look forward to:

• Mini Tins (7th February)
• Surprise Box (7th February)
• Booster Bundle (7th March)
• Accessory Pouch Special Collection (25th April)
• Super-Premium Collection (16th May)
• Premium Figure Collection (26th September)
  
  

Journey Together

28th March 2025

Journey Together sees the return of Trainer’s Pokémon, and focuses on iconic characters like N, Lillie and Iono (Hop is there too). A complete set list hasn’t been released yet, but the press release for Journey Together claims it will include:

• 4 Trainer’s Pokémon ex
• 16 Pokémon ex
• 11 Illustration Rares (IR)
• 6 SIRs
• 3 gold cards

Japan has already seen the release of this set – hinting at what the most popular cards will be. Lillie’s Clefairy ex SIR is a likely contender, as is the Iono’s Bellibolt ex SIR. However, as we’ve seen with the Magikarp and Groudon IRs from Paldea Evolved and Paradox Rift, it might not necessarily be the rarest cards that become most in-demand.

Destined Rivals

30th May 2025

This set will be made from the Japanese sets Heat Wave Arena (14th March) and The Glory of Team Rocket (18th April), and the Steven’s Metagross ex and Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex decks.

It should continue the Trainer’s Pokémon designs with Team Rocket, Ethan, Arven, Steven, Marnie and fan-favourite Cynthia. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex SIR could definitely give Rocket’s Mewtwo ex SIR a run for its money for top chase card of the set.

Black Bolt and White Flare

18th July 2025

Releasing in Japan on 6th June, this set is likely to be the Black and White version of the 151 speciality set, seeing all 156 of the Unova Pokémon featured. There won’t be booster boxes fpr this set, but we can look forward to 2 different ETBs.

151 drove even casual collectors to attempt their first master set – will Black Bolt and White Flare drive them to complete the Unova Pokedex too? The original 151 Pokémon may be the most nostalgic and memorable for some, but Black and White are considered by many to be the best games.

On top of these upcoming sets, we can also expect to the following releases at some point this year:

• Illustration Contest 2024 winners’ promos
• McDonald’s Year of the Dragon UK release
• Exclusive promo cards from Worlds 2025 in Anaheim, California
  
  

Speculated New Sets and Mechanics

Pokémon have recently trade-marked the new set names Mega Brave and Mega Symphony – perhaps hinting at the return of Mega Evolution cards to tie in with the upcoming Legends Z-A game. It’s been speculated that we could see a July release for this set in Japan.

The return of Mega Evolutions would be an interesting development for the TCG. Previously, they were hindered by the mechanic causing the player’s turn to end, and the need for Spirit Link item cards to prevent this. Their reintroduction could be a chance for Pokémon to improve on this, or to wipe the slate clean and give us something completely new.

It’s also worth noting that no new Tera Pokémon cards were part of Battle Partners – the Japanese version of Journey Together. This is the first time a regular set has lacked Tera Pokémon in the Scarlet and Violet era, so it could be a sign that Trainer’s Pokémon have replaced them as the latest mechanic.

Competitive Scene Updates

The Pokémon TCG’s 2025 Standard format rotation is due in April. It’s time to say goodbye to any cards with the ‘F’ symbol, like our beloved Radiant Greninja, Regidrago Vstar and Radiant Charizard. Any rotation has the potential to shake up the top meta decks by removing essential cards, but looking to the post-rotation meta in Japan, this year’s has been easy to adapt to for top tier decks.

Pokémon Battle Partners in the Meta

Even the introduction of Battle Partners hasn’t managed to lessen the dominance of Raging Bolt ex and Dragapult ex. Dragon type decks are still the powerhouses of the meta, although there’s hope with Lillie’s Clefairy ex’s new ability, which makes dragon Pokémon weak to psychic types.

The idea of building a deck mostly using Trainer’s Pokémon and items is an idea that I’m sure will appeal to many. Of all the new Trainer’s Pokémon introduced, Hop’s team has the most potential, with powerful and useful cards like Hop’s Zacian ex, Hop’s Snorlax, Hop’s Choice Band, Hop’s Cramorant, Hop’s Bag and Postwick.

It’s still early days though. With new decks being tested and the full English set list yet to be revealed, who knows what will have changed by the time Journey Together launches.

Emerging Pokémon TCG Decks

Decks featuring Milotic ex from Surging Sparks are becoming more prominent in the meta. Milotic’s Sparkling Scales ability prevents damage from attacks from Tera Pokémon, and players are having fun combining this with similar abilities to create ‘blocking’ decks.

Other Pokémon include Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon, whose ability blocks damage from other Pokémon with abilities, and Noivern ex from Paldean Fates, who prevents either damage from Basic Pokémon attacks or stadium and special energy cards from being played, depending on which attack you use.

Collector Trends to Watch in 2025

We’ve entered a strange bubble in the Pokémon TCG where card values are rising and rising with no rhyme or reason. Can anyone rightly say why raw copies of the new Umbreon SIR from Prismatic Evolutions exceed that of Umbreon Vmax from Evolving Skies? Like all bubbles, it will eventually pop – we just don’t know when!

Bubbles persist for two reasons: increases in demand or lack of supply. This is why 151 was such an iconic set, and why we still see it causing stampedes in Costco today. It was a speciality set, so no booster boxes were sold, leading to a low supply of booster packs. But more people than ever wanted to complete the master set, giving a level of demand to every card. Even outside of the SIRs, you’d see reverse holos of certain cards far exceeding their bulk value.

For now, the Eeveelution SIRs from Prismatic Evolutions are the must-haves of the moment. The Eeveelution alt arts from Evolving Skies were some of the best cards of the Sword and Shield era, and collectors are sure the SIRs will go the same way.

Collectors are also being drawn to Team Rocket cards in anticipation of the upcoming Team Rocket set. Cards like the Jessie & James full art trainer from Hidden Fates, the Persian IR from Shrouded Fable, and vintage cards like Rocket’s Mewtwo ex and Rocket’s Snorlax ex are all seeing price rises. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the popularity of the Wizards of the Coast Team Rocket set to increase too, especially as so many more people will now have a taste for master sets after the 151 experience.

How to Stay Ahead with Pokémon TCG in 2025

When a new set comes out, we all want to rip as many packs as we can and breathe a sigh of relief when we pull our chase card. Unfortunately, it rarely goes that way. In 2025, as always, if you’re after a specific card, it’s best to just buy it.

But exercise caution, especially when it’s just after the set’s release. Prices tend to be much higher at first, and eventually even out into the typical going rate. And if the card is still worth more than you’re willing to pay – compare the prices to the Japanese and Chinese versions. They’re usually cheaper (much cheaper in the case of Chinese cards!) and still feature the stunning artwork.

Whether you’re buying single cards or sealed products, or just pre-ordering the next Pokémon TCG set, make sure you’re buying from reputable, trusted sellers who’ll fulfill your pre-orders and not charge above retail value. Buying Pokémon cards from sellers like Magic Madhouse means you don’t need to worry about buying weighed, resealed or fake products, and you’ll have a reliable source for all the latest Pokémon TCG news and releases.

With your order secured, all you’ll need to worry about is what binder to display your master set in, or what to do with your bulk. Or perhaps it’s time to attempt an every-card-of-a-specific-Pokémon collecting challenge? If so, let us know how you get on, and good luck!