Tag Archives: Pokemon TCG

Game News, News

Pokémon TCG: Pitch Black Launches July 17 — Mega Darkrai Leads Four New Mega ex

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If you’ve been tracking the Mega Evolution TCG series, this weekend is the moment to mark on your calendar. Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black, the fifth set in the Mega Evolution run, begins prerelease events at participating Play! Pokémon retailers this Friday, July 4 — two weeks ahead of its full global launch on July 17, 2026.

What Is Pitch Black

Pitch Black is a dark-themed expansion built around the Mega Dimension content from Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and the set name is not subtle about its direction. Where earlier Mega Evolution sets spread the spotlight across multiple type identities, ME5 leans hard into shadow and sinister aesthetics — Mega Darkrai ex is the face of this expansion, and everything from the booster pack art to the colour palette reflects that.

The set ships with over 115 cards in total, including more than 35 cards with special illustration variants and over 20 Trainer cards. Its Japanese counterpart, Abyss Eye (アビスアイ), launched in Japan on May 22, which means Japanese players have had about six weeks of competitive data — useful context if you’re heading to a prerelease tournament this weekend.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Mega Darkrai ex booster pack
Image © The Pokémon Company

The Four Headlining Mega ex

Four Mega ex Pokémon anchor the expansion’s product line, each with its own booster pack artwork:

  • Mega Darkrai ex — the face of the set, and from Japanese Abyss Eye coverage, it arrives with 280 HP and a hit-hard moveset that fits the expansion’s aggressive tone
  • Mega Zeraora ex — a Lightning-type Mythical that pairs with Darkrai’s Darkness for what should be an interesting type-coverage combination in Standard
  • Mega Chandelure ex — the Ghost/Fire Pokémon from Unova gets the Mega treatment, with the eerie candle aesthetic fitting perfectly in a Pitch Black set
  • Mega Excadrill ex — the Ground/Steel Pokémon rounds out the headliners, giving the set broader type coverage

Beyond the main four, Bulbapedia’s set list also confirms Mega Slowbro ex, Wailord ex, and Morpeko ex among the expansion’s notable cards.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Mega Zeraora ex booster pack
Image © The Pokémon Company
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution | Official Trailer | Sneak Peek — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

Products at Launch

The standard product lineup for Pitch Black includes individual booster packs (10 cards + 1 Basic Energy + 1 Pokémon TCG Live code), six-pack Booster Bundles, and a 36-pack Booster Display Box. Pokémon Center also has an Elite Trainer Box exclusive. For this weekend’s prerelease events, participating stores will be selling the Build & Battle Box early — as confirmed by Pokémon.com — which gives players a sealed pool to build from for the event format.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Mega Chandelure ex booster pack
Image © The Pokémon Company

Dates for Singapore Players

Prerelease events: July 4–6 at participating Play! Pokémon retailers. Check with your local store to confirm they’re running events this weekend — not every retailer holds prereleases, but Singapore’s Play! Pokémon community is well-represented across the island.

Digital play: July 16 in Pokémon TCG Live — the day before physical launch.

Full retail launch: July 17 — Pokémon Center (global) and local stockists.

For the latest on Pitch Black’s Singapore prerelease scene and any local tournament announcements, keep an eye on our Game News section and the official Pitch Black expansion page on Pokémon.com.

Game News, News

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders Drops Now With 100+ New Cards

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Pokémon TCG Pocket’s newest themed booster pack, Everyday Wonders, is live right now on iOS and Android — and it brings one of the most charming card sets the game has ever released. With over 100 new cards built around a picnic-and-sunshine theme, it is a deliberate contrast to the Legendary-heavy sets that dominated the past year.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders | Official Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

What Is the Everyday Wonders Expansion?

Everyday Wonders (set code B3b) is the third themed booster pack for Pokémon TCG Pocket, the free-to-play digital card game available on iOS and Android worldwide. The set centres on a cosy, slice-of-life picnic theme: Pikachu posing on a tree stump in a flower-filled garden, Snorlax dozing in a sunlit meadow, Piplup gliding across a frozen lake. The five headline Pokémon are Pikachu, Piplup, Sylveon, Snorlax and Greedent.

According to the official Pokémon announcement, the expansion adds over 100 cards to the game, including a Mega Diancie ex making its debut in Pokémon TCG Pocket — the high-rarity chase pull collectors will be hunting from day one. Everyday Wonders packs join the standard two-per-day free rotation alongside existing sets immediately.

Pikachu full-art card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders, illustrated by Yoshimi Miyoshi
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Key Cards Worth Pulling

The top targets are the full-art versions of the set’s five featured Pokémon. The Pikachu full art, illustrated by Yoshimi Miyoshi, places the series mascot on a wooden stage in a garden bursting with colour — the kind of card that sits in a sleeve and never gets played. Piplup‘s full art by HYOGONOSUKE captures the Water-type mid-Bubble Beam across a glittering ice rink, while Sylveon‘s full art by booota sets the Fairy-type in a dreamy kawaii bedroom lined with plush toys.

Sylveon full-art card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders with Soothing Ribbon ability
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The competitive standout is Snorlax with the Massive Body Ability: while in the Active Spot, opponents cannot play Stadium cards from their hand. That is a genuine disruption tool in the current pocket meta where Stadiums swing damage calculations. Combined with 130 HP and a 70-damage Mega Punch, this Snorlax is a legitimate wall — illustrated here by veteran Pokémon card artist Atsuko Nishida.

Snorlax card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders with Massive Body ability, illustrated by Atsuko Nishida
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

July Events: Mark Your Calendar

The launch is just the opening move. The Pokémon Company has a full events schedule lined up through July for Everyday Wonders players:

  • Everyday Wonders Emblem Event (early-to-mid July): Battle opponents to earn emblems and complete missions for shinedust and other rewards.
  • Community Week (mid-July): A trading-focused window with special missions — designed for coordinated swaps between friends and local groups chasing set completion.
  • Hisuian Zorua Drop Event & Growlithe/Emolga Wonder Pick (mid-to-late July): Special promo packs and bonus Wonder Picks for fans who stayed engaged through the month.
Piplup full-art card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders, illustrated by HYOGONOSUKE
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Singapore Pocket Players: Open Your App Now

Pokémon TCG Pocket has no regional restrictions — if you are in Singapore, the Everyday Wonders packs are already waiting in your pack queue right now. The two free daily packs apply to the new set straight away, so you can start pulling without spending a single Pokégold.

The Community Week trading event in July is particularly worth noting for local players. Singapore’s TCG Pocket scene has expanded quickly, and the Community Week format is built exactly for the kind of coordinated trading that active local groups can exploit to complete sets efficiently.

Physical Pokémon fans should also know that the Pokémon Center Singapore recently reopened at Jewel Changi Airport — if Everyday Wonders’ cosy art style catches your eye, themed merchandise and physical TCG products are likely to follow at local game retailers in the weeks ahead. For more Pokémon and gaming news, stay tuned to GameTrader.SG.

Community, Event, News

Pokémon Center Singapore Reopens at Jewel on 1 July 2026

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Mark your calendars, Trainers — the Pokémon Center Singapore reopening lands on 1 July 2026, and the revamped store at Jewel Changi Airport is unlike anything the franchise has done outside Japan. After closing in April for its biggest makeover since 2019, the world’s first permanent Pokémon Center outside Japan returns with a new Legendary mascot, a fully Singapore-inspired interior, and 20 exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else.

The Pokémon Center Singapore reopening: what’s new

This isn’t a quick touch-up. Pokémon Center SINGAPORE is the first Pokémon Center store outside Japan to receive a full-scale redesign, and the team has leaned hard into local identity. The shopfront has been reimagined to evoke the Singapore skyline, with shelving and display nooks modelled on the city’s beloved shophouses, complete with Peranakan tile-inspired backdrops and arches.

The store keeps its prime spot on level four of Jewel Changi Airport — address 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-201/202/203, Singapore 819666 — and trades daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm. If you’ve shopped here before, expect the same airport-connected convenience, just with a glow-up that finally makes the place feel unmistakably local.

Pokémon Center Singapore reopening interior with shophouse-inspired shelving and food-court-themed plush displays

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

Solgaleo becomes the new face of the store

The headline change: Solgaleo, the lion-like Legendary Pokémon with a blazing sun-shaped mane, is now the official symbol of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE. It replaces the previous trio of Lapras, Celebi and Pikachu, and you’ll spot it splashed across the refreshed logo and standing tall as a statue at the entrance — flanked, of course, by Pikachu. The choice is a neat fit: a sun-maned lion for the Lion City.

Look closer and you’ll find playful local touches threaded through the displays, from a hawker-style food zone featuring ice kacang and noodle motifs to oversized figures perched against Poké Ball-patterned tilework.

Pokémon figures displayed against Peranakan-tile-inspired shelving at the reopened Pokémon Center Singapore

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

A store that actually feels like Singapore

Beyond the merch walls, the revamp adds genuine reasons to linger. An interactive Pokédex screen lets visitors browse and filter Pokémon by type, and the towering plush walls return bigger than ever — rows of Charizard, Eevee evolutions, starters and more stacked floor to ceiling. It’s the kind of fan-service detail that makes the trip out to Changi worth it, even if you’re just window shopping.

Interactive Pokédex screen and floor-to-ceiling plush walls inside Pokémon Center Singapore

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

New event zone for TCG and gaming

One of the most exciting additions is a dedicated event zone at the back of the store, kitted out with a large-format screen. The space is built to host everything from Pokémon Trading Card Game sessions and video game gatherings to mobile gaming meet-ups. For Singapore’s TCG community — which has been crying out for more official play spaces — this is a real win, and a sign the store wants to be a hangout, not just a checkout.

Plush display shelving inside the newly renovated Pokémon Center Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

Exclusive reopening merchandise and prices

A total of 20 exclusive Singapore-inspired products have been created for the grand reopening, dropping in two waves. The first wave of 12 items arrives on 1 July, headlined by an adorable Pikachu clutching a durian and a regal Solgaleo-and-Pikachu duo plush. Here’s the launch-day line-up in SGD:

  • Pikachu with Durian plush — S$34
  • Solgaleo & Pikachu plush — S$70
  • Metal Plate (Pokémon Center SINGAPORE) — S$198
  • Kopi Cup & Saucer Set — S$35
  • Strap Keychains (Pink / Blue / Green) — S$20 each
  • Magnet — S$14
  • Logo Pin — S$10
  • Sticker Set — S$8
  • Postcard Set — S$8
  • A4 Clear Folder — S$4

Many feature original artwork imagining Pokémon living among Singapore’s landscape — think Pikachu wandering past shophouses and HDB blocks. A second wave lands on 7 August 2026, leaning into local everyday culture with bag charms of Pikachu paired with a durian, a cup of kopi, and a slice of pandan cake. Note that purchase limits may apply during the opening period.

Pokémon Center Singapore exclusive reopening merchandise including Pikachu durian plush, Solgaleo plush, kopi cup and saucer set and Singapore cityscape art print

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

How to visit during the first five days

Expect crowds. To manage the rush, entry will be restricted from 1 to 5 July 2026, split into two methods:

  • Store Visit Application — advance reservations for the earlier sessions (apply via the official Instagram, @pokemonofficial.sg).
  • Same-day Queue Entry Tickets — for entry from 1:00pm onwards, distributed on-site from 8:30am daily on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can’t make it to Changi for opening week? The store also runs an official online shop via Lazada, and you can keep up with restocks and event news through its official Pokémon Center SINGAPORE page. For more launches and openings around the island, check out our other events coverage.

Whether you’re chasing that durian Pikachu, hunting a rare plush, or just want to see Solgaleo in the flesh, the reopened Pokémon Center Singapore is shaping up to be one of the year’s must-visit spots for SG Trainers.

Game News

Pokémon TCG Pitch Black: Mega Darkrai ex Arrives 17 July

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Pre-release weekend is almost here: Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black opens its Build & Battle events at Play! Pokémon partner stores from 4 July, with the global release following on 17 July 2026. Leading the expansion is Mega Darkrai ex — a 280-HP Darkness-type whose signature move can instantly knock out any opponent caught in a special condition, a mechanic already reshaping the Japanese competitive scene since the equivalent set “Abyss Eye” dropped there on 22 May.

Official Abyss Eye / Pitch Black expansion announcement (Japanese) — via ポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネル on YouTube

Mega Darkrai ex Makes Its TCG Debut

Pokemon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black booster pack featuring Mega Darkrai ex
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Pitch Black is the fifth set in the Mega Evolution TCG era, which runs alongside the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC. Mega Darkrai ex (280 HP) carries two attacks: a damage-scaling first move that punishes Pokémon with damage counters on your bench, and “Abyss Eye” — a three-Energy attack that instantly knocks out the opponent’s Active Pokémon if it is Confused, Burned, Poisoned, or otherwise in a special condition. Paired with the new Black Bell Trainer card — which inflicts Confusion on two of your opponent’s Pokémon at once — the combo has already been a staple of the Japanese “Abyss Eye” format since that set’s 22 May launch.

Joining Mega Darkrai ex are five more Mega Evolution Pokémon ex: Mega Zeraora ex (Lightning), Mega Slowbro ex (Psychic), Mega Chandelure ex (Psychic), and Mega Excadrill ex (Metal). Singapore collectors already importing from Japan have a head start on knowing the pool — the English Pitch Black set mirrors Abyss Eye’s card list with localised text.

What Is Inside the Pitch Black Expansion?

Mega Darkrai ex and Malamar cards from the Pitch Black Pokemon TCG expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Pitch Black carries over 115 cards in total, including regular Pokémon ex such as Wailord ex, Morpeko ex, Lurantis ex, Tapu Koko ex, and Rampardos ex. Collectors hunting the full set will be targeting:

  • 11 Illustration Rare Pokémon cards
  • 18 Ultra Rare Pokémon and Trainer cards
  • 6 Special Illustration Rare Pokémon and Supporter cards, including a SIR variant of Mega Chandelure ex

Mega Darkrai ex (card 048 in the Japanese set) has already driven elevated secondary market prices in Japan, with the SIR and special art variants leading interest. English singles are expected to follow suit once supply unlocks after the 17 July global release.

Pre-Release Events: Open Packs Early from 4 July

Play! Pokémon partner stores worldwide can sell Pitch Black Build & Battle Boxes from 4 July through 12 July 2026, giving players a full pre-release window before the official launch. Each Build & Battle Box includes four Pitch Black booster packs, a ready-to-play 40-card deck, and one of four exclusive foil promo cards: Dhelmise, Slowbro, Miraidon, or Bastiodon.

Pre-release events are a relaxed store-format entry point where everyone opens packs and battles with brand-new cards simultaneously — a good time whether you are a competitive player or picking up the set for the first time. Check with your local card shop on whether they are a registered Play! Pokémon venue and whether pre-registration is required, as slots fill quickly for high-demand sets. For more on the Mega Evolution TCG era, see our Game News archive.

Products and Singapore Availability

The Pitch Black product wave at launch includes individual booster packs, three-pack blisters, a six-pack Booster Bundle, the Build & Battle Box, and the Elite Trainer Box. A Pokémon Center exclusive ETB is also part of the lineup. The set releases globally on 17 July, and local availability is expected at major game retailers and card shops in Singapore around the same date — SGD pricing is to be confirmed once local stock details are announced.

Given Mega Darkrai ex’s strong competitive potential and the Mega Evolution series’ consistent sell-through in Singapore, the Elite Trainer Box is the safest balanced buy for players who want pull opportunities and tournament supplies together. Those chasing SIR cards may prefer waiting for the English singles market to settle in the first week post-launch.

Game News

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders Launches 30 June — Mega Diancie ex, Cosy Cards, July Events

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The next wave of Pokémon TCG Pocket packs is less than a week away, and it is exactly as cute as it sounds. Everyday Wonders (expansion code B3b) launches on 30 June 2026 at 9am SGT, bringing a fresh roster of cosy, slice-of-life card art alongside three brand-new ex Pokémon — including the format’s first-ever Mega. Singapore players can dive in the moment servers go live, and there are no regional restrictions to worry about.

Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders official trailer thumbnail — Pikachu, Piplup and Snorlax
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Watch the Everyday Wonders Official Trailer

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders | Official Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

What’s in the Everyday Wonders Card Set

Everyday Wonders is the twelfth themed expansion in Pokémon TCG Pocket and leans fully into the cuter, calmer side of Pokémon — cards show pocket monsters dozing off, posing sweetly, or simply having a blast alongside their Trainers. The confirmed card pool includes:

Four-diamond ex cards

  • Mega Diancie ex — the first Mega Pokémon to appear in TCG Pocket, making it an instant collector target
  • Dedenne ex — a Tools-synergy attacker that grows stronger the more Tool cards you have in play
  • Hisuian Zoroark ex — a dark-type fan favourite returning from the Hisui region

Other revealed cards: Pikachu, Piplup, Snorlax, Sylveon, Greedent, Hisuian Lilligant, Hisuian Goodra, Rockruff, Fidough, Yamper, Slowpoke, and Quagsire — spanning the main series and Hisui variants. New Trainer cards include Puppy Loving Girl and the Item card Small Balloon.

Pikachu card art from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

New Mechanics to Try Out

Everyday Wonders brings a few interesting new interactions to the Pocket metagame. Sylveon can restore 30 HP to one of your Benched Pokémon each turn while it holds a Tool card — a steady healing engine that pairs naturally with bulky, Tool-heavy builds. Dedenne ex scales its attack alongside the number of Tools in play, making the two cards obvious partners.

The new Item card Small Balloon reduces any Basic Pokémon’s retreat cost by one energy, giving faster decks some welcome flexibility. Several Pokémon in the expansion also share a move called Puppy Pile, tying Rockruff, Fidough, Yamper and the Puppy Loving Girl Trainer into a thematically cohesive puppy cluster — arguably the most aggressively adorable corner of the entire set.

Sylveon card art from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

July Events to Mark in Your Calendar

The expansion rolls out alongside a month-long schedule of in-game events running through July 2026:

  • Everyday Wonders Emblem Event (early to mid-July): Battle-based missions rewarding shinedust and exclusive emblems for your profile.
  • Community Week (mid-July): Trading and sharing missions that hand out Pack Hourglasses and cosmetic accessories.
  • Hisuian Zorua Drop Event (mid-to-late July): Win special battles to unlock a Hisuian Zorua promo card — a must-grab for Hisui region collectors.
  • Wonder Pick Event (mid-to-late July): A wonder pick pool featuring Growlithe and Emolga cards.

On 1 July, new collection files and display boards depicting all five of the expansion’s flagship Pokémon — Pikachu, Piplup, Sylveon, Greedent and Snorlax — will be added so you can deck out your card collection display in style.

Snorlax card art from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

When Singapore Players Can Open Packs

Everyday Wonders goes live at 9am SGT on 30 June 2026 (that is 6pm PDT on 29 June for those tracking the global rollout). Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is free-to-play on iOS and Android worldwide, and the new expansion is available globally with no region locking — so there is nothing standing between Singapore players and that Mega Diancie ex except Pack Hourglasses and a little luck.

Keep an eye on the Game News section here at GameTrader.SG as the July event schedule firms up and more card reveals land ahead of launch.

Game News, Shop and Merchandise

Mega Rayquaza Returns to the Pokémon TCG — Storm Emeralda Drops 31 July in Japan

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Mega Rayquaza is coming back to the Pokémon Trading Card Game in a big way. The Pokémon Company has officially announced Storm Emeralda (ストームエメラルダ), the next expansion pack in the Pokémon Card Game MEGA product line, and it puts one of the franchise’s most iconic Legendaries front and centre.

【公式】「ポケモンカードゲーム」『ポケポケ』にメガレックウザ登場！ — via ポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネル on YouTube

What Is Storm Emeralda?

Storm Emeralda is the latest expansion in the Pokémon Card Game MEGA series — Japan’s current product line that brings Mega Evolution mechanics back to the physical TCG. The set releases in Japan on 31 July 2026 and features Mega Rayquaza ex (メガレックウザex) as its headline card, bringing the Sky High Pokémon into the modern Pokémon Card Game era.

Each booster pack contains 5 cards at ¥200 (tax included), with the full set spanning 76+ card types. Alongside the main expansion, three Mega Starter Sets also launch on 31 July, each built around a fan-favourite Pokémon:

  • Sprigatito & Meowscarada ex Mega Starter Set
  • Eevee ex Mega Starter Set
  • Zorua & Zoroark ex Mega Starter Set
Storm Emeralda official key visual featuring Mega Rayquaza
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The Summer Campaign: Mega Rayquaza Soaring Through the Sky

The launch is part of a wider summer campaign called 宙駆けるメガレックウザ (“Mega Rayquaza Soaring Through the Sky”), where The Pokémon Company plans for fans to encounter Mega Rayquaza at various locations across Japan this summer. Campaign details and venue listings are up on the official campaign site (Japanese).

Pokémon TCG Pocket Gets Mega Rayquaza Too

If you play Pokémon TCG Pocket on mobile, good news: Mega Rayquaza is landing there as well. The expansion 天空の支配者 (“Ruler of the Sky”) adds Mega Rayquaza to the app on 30 July 2026, one day before the physical set drops in Japan. Both launches are tied to the same Mega Rayquaza campaign.

Mega Rayquaza official illustration from The Pokemon Company
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

When Can Singapore Fans Get Storm Emeralda?

No Singapore retail date has been confirmed, but the international rollout currently looks like this:

  • 30 July 2026 — Pokémon TCG Pocket “Ruler of the Sky” expansion (global app)
  • 31 July 2026 — Japan physical release (¥200/pack, importable)
  • 7 August 2026 — Taiwan and Hong Kong regional release
  • 6 November 2026 — English release as Pokémon TCG: Delta Reign

Singapore TCG players who want Japanese booster boxes early can expect local import stores and online sellers to stock them within a couple of weeks of the Japan launch. The English Delta Reign set will be the competitive-legal version for most local tournaments and typically carries a Singapore retail price — watch for pre-orders from local card shops closer to November.

You can check out more Pokémon TCG news and shop and merch updates on the blog.

Last Words

Mega Rayquaza holds a special place in the Pokémon fandom — its Ruby and Sapphire lore, dramatic Mega Evolution design, and years of competitive dominance make it one of those Legendaries that never really goes out of style. Storm Emeralda gives Singapore collectors three months’ notice before the English Delta Reign lands, which is plenty of time to decide whether to hunt Japanese boxes or wait for the English set. Either way, the Mega Starter Sets (Meowscarada, Eevee, Zoroark) look like a smart entry point for newer players joining for the hype. Keep an eye on local card shops — pre-orders for import boxes tend to go fast.

News

Mega Rayquaza Lands in Pokémon TCG Pocket and the Card Game — July 2026

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Mega Rayquaza is making its most dramatic entrance in years — Pokémon TCG Pocket and the physical Pokémon Trading Card Game are both getting Mega Rayquaza expansions, dropping one day apart in late July. The Pokémon Company revealed the news on 18 June through its official Japanese channels, and the simultaneous physical-and-digital launch is a first for the franchise.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Delta Reign & Pokémon TCG Pocket: Ruler of the Skies | Coming Soon — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

Ruler of the Skies — Mega Rayquaza Lands in Pokémon TCG Pocket on 30 July

The Pokémon TCG Pocket expansion is titled 天空の支配者 (Ruler of the Skies), and it arrives on 30 July 2026 at 10:00 AM JST. As the fourth booster set in the app, it puts Mega Rayquaza front and centre as the marquee pull. TCG Pocket is available in over 150 countries — Singapore included — so the update hits everyone at the same time.

Mega Rayquaza ex card teaser for Delta Reign and Ruler of the Skies Pokémon TCG expansions
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Storm Emeralda — The Japanese Physical Set Drops 31 July

One day later, on 31 July 2026, the physical card game expansion ストームエメラルダ (Storm Emeralda) hits Japanese shelves. Each pack contains five cards and retails for 200 yen (tax included); a booster box comes with 30 packs. The set features Mega Rayquaza ex as its headline card — almost certainly the chase pull of the set.

Storm Emeralda key visual for Pokémon Trading Card Game MEGA expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

For the English-speaking market, Storm Emeralda is being localised as Delta Reign, which releases on 6 November 2026. It is the first time the English set name and date have been announced alongside the Japanese counterpart.

A First for the Pokémon TCG: Physical and Digital in Sync

What makes this announcement genuinely historic is the co-ordinated timing. This is the first time The Pokémon Company has simultaneously launched a full physical card game expansion and a dedicated Pokémon TCG Pocket booster set around the same theme. The Mega Rayquaza moment is designed to land across both formats at once — a clear signal that Pocket is now treated as a parallel pillar alongside the physical game.

A tied promotional campaign — 宙駆けるメガレックウザキャンペーン (Mega Rayquaza Sky-Soaring Campaign) — runs in conjunction with both releases. Full campaign details are on the official site at pokemon.co.jp/ex/megarayquaza (Japanese).

What Singapore Pokémon Fans Need to Know

  • TCG Pocket (Ruler of the Skies): Available globally — Singapore players get access on 30 July, same as everywhere else. Free daily pack openers continue as normal.
  • Storm Emeralda (Japanese physical TCG): Japan-only release at 200 yen per pack. Local hobby shops and card importers in Singapore (Bugis, Bras Basah, The Cathay) regularly stock Japanese Pokémon TCG — expect pre-orders to surface before July.
  • Delta Reign (English physical TCG): Launches 6 November 2026. Available at the Pokémon Center Jewel Changi Airport and local card retailers. No Singapore-exclusive products announced at this stage.

If Mega Rayquaza ex becomes a high-value ultra rare — and history suggests it will — competition for pull rates across both formats is going to be intense.

Last words

Two dates to mark on the calendar: 30 July for Pokémon TCG Pocket and 31 July for Japanese card packs, with English Delta Reign following on 6 November. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest Pokémon card moments of the year. Stay tuned to GameTrader’s news section as card reveals, pull rates, and pre-order listings come through.

2026 Pokemon North America International Championships banner
News

Watch Pokémon NAIC 2026 Live Tonight — Free Blastoise in Pokémon Champions

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The 2026 Pokémon North America International Championships (NAIC) is live right now — and there is a very good reason for Singapore fans to tune in beyond the world-class competition: stream on Twitch tonight and you will walk away with a free Blastoise for your Pokémon Champions roster.

2026 Pokémon North America International Championships Preview Show — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

What is the Pokémon NAIC 2026?

The NAIC is the final International Championship of the 2026 Pokémon Championship Series, running June 12–14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Competitors are fighting for a share of over US$500,000 in prizes and, crucially, direct invitations to the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco this August.

Four games take centre stage: the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC), the Trading Card Game (TCG), Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. This weekend also marks a first: Pokémon Champions makes its inaugural appearance at an International Championship — the biggest competitive stage the new mobile game has seen yet, ahead of its global launch on June 17.

How to Watch from Singapore

The main broadcast streams on Twitch.tv/Pokemon and YouTube.com/@PlayPokemon, with a central hub at Pokemon.com/Broadcasts where you can hop between game streams, check the schedule, and find caster line-ups.

Broadcasts run approximately 7am–6pm PDT each day, which works out to roughly 10pm–9am SGT. Yes, that means late-night viewing — set an alarm, grab some snacks, and settle in for the big matches after dinner.

Get a Free Blastoise in Pokémon Champions

Blastoise Cherish Ball event drop for Pokemon Champions at NAIC 2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Here is the deal: watch Twitch.tv/Pokemon for a cumulative 60 minutes over the three-day weekend and you will earn a Twitch Drop code for a battle-ready Blastoise in a Cherish Ball. Make sure Twitch Drops are enabled in your account settings before you start watching. Redeem the code by June 18, 4:59pm PDT (June 19, 7:59am SGT) — do not sleep on this one.

Watching a partnered co-streamer for 45 minutes earns you 12 Quick Coupons instead — items that shorten Pokémon recruitment wait times by one hour each, handy for building your team faster once the game launches.

How to activate Twitch Drops: log into Twitch, go to Settings → Connections, and make sure your Pokémon Champions account is linked before the stream starts.

More Drops Across Every Pokémon Game

Pokemon TCG Live Twitch Drops rewards at NAIC 2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The Blastoise is the headline reward, but every major Pokémon title has drops running this weekend. Here is the full breakdown:

Pokémon TCG Live (Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG)

  • 30 minutes: Digital Chaos Rising Booster Packs
  • 45 minutes: Two Special Illustration Rares (SIRs)
  • 60 minutes: Mega Blastoise Avatar Cosmetics — jacket, coin, card sleeves, and deck box
  • 45 min on a partnered co-streamer: Two Ultra Rare Cards

Pokémon GO (Twitch.tv/PokemonGO)

  • 30 minutes: Timed Research featuring Seaking with Icy Wind and 20 Goldeen XL Candy
  • 45 minutes: NAIC Battle Bundle (Elite Charged TM, Rare Candy XL, 25 Fast TMs, 25 Charged TMs)
  • Claim deadline: June 26

Pokémon UNITE (Twitch.tv/PokemonUNITE)

  • Password revealed live during broadcast: 2026 NAIC Logo Sticker
  • 20 minutes: Platinum Blastoise Boost Emblem
  • Redeem by August 29

Important: each game has its own dedicated Twitch channel, and watch time is tracked per channel. Watching Twitch.tv/Pokemon counts toward Champions drops, not TCG Live drops — you will need to switch tabs intentionally if you want rewards across multiple games.

Last Words

Whether you are deep in the VGC meta, chasing championship-calibre cards for your TCG Live collection, or just want a head start building your Pokémon Champions team before launch day on June 17, there is something worth staying up for this weekend. The NAIC is the last shot for competitors to earn direct World Championship invites, and with Pokémon Champions joining the International stage for the first time, history is being made.

Set an alarm for 10pm SGT, drop into Twitch.tv/Pokemon, and clock your 60 minutes. That Blastoise is free for the taking. For more Pokémon events and gaming news, keep it locked to GameTrader.SG.

News

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Revealed — First-Ever Worldwide Release on 16 September

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The Pokémon Trading Card Game is turning 30 this year, and The Pokémon Company is pulling out all the stops. On 1 June 2026, they officially revealed Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration — a landmark expansion that introduces a new rarity, guarantees a foil Pikachu in every single pack, and is set to drop simultaneously across the globe on 16 September 2026. That last part alone is a big deal for us here in Singapore.

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration official logo
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

What Is the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Set?

The 30th Celebration expansion (Japanese set code: m6a) commemorates three full decades of the Pokémon Trading Card Game since its 1996 debut in Japan. The set takes a dual approach: brand-new cards designed for 2026 play standards, alongside lovingly foiled reprints of iconic cards from across the game’s history.

Every single card in the set — including Basic Energy — is a foil card. There are no non-holographic commons here. Crack a pack and every card you pull will have that shine.

A Pikachu for Every Trainer — 30 Unique Designs

Here is the headline mechanic: each booster pack is guaranteed to contain one of 30 different Pikachu card variants, each illustrated by a different artist. Among the confirmed illustrators are Atsuko Nishida (who drew the original Base Set Pikachu back in the day), Yuu Nishida, and OKACHEKE. Completing all 30 Pikachus will be the collector challenge of 2026.

Each pack contains five foil game cards, one foil Basic Energy, and one Pokémon TCG Live code card — a lean but premium format that keeps every pull meaningful.

Meet the Futuristic Rare — a Brand-New Rarity

Mewtwo ex Futuristic Rare card from Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration, illustrated by YOSHIROTTEN
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Futuristic Rare is a completely new card rarity debuting with this set. The inaugural Futuristic Rares are Mewtwo ex (157/128) and Mew ex (158/128) — both illustrated by renowned Japanese visual artist YOSHIROTTEN, whose work blends retro-futuristic aesthetics with vivid, almost holographic colour. The result is unlike anything we have seen on a Pokémon card before.

Beyond rarity, these are competitive cards. Mewtwo ex arrives with 230 HP and the attack Psychic Powers (230 damage, with a recovery restriction on the following turn), while Mew ex features Memory Helix for creative attack-copying plays. Both are set to be noteworthy in tournament metas.

Other new competitive additions include Greninja ex and Sylveon ex, alongside Illustration Rares for Espeon, Umbreon, Lapras, Hisuian Zorua, Drifloon, and Lycanroc.

Classic Reprints with a 30th Anniversary Touch

Classic Base Set Charizard reprint from Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration with special foil treatment
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The set also includes 30 classic reprints drawn from across the game’s eras — each receiving a special foil treatment and a 30th anniversary stamp. Confirmed so far: the legendary Base Set Charizard, and the Pikachu & Zekrom-GX from 2019’s Sun & Moon — Team Up expansion, among others. Classic reprints are not legal in the Standard format, but they can be played in formats that permit the original printings.

Think of them as wearable nostalgia — cards that look stunning in binders and feel great to pull.

What This Means for Singapore Trainers

Here is the part that matters most to us: 16 September 2026 is a worldwide simultaneous launch. In the 30-year history of the Pokémon TCG, international markets — including Singapore — have consistently received sets weeks or even months after Japan and the US. A coordinated global release date is genuinely historic, and it means local game stores and hobby shops in Singapore will have product on the same day as everyone else.

With the Pokémon Center Singapore reopening at Jewel Changi Airport on 1 July 2026, there is every reason to expect the Center to carry 30th Celebration stock from day one. Pricing in SGD is to be confirmed closer to launch.

If you are a competitive player, mark 16 September on your calendar — the new Mewtwo ex and Mew ex Futuristic Rares will almost certainly shake up the post-Worlds meta, and having them on release day rather than weeks later puts Singapore players on equal footing with the rest of the world for the first time.

Last words

Thirty years. Every card foil. Thirty Pikachus. A new rarity. A simultaneous global launch. The Pokémon TCG has not had a set this loaded with significance since the original Celebrations in 2021 — and even that set did not come with a worldwide day-one release. Whether you collect, play competitively, or just love the nostalgia hit of cracking a shiny Charizard, 30th Celebration is the one to watch in 2026. Keep an eye on GameTrader.SG as we get closer to September for local pricing, pre-order alerts, and whatever else The Pokémon Company announces for Singapore.