Welcome to Rare Candy's "Spotlight On" series, where we feature the history and stories behind some of the rarest and coolest cards and collectibles. Looking to pick up some Twilight Masquerade of your own? Explore Rare Candy's shop listings to see cards and items for sale!
It’s an exciting time in the world of the Pokémon TCG! Last Friday marked the official release date of the game’s newest expansion Twilight Masquerade, which features some brand-new Pokémon from the Scarlet and Violet video games! Fans of the Teal Mask downloadable content will be excited to see the likes of Ogerpon, Munkidori and Bloodmoon Ursaluna make their TCG debut. Today we’ll be taking a look at the top cards from Twilight Masquerade for both collectors and players!
Biggest Chase Cards
From a collector’s perspective, Twilight Masquerade is one of the most exciting sets so far in the Scarlet and Violet block. In addition to featuring exciting new Pokémon, it also has many unique and eye-catching Special Illustration Rare (SIR) cards for fans to chase after. Let’s take a look at some of the set’s most coveted cards:
Greninja ex SIR: This card currently sits atop the price charts for Twilight Masquerade, and it’s easy to see why! The artwork by akagi is as elegant as it is bold, and makes for a wonderful depiction of this fan-favorite starter Pokémon.
Carmine SIR: Full art and illustration rare Trainer cards are always extremely popular with collectors. They showcase the characters in the Pokémon universe, who are often recognizable from their roles in video games or the animated series. Carmine’s bright and detailed art by En Morikura currently places her value at the top of the set’s many Trainer cards.
Ogerpon ex SIR: Upon its introduction into the franchise, Ogerpon immediately became one of Paldea’s most recognizable Pokémon. Its unique design and success in the video game set the stage for four brilliant Special Illustration Rare cards–one for each of its forms! Currently Teal Mask is the most expensive (likely due to its competitive viability), but all of these cards make a valuable addition to any collection.
Eevee IR: Despite not being as rare as other cards on this list, Eevee’s illustration rare is definitely one to look out for. Cards featuring Eevee, one of the most iconic Pokémon of all time, are almost always sought out by collectors even years after their release. This card should be a top priority for anyone looking ahead to make an investment.
Perrin SIR: Rounding off our list, we have another Special Illustration Rare Trainer card! Perrin’s artwork is not only beautiful, but also more than meets the eye: it is only half of a completed picture formed with Hisuian Growlithe! Each card is from the other’s point of view as she photographs the adorable Pokémon, making Perrin as memorable and unique as it is rare.
Top Competitive Cards
Twilight Masquerade isn’t just a hit with collectors; the set contains several cards which will have an impact on the competitive landscape as well. The upcoming North American International Championship (NAIC) is the first official tournament where these cards will be legal for play, and they will undoubtedly shape the results. For many, this is the last chance to earn the last few points needed to qualify for the World Championship–so the stakes are high! If you’re new to the competitive TCG and are interested in learning more, make sure to check out our Players’ Guide series. Here are a few key cards you should keep an eye on:
Dragapult ex: This card is the centerpiece of one of the most powerful new decks to come out of Twilight Masquerade. With a whopping 320 HP and no weakness, this card is as hard to get off the field as it is offensively deadly; its Phantom Dive attack allows it to place six damage counters on your opponent’s bench every turn! Many current top decks rely on weak basic Pokémon to set up and are thus very vulnerable to this amount of damage spread. If you aren’t going to play this card yourself, make sure you have a solid strategy against it.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex: If Dragapult wasn’t already enough, Bloodmoon Ursaluna is another standout Pokémon ex from Twilight Masquerade! This card is incredibly versatile, as its Colorless typing allows it to use any Energy to pay for its attack cost. Its attack does a considerable 240 damage and can be used for as little as a single energy after your opponent has taken four prize cards, which is especially useful in decks that do not already have a high-damage option. Combine this with its 260 HP, the highest of any basic ex, and it’s easy to see that this is one of the best cards in the set.
Legacy Energy: Legacy Energy is a card which initially might not seem as strong as its ACE SPEC counterparts. However, this is one of the most impactful cards in the set purely because of its effect on a single deck: Lugia VSTAR/Archeops. Legacy Energy can be accelerated straight from the deck by Archeops’ Primal Turbo Ability and provides any energy type, which lets Lugia utilize Iron Hands ex, one of the game’s most powerful attackers. This boost in power has propelled Lugia VSTAR to the top of the metagame, making it a must-have in any player’s arsenal.
Unfair Stamp: Twilight Masquerade also brings another strong ACE SPEC into the format: Unfair Stamp! Before this card’s release, the only way to disrupt your opponent’s hand to two cards was Roxanne, a Supporter card which can only be played once your opponent has drawn three prize cards. Despite these drawbacks, the card is still played in a wide variety of top decks. Unfair Stamp can do the same thing as early as the second turn of the game–without using your Supporter for the turn! This card has already found a home in Gardevoir ex decks, and as players begin to experiment with their deck lists, expect to see Unfair Stamp pop up more and more.
Tatsugiri: Last but certainly not least, we have Tatsugiri! This Pokémon may not be a powerhouse attacker, but its Attract Customers ability provides a great consistency boost to a variety of decks. Supporter cards are at the core of many strategies, and finding the one you want to play more often is often vital for success. Miraidon ex is a great example of a deck that will greatly benefit from Tatsugiri, as it can be used to dig for Boss’s Orders in the late game–something Miraidon has often struggled with before.
Looking to pick up some Twilight Masquerade of your own? Explore Rare Candy's shop listings to see cards and items for sale!
