Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet—Shrouded Fable, Hands-On Preview

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Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet—Shrouded Fable expansion kicks off on August 8, with preorders available now, and we've managed to get our hands on the latest expansion.


Based on the Loyal Three and their Moochi-feeding mythical master, Pecharunt, the Shrouded Fable set features some key players of the Pokémon Scarlet & Violet DLC: Hidden Treasures of Area Zero, amongst new additions. It's a packed set, with Kingdra ex also making a royal splash in the expansion.


As night falls, Pecharunt ex emerges, commanding the Loyal Three—Okidogi ex, Munkidori ex, and Fezandipiti ex—in their evil mission. Meanwhile, Revavroom ex lights up the battlefield as a Lightning type through Terastallization.

Here's a firsthand look at our highlights from the Elite Trainer Box, Kingambit Illustration Collection, Kingdra ex-Special Illustration Collection, and some standout cards from Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet—Shrouded Fable.

Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box Preview​

The Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet—Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box is an absolute must-have if you're a dedicated trainer. Everything is neatly organized in a collector's box with four dividers, making storing and transporting your collection easy. Plus, a Pokémon Trading Card Game Live code card for the set is included for digital pack openings. Still, nothing beats ripping open the included boosters!

Inside, you can find nine Shrouded Fable boosters, all bursting with diverse cards to enhance your deck. This is alongside a foil promo card featuring Pecharunt, a powerful addition to your Dark-type deck and a collector's gem. There's also 65 card sleeves centered around Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, all rocking a cool purple and green metallic design, perfect for a new deck build.

Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box - What's In The Box?

• Nine Shrouded Fable booster packs
• Full-art foil promo card featuring Pecharunt
• 65 card sleeves featuring the Loyal Three
• 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
• A player's guide to the expansion
• Six damage-counter dice and a competition-legal coin-flip die.
• Two plastic condition markers

Kingambit Illustration Collection Preview​

The Kingambit Illustration Collection looks stunning! The titled stage two card is hands down the best card art out of the big boxes in Shrouded Fable in our opinion. Kingambit commands respect and overcomes all challengers. This collection is perfect for those looking to strike, slash, and take command in their battles.

The promo card Kingambit we've found inside showcases the big blade Pokémon in a menacing classical painting style, alongside foil cards featuring Pawniard and Bisharp completing Kingambit evolution chain for a cool Steel type playset straight out of the box! There's also four Shrouded Fable boosters, each a chance to find powerful and rare cards, and codes for Pokémon TCG Live.

Kingambit Illustration Collection - What's In The Box?

• 1 full-art foil promo card featuring Kingambit:
• 2 foil cards featuring Pawniard and Bisharp:
• 4 Shrouded Fable booster packs
• A code card for Pokémon TCG Live

Kingdra ex-Special Illustration Collection Preview​

The Kingdra ex-Special Illustration Collection is another fantastic addition that we love. This collection adds artistic flair to your deck while strengthening strategy with bench-damaging cards, making it a must-have for collectors.

Inside you'll find stunning classic Japanese print artwork and powerful gameplay features from the Kingdra ex promo card, another full playset line out of the box with foil cards featuring Horsea and Seadra, codes for Pokémon TCG Live, alongside a set of five Shrouded Fable boosters. It's nice to see those included as well.

Kingdra ex-Special Illustration Collection - What's In The Box?

• 1 full-art foil promo card featuring Kingdra ex
• 2 foil cards featuring Horsea and Seadra
• 5 Shrouded Fable booster packs
• A code card for Pokémon TCG Live

Our Favorites Pulls From Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet—Shrouded Fable​

Kingambit - Illustration Rare​

Stats:

• Type: Dark
• HP: 180
• Attacks:
  • [D] Dark Slice (50 damage)
  • [D][C][C] Night Slash (90 damage): Switch this Pokémon with one of your Benched Pokémon.

Rarity: Kingambit Illustration Rare is a literal Pocket Monster. With amazing-looking artwork and two devastating attacks, this card will be very sought after by both players and collectors!

How to Play: Once a player's Pokémon has put at least 4 damage counters on an opponent's Bench and active Pokémon, it's time to bring Kingambit in. Even if there are one or two Pokémon left over under 140HP, Massive Rend will one-shot them.

Fezandipiti - Illustration Rare​

Stats:

• Type: Psychic
• HP: 120
• Attacks:
  • Ability: Adrena Pheromone - If this Pokémon has any [D] attached and is damaged by an attack, flip a coin. If heads, prevent that damage.
  • [P] Energy Feather (30 X damage): This attack does 30 damage for each Energy attached to this Pokémon.

Rarity: As an Illustration Rare, Fezandipiti is rare, and it is very playable in dark decks. Expect this one to attract buyers with cash on the hip!

How to Play: Fezandipiti offers a superb blend of offense and defense, making it invaluable in any dark deck. Start stacking Energy on this Pokémon as soon as it hits the Bench, bringing it in to clear out any hush HP active Pokémon with Switch or sacrificing energy for retreating. Make sure to have some Energy Retrievals on hand, just in case!

Pecharunt - Illustration Rare​

Stats:

• Type: Dark
• HP: 80
• Attacks:
  • Ability: Toxic Subjugation: As long as this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, put 5 more damage counters on your opponent's Poisoned Pokémon during Pokémon Checkup.
  • [D][C] Poison Chain (10 damage) Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Poisoned. During your opponent's next turn, that Pokémon can't retreat.

Rarity: Although it can be found easily in Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Boxes, Pecharunt's ability is very powerful and can be used from the Bench. When in play, this Pokémon can cause 7 damage counters per Pokémon checkup, so there is no doubt this card will be seen in players' decks quickly.

How to Play: Pecharunt is a fantastic Poisoner and can slow an opponent's game from the Bench. Ideally, you should use another Pokémon to poison opponents and then use Pecharunt's ability to enhance the poison. Using it alongside Garbador's "Poisonous Puddle" ability from Rebel Clash would be a fantastic combination from a player's Bench, allowing an active Pokémon to clean up!

Pecharunt EX​

Stats:

• Type: Psychic
• HP: 190
• Attacks:
  • Ability: Controlling Chains: Once during your turn, you may switch 1 of your Benched [D] Pokémon, except any Pecharunt ex, with your Active Pokémon. If you do, your new Active Pokémon is now Poisoned. You can't use more than 1
  • Controlling Chains Ability each turn.
  • [D][D] Irritating Burst: 60x damage. This attack does 60 damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.

Rarity: Pecharunt EX is a rare and powerful card, although not as much as its full-art variant. It's also extremely playable, so it's likely to be in high demand!

How to Play: Using Pecharunt EX alongside any Loyal Three EX is a winning combination and allows for switching of Dark types once a turn with no retreat cost. In our opinion, this can really slow down opponents, saving Pecharunt EX when you are low on Prize Cards to devastate an opponent's active Pokémon.

Where to Preorder Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet—Shrouded Fable​

Shrouded Fable is busting out all of the usual box sets and booster bundles, this time centered around the Loyal Three of Kitakami, Okidogi, Munkidori and Fezandipiti.

They'll all be getting EX cards alongside the malicious Pecharunt, looking to shove its cursed Moochi treats into the face of any human or Pokémon it can. Here are all the details you need to secure the your preorders for Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet—Shrouded Fable, releasing on August 8.


We're always watching the latest Pokémon deals here on IGN, not to mention giving our readers early previews of upcoming sets such as Twilight Masquerade. Stick with IGN for everything Pokémon TCG for the latest.


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Christian Wait is a UK-based freelancer for IGN, you can follow him @ChrisReggieWait on Twitter/X.