Pokemon TCG: Surging Sparks Release Date and Preview
Surging Sparks – The Pokemon Company
Pokemon TCG: Surging Sparks is releasing everywhere on November 8, 2024. Of course, you don’t have to wait until then to try out its cards. You can also attend a prerelease starting October 26, 2024 and start experiencing the newest cards ahead of time!
Surging Sparks is the final expansion of 2024, and it is shaping up to be a pretty incredible set. With plenty of gorgeous cards to chase, I think this one will be a great way to send off a highly memorable year of Pokemon TCG sets. Below we’ll take a look at when the expansion is releasing and cover a few of the top cards you can expect to find in packs based on cards seen in parallel sets in Japan.
Surging Sparks set details & description
Series: Scarlet & Violet
Release Date: November 08, 2024
Number of Cards: Over 250
“Terawatts of electricity crash down from the sky in a tropical paradise, setting the stage for the supercharged Pikachu ex! With the power of a Stellar Tera Pokémon ex, it lights up the shoreline, revealing a parade of dragon Pokémon led by the towering Alolan Exeggutor ex! Archaludon ex and Latias ex round out the horde, while new ACE SPEC cards and more new Pokémon ex bring surprises of their own. Currents crackle and dragons roar in the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Surging Sparks expansion!”
What’s cool about Surging Sparks?
Surging Sparks is noteworthy in-and-of itself because it’s a break from the DLC theming we’ve had in the last few expansions. While Twilight Masquerade, Shrouded Fable, and Stellar Crown told the story of The Teal Mask and Indigo Disc expansion, now we’re back to more familiar territory in the Pokemon TCG.
While the description promises to focus largely on Dragons, the “sparks” part of the title undoubtedly refers to Pikachu. Indeed, Pikachu is making his ex debut for the Scarlet & Violet series of the Pokemon TCG. To make matters even better, he’s a Tera type.
What are the top chase cards for Surging Sparks?
There are several very cool looking cards in Surging Sparks. While I go into more detail about each one in my guide to the most expensive cards in Surging Sparks, I’ll include a gallery of the best of them below.
While Pikachu is certainly a major draw in this set, I wouldn’t underestimate Latios and Latias. Those two Pokemon have been printed on very valuable Pokemon cards in the past, and I would expect their Illustration artworks to be worth a lot to collectors.
It’s pretty cool to see these relatively nostalgic Pokemon included in a modern set and featured so prominently, and definitely a welcome change of pace after the heavily Scarlet & Violet era focused sets of 2024.
Top Surging Sparks products to preorder
Just like you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, you have to crack a few packs to find your dream chase cards. Below, we’ll take a look at a few of my favorite products coming out in Surging Sparks from which you can get those beautiful booster packs and pulls.
Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box
The Surging Sparks ETB almost doesn’t need an introduction. That Stellar-Crown wearing Pikachu speaks for itself. That being said, ETBs are usually my favorite products from mainline sets like these. Having a Pikachu on the box does make it even more collectible than a regular ETB, however, and I think plenty of people will pick this one up for that reason alone.
In addition to the cards, the sleeves, the box with the Pikachu, the energy and the dice and markers, you also get an exclusive promo card. This Promo will only be available in the ETB, which is all the more reason to buy it.
Below you’ll see two versions of the Magneton ETB promo. The only difference between the two is that one has the Pokemon Center Stamp as it comes from the Pokemon Center version of the ETB (available directly from The Pokemon Center or online at TCGPlayer)
Surging Sparks Booster Box and Bundles
Apart from the ETB, the Surging Sparks Booster Box is the most fun to open. You have the best chance of pulling Special Illustration Rares and other valuable cards from booster boxes because the ratios of rares are typically more tightly controlled at manufacturing than opening loose boosters.
If you don’t have the money to splurge on a Booster Box (and if you do you really won’t regret the experience), then going for a Booster Bundle could be the more affordable option for you.
Surging Sparks Booster Box
Booster Bundle
Get your cards early at a Surging Sparks prerelease event
Build and Battle Box: Surging Sparks
I may have spoken too soon when I said that ETBs were my favorite product from main Pokemon TCG sets, as actually my single favorite product is probably the Build and Battle Box. These are the kits you get at prerelease events that occur in the weeks leading up to main sets (in the case of Surging Sparks, starting on October 26, 2024).
What I like so much about these Build and Battle Boxes is that you get several packs you can open as well as the staples you need to build a functioning deck. The deck boxes from the Build and Battle also make for great deck boxes to use at tournaments in your local area, bringing some flavor from your favorite sets along with you as you compete.
If you haven’t tried a Pokemon TCG prerelease tournament out yet, I highly recommend you do. See the exclusive promos you can get in the Build and Battle below.
Is Surging Sparks worth it?
TCGs are an involved hobby and a lot of Pokemon collectors wonder if a new set is going to be worth their time and effort to collect. Surging Sparks looks like a great set to me. It’s got a lot more nostalgia than other recent (but also good) sets, making this a solid choice for someone who likes older favorites like Latios and Latias and (of course) Pikachu.
