The newest Pokémon set is Surging Sparks, released in November 2024. After the slimmed-down Stellar Crown, this is a return to a full-sized set, and there are some real powerhouse cards that could shake up the metagame. This guide explains what’s new, what’s powerful, and what to buy.
We’re not delving too much into card values in this guide if you’re after the big bucks, read our running list of the most expensive Pokémon cards out there. For a full list of every Pokémon TCG release ever, including upcoming sets, check out our guide to all Pokémon sets in order.
Here’s what to know about the newest Pokémon set:
Surging Sparks set details
| English Release date | November 8, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Total cards | 252 |
| Main set cards | 191 |
| Secret rare cards | 61 |
Surging Sparks continues to add more of the Stellar Pokémon that appeared in the ‘The Indigo Disk’ DLC for the Scarlet & Violet videogames, and which joined the card game in Stellar Crown. These gorgeous, crystal Pokémon appear in the wake of the legendary Pokémon. In the trading card game they’re Tera Pokémon ex with extremely powerful attacks that rely on multiple kinds of energy.
Surging Sparks is going to be a hit with Pikachu fans, and anyone who cut their teeth on Pokémon Sun and Moon. A tropical storm has hit the island of Alola, which – together with the Stellar Crown itself – have turbo-charged Pikachu into a powerful new Stellar Tera Pikachu ex variant. Latios ex and Latias ex are along for the ride!
As with all modern Pokémon expansions, there are a number of illustration cards and special illustration cards at high Pokémon card rarity levels – over sixty in fact!
Best Surging Sparks cards
The most exciting Surging Sparks cards are all new ex Tera Pokémon – and there are two handy trainer cards that will help you make the most of them.
Archaludon ex
When you play Archaludon ex from your hand to evolve Duralodon, you can immediately attach two basic metal energy cards from your discard pile to your metal Pokémon. That could be Archaludon ex itself (who is no slouch), or it could be an even bigger beast like Dialga VStar.
Tera Pikachu ex
Tera Pikachu ex is, like all Pikachus, adorable. You need to keep this ‘mon benched until it’s ready to fight. With just 200HP most other Pokémon ex can one-hit KO him – or they would be able to, were it not for his Resolute Heart Ability that will save him from being KO’d provided he is on full health when he’s hit. When you do bring him out, his Topaz Bolt attack deals 300 damage, making him a Basic that can one-shot most Stage 2s.
Tera Hydreigon ex
Tera Hydreigon ex’s basic attack Crashing Heads deals 200 damage and puts cards from your opponent’s deck into their graveyard. It will take a big chunk out of most foes but won’t finish off Stage 2s – but it’s not very energy intensive. Its Obsidian attack has a high, multi-color cost for a massive effect: it deals 130 damage to both your opponent’s active and benched Pokémon. That kind of reach is incredibly useful for finishing off stragglers and claiming prize cards.
Lively Stadium
If you’re running Pikachu ex Tera, Stellar Crown’s Terapagos ex Tera, or any powerful basic Pokemon, the Lively Stadium is a great Trainer card. It grants +30HP to all basic Pokémon – which Charizard ex is absolutely not going to benefit from!
Cyrano
Cyrano is a simple and powerful Supporter, who lets you search up three Pokémon ex from your deck and add them to your hand. No fuss, no mess.
Top Surging Sparks products
As with every mainline Pokémon card set release, Surging Sparks came out with a range of different packs available to get your hands on the new cards.
Booster Box
Your top choice to add a large volume of cards to maximize your pull chances on the ones you want, a booster box includes 36 standard booster packs with ten cards and one energy. Each pack contains four common cards, three uncommons, and three foil cards, at least one of which is going to be a rare or some higher type of rare.
Booster Bundle
The next rung down, a Booster Bundle includes six booster packs – you’ll save less per pack than you would with a full box, but more than buying individual boosters.
Elite Trainer Box
A broader, collection-building choice for many players, the Elite Trainer Box gives you nine booster packs, one full-art foil Magneton promo card, and a bunch of materials to build a Pokémon deck, including 45 Energy cards, 65 card sleeves, six damage counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die and two plastic markers for Pokémon special conditions.
And that’s all you need to know about the newest Pokémon release, Surging Sparks! For more details about the next set of new Pokémon cards coming up in 2025 – Prismatic Evolutions – see our guide to all Pokémon sets in order.
Alternatively, see if you agree with our choices for the top 10 best Pokémon cards in the world, or check out our lists of the strongest Pokémon cards out there, and the highest HP Pokémon cards that your opponent will find hardest to KO.
Source: Wargamer
