Genetic Apex: What to Expect from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s First Set

Genetic Apex, codenamed A1, is the first Pokemon TCG Pocket set ever. The expectations are high, and with the cards we’ve seen in the trailer, players are starting to wonder what this set will be all about. Well, there are some strong clues…

One notable aspect from the trailer is the three different artworks on the booster packs of the Genetic Apex set, featuring Pikachu, Charizard and Mewtwo.

Click on the picture to access to the visual spoiler of the set

It's common practice for a set to have various artworks for packs. For instance, in the TCG, the XY Evolutions set that celebrates Pokemon's 20th anniversary included packs featuring the artworks of Mega Venusaur, Mega Charizard, Mega Blastoise and Raichu. However, there's a slight twist in TCG Pocket : the name of the featured Pokemon is also displayed on the pack. Could it hint at a different rarity distribution based on the Pokemon on the booster pack ? Or perhaps certain rare Pokemon are exclusive to specific of the packs, similar to the version-exclusive monsters in the mainline video games ? Regardless, the choice of Pikachu, Charizard and Mewtwo suggests 3 central themes for the set : nostalgia, fan-favorite Pokémon and genetic manipulation.

A nostalgia-focused set​

The set will cater to the early fans of Pokemon. Among the 38 different Pokemon revealed in the trailer, 30 belong to the very first generation of Pokemon, and many more are to be expected. And 2 of the 3 trainer cards revealed (Old Amber, Brock) directly references the first generation. We don’t know the size of the set yet, but we can expect a heavy focus on the first generation. By blending Pokémon of other generations with a 1st generation Pokémon base, TCG Pocket slowly introduces the older players to new Pokémon they don’t know of.

Not only that, but among the revealed artworks, about half of them re-use original drawings for the Pokémon TCG card game, some going way back to the Base set such as the iconic Base set Pikachu artwork. While their effects and attacks have changed, these familiar images are sure to catch the attention of those who experienced the Pokémania in their schoolyards, trading cards with friends for their cherished artworks.

Original Pikachu artwork from the Base set

Fan-favorite Pokemon in the spotlight

In addition to the 1st generation favorites such as Charizard, Pikachu, Eeveelutions or the powerful Mewtwo, the revealed Pokemon belonging in other generations feature also popular Pokemon such as generation 3 Pokemon Gardevoir and generation 6 Greninja (last evolution stage of the water starter Froakie). We could expect other fan favorites from all generations, such as Jigglypuff, Blaziken, Lucario, Mimikyu, and iconic legendary Pokémons such as Rayquaza, Lugia, the latest Koraidon and Miraidon… Expect to see the Pokemon well-positioned in popularity contests appear in this set.

"Genetic Apex"

The name of the set combined with what we know so far hints at it could be about. “Genetic Apex” hints to a theme around artificially enhanced Pokémon, bioengineered and advanced life forms… which is a quite bold statement for an introductory set for a new game.  “Apex” denotes the highest point of development or evolution, suggesting the set could highlight Pokemon that represent the peak of their evolutionary lines.

Mewtwo ex is one of the first revealed card. This Pokemon is a result of genetic experiments on Mew’s DNA to “improve” it. It embodies the theme of human-induced genetic apex, and its origin story rooted in advanced science makes it a central figure in such a set. Among the Pokémon arts featured at the front of booster packs, Mewtwo ex is one of them. Aerodactyl in the set is also quite telling : this prehistorical Pokemon has been brought to life from genetic researches by scientists on Cinnabar Island, the same place where Mewtwo was created. Will this set give a highlight to these experiments from generation 1?

Experiments on in the first Pokémon Movie

Vaporeon is among the batch of spoiled cards, hinting at at least some Eeveelutions (Eevee's evolutions) being in the set. Eevee represents genetic versatility and adaptability, and each evolution is a testament to the apex forms of genetic potential.

It is hard to imagine too much of a commitment to a strong visual theme for a very first set. The pilots are usually rather tame to familiarize players with the core mechanics. Yet, it would be interesting to see if there’s an artistic direction hinting at high-tech sceneries to truly align with the “Genetic Apex” name. There are immense expectations for the very first set of Pokemon TCG Pocket, and we can’t wait to see more of it.