Pokemon TCG: The Best Shrouded Fable Cards

Looking to grab some packs of the latest Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, Scarlet & Violet — Shrouded Fable? This summer’s special set is small and specialized, so it’s an especially good idea this time around to know what you’re getting into before you buy. So here’s our attempt to help: a rundown of the best Shrouded Fable cards, regardless of what criteria you’re using.

The coolest Shrouded Fable Pokemon cards

If you’re interested in Shrouded Fable, it has to be about the Loyal Three and Pecharunt, taking center stage here. This whole set is about Okidogi, Munkidori and Fezandipiti, and poisoning their food with mind control. (You know, when we type it out like that, it seems like a weird theme for a game kids play?)

And they get a ton of art treatments. The base ex versions look nice on the table together, with their binding mochi motif and consistent visual style. There are two separate full art versions of each, and Pecharunt ex even gets a gold version. Their regular forms from the last expansion get Illustrator Rare variants, too. Given the quantity of these and the set’s small size, you’re bound to quickly pull at least a couple of these in boosters.

The most meta-relevant Shrouded Fable cards

We’re not sure this will be a big set for the competitive scene, but we could see some cards seeing play! Like Bloodmoon Ursaluna, which is a 150 HP Basic with a three-energy attack and an ability to get two extra energy cards from your hand onto it when it hits the bench. Its attack, Mad Bite, starts at 100 and adds 30 for each damage counter on a foe, so it can two-hit almost anything and really wreck opponents if you’ve got some damage manipulation.

United Wings decks get a new option in Dartrix, for what that’s worth? And Iron Moth and Slither Wing arrive fashionably late for Future and Ancient decks, respectively. But we’re not sure either will make a huge splash, honestly.

New Supporter Cassiopeia, appropriately, is a Computer Search of sorts. Searching your deck for any two cards could be huge! The drawback is that you have to empty your hand first, and we know competitive types love to keep resources in reserve, but you do have the option of holding onto those two finds once you have them.

Finally, there are three new ACE SPEC options: Dangerous Laser, which burns and confuses the opponent; Neutralization Zone, which protects normal creatures from ex and V foes; and Poke Vital A, a 150-damage heal.

The most interesting Shrouded Fable Pokemon cards

Usually we’re talking about game mechanics in this section, but since Shrouded Fable is such a collector-based set, we’re finding most interesting just how many powerful Pokemon that would usually be rares are found in the uncommon slot. Decidueye, Iron Moth, Sylveon, Slither Wing, Yveltal, Genesect and Kyurem could all have been rares in other sets. That does make opening a pack feel a bit more fun.

In terms of interesting gameplay mechanics, it’s a bit tougher to find, but we like thinking about strategies with Revavroom ex. This Tera creature is a big beefy attacker like you’d expect, but its second attack? Shattering Speed, a 250-damage attack that discards itself. Note that it doesn’t knock itself out, so you could potentially tank hits or transfer a bunch of damage to it, then have it disappear from play in a boom without giving your opponent any Prizes. It’s probably too much effort to set up, but it’s an intriguing idea.

The cutest Shrouded Fable cards

A set primarily themed around using dark powers to possess creatures and make them evil might not seem like the best one for those seeking cute li’l buddies. And… that’s true! There’s both a smaller card pool and a smaller segment of friendly pals than in most releases. Still, there are a few cards of note. You’ve got your Rowlet, your Horsea, your Axew and your Eevee, all at their default very high levels of cute. That’s about it, though!

The Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet — Shrouded Fable special set launches in various boxed products starting August 2, 2024. Elite Trainer Boxes will be available on August 23. For more on the Pokemon TCG, including our overview of this set, check out our archive.