The upcoming Twilight Masquerade expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game is set to feature over 200 cards in total, and some will undoubtedly be of great interest to any collector. In addition to the main set, the release of Twilight Masquerade will be accompanied by unmissable new promo cards, including one that is the first of its kind for the Pokémon TCG. With the game continuing to grow and innovate, and rare Pokémon cards becoming easier to collect all the time, Twilight Masquerade is attracting plenty of interest as its release date draws near.
As with any modern Pokémon TCG set, arguably the most appealing cards of Twilight Masquerade are its Secret Rares. Of course, it is also interesting to note that some Secret Rare cards that have been cut from Twilight Masquerade are some of the most intriguing connected to the expansion, given the implication this carries for a future set. Nevertheless, with escalating levels of illustrative detail becoming readily apparent as the set list progresses, it is unsurprising that Secret Rares typically become the most desirable parts of any Pokémon TCG expansion. And, naturally, Twilight Masquerade is no different in this regard.
This colorful Dipplin card shows the candy apple-themed Pokémon in a perfect environment: Kitakami’s Festival of Masks. Although perhaps less intricately detailed than some other Illustration Rares, the bright and bold design more than makes up for this. Fittingly, the cheerful Dragon-type is evidently acting as the mascot of a festival stall that sells candy apples, and despite the stall not being open for business it is already attracting attention from some curious Skwovets.
Although the layout of the stall’s stock is different, the appearance of matching banners means that the protagonist can find an in-game version of the same stall in The Teal Mask. Combined with the also workman depicted, it is clear that this card depicts a moment during the set-up period for the Festival of Masks. Additionally, it is worth noting that this card’s useful Ability, Festival Lead, allows Dipplin to attack twice when the Stadium card Festival Grounds is in play. This is presumably in reference to the fact that Dipplin is comprised of two creatures working together as one.
Although there is nothing especially notable about this card’s attacks, the illustration itself is interesting. Lairon is shown with a crumpled, empty oil drum in its mouth and is either moving it to a pile of similar junk or eating it. For a Steel-type Pokémon that naturally feeds on iron ore, neither scenario would be impossible, and Lairon certainly seems happy with its metallic prize either way.
Although this scene seems to move the focus away from the Festival of Masks, it is still possible to interpret this as a glimpse behind the scenes of the festival. Lairon may be dealing with a drum used to fuel a generator during the festival, and the metal pipes, nuts, and bolts seen scattered across the floor alongside a wrench could likewise be part of scaffolding for the event. In any case, the scene offers an interesting glimpse into how Pokémon can integrate into the human world, giving a mundane pile of scrap an understated but fantastical flair.
Phione has no particular connection to Kitakami, being unavailable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet outside of trading and breeding a Manaphy (which itself must be transferred in via Pokémon HOME). This makes The Sea Drifter Pokémon’s inclusion in Twilight Masquerade something of an outlier, but certainly still a welcome one. The rainbow effect that plays across this underwater scene evokes a beautiful tranquility, but this card actually has another layer of detail to it, which makes it something truly special.
While perhaps easy to miss at first glance, Phione is not alone in this Illustration Rare card. Instead, the Mythical Pokémon is surrounded by an array of Water-types, an enormous group of Wailmer and Wailord. However, the subtle tones in which these other Pokémon are rendered help them to blend into the background, especially the large Wailord visible swimming below Phione. As a result, the closer one examines this card, the more they find there is to see in the ocean depths.
As an Electric/Normal-type, Helosik is a Pokémon with a unique type combination (alongside its pre-evolved form Helioptile). As with Phione, it has no particular connection to Kitakami or Paldea, and is, in fact, completely unobtainable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Nevertheless, the action of the card’s focus running across a stretch of water makes for a bright and striking image. Heliolisk is believed to be at least partially based on the Common Basilisk, a reptile that can similarly run on water. The scene depicted appears to confirm the link, with ripples behind Heliolisk being the equivalent of watery footsteps.
The perspective of this card is also noteworthy for the way it treats focus; both water spray in the foreground and a Heliolisk on the shore in the background are blurred in a way that may suggest a photograph is being taken. As such, considering her appearances in both The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero and Twilight Masquerade, this Heliolisk may well be one of traveling photographer Perrin’s subjects. This would then make this card an unusual example of physical media originating from within the Pokémon universe.
The English Twilight Masquerade set is actually composed of cards from the Japanese Mask of Change and Crimson Haze sets. Both revolve mainly around Kitakami, but the latter expansion has Bloodmoon Ursaluna as a central figure as opposed to Mask of Change’s Ogerpon. This card is one of four Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex cards originating from that set, and depicts the ancient bear-like Pokémon enjoying a sweet treat in the Timeless Woods. Far from the imposing image it presents in The Teal Mask, this side of Bloodmoon Ursaluna appears notably more amiable, with several young Pokémon watching on.
This illustration immediately stands out from the more ferocious images used in other Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex cards, making it much more likely to catch the eye. Additionally, it is worth noting that Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex has an unusual advantage in battle; although its powerful Blood Moon attack initially costs 5 Colorless Energy, its Ability (officially translated as Seasoned Skill) reduces this cost by one Energy for every Prize Card claimed by the opponent. This makes Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex a perfect card to have in a difficult situation, helping to turn the tables when the player is on the back foot.
This adorable card shows a total of eight Eevee crowded on and around a comfortable-looking armchair. Considering that this card depicts one of the most popular Pokémon in the franchise, this is sure to be one of Twilight Masquerade’s most popular Illustration Rares. By extension, this will likely also mean that this Eevee card will have a particularly high value on the market among collectors.
Of course, the fact that there are specifically eight Eevee visible in the artwork is a clear reference to the Pokémon’s eight evolutions. While none of the Eevee appear to display any clear traits in line with these evolved forms, they nevertheless have their own personalities; one is sleeping, another curiously investigating a mug, and yet another is chewing on a small toy Hydreigon. This Illustration Rare is a brilliant example of how personalities can vary among Pokémon, even if they are all members of the same species.
The Special illustration Rare of Teal Mask Ogerpon ex shows her Terastallized to brilliant effect, with her multifaceted crystalline mask taking up the majority of the card. Ogerpon herself is almost comically small in comparison, something which helps to give the card a sense of scale and depth despite its relative simplicity. Of course, it is also worth noting that Ogerpon’s other Mask forms have their own similar Special Illustration Rare cards. Nevertheless, Teal Mask Ogerpon is undoubtedly the most iconic of all the Legendary’s forms, making this likely to be the most popular version of the four.
The mechanics of Teal Mask Ogerpon ex as a Pokémon card also synergize well with each other, giving her the potential to be a notable powerhouse. Her Ability Teal Dance allows the player to both draw a card and attach a Grass Energy to Teal Mask Ogerpon ex. This pairs well with the attack Myriad Leaf Shower, which increases in power the more Energy cards are attached to both Active Pokémon.
This Tera card presents the viewer with an explosion of color, making it extremely visually impressive. Not only is the crystalline Greninja posing with its signature water shuriken, but various shades of what appears to be paint are splashing in all directions in place of water. This paint is predominantly yellow and orange, providing an immediate contrast with the blue body of Greninja while also blending well with both the Ninja Pokémon’s cream underside and the coloration of its Fighting Tera-type.
Interestingly, as a Fighting Tera Type, Greninja ex has an advantage over the average Lightning-type in the Pokémon TCG, which often have a Fighting-type weakness. This reverses the situation faced by its previous evolutions, which are themselves both weak to Lightning-types in this expansion. In addition to the general value of its powerful attacks, which makes the inclusion of Greninja ex a great way to cover the typical weaknesses of a predominantly Water-type deck.
In what appears to be an image taken straight from the events of The Teal Mask, Kieran can be seen in the middle of the Festival of Masks with candy apples in hand, having apparently just bought them from the stall in the foreground. In fact, this could easily be the same stall depicted in the Illustration Rare art for Dipplin. The lighting in this card’s artwork clearly invokes the feeling of a traditional Japanese-style festival lit by lanterns, with Kieran illuminated by warm, dim light in this night-time scene.
From a gameplay perspective, Kieran’s debut in the Pokémon TCG comes with an appreciable level of flexibility. This Trainer card allows people to choose one of two effects when it is played; either switching out the Active Pokémon, or increasing the power of attacks by 30 damage. The latter pairs perfectly with Twilight Masquerade’s Dipplin being able to make two attacks under specific circumstances, which is fitting considering that Kieran himself owns a Dipplin for a large part of The Teal Mask.