Pokémon TCG: Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box Review

The Pokémon Trading Card Game's new expansion is Chaos Rising, part of the current Mega Evolution series. While currently in pre-release, the set will launch globally on May 22. The set includes 86 numbered cards, but the full set includes over 120. With Mega Greninja taking center stage on its Elite Trainer Box, booster packs, and more, there's already a lot of love for Chaos Rising.

Inspired by the events and Pokémon in Legends: Z-A, Chaos Rising includes a number of characters, locations, and items from that video game. While the logo and Mega Greninja imply this is a Water-themed set, that's not really the case. There are a number of new combos involving Ghost-types and Fire-types, especially, along with new ex cards.

What's Included In Chaos Rising's Elite Trainer Box

Booster Packs, Promo Card, Sleeves, & More

As with any Pokémon TCG set, the Elite Trainer Box is arguably the most sought-after item, and the one for Chaos Rising doesn't disappoint. The ETB this time around includes a full-art foil promo card of Fennekin, along with booster packs and the usual goodies. The full contents of the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box are:

• 9 booster packs
• 1 Fennekin full-art foil promo card
• 1 coin-flip die
• 1 plastic coin featuring Froakie
• 6 damage-counter dice
• 6 card dividers
• 40 Energy cards
• 65 card sleeves
• 1 booklet guide
• 1 collector's box
• 1 code for Pokémon TCG Live

If you're looking to grab the ETB from a retailer like Best Buy, it'll cost you $49.99. The Pokémon Center exclusive version, which is currently sold out, is priced at $59.99 and includes different artwork and an additional Fennekin promo card with the Pokémon Center stamp.

The card sleeves have the same Mega Greninja artwork on the box, along with a pink border. The card dividers have that same art on one side, while the other side is pink with a Poké Ball logo. The guide booklet is just as helpful as always, offering up a full card listing and suggestions for cool new combos and abilities to check out.

New Mega Ex Cards & Secret Illustration Rares Shine

Mega Greninja ex Really Takes The Cake

There are so many cool cards in Chaos Rising. In fact, this set includes some of the best Pokémon card artwork we've seen in a long time. The full-art cards for Froakie, Frogadier, and Greninja (pictured above) are excellent, and that Mega Greninja ex SIR will easily be one of the most sought-after cards from this expansion.

New ex cards for Mega Pyroar and Mega Greninja (also pictured above) are standouts as well. Chespin, Xerneas, and Taurus also get some nice full-art cards here, and there's a gold Mega Greninja ex (numbered 122 in the set) that will definitely be worth the most money.

In terms of competitive play, one of the combo highlights includes Mega Greninja ex using the Ninja Spinner ability. Using the Surfing Beach Stadium card and the Energy Retrieval Item card means you can get Energy cards back from your discard pile (letting you use the move more often) while also allowing you to switch Mega Greninja ex in and out of play quickly.

Delphox also gets a fun combo this time around thanks to the Firebreather Supporter card, and Ghost Pokémon get a chance to shine more thanks to Phantump's Spiteful Evolution, which lets it evolve immediately into Gourgeist ex. You can then use Risky Ruins Stadium card to damage a lot of your benched Pokémon, which can mean using Gourgeist ex's Horrifying Rondo ability (50 more damage per Benched Pokémon with a damage counter) to really hurt your opponent.

Chaos Rising Is A Short But Sweet Pokémon TCG Expansion

Some Excellent New Additions For Any Collection

Chaos Rising is another small set from the Pokémon TCG, a trend that's stretched across most of the Mega Evolution series and will continue when Pitch Black arrives in July. I'm all for quality over quantity, and that's certainly what we're getting here. The new cards offer up some fun new ways to play, and the card artwork is some of the best the TCG has ever offered.

Mega Evolution has had some great expansions, but Chaos Rising might just be the best of the bunch. I'm admittedly a sucker for Mega Greninja already, so maybe I'm biased, but I've had a lot of fun playing with the latest cards and getting to admire their artwork. The Elite Trainer Box is as nice as ever, so if you're looking to add to your collection, don't pass this one up. Major retailers will have the Pokémon Trading Card Game's Chaos Rising cards soon, but I expect products like the ETB to sell out quickly.