TCGP: In the Garden of Eevee(lutions)

TCGP continues a sensational run of new expansions with a recent introduction of one more of these, as a mini expansion or Themed Booster Pack. After the "crisis" of the previous one, it seems that there is a need to relax and let loose - and what better way than in a garden full of Pokémon, specifically one with a bunch of familiar ones with four legs. So it is that the new Themed Booster Pack is called "Eevee Grove" (incidentally, just "Eevee Garden" in the Japanese version) for its primary focus on this species family.

Being a large species family, it literally offers something for everyone, and so the Themed Booster Pack has all members of the species family in question in common card form and rare full art form, some of which are also in the ex variant. Any or all of them will likely be the targets of players, whether or not they'll use them in battle - though like the other expansions, there are suggested decks that illustrate how certain species may be or are meant to be used, and from there it's just a leap away from custom decks with greater powers and more species.

Speaking of more species, besides the Eevee family, the mini expansion pack also contains other Pokémon to pad out the expansion to 69 numbered cards, as with the previous Themed Booster Pack. Even so, the mini expansion does seem to be following on the Alola momentum of that and the previous major expansion, and still contains many Pokémon from this region. Meanwhile, the full art and Shiny Pokémon cards continue their role of adding bulk to the mini expansion and offering other rare possibilities for players to collect.

Notable cards in this mini expansion pack include the three-Star full art Eevee ex card as its only Immersive card with a special, familial showcase, as well as the game's first "pick one of two" card as an Item card. Either of these will surely see some use in battle, though it is likely the former that will see greater use since it is the key to having more evolved forms of Eevee (that is, "Eeveelutions") in battle. But then, for collectors, all cards are notable - even the rare ones that are hard to get.

Paradise is often said to be hard to conceive, let alone to find, though many conceptions will invariably involve a garden of some sort. For those involved with Pokémon, such a garden would likely contain a variety of Pokémon species, and some of them might just come from the family of Eevee. That imagery is what the TCGP seems to have gone for to introduce another expansion to continue a sensational run of them, and now all players can enjoy and relax in the conceptual paradise of cards.

One year ago: The New Successors of Silph

Two years ago: Cosplay: Akazora Fest

Three years ago: Architect(ural) Futures (Features)

Four years ago: The Element Cup of GBL

Five years ago: Descending into the Catacombs

Six years ago: Fast Captures in Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Let's Go Trade

Eight years ago: Speedblogging Like a Ninjask

The Vibes of Go Fest... and a Festival

Me: Well, I said "friends" would be involved, didn't I?

Goh: OK, that's fair. If you say that, then Ash must have been involved too.

Ash: I'm here! And was there at Go Fest. And... I guess this makes it three years in a row.

Me: Yeah, something always seems to come up on the second day.

Ash: I'm fine if you're fine with that.

Me: Why not?

Goh: So this was for the second day, and you battled Zacian in raids.

Ash: It's an awesome Pokémon! With Zamazenta too - remember that time in Galar?

Pikachu: Pika pika pika! ["It was a big time!"]

Goh: Sure. That was a really big time - and now you two got to experience it (again).

Me: I hope you got all the spiffy Zacian just like I did for Zamazenta yesterday.

Ash: I got three Shiny ones and seven ones with a card image.

Me: Excellent! Just like that exactly.

Ash: And I traded one each of the card image ones with your friends. It wasn't perfect, but it looks like it'll be OK.

Me: Great!

Goh: Aren't these the "friends" you two have problems with?

Ash: I was with the ones who still hit it off OK, but then... there were the hard ones being hard - even if they weren't being hard on me.

Goh: Oh. That must have made you not comfortable.

Ash: Yeah... so I just moved after I couldn't stand to raid more.

Me: Luckily, there was a little festival I could have you drop by instead.

Ash: It was perfect!

Pikachu: Pika chu pi. ["Good thing."]

Goh: OK, so you actually went to that instead, not like in past years where you didn't.

Me: Emphasis on the "drop by", since Ash wasn't actually in attendance and can't partake in the usual things - so I (we) can't even say too much about it.

Goh: I see. And the usual things - you mean, like a character parade, if there was one.

Ash: There was, but like our friend said, I couldn't make it in. I just went on with mostly Go Fest stuff while at the festival while I met your other friends - good ones.

Goh: Hey, should be better than the ones before. Did everything work out for Go Fest?

Ash: I think I might have missed a couple of things, but I really did try to catch the Pokémon. 

Me: Well, let's see what I can do to make things up if there is an event with similar content. 

Goh: So then... our friend mentioned "vibes". I guess we have to talk about feelings as well.

Ash: Our friend really said it - this Go Fest is "royal", and big time, at that.

Goh: I can't disagree. Zacian and Zamazenta do make things that way.

Ash: And for the festival, it had really great vibes too for the characters and entertainment. I think they were mostly dance groups.

Pikachu: Chu pika... ["Good vibes..."]

Goh: It might be the usual vibes, same as Go Fest in general.

Me: But something always makes both of them different - the festival this time while we're on Go Fest, and for Go Fest it's obvious.

Goh: You can make them however you want to make them.

Ash: And they'd be great with the right people - and friends! 

Goh: Why not? 

Me: If the feelings are good, then they'll be mutual. 

One year ago: Tournament: Retro - Rainbow Cup by AIGA e-Sports

Two years ago: A Virtual Cosplay Card

Three years ago: Supporters and Speedsters, Wherefore Art Thou?

Four years ago: It's... Bidoof Day?

Five years ago: The First of Us

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Custom Team Keychains

Seven years ago: Cosplay: ENNICHISAI 2018 + CLAS:H/ICGP Nationals

Eight years ago: My Offerings (or, What I Am Not)

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/30/2025

The happenings of this year's Pokémon Go Fest, as its Global edition, also happens to skirt the end of the month when I usually make a rollup of the month's events. Yet that is perfectly fine, because it so happens that the events of the month mostly tie into the grand series of events. That makes this rollup a "Go Fest edition" in some ways, and in this case it's perfectly timed as well with the end of the month, meaning that it's really time to get it rolling and wrapped up.

For the first edition of Pokémon Go Fest this year, the one for Asia in Japan, the "complement" event is called Serene Retreat, running from May 30 to June 3. The featured Pokémon of this event were ones that are lax as well as dreamy, being present in the wild, Field Research encounters, and 2 km Eggs. They were also the subject of three Collection Challenges to be completed within the event period. The biggest draw of the event was the debut of Gigantamax Rillaboom for Trainers to battle over the weekend portion (Saturday and Sunday) of the event, along with increased MP earnings and collection for this purpose. The other complementary bonuses were mostly related to hatching and increased Shiny chances for certain species, especially with the extra paid ticket for the event and its Timed Research.

It has to be noted that the "complement" events to the regional editions of Go Fest actually had similar structures, so some of their elements will go without saying. The "complement" for the edition in the U.S. in North America was Instrumental Wonders from June 7 to 11, presenting some hardened Pokémon in the wild, Field Research encounters, and raids, certainly for the Collection Challenges. This event also had a Gigantamax debut for Cinderace in the same way as the previous event, and the main bonuses dealt with raids along with augmented Shiny chances plus the paid extra. The Europe edition in France had the "complement" event of Phantom Ruins from June 14 to 18 with some shady Pokémon in the wild and Field Research encounters as well as from Incense, again to deal with as Collection Challenges. This event's Gigantamax debut was for Inteleon, and the main bonuses of catching were the order of the day, along with the increased Shiny chances and the paid extra.

A break came between the regional and Global editions of Go Fest, not only for Community Day but also for Trainers to be able to play with some of their favorite four-legged friends through an event. That's because the event is called Yamper's Paw Prints and is thus for the debut of this species family, over the course of June 20 to 22. True to that, canid Pokémon appeared throughout the event along with the debuting species, with three of them (Snubbull, Poochyena, and Furfrou) having increased Shiny chances and every catch worth double Stardust. While Field Research had encounters with the featured species, free Timed Research dealt with the highlighted species above with daily sets, and a paid ticket had an extra Timed Research set with bonus items and encounters with the featured Pokémon as the canids that fans have gotten to know and adore.

Closing up the month was the ultimate and accompanying event for the Global edition of Go Fest, dubbed Ancients Recovered from June 23 to 27. The "ancients" in this case are the family of the titans (the "Regis"), which naturally would appear in raids, and they did - the first three on June 23, then Regieleki on June 24, Regidraco on June 25, Regigigas on June 26, and all together on June 27, with Raid Hours in each and all of them with certain moves when caught. By raiding, they also complete a Timed Research set that recycles itself every six tasks up to six times to provide an opportunity to catch each one of the titans with a background - if they haven't or couldn't through the raids. Aside from the titans, Trainers could also purchase a paid Timed Research set that allows an encounter with one of the Galarian birds, particularly helpful if they still haven't encountered or even caught any of them all this time by using the Daily Adventure Incense. During these days, remote raids were increased to 30 (going to unlimited during the weekend), while Trainers also prepared for the upcoming Global edition of Go Fest.

On that subject, the remaining preparations (over the course of the above and the event weekend) were the return of the Gigantamax evolved Galar starters, a separate Go Pass for the event with a very special item, a Global Challenge for powering up raids and making them more effective, Candy XL bonuses through trading, and event stickers and item bundles, plus early access to event 2 km and 5 km Eggs for ticketed Trainers. With all the preparations, the event really had been promising a lot in store - which it was.

With that, the "Go Fest edition" that is mostly the Pokémon Go events of this month shows a lot of greatness in the events that had transpired, which is rather fitting for an event series that is always grand - and perhaps equally so for the difficulty of rolling them up. Yet to wrap up June in such a manner is no less grand than participating in all of them as well.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/30/2024

Two years ago: Pokémon Loot from Indonesia Comic Con 2023

Three years ago: Even More Post Categories

Four years ago: The Reality of Pokémon Battles

Five years ago: Aliens Among People and Creatures

Six years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Rainbow Cup

Seven years ago: Gifts That Keep on Giving

Eight years ago: After Six Months: Poké-Paradise in a Blog

Pokémon Go Fest 2025 (Global), Day 2

With that, Day 2 of this year's Global edition of Pokémon Go Fest comes (and goes), and today, more of those royal mechanisms are brought forth in ways that are different as they are the same. In light of what happened yesterday, it may not take a trained eye to determine what's different and what's the same, but it's still important to make the distinctions, especially for the purpose of its summative discussion here.

Today, the same rotating habitats, featured wild Pokémon, special costumed Pokémon, and rare Pokémon from Incense for ticketed Trainers, as well as support for them through Lure Modules and Collection Challenges returned with practically no difference (of course, the last one of these needs to be completed today or else). What's different is the royal mechanism and influencing element for this purpose and another one today: it is offensive instead of defensive, and it is thus "SWORD", the counterpart implement to yesterday. True to that, the thematic Pokémon are of the ferocious sort, and the Unown are of the letters above. This also implies that the featured Legendary Pokémon as the top-tier raid boss is Zacian... which it is, and the exact same dealings for raids as yesterday apply to today, except this time Trainers collect Crowned Sword Energy instead for transforming Zacian to its Crowned form from its Hero form. Needless to say, the Special Research foray of yesterday continued today, and if necessary may also continue beyond the confines of this event.

Since pretty much most of the event details have been divulged, it is of interest to discuss the other niceties that accompany it. Throughout the weekend, everyone should have benefited from increased Shiny chances for all Pokémon to get whichever ones they want or need. Buddy Pokémon could also earn more friendship hearts on both days than is typically possible. For friends, Party Play lasted longer and more Gifts could be opened, and for trading, trades are discounted and more Special Trades could be made. They all added to the festivities.

Meanwhile, my day went on pretty much like yesterday, spending half of it in the company of certain colleagues (for raiding and trading with them), and the other half tying up as many loose ends as possible, incidentally while in the company of other colleagues... and I have to say that in part, a certain friend also helped to do the work. That may be reserved for a separate discussion, for which I'm still determining a few things.

Having gone through two days of the Global event, some Trainers like me may just have had their knightly and luxurious fill (another thing I noted in my preview), more so if they attended the regional events earlier in the month. That might just prepare them for noble ventures of the future in attacking and defending with loyal Pokémon species, something that is as royal as communities of friends and the Pokémon (Go) experience in general.

One year ago: Cosplay: Grill Summer Festival

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/29/2023

Three years ago: Pokémon Adventures: Sword and Shield Manga, Volume 1

Four years ago: Blogging on Blogs: Jurnal Otaku Indonesia

Five years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Sorcerous Cup

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/29/2019

Seven years ago: Monotype (of) Sorts

Eight years ago: 3DS Circle Pad and Pokémon Games... Plus My Experience

Pokémon Go Fest 2025 (Global), Day 1

After a month of waiting, it's time for the Global edition of Pokémon Go Fest and certainly to discuss how that plays out. As noted, the running theme for this and the previous regional and live editions of the event is a few royal and regal things; as usual, in the previous editions, they had all been implemented a bit differently - though the Global edition will still shed some light on how that had come to be. Regardless, that is the one that matters now, and so does everything that is featured over the course of these two days.

The main event hours still span the stretch of 10 AM to 6 PM, and today, they contained four rotating habitats repeated once: Moonless Volcano, Galvanic Dojo, Hypnotic Tundra, and Fae Swamp, in that order. If they sound like curious elements relating to the Pokémon featured in them, one could be right, and so the Pokémon species reflect them in some way. They are complemented by other thematic Pokémon of a defensive sort (more on this soon), as well as a unique rare species to each (plus Unown, also to be detailed shortly) only attracted by Incense and certainly who paid for the event. Rounding them up for the "royal ride" are costumed Pokémon: Pikachu with top hats accented by three colors (red, blue, and yellow), and Falinks with a train hat, all of which could also be gotten from raids but may be preferred to be caught through other means for reasons that will be clear. Lure Modules last for an hour for this purpose, and a few photo bombs are in short order for Pikachu.

Meanwhile, today's primary royal mechanism pertained to that defensive element, which would be "SHIELD" - also reflected by the Unown of those letters. Accordingly, the Pokémon most representative of that is Zamazenta, a Legendary Pokémon from the Galar region. Naturally, it is to be gotten from raids, and this time - as the Pokémon had debuted a long time ago - it was in its Crowned form; its raids, along with the costumed Pokémon as above, ran for half-hour intervals. The best interest, of course, is going into raids for this Pokémon, as doing so will allow one to obtain its Shiny form (if they hadn't) and/or one with a background, but most importantly to earn Crowned Shield Energy, an item that will enable a certain one of the Pokémon to transform into the Crowned form from the basic Hero form, allowing for other niceties that are to be addressed at a later time. A few extra free passes are furnished for this purpose, and the raiding aspect of today also has implications for tomorrow's dealings.

On the side of Research, which applied to today and will apply tomorrow, there too are familiar aspects. Field Research deals with mostly Pokémon encounter rewards through tasks that are associated with the habitats and today's royal mechanism, and Collection Challenges feature nine Pokémon from each habitat and need to be completed over the two-day span. Hourly Global Challenges persist and so do their objectives and bonuses. As for the realm of Special Research, one set refines the introduced royal mechanisms of today and tomorrow with a selection of one's preference, and another set becomes the lead-up for the regal, mechanical, and Mythical wonder that is Volcanion, the major debutant of this year's royal festivities. 

I spent much of this day like I did last year, with some colleagues that now I feel rather out of touch with. Half of it (the early part) was for Zamazenta raids to earn as much Energy I can stand to earn, and in doing so also had an OK haul from these efforts. The other half as the later part was to tie up loose ends from the rotating habitats and in particular Field Research, to make progress as far as could be made. Given the mechanisms of this year's edition, more loose ends in all of these areas are expected to be tied up tomorrow.

Some elements of Pokémon are royally wonderful - even if behind the scenes, they may take effort to deal with - and the inclusion of that in Pokémon Go now makes (or should make) for a royally great time. One more day for the Global edition of the festivities is still at hand, and for many Trainers, that might just be the defining part of it all.

One year ago: Freedom, On the Same Line

Two years ago: Café Remix 3rd Anniversary: New Heights

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies, Round 2

Four years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: Going to the Far Side

Five years ago: A Virtual Figure Gathering

Six years ago: The Path of (the) Silph

Seven years ago: Go Gets Social

Eight years ago: LINE Pokémon Themes

Camerupt Waiting to... Erupt?

One of the most enigmatic Pokémon species (as a consideration) might be Camerupt. It has the appearance of being tame, but with the right conditions and provocations, it might be prone to become rather explosive and make its humps erupt like a volcano - thus, befitting its name. At that point, it would also be hard to calm it down. Such a condition could also seem to be applicable to a few people-Pokémon situations today, both personal and public.

I'm always wary that what I do - particularly involving Pokémon - might not be received in good faith even if the intent is good (or not meant to be bad in the first place). Some of this may have played a factor in a certain departure I discussed many years ago, and now history seems to repeat itself with the local Pokémon Go raid group in my area. I essentially always seem to be treading around Camerupt that might erupt at any moment by what I do.

The same feeling is had even for other people in my local area, beyond the aspects of the above that I consider parts of the ways I express myself with Pokémon. They appear to be even more sensitive - and that's saying a lot given that I'm sensitive myself for a few things, even a few Pokémon ones and not necessarily the same things. In my "head canon", seeing some of the people like Camerupt is the fitting impression of them, perhaps broadly applicable.

And then... there is today's world. A lot of people out there today seem to be "hotheads" - for which Camerupt is then the "spitting image" - and that causes concern that if they "erupt", then a lot of things will be affected, including other Pokémon things (or "species", given their image as one). The ones that aren't Camerupt are treading around those who are, and without knowing how and when they might possibly "erupt" by their own or other accords.

Certainly, every Pokémon species is fascinating yet quirky in their own ways, and that is especially applicable for Camerupt, particularly for its transformative temperament and some potentially explosive ("eruptive") behaviors. The greatest concerns with this species are not getting them to erupt in the first place, and if they do, finding ways to alleviate that. For the people-Pokémon of today, that might just present itself as pressing current matters.

One year ago: The True Nature of Pokémon Things

Two years ago: So Weird, So Glorious (for Pokémon)

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/27/2022

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/27/2021

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/27/2020

Six years ago: Club 40 ID Tournament Memorabilia

Seven years ago: Leaders

Eight years ago: A Little Dream

Special Wonder Picks in TCGP

Usually, the Wonder Pick feature in TCGP allows a player to "snipe" (obtain a duplicate) card from recently opened packs by friends or someone else out there in the world. At times, however, the player can opt to obtain other cards instead, from sets that may be considered as "special picks" but still work the same way as Wonder Picks in general. These "special picks" deserve a bit of exploration for what they offer and to make the most of them.

One of the most frequently encountered "special picks" is the Bonus Pick, which for some events might offer a single card in the set alongside two Wonder Hourglasses and two shop tickets, and for others might have a selection of cards instead. Given that it's a "bonus", it's free from using up Wonder Stamina, and moreover, it may appear a few times a day, demanding the game to be opened frequently. It's still regardless a good and simple way to get extra cards, if not either of the two items mentioned above.

Some events, meanwhile, have the Chansey Pick, especially when Promo cards are involved. A common format for this is two of the cards, with both having certain chances (perhaps 1:4 or 3:2). The cost for this pick is minimal - 1 Wonder Stamina is the norm - and true to its name, the cards have a Chansey emblem on the lower right corner of the art. Because of the chances (ahem) involved, some cards from this pick might appear to become dominant, but the pick is still something to go for when it presents itself.

Then there is the Rare Pick, which is accordingly an infrequent sight but a truly wondrous one. The contents of the pick are also rare cards, possibly three and four Diamonds. As such, the cost measures up to that: it costs 3 Wonder Stamina like certain similar picks from other players, but it's definitely a worthwhile pick to be made. It's certainly the time to spend the Wonder Stamina and the associated Hourglasses (if necessary) on it, if one ever appears, especially if it's tied to specific events like some are. 

It's a given that some of the time spent in TCGP will be for getting cards from Wonder Picks, and some of those Wonder Picks might just be for the "special picks" as outlined above. They're somewhat different from the picks from friends and other people, but they also offer niceties of their own that they might just not be able to provide, likewise if they're tied to an event. Yet they'll certainly tie together the cards in one's collection as well.

One year ago: Other Pokémon Fabric Ideas

Two years ago: This Is My Pokémon Way

Three years ago: Cosplay: Outfest 2022

Four years ago: On Becoming an Early Adopter

Five years ago: Gift Stickers in Pokémon Go

Six years ago: Pokémon and the Visually Impaired

Seven years ago: Retro Music and Modern Music

Eight years ago: More LINE Pokémon Stickers