The latest expansion, Shining Revelry, has brought a dazzling array of shiny variants to Pokémon TCG Pocket, introducing over 110 new cards to the game. These additions, including cards from the Paldea region, have me wishing for more Hourglasses to splurge on a 10-pack pull. Eager to dive in, I spent some of my hard-earned Pack Hourglasses to open ten packs as soon as the update went live. My luck paid off with a Charizard EX, though the rest of the haul was less exciting. However, pulling a Pokémon Center Lady card brought some comfort, given her ability to heal Special Conditions—a valuable asset against pesky status effects like Burn.

As with previous expansions, Shining Revelry introduces an Emblem event, allowing players to earn stylish new badges to show off to friends. But the real excitement comes with the introduction of Ranked Matches. Starting soon, you'll be able to battle other Trainers and climb from Beginner to Master Ball Rank. Your progress will be tracked with points, and at the end of the roughly one-month season, you'll be awarded an emblem. It's time for me to dust off my dueling skills and start crafting competitive decks.

If you're ready to join the fun, you can download Pokémon TCG Pocket for free on the App Store and Google Play, with optional in-app purchases available. Stay in the loop by following the official Twitter page for the latest updates, or get a glimpse of the game's atmosphere and visuals by watching the embedded clip above.