Exclusive Pokemon card reveals: Arven, Mabostiff, and picnics (?!) join the fight

Painted artwork of Mabostiff staring up at a table of sandwiches and condiments from the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet set (illustrated by Okacheke) — (Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

A new Pokemon card set is about to drop, and that means preview season is well under way. Ahead of Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet launching this March 31, GamesRadar+ can exclusively reveal a Pokemon evolution and Trainer that will be joining your deck.

Featuring sandwich-loving duo Arven and his faithful Mabostiff, the artwork for this Pokemon card pair sees them having a picnic out in the wilderness. In one, Mabostiff looks on as Arven prepares a meal, while the second has Arven finishing a sandwich (which makes sense, considering how focused on food he is during the Scarlet and Violet video games).

In terms of abilities, Mabostiff comes in with a HP of 130 and the 'Intimidating Howl,' an Ability that allows players to switch out their opponent's Active Pokemon to the Bench once per turn. While its attack (Wild Tackle) is a little dicier because it removes 30 HP from Mabostiff itself, it packs a real wallop thanks to dealing 160 damage in total. A decent addition to one of the best card games, in other words.

A Mabostiff sits beneath a picnic table laden with sandwiches and condiments on this card for the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet &amp; Violet — (Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Meanwhile, Arven is a Supporter Trainer card that lets you search your deck for an Item card and a Pokemon Tool card before putting both into your hand. Although you can only use one Supporter card per turn, that power could still turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Arven prepares a sandwich in artwork from a Supporter Trainer card from the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet &amp; Violet set — (Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Both of these cards are part of a larger 190+ set for Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet. Besides bringing in numerous Pokemon from those games (which have had new, gorgeous artwork), it introduces Tera Pokemon ex, more than 10 brand-new Pokemon ex, and over 30 Trainer cards in total.

These are divided between five different products: Scarlet and Violet Elite Trainer Boxes (you can find the Scarlet version for a reduced $49.30 at Amazon), booster packs, a Booster Bundle (available for $26.85 at Amazon, which is ever so slightly less than the MSRP), and a Mimikyu ex Box featuring the likes of Ghost-type Greavard. You can get a better look at all of these on the official Pokemon Center store.

While they don't include Scarlet & Violet boosters, you can also pick up Paldea Pin Collection boxes with foil versions of the video game's three starters and an oversized take on its iconic cover Pokemon. The Fuecoco edition with Koraidon is going for $29.80 at Amazon, while the Quaxley equivalent features Miraidon can be found for at $19.98 Amazon.

Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet will launch at the end of March. It'll eventually be followed by Pokemon Trading Card Game Classic (which does exactly what it says on the tin, seeing the return of old-school Pokemon cards) toward the end of 2023.

For the latest update on the other big card game in our life, check out our guide to MTG March of the Machine explained. As for other tabletop shenanigans, don't miss the best board games or these board games for 2 players.

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and now manage GamesRadar+'s tabletop gaming and toy coverage. You'll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news.