First official look at two new Pokémon TCG ex Starter Sets coming to Japan late next month, featuring Marnie and Steven Stone

An update on the Pokémon Trading Card Game's official Japanese homepage has officially revealed two new Starter Set ex. Expanding on the Trainer's Pokémon mechanic that made its return in the Battle Partners expansion, which released just today in Japan, these sets feature fan fave Pokémon Trainers Marnie and Steven Stone, together with their Pokémon. ex Starter Set Marnie's Morpeko & Grimmsnarl ex (スターターセットex マリィのモルペコ＆オーロンゲex) and ex Starter Set Steven's Beldum & Metagross ex (スターターセットex ダイゴのダンバル＆メタグロスex) will release in Japan February 21st.

While this is the first official announcement about these sets, the existence of both sets was first leaked in July last year, thanks to early retailer listings for pre-orders. Marnie's Grimsnarl ex meanwhile was first revealed in the Trainer's Pokémon reveal video shown off at last year's Pokémon World Championships..

Each of these 60-card pre-constructed decks features new Pokémon and Trainer cards, as well as reprints of older meta-relevant Trainer cards, a sheet containing 44 damage counters and 2 Special Condition markers, a coin, and a two-player paper playmat featuring the titular trainer from the set.

One reprinted Trainer card which received special attention in the video update for this announcement on the Pokémon Trading Card Game's official Japanese YouTube channel is Energy Recycler, which receives a print here with the I regulation mark. Energy Recycler had left Standard Rotation in early 2024 with the rotation of its regulation mark E prints from the Japanese Rapid Strike Master expansion and Start Deck 100 decks, and the international Battle Styles expansion. Also present are reprints of the Professor's Research cards featuring Professor Birch and Professor Magnolia, which were originally printed as part of the Generations Start Decks in November last year.

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Translations of all cards revealed can be found in the table below, and will be made available on Bulbapedia soon.

Card #	Card Thumbnail (Click for full image)	Translation
SV0D 003/018		Steven's Carbink HP: 80 Basic Ability: Stone Palace As long as this Pokémon is on your bench, your Steven's Pokémon take 30 less damage from attacks from your opponent's Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance). The effect of Stone Palace doesn't stack. Magical Shot 80 Weakness: ×2 Resistance: None Retreat Cost:
SV0D 005/018 & SV0D 019/018		Steven's Beldum HP: 70 Basic Ram 30 Weakness: ×2 Resistance: -30 Retreat Cost:
SV0D 006/018		Steven's Metang HP: 100 Stage 1 – evolves from Steven's Beldum Metal Slash 70 During your next turn, this Pokémon can't attack. Weakness: ×2 Resistance: -30 Retreat Cost:
SV0D 007/018		Steven's Metagross ex HP: 340 Stage 2 – evolves from Steven's Metang Ability: X-Boot Once during your turn, you may search your deck for a Basic Energy card, a Basic Energy card, or 1 of each, and attach them to your or Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck. Metal Stamp 200 Weakness: ×2 Resistance: -30 Retreat Cost:
SV0D 008/018 & SV0M 009/109		Energy Recycler Trainer - Item Shuffle up to 5 basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your deck.
S10D 018/018		Granite Cave Trainer - Stadium Steven's Pokémon (both yours and your opponent's) take 30 less damage from attacks from the opponent's Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
SV0M 005/019		Marnie's Impidimp HP: 70 Basic Filch Draw a card Corkscrew Punch 10 Weakness: ×2 Resistance: None Retreat Cost:
SV0M 006/019		Marnie's Morgrem HP: 100 Stage 1 – evolves from Marnie's Impidimp Corkscrew Punch 60 Weakness: ×2 Resistance: None Retreat Cost:
SV0M 007/019		Marnie's Grimsnarl ex HP: 320 Stage 2 – evolves from Marnie's Morgrem Ability: Punk Up When you play this Pokémon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon during your turn, you may search your deck for up to 5 Basic Energy cards and attach them to your Marnie's Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck. Shadow Bullet 180 This attack also does 30 damage to 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Weakness: ×2 Resistance: None Retreat Cost:
SV0M 008/019 & SV0M 020/019		Marnie's Morpeko HP: 70 Basic Spike Wheel 20+ This attack does 40 more damage for each Energy attached to this Pokémon. Weakness: ×2 Resistance: None Retreat Cost: Free
SV0M 019/018		Spikemuth Gym Trainer - Stadium Once during each player's turn, that player may search their deck for a Marnie's Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into their hand. Then, that player shuffles their deck.

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