Mega Evolution Pokémon are back in a brand new era for Pokémon TCG post-Scarlet and Violet. To make everyone's lives easier, it's called "Mega Evolution" and is kicking things off with a bang thanks to Mega Lucario, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Venusaur, Mega Absol, and more.

This era means a lot to me, as the X and Y era back in 2014 marked my return to Pokémon TCG from the Wizards of the Coast days, and I've never looked back.

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

It's great to see the best gimmick in the franchise's history make a triumphant return. And if any of Legends Z-A and its Mega Dimension DLC hype and speculation is to be believed, we're going to be seeing some very cool Mega EX cards from new and returning Mega Evolutions from Pokémon X and Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Saphire and Legends Z-A.

What's new in Mega Evolutions?

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

The mechanics of Mega Evolution has changed significantly since we last played. To mega evolve your Pokémon, you have to follow its Evolution line just like standard EX cards. Whilst some Mega ex Pokémon are basics like Mega Absol, the majority of these cards follow the standard evolution process.

I really like this as it doesn't write off anything that isn't an ex unlike the X and Y era. However, if your Mega ex Pokémon is knocked out, your opponent takes three prize cards, so the stakes have never been higher. There's also trainer item cards like Rare Candy that allow trainers to evolve into Mega Venusaur ex from a basic Bulbasaur, for example.

Whilst some could argue Mega Evolutions have made games shorter with less strategy, I completely disagree. Mega Evolutions has come out of the gate streamlining gameplay and opening up new strategies.

My favorite deck strategies

Mega Evolutions puts a major focus on using standard Pokémon to buff up Mega ex-focused decks and I'm here for it. I usually sleeve, binder, and display my illustration Rares, ex cards and up, but I might have to break that rule for some killer deck builds this time around. Here are some of my favorite deck ideas so far:

Mega Venusaur ex build

Mega Venusaur ex chews grass type energy, with Jungle Dump needing four grass energy to deal 240 damage and heal 30 damage. Its Solar Transfer Ability opens things up to move a single grass energy from one Pokémon to another, meaning two grass energy can be places on Mega Venusaur ex per turn.

But throwing Meganium into the mix allows trainers to treat a single grass energy and two. So if you have Maganium on your bench and use a rare candy to evolve Bulbasaur straight into Mega Venusaur ex, you can place a grass energy down, then use its ability to move another energy from another benched Pokémon the use Jungle Dump for 240 damage all in one turn.

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

I'd also recommend Shuckle for its Fermented Juice Ability, it allows trainers to heal any Pokémon in play by 30 damage providing a grass energy is attached. Also Celebi due to its Traverse Time attack that costs one grass energy. This attack allows trainers to search for any three grass type Pokémon or Stadium Cards, and will come in handy when building up to Mega Venusaur EX and Meganium.

You can also pack the deck full of the following trainer cards as fail safes. Energy Switch will come in handy when Meganium isn't available to double up energy, Mega signal will let you search your deck for a Mega ex Venusaur straight away, and Wally's Compassion completely heals ex cards, with energy being returned to your hand only. I'd also recommend stacking up on Forest of Vitality stadium card to evolve Bulbasaur on its first turn (but this can't be used on the first turn of the battle).

Here's where to buy all of these cards:

• Mega Venusaur ex 003/132 — Double Rare / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

• Ivysaur 002/132 — Common / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare

• Bulbasaur 002/132 — Common / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare / Illustration Rare (Stamped)

• Meganium 010/132 — Holo / Reverse Holo

• Bayleef 009/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Chikorita 008/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Shuckle 011/132 — Common / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare

• Celebi 012/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Forest of Vitality 117/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Wally's Compassion 132/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

• Mega Signal 121/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare

• Energy Switch 115/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Boss's Orders 114/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Acerola's Mischief 113/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

Mega Lucario ex build

It's so great to have Mega Lucario ex back, and it's a quick stage one evolution card that deals 130 damage for one fighting energy with Aura Jab, that also lets you recycle three basic fighting energy cards from your discard pile. This combo comes in handy when using Lunatone's Lunar Cycle ability, which allows trainers to discard a basic fighting energy card to draw three cards from your deck once a turn. Solrock also has to be in play for this ability to activate though, so we'll be needing that too.

This results in a near infinite energy cycle to attach and discard throughout the game. Rather than using Mega Lucario ex's Mega Brave for 270 damage every other turn (unless it's going to win you the game), there's other buffs available that trainers can stack.

Garganacl's Powerfull a-Salt ability allows you to deal 30 damage with Mega Lucario and other fighting types. That means if you can get four of these stage two Pokémon on your bench. Mega Lucario can deal an extra 120 damage per turn, crazy right?

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

Premium Power Pro can also give a temporary 30 damage for fighting types for one turn too, which means you can add another 120 damage in one turn if you have four of them ready to play as it's an item card. Fighting Gong is a very good card for fighting themed decks, too. It lets you pull a basic fighting energy or Pokémon to put into your hand, which should speed up setups when you're pulling stage one and two Pokémon instead of basics.

Speaking of basic Pokémon, Stonjourner is a cracking card to get at the beginning of a battle, only requiring one fighting energy to hit with Stony Kick, which does 20 damage to your opponent's active Pokémon and 20 to a benched Pokémon. That damage spread could be the difference between winning or losing.

Here's where to buy all of these cards:

• Mega Lucario ex 077/132 — Double Rare / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare / Holo Gold Rare

• Riolu 076/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Stonjourner 081/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Lunatone 074/132 — Holofoil / Reverse Holo / Promo (Stamped)

• Solrock 075/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Garganacl 084/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Illustration Rare

• Naclstack 083/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Nacli 082/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Fighting Gong 116/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare

• Premium Power Pro 124/132 — Uncommon

• Wally's Compassion 132/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

• Mega Signal 121/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare

• Energy Switch 115/132 — Common / Reverse Holo

• Boss's Orders 114/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo

• Acerola's Mischief 113/132 — Uncommon / Reverse Holo / Ultra Rare / Special Illustration Rare

My favorite pulls and pull rates from Mega Evolution

Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

I've opened a combined 55 booster packs for Mega Evolution across its Booster Box, Booster Bundle, Elite Trainer Box, and Build and Battle kit, so I have half an idea when it comes to pull rates for this set. My haul was 12 Mega ex, six illustration rares, and six ultra rares. Sadly, I didn't catch any Special Illustration Rares or Holo Rares, but overall I'm quite happy with what I got. Based on my own experience with opening this set, here's the pull rates for Mega Evolution:

• Double Rares (ex): 21.8% or 1 in 4.6 packs

• Ultra Rares: 10.9% or 1 in 9.2 packs

• Illustration Rares: 10.9% or 1 in 9.2 packs

• Special Illustration Rares and Holo Rares: At least 1 in over 55 packs

With that being said, here's some of the best cards I've pulled from Mega Evolution and where you can get them right now:

• Mega Lucario ex 160/132

• Mega Absol ex 161/132

• Mega Manectric ex 158/132

• Bulbasaur 133/132 (Stamped)

• Shedninja 144/132

• Ninjask 137/132

• Gumshoos 153/132

• Steelix 150/132

Should you get Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution?

Yes. It's a strong start to the new Mega Evolution era of Pokémon TCG and arguably some of the best standard ex artwork and layouts in years. The set has multiple deckbuilding paths, I've picked up on two just by writing this review. It also seems that pulling Secret Art Rares and Holo Gold Rares is tougher to pull off with this set, which is exactly how it should be. If you can find sealed product or single cards for the right price, this is something you need to get on the hype train early for.

Vicky