Paldea Evolved in 2026: Iono, the Paldea Starters, and What Collectors Still Chase from SV02
By Dexhaul Team · September 5, 2026
Paldea Evolved is the only main Scarlet and Violet set where the most talked-about chase card is a Trainer, not a Pokémon.
Released in English on June 9, 2023, SV02 is the second expansion of the Scarlet and Violet series. The set contains 279 cards in total: 198 in the base set and 81 Secret Rares. Three new Paldea starter Pokémon get their first ex treatment here.
A single Supporter card defines the set's collector identity more than any of them.
That card is Iono.
Iono: The Trainer That Changed What Collectors Chase
Iono is a Supporter in Paldea Evolved, numbered 185/198 in the base set. Her effect lets the active player shuffle their hand and draw cards equal to the number of cards in their opponent's hand. It is a tempo-swing tool that punishes opponents who have built up large hands, and it became one of the most-played Supporters in Standard format decks from the day SV02 launched.
Her Secret Rare version is a Special Illustration Rare (SIR) with a full-art character portrait. No Pokémon appears in the illustration. No battle backdrop.
Just Iono herself in a full-bleed character piece that uses the SIR framing normally reserved for the most dramatic Pokémon art in the set.
In every other main SV set, the collector conversation at the top of the rarity ladder is about a Pokémon. In Paldea Evolved, it is about a character. That inversion is what makes SV02 structurally different from the rest of the Scarlet and Violet series.
Iono's Stadium card, Practice Studio, also appears in the base set at 186/198. For completionists tracking all Iono-adjacent cards, both the Supporter and the Stadium have Illustration Rare versions in the Secret Rare section, alongside standard prints. The combination of two distinct Iono cards in the base set, plus their SIR and IR counterparts in the Secret Rares, makes her card count one of the highest for any single character in the SV era.
The Paldea Starters: Meowscarada, Skeledirge, and Quaquaval ex
Paldea Evolved introduces all three generation-nine starter Pokémon as ex cards for the first time. Meowscarada ex (Grass/Dark typing) is notable for combining two types on a single ex card, a format uncommon among the SV starters.
Skeledirge ex anchors the Fire-type lineup. Quaquaval ex rounds out the trio as the Water-type representative.
Each starter has at least a base Double Rare (two-diamond rarity) print in the set. Each also has an Illustration Rare (IR) version in the Secret Rare section, a full-art alternative with character-focused artwork distinct from the standard card image. The IR versions have become the collecting target for players and collectors who completed their initial set builds and want the premium version of each starter.
SIR versions of the starters exist as well, placing the full 36-pack booster box firmly in play for buyers targeting the full Secret Rare section. Meowscarada ex, Skeledirge ex, and Quaquaval ex all appear in the 250+ range of the set's 279-card total, where the SIR tier lives.
Squawkabilly ex: The Set's Competitive Sleeper
Squawkabilly ex is a Colorless-type Pokémon at 168/198 in the base set. On paper it is a Normal-looking regional bird with 160 HP. In practice it became one of the most-played Pokémon in the SV Standard format almost immediately after SV02 released.
Its Ability, Squawk and Seize, allows the active player to discard their hand and draw four new cards, but only during the first turn of the game. That opening-hand acceleration made it a near-universal inclusion in aggressive-style decks that needed to set up quickly. A card that looked visually unremarkable landed in tournament decklists at all competitive levels throughout its Standard-legal window.
For collectors, Squawkabilly ex has a Special Illustration Rare version as well, its artwork a vibrant full-bleed piece that contrasts sharply with the card's modest base-set appearance. It is a common reminder that the most competitively impactful cards in any SV set are not always the ones headlining the box art.
Other Notable Cards in the Set
Paldea Evolved is not a small set. With 279 cards across its base and Secret Rare sections, it covers a wide range of Paldea Pokémon getting their first TCG appearances. Bellibolt ex, Slowking ex, Dedenne ex, Lycanroc ex, Paldean Clodsire ex, Copperajah ex, and Noivern ex are among the ex cards in the set beyond the main starters.
The Paradox Pokémon, the Ancient and Future forms introduced in the Scarlet and Violet video games, make limited appearances in SV02 as standard Pokémon cards rather than ex or special-tier cards. Their full ex treatment comes in later SV sets, but SV02 establishes their first card presence in the English TCG.
Trainers beyond Iono are worth noting. Boss's Orders appears in this set in a specific printing with the Ghetsis character tag at 172/198, a continuation of the rotating character-art approach to the Supporter started in earlier sets. Supporters like Arven, Miriam, and Penny appear here as well, giving the set one of the largest named-character Supporter pools in the SV era.
Formats Available in 2026
Paldea Evolved sealed product is available through independent sellers on DexHaul across four main formats. Each opens into the same 279-card pool.
The Booster Box (36 packs) gives the widest pull coverage across the Secret Rare section. The Elite Trainer Box bundles 9 booster packs with card sleeves, damage counters, and a coin.
Individual booster packs are the lowest-cost entry point. The Booster Bundle (6 packs) sits between a single pack and an ETB in volume, useful for collectors who want more than one or two packs without the full ETB commitment.
One format consideration specific to SV02: the Pokemon Center exclusive ETB variant, which featured an alternate promo card, has largely exited the market. What remains available through independent sellers is the standard ETB and booster box format. The Pokemon Center exclusives from the 2023 SV release window now trade as secondary market items if they surface at all.
Buyers targeting a specific card (the Iono SIR, a starter ex SIR, or the Squawkabilly ex SIR) may find singles purchasing a more direct path than sealed product, depending on what the secondary market offers at the time of purchase. Sealed product remains the route for those who want the opening experience alongside the cards themselves.
Browse Paldea Evolved sealed product from independent sellers at DexHaul. Every listing comes from an independent merchant. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company or any official Pokémon retail channel.