Pokémon TCG Pocket: Experts anticipate that the rare candy will revolutionize the game

The arrival of Celestial Guardians, the new A3 set of Pokémon TCG Pocket, promises to completely renew the  metagame starting April 30. This expansion, inspired by the seventh generation of Pokémon, marks the stellar entry of Solgaleo and Lunala, but its impact goes much further: it introduces the rare candy, a classic item that can now redefine evolution strategies and dynamism in battles.

What is the rare candy and why it changes the game's balance

One of the main novelties of  Celestial Guardians is the inclusion of the rare candy, a historical item from the franchise that allows you to jump directly from a Basic Pokémon to its Stage 2, as long as the evolution is in the player's hand.

Official item description:

• "Choose 1 of your Basic Pokémon in play. If you have in your hand 1 Stage 2 card that evolves from that Pokémon, put that card on the Basic Pokémon to evolve it, skipping Stage 1. You can't use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokémon that was put into play this turn."

This means that a Charmander could become a Charizard directly, which represents a key strategic evolutionary leap. But its impact is even greater if we consider the legendaries of the expansion: Cosmog can evolve directly to Solgaleo or Lunala, avoiding the intermediate step through Cosmoem.

Possible limitations and counter-strategies

The appearance of the rare candy opens new opportunities, but also poses challenges.  For example, Aerodactyl from The Singular Island has the Primitive Law ability, which blocks the evolution of the opponent's active Pokémon. It remains to be seen if this type of ability prevents the use of items like the rare candy, given that it is classified as an "item" card and not as a traditional direct evolution.

These dynamics invite a rethink of deck building and defensive combinations against new potential threats.

Pokémon that will be enhanced by the rare candy

Beyond Charizard, which always appears as a favorite in tournaments, there are other Pokémon that can dominate the new meta if this evolutionary shortcut is taken advantage of:

• Gardevoir from Formidable Genes: accelerates the charge of psychic energies, making it a key piece for fast offensive strategies.
• Pidgeot Ex (The Singular Island): accumulates 20 extra damage points for each Pokémon on the bench, starting from a base of 80, making it lethal in loaded scenarios.
• Infernape (Spacetime Struggle): inflicts 140 damage points with just two Fire-type energies, a beast difficult to contain if it evolves earlier than expected.

An expansion with competitive projection

With the confirmation of Celestial Guardians as the A3 set, Pokémon TCG Pocket strengthens its transition to a new competitive stage. DeNa is betting heavily on revitalizing the format, both with the return of legendary figures and with game tools that invite a rethink of the balance between strategy and power.

As players adapt their tactics, the rare candy is expected to become one of the most desired items of the season. With its arrival, evolution will no longer be just a matter of time, but of tactical vision.