Some sets nudge the Pokémon TCG forward; EX Ruby & Sapphire pushed it into a whole new era, and its influence is still visible in the game today.
A Fresh Start After Wizards of the Coast
Released in 2003, EX Ruby & Sapphire launched the EX Series, the first sets produced after Nintendo and The Pokémon Company took over the TCG directly. It brought the Hoenn region, home to the Ruby and Sapphire video games, into the card game for the first time.
Introducing Pokémon-ex
The set's biggest legacy is the debut of Pokémon-ex: bigger, more powerful Pokémon that broke the normal rules in exchange for giving up two Prize cards on a knockout. It was a bold design choice that reshaped competitive play and echoed forward into later high-power mechanics.
Frequently asked questions
What made EX Ruby & Sapphire a turning point for the TCG?
Released in 2003, EX Ruby & Sapphire was the first set in the new EX Series, produced after Nintendo brought the Pokémon TCG in-house, and it introduced the Hoenn region to the card game.
What new card type debuted in this set?
This set introduced Pokémon-ex cards, a powerful new category of rule-breaking Pokémon that gave opponents two Prize cards instead of one when knocked out.
Why is this set significant in TCG history?
It marked the start of a new competitive era, shifting the game's power level and setting a template of bigger, rule-breaking rare Pokémon that later mechanics like Pokémon-EX and Pokémon VMAX would echo.