The newest set, OP-16 "The Time of Battle" (June 2026), is the clearest modern example of how rarity drives value: it carries three Admiral Manga Rares (Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino) at the top of the structure, the rarest and most expensive cards in the set, while the cards you actually need to build a deck sit at Common, Uncommon, and Rare
Well, Budew absolutely sneezed all over the Pokmon TCG meta throughout 2025 and into 2026, and it's all because of the ability attached to its Itchy Pollen attack
Its attack, Explosive Fire (two fire energies and one colorless), does base damage of 130 + 100 if Charizard itself has any damage counters
Zack Fairs ability to pass on counters and Equipment at the drop of a hat makes for a playstyle that will leave your opponents guessing, and force them to play to counter your deck instead of progressing their own strategy
Necropolis of Azar makes creatures that can have power and toughness generated randomly between one and three