Temporal Forces Card List: 10 Amazing Paradox Pokémon Chase Cards
The Temporal Forces card list is where the past and future collide. Released on 22 March 2024, Temporal Forces was the fifth main expansion of the Scarlet and Violet era. It split its featured Pokémon into Ancient and Future Paradox forms, brought back powerful one-per-deck ACE SPEC Trainers and filled its secret range with colourful Illustration Rares. Unlike many sets, it has no single runaway chase card, which makes it one of the most balanced and affordable sets to collect. This guide covers the whole Temporal Forces card list, the numbering, the best chase cards and which products to buy in Australia.
Temporal Forces came after the shiny special set Paldean Fates and before Twilight Masquerade. If you enjoy Paradox Pokémon, it is the defining set of that theme.
Table of Contents
Temporal Forces card list at a glance
- Release date: 22 March 2024
- Set code: SV5, set symbol TEF
- Total cards: 218, made up of 162 main set cards and 56 secret rares
- Japanese sources: Wild Force and Cyber Judge
- Ancient Paradox Pokémon ex: Walking Wake ex, Gouging Fire ex and Raging Bolt ex
- Future Paradox Pokémon ex: Iron Leaves ex, Iron Crown ex and Iron Boulder ex
- Returning mechanic: ACE SPEC Trainers, limited to one per deck
Ancient and Future explained
Paradox Pokémon come from the Scarlet and Violet games. Ancient Paradox Pokémon are prehistoric relatives of familiar Pokémon, while Future Paradox Pokémon are robotic versions from a distant future. Walking Wake is the Ancient form of Suicune, Gouging Fire is the Ancient form of Entei and Raging Bolt is the Ancient form of Raikou. On the Future side, Iron Leaves echoes Virizion, Iron Crown echoes Cobalion and Iron Boulder echoes Terrakion.
Ancient and Future cards are marked on the card, and many Trainers only work with one side. That gave players two very different styles of deck to build, and it gave collectors two themes to complete.
Collectors often split their Temporal Forces card list binder into Ancient and Future sections. The natural greens, browns and stormy skies of the Ancient cards contrast nicely with the metallic blues and silvers of the Future cards, and the split makes the binder easier to browse.
How the Temporal Forces card list is numbered
Cards numbered 001 to 162 form the main set, including the double rare Paradox Pokémon ex such as Iron Leaves ex at 025/162, Gouging Fire ex at 038/162, Walking Wake ex at 050/162 and Iron Boulder ex at 099/162. Anything numbered 163 or higher is a secret rare.
- From 163: Illustration Rares, including Gastly, Sawsbuck and Litten
- Up to 203: Ultra Rares, with full-art Paradox Pokémon ex and Supporters
- 204 to 212: Special Illustration Rares of Gouging Fire ex, Walking Wake ex, Iron Crown ex, Iron Boulder ex, Raging Bolt ex and Supporters including Bianca’s Devotion, Morty’s Conviction and Salvatore
- 213 to 218: gold Hyper Rares of the six Paradox Pokémon ex
The gold Hyper Rares form a neat set of six, one for each featured Paradox Pokémon. Collecting all six is a popular goal for fans of the theme.
When you open a large amount of product, keep main set cards, reverse holos and secret rares in separate piles. Checking the secret pile against the Temporal Forces card list straight after opening is the easiest way to make sure an Illustration Rare does not end up in a bulk box by mistake.
Top 10 chase cards in the Temporal Forces card list
Values move every week, so treat this as a ranking based on sales through 2025 and 2026 rather than a price list.
- Gastly, Illustration Rare
- Raging Bolt ex, Special Illustration Rare 208/162
- Sawsbuck, Illustration Rare
- Iron Crown ex, Special Illustration Rare 206/162
- Morty’s Conviction, Special Illustration Rare 211/162
- Gouging Fire ex, Special Illustration Rare 204/162
- Walking Wake ex, Special Illustration Rare 205/162
- Litten, Illustration Rare
- Iron Boulder ex, Special Illustration Rare 207/162
- Bianca’s Devotion, Special Illustration Rare 209/162
A set without a runaway chase
Most sets have one card that dominates the price list. Temporal Forces does not. Its top cards sit close together, and a simple, cheerful Gastly Illustration Rare has spent time at the top. That balance makes the set less stressful to open, because a good pull can come from many different cards.
Raging Bolt ex and Walking Wake ex
Raging Bolt ex stands in a clearing under a stormy sky, while Walking Wake ex races across a deep blue night. Both Special Illustration Rares are favourites with collectors, and Raging Bolt ex also became a powerful competitive deck.
Morty’s Conviction
Morty’s Conviction shows the Ecruteak gym leader enjoying a coffee outdoors with his Gengar. It is one of the most charming Trainer Special Illustration Rares of the era and pairs nicely with the Gastly Illustration Rare.
Pull rates are never officially published, so treat any figures online as community estimates. Across the Temporal Forces card list, Illustration Rares turn up fairly regularly, while each specific Special Illustration Rare is thought to need several hundred packs. A booster box usually delivers a nice spread of Illustration Rares and Ultra Rares.
The return of ACE SPEC cards
ACE SPEC Trainers are extremely powerful cards, and you can only include one in your entire deck. Temporal Forces brought them back for the Scarlet and Violet era with cards such as Prime Catcher and Master Ball. They are easy to spot thanks to their special rainbow border, and they changed deck building by forcing players to choose the single ACE SPEC that best suited their strategy.
Temporal Forces for players
Raging Bolt ex, Iron Crown ex and Walking Wake ex all became strong attackers, and Iron Leaves ex was a fast, flexible Grass option. Combined with the new ACE SPECs, the set reshaped the competitive game. Players should collect the main set double rares, which play exactly the same as the expensive secret rares.
Look after your best pulls from the start. Sleeve them straight away, keep them in toploaders or magnetic cases, and store binders upright in a cool, dry room. Before grading, check centring, corners, edges and surface under bright light, because modern cards can show small print lines.
Because the top cards in this set are close in value, many collectors grade their favourite artwork rather than the most expensive card. That is a great way to build a collection that reflects your own taste.
How to complete the Temporal Forces card list
- Open one or two booster boxes to complete most of the 162-card main set
- Use singles to finish the main set
- Collect the Illustration Rares, starting with Gastly and Sawsbuck
- Trade duplicate Ultra Rares at local game nights
- Buy the Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares as singles once prices settle
The Japanese sets behind Temporal Forces
Temporal Forces combines the Japanese Wild Force and Cyber Judge expansions, which split the Ancient and Future themes between them. Japanese collectors can explore the Wild Force booster box and the Cyber Judge booster box.
Keep sealed boxes flat, away from sunlight and humidity, with the shrink wrap intact. A printed Temporal Forces card list stored with your binder makes it easy to track progress and plan trades at local game nights.
Best Temporal Forces products to buy
- Temporal Forces booster box: 36 packs and the best value per pack
- Temporal Forces Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs, sleeves, energy, dice and storage
- Temporal Forces booster box case: for stores and sealed collectors
See everything in stock on our Temporal Forces product page.
Finally, enjoy the theme. Few sets let you build a binder that tells a story across time, and the Paradox Pokémon make that story easy to follow from the first page to the last.
Temporal Forces card list FAQ
How many cards are in Temporal Forces?
There are 218 cards: 162 main set cards and 56 secret rares numbered from 163 to 218.
What are the best Temporal Forces cards?
The Gastly Illustration Rare and the Raging Bolt ex Special Illustration Rare have led the rankings, with Iron Crown ex, Sawsbuck and Morty’s Conviction close behind.
What is an ACE SPEC card?
An ACE SPEC is a powerful Trainer card limited to one per deck. Temporal Forces brought them back for the Scarlet and Violet era.
Where can I see the full checklist?
The Bulbapedia Temporal Forces page lists all 218 cards with numbers and rarities.
More Scarlet and Violet guides
Continue with Twilight Masquerade, Paldean Fates, Obsidian Flames, Paldea Evolved and Pokémon 151, or browse the Obsidia Collectables trading card blog.
The Temporal Forces card list rewards collectors who love variety. With no single card hogging the spotlight, every pack has a real chance of something special, which makes Temporal Forces one of the most enjoyable sets of its year.