Pokemon TCG players are kinda obsessed with size. Usually, when a new set drops, we’re looking for those massive 200+ card behemoths that take months to collect. But Shrouded Fable is different. It’s a "special" set—think of it like Crown Zenith or Paldean Fates—which means you won't find individual loose packs sitting on a shelf. You have to buy the boxed collections.
Honestly, the shrouded fable card list is surprisingly tight. We are looking at 64 cards in the main set, plus the "Secret Rare" subset that brings the total up to 95. That’s tiny. But don't let the small number fool you into thinking it's a skip. This set is basically the "Pecharunt and Friends" show, and it introduces some of the most frustratingly good Dark-type synergy we’ve seen in the Scarlet & Violet era.
The Loyal Three and the Poison Puppet Master
The lore here is actually cool if you played the Monalid Mask DLC for the video games. Everything centers around Pecharunt and the "Loyal Three"—Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti. In the TCG, this translates to a very specific, very mean playstyle.
Pecharunt ex is the heart of the shrouded fable card list. Its "Subjugating Chains" Ability lets you switch one of your Benched Darkness Pokémon (except another Pecharunt ex) into the Active Spot. The catch? That Pokémon is now Poisoned. Normally, Poison is bad. Here, it's a fuel source.
Take Okidogi ex, for example. If Okidogi ex is Poisoned, its "Chain-Crazed" attack goes from a respectable 130 damage to a massive 260. Add a Binding Mochi (a new Tool card in this set) and you're hitting for 300 damage for just two Energy. That is enough to one-shot almost any Basic ex in the format. It’s fast, it’s dirty, and it’s remarkably consistent because the set is small enough that pulling the pieces you need isn't a total nightmare.
The Full Shrouded Fable Card List Breakdown
If you're hunting for specific pulls, you need to know what's actually in the box. The set starts with grass types like Rowlet and Dartrix, moves through some heavy-hitting Darkness types, and ends with some of the best looking "Special Illustration Rares" (SIRs) in recent memory.
The Grass and Fire Starters
The list opens with the Rowlet line. You get Rowlet, Dartrix, and a Decidueye. It’s fine, but let’s be real—nobody is buying Shrouded Fable for the owls. There is also a Charcadet and Armarouge in here. The Armarouge has a niche ability, but again, the spotlight is elsewhere.
The Darkness Core
This is where the money is.
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- Pecharunt ex (039/064): The pivot of the whole deck.
- Okidogi ex (033/064): The heavy hitter.
- Munkidori ex (037/064): Great for tactical damage placement.
- Fezandipiti ex (038/064): This card is actually the sleeper hit. Its "Flip the Script" Ability lets you draw 3 cards if one of your Pokémon was Knocked Out during your opponent's last turn. It’s going to be a staple in almost every competitive deck, not just Dark decks.
The Technical Inclusions
You've also got Horsea and Seadra making an appearance, leading up to a Kingdra ex. The Kingdra ex is interesting because of its "Royal Banner" attack, but it feels a bit like an outsider in a set so focused on the Loyal Three.
Those Illustration Rares are Different This Time
Usually, Illustration Rares (IRs) are just pretty versions of cards you already have. In the shrouded fable card list, the IRs feel more cohesive. The art style for the Loyal Three IRs is dark, woodblock-inspired, and genuinely creepy.
The Cassiopeia Special Illustration Rare is the "chase card" for many. Cassiopeia is a fan-favorite character from the games, and the card's effect is powerful: you can only play it if it's the last card in your hand, but it lets you search for any two cards. It’s high-risk, high-reward.
Then there are the gold cards. We have a gold Darkness Energy, which is always a winner for players who like to "max rarify" their decks. There's also a gold Pecharunt ex and a gold Earthen Vessel. Earthen Vessel is already a four-of in most competitive decks, so expect that gold version to hold some serious value on the secondary market.
Why the Pull Rates Feel Weird
If you've opened a few Illustration Collections or the Elite Trainer Box, you might have noticed something. Pulling a "hit" feels a bit more frequent than in a massive set like Temporal Forces.
This happens because the pool of cards is smaller. When the shrouded fable card list only has a handful of ex cards and a limited number of Secret Rares, your mathematical odds of hitting something shiny go up. However, the downside is "dupe protection." You are much more likely to pull three Munkidori ex cards before you see a single Fezandipiti ex. It’s a trade-off.
Nightly Shroud and the Power of Stadiums
Neutral Center is the ACE SPEC card of the set. It’s a Stadium that prevents all damage done to Pokémon ex and Pokémon V by attacks from the opponent's Pokémon (excluding Pokémon ex and Pokémon V).
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Wait, let me rephrase that—it protects your non-rule box Pokémon from the big hitters. Or, more accurately, it protects everything except the big hitters. It’s a weird, defensive card that fits into "stall" or "control" archetypes. While most players are looking for Prime Catcher or Unfair Stamp, Neutral Center provides a very specific meta-call for players who want to ruin their opponent's day.
How to Complete the Set Without Going Broke
Because this is a special set, you cannot buy booster boxes. This is the biggest trap for new collectors. If you want to finish the shrouded fable card list, buying individual "Illustration Collections" (the ones with the promo cards for Latias or Kingdra) is usually the most cost-effective way to get packs.
Don't sleep on the "Mini Tins" either. They are usually the cheapest price-per-pack entry point.
- Buy the Promos First: The Kingdra ex, Greninja ex, and Azumarill promos aren't in the packs. You have to buy the specific boxes to get them.
- Trade Your Duplicates Early: Because the set is small, the market gets flooded with the "regular" ex cards very quickly. Their value drops fast.
- Target the SIRs Individually: If you haven't pulled the Cassiopeia or the Pecharunt SIR after two ETBs, just buy the singles. The odds of hunting one specific Secret Rare in a set where the pack price is premium usually isn't worth the gamble.
The Meta Shift: Is Shrouded Fable Competitive?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: It’s supportive. While Okidogi ex is a fun "rogue" deck, the real impact of the shrouded fable card list is how it slots into existing top-tier decks.
Fezandipiti ex is the new "comeback" king. If you're playing a Charizard ex deck or a Regidrago VSTAR deck, you are likely going to find room for one Fezandipiti ex. The ability to refill your hand after a knockout is too good to pass up.
Kyurem is another interesting one. It has an attack that scales based on how many cards your opponent has discarded, which is a direct counter to the "Lost Zone" decks that have dominated the game for two years. Shrouded Fable might be small, but it’s a "meta-fixer" set. It provides the tools to keep the big decks in check.
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What's Missing?
It’s worth noting that Shrouded Fable is essentially a subset of the Japanese "Night Wanderer" expansion. Occasionally, some cards get cut or moved to different English sets. If you’re looking at a Japanese list and wondering where a certain card is, it might have been pushed to Surging Sparks or released as a gym promo.
The English shrouded fable card list is tight and focused. It doesn't have the "filler" feel that some mid-year sets have. Every card feels like it was chosen to support the Poison/Darkness theme or to provide a specific utility to the competitive scene.
Your Next Steps for Shrouded Fable
If you’re just starting with this set, don't just rip packs aimlessly.
First, grab the Greninja ex Special Illustration Collection. Not only do you get five packs, but the Greninja promo itself is one of the most beautiful cards released this year and is a powerhouse in its own right.
Second, if you're a player, secure a playset of Binding Mochi and at least two Fezandipiti ex. These are the cards that will actually move the needle in your Saturday local tournaments.
Third, keep an eye on the "Reverse Holo" versions of the Loyal Three. Sometimes, in these smaller sets, the specific reverse holos of the rare non-ex cards become surprisingly hard to find later on because everyone is so focused on the ultra-rares.
Check your local card shop for the Shrouded Fable "prizes" as well. Some shops run specific events where you can get stamped versions of these cards, which are the ultimate flex for a collector. The set might be small, but the impact on the game is going to be felt until the next rotation.