Archaic is the Webmaster of Bulbagarden, having operated the website since 2002. He has been a part of the online Pokémon fandom since 1999.
Outside of Pokémon, Archaic works as a marketing academic and consultant. He has lectured for courses on topics related to consumer behaviour, consumer culture, and marketing ethics. His academic research centers around the exploration of the antecedent factors for consumers' privacy protection and self-disclosure behaviours in social media.
Pokémon Masters EX is counting down to the New Year with the game's latest Special Event, Battle Countdown. Players will face a series of ten limited time battles that are each available for one day only, earning 200 gems for each stage completed.
As part of the video streamed today on the Pokémon Trading Card Game's official Japanese YouTube channel, fans have gotten their first look at cards from the Munikisu Zero expansion, which will be released in Japan on January 23rd, 2026. The set centers around Mega Zygarde ex, and will feature a variety of Pokémon and characters from Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Also revealed today was a new Mega Gallade ex promo card that will release in a Special Card Set alongside the new expansion.
Pokémon Sleep's next Good Sleep Day event will run from Friday January 2nd through to Sunday January 4th. Good Sleep Day events are being held in Pokémon Sleep once every lunar month, starting the day before the full moon, and ending the day after. As usual, a Good Sleep Day Bundle will be available from the in-game shop alongside this event.
The Holiday season continues in Pokémon Masters EX, , bringing gifts of returning seasonal content for trainers. With only a week to go until Christmas, the game is seeing a re-run of last year's Joyful Music with Everyone Story Event, together with Seasonal Scouts featuring Holiday-themed Sync Pairs going all the way back to 2019.
Hot on the heals of the Holiday 2025 — Double Candy Research event that's launching next week in Pokémon Sleep, the New Year 2026 event will begin starting Monday December 29th. Pokémon that made their debut in the game in 2025 will be more likely to appear during this event, with some species making special appearances on Greengrass Isle.
The Holiday season is finally upon us in Pokémon Masters EX, bringing presents of new content for trainers. A brand new Holiday-themed story event, The Hottest Present, launches today alongside the debut of Arven's fresh seasonal outfit in a set of Seasonal Scouts with his new sync partner Scovillain. A set of special missions are also available for new Holiday-inspired photo frames and backgrounds.
Updates posted today on the Pokémon Trading Card Game's official Japanese homepage and YouTube channel have given fans their first look at all remaining cards from the upcoming Start Deck 100 Battle Collection decks. which are being released in Japan on December 19th. Select cards from these decks will released internationally in the Ascended Heroes expansion on January 30th.
A new trailer and press release have provided players with their first look at Pokémon TCG Pocket's next Themed Booster Pack, Crimson Blaze, which is set to launch worldwide on worldwide next week on Tuesday December 16th at 10:00pm (PST) / Wednesday December 17th at 6:00am (UTC), along with revealing a selection of events and new app features coming to the game throughout the Holiday Season and into the New Year.
A new promotional video posted today on the Pokémon Trading Card Game's official Japanese YouTube channel has given fans their first looks at several new cards from the upcoming Start Deck 100 Battle Collection decks. which are being released in Japan on December 19th. Cards from these decks will released internationally in the Ascended Heroes expansion on January 30th.
Delibird used Present! It’s super effective! The festive period is well and truly upon us, and that means it’s the season of jolliness and generosity here at Bulbagarden. This year, we have three contests you can enter for a chance at your share of over $2,000 USD worth of prizes, with some entirely new challenges and activities for you to try your luck at in addition to a returning old fan favorite.
In a video posted today on his personal YouTube channel, Japanese content creator Hikakin has revealed a new Supporter card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Influencer's Introducttion, which will be released in Japan on December 19th as one of the original cards for the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection decks.
To mark the festive season, Pokémon Sleep will be running a special Holiday 2025 — Double Candy Research event later this month, starting the Monday before Christmas, December 22nd, at 4:00am local time, and running through to Monday December 29th at 4:00am local time. Spheal wearing a holiday wreath, Togedemaru, Cetoddle, and Cetiitan will all be making their Pokemon Sleep debuts alongside this event, while Santa Hat Pikachu and Eevee also makes their returns.
Players will have opportunities to acquire multiple Sync Pairs featuring Charizard over the coming weeks in Pokémon Masters EX. Lance debuts his new Sync Pair in a set of Variety Scouts and the Lance's New Partner Pokémon Special Co-op Event, Arc Suit Leon & Charizard's Arc Suit Fair Scout makes a return, and everyone logging in before Christmas will receive a Guaranteed Ticket to team up with Sygna Suit Red & Charizard.
The Day 2 livestream for this weekend's Pokémon Champions League 2026 tournament in Japan's Aichi prefecture has revealed another batch of cards from the upcoming Start Deck 100 Battle Collection decks for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which are being released in Japan on December 19th. Cards from these decks will released internationally in the Ascended Heroes expansion on January 30th.
The newest Wonder Pick Event in Pokémon TCG Pocket brings new Drifblim and Eevee promo cards to the game's Wonder Pick feature, along with a selection of limited time event items. This event will run through to December 16th, at 9:59pm (PST).
Pokémon Masters EX is throwing down the gauntlet to trainers once more, with the Legendary Gauntlet returning until December 17th at 9:59pm (PST). Players finding themselves without the proper sync pairs to take on the Gauntlet will be able to take advantage of a new Scout launching alongside this event, featuring a variety of Sync Pairs suited to these particular challenges.
Ahead of the release of Wave 2 Story Content for Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Mega Dimension DLC next Wednesday December 10th, Mega Lucario Z was officially revealed in a new trailer released on The Official Pokémon YouTube channel. Also announced was the introduction of Mewtwo and its Mega Evolutions to the game in a new Side Mission which players can acquire through Mystery Gift.
The Fair-Exclusive 5★ are the featured Sync Pair for Monthly Poké Fair Scout Vol. 40 in Pokémon Masters EX. This scout will remain available until December 31st, at 9:59pm (PST). Teaming up with the pair will unlock N as a Guest for the Trainer's Lodge. N & Zekrom last appeared in the Monthly Poké Fair Scout in Vol. 24, back in August 2024.
Hilda debuts her Neo Champion sync pair with Iron Leaves today in Pokémon Masters EX in a new EX Master Fair Scout. The Hilda EX Master Fair will run through to January 6th, at 9:59pm (PST) alongside the ongoing Neo Champions event, Facing the Future with Fight.
