That ability unlocks combos with +1/+1 counters and extra combat spells, especially in go-big aggro strategies
The major characters like the Fellowship of the Ring, their closest allies, and the major villains like Sauron all get multiple mechanically unique cards to represent them during different parts of their long journeys
We actually played the card game at my school and it was quite competitive for a year or so and a ton of fun
You're essentially meant to be getting a card's worth of value from the effect, while also improving a less impressive creature
as of early 2026, 1,025 Pokmon species have been introduced
If you prefer opening for singles value, standard boxes with strong chase cards (like Inferno X with Mega Charizard X ex) can also deliver but with more variance