Ancient Roar (Japanese: 古代の咆哮) and Future Flash (Japanese: 未来の一閃) are the names given to the two Japanese paired sets that collectively make up the fourth expansion of cards released during the Pokémon Trading Card Game's Scarlet & Violet Era.
Two new variants of cards are introduced in these expansions: Ancient cards are available in Ancient Roar, while Future cards are available in Future Flash. These variants are available as both Pokémon and Trainer cards. Both card variants feature unique text icons on the top right corner of the artwork, and unique backgrounds adorning the right half of the cards: Ancient cards have a layered strata background, while Future cards have a pixelated background. Ancient Pokémon cards tend to have direct attacks that deal a large amount of damage and are difficult to Knock Out. Future Pokémon cards tend to have Abilities and attacks with extra effects, allowing for craftier strategies. Ancient Booster Energy Capsule can bolster Ancient Pokémon defensively and enable Brute Bonnet's Ability, while Future Booster Energy Capsule can empower Future Pokémon's attacks and reduce the cost of Iron Jugulis's second attack.
Additional strategies are available to other Pokémon in the set. Tsareena ex can add damage counters to an opponent's Pokémon and reduce their remaining HP below 30, which prevents that Pokémon from attacking while Vanilluxe is in play. The treasures of ruinWo-Chien, Chi-Yu, Chien-Pao, and Ting-Lu each have attacks that can each accelerate Energy from the discard pile to the player's Benched Pokémon. Simisage, Simisear, and Simipour each have the Monkey Trio Ability, which reduces their attack costs while all three are in play.
Ancient Roar and Future Flash were released in Japanese on October 27, 2023, followed by localized releases in Traditional Chinese on November 10, 2023, and in Thai on December 15, 2023. The Indonesian set equivalent, Paradox Encounters, also released on December 15, 2023.
Cards released in this sets were included primarily in the English Paradox Rift expansion. The Hyper rare prints of Basic Darkness Energy and Basic Metal Energy from Ancient Roar and Future Flash respectively are instead included in Shrouded Fable. Other cards from these sets not included in Paradox Rift are included in the Paldean Fates expansion.