The next English Pokemon TCG set is called Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars. It officially releases Friday, February 25, 2022. Prerelease events will take place at hobby stores from February 12th to 20th. This is your first chance to get the cards by purchasing a Build & Battle Box.
The Base set contains 172 cards and will include Arceus V and Arceus V Star, a brand new game mechanic. There will be plenty of Ultra Rares and Secret Rares to collect.
Nov. 3, 2021—Today, The Pokémon Company International unveiled the new Pokémon VSTAR gameplay mechanic for the best-selling Pokémon Trading Card Game. Pokémon VSTAR will appear in the upcoming Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars expansion, arriving at participating retailers worldwide on February 25, 2022.
Pokémon VSTAR evolve from Pokémon V and will play a major role in the Pokémon TCG metagame. Each Pokémon VSTAR has a VSTAR Power — an Ability or attack — with an extremely powerful effect that can decide the outcome of a battle. Players can use only one VSTAR Power per game, and those who use a VSTAR Power must flip over a VSTAR marker during the battle.
In addition to their VSTAR Powers, Pokémon VSTAR have high HP and high-damage attacks, and they give up two Prize cards when Knocked Out.
Trainers can look forward to seeing Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR and Whimsicott VSTAR in Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars. The expansion will also include a special Trainer Gallery subset of 30 cards with artwork featuring fan-favorite Trainers and Pokémon.
Available in booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes and special collections, Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars will include the following:
20 Pokémon V and 15 full-art Pokémon V
Four new Pokémon VSTAR
Three new Pokémon VMAX
22 Trainer cards and six full-art Supporter cards
One new Special Energy card
In addition, Trainers can find Pokémon VSTAR in the Pokémon TCG: Leafeon VSTAR Special Collection and Pokémon TCG: Glaceon VSTAR Special Collection when they become available in the first quarter of 2022. Each of these VSTAR Special Collections includes a promo card featuring Leafeon V or Glaceon V, an etched promo card and etched oversize card featuring Leafeon VSTAR or Glaceon VSTAR, an acrylic VSTAR marker and five Pokémon TCG booster packs.
To learn more about the Pokémon TCG, please visit Pokemon.com/TCG.
Brilliant Stars Products
Similar to previous sets, we can expect the following products:
Sleeved Booster Pack – Each pack contains 10 cards, 1 energy card, and a redeemable code card for the Pokemon Trading Card Game Live. Packs are sleeved in cardboard for retail sale.
Booster Box – Contains 36 individually wrapped booster packs.
3-Pack Blister – Contains three booster packs, a promo card, a plastic coin, and a redeemable code card. There are two promo card variations.
Checklane Blister – Contains one booster pack, a promo card, a plastic coin, and a redeemable code card. There are two promo card variants.
Premium Blister – Contains one booster pack, a 3-card complete evolution line, a plastic coin, and a redeemable code card. There are two evolution line variants.
Mini Portfolio – Contains one booster pack and a mini card album to display and store 60 cards.
Elite Trainer Box – Each ETB contains 8 booster packs, energy cards, protective card sleeves featuring an Eevee Evolution, die, damage counters, special condition markers, a Player’s Guide, a rule book, and a special redeemable code card. The box comes with 4 dividers and also serves as a card holder to store your cards.
Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box – This Pokemon Center edition ETB contains 10 packs instead of 8. Like a regular ETB, it comes with all the same items except the die and damage counters are metal.
Build & Battle Box (Available Friday, February 11 at Hobby Stores and March 11 for Retail and Online Stores) – Each kit contains 4 booster packs, a 23-card Evolution pack, and a redeemable code card. There are four different evolution packs. The box contains Pokemon, Trainer, and Energy cards from recent sets, not limited to this expansion set.
Build & Battle Stadium (Available Friday, March 11 ) – Each kit contains 2 Build and Battle Kits, 4 extra booster packs, 121 energy cards, 6 damage counter dice, 1 coin-flip die, 2 acrylic condition markers, and a redeemable code card.
More information and pictures to come.
