Sword & Shield: A Whole New Era for the Pokémon Trading Card Game
A new era for the Pokémon Trading Card game is rapidly approaching, with the release of the upcoming set “Sword & Shield”, players move away from the Alolan region and into the newly released Galar region.
This is an exciting time for both players of the video game, which was released on November 15th of last month and collectors / players of the trading card game, as this new region comes with all new mechanics, mysteries and characters that are likely to be beloved for years to come.
Today we begin to explore the Sword & Shield set, which releases on February 7th 2020 and what we know so far that is contained within this it.
The Spoilers Are Slowly Trickling Out
So far, not much is known about what will be contained within the English version of the Pokémon Sword & Shield base set, however, spoilers are beginning to slowly trickle out, expanding both our knowledge and excitement at the same time.
Straight from the Pokémon TCG “mothership”, we have the following description of the Sword & Shield set;
“Welcome to the Galar region with the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield expansion! Meet more than a dozen powerful Pokémon V, including the Legendary Zacian and Zamazenta. Some Pokémon V, like Stonjourner and Snorlax, can evolve into enormous Pokémon VMAX for even more power!
You’ll also find first partners Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, little cuties like Wooloo and Yamper, and familiar Pokémon in their new Galarian forms. Catch up with a new generation in the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield expansion!”
Right away from reading the above statement, we know that this first set, just like the initial set of so many expansion blocks that came before it, is going to heavily focus on introducing the players to some brand new key mechanics. In this case, Pokémon V.
While at the same time, it is also going to highly focus on some of the new Pokémon appearing in the Galar region, such as the starter Pokémon Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble.
Also, of course, two key Pokémon that are appearing in this initial set of the Sword & Shield era are Zamazenta and Zacian.
Unfortunately to date, we don’t exactly know how many cards are going to be included in this set, but we do from the official Pokémon TCG landing page, that it is over 202, as that is the size of the initial base set, making it a large set indeed.
Also, we do know that there are going to be over 15 “V type” Pokémon appearing throughout the set, likely in alternative versions as well, plus 4 “VMAX” Pokémon, which are an even more powered up versions of the already strong “V type” Pokémon.
Finally, we know that over 25 trainer type cards are going to be released within this set, plus one all new energy card, which is sure to have fans of the game excited. Hopefully this latter card comes in an alternative Secret Rare version!
The Spoilers So Far
As we stated previously, spoilers for the new Pokémon Sword & Shield set have only just begun, however, 18 cards to date have been released in their english versions so far.
All of these cards can be viewed on the Pokéllector website and it is there that you will find an updated English list of all cards that have been revealed so far.
If this is of interest to you, we suggest that you bookmark and check back regularly, or alternatively check back often on our blog, where we will be discussing this exciting set more as we get closer to the official release date, examining and going over the various cards contained within.
Make sure you stay tuned throughout January 2020, as the spoilers are going to be coming out at a feverish pace as maximum hype begins to build up to the official release date of this set.
Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield Initial Products
This set is going to contain a large assortment of initial products, of which are all now available for pre-order on Zephyr Epic.
They are as follows;
The Sword & Shield 3-Pack blister pack is a great way for players to dip their toes into this new set and will make great gifts for fans of the game.
As an added bonus, this three pack comes with a “Black Star” promo card of either the brand new Galarian Ponyta or Morpeko, depending on which pack you decide to purchase.
Meanwhile, the Sword & Shield Elite Trainer Box comes with eight booster packs of the Sword & Shield set, plus a wide arrangement of limited edition, exclusive to this product accessories, such as a set guide, card sleeve, dice and more.
Elite Trainer Boxes are a great way to dive into any set, building and starting your newest brew from the latest expansion set.
Next is the highly coveted Sword & Shield Booster Box, which is a must have for any collector or player that is looking to get a high volume amount of cards from any set.
Each booster box will contain 36 packs of cards, which will allow you to get a large chunk of your set checklist done in one shot.
Wrapping Up
A new era for the Pokémon Trading Card game is upon us and we hope that you are as excited as we are!
This set is sure to make an impact, changing the face of the game forever, bringing a large array of new trainers, mechanics and cards that collectors will be scrambling to get their hands on.
If you are interested in learning more about this set as the release date approaches, make sure to follow us on the Zephyr Epic Blog and comment below about what has you most excited!