Next Pokemon TCG Expansion Revolves Around Pokemon Legends: Arceus

The Pokemon Company has revealed the next expansion for the Pokemon Trading Card Game. Dubbed Astral Radiance, the upcoming Sword & Shield expansion releases in May and hones in on the recently released Switch game Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

The Astral Radiance expansion includes cards for various Hisuian forms introduced in Legends Arceus, including Decidueye, Typhlosion, and Samurott. Card backgrounds will also feature artwork inspired by Legends Arceus and the Hisui region.

The set also introduces a new gameplay mechanic and card type called Radiant Pokemon. According to the Astral Radiance press release, Radiant Pokemon cards have “a powerful Ability or attack with the potential to impact the Pokémon TCG metagame.” Radiant Pokemon cards will also feature “Shiny Pokémon illustrated in etched artwork” for the key art. The expansion will have three Radiant Pokemon in the full set. As per the new rules, players can only run one Radiant Pokemon in a deck, but these new cards could add an interesting wrinkle to matches. Check out our feature on how new Pokemon cards are made to see how new cards like the upcoming Radiant Pokemon are designed for the long-running trading card game.

Along with the new Radiant Pokemon, Astral Radiance will also include 21 Pokémon V cards, 8 Pokémon VSTAR cards, 2 Pokémon VMAX cards, 20 new Trainer cards, and more. The Astral Radiance expansion for Pokemon TCG releases worldwide on May 27, 2022, but players can preorder booster packs and Elite Trainer packs from The Pokemon Center online store right now. You can also grab packs for the previous expansion, Brilliant Stars, that released last month.

As for the video game side of the Pokemon franchise, the Pokemon Company also recently announced the next mainline generation of Pokemon games, Scarlet and Violet, will launch later in 2022 for Nintendo Switch, and preorders are now live.