The Pokemon Company is releasing the latestPokemon Trading Card Gameexpansion tomorrow in Japan, with the addition of Pokemon from the recently releasedPokemon SwordandShield.
However, the secret rare cards for the set have leaked. There are a number of changes to these new cards in the set that weren’t revealed yet during The Pokemon Company’soverview of theSwordandShieldcard set. The changes include some new looks and special card types making a return after a hiatus.
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The secret rare cards from the latestPokemon Trading Card Gameset look impressive, featuring new Galar forms from the newestPokemontitle. There are also some Gigantamax forms, such as theGigantamax Snorlaxthat was only just revealed forSword & Shielditself. Other secret rare cards include the rival trainers, and of course theSwordandShieldlegendaries, Zacian and Zamazenta.
But what’s most interesting about this leak is how the new cards look. There are multiple cosmetic changes over theSunandMooncard set, which released a couple of years ago. The cards that feature full artwork on the card have backgrounds again, which was missing in the last set. Rainbow rares also make a return, with a special glitter background to boot. They aren’t different in functionality to their secret rare counterparts, they’re just even rarer and as such, more collectible. Trainer cards can now be rainbow rare cards, as well.
Finally, Gold Ultra Rares make a return but they’re glittery as well. These cosmetic changes obviously aren’t a big deal on thePokemon Trading Card Gamemeta, but special cards always encourage players to buy more packs. It’s sort of likeShiny Pokemon huntingin the mainline games - sometimes it’s not enough to just catch them all, but players also collect rarer variations of their favorites.
Of course, secret rare cards are called that for a reason - they’re hard to get. Still, there’s a lot of value in evencommonPokemon TCGcards, so there’s bound to be some greatSwordandShieldexpansion cards that won’t cost and arm and a leg to try and obtain.
ThePokemon Trading Card Game Sword & Shieldset releases December 6 in Japan, and February 7 in the US.
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