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 25th, 2022.
Pokémon VSTAR evolves 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 has 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, an etched oversize card featuring Leafeon VSTAR or Glaceon VSTAR, an acrylic VSTAR marker, and five Pokémon TCG booster packs.
