On March 8th, 2022, The Pokémon Company International unveiled the next expansion for the popular Pokémon Trading Card Game, Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance, which launched at participating retailers around the world on May 27th, 2022. High resolution product pictures from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

New Pokémon Trading Card Game: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance Expansion to Introduce Radiant Pokémon Gameplay Mechanic

Inspired by the Pokémon Legends: Arceus video game, Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance will feature various Hisuian Pokémon and card art that showcases the Hisui region. The expansion will also introduce Radiant Pokémon, a new gameplay mechanic that features Shiny Pokémon illustrated in etched artwork. Radiant Pokémon tend to have a powerful Ability or attack with the potential to impact the Pokémon TCG metagame. Players will only be able to include one Radiant Pokémon in their deck.


In addition, Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance will continue to highlight Pokémon VSTAR and includes a special Trainer Gallery subset of 30 cards with artwork featuring fan-favorite Trainers and Pokémon.

Noteworthy cards from the expansion include:

• Three Radiant Pokémon
• Eight Pokémon VSTAR
• 21 Pokémon V and two Pokémon VMAX
• More than 20 Trainer cards

Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance will be available in booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes and special collections, with the Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box now available for preorder exclusively at Pokémon Center in the US, Canada and UK.

Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield-Astral Radiance Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box

Legends of Time & Space Take Charge!

Travel back to a land of myths, legends, and wilderness as Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR shape the fabric of time and space! Decidueye, Typhlosion, and Samurott arrive as Hisuian Pokémon VSTAR, joining more Pokémon and Trainers from the ancient region of Hisui. Meanwhile, Shiny Pokémon reappear as Radiant Pokémon, with Radiant Greninja leading the charge in the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance expansion!

This Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box can be found only at Pokémon Center and comes with exclusive accessories—metal dice and a metallic coin—plus 10 booster packs (two more than in a standard Elite Trainer Box).

• 10 Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance booster packs - Each booster pack contains 10 cards and either 1 basic Energy or 1 VSTAR marker
• 65 card sleeves featuring Darkrai
• 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
• A player’s guide to the Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance expansion
• A Pokémon TCG rulebook
• 6 metal damage-counter dice
• 1 metallic coin featuring Darkrai
• 2 acrylic condition markers
• 1 acrylic VSTAR marker
• A collector’s box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organized
• A code card for Pokémon Trading Card Game Live
• Item Dimensions: 7.4 x 3.4 x 6.5 IN
• Country Of Origin: Printed in the USA. Card Sleeves, Dice, and Condition Markers made in China.
• Materials: Paper / acrylic / polyresin / polypropylene / metal
• Recommended Age: 6+ Years
• Item Weight: 1.7 LB
• SKU: 181-85133

Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Astral Radiance Elite Trainer Box

The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Astral Radiance Elite Trainer Box includes everything a player needs to outshine the competition in battle! Dazzle your opponent with cool card sleeves featuring the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai, as well as beautifully designed dice and markers. Then assemble a deck with help from the eight Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance booster packs and guidance from the included strategy guide. When it's all over, pack it all up in the collector's box so you're ready to head to your next clash.

The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance Elite Trainer Box includes:

• 8 Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance booster packs
• 65 card sleeves featuring Darkrai
• 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
• A player's guide to the Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance expansion
• A Pokémon TCG rulebook
• 6 damage-counter dice
• 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
• 2 acrylic condition markers
• 1 acrylic VSTAR marker
• A collector's box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organized
• A code card usable in either the Pokémon TCG Online or Pokémon TCG Live