A brand-new Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion is coming to Sword & Shield. And let me tell you that from the looks of it, the upcoming batch of cards will be a tremendous addition to your deck. An ominous threat has arrived, and your cards can now be cast into the Lost Zone, an abyss from which they cannot be recovered. But don’t worry too much; a clever player can use the Lost Zone to their advantage!
Among the many things we will find in this new expansion, it will include brand-new Radiant Pokémon, more Pokémon VSTAR and Pokémon V, and an enormous Pokémon VMAX. There are also 30 cards with unique artwork in the Trainer Gallery subset. Get ready because the expansion will be released on September 9, 2022.
Here are some of the 190 cards that will appear in the upcoming Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Lost Origin expansion:
Snorlax
Commander Kamado and Snorlax enjoy a tasty meal together, but Snorlax seems more…enthusiastic about the experience. The Pokémon’s incessant snacking certainly works in its favor, as its Unfazed Fat Ability protects it from all effects of attacks from the opponent’s Pokémon. When it’s time to go on the offensive, Snorlax’s Thumping Snore attack does 180 damage, but be aware that it has the side effect of making Snorlax fall Asleep. To wake up Snorlax during Pokémon Checkup, you’ll have to flip two coins and have both land on heads.
Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR
Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR leaps into action on this card. And it’s certainly ready to go: it has 270 HP, and its vengeful Ticking Curse attack does 50 damage for each of your Pokémon that has any damage counters on it. This attack also pairs well with Lost Origin’s Damage Pump Item card, which allows you to move up to 2 damage counters from 1 of your Pokémon to your other Pokémon in any way you like. So, if you have one Pokémon that’s taken the brunt of your opponent’s attacks, you can redistribute the damage to increase Ticking Curse’s strength. If you desperately need a new hand of cards, Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR’s Phantom Star VSTAR Power lets you discard your hand and draw seven new cards. Just remember that you can only use one VSTAR Power per game.
Aerodactyl VSTAR
With its toothy maw and look of determination in its eye, Aerodactyl VSTAR seems like a force to be reckoned with. Its Lost Dive attack certainly backs up that fierce appearance. This fearsome attack does an incredible 240 damage, but it requires you to send the top 3 cards of your deck into the Lost Zone. Still, if you’re willing to risk giving up cards, you can quickly dish out a lot of damage. You can also disrupt your opponent’s strategy with Aerodactyl VSTAR’s Ancient Star VSTAR Power. When activated, it gains an Ability that effectively disables any Abilities on your opponent’s Pokémon V (except for another Aerodactyl VSTAR) for as long as Aerodactyl VSTAR remains in play.
Kingdra
Want to fluster your opponent? Kingdra’s Seething Currents Ability can force them to constantly rework their plans. This Ability allows you to make either player shuffle their hand and then put the cards on the bottom of their deck. If they do, they must draw four cards. Of course, you can also use this Ability to refresh your hand when you need to, but let’s face it—it’s more fun to watch your opponent have to give up their current hand at your command. You can then use Hydro Splash to hit your opponent’s Active Pokémon for a respectable 130 damage.
Mirage Gate
Remember when we mentioned using the Lost Zone to your advantage? Mirage Gate is an Item card that lets you do just that. If you have seven or more cards in the Lost Zone, you can use this card to search your deck for up to 2 basic Energy cards of different types. These can then be attached to your Pokémon in any way you like. So yes, you may have fewer cards in your deck, but you’ll be able to power up your Pokémon faster.
Are you into Pokémon TGC? What are your thoughts on this expansion? Let us know in the comment section!
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