So far, there are five confirmed promo cards for the upcoming Astral Radiance set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). With the set released planned for May 27, it is likely that the pre-release merchandise will be available for purchase from the weekend of 14-15 May. These pre-release items feature the usual Build & Battle box that includes four booster packs of the new set, a deck-building kit of cards, and one of the four pre-release promo cards.
Astral Radiance is the tenth set of the Sword & Shield series of Pokémon TCG. This set will center around the Origin Forms of Dialga and Palkia, bringing Pokémon Legends: Arceus and the mythos of the Hisui region into the TCG. Amongst the 180 cards, Astral Radiance will include a Trainer Gallery subset like in Brilliant Stars, featuring familiar faces like Adaman and Irida as Supporter cards. The VSTAR and VMAX mechanics introduced in previous sets are also making a come-back, particularly with the VSTAR Dialga and VSTAR Palkia Origin Forms, alongside VMAX Heatran and VMAX Machamp.
This expansion will also debut the rare, powerful Radiant Pokémon cards, those being: Greninja, Hawlucha, and Heatran. In regards to promo cards, however, only four are currently confirmed: Magnezone, Wyrdeer, Hisuian Basculegion, and Hisuian Samurott will be available through pre-release Build & Battle boxes. Additionally, GameStop will have a Hisuian Typhlosion promo card available with purchases.
Four Build & Battle Box Promo Cards Are Confirmed For Astral Radiance
Alongside a deck-building kit and booster packs, the Build & Battle boxes will contain one of the four Astral Radiance pre-release Pokémon promo cards. These four Black Star Promos will be holographic and have the Astral Radiance set symbol in the corner of the art box. With the Astral Radiance set planned for release from May 27, these pre-release boxes will likely be available two weeks earlier, from around May 14.
Astral Radiance is introducing Pokémon from the Hisui region introduced in Legends: Arceus; the ancient version of BDSP's Sinnoh region within which certain Pokémon evolve differently. These promo cards include Wyrdeer, the new evolution of Stantler, as a Stage 1 Pokémon with the ability to draw a card once per turn. Hisuian Basculegion is also introduced, being another Pokémon players can summon with the Celestial Flute in Legends: Arceus. Also a Stage 1, this card has an interesting attack mechanic.
The final Pokémon included from Legends: Arceus is the impressive Hisuian Samurott card. This starter Pokémon option for Legends: Arceus is a Stage 2 Pokémon in Astral Radiance with the ability to discard and draw three cards, as previously seen on Swampert's card. The final pre-release promo card is a Stage 2 Pokémon, Magnezone, with a powerful deck-searching ability.
GameStop Has A Hisuian Typhlosion Promo Card For Astral Radiance
Excitingly, upon Astral Radiance's release, GameStop will be giving away an exclusive Typhlosion promo card. This card will only be available from May 27 when purchasing at least $15 worth of Pokémon TCG merchandise, and it will likely be a regular Hisuian Typhlosion card. As the last GameStop promo card was Duraludon with the Evolving Skies set in August 2021, this is an exciting opportunity for avid Pokémon TCG players and collectors.
Alongside these exciting promo cards, Astral Radiance will introduce new Radiant Pokémon mechanics, potentially re-invigorating the Pokémon TCG. Not only is this new mechanic debuting, but this set will also include three brand new Gold Stadium cards with impressive full artworks. With only a fraction of the 180 cards confirmed so far, it seems that Astral Radiance is shaping up to be a top-tier expansion for the Sword & Shield series.