The Pokémon Trading Card Game: Brilliant Stars expansion was officially announced on November 3 with a release date of February 25, 2022. The expansion features new Pokémon VSTAR, which are able to evolve from Pokémon V cards. This gives players the ability to evolve Pokémon V into even more powerful Pokémon than VMAX and changes up gameplay with more evolution options in the Standard format.
Joining the current Sword & Shield series of the TCG, Brilliant Stars will build on the Pokémon V mechanics that were introduced at the start of the series in February 2020. While players and collectors speculated that Fusion Strike would be Sword & Shield’s last expansion, Brilliant Stars will be part of this series when it’s released.
Despite the fact that Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl will be released on November 19, 2021, the Brilliant Stars expansion will not herald a new series for the TCG as was previously expected. This has also taken some players by surprise due to the fact that Arceus VSTAR is the Pokémon featured for this expansion’s release with Pokémon Legends: Arceus looming on the horizon, set to release in January 2022. It’s unclear whether or not Brilliant Stars will be the final Sword & Shield expansion, but it seems that the Pokémon TCG is not done with this series quite yet.
What The Brilliant Stars Expansion Will Bring To The Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield - Brilliant Stars expansion will include over 170 cards, with 4 new Pokémon VSTAR cards being added to the game. There will also be 20 new Pokémon V cards added, as well as 3 Pokémon VMAX. With over 20 new Trainer cards and a new Special Energy card available in the expansion, players have a lot to look forward to as Brilliant Stars kicks off the Pokémon TCG’s 26th year in 2022.
So far, Arceus VSTAR and Charizard VSTAR cards have been revealed as the first glimpse of Pokémon VSTAR, and their stats are as dazzling as their card art. Each of these powerful Pokémon have 280 HP and attacks that do massive amounts of damage. Arceus V and Charizard V will also be included in this expansion with impressive stats of their own.
VSTAR powers are only able to be used once per game, which indicates that these cards could be potentially game-ending and have the power to alter the entire course of the match. Like Pokémon V, Pokémon VSTAR cards reward opponents with 2 prize cards when they’re knocked out. The Pokémon TCG: Leafeon VSTAR Special Collection and Pokémon TCG: Glaceon VSTAR Special Collection boxes will also become available in the first quarter of 2022, giving trainers yet another chance to incorporate these powerful new cards in their Pokémon TCG decks.
Source: Pokemon.com