The final Sword and Shield Pokémon Trading Card Game set has been announced, and it might end up being Generation 8's biggest TCG expansion. Following the debut of the Galar region RPGs in 2019, The Pokémon Company has released a total of ten mainline Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG sets. With the eleventh Lost Origin expansion set to launch in September 2022, many fans speculated that it could be the final TCG set for Gen 8. However, a final Sword and Shield expansion Silver Tempest has been revealed for November, and its setlist could end up being massive.
In February, Pokémon fans around the world were surprised when Game Freak announced that Gen 9 would be launching in November with the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. To cap off the final year of the Sword and Shield TCG series, The Pokémon Company has already launched two major Pokémon card expansions at the beginning of 2022 with Brilliant Stars and Astral Radiance. The Pokémon Lost Origin TCG expansion is set to hit stores on Friday, September 9th, and will bring back the "Lost Zone" mechanic from Pokémon Platinum.
Despite its release set just two months before the debut of Gen 9, Lost Origin won't actually be the final Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG set. According to Pokémon card outlet PokéBeach, the Nintendo tabletop game will get one final Gen 8 TCG expansion in November called Silver Tempest. The last Galar region set will be the twelfth mainline expansion of the Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG series and will have a massive setlist to close out Gen 8 with a bang.
Pokémon Sword & Shield's Final TCG Set Silver Tempest Could Have Massive Setlist
The Silver Tempest TCG expansion will make its official debut on Friday, November 11th, and will contain cards from the Japanese Incandescent Arcana set which launches in September. The final Sword and Shield release is shaping up to be massive, as it could also contain collectibles from the Japanese set Paradigm Trigger as well as cut cards from Lost Origin. Silver Tempest's large setlist will reportedly include an Alolan Vulpix VSTAR, Radiant Jirachi, as well as several new Lugia cards. With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's TCG series' release date likely set for February 2023, Silver Tempest will be the last mainline expansion Nintendo has to release any remaining Gen 8 Pokémon cards not yet released in English.
Ever since its launch in 1996, the Pokémon TCG has always released its new sets in Japan first before the rest of the world. Unlike International mainline expansions though, the Japanese TCG is often broken up into smaller sets. Because of this, there are often extra Pokémon cards that have a delayed release in English. Silver Tempest will be used to wrap up the Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG series, as the franchise gets ready for the launch of Gen 9 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. TCG collectors could technically get one last special mini set in early 2023 similar to the Pokémon GO TCG Crossover, however, Silver Tempest will be the Pokémon Trading Card Game's final Sword and Shield expansion.
Source: PokéBeach