The Pokémon Trading Card Game has announced the upcoming Astral Radiance expansion, which will bring awesome new Shiny Radiant Pokémon to the TCG. The inclusion of Shiny Pokémon cards in the Pokémon TCG has been a popular way for fans of the card game to Shiny hunt outside of the main series of Pokémon video games. However, instead of just being cosmetic additions for playable decks or collections, it appears the Radiant Pokémon cards could have their own new game rules.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions have already included two card sets specifically featuring Shiny Pokémon. Hidden Fates and Shining Fates both offered hundreds of Shiny Pokémon which could potentially be pulled in the reverse holo spot of a booster pack. However, the cards have the same attacks and abilities already seen on other prints for each species, making them interchangeable with common cards of the same Pokémon.
Currently, the Sword & Shield expansions for the Pokémon TCG have introduced several new mechanics for players to pull out during a match. The V and VMAX cards, which were designed to mimic Dynamax and Gigantamax battle tactics from the Pokémon Sword and Shield video games, allow players to deal devastating attacks to opponents. The recent Brilliant Stars expansion also introduced VSTAR cards, which function similarly to the GX cards for the Sun & Moon expansions, allowing players the ability to use one extremely powerful move per game. Currently, it isn't clear what the Radiant Pokémon cards may be used for, but according to the PokémonCenter website, they will have special names, as announced with the confirmation of Radiant Greninja in the Astral Radiance Elite Trainer Box description.
Pokémon TCG's Radiant Pokémon Could Have Special Abilities
The Radiant Pokémon cards in the Pokémon TCG could offer players numerous new strategies while building decks and battling in matches. Radiant Pokémon could possess unique Abilities, for example, Shiny Greninja's darker colors could give it a camouflage Ability that lets players flip a coin for the opponent to hit. A Radiant card of a Pokémon like Obstagoon could use a music-themed Ability, where the player can do additional damage while the card still has more than half its HP remaining. The cards could also possess attacks unique to the Radiant versions, giving fans of specific species new ways to deal damage.
However, because Shiny Pokémon are so popular, those wanting to add these cards to their collections will likely need to preorder booster packs and Elite Trainer Boxes early. The Hidden Fates and Shining Fates card sets were part of the Pokémon Trading Card Game shortages that impacted players throughout late 2020 and early 2021. While it appears the packs are getting easier to find again, the new mechanic on rare cards could lead to further Pokémon Trading Card Game shortages upon release. Hopefully, everyone who enjoys the game and Shiny Pokémon variations will be able to add a few to personal collections.
Source: PokémonCenter