The Pokémon Trading Card Game's Astral Radiance expansion is packed with many rare collectibles that have some of the TCG's best artwork in years. After months of anticipation, Astral Radiance was finally released in May. The summer TCG set is the tenth main Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG expansion and features a massive setlist of over 200 cards for players to collect. From VSTAR to Radiant Pokémon, the Sword and Shield expansion has many rare Pokémon cards with incredible artwork.
Following the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus in January, the Astral Radiance expansion was released as a companion set to the open-world RPG. The 2022 expansion introduced many Hisuian Pokémon into the TCG for the very first time, including Pokémon Legends: Arceus Starters Hisuian Typhlosion, Hisuian Samurott, and Hisuian Decidueye. The May release also debuted the new Radiant Pokémon card mechanic, which features Shiny Pokémon with powerful moves and stats.
Although the TCG expansion was largely themed around Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Astral Radiance's Trainer Gallery Cards featured many classic Pokémon and characters from the Game Freak series. The popular card variant's incredible alternate artwork has made the Sword and Shield set have one of the biggest collections of uniquely drawn cards for players to collect. Below is a list of the best Pokémon TCG card art from the Astral Radiance set.
Astral Radiance Galarian Moltres V Trainer Gallery Card
In Pokémon Sword and Shield's DLC the Crown Tundra, players are sent on a quest to catch the Galarian forme of Kanto Legendary Moltres. The epic moment is captured in the Astral Radiance TCG expansion with the beautiful Galarian Moltres V card. The rare Pokémon card is a part of the TCG expansion's Trainer Gallery set and includes Gen 8's protagonist facing off against the Legendary Pokémon. The textured flames on Moltres' wings make this Pokémon Sword and Shield Crown Tundra artwork one of Astral Radiance's best cards.
Astral Radiance Origin Forme Dialga V Pokémon Card
After years of anticipation, Pokémon Legends: Arceus finally introduced the long-awaited Origin Forme's for Sinnoh Legendaries Dialga and Palkia. With Astral Radiance largely being themed around the Hisui region RPGs, it should come as no surprise that the set includes quite a few cards depicting the Diamond and Pearl mascot's new variants.
The Origin Forme Dialga V card is gorgeous in person, as the Astral Radiance TCG collectible has many unique texture patterns that run throughout the sky. The card's use of vibrant pastel colors also creates a beautiful backdrop for Dialga as it soars into the air.
Astral Radiance Origin Forme Palkia V Pokémon Card
The Astral Radiance TCG set also features an alternate artwork for Sinnoh Legendary Palkia. While the Pokémon Legends: Arceus Palkia V card isn't as vibrant as its counterpart Dialga, it makes up for that by having one of the expansion's most unique artworks. Depicting the game's time-bending themes, the Origin Forme Palkia V card shows the Diamond and Pearl Legendary standing in a warped room that almost looks like an M.C. Escher painting. The interesting artwork by Pokémon artist Oswaldo KATO makes this one of the stand-out cards in Astral Radiance.
Astral Radiance Beedrill V Pokémon Card
Pokémon TCG collectors that love vibrant colors will not want to miss out on Astral Radiance's Beedrill V card. The Pokémon card's artwork shows a group of Beedrill's flying above a colorful palette of flowers. While the Pokémon Red and Blue Kanto Bug-type isn't as popular as some of the other Pokémon in the Astral Radiance set, its gorgeous alternate artwork that bursts with colors is one of the expansion's prettiest cards that shouldn't be overlooked.
Astral Radiance Machamp V Pokémon Card
Although the majority of Astral Radiance's alternate art cards are in the Trainer Gallery Set, the TCG expansion has many V cards with unique full artwork as well. One of those is the Machamp V card which features the Kanto Fighter-type running through a marketplace. The Astral Radiance TCG card depicts the Galar region's third city Stow-on-Side, which is the home of Pokémon Sword Gym Leader Bea and Pokémon Shield Gym Leader Allister. The beautiful card shows Machamp carrying food and bowls as it walks across the marketplace that is a part of the dusty mountain-side Galar town.
Astral Radiance Hisuian Lilligant V Pokémon Card
A big feature of the Astral Radiance TCG expansion is the debut of many Legends: Arceus Hisuian Pokémon including Hisuian Lilligant. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, players first encounter the Kalos Grass-type in the dirty swamps of the Crimson Mirelands.
In Astral Radiance, the majestic Noble Pokémon gets a complete change in scenery as the Hisuian Lilligant V card portrays the Pokémon dancing in a winter wonderland. The collectible gets bonus points for featuring an adorable Spheal cozying up against a tree of Starly's.
Astral Radiance Radiant Greninja Pokémon Card
The Astral Radiance expansion also features the TCG's first-ever Radiant Pokémon. The set includes Radiant Heatran, Radiant Hawlucha, and Radiant Greninja. The Kalos Water-type starter evolution is not only the best out of the three, but it also has one of the best artworks in the entire expansion. Illustrated by Pokémon artist Souichirou Gunjima, the Radiant Greninja card depicts a Shiny version of the Pokémon X and Y Kalos starter evolution posing in front of an ocean sunset. The card's beautiful pink and purple pastel colors make this one of Greninja's best artworks since it was introduced into the TCG in 2013.
Astral Radiance Garchomp V Trainer Gallery Card
Collectors looking to dive into the Astral Radiance TCG set will not want to miss out on the Garchomp V card. The Trainer Gallery card features the popular Diamond and Pearl Dragon-type, next to Sinnoh Champion Cynthia. What makes this card special is the stunning galaxy backdrop, as Cynthia and her partner Garchomp sit underneath the night sky. The rare Astral Radiance card has already quickly become one of the set's most sought-after collectibles.
With Astral Radiance now released, the next Pokémon card expansion to release this Summer is the Pokémon GO TCG crossover set. However, the next main expansion is Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG Lost Origin which was accidentally leaked early by the official Pokémon Center store. Based on the amazing artwork in Astral Radiance Pokémon Trading Card Game collectors have a lot to look forward to this year.