The Pokémon Trading Card Game is as popular as ever, with many rushing to collect every card out there, and that looks to be continuing with the next set of cards, Astral Radiance, which will release later in 2022. How long fans will be able to find this new set, though, is anyone’s guess. With the fanbase desperate to purchase Pokémon cards, finding Astral Radiance at a local card store might be a difficult task.
When it originally launched with the very first Pokémon games, the Pokémon TCG was popular, but perhaps for different reasons than it is today. Nowadays, the focus seems to be on collecting every card in every set, and sometimes selling those that are worth surprisingly high amounts of money. The fervor over authentic, valuable cards has gotten so great and widespread that recently eBay launched a new system of authentication for those selling both Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards to better combat the potential for scams, like Logan Paul’s infamous $3.5 million Pokémon card purchase which turned out to be fraudulent. The more cards that come out, the more demand for them soars.
The next Pokémon TCG set, Astral Radiance, has been announced with a release date of May 27, 2022 (via DotEsports). It appears to be the English equivalent of two Japanese sets, Time Gazer and Space Juggler, neither of which have been formally revealed, so the actual content of this set is a mystery. The Japanese names do suggest a connection to the recent Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes, as well as Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which takes place in Hisui, the region that would later become Sinnoh. It’s likely that Dialga and Palkia will feature prominently, as might the Hisuian forms of Samurott, Typhlosion, and Decidueye. Besides that, though, what’s in this set is currently unknown.
There is another Pokémon TCG set releasing before Astral Radiance, though: Brilliant Stars releases on February 25, and brings with it a new mechanic called VSTAR. Brilliant Stars is already out in Japan, so The Pokémon Company can focus its marketing efforts on Astral Radiance going forward. While there’s likely still much promotion to come for Brilliant Stars alongside its worldwide release, soon thereafter should come more focus on Astral Radiance, giving eager collectors an idea of what to expect when it comes out in May.
With the recent launch of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, continuing adventures and events in Pokémon GO, and the upcoming release of new Pokémon Trading Card Game sets, 2022 is looking to be another big year for Pokémon releases. The TCG should be getting a new online version in the form of Pokémon Trading Card Game Live, and plenty more card releases over the course of the year. Hopefully, when Astral Radiance releases in May, everyone who wants it can get their hands on it, despite stock shortages throughout 2021.
Source: DotEsports