The Pokémon Trading Card Game is getting a Charizard-themed Premium Ultimate Collection, and it includes some of the rarest cards the TCG has seen in years. In 2020, The Pokémon Company released a special Zacian and Zamazenta premium box to celebrate the launch of the first three Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG sets. The Premium Ultimate Collection is making its return once again this October and will include three etched Charizard cards that have never been released before.
Since its launch in 2020, Nintendo has released a total of eleven Sword and Shield expansions. With Gen 9 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet announced to be launching in November, it was confirmed that the Galar region era of the Pokémon card game would also be coming to an end in 2022. The Pokémon Company has not slowed down for the final stretch of the Sword and Shield TCG series though, and has already released three mainline expansions Brilliant Stars, Astral Radiance, and Lost Origin in the first half of the year.
The Nintendo tabletop game has also launched many accessory products in 2022 such as the Pokémon GO TCG crossover in March, and the Pokémon TCG Trick Or Trade Halloween set in September. To close out the final months of the Gen 8 TCG series, players will be able to buy one last accessory with the Sword and Shield Ultra Premium Collection - Charizard box, which hits stores on October 28. Below is a breakdown of everything that is included in the highly-anticipated collector's edition set.
Pokémon TCG Ultra Premium Collection Has Alternate Art Charizard Cards
The biggest feature of the new Ultra Premium Collection is the three etched Charizard promo cards. The collectibles have not only never been released before, but they also have incredibly detailed alternate art designs. The Charizard V card featured vibrant artwork of Charizard resting in the woods after battling fellow Kanto Starter Venusaur.
The second VMAX Charizard card depicts the Fire-type in its Pokémon Sword and Shield Gigantamax forme, as it menacingly breathes out fire into the sky. What will likely become the most valuable collectible out of the set is the VSTAR Charizard promo, as it has a unique hand-drawn alternate art design of the Gen 1 Pokémon battling with Legendary Mewtwo.
Charizard Ultimate Premium Collection Also Comes With Additional Collectibles
The Sword and Shield Ultimate Premium Collection comes with a variety of additional goodies as well, such as a metal coin of Gigantamax Charizard. The set also comes with TCG card sleeves and a playmat that features artwork that is similar to the VMAX promo. Players can pick up the new Charizard collection starting on October 28 for $119.99. Fans who miss out on the rare box will have another chance in a second release in December. Below is a list of everything that is included in the Sword and Shield Ultimate Premium Collection - Charizard.
- 3 etched holographic promo cards: Charizard V, Charizard VMAX, and Charizard VSTAR
- 1 Gigantamax Charizard TCG playmat
- 65 Gigantamax Charizard card sleeves
- 1 Gigantamax Charizard metal coin
- 6 metal damage-counter dice
- 2 metal condition markers
- 1 acrylic VSTAR marker
- 16 Pokémon TCG booster packs from the Sword & Shield Series
- Sword and Shield TCG Series Player's Guide
- Pokémon TCG Live code
The Ultra Premium box also comes with 16 booster packs from previous Gen 8 sets, such as the popular Pokémon Brilliant Stars TCG expansion that was released in February. The Charizard collection looks to be a final send-off to the entire Galar region era of the Pokémon card game, as it also features a guidebook for every release in the Sword and Shield series.
The TCG will get one last final Sword and Shield expansion this year, with the release of the Silver Tempest set in November. Players looking forward to the next era of the TCG will have to wait a little longer, as Nintendo has confirmed that the first Gen 9 Pokémon cards will launch next year. Based on previous cycles, the first Pokémon Scarlet and Violet TCG expansion are likely to drop in February 2023. Fans who want to say goodbye to the Sword and Shield Pokémon Trading Card Game series one last time can celebrate with the Ultra Premium Charizard collection.