The Pokémon Trading Card Game has released two sets in Japan that give a preview of what cards will be in the final Sword and Shield expansion Silver Tempest. In June, The Pokémon Company confirmed that the Pokémon Sword and Shield TCG series would be coming to an end with the release of the Silver Tempest expansion. Although the Autumn release isn’t set to hit stores until November, the final mainline Sword and Shield expansion has had many of its cards already revealed in the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger.
Ever since the TCG launched in 1996, the Nintendo Tabletop game always releases its new cards first in Japan. In September, the Pokémon card game released Incandescent Arcana which featured the debut of Alolan Vulpix and Serperior as VSTAR cards. The mini-set was the first half of what will eventually become Silver Tempest in North America. On October 21, Japan will get the second half of the final Gen 8 mainline expansion with the launch of Paradigm Trigger.
With the release of the Paradigm Trigger TCG set on the horizon, players now have a massive preview of what cards will make an appearance in the last Galar region expansion. The November release will feature many rare VMAX, VSTAR, and Radiant Pokémon TCG collectibles. Below is a list of the best Japanese cards that players will be able to pull when the Silver Tempest expansion finally hits stores on Friday, November 11.
Pokémon TCG Paradigm Trigger Lugia V Alternate Art Card
One of the biggest selling points of the Silver Tempest expansion is the return of Lugia as a rare card in the TCG. Even decades after making its first appearance in the Johto region, the Pokémon Silver box mascot is still one of the series’ most popular Legendary Pokémon. In Silver Tempest, players will be able to pull a Lugia V card with stunning alternate-art artwork.
In the rare collectible, the Gen 2 Pokémon can be seen rising up from a stormy ocean of water that is swirling around it. While the Johto Legendary was featured as a card in the 25th anniversary Pokémon Celebrations TCG set, this is the first time Lugia has been available as a rare full art collectible since 2018’s Sun and Moon Lost Thunder expansion.
Pokémon TCG Incandescent Arcana Serperior V Alternate Art Card
Although the Sword and Shield TCG era has introduced many new rare card variants such as VMAX and VSTAR, the most valuable Pokémon cards in 2022 have actually been Alternate-Art V cards. The full-art design was first introduced in the Pokémon Sun and Moon TCG series and has become wildly popular since its return in the Sword and Shield era.
One of the best cards coming to the Silver Tempest expansion is the Serperior V collectible. The holographic card features an adorable illustration of Pokémon Black and White 2 protagonist Rosa riding her bike next to Unova Starter Serperior. The rare Serperior V not only has detailed artwork, but it captures an intimate moment not often seen between characters in the TCG.
Lugia VSTAR Pokémon TCG Paradigm Trigger
What will likely be one of the most valuable cards in the November TCG set is the highly-anticipated Lugia VSTAR card. The rare collectible features the Johto Legendary bursting into the sky and surrounded by a flurry of gold energy.
The rare VSTAR isn’t just a great holographic card though as it’s also extremely powerful with an attack power of 220 and a staggering health total of 280. While Lugia has a few cards in the Pokémon Silver Tempest TCG expansion, its debut as a VSTAR will likely be what most players and collectors chase when the set launches in November.
Pokémon Incandescent Arcana Gardevoir Trainer Gallery Card
Following its debut in the Pokémon Sun and Moon TCG series, Trainer Gallery Cards have since become one of the most popular Pokémon card variants in the Nintendo tabletop game. The beautiful card design features detailed artwork of Pokémon next to their Trainer in unique situations such as battles.
The popular card subset is being brought back for the Silver Tempest expansion and will feature Pokémon such as Milotic and Jynx. However, the most stunning artwork from the subset is the Gardevoir Trainer Gallery card. The rare collectible features Kalos Champion Diantha sitting and Gardevoir sitting under a flowing beam of golden light.
Pokémon TCG Paradigm Trigger Unown VSTAR Card
One of the Pokémon franchise’s biggest oddities, Unown, is also going to be making an appearance in Silver Tempest. The Pokémon Gold and Silver Johto region favorite hasn’t had many rare cards in the TCG, with most of them coming from the EX Unseen Forces set which was released in 2005.
However, the Gen 2 Pokémon is returning in a big way in Silver Tempest as one of the expansion’s rare VSTAR cards. The holographic artwork shows a handful of Unown circling around each other with a gorgeous galaxy backdrop in the background. Fans of the Gold and Silver games will not want to miss out on this rare Pokémon card.
Pokémon Incandescent Arcana Serperior VSTAR Card
Rounding out the Silver Tempest‘s VSTAR lineup is Unova Grass-type Serperior. The Gen 4 Starter card originally made its debut in September’s Incandescent Arcana and has already become one of the set’s most expensive collectibles.
Fans picking up the final Sword and Shield expansion in November will be able to pull the Pokémon Black and White Unova VSTAR card, which features an illustration of Serperior bursting out of the frame of the card. The Serperior VSTAR will also appeal to players as it features a powerful attack of 190 damage at just three energy, making it one of the Sword and Shield era’s most accessible cards for competitive.
Paradigm Trigger Swords of Justice Legendary Pokémon Cards
Continuing with the Gen 4 themes, Silver Tempest will also feature the debut of a new set of cards for Unova’s Sword of Justice Legendary Pokémon quartet. Players will be able to collect rare holographic cards of Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, and Keldeo.
While each of the Pokémon has been featured in sets over the years, Silver Tempest is the first time the group of four has been featured together in one place. The Swords of Justice quartet’s inclusion in the final Gen 8 TCG expansion is fitting, since they were also brought back in the Pokémon Sword and Shield Crown Tundra DLC in 2021.
Pokémon Sun and Moon Mythical Magearna V Alternate Art Card
One of Silver Tempest‘s best collectibles is the Magearna V card. The rare collectible belongs to the expansion’s alternate-art subset and has a holographic illustration that is bursting with vibrant colors. The card’s artwork is a recreation of a scene from the Sun and Moon anime which debuted in 2020. Since Magearna is one of the series’ ultra rare Mythical Pokémon, the Silver Tempest V card is easily going to be one of the expansion’s most valuable collectibles.
With Silver Tempest being the last mainline Galar era TCG expansion, the vast majority of the cards in the Japanese Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger sets will be included in the November release. Following Silver Tempest, the first Gen 9 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet TCG cards will be released in January 2023, with the Paldea Region Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion expected to launch a month later.
