The Pokémon Company unveiled Brilliant Stars, the next major expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
As revealed via a press release, Brilliant Stars will introduce a significant new mechanic to the long-running collectible card game: VSTAR Power. Available only to special VSTAR Pokémon, this new keyword manifests as either an ability or an attack. “Pokémon VSTAR evolve from Pokémon V and will play a major role in the Pokémon TCG metagame. Each Pokémon VSTAR has a VSTAR Power… an extremely powerful effect that can decide the outcome of a battle. Players can use only one VSTAR Power per game, and those who use a VSTAR Power must flip over a VSTAR marker during the battle,” reads the press release.
Beyond the additional power, VSTAR Pokémon also benefit from a large HP pool and high-damage attacks. When defeated, these unique creatures reward two Prize Cards, similar to VMAX Pokémon. As for what pocket monsters will sport the new keyword, players can look forward to Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR and Whimsicott VSTAR.
As for the rest of Brilliant Stars, fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game can expect:
- 20 Pokémon V and 15 full-art Pokémon V
- Four new Pokémon VSTAR
- Three new Pokémon VMAX
- 22 Trainer cards and six full-art Supporter cards
- One new Special Energy card
The Brilliant Stars expansion launches on Feb. 25 at participating retailers. The set arrives just a month after the launch of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The spin-off game will set players loose into the wilds of Hisui, a province within the greater Sinnoh region. Tasked with creating the locale’s first comprehensive Pokédex, trainers will need to sneak through tall grass to not only capture but research the Pokémon of the area. Considering Brilliant Star‘s emphasis on Arceus, it’s possible that the upcoming expansion is intended as a cross-promotional launch.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is also set to introduce a bevy of new Pokémon forms. Trailers for the game have already revealed Wydeer, Basculegion and Kleavor alongside new forms for Braviary, Growlith, Zorua and Zoroark.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus launches exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on Jan. 28. Fans wanting to experience the majesty of Arceus before then can look forward to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, remakes of the franchise’s fourth generation of games. Both titles launch on Nov. 11.
Source: The Pokémon Company
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