A few weeks before the in-store release of the next expansion of the collectible card game PokemonNumerama was able to discover an exclusive map ofSword and Shield – Sparkling Stars.
Almost everyone knows Pokemon. Video games, animated series, manga, the franchise is exploited in many forms. But it is the collectible card game that we are interested in today, on the occasion of the release of the next expansion, Sword and Shield – Sparkling Starswhich arrives in stores on February 25.
Pokémon the Trading Card Game
The Pokémon license is first known for its video games, including the first opuses, Green and Red, were released in February 1996 in Japan. The “Pokémania” quickly affects other media, and, little known, it is the collectible card game which is the first derivative product. It was published in October of the same year (only at the start of 99 in France), while the first manga and the first animated series were not released until November 1996 and April 1997 respectively.
As the name suggests, it’s a collectible card game. This means that we buy packages that we know contain cards from a pool specific to the current expansion, but not exactly which ones. We simply know that we will come across more or less strong cards, and more or less rare: common, uncommon, rare, super rare, legendary, holographic, etc.
Magic the Gathering, the first game of its kind, released in 1993, was so successful that it was followed by dozens of other titles… mostly forgotten since then. Only two other games have managed to survive the test of time: Yu Gi Oh! and Pokemon.
The card game obviously uses the same principle as the video game. You embody a trainer and face other trainers, by fighting your respective Pokémon. Each player brings his pack of sixty cards, his “deck”, built from his collection. It mainly contains Pokémon, central elements of the game, and support cards.
A Pokémon uses its attacks to KO the opposing Pokémon. As soon as a Pokémon is defeated, the winning player receives a reward card. And at the sixth reward, he wins the game. You also win it if you manage to knock out all the opposing Pokémon and there are none left in play.
Each Pokémon is of a certain type (grass, fire, water, etc.), with weaknesses and resistances to other types. You can only play basic Pokémon, on the other hand, you can evolve them thanks to their evolutions of level 1, then 2, etc. Each evolution is stronger and stronger, with more and more powerful attacks.
Finally, contrary to a relatively widespread idea, the card game Pokemon, like all other products from the franchise, is not just for children. The numerous local, regional and international tournaments and events bear witness to this, including the world championships.
Sword and Shield – Sparkling Stars
Since the first edition, many expansions have been released every year. Depending on the availability in the different countries, and the reissues, there are about a hundred. Each adds new Pokémon, new evolutions, sometimes new types, etc.
The next, Sword and Shield – Sparkling Stars, arrives on February 25 in stores in France. It contains more than 170 cards, but the big novelty concerns above all the introduction of four Pokémon-VSTAR, evolutions of Pokémon-V. With high hit points and a big attack that inflicts a lot of damage, they are even more powerful than Pokémon-VMAX.
The expansion also includes a special set of thirty cards: the Trainer Gallery. They all have in common to be ultra-rare, in “full-art” (the illustration extends over the entire card), and to represent the favorite trainers and Pokémon of the fans.
In partnership with the game’s publisher, we’re unveiling a world-exclusive Trainer Gallery card, which you may be lucky enough to find in your packs.. It is Charmillyevolution of Cremy, accompanied by the Barista trainer. His talent combines with the power of the trainer, to then allow his attack to inflict more damage.
If you are a collector, a fan of card games, or a fan of little pocket monsters, the collectible card game Pokemon can satisfy each of these passions. Its simple rules, but far from being simplistic, allow children to play it among themselves, but the game is not reserved for them. Many adults also play it regularly.
The official YouTube channel has an easy-to-access introduction to the rules. After that, all you have to do is buy a few packs to get started!
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