Showing posts with label Set (PKMN). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Set (PKMN). Show all posts

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Black & White Set 11:
Legendary Treasures



Official English Release Date: 8th November 2013
Cards in English Set: Unknown

- Legendary Treasures is the name given to a special release of cards during the BW Era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
- The upcoming Pokémon "Black & White: LEGENDARY TREASURES" TCG expansion which is scheduled for release on November 8th.
- "Black & White: Legendary Treasures" is the final set in the Black & White series as we head into the first of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y in February, 2014.
- This upcoming set will be the second in the history of the Pokémon TCG, since Neo Revelation, to NOT feature any associated theme decks. However, instead you'll be treated to the first of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y in the form of three X&Y starter theme decks.
- "Black & White: Legendary Treasures" is based on Japanese's EX Battle Boost, which is a special Japanese BW Era release featuring reprints with alternate artwork from throughout the entirety of the BW Era. It had included more than 93 cards and was released on July 13, 2013, alongside the Mewtwo VS Genesect Deck Kit.
- The release is described as a Concept Pack, similar to Shiny Collection. Not too many details are known how it will differ from regular expansions, but so far none of the cards feature rarities. The Concept Pack features Pokémon-EX and Secret cards.
- In Japanese's EX Battle Boost, Tornadus-EX was a promo card where you'll get it by buying a box of the set. Like the others it is a reprint.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Black & White Set 10:


Release English Month: 14th August 2013
Cards in English Set: 101

Features:
- Plasma Blast is the name given to the 10th main expansion of cards from the English Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The Japanese release is the ninth of the BW era.
- Plasma Blast features the debut of Genesect in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as Team Plasma and their Pokémon and for the first time since their debut in Plasma Storm, cards designed to specifically counter Team Plasma. Along with the typical Pokémon and Trainer cards the set sports Pokémon-EX cards, Ace Spec cards, a Special Energy card, Full Art cards, and Shiny Secret cards, totaling 86 cards. The set was released on March 15th, 2013 in Japan accompanied by the Blastoise/Kyurem-EX Combo Deck.
- In order to help defend against Team Plasma's onslaught, Unova champion Iris is present alongside Caitlin, a member of the Unova Elite Four. Five Pokémon-EX are included: Virizion-EX, Jirachi-EX, and Team Plasma's Genesect-EX, Dialga-EX, and Palkia-EX. Many of the Pokémon present are not from Generation V, but instead are Pokémon from older Generations, some of which not featured in the Card Game since the Diamond & Pearl Series.
- Plasma Blast is only the third set of the BW Era to feature Fossils, the first two being Red Collection and Dark Rush. Archen and Tirtouga are given their second cards, while Lileep is given its first printing as a Restored Pokémon. Plume Fossil and Cover Fossil are reprinted, and a new fossil Trainer card, Root Fossil Lileep is included in favor over the old Root Fossil in order to prevent confusion over how the card should work. The expansion also includes a new iteration of Technical Machines. Because Technical Machines in the Pokémon games now have unlimited uses, they are now present on Pokémon Tool cards, instead of being a separate Trainer card class discarded at the end of the turn.
- A special promotional card was given to those who purchased a booster box of Megalo Cannon in stores. This promotional card was Porygon-Z, a reprint with new artwork of the same Pokémon in the expansion.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Black & White Special Blister:
Shiny Collection

Release English Date: Unknown
Cards in English Set: Unknown

- Shiny Collection is a sub-set released during the Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game in a similar manner to Dragon Selection a year prior. Twelve cards from the set and their original artwork were first showcased at the 2013 Jump Festa, held on December 22 and 23, 2012 in Tokyo, with the official release on February 1, 2013.
- Shiny Collection comprises 25 cards; 20 regular and 5 secret. Each pack contains 4 cards instead of the regular 5. The set is marketed primarily at girls, as evidenced by the packaging design and the style of illustrations featured on each of the cards. The set contains a number of holographic cards, each of which use the bubble foil pattern featured on cards from the Beginning Set, and a set of foil watermarks unique to the Pokémon depicted.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Black & White Set 9:


Official Release Date: 8th May 2013
Cards in English Set: 122

Features:
- The name of May's English set will be Plasma Freeze and will feature cards such as Deoxys-EX, Thundurus-EX, and Eevee's evolutions. It will be our equivalent of Japan's BW8 Spiral Force / Thunder Knuckle.
- A World Freezing Over... A Chilling Plan Close to Completion... Team Plasma’s frosty assault on Unova continues in the Pokémon TCG: Black & White - Plasma Freeze expansion, and Trainers everywhere must show an icy resolve if they are to halt the relentless deep freeze! The struggle will be bitter as Team Plasma releases a blizzard of Team Plasma Pokémon, including Deoxys-EX, Thundurus-EX, and all of Eevee’s evolutions, backed by Team Plasma Energy, Item, and Supporter cards. But, with the Legendary Eon Pokémon Latios and Latias standing by your side and a host of Pokémon-EX ready to do battle, your opponents will find that now is the winter of their discontent!


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Black & White Set 8:
Release English Date: 6th February 2013
Cards in English Set: 130+

Features:
- Plasma Storm is the seventh Japanese expansion of cards from the Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
- Clouds gather, Energy crackles, and when you play the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Plasma Storm expansion, a new force will be felt as the tempestuous Team Plasma makes its debut! All must make ready for a new battlefield, featuring electrifying Team Plasma Pokémon, game-changing Trainer cards, and Team Plasma Pokémon-EX such as Articuno-EX, Zapdos-EX, and Lugia-EX. And, as all-new, powerful ACE SPEC cards blast the balance of power and even more amazing Pokémon-EX race into battle, a question must be asked: Trainers, are you ready?
- Plasma Storm is centered around Team Plasma and features Lugia. Little is known about the expansion, except that it was released September 14th, 2012 in Japan, is due to be released in the US on Feb 6, 2013, and it has over 70 cards, with the US expansion featuring over 135 cards. In a promotion for the expansion, those who go to several stores in Japan will receive one of four BW-P Promotional cards: Skarmory, Bouffalant, Team Plasma's Poké Ball, and N. Crobat is given to those who buy a booster box of the expansion. Accompanying the set is the Team Plasma's Powered Half Deck.


Monday, October 29, 2012

Black & White Set 7:
Release English Date: 07/11/2012
Cards in English Set: 153

Features:

The Black & White—Boundaries Crossed expansion is available in stores now!

Enter the next dimension of your journey into battle with the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Boundaries Crossed expansion! This Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video game-themed expansion includes a powerful mix of new Pokémon-EX, such as the Boundary Pokémon Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX, along with Celebi-EX, Cresselia-EX, Landorus-EX, and Keldeo-EX; and features new forms, new Trainers, and new locations to enhance your deck!

Black & White—Boundaries Crossed also introduces four never-before-seen ACE SPEC cards that are so incredibly powerful, players can only carry one into battle! Some ACE SPEC cards found in the expansion have a unique game-mechanic that only works when attached to a specific Pokémon such as Black Kyurem-EX or White Kyurem-EX. ACE SPEC cards also feature a unique card face with a tinsel foil.

Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Boundaries Crossed expansion include:
- More than 140 cards in all
- Four powerful, never-before-seen ACE SPEC cards with unique game-mechanic and card design
- Six more Pokémon-EX cards and six full-art Pokémon-EX rare Ultra cards
- New Pokémon, new forms, new Trainers, and new locations that match the upcoming video games, Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2

Each new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Boundaries Crossed theme deck and booster pack includes an in-pack code card that unlocks virtual cards for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Expand your personal deck and battle against others from around the world!


- Boundaries Crossed is the name given to the seventh main expansion of cards from the English Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The Japanese release is the sixth of the BW era.
- Enter the next dimension of your journey into battle with the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Boundaries Crossed expansion! This Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video game-themed expansion includes a powerful mix of new Pokémon-EX, such as the Boundary Pokémon Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX, along with Celebi-EX, Cresselia-EX, Landorus-EX, and Keldeo-EX; and features new forms, new Trainers, and new locations to enhance your deck!
- Not much is known about the Boundaries Crossed expansion beyond that it will feature elements from the Japanese expansions, Freeze Bolt · Cold Flare, which features elements from Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, focusing on Kyurem in both of its brand new formes, Black Kyurem and White Kyurem. The set names represent the two signature moves for these two formes: Freeze Shock and Ice Burn. The expansion introduces new locations as featured in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, explored in the artwork on many cards, as well as being featured on Stadium cards. The cards also include updated Pokédex entries from Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
- In addition to the story-centric formes of Kyurem, Freeze Bolt · Cold Flare also marks the TCG debut of Meloetta in its Aria Forme, Keldeo in its Resolution Forme, and one of the Kami trio, Landorus, in its Therian Forme.
- Freeze Bolt · Cold Flare introduces the Ace Spec card, a new type of Trainer card that provides powerful effects. As such, these cards are governed by a rule that limits them to one per deck. Each subset contains 59 cards plus six Secret Rares, with each Pokémon-EX receiving both a regular print and Full Art print.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Black & White Special Blister/Set:
Dragon Vault


Release Date: 17th October 2012
Cards in Set: 21

Features:
- Dragon Vault is a sub-set released during the BW era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
- The set introduces the Dragon type into the TCG.
- During the first week of October, a new blister pack will hit store shelves called the Dragon Vault: unlike regular blister packs, it will come with its own unique Dragon Vault booster packs comprised of the 20 Pokemon and Trainer cards from Japan's Dragon Selection mini-set!
- There will be three of the Dragon Vault booster packs in the package, each containing five cards instead of the usual ten, as well as one of five promo cards and a TCGO card.
- Like Japan's mini-set, ALL of the cards in the Dragon Vault packs will be holographic - the set includes 20 different cards, and all cards in the set are holographic.

- The blister packs will be packaged with Latias, Latios, Rayquaza, Haxorus, and Druddigon from the set as special holos stamped with the Dragon Vault logo. There will also be a secret rare Kyurem (#21/20) in the set, which was given out at tournaments in Japan earlier this year; its translation is below.
- Dragon Vault will apparently be released on October 5th according to some card distributors. Every blister pack comes with three Dragon Vault booster packs containing five random cards, all of which are holo! The blister packs are also packaged with one of the five aforementioned special holo cards.

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Note: In association with our friends at The Pokemon Company International and Banter Toys & Collectibles, PokeCollection have the exclusive privilege to announce the exciting release of a forthcoming Dragon TCG product! Scheduled for release in the first week of October, the same week as 'Pokemon: Black2/White2' on the Nintendo DS, The 'Dragon Vault' Triple-Blister Pack will be hitting store shelves worldwide!

The 'Dragon Vault' mini-set contains 20 cards, including regular Pokemon and trainers, of which all are holographic! The blister pack itself will contain 3 Pokemon TCG 5-card booster packs, in addition to 1 of 5 unique 'Dragon Vault' promotional cards! To top it off, you'll also receive a TCG online code card to unlock the 'Dragon Vault' treasure trove online!

The pack artwork itself will feature Dragonite, Rayquaza, Haxorus, and Salamence!

PLEASE NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Pokemon Company International have decided not to release what would have become the originally-intended 'Dragon Vault'. This is also a reason why we, at PokeCollection, held back our previous announcement on August 6th. However, they are still going ahead with this release, albeit in a scaled-down form, in order to introduce what they would have done either way: DRAGON SELECTION!
News Credit: PokeCollection


Friday, July 27, 2012

Black & White Set 6:
Release Date: 15/08/2012
Cards in Set: 128

Features:

Control the might of dragons in a way that can change your game forever when the brand-new Dragon-type Pokémon make their debut in Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Dragons Exalted! The new Dragon-type, the first new Pokémon type introduced to Pokémon TCG in over a decade, features a fierce lineup of more than 15 Dragon-type Pokémon, including Rayquaza-EX, Giratina-EX, Garchomp, and Hydreigon. With a mix of new Pokémon-EX and a powerful group of Dragon-type Pokémon, Trainers will be ready for the roar of dragons and the glory of battle!

Dragon-type Pokémon reflect the unique power of Dragon Pokémon and come equipped with multi-type Energy attacks. Joining Dragon-type Pokémon in the Black & White—Dragons Exalted expansion, which features more than 120 cards, are two versions of six different Pokémon-EX and a host of Pokémon from outside the Unova region like Mew, Ninetales, and Honchkrow. Four new Trainer cards and two Special Energy cards round out this incredibly powerful expansion.

Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Dragons Exalted expansion includes:
- Brand-new Dragon-type Pokemon
- Two versions of six more Pokémon-EX cards, including full-art Rare Ultra cards
- More than 120 cards, including more Pokémon from outside the Unova region
- Parallel foil card in each booster pack

Find the Black & White—Dragons Exalted expansion in stores now!

- Dragons Exalted is the name given to the sixth English expansion of cards from the Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The Japanese release is the fifth of the BW era.
- The Time of Dragons Is Now! Can You Command Them?
- The might of dragons is yours to control in a way that can change your game forever—as a brand-new Energy type! Rayquaza. Giratina. Hydreigon. Few Pokémon inspire awe and wonder like Dragon-type Pokémon, and in the Dragons Exalted expansion, they come ready to rule the game! And with a grand mix of all-new Pokémon-EX and a horde of Dragon-type Pokémon to take to the skies and take the battlefield by storm, plus new Trainer cards and new Special Energy cards, you’ll be ready for the roar of dragons and the glory of battle!
- Brand-new Energy type: Dragon!
- 15 Dragon-type Pokémon!
- A dozen Pokémon-EX, including 6 full-card-art Pokémon!
- Over 120 cards in all!
- Dragons Exalted is the first set to feature the Dragon-type in English, and features 2 Dragon-type Pokémon-EX cards, Giratina-EX and Rayquaza-EX, as well as featuring Terrakion-EX. Dragons Exalted features cards from the Dragon Blade and Dragon Blast expansions, the Hydreigon Half Deck and the Garchomp Half Deck.
- The Japanese counterpart, Dragon Blast · Dragon Blade features the Dragon-type previously introduced in the Dragon Selection release of the TCG. Dragon Blast features Hydreigon and takes place in and around N's Castle, and Dragon Blade features Garchomp and takes place in and around the Pokémon League. Accompanying the two sets are two half decks, the Hydreigon Half Deck and the Garchomp Half Deck. Dragon-type Pokémon-EXs are included in the set.
- The artwork in the sets features locations around the Unova region. For example, Drifloon can be found in N's Castle and Hoppip is depicted outside Dragonspiral Tower.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Black & White Set 5:
Release Date: 09/05/2012
Cards in Set: 111



Features:

As you explore the darkness, the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Dark Explorers expansion ushers in the return of the immensely powerful Darkrai-EX and a lineup of Darkness-type Pokémon, like Zoroark, Umbreon, and Sableye, to knock your opponent’s lights out! Playing with Trainer cards like Dark Patch, included in the expansion to help give Darkness-type decks an edge you’ll not only navigate the darkness, you’ll rule it!

The fifth Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion also continues an impressive run of featuring Unova and non-Unova region Pokémon-EX cards, more powerful Pokémon that deliver devastating attacks to your opponents. Darkrai-EX is joined by Tornadus-EX, Kyogre-EX, Raikou-EX, and Groudon-EX, all featured as Pokémon-EX cards and rare Ultra full-art Pokémon-EX cards!

Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Dark Explorers expansion includes:
- Six more Pokémon-EX from the Unova region and beyond
- New strategies for Darkness-type Pokémon
- More than 100 cards, including three Shiny Secret rare cards
- More Restored Pokémon options
- First Eevee cards since the Pokémon TCG: HS—Undaunted
- Parallel foil card guaranteed in each booster pack


- Dark Explorers is the name given to the fifth main expansion of cards from the English Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The Japanese release is the fourth of the BW era.
- Dark Explorers features Darkness-type Pokémon. Many of the Trainer cards benefit Darkness-type Pokémon. The set continues releasing Pokémon-EX cards, with Raikou-EX, Darkrai-EX, Tornadus-EX from the Japanese release, and Groudon-EX from Hail Blizzard currently confirmed.
- The Japanese release contains 76 cards: 7 of which are Secret cards, making it the largest Japanese expansion released during the BW era. In addition to the Pokémon-EX (Entei-EX, Raikou-EX, Darkrai-EX, and Tornadus-EX), the Ultra Rare cards are Shiny reprints of Gardevoir from Hail Blizzard (Next Destinies in English), Archeops from Red Collection (Noble Victories in English), and Pokémon Catcher from the White Collection (Emerging Powers in English).
- Much like Psycho Drive and Hail Blizzard, the artwork in the set features locations around the Unova region. For example, Sableye and Jolteon can be found in Chargestone Cave and Plusle and Minun are depicted in Mistralton City.
- Because the set contains many Stage 2 evolutionary families, Dark Rush also contains a reprint of Rare Candy. The set also contains two cards that were first released in English. Swoobat and Mandibuzz were pulled from this set and released in the English Emerging Powers expansion in August 2011 in order to complete their Pokémon families.
- What's out there in the darkness, waiting to be discovered? Play the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Black and White - Dark Explorers expansion and find them all! In addition to more Pokémon-EX like Tornadus-EX, Raikou-EX, and Groudon-EX, the shadows are filled with other exceptional surprises, like Darkrai-EX and a host of Trainer cards that will knock your opponent's lights out! When you play Black & White - Dark Explorers, you'll not only explore the darkness, you'll rule it!
- Vanillite and Vanillish, and Ducklett and Swanna are numbered incorrectly. As of the Black & White expansion, Pokémon have been numbered first by type, then by National Pokédex number within type. The official numbering misplaces Vanillite (number 582) and Vanillish (number 583) before Ducklett (number 580) and Swanna (number 581).
- Dark Explorers is the first expansion whose Prerelease promo was a Black Star Promo, specifically the BW Black Star Promos, instead of a card actually in the set. The Prerelease promo is Volcarona.
- Officially, the English release of the set contains 108 cards. Between alternate holofoils, promotional stamps, reverse holofoils, and Secret cards, the set contains 211 cards. A list of the non standard cards can be seen below:
29/108: Empoleon - Non Holo Shadows theme deck exclusive
52/108: Cofagrigus - Cracked Ice Holo Raiders theme deck exclusive.
66/108: Krookodile - Non Holo Raiders theme deck exclusive.
71/108: Zoroark - Cracked Ice Holo Shadows theme deck exclusive.


Thursday, January 26, 2012

Black & White Set 4:
Release Date: 08/02/2012
Cards in Set: 103


Features:

The Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Next Destinies expansion is now available!

Pokémon Trading Card Game players everywhere, get prepared for the return of Pokémon-EX cards in the fourth expansion of the Black & White series: Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Next Destinies! Using advanced powers and new strategies, Trainers will battle like never before with awesomely powerful Pokémon, including two versions of six different Pokémon-EX!

Pokémon-EX are more powerful versions of Pokémon, giving Trainers great rewards when used effectively. But beware: Trainers also suffer heavier losses when those Pokémon are defeated! In Black & White—Next Destinies, players will find more than 100 Pokémon, including some—like Mewtwo-EX—from beyond the Unova region for the first time in this expansion! Discover elusive Pokémon like Reshiram-EX and Zekrom-EX. Black & White—Next Destinies delivers your destiny: Pokémon with exceptional HP, Special Energy and Trainer cards with expanded powers, and new strategies to extend your victory streaks!

Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Next Destinies expansion include:
- Two versions of six amazing Pokémon-EX, including the amazing Mewtwo-EX
- Six Pokémon-EX cards with character art covering the entire card and a special etching treatment never done before in the TCG cards industry
- Theme decks built around Legendary Pokémon Reshiram and Zekrom
- Over 100 cards in all

Each new theme deck and booster pack includes an in-pack code card that unlocks virtual cards for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Expand your personal deck and battle against others from anywhere in the world at any time from your own computer!


Next Destinies is the name given to the fourth main expansion of cards from the English Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The Japanese release is split into two subsets, Psycho Drive and Hail Blizzard, which make up the main expansion in Japan. 


Next Destinies introduces "Pokémon-EX", a throwback to a similar mechanic introduced during the EX Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Pokémon-ex. The set will contain six Pokémon-EX. 

The Japanese counterparts, Psycho Drive and Hail Blizzard, contain Pokémon from all five generations, and feature both Mewtwo and Kyurem respectively. Each of the two subsets contain 48 Pokémon cards, 4 Trainer cards/Special Energy cards, and five Secret cards. Each set also contains three Pokémon-EX. A few of the cards have been pulled from the expansions, and released in the English Emerging Powers and Noble Victories expansions. 


The expansion focuses on Castelia City and the surrounding area. As such, much of the artwork features places around the city, such as Vanillite depicted at the Casteliacone ice cream stand, and Meowth on the docks.


Sunday, October 30, 2011

Black & White Set 3:



Release Date: 16/11/2011
Cards in Set: 101

Features:
Prepare for an all-new Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion featuring advanced powers and new strategies with the release of the Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Noble Victories expansion. In stores today, the third expansion in the Black & White series breaks new ground with exciting firsts, including Restored Pokémon—which can be put into play only with the effects of certain Item cards—and N, the Pokémon TCG’s first Rare Ultra Trainer Card!

With the Black & White—Noble Victories expansion, players can choose from more than 100 amazing Pokémon from the Unova region, including more than 50 never-before-seen Pokémon—and the TCG debut of the Victory Pokémon, Victini! The Black & White—Noble Victories theme decks booster packs are now available in stores nationwide, featuring powerful Pokémon like Kyurem, Druddigon, and Hydreigon for the first time!

Each new theme deck and booster pack includes an in-pack code card that unlocks virtual cards for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Build your own deck and battle against others from around the world any time from your computer! For players new to the Pokémon TCG, practice with your virtual theme decks against the computer to improve your skills for future player-vs.-player matches. Battles are taking place today at Pokemon.com/TCGO.

Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Noble Victories expansion include:
- More than 100 amazing Pokémon from the Unova region
- More than 50 never-before-seen Pokémon
- The TCG debut of Victini, the Victory Pokémon
- N, the first Trainer Rare Ultra Card
- Introduction of Restored Pokémon
- Full Art Cards of the Legendary Trio of Unova—Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion
- In-pack codes that unlock virtual cards for the Pokémon TCG Online

Noble Victories is the name given to the third main expansion of cards from the English Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It is the second main expansion in Japan.
- Noble Victories will feature more than 70 different Pokémon, most of which will be coming from the Japanese Red Collection and the Battle Theme Deck: Victini. In both Japanese and English releases, Victini is the feature Pokémon of the expansion. This set brings the first Pokémon Tool cards and Fossil Pokémon since the Arceus expansion, and features the Fossil Pokémon in a brand new way as Revived Pokémon. 
- When the Japanese Red Collection is combined with the Black & White Collections, the first 153 Pokémon in the Unova region are featured. In both English and Japanese releases, this set gives each of the final officially announced Pokémon at least one card in the Trading Card Game.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Black & White Set 2:

Release Date: 31/08/2011
Cards in Set: 98

Features:
It’s the dawn of a new age for fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game with the release of Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Emerging Powers. Available now, this landmark expansion is the first to give Pokémon TCG players full access to theme decks and booster packs in the new player-versus-player Pokémon Trading Card Game Online!

Pokémon TCG players who log into www.pokemon.com/tcgo now have the freedom to battle anytime, anywhere against players from around the globe. The competition intensifies when players purchase Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Emerging Powers theme decks and booster packs. These products allow players to build customized decks for online battle with virtual cards unlocked with special in-pack codes!

The new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Emerging Powers expansion, featuring only Unova region Pokémon, comes ready for battle, whether playing in the real world or online, with more than 90 cards and brand-new Item cards to revitalize each deck. As players explore the secrets of the Unova region, they’ll discover a legion of 25 astonishing, never-before-seen Pokémon, including the debut of the Legendary Trio of Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion!

Two Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Emerging Powers theme decks are now available in stores. Each theme deck—Power Play and Toxic Tricks—will feature a special foil card! The four booster pack designs, also now available, feature fierce new Pokémon—Tornadus, Cobalion, Braviary, and Darmanitan—with each booster pack including one guaranteed foil card!

Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Emerging Powers expansion:
- Free codes to unlock similar virtual cards for the player-versus-player Pokémon TCG Online
- Over 25 new Pokémon from the Unova region
- Debut of the Legendary Trio of Unova
- Two new theme decks, Power Play and Toxic Tricks, built around powerful Pokémon Krookodile and Scolipede
- Full-card art cards of the Legendary Pokémon Tornadus and Thundurus
- Contains more than 90 cards

- Pokémon TCG: Black & White - Emerging Powers is the name given to the second expansion of cards in the Black & White era of the Trading Card Game.
This set is the first to include codes for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online in all theme decks and booster packs.
As with Black & White before it, the theme decks for Emerging Powers were released prior to the set release, on August 17, 2011.
The set includes many of the remaining cards from the Beginning Set, Black & White Collections, and Battle Strength Decks, as well as various BW-P Promotional cards and cards from Psycho Drive/Hail Blizzard, including 22 cards that haven't seen a Japanese release at the time. 14 of those cards were then released though various Japanese promotions during September 2011 as well as 6 from Psycho Drive/Hail Blizzard. Also, two cards, Swoobat and Mandibuzz, were later revealed to be from Dark Rush.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Black & White Set 1:
  






Release Date: 25/04/2011
Cards in Set: 115

Features:
An exciting new Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion has arrived! With the Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion, you can discover a legion of over 70 never-before-seen Pokémon from the newly explored Unova region, including new starter Pokémon Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott, as well as powerful new Pokémon like Zoroark, Galvantula, Reuniclus, plus many more! The new Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion comes battle-ready with over 110 cards, including the Legendary Reshiram and Zekrom, both featuring never-before-seen art that covers the entire card! Best of all, only Pokémon from the Unova region appear in the expansion! Enter a bigger Pokémon world with Pokémon TCG: Black & White!

Three Pokémon TCG: Black & White theme decks are at major retail stores across the country. Each theme deck—Green Tornado, Red Frenzy, and Blue Assault—will include a special code to unlock an identical digital deck for play in the recently announced Pokémon TCGO: Trainer Challenge online game! Use any of the three brand-new Pokémon TCG: Black & White theme decks to battle against fourteen virtual TCG players in three exciting Leagues. Pokémon TCGO: Trainer Challenge launches in April at www.pokemontcg.com.

The Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion 10-card booster packs are now available in major retail stores nationwide. The four boosters feature brand-new Pokémon on their packaging—Reshiram, Zekrom, Zoroark and, Zebstrika—with each booster pack including one guaranteed parallel foil card!

Features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion:
- Over 70 never-before-seen Pokémon from the brand-new Unova region
- Reshiram and Zekrom cards feature a unique foil, and for the first time are given a "full art" treatment covering the entire card
- Three new theme decks—Green Tornado, Red Frenzy, and Blue Assault—include a special code to unlock an identical digital deck ready for battle in Pokémon TCGO: Trainer Challenge online game

Ability to Win
Some Pokémon have all-new special skills called Abilities, and cards with these Abilities are extra valuable. Abilities have a wide range of uses, so you can take advantage of them in almost any deck.

For instance, you’ll get a huge advantage with Serperior's Royal Heal Ability, which heals 10 damage from each of your Pokémon between turns. Or use Klinklang's Shift Gear Ability to move Metal Energy from one of your Pokémon to another during your turn. These benefits definitely make Abilities worth seeking out and adding to your next deck!

All in the Numbers
The Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion introduces a new approach to card numbering that helps you find exactly the card you're looking for. Under the new system, the cards are organized by type first—so all the Grass-type Pokémon are grouped together, for example. Then, the cards are arranged in Pokédex order. This means you’ll always find Lillipup, Herdier, and Stoutland next to each other in the numbering order. With your cards sorted and easier to find, building your next winning deck will be even easier!

Trainer Talk
Non-Pokémon cards such as Trainer, Supporter, and Stadium cards used to be hard to classify, but the Black & White expansion makes it simpler. Now all of these cards are called Trainer cards, and they’re divided into three types—Supporter cards, Stadium cards, and Item cards (the new name for the old Trainer cards, such as Poké Ball and PlusPower). Since all three groups are part of the Trainer class of cards, it’s much easier for you to talk about these cards with other players!

Download the rulebook for the Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion.

Pokémon TCG: Black & White is the name given to the first main expansion of cards from the Black & White Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The set features significant aesthetic and structural changes, and brings several reworked mechanics and rulings to the game.
Black & White marks the beginning of Pokémon Trading Card Game series of the same name and is the first expansion to feature Generation V Pokémon. Based on Pokémon Black and White and the concept of starting from a new beginning, Black & White is almost entirely composed of newly-introduced Generation V Pokémon; 94 in total, and explores the original roots of the TCG, both in terms of card design and gameplay in effort to engage younger players.
- As with each new Generation, Black & White introduced an updated card design, which included numerous changes:
= The card border returns to a completely yellow border in the English release, and to a completely silver border in the Japanese release. All other graphics on the cards return to a silver color without the gold tinges.
= The unfinished circle used on Basic Pokémon, as well as the evolution circle present on Stage 1 and 2 Pokémon merge with the evolution stage graphic, which is now in the top left, similar to cards from the original era of the TCG.
= The Pokémon name is shifted further to the right as a result and is made more prominent with the addition of a silver frame, the right edge of which is reminiscent of the skewed curve graphic on EX-era cards, which also gains additional layers on higher stage evolution cards. This also separates the Pokémon name and the Hit Points, which returns to having no graphic behind it. The "Evolves from" clause on Stage 1 and 2 Pokémon remains in the illustration window.
= The Weakness, Resistance and Retreat Cost return to the bottom left of the card, and the Pokédex entry returns to the bottom right in its own frame (albeit skewed to the right), as they were on Japanese original era releases. The English cards also adopt this change, and also shorten "retreat cost" to "retreat". As a result, the illustrator bar is no longer present, and the illustrator name itself is at the very bottom to the left of the collection number and expansion symbol.
= For the first time since the Team Rocket expansion in English and the very first set in Japan, the holographic treatment used on rare-holographic cards changed from the 'cosmic' pattern to a more intense horizontal striped pattern. The holographic treatment is also applied to the border of Japanese rare-holographic cards, though this is not the case for the English cards.
= For the first time in the history of the TCG, the English card numbering system changed from ordering cards, specifically Pokémon, alphabetically and by descending rarity (rare-holo, rare, uncommon, common) to conform to the Japanese ordering system based on type (Grass, Fire, Water, Lightning, Psychic, Fighting, Darkness, Metal, Colorless) and National Pokédex number.
= Another first for the TCG was the change of using letters instead of regular shapes to symbolize rarity on Japanese cards. C replaces Common on common cards; U replaces Uncommon on uncommon cards; R replaces Rare on rare-holographic cards; SR replaces symbols such as SuperRare on super-rare cards; UR replaces symbols such as ShinyRare on ultra-rare cards. English cards continued to use the original rarity symbols.
- Black & White also introduces one new game mechanic, while discontinuing several others. Abilities, much like their namesake in the Pokémon games, replace the long-standing Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies. Abilities essentially merge the active and passive effects of Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies into one mechanic akin to Pokémon Powers present during the original and Neo eras of the TCG. Pokémon Prime and Pokémon LEGEND are also officially retired, making Black & White the first expansion since Skyridge to not feature powered-up variant Pokémon. The super-rare cards in the expansion take some inspiration from Pokémon LEGEND, in that the artwork covers the entire card and each one has a unique holographic effect; however, they remain exactly the same play-wise as their regular rare-holographic counterparts.
- Several new rule changes also came into effect with the release of Black & White.
= Trainer cards have been renamed Trainer's cards, and the change brought about in Diamond & Pearl that made Supporter and Stadium cards separate classes of card has now been reversed. Supporters, Stadiums (and also Goods cards introduced in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Collection in Japan) now fall under the Trainer's card umbrella but keep their individual color designations. Trainer's cards can also once again be played during the players' first turn.
= Supporter cards are now named Support cards, and the original rule that stipulated to discard them at the end of the players' turn has been changed to require players to discard them immediately after use. This change was likely brought about to avoid confusion between Pokémon Tool cards and Support cards that would have otherwise still been attached to the Active Pokémon.
= The procedure in which Knock Outs are carried out has been slightly altered. Previously, after the player with the Knocked Out Pokémon discards that Pokémon, they would replace that Pokémon with one from their Bench, and the player performing the Knock Out would proceed to take one Prize card. This has been changed to the player performing the Knock Out takes one Prize card, followed by the player with the Knocked Out Pokémon replacing that Pokémon with one from their Bench. This change essentially prevents the player performing the Knock Out from selecting a Prize card based on their opponent's new Active Pokémon.
- The booster pack size for the Japanese expansion was reduced from 11 to 5, plus one card advertising the TCG and several related products (universal to each pack). Each pack now costs 158円 as opposed to 315円, making the packs more within the price range of a younger target audience. Energy cards could not be found in packs, but could be obtained in card boxes sold alongside the expansion. Each of these card boxes feature several themed designs and come with 40 Energy cards. The chance of obtaining a rare-holographic was also reduced to 1 in 2 packs, as opposed to a guaranteed rare-holographic. Mirror cards introduced in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Collection were also discontinued in the Japanese expansion. The pack size for the English expansion remained unchanged at 10 cards per pack.
- The focus of starting afresh and the aim to involve younger children in the TCG in Japan was further emphasized with the redesign of the official Pokémon card website. Much of the new content was simplified and broken down into step-by-step guides with regards to the basics of the TCG. A great deal of past information, including the trading card database was moved to the Pokémon Card Game Network site, accessible only via a Pokémon Daisuki Club account. New online content for regions outside of Japan was introduced in the form of Pokémon Trainer Challenge, an online game that allows users to select an avatar and battle computer-controlled opponents in simulated card battles. Players can select a number of pre-constructed decks to use, including the theme decks accompanying the Black & White expansion which can be unlocked using a code found in the actual retail versions.


Trivia:
- A fixed selection of five cards from the expansion were available in a Black & White Preview Pack included in the Sneak-Peek Tins roughly seven weeks before the commercial release of the expansion.
- The names of the accompanying theme decks are a reference to the first three Japanese main series games, as well as the types of the Unova Starter Pokémon.
- Several other Trainer's cards released in this expansion also received updated effects and errata. Perhaps the most interesting change was the errata issued for Rare Candy, which now prevents its use on the players' first turn and on the turn a Basic Pokémon was just brought into play. This essentially allows the new rules regarding Trainer's cards to become viable again, as the initial restrictions imposed in Diamond & Pearl were to limit the over-use of Rare Candy, among others.
- The inclusion of Pikachu as an ultra-rare card is a likely reference as to the scarcity of Pikachu and other pre-Generation V Pokémon in the Unova region, which is also referenced in the anime.