As a brand, Pokémon is undoubtedly one of the most globally successful. From films and games to plushies and even foodstuffs, you could probably find anything with Pikachu’s adorable face stamped on it if you knew where to look. One particular long-running offshoot of the franchise, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, remains just as popular today as it was two decades ago and arguably has just as many active followers as the core RPG games.
Speaking of which, with just three months to go until Pokémon Sword and Shield arrive on Nintendo Switch, The Pokémon Company has decided now is the best time to start generating hype for the first card set of Generation 8. We’re still awaiting confirmation of a name, but if tradition is any indication, next year’s expansion will simply be called Sword and Shield.
Regardless, check out the official announcement below, which contains your first look at legendaries Zacian and Zamazenta in card form.
#PokemonV are powerful cards that will play a core role in the new series. Some can even evolve to become more powerful!
Stay tuned for more details… pic.twitter.com/B7yW6zBBFl
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) August 16, 2019
Beyond the teasers shown above, no other cards were revealed or hinted at, though the announcement does confirm the introduction of a new V card-type. Similarly to existing GX cards (which, by the way, look likely to be retired come Sword and Shield‘s release), V cards will be some of the most powerful available in the TCG and, of course, the hardest to pull out of a pack. Besides that, a seconds-long animation depicting legendary Pokémon Zekrom staring up at a featureless card has left many eyebrows raised, to say the least.
Clearly, The Pokémon Company isn’t quite ready to reveal just what those red-rimmed cards contain, but given the exaggerated size, it’s highly likely to involve Dynamax Pokémon in some fashion. That feature is brand new for the series and will debut in Sword and Shield on November 15th. Stay tuned for more details.
