Posted in: Card Games, Games, Pokémon TCG, Tabletop | Tagged: Crown Zenith, pokemon, pokemon cards, Pokemon TCG, Sword & Shield

A Shocking Card From An Unreleased Pokémon TCG Crown Zenith Tin

Witness the pull of a shocking card from an unreleased Pokémon TCG Crown Zenith: Galarian Moltres Tin ahead of the release date.

Published Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:12:12 -0600

by Theo Dwyer

Last updated Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:28:18 -0600

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Today, we have a very special Pokémon TCG series of openings here at Bleeding Cool. The Pokémon International has provided an early look at products from the new special set Crown Zenith releasing tomorrow, January 20th. The art-themed Crown Zenith closes out the Sword & Shield era with a bang, as the Scarlet & Violet series block will launch in March 2023. Crown Zenith introduces two new card types: Illustrator Rares and Special Illustrator Rares, called Art Rares and Special Art Rares in Japan. Illustrator Rares are much like Illustrator Rares, but they do not show Pokémon with Trainers, rather showing them in their environments or sometimes even interacting with other species in interesting ways. Special Illustrator Rares are like Alternate Arts, combining the idea of Illustrator Rares with mechanics like V, VMAX, and VSTAR. These cards make Crown Zenith one of the most beautiful art-driven sets of all time… so I couldn't be more excited to start opening and showing you all the cards. This time, I open a Crown Zenith Galarian Moltres Tin, and you won't believe what I pull.

Crown Zenith Galarian Moltres Tin. Credit: Pokémon TCG — Crown Zenith Galarian Moltres Tin. Credit: *Pokémon TCG*

Here's what you get in the Crown Zenith Galarian Moltres Tin:

Five packs of Crown Zenith
SWSH Black Star Promo card: Galarian Moltres Illustrator Rare
Code cards

My pulls included…

Two Illustrator Rares: Absol and Duskull
One Special Illustrator Rares: Zamazenta
One Radiant Pokémon: Eternatus
Secret Rare: Pikachu

Okay… so. This is special. I generally give a full breakdown of Pull Rates, but I do feel that an Elite Trainer Box is better for that due to the sheer number of packs you can get. What I pulled in this box, though? Absolutely unreal. I didn't even know this was in the set when I pulled it, as it wasn't in Japan's VSTAR Universe.

Crown Zenith Pikachu Secret Rare, Pokémon TCG. Credit: Theo Dwyer — Crown Zenith Pikachu Secret Rare, *Pokémon TCG*. Credit: Theo Dwyer

That is a Pikachu Secret Rare. It's done in the Illustrator Rare style, but unlike normal Illustrator Rares, it is textured. This makes it its own unique kind of card. Also note that this is not the Pikachu Illustrator Rare from the Galarian Gallery but is a Secret Rare, the only one at that, from the main set.

Here is a closer look: