Posted in: Games, Pokémon TCG, Tabletop | Tagged: Evolving Skies, pokemon, Pokemon TCG

Dragon-Types Roar Back Into Pokémon TCG With Sky Stream

Published Sat, 05 Jun 2021 15:12:10 -0500

At the start of the Sword & Shield era, the Pokémon TCG officially discontinued Fairy-types. No sets since Cosmic Eclipse, the final Sun & Moon era expansion, have had Fairy-types… or, oddly, Dragon-types. It wasn't announced that Dragon-types had been discontinued along with Fairy-types, but it was widely thought to be so. We have had six main expansions (Sword & Shield, Rebel Clash, Darkness Ablaze, Vivid Voltage, Battle Styles, Chilling Reign), two special sets (Champion's Path, Shining Fates), and over 100 promo cards with no Dragon-types. Cards featuring Dragons like Rayquaza were printed as Normal-type cards. It seemed certain that Dragons had gone the way of the Fairy. However, the Pokémon TCG has now revealed products and cards from their upcoming Japanese-language sets for July 2021, Sky Stream and Towering Perfection… which bring for the return of Dragon-types.

Sky Stream & Towering Perfection. Credit: Pokémon TCG — Sky Stream & Towering Perfection. Credit: *Pokémon TCG*

Dragon-types, it seems, weren't gone… but were just taking a break. These two Japanese sets are expected to, in part, make up the August 2021 English-language set Evolving Skies. The current thought is that these sets will partly combine with the staggeringly popular Eevee Heroes to make Evolving Skies for international collectors.

Cards revealed for Pokémon TCG: Sky Stream so far include:

S7R 009/076: Applin (Grass-type)
S7R 026/076: Mareep (Electric-type)
S7R 027/076: Flaffy (Electric-type)
S7R 028/076: Ampharos (Electric-type)
S7R 042/076: Dragonite V (Dragon-type)
S7R 046/067: Rayquaza V (Dragon-type)
S7R 047/067: Rayquaza VMAX (Dragon-type)
S7R 050/067: Flapple (Dragon-type)
S7R 051/067: Flapple (Dragon-type)
S7R 065/067: Zinnia's Resolve (Trainer)
S7R 066/067: Stormy Range (Trainer)

Cards revealed for Pokémon TCG: Towering Perfection so far include:

S7D 040/076: Altaria (Dragon-type)
S7D 041/076: Dialga (Dragon-type)
S7D 042/076: Deino (Dragon-type)
S7D 043/076: Zweilous (Dragon-type)
S7D 044/076: Hydreigon V (Dragon-type)
S7D 046/076: Noivern V (Dragon-type)
S7D 047/076: Drampa (Dragon-type)
S7D 048/076: Duraludon V (Dragon-type)
S7D 049/076: Duraludon VMAX (Dragon-type)
S7D 053/076: Swablu (Normal-type)
S7D 063/076: Raihan (Trainer)
S7D 066/076: Crystal Cave (Trainer)

With the Dragon-type making a reemergence, could there be hope in the future for Fairy-types? I tend to think that it won't return to the Pokémon TCG soon, as the Eevee Heroes set would've been the ideal time to do it with its focus on Sylveon. I believe it will return, but at least not until the current Sword & Shield era wraps.

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