Sword & Shield Archives

The Sword & Shield era of the Pokémon TCG has come to an end Three years of expansions dedicated to the region of Galar, with some love for Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl's revitalization of Sinnoh and Pokémon Legends: Arceus's introduction of the ancient region of Hisui, have led to this moment. Crown Zenith, a special set celebrating the Sword & Shield era,[...]

Over the past two years, we've seen renewed interest in the hobby due to a number of factors, including the 25th Anniversary, strong Sword & Shield-era sets featuring stunning Alternate Arts, influencers, box breaks, COVID-19 lockdown pushing people to find hobbies, and more For a time, sets and cards that were readily available quickly became[...]

Credit: Pokémon TCG Saki Hayashiro's first credit in the Pokémon TCG came in Sword & Shield – Rebel Clash, the second expansion of the Galar era Hayashiro illustrated both the standard and Full Art versions of the Ninetails V Ninetails V Full Art is one of the most sought-after cards in that set. Saki Hayashiro cards[...]

These cards, like Full Arts, were textured. Anesaki Dynamic continued as a major Pokémon TCG contributor during the Sun & Moon era, contributing notable cards, including the Kyogre Amazing Rare from Shining Fates, the expensive and highly sought-after Rayquaza VMAX Alternate Art from Sword & Shield – Evolving Skies, and the Blanch Full Art Trainer promo card from the Pokémon GO[...]

Over the past two years, we've seen renewed interest in the hobby due to a number of factors, including the 25th Anniversary, strong Sword & Shield-era sets featuring stunning Alternate Arts, influencers, box breaks, COVID-19 lockdown pushing people to find hobbies, and more For a time, sets and cards that were readily available quickly became[...]

Their first contributions were Taruos and Magmortar in Sun & Moon – Unified Minds, which showed that this artist plays on the anime style while making it a bit darker and more stylized. ITO skyrocketed into legendary status during the Sword & Shield era of the Pokémon TCG After nothing but standard cards (commons, uncommons, rares), we finally see KEIICHIRO[...]

Over the past two years, we've seen renewed interest in the hobby due to a number of factors, including the 25th Anniversary, strong Sword & Shield-era sets featuring stunning Alternate Arts, influencers, box breaks, COVID-19 lockdown pushing people to find hobbies, and more For a time, sets and cards that were readily available quickly became[...]

Over the past two years, we've seen renewed interest in the hobby due to a number of factors, including the 25th Anniversary, strong Sword & Shield-era sets featuring stunning Alternate Arts, influencers, box breaks, COVID-19 lockdown pushing people to find hobbies, and more For a time, sets and cards that were readily available quickly became[...]

We have already seen the Cyrus Full Art meant for that box, but it was not yet revealed if we'd be getting a new Klara Full Art or if it'd be a reprint from Sword & Shield – Chilling Reign, especially because there was no Klara Full Art from Japan that we had seen Well,[...]

HYOGONOSUKE carries over that talent for illustrative cards painting unique scenes into the current Sword & Shield era, where their Tyranitar V Alternate Art became the very first Alt Art chase card of the Galar era. HYOGONOSUKE cards Credit: Pokémon TCG Other notable Sword & Shield contributions by HYOGONOSUKE include Leafeon VMAX Alternate Art from Sword & Shield – Evolving[...]

Later, Alternate Arts and Character Rares would take prominence, with Saito delivering some of the best examples, including the Mew V Alternate Art from Sword & Shield – Fusion Strike as well as my favorite card from the entire Sword & Shield era, the Mimikyu VMAX Character Super Rare from Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars. Naoki Saito cards[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner, and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer[...]

Credit: Pokémon TCG Ryuta Fuse continues to work for the Pokémon TCG in the Sword & Shield era Somme of Fuse's most memorable cards are the Nessa Full Art from Sword & Shield – Vivid Voltage, Rayquaza V Alternate Art from Sword & Shield – Evolving Skies, and Elesa's Sparkle from Sword & Shield – Fusion Strike[...]

Over the past two years, we've seen renewed interest in the hobby due to a number of factors, including the 25th Anniversary, strong Sword & Shield-era sets featuring stunning Alternate Arts, influencers, box breaks, COVID-19 lockdown pushing people to find hobbies, and more For a time, sets and cards that were readily available quickly became[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner, and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer[...]

Credit: Pokémon TCG Whenever I do these spotlights, I am always surprised when I see how some artists who have come to feel like staples of the hobby have only been contributing for a few years. Atsushi Furusawa was first credited in 2021's Sword & Shield – Chilling Reign This was the second expansion of the Sword & Shield[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner, and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer[...]

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,[...]

Over the past two years, we've seen renewed interest in the hobby due to a number of factors, including the 25th Anniversary, strong Sword & Shield-era sets featuring stunning Alternate Arts, influencers, box breaks, COVID-19 lockdown pushing people to find hobbies, and more For a time, sets and cards that were readily available quickly became[...]

Teeziro's first official credit was in Sword & Shield – Chilling Reign, but it is actually the above Charizard art that initially got this artist noticed Teeziro submitted this Charizard illustration, depicting the iconic Fire-type Pokémon flying over a wintry village, as part of the 2019 Pokémon TCG Illustration Grand Prix[...]

Over the past two years, we've seen renewed interest in the hobby due to a number of factors, including the 25th Anniversary, strong Sword & Shield-era sets featuring stunning Alternate Arts, influencers, box breaks, COVID-19 lockdown pushing people to find hobbies, and more For a time, sets and cards that were readily available quickly became[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner, and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner, and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer[...]

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[...]

The art-themed Crown Zenith closes out the Sword & Shield era with a bang, introducing 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[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer Gallery[...]

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[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner, and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner, and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer[...]

In November 2022, Pokémon TCG released the final main series set of the Sword & Shield era The expansion, Sword & Shield – Silver Tempest, came out on September 9th, 2022 It is the twelfth set under the Sword & Shield banner and it adapts the Japanese sets Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger, with its Trainer Gallery[...]