Astral Radiance
Welcome to the tenth main expansion of the Sword & Shield Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Astral Radiance! Astral Radiance will be released on May 27, 2022 and introduces a new form of the Basic Pokémon, Radiant Pokémon. Players can only have one Radiant Pokémon in their deck. Therefore, a player could have multiple Heatran cards, but can only have one Radiant Heatran card (Bulbapedia). There is a Trainer Gallery Set that comes with the expansion that depicts trainers and their Pokémon in Full Art prints. The expansion includes Pokémon V, Pokémon VMAX, and Pokémon VSTAR. There are a total of 3 Radiant Pokémon, 21 Pokémon V, 2 Pokémon VMAX, and 8 Pokémon VSTAR, among 30 special art cards in the Trainer Gallery, and over 20 Trainer cards (Pokémon). The Astral Radiance booster packs are set up with ten cards from the expansion, a code card for Pokémon TCG Live, and either a VSTAR marker or an Energy Card (Bulbapedia).
The Japanese corresponding expansion of Astral Radiance is the combination of Time Gazer and Spacer Juggler which was released in Japan on April 8, 2022. Astral Radiance is also influenced by the Battle Region expansion and VMAX Climax subset. Each Time Gazer and Space Juggler pack consist of 5 cards from their corresponding expansion set (Bulbapedia).
Astral Radiance introduces three Radiant Pokémon: Heatran, Hawlucha, and Greninja. According to Bulbapedia, Radiant Pokémon are Shiny Pokémon with unique attacks and abilities. Shiny Pokémon are known Pokémon, but with different coloration than their traditional coloration. Radiant Pokémon cards can also be identified with the symbol K and its reflective shimmer. Astral Radiance is heavily influenced by the last generation VIII sore series game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The Pokémon Legends: Arceus, takes place in Hisui Region and also introduced Dialga Origin Form and Palkia Origin Form. This is reflected in Astral Radiance as the expansion features eight Hisuian Pokémon and the Origin Formes of Dialga and Palkia. The focal Pokémon in Astral Radiance are the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia in their Origin Formes. Dialga and Palkia can be found as Pokémon V and Pokémon VSTAR cards in the expansion (Bulbapedia).
Astral Radiance Card Checklists
Most informative checklist: Justinbasil
Most interactive checklist: Pokellector
Radiant Pokémon Introductions
Radiant Heatran
| Card Number | |
| Rarity | |
| Card Type | Fire |
| HP | 160 |
| Stage | Basic |
| Attack 1 | |
| Radiant Attack | Raging Bomber |
Heatran is one of the Legendary Pokémon and does not evolve from or into a different Pokémon. This Pokémon is a Fire and Steel Type and is the only Pokémon that has the Magma Storm ability (Bulbapedia).
Brief Character History: In the Pokémon games, Heatran was introduced in the Japanese version during 2006 and in English version in 2007 in the Generation IV games. The first Heatran TCG was released in 2008 in the Legends Awakened expansion from the Diamond & Pearl Series. Heatran had it's first anime appearance in 2008 in the movie, Arceus and the Jewel of Life (Bulbapedia).
Radiant Hawlucha
| Card Number | |
| Rarity | |
| Card Type | Fighting |
| HP | 90 |
| Stage | Basic |
| Attack 1 | |
| Radiant Attack | Big Match |
Hawlucha is a Fighting and Flying type Pokemon, and does not evolve from or into a different Pokémon. Hawlucha' s signature move is Flying Press and is the only known Pokemon to be able to use this move (Bulbapedia).
Brief Character History: In the Pokémon games, Hawlucha was introduced in 2013 Generation VI series in both Japanese and English. The first Hawlucha TCG was in 2014 in the Furious Fists expansion of the XY series. Hawlucha has it's first anime appearance in 2014 in the XY035 episode, The Forest Champion! (Bulbapedia).
Radiant Greninja
| Card Number | 46/189 |
| Rarity | Ultra Rare |
| Card Type | Water |
| HP | 130 |
| Stage | Basic |
| Attack 1 | |
| Radiant Attack | Moonlight Shuriken |
Greninja is a Water and Dark type Pokemon and is the final form of Froakie. Evolution occurs from Froakie to Frogradier at level 16 and from Frogradier to Greninja at level 36. Greninja has an alternate form called Ash-Greninja, but can not be breed in this form. Greninja' s signature move is Mat Block.
Brief Character History: In the Pokémon games, Greninja was introduced in 2013 Generation VI series in both Japanese and English. The first Greninja TCG was in 2013 in the Kalos Start Set in the XY Series. Greninja has it's first anime appearance in 2014 in the XY052 episode, A Stealthy Challenge! (Bulbapedia).