Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance

Status: Released (May 2022)

Journey to Hisui in Astral Radiance

Inspired by the video game *Pokémon Legends: Arceus*, Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance released on May 27, 2022, bringing the ancient region of Hisui to life. The set introduced "Radiant Pokémon," a new mechanic featuring shiny Basic Pokémon with powerful abilities that were limited to one per deck. "Radiant Greninja" became an instant staple for its ability to draw cards, finding its way into almost every competitive deck list.

The Origin Forms Take Over

The competitive scene was completely reshaped by two cards: "Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR" and "Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR." Palkia, in particular, became the best deck in the world almost overnight, offering incredible speed and damage output for very little energy. On the collecting side, the set continued the "Trainer Gallery" trend, with beautiful full-art cards depicting Hisuian characters like Irida and Adaman. Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance was a perfect blend of competitive power and aesthetic beauty, capturing the mystic feel of the Hisui region perfectly.