XY—Roaring Skies

Status: Released (May 2015)

Soar to Victory with XY—Roaring Skies

The skies darkened with the might of Dragon-type Pokémon in XY—Roaring Skies, released on May 6, 2015. This expansion is synonymous with one card: Shaymin-EX. While the set featured powerful Mega Evolutions like Mega Rayquaza-EX and Mega Latios-EX, none could compare to the game-changing utility of Shaymin-EX. XY—Roaring Skies also introduced the "Double Dragon Energy," a special energy card that provided two energy of any type to Dragon Pokémon, instantly making them the most versatile attackers in the format.

The Shaymin-EX Era

It is impossible to overstate the impact of Shaymin-EX. Its "Set Up" ability allowed players to draw until they had six cards in hand every time they played it, fueling incredibly aggressive, fast-paced decks. This single card became the most expensive and necessary staple in the game, defining the competitive landscape for years. Combined with the "Mega Turbo" item card, which accelerated energy to Mega Pokémon, XY—Roaring Skies created a high-speed format where games could be decided in the very first turn.