‘Battle Styles’ is March’s Set, Introduces New Single Strike and Rapid Strike Cards!
March’s set will be named Battle Styles and will introduce a new “Battle Style” mechanic to the Pokemon TCG! Here you can see an Urshifu V labeled as a “Rapid Strike” card and a Houndoom labeled as a “Single Strike” card. These are two of the new Battle Styles.
Single Strike cards deliver strong, hard-hitting attacks, while Rapid Strike cards are about sneaky, technical strikes. But it’s not just Pokemon that can have a Battle Style — there will be Trainer and Energy cards with them too! That’s because all cards of the same Battle Style will be able to work together. The goal of the new mechanic is to encourage players to build decks that focus on one Battle Style.
As you can see on Houndoom, its “Single Strike Roar” Ability allows you to search your deck for a Single Strike Energy to attach to one of your Single Strike Pokemon. There will also be a new Emboar with a “Fighting Fury Stance” Ability, which allows you to boost the attack damage of all Single Strike Pokemon, and an Octillery with a “Rapid Strike Search” Ability, which allows you to search your deck for a Rapid Strike card.
The mechanic will continue into future sets. Not all cards will feature a Battle Style, however. The mechanic is essentially a modern version of Gym Leader Pokemon, Team Aqua and Magma cards, Holon Pokemon, SP Pokemon, etc. Cards grouped together under a certain label to work together.
The Battle Styles set will release on March 19th. It’ll feature over 160 cards, including 60 Battle Style cards, 12 Pokemon V, six Pokemon VMAX cards, 16 full art cards, and two Special Energy. It will be based on Japan’s Single Strike Master and Rapid Strike Master sets, which release on January 22nd.
Update (3:00 AM): 20+ cards have just been revealed via a YouTube trailer and an update to the Japanese Pokemon TCG website! Update #2 (6:00 AM): The English booster packs and Elite Trainer Boxes have been revealed through a press release! Update #3 (10:00 AM): Added several more English product images! It seems theme decks have been discontinued. Update #4 (Wednesday, 10:00 AM): Added the Premium Checklane blisters below featuring the Tyranitar and Corviknight lines.
English Cards
Empoleon V introduces a new phrase in its Ability called “Rule Box,” which references Pokemon with rule boxes on their cards like Pokemon V and Pokemon-GX. This seems to be a new “shortcut term” so that future cards don’t have to list out Pokemon-EX, GX, V, VMAX, V-Union, etc.
English Products
It seems theme decks have been discontinued.
English Trailer
The Japanese trailer also shows additional Pokemon that will be in the set, such as Blaziken and Zeraora:
Japanese Cards
These cards are from Single Strike Master and Rapid Strike Master sets, which release in Japan on January 22nd. They will become part of our Battle Styles set. Thanks goes to Bangiras for the translations!
Billowing Fan – Trainer
Item (Rapid Strike)Return a Special Energy attached to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon to the bottom of your opponent’s deck.
You may play any number of Item cards during your turn (before your attack).
Mustard Rapid Strike Stance – Trainer
Supporter (Rapid Strike)You can only play this card if it’s the only card in your hand. Put a Rapid Strike Pokemon from your discard pile onto your Bench. Then, draw 5 cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Rapid Strike Energy
Special Energy (Rapid Strike)This card can only be attached to a Rapid Strike Pokemon.
While this card is attached to a Pokemon, it provides [W] and [F] Energy, but provides only 2 Energy at a time.
(If this card is attached to anything other than a Rapid Strike Pokémon, discard this card.)
Vitality Jar
– Trainer
Item (Single Strike)Choose up to 2 Single Strike Energy cards from your discard pile, reveal them, and shuffle them into your deck.
You may play any number of Item cards during your turn (before your attack).
Single Strike Energy
Special Energy (Single Strike)This card can only be attached to a Single Strike Pokemon.
While attached to a Pokemon, this card provides [D] and [F] Energy, but provides only 1 Energy at a time. Attacks from the Pokemon this card is attached to do 20 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
(If this card is attached to anything other than a Single Strike Pokémon, discard this card.)
Mustard Single Strike Stance – Trainer
Supporter (Single Strike)You can only play this card if it’s the last card in your hand. Search your deck for a Single Strike Pokemon and put it onto your Bench. Then, draw 5 cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Rapid Strike Scroll: Whirlpool Scroll – Trainer
Item (Rapid Strike)Pokemon Tool: Attach a Pokemon Tool to 1 of your Pokemon that doesn’t already have a Pokemon Tool attached to it.
The Rapid Strike Pokemon this card is attached to can use the attack on this card. (You still need the necessary Energy to use this attack.)
[F][C][C] Whirlpool Dream: This attack does 30 damage to each of your opponent’s Pokemon.
You may play any number of Item cards during your turn (before your attack).
Single Strike Scroll: Raging Scroll – Trainer
Item (Single Strike)Pokemon Tool: Attach a Pokemon Tool to 1 of your Pokemon that doesn’t already have a Pokemon Tool attached to it.
The Single Strike Pokemon this card is attached to can use the attack on this card. (You still need the necessary Energy to use this attack.)
[F] Fury: 10+ damage. This attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on this Pokémon.
You may play any number of Item cards during your turn (before your attack).
Tower of Darkness – Trainer
Stadium (Single Strike)Once during their turn, each player may discard a Single Strike card from their hand and draw 2 cards.
This Stadium stays in play when you play it. Discard it if another Stadium comes into play. If a Stadium with the same name is in play, you can’t play this card.
Tower of Waters – Trainer
Stadium (Rapid Strike)The Retreat Cost of each Rapid Strike Pokemon in play is [C][C] less.
This Stadium stays in play when you play it. Discard it if another Stadium comes into play. If a Stadium with the same name is in play, you can’t play this card.
The booster box promo for the set will be a full art Honey!
Honey – Trainer
SupporterDraw a card for each Pokemon V on your opponent’s Bench.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Premium Trainer Boxes
The Premium Trainer Boxes we previously announced for Japan have been revealed! They will each feature new Urshifu V promos.
Single Strike Urshifu V – Fighting – HP220
Basic Pokemon (Single Strike)[F] Strong Knuckle: 30 damage.
[F][F][F][F] 180 damage. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Resistance.
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Rapid Strike Urshifu V – Fighting – HP220
Basic Pokemon (Rapid Strike)[F][C] Rolling Kick: 40 damage.
[F][F][C] Multi-Strike: 90 damage. This attack does 20 damage to 2 of opponent’s Benched Pokemon (don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon).
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
‘Matchless Fighter’ Promo Campaign
If you purchase a booster box of Single Strike Master in Japan, you’ll get a new Cinderace V promo. If you purchase a box of Rapid Strike Master, you’ll get a new Rilaboom V promo. You will also receive a voucher that you can redeem for a promo of the VMAX card when you purchase ten or more booster packs of Matchless Fighters, the next set, when it comes out in March.
Rillaboom V – Grass – HP220
Basic Pokemon[G][C][C] Drain Punch: 60 damage. Heal 30 damage from this Pokemon.
[G][C][C][C] Drum Rush: 160 damage.
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Cinderace V – Fire – HP210
Basic Pokemon[C][C] Flame: 50 damage.
[R][C][C][C] All-Out Shoot: 210 damage. This Pokemon can’t attack during your next turn.
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Japanese Store Promotions
Starting January 21st, fans who purchase five booster packs of the set can receive different items. At 7-11, you’ll get a deck case featuring Single Strike Urshifu. At Lawson, you’ll get a mini case featuring Rapid Strike Urshifu. At Family Mart, you’ll get a playmat.
Pokemon Center Online Items
Sleeves featuring Lapras and Pikachu and a bundle box of the set featuring Korrina will be available on the Japanese Pokemon Center website.
