‘Brilliant Stars’ Officially Revealed, Will Contain Character Rares from ‘VMAX Climax!’

By: Water Pokémon Master · Posted Posted onNov 3, 2021 at 6:21 AM · 35 Comments

We revealed the first information about Brilliant Stars over the past few weeks, and now Pokemon has officially revealed the set!

The set will feature Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR and Whimsicott VSTAR. As we found out last night, Pokemon VSTAR can have an attack or an Ability as their VSTAR Power. Only one VSTAR Power can be used per game since they’re extremely powerful.

The press release mentions Brilliant Stars will have “a special Trainer Gallery subset of 30 cards with artwork featuring fan-favorite Trainers and Pokemon.” This is almost certainly referring to the Character Rares from VMAX Climax. I speculated those cards might be saved for our holiday set, but it looks like TPCi is going to release them here very quickly!

Brilliant Stars will feature 20 Pokemon V, 15 full-art Pokemon V, four new Pokemon VSTAR, three new Pokemon VMAX, 22 Trainer cards, six full-art Supporter cards, and one new Special Energy card.

As posted before, it will release on February 25th and contain 172 cards before secret rares. (Presumably this number doesn’t include the subset.)

Product Images

The Elite Trainer Box images show off the new basic Energy design. We should have more product images later today, so check back within the next few hours!

English Cards

Pokemon revealed English versions of the cards that were revealed in Japan last night.

Press Release

Nov. 3, 2021—Today, The Pokémon Company International unveiled the new Pokémon VSTAR gameplay mechanic for the best-selling Pokémon Trading Card Game. Pokémon VSTAR will appear in the upcoming Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars expansion, arriving at participating retailers worldwide on February 25, 2022.

Pokémon VSTAR evolve from Pokémon V and will play a major role in the Pokémon TCG metagame. Each Pokémon VSTAR has a VSTAR Power — an Ability or attack — with an extremely powerful effect that can decide the outcome of a battle. Players can use only one VSTAR Power per game, and those who use a VSTAR Power must flip over a VSTAR marker during the battle.

In addition to their VSTAR Powers, Pokémon VSTAR have high HP and high-damage attacks, and they give up two Prize cards when Knocked Out.

Trainers can look forward to seeing Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR and Whimsicott VSTAR in Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars. The expansion will also include a special Trainer Gallery subset of 30 cards with artwork featuring fan-favorite Trainers and Pokémon.

Available in booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes and special collections, Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars will include the following:

  • 20 Pokémon V and 15 full-art Pokémon V
  • Four new Pokémon VSTAR
  • Three new Pokémon VMAX
  • 22 Trainer cards and six full-art Supporter cards
  • One new Special Energy card
View thread (35 replies)
Will alternative artwork cards still be around? Cause if yes I’m assuming this means we can anticipate at least Arceus V and Charizard V to receive the alt Art treatment. Would be nice if Whimsicott and Shaymin did as well.
 
the art on the Vstar cards reminds me a lot of lv.X! looking forward to this set, hopefully the pull rates wont be too bad...
 
HELLO, CHARIZARD. We meet again. It's a good thing you're only being used to show off a new mechanic this time, otherwise I'd be even more off-put by your commanding presence.

Let's just hope TPCI doesn't try to pull anything fancy with you this time!
 
"3 new Vmax"
So Kingler from the 100 decks, and perhaps we may be getting the Hatterene and Machamp (or Melmetal) gigantamaxes forms as well?

Also this new special energy and Acerola-like trainer: time to buy Togekiss and Tornadus!
 
There's way more than 30 CHR cards in VMAX Climax though.

Unless CSR don't count. Blaziken CSR to Blissey CSR is already 39 cards.
 
Can we have another triple energy of some kind to make the Stage 2 Orbeetle engine good again? Pretty please?
 
Now that the theory that VSTAR will only be Sinnoh/ Hisui Pokemon is dead and buried, I pray for an Espeon or Mimikyu VSTAR that's actually good.
 
Does anyone know if the 20 Pokemon V include the character arts? it seems like a lot of Vs otherwise for the set size
 
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