“Battle Legion” Special Set Revealed, Introduces New “Sparkling Pokemon!”

By: Water Pokémon Master · Posted Posted onJan 20, 2022 at 9:05 PM · 33 Comments

S9a Battle Legion has been officially revealed! We first discovered its trademark last July and revealed the first information about the set in October.

The set will release in Japan on February 25th and feature 67 cards before secret rares.

Battle Legion will introduce a new type of Pokemon card called “Sparkling Pokemon.” As the name implies, they are shiny Pokemon with “Sparkling” in their name. They are powerful Basic Pokemon, so you can only include one in your deck.

Sparkling Pokemon have the special texture associated with secret rares. They also feature a new reverse holo pattern that looks like crosshatching. They use a new “K” rarity, which likely stands for their Japanese name Kagayaku.

Battle Legion will be a special “Strengthening Expansion Set” like 2020’s Legendary Heartbeat, which introduced Amazing Rares. Each booster pack will contain six cards instead of the usual five and cost 260 yen instead of 165 yen.

I reported a few weeks ago that we’ll be getting our special annual set in June this year. It’ll probably include the cards from this set.

Litwick – Fire – HP60
Basic Pokemon

[R] Ember Uproar: Discard the top card from your opponent’s deck.

Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

Lampent – Fire – HP80
Stage 1 – Evolves from Litwick

[R] Flickering Lamp: 20 damage. Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy attached to your opponent’s Active Pokemon.

Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

Chandelure – Fire – HP150
Stage 2 – Evolves from Lampent

Ability: Mountain Burner
Once during your turn when you play this card from your hand to evolve a Pokemon, you may discard the top 3 cards from your opponent’s deck.

[R][C] Heat Blast: 90 damage.

Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

Starmie V – Water – HP190
Basic Pokemon

[C][C] Swift: 50 damage. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness, Resistance, or any other effects on your opponent’s Active Pokemon.

[W][W] Energy Spiral: 50x damage. This attack does 50 damage times the number of Energy attached to your opponent’s Pokemon in play.

When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 0

Sparkling Greninja – Water – HP130
Basic Pokemon

Sparkling Pokemon Rule: You can’t have more than 1 Sparkling Pokemon in your deck.

Ability: Concealed Card
Once during your turn, you may discard an Energy card from your hand. Then, draw 2 cards.

[W][W][C] Moonlight Shuriken: Discard 2 Energy from this Pokemon and do 90 damage to 2 of your opponent’s Pokemon (don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)

Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

Sparkling Hawlucha – Fighting – HP90
Basic Pokemon

Sparkling Pokemon Rule: You can’t have more than 1 Sparkling Pokemon in your deck.

Ability: Big Match
If this Pokemon is on your Bench, your Pokemon’s attacks do 30 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon VMAX.

[F][C] Spinning Kick: 50 damage.

Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

Garchomp V – Dragon – HP200
Basic Pokemon

[W][F][C] Dragon Claw: 120 damage.

[W][F][F][C] Sonic Strike: Discard 3 Energy from this Pokemon and do 220 damage to one of your opponent’s Pokemon (don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon).

When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: none
Resistance: none
Retreat: 0

As we previously revealed, releasing alongside Battle Legion on February 25th will be two 60-card decks named “Sword & Shield Starter Set Lucario VSTAR” and “Sword & Shield Starter Set Darkrai VSTAR.” They will come with the usual deck goodies like a coin and damage counters. Each will cost 1,710 yen.

Lucario V – Fighting – HP210
Basic Pokemon

[C][C] Crush Punch: 50 damage. Discard a Special Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokemon/

[F][C][C] Cyclone Kick: 120 damage.

When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

Lucario VSTAR – Fighting – HP270
VSTAR – Evolves from Lucario V

[F][C][C] Fighting Knuckle: 120+ damage. If your  opponents Active Pokemon is a Pokemon V, this attack does 120 more damage.

[F][C] Aura Star (VSTAR Power): 70x damage. This attack does 70 damage times the number of Energy attached to your opponent’s Pokemon. (You can’t use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)

When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Psychic (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

Darkrai V – Darkness – HP210
Basic Pokemon

[D][C] Dark Wind: 50 damage.

[D][D][C] Dark Hole: 130 damage. Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Asleep.
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

Darkrai VSTAR – Darkness – HP270
VSTAR – Evolves from Darkrai V

[C][C] Dark Pulse: 30+ damage. This attack does 30 more damage for each [D] Energy attached to your Pokemon.

Ability: Star Abyss (VSTAR Power)
During your turn you may search your discard pile for up to 2 Item cards and put them into your hand. (You can’t use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)

When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

Hoopa – Darkness – HP120
Basic Pokemon

[D] Genie Hand: Search your deck for a [D] Energy and attach it to 1 of your Pokemon. Then, shuffle your deck.

[D][D][C] Tyrant Hole: 100 damage.

Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

Gutsy Pickaxe – Trainer
Item

Reveal the top card of your deck. If it’s a [F] Energy, attach it to 1 of your Benched Pokemon. Otherwise, reveal it to your opponent and put it into your hand.

You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn.

The decks will also include some reprints — including the return of Dark Patch!

Thanks goes to Bangiras for the translations!

View thread (33 replies)
Disappointed with that sui Chandelure too. Doesn't really look much like their work. Maybe the holo background doesn't help but looks like one of the more poorer Chandelure cards.

Also, besides the top tier Pokemon - is there a second tier of Pokemon that the TCG likes to feature? Starmie also got a GX, like Honchkrow, Flygon, Trevenant etc.

Oh maybe Starmie's in so that Misty gets another card since there's a CHR subset in this.
 
Yaginku said:
Ngl, at first I was scared they found a way to bring back 3-prizers immediately after getting rid of them, but this is just Prism cards. It's okay.
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I think star from EX is more defined than Prism Star. The rule for Prism Star doesn't let you have more than one of the same name while the Star from EX doesn't let you have more than one Star in your deck. Maybe I am missing something.
 
Yo, why does Lucario have 70x for each energy on all of your opponent's Pokemon as a Vstar attack and Starmie has exactly the same attack, 50x, on a basic, for the same cost?? Not saying Starmie's better, but the power gap is very small.
 
OH MY GOD I'M EXCITED
1. GRENINJA LOOKS INSANELY GOOD
2. FINALLY, ANOTHER GOOD GARCHOMP
3. LUCARIO FINALLY GETTING ABOVE AVERAGE ULTRA RARES
 
I wanted a Starmie VStar, but the lack of reveal with the V and the fact the V has a fairly decent 2nd attack tells me we're not getting one. :'(
 
Sparkling Greninja - don't matter the atk, the attack is not great. The ability tho, absolutely nuts, draw power, plus it help decks like Flaaffy that accels energy from the discard. These Sparkling Pokemon pretty much a replica of Pokemon Gold Stars. 5 Geodudes
Sparkling Hawlucha - great against VMAX decks, other than that, eh. If VMAX continues to dominate rn (We don't know how Star Birth cards, especially VStars perform in Japan, since we don't have Jap tournaments yet.) 5 Geodude
Garchomp V - 4 energy to take out almost every Pokemon V is too much, but with Melony and Arceus, this thing is playable yet not spammable. 3-4 Geodudes
Litwick/Lampent/Chandelure - another use for Top Entry Lampent, on a deck that nobody gives a toss on it. 2/2/3
Starmie V - whatever. That effect is counterable. Even decks that can run single energy atkrs easily counters this thing. But as tech, it has a chance. 3-4
Gutsy Pickaxe - finally, as superior energy accel for F types, but not just F types. Love this thing. 5 Geodudes
Dark Patch - as if this reprint was reasonable for Metal Saucer to rotate in September 2022. Dark type decks love this. Even Eternatus loves this thing. Man, another buff for Eternatus VMAX. 5 Geodudes
Lucario V/VMAX - I like this with Double Turbo, 220 dmg is enough to KO Vs, even F weak VStar/VMax. VStar Power is not a necessity, yet it came in clutch. 3/4
Darkrai V/VMAX - We got Moltres, Moltres, Dark Patch, Piers, that will make Eternatus gets flushed in the toilet. Actually, you can mix these two together. That will work. 3/5 Geodudes
Hoopa - whatever. Not worth giving up a prize. 3 Geodudes
 
Yaginku said:
Yo, why does Lucario have 70x for each energy on all of your opponent's Pokemon as a Vstar attack and Starmie has exactly the same attack, 50x, on a basic, for the same cost?? Not saying Starmie's better, but the power gap is very small.
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50x7 = 350 - Finally, I can OHKO VMAX without choice belt.
70x7 = 490 - can KO things with 2 energy with a different attack and still be able to OHKO with this attack.

50x6 = 300 - VSTAR die, but you might need a Choice Belt for VMAX.
70x6 = 420 - lol, but I can KO something with 1 energy attached with a different attack and still be able to OHKO most things.

50x5 = 250 - some VSTAR and most basic V dead.
70x5 = 350 - VMAX die.

50x4 = 200 - barely missing the KO on some basic Vs, can do that with a belt.
70x4 = 280 - VSTAR die, with belt some VMAX die.

50x3 = 150 - decent damage all around, might miss a single prize stage 2 every once in a bit, can KO bat + fish with belt.
70x3 = 210 - a good portion of basic V dead, nearly all with belt.

50x2 = 100 - bad, might miss KO on single prize supports and hardly 2HKO anything viable.
70x2 = 140 - ditto, but can KO most single prize supports and allows VMAX/VSTAR to be KO'd by Lucario VSTAR's first attack. KO's fish with belt.

50x1 = 50 - yikes
70x1 = 70 - at least I can kill a lot of single prize evolving mons if need be.

Lucario's may be a VSTAR power, but it's more versatile given the mon it is on having a 2nd, pretty decent attack. Starmie V may be good as well, but does take a significant leap in energy to do much as well as it. Vs Darkrai VSTAR for instance, them having 4 energy means you OHKO. However, Darkrai VSTAR will only be able to do 150 (30x4+30), 180 with choice belt. Starmie needs 6 energy on their board to OHKO, or 5 w/belt. A Darkrai VSTAR with 6 energy on board can OHKO a Starmie V, so you are at best using it to trade evenly.
That said, it's not necessarily a bad tech anyway in decks that can run Starmie V. After all, it does have Shred, and no retreat cost. I kind of expect this in Suicune V decks if they're worried about Darkrai VSTAR or other energy-splashing decks. That deck could also play Greninja, which is a nice buff for consistency if people feel the need to use it.
Lucario VSTAR is a little more linear, and personally I don't think we've seen all of the support. The fighting energy support item feels incomplete without stuff that it obviously pairs with, like an inevitable Mallow reprint or whatever. But it's regular attack can OHKO a Darkrai VSTAR with belt and no DTE, though it doesn't really hold up as well vs VMAX pokemon, especially Mew. Additionally, if stuff like Torterra or other 130+ HP single prizers become good, it can definitely struggle with those matchups too.

But in terms of the difference between 70x and 50x, it's pretty gigantic. Those numbers scale quickly.
 
N's Rhyperior said:
Sparkling Greninja - don't matter the atk, the attack is not great. The ability tho, absolutely nuts, draw power, plus it help decks like Flaaffy that accels energy from the discard. These Sparkling Pokemon pretty much a replica of Pokemon Gold Stars. 5 Geodudes
Sparkling Hawlucha - great against VMAX decks, other than that, eh. If VMAX continues to dominate rn (We don't know how Star Birth cards, especially VStars perform in Japan, since we don't have Jap tournaments yet.) 5 Geodude
Garchomp V - 4 energy to take out almost every Pokemon V is too much, but with Melony and Arceus, this thing is playable yet not spammable. 3-4 Geodudes
Litwick/Lampent/Chandelure - another use for Top Entry Lampent, on a deck that nobody gives a toss on it. 2/2/3
Starmie V - whatever. That effect is counterable. Even decks that can run single energy atkrs easily counters this thing. But as tech, it has a chance. 3-4
Gutsy Pickaxe - finally, as superior energy accel for F types, but not just F types. Love this thing. 5 Geodudes
Dark Patch - as if this reprint was reasonable for Metal Saucer to rotate in September 2022. Dark type decks love this. Even Eternatus loves this thing. Man, another buff for Eternatus VMAX. 5 Geodudes
Lucario V/VMAX - I like this with Double Turbo, 220 dmg is enough to KO Vs, even F weak VStar/VMax. VStar Power is not a necessity, yet it came in clutch. 3/4
Darkrai V/VMAX - We got Moltres, Moltres, Dark Patch, Piers, that will make Eternatus gets flushed in the toilet. Actually, you can mix these two together. That will work. 3/5 Geodudes
Hoopa - whatever. Not worth giving up a prize. 3 Geodudes
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Don't forget Galarian weezing(double dark energy ability) from CRE in the darkrai mix. Oh, Piers and eternatus will rotate in sept. 2022 along w/ metal saucer and the rest of the D block..

Darkrai vstar could be another metadeck this and next cycle due to the aforementioned Galarian weezing...
 
cardgjammer said:
Don't forget Galarian weezing(double dark energy ability) from CRE in the darkrai mix. Oh, Piers and eternatus will rotate in sept. 2022 along w/ metal saucer and the rest of the D block..

Darkrai vstar could be another metadeck this and next cycle due to the aforementioned Galarian weezing...
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I don't recommend it. You already clogging your deck with bunch of Pokemon. Also, Galarian Weezing only works on Weezings, so we need a G. Weezing V for that, at least 2-prized powerhouse. If you go on that route, go for it. But I rather use basics for consistency, not bunch of Stage 1s. We have Moltres, well 2 of them, for Goodness sake, so I'll go on that. Also, attacks like this that stacks energy for dmg is not healthy for the meta rn. At least you need 5 energy + Choice Belt to KO a Mew VMAX.
 
I am SO hype about greninja for Archies in expanded!
I know no one cares.

I think it is just a better espeon deoxys. It fits that role very well.
And it is just straight up more draw support!
And no more 1 of psychic energy!

I'm absolutely ECSTATIC.
 
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