In May 2022, Pokémon TCG released the second main series set of 2022. The expansion, Sword & Shield – Astral Radiance, came out on May 27th, 2022. It is the tenth set under the Sword & Shield banner and is the first to include the Radiant Pokémon mechanic.
Radiant Pokémon are similar to Shining Pokémon of the past as they include a Shiny Pokémon with holofoil and texture on the figure rather than the background. The difference, though, is a special holo pattern on the text area of the card. Sword & Shield – Astral Radiance also continues the Trainer Gallery, a special subset of Character Rares, Character Super Rares, Full Art Trainers, and Black & Gold VMAXes that began in the previous set, Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars.
Here’s what the Pokémon TCG has to say about this Pokémon Legends: Arceus-themed set:
Travel back to a primitive land dominated by myth and legend, where Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR shape the very fabric of time and space! Explore a vast wilderness unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, where you’ll encounter Decidueye, Typhlosion, and Samurott as Hisuian Pokémon VSTAR. Meet talented Trainers and other powerful Pokémon that call the ancient Hisui region home, and discover a new kind of Shiny Pokémon: Radiant Pokémon. Charge courageously into battle in a new world with the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance expansion!
Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Astral Radiance includes:
- Over 180 cards
- Three brand-new Radiant Pokémon
- Eight awesome Pokémon VSTAR
- 21 powerful Pokémon V and 2 enormous Pokémon VMAX
- 30 cards with special art in the Trainer Gallery subset
- More than 20 Trainer cards
Notably, this is the first set to ever include Radiant Pokémon. Radiant Pokémon are a lot like Shining Pokémon cards from the past, in that they depict the subject of the card (in this case Greninja, Hawlucha, and Heatran) in their Shiny forms with the actual creature rendered in textured foil rather than the background art. What sets Radiant cards apart from Shining cards is that the text box of the card is also etched foil and a criss-cross holo pattern runs through the surface of the card.
This set also contains Alternate Arts and Character Super Rares, which are currently the most sought-after card styles among many collectors.
