I Pokémon of the Region of Galar they finally arrived in Pokémon Trading Card Game thanks to the brand new expansion "Sword and Shield". After the great success of the video game, released exclusively for Nintendo Switch, The Pokémon Company will try to replicate the success achieved with “Spada e Scudo” also in terms of the Trading Card Game. This new expansion aims to permanently change the meta thanks to over fifty new cards (including a new energy card) and to the very powerful and unprecedented cards VMAX e V. VMAX Pokémon evolve exclusively from Pokémon-V and can come in or in form Dynamax or in that Gigamax. The first examples of Pokémon V we had them with the two new legendaries of the Galar region, that is Zacian e Zamazenta. Let's go now to see all the news related to this incredible expansion.
This expansion, which in Japan corresponds to Sword - Shield, is made up of 220 cards plus fourteen secret rare. Pokémon Sword and Shield is the first expansion to introduce the new eighth generation Pokémon and the very powerful V and V Max cards that will replace, at least for the moment, the old GX cards of previous expansions. Among the new V and V Max cards, in addition to the two legendaries of the Galar region, namely Zacian and Zamazenta, two first generation Pokémon stand out like Lapras and Snorlax, which we can find in both versions V. The peculiarity of these new Pokémon V is that they will evolve into their V Max form; more precisely, the Pokémon in question will "evolve" in their version Gigamax o Dynamax. These new "Evolutions" will have incredibly strong attacks and very high HP but, when they leave the playing field, because they are defeated by an enemy Pokémon, they will allow your opponent to draw up to three reward cards, so use with extreme care this new mechanic.
The first round
The real change that this new expansion will bring to the TCG is mainly related to the first game round. As most of you will surely know, the player who goes first has the only limitation that he cannot attack with the Pokémon deployed. With the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield, the Pokémon Company has decided to ban the help cards during the first turn of the game with the intent of balancing the first turns. Only time will tell if this change will please the players, but for sure this move will forever change the way you approach every game.
Weaknesses and Resistances
The latest change introduced with this new expansion concerns type Pokémon Elf. It was decided to permanently eliminate Fairy-type Pokémon from the TCG by grouping them into Psychic type. It is the first time in the history of the TCG that a type of Pokémon has been eliminated. Obviously, the goblin cards can still be played until, by rotating from the standard format, they will definitely come out. This will also affect the resistances e weaknesses: type Pokémon Acqua they will be weak to those of the Electro type, Psychic types will be weak to Dark types and Dark types will be weak to Grass types.
