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Pokémon is back! Pokémon Sword and Shield introduces you to the eighth generation of the Pokémon TCG. Introducing players to Pokémon from the region of Galar, whether you’re a defensive player or an offensive player, the Pokémon Sword and Shield Elite Trainer box is the perfect addition to any Pokémon TCG collection.
Whilst your Pokémon types remain the same, Sword and Shield introduces its players to a whole new type of card with its overpowered Pokémon V and Pokémon VMAX cards. With 21 of these V type cards available to collect and battle with, the video gameplay evolution has truly arrived within the TCG. With two new legendary designs, the Elite Trainer box brings the stylish regal designs of Zacian and Zamazenta and places them into your hands.
Contents
- 8 Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield Booster Packs
- 65 Card Sleeves featuring Zacian or Zamazenta
- 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
- A player’s guide to the Sword and Shield Expansion
- 6 damage-counter dice
- 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
- 2 acrylic condition markers
- Collectors Box with 4 Dividers
- A code card for Pokémon TCG: Online
Gameplay
For those of you that are unfamiliar or are just starting your journey as Pokémon trainer, here are the basic steps of gameplay:
How to win: (there are three main ways to win)
1) Take all of your Prize cards.
2) Knock out all of your opponent’s Pokémon in play.
3) If your opponent has no cards in their deck at the beginning of their turn.
Setting up play:
1) Shake hands with your opponent.
2) Flip a coin. Winner of Flip decides who goes first.
3) Shuffle your 60-card deck and draw the top 7 cards.
4) Check to see if you have any Basic Pokémon in your hand.
5) Put one of your Basic Pokémon face down as your Active Pokémon.
6) Put up to 5 more Basic Pokémon face down on your bench.
7) Put the top 6 cards of your deck into your Prize card pile.
8) Both players flip their Active and Benched Pokémon face up and start the game.
Parts of a Turn: (Each turn has three main parts)
1) Draw a Card
2) (Do any of the following actions in any order).
- Put Basic Pokémon cards from your hand onto your bench (as many as you like).
- Evolve your Pokémon (as many as you want).-
- Attach an Energy card from your hand to one of your Pokémon (once per turn).-
- Play Trainer cards (as many as you want, but only ONE Supporter card and ONE Stadium card per turn).
- Retreat your Active Pokémon (only once per turn).
- Use Abilities (as many as you want).
3) ATTACK! Then, end your turn.
For further information and additional game rules you can view the official Pokémon TCG rulebook here.
Additions
With the introduction of two new types of cards, the V and the VMAX, comes a whole new set of game mechanics. Each V or VMAX card comes with some extremely over-powered HP, moves and abilities. These unique features mean that whether you’re a maxed-out Morpeko or a celestial Celebi, you can be sure that these Pokémon will pack a punch. Alas, with every benefit must come a cost. If your opponent knocks out your V Pokémon, your opponent takes TWO! Prize cards and if they knock out your VMAX Pokémon, they take THREE!! Prize cards.
Rule Changes
As with other generations there are some minor rule changes to keep in mind, especially if you want to keep your gameplay tournament legal.
This generation sees only one major rule change to gameplay and that is: ‘the player that goes first cannot play a supporter card on their first turn.’
Final Thoughts
I for one was destined to like this set before purchase. Since the age of 10 I’ve never been able to shake of the desire and joy (and sometimes disappointment) that I get from opening a fresh booster pack and hoping for that ancient or legendary Pokémon to be contained within. For any collector, or as a gift, there are few sets that are as appealing as the elite trainer boxes. Providing you with excess trainer cards, invaluable dice and perhaps the most important element for any card player, a place to store your cards.
The new V and Vmax cards are astonishingly beautiful as well as being exceptionally over-powered. The joy of having boosters, and the downfall, is that there’s no guarantee of which cards you may receive and it may be difficult for a novice to build a suitable playing deck due to the randomised nature of the boosters. I for one was lucky enough to get both a V and Vmax card within my boosters and both the two cards I wanted from this set.
(Celebi V and Lapras Vmax, in case you were wondering.) One benefit for beginners is the inclusion of the online card code, if for no other reason than it encourages players to use Pokémon’s online version of the TCG. Completely free to play and every booster or set comes complete with a code so you can build an online collection as well as learn to play solo. This will enable anyone with a computer to learn to play and hone your skills before you nip on down to Zatu Café (or wherever your local tournaments are held) and begin your journey as a Pokémon trainer.