A brand-new threat awaits in the upcoming Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Lost Origin expansion! Beware because your cards can now go straight into the Lost Zone, an abyss from which they cannot be recovered. Don’t read too much into it; it’s a helpful card. The latest expansion also includes fascinating and new Pokémon, Pokémon VSTAR and Pokémon V, and yes, an enormous Pokémon VMAX.
Take an early peek at some of the great new cards! These are just some of the over 190 cards found in the upcoming Lost Origin expansion. You’ll find a lot more when the expansion releases on September 9, 2022.
Kyurem VMAX
The Lost Zone is the focus of Sword & Shield—Lost Origin, but Kyurem VMAX shows plenty of chilling cards in this set that doesn’t interact with the Lost Zone. Kyurem VMAX has the Glaciated World Ability, which allows you to discard the top card of your deck—and if it’s a Water Energy card, attach it to 1 of your Pokémon. That’s especially helpful with its powerful attack, Max Frost, which does 120 damage, plus 50 more for each Water Energy discarded when using the attack. You can either set up damage on your opponent’s Pokémon without discarding Energy or snow them in with an infinitely scaling attack that can one-hit-KO any Pokémon.
Machamp
Multi-Prize Pokémon often headline the Pokémon TCG, but this Machamp gets big and beefy thanks to its Crisis Muscles Ability. When your opponent has three or fewer Prize cards, Machamp gains 150 HP, making it nearly as big as the toughest Pokémon VMAX and bulkier than every Pokémon VSTAR. It packs a decent punch, too, with its Strong-Arm Lariat attack doing up to 200 damage. Machamp especially shines in Gym Leader Challenge, an alternative TCG format that allows only Pokémon without a Rule Box. Once your opponent reaches three Prize cards, Machamp will probably be the most extensive and buffest Pokémon on the board, making it difficult for any single-Prize Pokémon to take it out.
Barbaracle
The unknown of the Lost Zone strikes your opponent’s Prize cards with this brand-new Barbaracle. Barbaracle’s Dynamic Chop attack isn’t imposing, but its Lost Block Ability denies any Prize cards your opponent would take from a Knock-Out, instead sending those cards to the Lost Zone. Barbaracle can deny resources to your opponent while also disrupting the strategy of their deck—this means that if Barbaracle is on the field for an entire game, your opponent is practically playing a 54-card deck.
Lost City
Tell your opponent’s Pokémon to get lost with the new Stadium card, Lost City! Whenever a Pokémon (yours or your opponents’) is Knocked Out, it goes to the Lost Zone instead of the discard pile. Of course, you have to be careful not to disrupt your strategy, but Lost City is especially effective against decks that rely on looping their Pokémon in and out of play. Regigigas, for example, relies on having Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Regieleki, and Regidrago in play to use its Ancient Wisdom Ability. If Lost City sends too many of these Pokémon to the Lost Zone, Regigigas may end up stuck without its powerful Energy acceleration—securing an easy win for the opponent.
Hisuian Arcanine
Hisuian Arcanine has the unique Very Vulnerable attack that can do a whopping 160 damage and requires no Energy—the catch is that you must have no cards in your hand to get the total damage. Hand size is essential in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and this may sound like a daunting condition—but with cards like Quick Ball, Ultra Ball, and even Cram-o-matic, there are plenty of ways to get down to zero cards. Playing your next turn with a small hand is also concerning. Still, Radiant Venusaur allows you to fill your hand up to four cards with its Sunny Bloom Ability after you use the attack, making it more likely that you’ll put the pieces together for another full-damage strike!
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