Japanese Sword & Shield Pokémon TCG Sets

All sets

About the Sword & Shield era

The Sword & Shield era opened on November 29, 2019 with the V Starter Sets, and the Sword and Shield dual sets followed on December 6, 2019 with 60 cards and 15 secret cards each, headlined by Zacian and Zamazenta and the Generation VIII Pokémon of Galar. They became the English Sword & Shield set of February 7, 2020, and the Pokémon V and VMAX mechanics they carried ran through the whole era.

The main expansions tracked the games and their expansion passes. Rebellion Crash on March 6, 2020 featured the Galar first partners' final Evolutions, Infinity Zone on June 5, 2020 Eternatus, and Amazing Volt Tackle on September 18, 2020 Gigantamax Pikachu and the new Amazing Pokémon. Single Strike Master and Rapid Strike Master, on January 22, 2021, brought Urshifu and the Isle of Armor, Silver Lance and Jet-Black Spirit, on April 23, 2021, brought Calyrex and the Crown Tundra, Skyscraping Perfection and Blue Sky Stream, on July 9, 2021, returned Dragon Pokémon to the game, and Fusion Arts on September 24, 2021 introduced the Fusion Strike style. Star Birth on January 14, 2022 introduced Pokémon VSTAR, Time Gazer and Space Juggler on April 8, 2022 covered the Hisui of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Lost Abyss on July 15, 2022 brought back the Lost Zone and Paradigm Trigger on October 21, 2022 closed the main run as Silver Tempest.

Enhanced Expansion Packs followed most blocks, from VMAX Rising on February 7, 2020 through Explosive Walker, Legendary Heartbeat, Peerless Fighters, Eevee Heroes on May 28, 2021, Battle Region, Dark Phantasma, the Pokémon GO collaboration of June 17, 2022 and Incandescent Arcana. Their cards were folded into the English main sets, which is why Eevee Heroes' Eeveelutions appear across Evolving Skies and Fusion Strike.

The high class packs are the era's collecting landmarks. Shiny Star V of November 20, 2020, 190 cards and 140 secret Shiny Pokémon, became Shining Fates. VMAX Climax of December 3, 2021 introduced Character Rare full arts of Pokémon with their Trainers and became the Trainer Galleries of Brilliant Stars through Silver Tempest. VSTAR Universe of December 2, 2022, 172 cards and 90 secret cards with a parallel foil set, became Crown Zenith. The 25th Anniversary Collection of October 22, 2021 marked 25 years since the game launched on October 20, 1996, alongside a Promo Card Pack of close replicas of popular cards from earlier eras. The set hubs below carry every card list, the live chase prices ranked by PSA 10 value and the editorial history of each release.

• Pokémon V, VMAX and VSTAR Sword and Shield opened the era with Pokémon V and VMAX on December 6, 2019, Fusion Arts added the Fusion Strike style and Star Birth introduced Pokémon VSTAR on January 14, 2022.
• Three high class packs Shiny Star V became Shining Fates, VMAX Climax's Character Rare full arts became the Trainer Galleries and VSTAR Universe became Crown Zenith, the three most collected releases of the era.
• Eevee Heroes The Enhanced Expansion Pack of May 28, 2021 focused on Eevee and its Evolutions, and its cards were split across the English Evolving Skies and Fusion Strike.
• Enhanced Expansion Packs Ten enhanced expansion packs, from VMAX Rising to Incandescent Arcana, added new prints after most main blocks, and the Pokémon GO collaboration of June 17, 2022 mixed hand drawn and photorealistic artwork.
• 25 years of the game The 25th Anniversary Collection of October 22, 2021 marked 25 years since the Japanese launch on October 20, 1996 and became Celebrations, with a Promo Card Pack of close replicas of classic cards alongside it.

Release timeline

1. S-P Promotional cards November 1, 2019 · 350 cards · S-P
2. Shield December 6, 2019 · 75 cards · S1H
3. Sword December 6, 2019 · 75 cards · S1W
4. VMAX Rising February 7, 2020 · 86 cards · S1a
5. Rebellion Crash March 6, 2020 · 115 cards · S2
6. Explosive Walker April 24, 2020 · 86 cards · S2a
7. Infinity Zone June 5, 2020 · 119 cards · S3
8. Legendary Heartbeat July 10, 2020 · 94 cards · S3a
9. Amazing Volt Tackle September 18, 2020 · 121 cards · S4
10. Shiny Star V November 20, 2020 · 330 cards · S4a
11. Rapid Strike Master January 22, 2021 · 91 cards · S5R
12. Single Strike Master January 22, 2021 · 91 cards · S5I
13. Matchless Fighters March 19, 2021 · 86 cards · S5a
14. Jet-Black Spirit April 23, 2021 · 95 cards · S6K
15. Silver Lance April 23, 2021 · 95 cards · S6H
16. Eevee Heroes May 28, 2021 · 101 cards · S6a
17. Blue Sky Stream July 9, 2021 · 90 cards · S7R
18. Towering Perfection July 9, 2021 · 90 cards · S7D
19. Fusion Arts September 24, 2021 · 129 cards · S8
20. 25th Anniversary Collection October 22, 2021 · 30 cards · S8a
21. Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition October 22, 2021 · 25 cards · S8a-P
22. VMAX Climax December 3, 2021 · 285 cards · S8b
23. Star Birth January 14, 2022 · 127 cards · S9
24. Battle Region February 25, 2022 · 93 cards · S9a
25. Space Juggler April 8, 2022 · 88 cards · S10P
26. Time Gazer April 8, 2022 · 88 cards · S10D
27. Dark Phantasma May 13, 2022 · 99 cards · S10a
28. Pokémon GO June 17, 2022 · 93 cards · S10b
29. Lost Abyss July 15, 2022 · 127 cards · S11
30. Incandescent Arcana September 2, 2022 · 94 cards · S11a
31. Paradigm Trigger October 21, 2022 · 125 cards · S12
32. VSTAR Universe December 2, 2022 · 262 cards · S12a

Top 10 cards

No card pricing is published yet.

Japanese Sword & Shield Pokémon TCG Sets FAQ

How many sets are in the Sword & Shield era?

There are 32 published Sword & Shield era sets in this hub.

When were the Sword & Shield era sets released?

The published Sword & Shield era sets were released from November 1, 2019 to December 2, 2022.

What are the top chase cards in the Sword & Shield era?

Tracked chase cards are not currently available for the Sword & Shield era.

How many sets are in the Japanese Sword & Shield era?

Thirty two: seventeen main expansions from Sword and Shield to Paradigm Trigger, ten enhanced expansion packs, the Shiny Star V, VMAX Climax and VSTAR Universe high class packs, the S-P Promotional cards and the Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition.

When did the Japanese Sword & Shield era start and end?

It began with the V Starter Sets on November 29, 2019, the Sword and Shield sets released on December 6, 2019 and VSTAR Universe closed the era on December 2, 2022, after which the Scarlet & Violet era began.

Which Japanese sets became Shining Fates, the Trainer Galleries and Crown Zenith?

Shiny Star V became Shining Fates, VMAX Climax supplied the Trainer Gallery subsets of Brilliant Stars, Astral Radiance, Lost Origin and Silver Tempest, and VSTAR Universe became Crown Zenith.

Which Japanese Sword & Shield era sets do collectors chase most?

Eevee Heroes, VSTAR Universe, Shiny Star V, VMAX Climax, Dark Phantasma and Paradigm Trigger lead the Japanese market. Each set hub ranks its own chase cards by live PSA 10 value.

Sources

• Bulbapedia: List of Japanese Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions, Sword & Shield Era
• Bulbapedia: Sword & Shield (TCG)
• Bulbapedia: VMAX Climax (TCG)
• Slabfolio set hubs for the Japanese Sword & Shield era