Sword & Shield

Since: 15 November 2019

The Sword & Shield series brought the eighth generation of Pokémon to the card game and took players to the Galar region, with the legendary wolves Zacian and Zamazenta serving as defining figures. The series introduced the Pokémon V and VMAX mechanics — powerful cards featuring full-art illustrations and significantly increased HP — which were later complemented by the VSTAR mechanic, where each VSTAR can use its special ability exactly once per game. What distinguishes Sword & Shield as a collecting era is the alternate art cards that reached their definitive form during this period: carefully designed printings that make the difference between a set you play and a set you keep.