What are Radiant Pokémon cards

Introduction to Radiant Pokémon

Radiant Pokémon were an innovation introduced late in the Sword & Shield TCG era, first appearing in the Astral Radiance expansion set released in May 2022. These cards represent the 'shiny' versions of Pokémon and are distinguished by a special etched foil treatment that gives the entire card a textured, shimmering appearance.

Gameplay and Deckbuilding Rules

Mechanically, Radiant Pokémon are governed by a powerful deckbuilding restriction: a player may only include a single Radiant Pokémon card in their deck. This rule applies to all Radiant Pokémon, meaning you cannot have a Radiant Greninja and a Radiant Charizard in the same deck. This limitation makes choosing your one Radiant Pokémon a key strategic decision.

Power Level and Strategic Impact

To compensate for their strict deckbuilding limit, Radiant Pokémon have powerful, often game-changing, abilities or attacks. Cards like Radiant Greninja, with its 'Concealed Cards' ability, became staples in many competitive decks, demonstrating the high strategic value these cards possess. The mechanic adds a compelling layer of strategy and collectibility to the Pokémon TCG.

Connection to the Video Games

The introduction of Radiant cards celebrates the concept of Shiny Pokémon from the core series video games. By creating a special, powerful, and rare card type for these alternate-color Pokémon, the TCG bridges the gap between the video games and the card game, offering collectors an exciting new variant to chase.