Pokémon Year In Review 2021

2021 marked Pokemon's 25th anniversary, and it went all out. This year was fantastic for the Pokemon TCG from start to finish. From a really cool new battle styles mechanic to the collector fan-favourites Celebrations and Shining Fates, there was something for everyone!  

The first expansion to launch was February's Shining Fates, a collector-focused release that featured many of the most popular Pokemon to appear in Sword & Shield. Especially cool was the Shiny Vault, a collection of cards that gave the "Shiny" to the expansions name and features dozens of fan-favourites in their alternate shiny colour schemes, like the purple Galarian Zigzagoon, pink Ducklett, and, of course, the bright blue Ditto (which got both a V and VMAX card!). A standout was also Eternatus V and VMAX, which had stark black and yellow art styles that set it apart from the rest of the expansion.

Our first premiere expansion of the year came with Sword & Shield: Battle Styles, and it introduced one of the biggest shakeups to the game seen in years. Many cards in Battle Styles were split between Single Strike – which prioritised big, direct damage – and Rapid Strike, which was more about messing with your opponents to slow them down. These styles became a running theme throughout the year and gave the game something new and fresh to build around. The inclusion of choice pulls like Rapid Strike and Single Strike Urshifu VMAX and an absolutely adorable sleepy Tyranitar V (which is still the best card of the year in my opinion).

Next, we head to Galar's Crown Tundra with Sword & Shield: Chilling Reign. While this built on the styles introduced in Battle Styles, it also featured a lot more Legendary Pokemon than normal to give it a bit of extra pizazz. The three Galarian legendary birds were fantastic (especially the embodiment of speed itself, Galarian Zapdos), but I also have a soft sport for Ice and Shadow Rider Calyrex, and the gigantic Tornadus VMAX found chilling in the centre of the tundra. This set may not have been tbe big mechanical shift of Battle Styles, but it had a style and flair I couldn't help but love.

The Eevee family are some of Pokemon's most-loved creatures, and they finally got the expansion they deserved with Sword & Shield: Evolving Skies. The set was predominantly focused on the grand return of Dragon Type cards to the game, but we also had a whole selection of cards based on Eevee and their older siblings. How can you not look at Leafeon VMAX playing with a hay bale, Glaceon VMAX making an ice skating rink for their pals, or Umbreon VMAX looking dramatic on a starry night and not just love this expansion? We also got another addition to the "Big Pokemon Being Cute And Hungry" lineup, with Duraludon V showing one tucking into a delicious looking curry.

Then came the big one, the expansion everyone had been waiting for: the 25th Anniversary set, Celebrations. This expansion did an incredible job of celebrating everything we love about the TCG by featuring reprints of old favourites like base set Charizard and Mewtwo EX alongside brand new, remixed versions of mechanics we haven't seen in years, like Light Toxtricity and Mimikyu delta species. Though the packs were smaller and only came in promo products, Celebrations felt special. Plus it gave us an actual Chonky Pikachu VMAX figurine, which is just the best thing ever released in the history of Pokemon. Reverent and refreshing at the same time, Celebrations was an absolute banger and by far the best thing released in 2021.

The final release of the year wasn't too far behind, though! Sword & Shield: Fusion Strike marked the conclusion of the battle styles introduced at the start of the year by adding a third style: Fusion Strike. The Fusion Strike style is all about synergy, with effects getting more powerful the more other fusion strike cards you have out in play. Not only did Fusion Strike introduce one of the best new mechanics of the year, it gave us some fantastic cards. Inteleon VMAX sniping from its tail-made-tower, Mew VMAX casually chucking a double-decker bus with its fine, a breakdancing Genesect V, and a sleep Espeon VMAX chilling on an idyllic rooftop were all fabulous. Oh, and we got the last of the "Hungry Big Pokemon" lineup, with Greedent V chowing down on a tree full of berries to finish off the theme started by Tyranitar V all the way back in Battle Styles.

2021 has been incredible for the Pokemon TCG – probably one of the best years it's ever had. New mechanics and strategies for the players, gorgeous choice pulls for the collectors, and a super impressive birthday set, what more could a Pokemon ask for? If your answer is "brand-new VSTAR Pokemon, maybe?", then you're just going to have to wait until Sword & Shield: Brilliant Stars, the first expansion of 2022!