Hi there. In this Pokemon TCG post I cover the first look of the Pokemon Japan cards for Black Bolt and White Flare sets. These two sets feature all 156 Unova region Pokemon. The timing makes sense as the Pokemon Legends Z-A video game is coming later in 2025.
Note that this a big post. Big as in length and this news is pretty big for Pokemon TCG card players and collectors.
Card Sets Information
Instead of me typing I put screenshots from Pokebeach website. There is information of new packs, new holographic cards patterns and a Victini illustration rare.
Destined Rivals looks to be mega in late May 2025. However this special set in July 2025 looks to be even bigger. I would not think the Pokemon card people would even top the Team Rocket set and Destined Rivals.
Some Illustration Rares
This Unova special set is pretty special. All 156 Unova Pokemon have an illustration rare version or Special Illustration rare. (This is going to hurt the wallets of mega collectors.)
Snivy, Servine, Serperior ex Illustration Rares
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Tepig, Pignite, Emboar Illustration Rares
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Oshawott, Dewott, Samurott Illustration Rares
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Card Translations
Snivy & Servine
Snivy and Servine are attackers that are not too crazy. You need these two in order to work up to Serperior ex.
Serperior ex
Serperior ex is the final evolution of Snivy. This Stage 2 Pokemon has 320 HP, two retreat cost, Fire weakness, one ability and one attack.
The Royal Cheer ability lets your Pokemon deal 20 more damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon. This ability is not limited to just Grass types. In theory you could have a Serperior ex in play as a damage booster and play other Energy types.
Its Grass Order attack is costly at one Grass and 3 Colourless Energy. It does 150 damage with a powerful card search effect. You may search your deck for up to 3 cards and put them into your hand (no need to reveal). Then shuffle your deck.
As an attacker I don't think Serperior ex is that great. The energy cost is too high. Searching for 3 cards is very good but you are vulnerable to hand disruption on your opponent's next turn with Iono.
Victini
This Victini is a 80 HP Basic Fire Pokemon with 1 retreat cost and Water weakness. The V Force attack requires 2 Fire energy for its attack cost. The V Force attack only works if you have 5 Benched Pokemon or more to deal 120 damage. If you have less than 5 Benched Pokemon then this attack does nothing.
I don't think Victini is very good. You cannot use Buddy Buddy Poffin to get it out as Victini is more than 70 HP. The attack requirements is too much.
Tepig + Pignite
Tepig and Pignite are needed in order to work up to Emboar. The Pignite is okay I guess with the one Fire Energy Combustion attack for 30 damage.
Emboar
Emboar is the final evolution of Tepig. This Fire Pokemon has 180 HP with 4 retreat cost, Water weakness, one bad attack and a useful ability. The attack is bad as the energy requirement is too high to deal 120 damage.
The Inferno Fandango is a good Fire Energy acceleration ability. As often as you like during your turn you may attach a Fire Energy from your hand to 1 of your Pokemon.
In the Journey Together international format we do have Baxcalibur available with a similar ability to Emboar.
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The problem is that Baxcalibur is not popular anymore with the absence of Irida.
Emboar could be good but it depends on other supporting cards in the format upon release.
Oshawott + Dewott
Oshawott and Dewott are Water Pokemon needed for Samurott. Dewott's Energy Shell attack is okay as you can do 30 damage for 1 Water Energy at the minimum.
Samurott
Samurott is the final evolution of Oshawott. This Stage 2 Water Pokemon has 160 HP, 2 retreat cost, lightning weakness, one okay attack and a ability.
The Energy Slash attack requires 1 Water energy to deal 30 base damage. It does 50 more damage for each Energy attached to it.
Samurott's Strong Currents ability is tamed version of Prime Catcher. Once during your turn you may switch your Active Pokemon with 1 of your Benched Pokemon. If you do then your opponent switches 1 of their Active Pokemon with 1 of their Benched Pokemon. With Prime Catcher you choose both targets while with this ability, the opponent chooses what to switch in.
I want to like Samurott but it does seem like an underpowered attacker with an okay ability.
Reshiram ex
Here is Reshiram ex. This Big Basic Fire Pokemon ex has 230 HP, two retreat cost, Water weakness and just 2 attacks.
Slash is its first attack. It is a generic attack that does 50 damage for 2 Colourless Energy.
The Blaze Burst attack is a strong attack in the late game. For 2 Fire Energy and 1 Colourless Energy it does 130 base damage. Blaze Burst does 50 more damage for each Prize Card your opponent has taken. Then discard an Energy from this Pokemon.
If your opponent has taken 3 Prize cards out of 6 then Blaze Burst does 280 damage (130 + 50 x 3 = 130 + 150). Hitting for 280 damage is pretty good in a lot of cases. If the opponent has taken 4 Prize cards out of 6 then Blaze Burst deals 330 damage which one hits almost anything out there.
When the opponent has taken 5 Prize cards in the late game then Blaze Burst deals 380 damage (130 + 250). Not many Pokemon can survive 380 damage unless there is something like a Hero's Cape ACE SPEC tool card.
Powering up Reshiram's Blaze Burst attack could take time. Cards like Mela, Counter Gain and/or Crispin can theoretically power up Reshiram ex from zero Energy to meeting the attack costs for Blaze Burst.
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Zekrom ex
Zekrom ex is very similar to Reshiram ex. The Slash attack is the same at 2 Colourless Energy for 50 damage.
The Voltage Burst is similar to Reshiram ex's Blaze Burst attack. For 2 Lightning Energy and 1 Colourless Energy it does 130 damage plus 50 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken. Then Zekrom ex deals 30 damage to itself.
Kyurem ex
Kyurem ex is a Water legendary Pokemon in the Unova region. The Slash attack is the same as Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex.
Blizzard Burst is Kyurem ex's second attack. For 2 Water Energy plus 1 Colourless Energy it does 130 damage plus 10 damage to each of your opponent's Benched Pokemon for each Prize card your opponent has taken. Unlike Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex, this second attack is more of a damage spread attack. It appears to be weaker than Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex.
In theory you can get multi knockouts from Blizzard Burst. I think it is difficult to do this in practice. Let's see what happens in terms of future releases and decklists.