Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield - Shining Fates
Released on February 19, 2021, Pokémon TCG: Shining Fates is a special Sword & Shield Series expansion heavily focused on collectors, featuring over 100 Shiny Pokémon and more than 30 Pokémon V/VMAX. Its marquee card is the Shiny Charizard VMAX (#SV107), with the set largely based on Japan's Shiny Star V subset, often sold in branded, special-set products.
Key Features and Highlights
- The Shiny Vault: The set includes a 122-card "Shiny Vault" subset (labeled with "SV" prefix).
- Chase Cards: The top chase card is the Shiny Charizard VMAX (Rainbow), followed by Shiny Pokémon VMAX like Grimmsnarl and Ditto.
- Structure: It contains over 190 cards total (73 in the main set + 122 in the Shiny Vault).
- "Baby" Shinies: The set features many non-V/VMAX shiny Pokémon, commonly referred to as "baby shinies".
Products and Availability
- No Booster Boxes: As a special set, Shining Fates was not sold in standard 36-pack booster boxes.
- Specialized Products: Items included Elite Trainer Boxes, Pikachu V Collections, and various tins.
- Release Timing: The set was highly popular due to its 25th-anniversary-adjacent release during peak pandemic-era demand.
Notable Cards
- Shiny Charizard VMAX (#SV107): The most valuable and sought-after card.
- Shiny Suicune & Lapras: Highly regarded "baby shiny" cards.
- Full Art Skyla: Popular trainer card.
- Amazing Rares: Includes Yveltal, Reshiram, and Kyogre.
Shining Fates is known for its high-value, aesthetically pleasing shiny cards and was designed to be a "holiday" type set, similar to its predecessor, Hidden Fates.
