Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Emerging Powers

The Legendary Pokémon Virizion (17/98) makes a forceful Pokémon TCG debut in the Black & White—Emerging Powers expansion. The Grass-type Pokémon comes on strong with Giga Drain, a 30-damage attack that heals Virizion for the same amount of damage it causes. This, in addition to its 100 HP, makes Virizion one tough Pokémon to Knock Out. Virizion also has the Sacred Sword attack, one it shares with both Cobalion and Terrakion. The attack does 100 damage, though Virizion can’t use the attack for two consecutive turns. It can, however, still use Giga Drain on its next turn, so it can heal up between big attacks. Plus, with a Retreat Cost of a mere one, it's not difficult to strategically swap out Virizion after using its Sacred Sword attack. Start planning your tactics now for what will surely be a popular Pokémon!

Looking for a way to put a chill on your opponent’s progress? Check out the menacing Beartic (30/98) in the Black & White—Emerging Powers expansion! This Stage 1 Pokémon knows how to freeze your opponent’s plans with its Sheer Cold attack. Not only does it do a decent 50 damage, but it also prevents the Defending Pokémon from attacking next turn—so your opponent must retreat or face another round of Beartic’s icy onslaught!

There’s also no escape from Beartic’s Icicle Crash attack, which delivers a bone-chilling 80 damage that isn’t affected by Resistance! Even Grass-type Pokémon won’t be able to deflect the impact of this direct hit. With two powerful attacks to choose from, Beartic is one Pokémon that is too cool to miss!

Whereas Virizion and Cobalion each favor a slightly more tactical approach to their attacks, Terrakion (63/98) is simply an all-out brute force. The 120 HP Pokémon features two punishing attacks: Boulder Crush, a straight-up 40-damage attack that will surely send the Defending Pokémon reeling; Terrakion can then follow up with its signature Sacred Sword attack, which hits for 100 damage. Sacred Sword can't be used the next turn, but if the Defending Pokémon has any HP left, a second Boulder Crush attack should be more than enough to knock it out! Add Terrakion to your next deck and get ready for some serious Knock-Out power!

Your opponent won’t know which way is up once the Legendary Pokémon Cobalion (77/98) starts moving in to attack! Like Terrakion and Virizion, Cobalion can deliver a swift 100 damage with its Sacred Sword attack, a stunning amount for a Basic Pokémon. But Cobalion’s most attention-grabbing move from a strategic standpoint is its Metal Horns attack. Metal Horns does 30 damage and also forces your opponent to switch the Defending Pokémon with one of his or her Benched Pokémon. By using Metal Horns over and over, you can continue to rough up your opponent’s entire Bench! Whether you go for a calculated assault with Metal Horns or a hard-hitting approach with Sacred Sword, Cobalion will be ready to deliver!

You have a new feathery friend in the Valiant Pokémon Braviary (88/98)! With talons ready to strike, the Colorless-type Braviary will make an instant impact on any deck in need of some extra attacking power. Braviary’s Wing Attack does 40 damage for 2 Colorless Energy. If your deck happens to include Double Colorless Energy (HeartGold & SoulSilver, 103/123), that could be 40 damage for just 1 Energy card!

Braviary shows its true colors with its Brave Bird attack. For 3 Colorless Energy, the attack does an impressive 90 damage, enough to put most Defending Pokémon in peril. The downside is that Braviary does 30 damage to itself, so be sure to keep your deck stocked with Potion (Black & White, 100/114) Trainer Item cards! No matter your approach, Braviary is ready to swoop in and help out your next deck!

Many decks are built to feature a single powerful Pokémon that does most of the attacking. It’s a pretty helpless feeling when you’re facing one of these decks and you see your team get picked off one after another by the same attacker. Fortunately, now you can quickly turn the tide of battle with the Pokémon Catcher (95/98) Trainer Item card. With this card, you can switch out your opponent’s Active Pokémon—and choose which of his or her Benched Pokémon will replace it! And unlike the similar Pokémon Reversal (HeartGold & SoulSilver, 90/123) Trainer card, your action won’t depend on a coin flip. Expect to see Pokémon Catcher a lot at your next League night and in Pokémon TCG tournaments everywhere!

Powerful energy crackles across the entire card face of the Legendary Pokémon Thundurus (97/98)! This mighty Pokémon can charge up your Lightning-type deck right away—the 110 HP Basic Thundurus packs a punch without needing much support. Lightning strikes the first time when Thundurus calls up a Lightning Energy from your deck with its Charge attack. Then, when the moment is right, you can unleash the Disaster Volt attack of this Legendary Pokémon for an electrifying 80 damage!

Thundurus must discard an Energy to use Disaster Volt, so keep a couple of Flower Shop Lady (HS—Undaunted, 74/91) Supporter cards in your deck to shuffle Energy cards from your discard pile back into your deck. Your opponent is in for quite a shock when you're hitting turn after turn with the Legendary Thundurus!

What's that sweeping across the entire card? Why, it's the imposing image of the Legendary Tornadus (98/98) in a stormy fury! You can find a home for this Pokémon in every deck, and there's no reason not to: it's a Basic Pokémon with 110 HP that requires only Colorless Energy to attack!

Like Thundurus, Tornadus's first attack sets up another, more powerful move. Use Energy Wheel to move an Energy from 1 of your Benched Pokémon to Tornadus. Then, when Tornadus has 3 Energy attached, sweep the Defending Pokémon away with the Hurricane attack for 80 damage! Tornadus must then move 1 of its attached Energy back to 1 of your Benched Pokémon, which can be a useful way to bounce Energy around your Bench.