New Pokémon tins were released for the Lost Origin expansion on Oct. 14 focusing on Giratina V, Gallade V, and Rotom V. If players were lucky enough to secure a VMAX of these cards, these tins should help them secure their decks even further.
Meanwhile, the game's Sword & Shield series will be wrapping up soon, and players got a ton of outstanding new cards from the series' expansions during its long run. One of those was the Battle Styles expansion, which focused on Rapid Strike cards and Single Strike cards. These cards are used together to create impressive decks that can overwhelm any opponent.
Corviknight V (Full Art)
Corviknight V alongside its VMAX evolution are excellent steel-type Pokémon to have in a steel-based deck. This Corviknight possesses two rather impressive attacks that help build Corviknight up well. Its first attack only requires one steel energy and deals 30 damage.
In addition to this, the attack keeps the opponent's Pokémon from retreating the next turn. This can leave the opposing Pokémon quite vulnerable to the next attack that deals 190 damage and requires three energies. The only downside of this attack is that it can't be used twice in a row, however, Corviknight can still use its first attack on its next turn.
Cheryl (Secret)
This secret rare card features Cheryl, a Pokémon trainer from one of the best Pokémon games, Diamond and Pearl. In this card she possesses a fantastic effect that allows the player to heal all damage from each of the player's evolved Pokémon. The player must then remove all energy cards from the Pokémon healed.
This is an incredibly useful card that can help players out of a tight bind, especially if they are using VMAX Pokémon. While discarding their energy may seem like a risk, many Rapid Strike and Single Strike cards have strong abilities and cards that will allow the player to quickly accumulate more energy cards again.
Corviknight VMAX (Secret)
Corviknight VMAX is the evolved card of Corviknight V and is a tremendously powerful card to have. It also possesses an ability that prevents all effects of the opponent's Pokémon's abilities done to this Pokémon.
Corviknight only has one attack, but it requires three energy again and is the stronger version of Corviknight's second attack. This attack deals an impressive 240 damage, though just like Corviknight V, this attack can only be used once every other turn. So players will need to be careful when using this attack, though 240 damage will take out most Pokémon easily enough.
Houndoom (Secret)
Houndoom, one of the best dog-like Pokémon, isn't a Pokémon that's talked about often enough and this secret rare version of Houndoom is one of the rarest and best cards from Battle Styles.
This card possesses a great ability that s Single Strike cards, it allows the player to search for a Single Strike Energy card and attach it to 1 of the player's Single Strike Pokémon. However, any Pokémon that receives this Single Strike Energy must have 2 damage counters placed on it. Houndoom also possesses one attack that deals 50 damage.
Empoleon V (Alternate Art)
This alternate artwork features one of the best final evolved water-type starter Pokémon, Empoleon. Empoleon stands upon a rock at a river training alongside several other Pokémon. This battle-ready Pokémon features an ability called Emperor's Eyes, a suited name for a Pokémon based on the emperor penguin, and as long as Empoleon is the player's active Pokémon it completely negates any of the player's basic Pokémon abilities (except for those that have a rule box).
Empoleon has a single attack that is both powerful and beneficial. It requires three energies and deals a total of 130 damage. After Empoleon attacks, the player must then remove one of the energies they have on Empoleon and place it on one of their benched Pokémon instead.
Single Strike Urshifu V (Alternate Art)
The Urshifu cards absolutely dominate when it comes to the Battle Styles expansion and any player who wants to base their deck around Single Strike or Rapid Strike cards needs Urshifu cards to have the best. This version of Urshifu is not only one of the best cards, but also one of the rarest.
It has two attacks with the first requiring one fighting energy that allows the player to search their deck for two fighting energy cards and attach it to this Pokémon. The second attack is where the damage begins and allows the Pokémon to deal 180 damage, though the attack cannot be used the next turn.
Rapid Strike Urshifu V (Alternate Art)
While this is also an Urshifu V card it is quite different from its Single Strike counterpart. What makes this card better than the Single Strike version isn't anything regarding its attacks or for a Rapid Strike deck but that it's a rarer card than the Single Strike one.
This card does possess two attacks as well with the first dealing 30 damage that allows the player to switch the Pokémon with one of their benched ones immediately after. Urshifu V's other attack has no effect, but it deals a total of 150 damage.
Tyranitar V (Alternate Art)
Tyranitar, who is without a doubt one of the best dual-type dark Pokémon, gets an amazing alternate art card from Battle Styles depicting it lazily sleeping after eating a large meal. This card is not only incredibly strong but also one of the rarest cards from Battle Styles (per TCGPlayer).
Each of its attacks also have meddlesome effects that tear apart both players' decks. The first one deals 60 damage and forces the opponent to discard the top two cards of their deck, and the second attack deals 240 damage but forces the player to discard the top four cards of their own deck.
Single Strike Urshifu VMAX (Alternate Art Secret)
The evolved VMAX versions of Urshifu are certainly the best cards from Battle Styles. Not only are they the best to have in a Single Strike or Rapid Strike deck, but the alternate artwork versions of the cards are very rare.
The Single Strike Urshifu possesses two attacks with the first called Beatdown which requires three colorless energies and deals 100 damage. The second attack, G-Max One Blow, requires three fighting-type energies and one colorless energy that deals a total of 270 damage. The player must remove every energy card from Urshifu after using G-Max One Blow, but the amount of damage it deals is worth the price.
Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX (Alternate Art Secret)
Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX's alternate art secret card is definitely the best card from Battle Styles. This epic artwork depicts Urshifu sitting cross-legged midair as water sprays around it.
The Pokémon possesses two attacks with the first requiring only one fighting-type energy that deals 30 damage normally, however, if the Pokémon was placed from the bench to the active spot during that turn the attack does 120 additional damage. The second attack is even more impressive, first, the player must remove all energy from the Pokémon then the player can choose two of the opponent's Pokémon and deal 120 damage to both of them.
