Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield had a long run with Crown Zenith wrapping up the series with some of the best cards of the era. This series introduced V, VMAX, and VSTAR cards with a heavy focus on cards surrounding these types of cards, which will be retired at the end of Crown Zenith and no longer be produced. This is the best time to purchase some Sword and Shield cards before Scarlet and Violet take off.
The expansion highlights some of the most iconic Pokémon in the Sword & Shield games, as well as Legends: Arceus. Pokémon Legends: Arceus alone has some of the best secret rare cards entering this set, including the Origin Formes for Palkia and Dialga. Both Arceus and Giratina also receive some truly fascinating secret rare variants as well.
10 Entei V
The legendary powerful legendary Pokémon trio from the Johto games received wonderful new cards for Crown Zenith. However, Entei's stands above the others as the best. This card depicts the legendary fire beast roaring as a volcano erupts nearby.
Entei's ability allows the player to draw an additional card when it's used, though the Pokémon must be in the active position. Entei's attack requires two energy, with one of them being fire, and deals 20 damage with an additional 20 damage for every Pokémon the player has on their bench. This means that Entei can deal a total of 120 damage. Its attack is less impressive than others, but it is a gorgeous card, and it doesn't require too much energy to use its attack.
9 Radiant Charizard
The new Radiant Charizard card is ideal for any Charizard collector of one of the best Fire-type Pokémon ever. The card is selling rather cheaply, with many players finding the card highly produced, and it seems to already be easier to obtain than the Pokémon GO Radiant Charizard.
This card has gorgeous artwork of Charizard flying in icy mountains. It possesses an ability called Exited Heart, which makes Charizard's attack cost one less energy for every prize card the opponent has taken. Charizard's single attack, Combustion Blast, is incredibly powerful and deals 250 damage. However, this attack cannot be used the following turn after it's used due to needing a recharge. It also requires 5 energy to use, but Charizard's ability will make things far easier for the player.
8 Zacian V
Zacian V depicts one of the best box-art Legendary Pokémon and is one of the most essential cards to get in Crown Zenith due to its sheer beauty. The card features artwork from depictions of the Pokémon in the Sword and Shield games. While Zacian V is a Psychic-type Pokémon, it doesn't require any psychic energy to use for its attacks. However, it still works excellently in psychic-focused decks due to its attack's effect and ability, Roar of the Sword.
Roar of the Sword allows the player to search their deck for a single Psychic-type energy card and attach it to one of their Pokémon. However, the player's turn ends as soon as they use this ability. Zacian V's attack requires three energies and deals 60 damage plus an additional 30 for every psychic energy attached to it.
7 Zamazenta V
Zamazenta is one of the strongest Galar legendary Pokémon and this V card possesses a similar artwork inspiration as Zacian V. This gorgeous card features Zamazenta standing in a color-splattered forest that makes it seem to both pop and blend in simultaneously.
This card's ability, Regal Stance, allows the player to discard their hand and draw five cards. Whenever this ability is used, the player must instantly end their turn, so it should only be used in dire situations or if a Pokémon cannot attack that turn. Zamazenta's attack, Revenge Blast, deals 120 damage plus an additional 30 damage for every prize card the opponent has taken so far. To use Revenge Blast, players need to have three energies attached to it, with at least one of them being Steel-type.
6 Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR
Hisuian Zoroark has one of the best Hisuian forms in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and its VSTAR card is one that players and collectors can spend minutes staring at due to how gorgeous its coloring and design are. The black and gold designs flowing throughout the artwork mixes well with the borders of the VSTAR card and fit Zoroark well.
Hisuian Zoroark's attack is perfect for players who like to move their Pokémon back onto their bench. It requires two energies to use and deals 50 damage times 50 more damage for every damage counter on the player's Pokémon. Zoroark also has a VSTAR Power ability called Phantom Star, which allows the player to discard their entire hand and draw seven more. This ability should be used when the player desperately needs it or has few cards in their hand.
5 Mewtwo VSTAR
Metwo VSTAR is an incredible card that shows Mewtwo battling Charizard in the same battle from one of the best Charizard cards in the Sword and Shield series that was released as a promo in the Ultra- Collection - Charizard.
This card's main attack, Psy Purge, deals 90 damage and requires two energies, with one of them needing to be a psychic type. However, this attack can deal 90 more damage for every psychic energy the player chooses to discard from Mewtwo. Metwo's VSTAR Power requires the same energies and deals 120 damage to all the opponent's V Pokémon that are on the playing field.
4 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR (Secret)
This artwork for Palkia is intense and contains some borderline religious illumination. The card is phenomenal and one of the most expensive in Crown Zenith depicting Palkia in its Origin Forme which debuted in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, one of the best RPGS for beginners.
Palkia has a single attack that requires two Water-type energies and deals 20 damage. However, it does 20 more damage for every Pokémon benched. This effect includes the opponent's Pokémon as well, which means Palkia can deal up to 220 damage -- impressive for only needing two Water-type energies. Palkia's VSTAR Power also has an ability that helps the player secure victory. This ability, Star Portal, allows the player to add three Water-type energy from their discard pile and attach them to their Pokémon any way they want. This can make Palkia's attack ready immediately.
3 Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR (Secret)
Dialga is similar to Palkia's card as it depicts Dialga, one of the best dual-type steel Pokémon, in its Origin Forme with a similar holy atmosphere contained in the card with artwork that makes the card feel like an old Renaissance painting. This card is truly overpowered.
Its first attack, Metal Blast, requires one energy and deals 40 damage plus an additional 40 damage for every Steel-type energy attached to it. Players will definitely want to attach as many as possible too for its second attack which also happens to be its VSTAR Power. This VSTAR Power is called Chronos and requires five energies to use, with at least four of them being Steel-type. It deals 220 damage and allows the player to take an additional turn while skipping a Pokémon check-up.
2 Arceus VSTAR (Secret)
Following alongside the same artwork and theme as Palkia and Dialga, Arceus, one of the best normal-type Pokémon of all time, receives an explosive holy aura in this epic card. It's truly one of the best cards Arceus has ever received, if not the best, as it floats in front of Mount Coronet.
Arceus's attack is called Trinity Nova and requires three energies. Keeping up with the number three, it also deals 300 base damage, which is wild for how little energy it needs. It also has an effect that allows the player to find three energies from their deck and attach it to any of their V Pokémon in any way they desire. Lastly, Arceus possesses a VSTAR Power called Starbirth that lets the player search their deck for up to two cards and place them in their hand.
1 Giratina VSTAR (Secret)
Giratina's secret rare has the same artist as Dialga, Palkia, and Arceus, who is Akira Egawa. Unlike its counterparts, Giratina feels like a dark and mystical Pokémon, which fits the strong Ghost-type Pokémon far better. Giratina feels like a dark and corrupted being conveyed through the artwork. The card's effects coincide with the Lost Zone, which had been added back to Pokémon TCG with the release of Lost Origin in the fall of 2022. Giratina's first attack, Lost Impact, forces the player to put two energy from the Pokémon into the Lost Zone after attacking.
Lost Impact requires three energies with one needing to be psychic and another grass. The attack itself deals 280 damage. While discarding cards to the Lost Zone may seem like a bad thing, it isn't, especially when taking Giratina's VSTAR Power into . Giratina's VSTAR Power, Star Requiem, is ideal to deal with any powerful opponent as it instantly knocks out the opponent's active Pokémon if the Pokémon TCG player has 10 or more cards in the Lost Zone. This is an amazing power well-suited for one of the best Dragon-type Pokémon.