The new expansion for The Pokémon Trading Card Game, titled Lost Origin, was released on Sept. 9. This new expansion sees the return of the Lost Zone, an area far more dangerous than the discard pile, and plenty of cards to it. Many epic cards appear, including Giratina and Radiant Gardevoir, as well as more Hisuian region cards.
One of the previously released expansions of 2022 was Astral Radiance, which debuted in May. This expansion features the beginning of the Hisuian region cards and more Radiant Pokémon such as Heatran and Greninja.
Miltank
Miltank may not initially appear as all that intimidating of a card due to the base damage it deals of 10. Though it does get an additional 20 damage for every benched Pokémon the opponent has.
However, the danger lies in Miltank's ability, not in its attack. Its ability negates all damage done to it from any Pokémon V. Having multiple Miltank cards in a player's deck can be a good strategy against players who overly rely on V cards. And while Miltank doesn't do too much damage, equipping cards that increase its attack can make it a force to be reckoned with.
Roxanne
Roxanne can be a vital card to use about halfway through the game. This card can only be used when the opponent has three or fewer prize cards remaining. Both players then shuffle their cards into their decks, the player who played the card draws six and the opponent draws two.
Whether the players are tied with prize cards, at a disadvantage, or advantage this card alone can turn the tide. Getting a brand-new hand and giving the opponent fewer options makes this card one of the best in the Astral Radiance expansion.
Radiant Greninja
Radiant Greninja features the beautiful art of shiny Greninja. This card is not overly rare, but it's still one of the most sought-after cards in the game due to Greninja's standing as one of the most popular Pokémon.
Many Pokémon often have powerful attacks where the player has to discard energy in order to use it and Greninja is no different. However, Greninja's techniques have more pros than cons as its attack can do 90 damage to not just one but two Pokémon. It also features an additional ability to draw two extra cards, however, it requires the player to discard one energy card from their hand.
Origin Forme Palkia V (Alternate Art)
This version of Palkia is one of the more expensive cards in Astral Radiance and features the beautiful full art of Palkia. This card can be helpful for players who use stadium cards as Palkia's first attack allows the player to take one stadium card from their deck into their hand.
It also possesses a second attack that deals a total of 200 damage. In addition to this, the opposing player's Pokémon cannot attack their next turn. This attack can be used as many times as the player wants, making it a dangerous card to go up against.
Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR
While a Pokémon's VSTAR ability can only be used once per game, it's generally overwhelmingly beneficial. Palkia's is one of the best abilities in the Pokémon TCG and allows the player to attach up to three water energy cards to any of their Pokémon. Whether they're on the bench or on the field.
This can be given straight to Palkia itself, making the card ready to deal a great deal of damage immediately with its attack. Its attack allows it to deal 20 damage for each Pokémon on both players' benches and an additional 60. So if each player has their benches full, Palkia can do a total of 260 damage.
Machamp V (Alternate Art)
Machamp V is the most expensive card from the Astral Radiance expansion (per TCG Player). This card is going to be used far less gameplay-wise and will be kept more for those who wish to collect rare cards for their collections or to sell them.
Machamp V can be beneficial in battle, however, by dealing a guaranteed 140 damage with his second attack. His first attack has a base damage of 50 but can do 100 if any of the player's benched Pokémon has a damage counter on it.
Garchomp V (Cynthia)
Cynthia has been one of the most popular the most iconic Pokémon from Generation IV.
Its first attack deals a total of 120 damage with its Dragon Claw. The second attack deals 220 damage, but the player must discard three energy cards from the Pokémon. While this seems worth it in some cases thanks to the high attack power, it has an additional boon that allows the attack to damage even one of the opponent's benched Pokémon.
Hisuian Typhlosion VSTAR
One of the top Hisuian forms from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Typhlosion possesses a dangerous VSTAR ability that allows the player to plan out which of their opponent's Pokémon they want to go. The opposing Pokémon needs to have exactly four damage counters on it, no more, and no less.
Thankfully, Typhlosion's attack makes this a little easier. First, the card already deals a total of 180 damage, but the effect that follows allows the player to place three damage counters in any way the player desires. Meaning a player could place two damage counters on one Pokémon and one on another. Then on their next turn, they could place two more on that first Pokémon preparing them for elimination from Typhlosion's VSTAR ability.
Temple of Sinnoh
The Temple of Sinnoh is a card that is best used in tandem with special energy cards. The type of special energy doesn't really matter as the Temple of Sinnoh gets rid of the ability and makes all special energy cards colorless energy.
Thanks to colorless energy supplying any sort of energy for an attack, players with various special energy cards will find this stadium card incredibly helpful. This card can also be retrieved more quickly with Palkia V's first attack that allows players to take one stadium deck from their deck to their hand.
Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR
Dialga's Metal Blast begins relatively weak with a base damage of 40. However, it quickly gains more and more power with the more steel energy cards attached to this. Players will want to do this for a second reason as well, which is to use Dialga's VSTAR ability.
Its ability allows Dialga to first deal 220 damage and then the player takes an entire extra turn. By this point, the player's Dialga will be able to deal at least 200 damage thanks to all the steel energy on it. With Dialga's strength and ability, it seems unlikely for any player to lose with this strategy.
