The official Japanese Pokémon Card Game Blog has revealed a new energy card that will debut in the upcoming expansion sets Dragon Blast and Dragon Blade (リューズブラスト・リューノブレード). The card can be one of 5 different energy types which makes it a bit easier for player to be able to use moves that have a lot of different energy requirements.

Blend Energy (ブレンドエネルギー 草炎超悪)
Colorless Energy Type, 050/050 BW5, 015/015 SZD, Illustration: 5ban Graphics
このカードは、エネルギー1個ぶんとしてはたらく。ポケモンについているかぎり、の4つのタイプのエネルギー1個ぶんとしてはたらく。
This card provides energy. While attached to a Pokémon it provides 4 types of energy , but only 1 at a time.

Source: http://pcgn.pokemon-card.com/blog/2012/03/000199.html

During the commercial break of Thursday's episode of Pocket Monsters Best Wishes 70 - Fukiyose Gym! A Decisive Mid-Air Battle VS Furo!! (フキヨセジム！VSフウロ空中決戦！！), a new Pokémon Card Game commercial was shown that featured cards from the upcoming sets Dragon Blast and Dragon Blade (リューズブラスト・リューノブレード). The sets are part of the 5th Japanese BW TCG expansion and they will be released on March 16th, 2012. Images from the TCG commercial are available on the imageboard thread.


The official Japanese Pokémon Card Game site also updated with a new Rayquaza EX and Giratina EX Promo Cards Campaign where players can submit their bar codes from select packages in order to win 1 of 1000 promo combination packs that includes both cards. There is four ways to enter: Sazandora Deck 30 (サザンドラデッキ30) + two Dragon Blast (リューズブラスト) Boosters, Sazandora Deck 30 + a Dragon Selection (ドラゴンセレクション) Booster, Gablias Deck 30 (ガブリアスデッキ30) + two Dragon Blade (リューノブレード) Boosters or Gablias Deck 30 + a Dragon Selection Booster. The Sazandora Deck 30 (サザンドラデッキ30) and the Gablias Deck 30 (ガブリアスデッキ30) also go on sale March 16th, 2012 for 780 yen. The Rayquaza EX and Giratina EX Promo Cards Campaign ends May 7th, 2012 and all submissions must be postmarked before that date. Prizes will be shipped in late May of 2012.

Rayquaza EX and Giratina EX Promo Cards

Below is the revealed information about the Rayquaza EX and Giratina EX Promo Cards.

Rayquaza EX (レックウザEX)
Dragon Type, 170HP, Promo, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x 2
てんのさけび - 自分の山札を上から3枚トラッシュし、その中のエネルギーをすべて、このポケモンにつける。 ドラゴンバースト - このポケモンについている炎または雷の基本エネルギーをすべてトラッシュし、トラッシュしたエネルギーの枚数×60ダメージ。 60×
Sky Shout - Discard the top 3 cards from your deck. If any of the cards are Energy cards, attach them to this Pokémon. Dragon Burst - Discard either all Fire Energy or all Lightning Energy attached to this Pokémon. This attack does 60 damage times the number of Energy cards discarded. 60×

Giratina EX (ギラティナEX)
Dragon Type, 180HP, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x 2
ひきさく　- このワザのダメージは、相手のポケモンにかかっている効果の計算をしない。90 りゅうのはどう - 自分の山札を上から3枚トラッシュする。 130
Tear Up - This attack's damage isn't affected by any effects on the Defending Pokémon. 90 Discard the top 3 cards from your deck. 130

Source: http://www.pokemon-card.com/campaign/combination/

Various online toy and card sites have posted the initial release information for the next English Pokémon Black and White Trading Card Game expansion. Dark Explorers will be released on May 9th, 2012 and it will include more EX cards. Darkrai EX, Raikou EX, Tornadus EX and Groudon EX have all been confirmed to be in this set.

Press Release

What's out there in the darkness, waiting to be discovered Play the Pokemon Trading Card Game: Black and White - Dark Explorers expansion and find them all! In addition to more Pokemon-EX like Tornadus-EX, Raikou-EX, and Groudon-EX, the shadows are filled with other exceptional surprises, like Darkrai-EX and a host of Trainer cards that will knock your opponent's lights out! When you play Black & White - Dark Explorers, you'll not only explore the darkness, you'll rule it!

Source: http://www.toywiz.com

A press release has announced that the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo will be distributed via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service for a limited time starting February 12th, 2012. Further details about the Mewtwo event were not disclosed but its likely to be the same Mewtwo that was announced by Shoko-tan and Junichi Masuda on Pokémon Smash 49 and Pokémon Smash 50 last year.

The Mewtwo event distribution is part of a number of different Mewtwo related events that will take place during February. Mewtwo returns in the next Pokémon TCG expansion: Black & White - Next Destinies with the Mewtwo-EX card. The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon anime special is also available on the official site right now to watch. Below is the press release.

Press Release

POWERFUL MEWTWO MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN FOR A SPECIAL CHARACTER DISTRIBUTION EVENT AND AS MEWTWO-EX TCG CARD

Fans Can Celebrate the Return of One of the Most Popular Legendary Pokémon With a Special Online Showing of The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon

BELLEVUE, WA - January 25th, 2012 - Pokémon™ fans can get into the heads of their opponents when the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo returns with its psychic powers in a special Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video game character distribution event via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service. For a limited time starting February 12th, Pokémon video game players with wireless broadband Internet access can receive what is arguably one of the most powerful and popular Pokémon of all time!

Mewtwo, a historically elusive Psychic-type Pokémon, has had a deep connection with fans since its debut in the franchise's first video games - Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version. Its prominent appearance in these titles, as well as in the first Pokémon TCG expansion and the first Pokémon movie, has cemented its special position in the hearts and minds of Pokémon fans across the globe. Created by cloning the Mythical Pokémon Mew, Mewtwo's origin has always been shrouded in mystery. The secrecy continues, as more details surrounding this special Mewtwo character distribution, including its powerful move set, will be revealed early next month.

Pokémon TCG players can also celebrate the awesome powers of Mewtwo when Mewtwo-EX makes its debut in the newest Pokémon TCG expansion, Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Next Destinies! In stores nationwide February 8th, Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Next Destinies features powerful Pokémon from the Unova region and beyond, including Reshiram-EX, Zekrom-EX, Kyurem-EX, Regigigas-EX, and, as already mentioned, Mewtwo-EX, which is a 170 HP powerhouse that knows X Ball and Psydrive - two devastating attacks that inflict serious damage on the Pokémon's opponent.

Receiving Mewtwo for your Pokémon Black Version or Pokémon White Version video game and obtaining the Mewtwo-EX card is only part of this Legendary Pokémon's monumental return. For a limited time only, fans can also watch Mewtwo's appearance in a special showing of The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, only at www.pokemon.com/ex. The story centers on a Pokémon scientist's ability to restore extinct Pokémon using the Mirage System machine. Add in a stranger's claim that this machine can create Pokémon without weaknesses, and imagine the challenges Ash and his friends must face to preserve the natural balance of the Pokémon world. Visit www.pokemon.com/ex now to watch the movie! To participate in the Mewtwo character distribution event beginning February 12th via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service, players will need:

• Wireless broadband Internet access
• A Nintendo DS™, Nintendo DSi™, Nintendo DSi XL™, or Nintendo 3DS™ system
• A copy of the Pokémon Black Version or Pokémon White Version game
• No more than 11 Wonder Cards in their possession

UK Press Release

Nintendo UK posted their press release which was identical to the one above on January 26th, 2012 but it also included pictures of the moves that the Mewtwo would be distributed with. The Mewtwo is identical to the one given out in Japan in 2011. It's level 70, in a Cherish Ball, has the King's Rock as a held item and knows the moves: Psystrike, Shadow Ball, Aura Sphere and Electro Ball.


Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/ex/mewtwo/get-mewtwo

A press conference for the upcoming game Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition (ポケモン＋ノブナガの野望) was held on January 19th, 2012. The press conference was streamed live and it aired a new trailer for the game. Tsunekazu Ishihara (石原恒和), the president of the Pokémon Company along with Yoichi Erikawa (襟川陽一), the co-founder of Koei and Hisashi Koinuma (鯉沼久史), the producer of the game where on-hand to do a brief interview about why the two companies decided to collaborate to make this game.

The trailer that aired during the press conference shows gameplay from the game and it also confirmed that you can create shortcuts in battle with your Pokémon and Pokémon can also evolve. There are over 200 Pokémon available in the game, so not all of the Pokémon will make an appearance. Work on the game actually started about three years ago and the main game will take approximately 20 hours to complete. The end of the trailer also confirms that the game will come with a Rayquaza TCG card. Below is the new trailer and information on the TCG card.

Rayquaza (レックウザ)
Dragon Type, 120HP, Illustration: 5Ban Graphics, Promo 144/BW-P, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x 2
りゅうのはどう -　自分の山札を上から2枚トラッシュする。 40 ひきさく　-　このワザのダメージは、相手のバトルポケモンにかかっている効果の計算をしない。 90
Dragon Pulse - Discard the top 2 cards from your deck. 40 Tear Up - This attack's damage isn't affected by any effects on the Defending Pokémon. 90

Source: http://www.pokemon-card.com/campaign/ranse/

The official Pokémon website has revealed two new cards for the upcoming Black & White Next Destinies: Shaymin-EX and Lucario. The set will be released in North America on February 8th, 2012. The cards have been added to our TCG database.

Shaymin-EX

Whether you're looking for early support for your Grass deck or a late boost against a tough opponent, Shaymin-EX (5/99) is the perfect choice. Shaymin-EX's Synthesis attack lets you search your deck for a Grass-type Energy and attach it directly to one of your Pokémon, accelerating your set-up time considerably. Plus, with a 1-Energy retreat cost, it can get out of the way quickly once you've prepped another attacker. Then, if your opponent starts to pull ahead later in the match, bring Shaymin-EX back up to hit with Revenge Blast, an attack that does 30 damage, plus 30 more for each Prize card your opponent has taken. This is really helpful if you're playing with other Pokémon EX cards in your deck, since when they get knocked out your opponent draws 2 Prize cards. Shaymin-EX can help you turn the tables on your opponent's good fortune and put you in the lead for good!

Lucario

Pokémon EX aren’t the only powerful Pokémon in the Black & White—Next Destinies expansion. Check out Lucario (64/99), a Stage 1 Fighting-type Pokémon that’s ready to leap into battle. When Lucario is your Active Pokémon and takes damage from an attack, it’s your opponent who will feel the pain—Lucario’s Reflexive Retaliation Ability puts 2 damage counters on the defending Pokémon. Lucario can also strike hard, and for little Energy, with its Aura Sphere attack. For 2 Fighting Energy, Aura Sphere does 50 damage to the Defending Pokémon, plus 20 more to a Benched Pokémon! On offense and defense, Lucario is ready to make a major impact in your next Pokémon TCG game.

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/trading-cards/bw_series/bw4/

The official Japanese Pokémon Trading Card Game sites have revealed the first three Dragon type cards, some of them from the upcoming Dragon Selection (ドラゴンセレクション) set. The set which will be released in Japan on January 27th, 2012 will feature holographic Dragon Pokémon cards and it will introduce the 'Dragon Type' (ドラゴンタイプ) and Dragon Energy. The new set will only have 20 cards. Below are the three revealed cards and their information.

Rayquaza (レックウザ)
Dragon Type, 120HP, Illustration: 5Ban Graphics, DS 011/020, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x 2
りゅうのはどう -　自分の山札を上から2枚トラッシュ。 40 ひきさく　-　このワザのダメージは、相手のバトルポケモンにかかっている効果の計算をしない。 90
Dragon Pulse - Discard the top 2 cards from your deck. 40 Tear Up - This attack's damage isn't affected by any effects on the Defending Pokémon. 90

Bohmander (ボーマンダ)
Dragon Type, 140HP, DS 008/020, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x 2
ごうまんなかぜ -　相手は相手自身の手札が4枚になるまで、手札をトラッシュする。　この特性は、自分の番に１回使える。 ひきさく - このワザのダメージは、相手のバトルポケモンにかかっている効果の計算をしない。 90
Overbearing Wind - Your opponent discards cards from his or her hand until he or she has 4 in their hand. You can only use this ability 1 time during your turn. Tear Up - This attack's damage isn't affected by any effects on the Defending Pokémon. 90

Ononokus (オノノクス)
Dragon Type, 140HP, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x 2
アーマープレス　-　次の相手の番、このポケモンが受けるワザのダメージは「-20」される。 40 ダブルチョップ　- 　コインを２回投げ、オモテの数x90ダメージ。 90x
Armor Press - During your opponent's next turn, any damage done to this Pokémon is reduced by 20. 40 Dual Chop - Flip 2 coins. This attack does 90 damage times the number of heads. 90x

Source: http://www.pokemon-card.com/

Information about the 5th Black and White Japanese Pokémon Trading Card Game set has been announced. The set will be split into two separate sets: Dragon Blade and Dragon Blast which will be released on March 16th, 2012 in Japan. The set will contain over 50 cards including Dragon type EX cards.


In addition, two new 30-card battle strength decks focused around Gablias and Sazandora will be released the same day, while a new starter pack, the "Starter Set National Zukan Version" will be released April 20th, along with an unnamed battle strength deck centered around the main Pokémon from the 15th movie.


Sources: http://www.amiami.jp and http://www.presepe.jp

Information about the 5th Black and White Japanese Pokémon Trading Card Game set has been announced. The set will be split into two separate sets: Dragon Blade and Dragon Blast which will be released on March 16th, 2012 in Japan. The set will contain over 50 cards including Dragon type EX cards.

In addition, two new 30-card battle strength decks focused around Gablias and Sazandora will be released the same day, while a new starter pack, the "Starter Set National Zukan Version" will be released April 20th, along with an unnamed battle strength deck centered around the main Pokémon of the 2012 movie.

Sources: http://www.amiami.jp
http://www.presepe.jp

Amazon Japan has posted the box art for the upcoming Japanese Pokémon Trading Card set 'Dragon Selection' 「ドラゴンセレクション」. The box art shows the new Dragon Energy symbol that will be introduced into the TCG during this set. This confirms the earlier report that a new 'Dragon Type' would be introduced. (全部キラカード！ドラゴンタイプ新登場!!). The Dragon Selection set will be released in Japan on January 27th, 2012.

The official Japanese Pokémon Trading Card blog has also revealed the Raikou EX (025/069) card from the upcoming Dark Rush (ダークラッシュ). Raikou-EX has 170HP and knows the moves Thunder Fang (かみなりのキバ) and Voltage Arrow (ボルテージアロー). The Dark Rush set will be released in Japan on December 16th, 2011.


Sources: http://pcgn.pokemon-card.com/blog/