The Master Deck Build Box EX (マスターデッキビルドBOX EX) was released in Japan on September 14th, 2012 for 4200yen. The box contains 140 cards chosen by top players. There are 51 different cards and the remaining cards are doubles. The box also includes a card case and a Master Deck Build Book. Below is the commercial for the deck build box.

Master Deck Build Box EX Commercial

Source: http://mdb.pokemon.co.jp/mdb/

The Pokémon TCG: Black & White Boundaries Crossed TCG expansion was released on November 7th, 2012. Pictures from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Press Release - Black & White Boundaries Crossed

POKÉMON TCG: BLACK & WHITE-BOUNDARIES CROSSED EXPANSION INTRODUCES ACE SPEC CARDS AND ALL-NEW POKÉMON-EX!

New Expansion Parallels the Upcoming - Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Video Games

Enter the next dimension of your journey into battle with the Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Boundaries Crossed expansion! This Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video game-themed expansion includes a powerful mix of new Pokémon-EX, such as the Boundary Pokémon Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX, along with Celebi-EX, Cresselia-EX, Landorus-EX, and Keldeo-EX; and features new forms, new Trainers, and new locations to enhance your deck!


Black & White-Boundaries Crossed also introduces four never-before-seen ACE SPEC cards that are so incredibly powerful, players can only carry one into battle! Some ACE SPEC cards found in the expansion have a unique game-mechanic that only works when attached to a specific Pokémon such as Black Kyurem-EX or White Kyurem-EX. ACE SPEC cards also feature a unique card face with a tinsel foil.


Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Boundaries Crossed expansion include:

• More than 140 cards in all
• Four powerful, never-before-seen ACE SPEC cards with unique game-mechanic and card design
• Six more Pokémon-EX cards and six full-art Pokémon-EX rare Ultra cards
• New Pokémon, new forms, new Trainers, and new locations that match the upcoming video games, Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2

Each new Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Boundaries Crossed theme deck and booster pack includes an in-pack code card that unlocks virtual cards for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Expand your personal deck and battle against others from around the world!

The next English Pokémon TCG expansion has been revealed. The set will be released in North American on November 7th, 2012 and will feature cards from the Japanese sets Cold Flare (コールドフレア) and Freeze Bolt (フリーズボルト).

Product Description

Step into the next dimension of your journey into battle using the might of the Boundary Pokémon ... both White Kyurem and Black Kyurem! Harness the powers of more Pokémon EX like Landorus, Cresselia, and Celebi, and Keldeo makes its debut in the Black and White - Boundaries Crossed expansion as both a Pokémon and a Pokémon EX, along with the never-before-seen, powerful ACE SPEC Trainer cards, which are so devastating that you can only carry one into battle! Cross over to sweep aside your opponents with one mighty push!

Source: http://www.toywiz.com/boundariescrossedbox.html

The 2012 Pokémon TCG and Video Game World Champions concluded on August 12th, 2012 and all the world champions for the year were crowned. It was announced at the end of the event that the 2013 Pokémon TCG and Video Game World Champions would take place in Vancouver, Canada, making it the first time that the event will be held outside of the United States. A special Flying Pikachu was also distributed at the World Championships and full details for that Pokémon have been added to our Event Database.

Press Release

Bellevue, WA - August 13th, 2012 - The 2011-2012 Play! Pokémon season came to a thrilling conclusion this weekend at the 2012 Pokémon World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Six battle-tested champions walked away as the world's best Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game players, rising above hundreds of other Pokémon players that came to the Big Island from more than 30 countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Representing their nations proudly in paradise, each player's journey began nearly a year ago, battling in events over the course of the Play! Pokémon season sanctioned by The Pokémon Company International. The hard work and dedication to their craft lead all players to Pokémon's premiere competitive event.

The 2012 Pokémon TCG and Video Game World Champions are:

• 2012 Pokémon TCG Junior Division World Champion, Shuto Itagaki from Japan.
• 2012 Pokémon Video Game Junior Division World Champion, Abram Burrows from the United States of America.
• 2012 Pokémon TCG Senior Division World Champion, Chase Moloney from Canada.
• 2012 Pokémon Video Game Senior Division World Champion, Toler Webb from the United States of America.
• 2012 Pokémon TCG Masters Division World Champion, Igor Costa from Portugal.
• 2012 Pokémon Video Game Masters Division World Champion, Ray Rizzo from the United States of America.

Winners of the invitation-only tournament earned the title of Pokémon World Champion, received a special Pikachu World Championships trophy, and earned collectively more than $100,000 in scholarships. Additionally, The Pokémon Company International will choose a select number of Pokémon World Championships video game finalists and their Pokémon teams to be distributed as a Pokémon Trainer avatar in the upcoming Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video games via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service. Players of the games, and who have wireless Internet access, will be able to battle these Pokémon World Championships finalists and their teams in the Pokémon World Tournament, a new battle arena featured in the games. Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 launch globally the week of October 7th. The Pokémon Company International will announce details of the distribution later this year.

"The Pokémon World Championships not only showcase some of the best Pokémon TCG and video game players from around the world, they also celebrate an international community that is unified by the fun, friendship, and mutual respect that the Pokémon spirit embodies," said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. "We are incredibly proud of all the players who competed this weekend and want to extend a big congratulations to the 2012 Pokémon World Champions who represented their nations proudly. "

Participating McDonalds restaurants in Japan will be distributing Pokémon Trading Cards as part of their Happy Meal. The campaign lasts for only two days from Saturday July 28th, 2012 until Sunday July 29th, 2012. Two cards will be distributed those days and those that purchase the Happy Meal will receive either a Meloetta Aria forme or a Meloetta Pirouette forme card.


Meloetta Aria forme knows the moves Sing and Psyburn while Meloetta Pirouette forme knows Slap and Acrobatics.

Source: http://www.pokemon-card.com/campaign/mcdonalds2012/

The United States 2012 Pokémon National Championships took place at the Indiana Convention Center on June 29th through July 1st, 2012. Over 2,000 Pokémon Trainers gathered at the Indiana Convention Center, making the 2012 US Pokémon National Championships the biggest Pokémon tournament ever held. The top eight Pokémon TCG players and top four Pokémon video game players in each division received invitations to the Pokémon World Championships in Hawaii in August.

Press Release

Bellevue, WA - July 2, 2012 - Three days of intense Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game competition at the 2012 Pokémon U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana culminated in the crowning of six U.S. National Champions and the formation of an elite group of finalists ready to battle against the world's best this August at the 2012 Pokémon World Championships in Hawaii. From a group of thousands, only 36 American Pokémon TCG and video game players will travel to the Big Island of Hawaii with one goal in mind, becoming a Pokémon World Champion.

As a special incentive for the Pokémon video game players advancing to Hawaii, The Pokémon Company International will choose a select number of top players and their Pokémon teams who are participating at the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Championships and distribute them via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service into the upcoming Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 [1] video games (launching in the U.S. October 7). Once distributed, players can battle these elite Pokémon World Championships participants and the Pokémon they trained in the Pokémon World Tournament, a new battle arena debuting in the Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 games. More information about the Pokémon World Tournament is coming soon, and the 2012 Pokémon Video Game World Champion player distribution details will be announced later this fall.

Below is a complete list of U.S. Pokémon TCG and video game finalists that earned invitations to the 2012 Pokémon World Championships taking place August 11-12 in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

MASTERS DIVISION - Born 1996 or Earlier

Pokémon Video Game Finalists
1st place - Wolfe Glick (16) - McLean, Virginia
2nd place - Joe Pulkowski (20) - Stockton, California
3rd place - Danny Zollner (24) - Edgewater Park, New Jersey
4th place - Manoj Sunny (16) - Des Plaines, Illinois

Pokémon Trading Card Game Finalists
1st place - John Roberts II (23) - St. Louis, Missouri
2nd place - Kevin Nance (22) - Trinity, North Carolina
3rd place - Jay Hornung (23) - Madrid, Iowa
4th place - Christopher Murray (23) - Woodbridge, VA
5th place - Ashon Haswell (22) - Fayetteville, North Carolina
6th place - Tom Dolezal (24) - Akron, Ohio
7th place - Breton Brander (19) - Colorado Springs, Colorado
8th place - Carl Scheu IV (17) - Middleburg Heights, Ohio

SENIOR DIVISION - Born 1997 to 2000

Pokémon Video Game Finalists
1st place - Aaron Zheng (14) - New York City, New York
2nd place - Jonathan Hiller (13) - Parkesburg, Pennsylvania
3rd place - Toler Webb (14) - Apex, North Carolina
4th place - Paul Chua (13) - Union, New Jersey

Pokémon Trading Card Game Finalists
1st place - Ty Wheeler (15) - Dayton, Ohio
2nd place - Jason Martinez (13) - Glendale, California
3rd place - Brandon Smiley (15) - Dallas, Texas
4th place - Sean Hipp (15) - Mesquite, Texas
5th place - Jeremy Gibson (13) - Morris Plains, New Jersey
6th place - Alan-Luc Nguyen (14) - Renton, Washington
7th place - Seth Hanslik (12) - Uhrichsville, Ohio
8th place - Kaitlin Young (15) - Greenwood, Indiana

JUNIOR DIVISION - Born 2001 or Later

Pokémon Video Game Finalists
1st place - Abram Burrows (11) - Santee, California
2nd place - Brian Hough (11) - Ann Arbor, Michigan
3rd place - Devon Roth (10) - New Hyde Park, New York
4th place - Gerardo Gonzalez (11) - Fremont, California

Pokémon Trading Card Game Finalists
1st place - Ian Robb (9) - Warwick, Rhode Island
2nd place - Jonathan Croxton (11) - Charlottesville, Virginia
3rd place - Daniel Sargent (11) - Roy, Utah
4th place - Natalia Routhier (11) - Coppell, Texas
5th place - Morgan Davies (11) - North Olmsted, Ohio
6th place - Michael Catron (11) - Frederick, Maryland
7th place - Shane Kittelson-Burke (10) - Monticello, Minnesota
8th place - Anthony Menchaca (10) - Frisco, Texas

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/news_op_nats12_day3_wrap-2012-07-01/

As previously revealed, the next Japanese Pokémon Card Game expansion set is called Freeze Bolt and Cold Flare (フリーズボルト コールドフレア). It will be released in Japan on July 13th, 2012 and will feature 59 cards including Black Kyurem and White Kyurem. Booster packs will sell for 158yen. The official Japanese TCG blog and official card game site have now revealed the Black Kyurem and White Kyurem cards. They are also featured in a commercial which aired during this weeks premiere of Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Season 2. Below is the commercial.

Freeze Bolt and Cold Flare Commercial

Black Kyurem EX and White Kyurem EX

White Kyurem EX (ホワイトキュレムEX)
Dragon Type, 180HP, 041/059 BW6, Illustration: Eske Yoshinob, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x2
ドラゴンストリーム - コインを一回投げオモテなら、自分のトラッシュにある基本エネルギーを一枚選び、このポケモンに付ける。 60 コールドフレア - このポケモンについている炎エネルギーを2個トラッシュし、相手のバトルポケモンをやけどにする。 150
Dragon Stream - Flip a coin. If heads, attach a Basic Energy card from the discard pile to this Pokémon. 60 Cold Flare - Discard 2 Energy cards attached to this Pokémon. The Defending Pokémon is now Burned. 150

Black Kyurem EX (ブラックキュレムEX)
Dragon Type, 180HP, 045/059 BW6, Illustration: Eske Yoshinob, Retreat Cost: , Weakness: x2
りゅうのキバ - コインを一回投げオモテなら、相手のバトルポケモンをマヒにする。 60 フリーズボルト - 次の自分の番、このポケモンはワザを使えない。 150
Dragon Fang - Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. 60 Freeze Bolt - This Pokémon can’t attack on your next turn. 150

A new trading card game mechanic called ACE SPEC that can be used on Black Kyurem and White Kyurem has been revealed. Cards that have ACE SPEC have special rules that allow players to boost Pokémon stats but players are limited to only one card that has an ACE SPEC mechanic in their deck. The Crystal Wall and Crystal Edge Trainer Pokémon Tool cards both feature this new mechanic. When Crystal Wall is attached to Black Kyurem EX, its maximum HP increased to 300. When Crystal Edge is attached to White Kyurem EX, the attack damage is increased by 50 for its moves.


Sources: http://ptcg.creatures.co.jp/card/13220 and http://www.pokemon-card.com/products/bw/bw6.html

Full details about the TCG and VG National Championships has been announced by the official Pokémon website. The U.S. National Championships will be held at the Indiana Convention Center (100 South Capitol Avenue, 46225-1071) in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Friday, June 29th, through Sunday, July 1st with preregistration taking place on Thursday, June 28th. The Canada National Championships will be held on Canada Day (July 1st, 2012) at the Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport in Toronto, Ontario. Below are the full details for the events.

United States TCG National Championships

The Pokémon National Championships are the penultimate event on your way to the Pokémon World Championships. Winners can earn invitations and Travel Awards to the Pokémon World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, as well as big points to top off their Championship Points!

To find out if you have earned enough Play! Points to participate in the 2012 Pokémon TCG U.S. National Championships, please log in to your Pokémon Trainer Club account, then visit the tournament details page.

Events at the Indiana Convention Center will begin on Friday, June 29th, at 9:00 A.M., with a variety of tournaments and league play going all day in addition to the U.S. National Championships.

The U.S. National Championships will take place on three consecutive days, with each day’s activities outlined below.

• Thursday, June 28th - Onsite preregistration for all players will take place 4:00 P.M.–6:00 P.M. outside of Exhibit Hall I
• Friday, June 29th - Open registration 8:00 A.M.–8:30 A.M. - We will complete approximately half of the total Swiss rounds, based on total attendance. Unregistered players not in line for final registration by 8:30 A.M. may not be entered into the tournament. All players must be in their assigned seats with completed deck lists by 9:30 A.M. for the start of the players’ meeting. Players not seated at this time risk being dropped from the tournament.
• Saturday, June 30th - Remaining Swiss rounds will be completed. Players not in their seats by 9:00 A.M. will receive a game loss for that round and be dropped from the event if they have not reported by the end of that round. Single Elimination Finals played down to Top 16
• Sunday, July 1st - Remaining single elimination rounds (Top 16) for all age groups. Players must be checked in and ready to play by 8:30 A.M., or they will forfeit their first game. Players not in their seats by 8:40 A.M. will forfeit their second game, and thereby, the match

United States VG National Championships

Players from across the United States will gather in Indianapolis for the 2012 U.S. National Championships this June. Pack your bags and join the best from across North America to compete for an invitation and Travel Award to the World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, this August!

Events at the Indiana Convention Center will begin on Friday, June 29th, at 9:00 A.M., with a variety of side tournaments and league play going all day in addition to the start of U.S. TCG National Championships. Video game competitors also have the option to preregister for the U.S. National Championships Friday evening from 4:00 P.M.–6:00 P.M. The U.S. Video Game National Championships will start the following day on Saturday, June 30th, and will conclude on Sunday, July 1st.

U.S. TCG National Championships Registration and Competition Times

• Friday, June 29th—Competitor Preregistration All Divisions: 4:00 P.M.–6:00 P.M.
• Saturday, June 30th—Competitor General Registration - Masters: 8:00 A.M.– 8:30 A.M. - Junior/Senior: 2:00 P.M.–2:30 P.M.
• Saturday, June 30th—Player Meeting - Masters: 9:00 A.M. - Junior/Senior: 3:00 P.M.

Players who wish to compete in a Pokémon VGC event, like the U.S. National Championships, must adhere to the Tournament Rules. When you show up at a Pokémon Video Game tournament, there are some things you must have with you. We’ve provided this handy checklist so that you can show up to the event prepared!

• A copy of Pokémon Black Version or Pokémon White Version for the Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo DS system - Players at United States events may only use North American versions
• A Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo DS system - Players are strongly encouraged to bring a charger for their systems, as tournament staff will not have chargers available for loan
• A team of legal Pokémon per the Tournament Rules
• Should a player’s eligibility to participate in an age division be questioned, proof of age may be requested. Failure to provide proof of age may result in the player being denied participation in the tournament, at the organizer’s discretion

2012 Pokémon Video Game Canada National Championships Details

Players from across the Canada will gather in Toronto for the 2012 Canada National Championships in June. Pack your bags and join the best from across the country to compete for an invitation and Travel Award to the World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, in August! The Canada National Championships are being held on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at the Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport in Toronto, Ontario. All Players must begin registration at 10:00 A.M and players not in line by 10:30 A.M. will be treated as late.

Press Release

Fans and Players Gather for Largest Competitive Pokémon Event of the Year

Bellevue, WA - June 21, 2012 - With the 2012 Summer Olympics rapidly approaching, thousands of Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game players will compete for a chance to represent the U.S. in another world-class event this August. The 2012 Pokémon U.S. National Championships takes place June 29th- July 1st in Indianapolis, Indiana with invitations to the 2012 Pokémon World Championships in Hawaii on the line. At the Pokémon World Championships, top U.S. players will be representing the red, white, and blue against some of the best Pokémon TCG and video game players from over 25 countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain.

Like their Pokémon TCG playing counterparts, this is the first year The Pokémon Company International has opened competition at the U.S. National Championships to all U.S. Pokémon video game players in good standing. They will be joining video game competitors who earned top finishes at the 2011 Pokémon Autumn Regionals and 2012 Pokémon Spring Regionals. These top players from regional events across the country have already earned Travel Awards to Indianapolis and first round byes at the U.S. National Championships.

The national competition, being held at the Indiana Convention Center, is expected to draw the largest attendance of Pokémon players, family, friends, and fans of any Play! Pokémon competitive event this year.

Sources: http://www.pokemon.com/us/content/2012_canada_vg_nationals_faq, http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/championship-series/vg-national-championships/ and http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/championship-series/tcg-national-championships/

The official press release for the upcoming Pokémon TCG: Black and White Dragons Exalted was released today which included a first look at three of the upcoming cards as well as the theme decks and booster card packaging. The expansion will be released in North American on August 15th, 2012. Below are pictures from the press kit and the press release.

Garchomp	Giratina EX	Rayquaza EX
TCG DB Link: Click Here	TCG DB Link: Click Here	TCG DB Link: Click Here

Press Release - June 20th, 2012

Dragon Type Is the First New Pokémon Type Introduced in Over a Decade - Control the might of dragons in a way that can change your game forever when the brand-new Dragon-type Pokémon make their debut in Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Dragons Exalted! The new Dragon-type, the first new Pokémon type introduced to Pokémon TCG in over a decade, features a fierce lineup of more than 15 Dragon-type Pokémon, including Rayquaza-EX, Giratina-EX, Garchomp, and Hydreigon. With a mix of new Pokémon-EX and a powerful group of Dragon-type Pokémon, Trainers will be ready for the roar of dragons and the glory of battle!


Dragon-type Pokémon reflect the unique power of Dragon Pokémon and come equipped with multi-type Energy attacks. Joining Dragon-type Pokémon in the Black & White - Dragons Exalted expansion, which features more than 120 cards, are two versions of six different Pokémon-EX and a host of Pokémon from outside the Unova region like Mew, Ninetales, and Honchkrow. Four new Trainer cards and two Special Energy cards round out this incredibly powerful expansion.


Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Dragons Exalted expansion includes:

• Brand-new Dragon-type Pokémon
• Two versions of six more Pokémon-EX cards, including full-art Rare Ultra cards
• More than 120 cards, including more Pokémon from outside the Unova region
• Parallel foil card in each booster pack

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/black-white-dragons-exalted

The latest English Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion has been announced as Dragons Exalted and it will be released in North America on August 15th, 2012. The set will include over 120 cards and it features the brand new Energy type: Dragon!

Press Release

The Time of Dragons Is Now! Can You Command Them? The might of dragons is yours to control in a way that can change your game forever - as a brand-new Energy type! Rayquaza. Giratina. Hydreigon. Few Pokémon inspire awe and wonder like Dragon-type Pokémon and in the Dragons Exalted expansion, they come ready to rule the game! And with a grand mix of all-new Pokémon EX and a horde of Dragon-type Pokémon to take to the skies and take the battlefield by storm, plus new Trainer cards and new Special Energy cards, you’ll be ready for the roar of dragons and the glory of battle!

• Brand-new Energy type: Dragon!
• 15 Dragon-type Pokémon!
• A dozen Pokémon EX, including 6 full card art Pokémon!
• Over 120 cards in all!