Battle Styles
Set Details
The Battle Styles Pokémon Set marks a dynamic milestone in the Sword & Shield Series, splitting into two complementary blocks—Single Strike Master and Rapid Strike Master. Inspired by Pokémon Sword & Shield and the Isle of Armor Expansion Pass, this fifth main expansion launched in Japan on January 22, 2021, and rolled out in English on March 19, 2021. Boasting Generation VIII staples like Pokémon V and Pokémon VMAX, Battle Styles brings fresh art, updated card templates, and the promise of two distinct battle philosophies to every pack.
At the heart of the Battle Styles Pokémon Set lie the brand‑new Single Strike and Rapid Strike variants. Single Strike cards deliver devastating, one‑hit attacks—exemplified by Single Strike Urshifu VMAX’s Gale Thrust, which can overwhelm opponents in a single blow—while Rapid Strike cards favor multi‑hit, strategic plays, such as Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX’s Gale Thrust, which strikes multiple targets with precision. This split also shapes deck‑building: you won’t find Water‑types in Single Strike Master nor Darkness‑types in Rapid Strike Master, reinforcing each style’s unique identity and encouraging creative synergy.
Beyond deck‑tech, the Battle Styles Pokémon Set is rich with collectible lore. Early Elite Trainer Boxes in Asia featured exclusive promo cards—like an alt‑art Rapid Strike Urshifu V that became an overnight chase item—and whispered rumors of slight miscut prints where the style icons bled into the border. The set symbol cleverly combines a fist and a swirling wave, hinting at the clash of force and finesse that defines this expansion. And for those hunting the rarest pulls, Secret Rare variants—including rainbow‑foil versions of Urshifu VMAX—turned every booster into an electrifying hunt, proving that when styles collide, the sparks of competition burn brighter than ever.
Battle Styles Set Cards
