I don’t know how it’s possible that every Sword & Shield expansion is better than the one before it. I’ve had my reservations about certain sets, like last year’s Darkness Ablaze which felt like a Charizard slot machine, but overall, I’ve noticed a steady improvement as this generation has unfolded. Evolving Skies is the peak of the mountain as far as I’m concerned. Outside of a shiny set or some other special expansion, I’m not sure there will ever be an expansion as exciting as Evolving Skies. It’s the most charming, robust, and chaseable set yet, and it has managed to create a ton of hype and interest even without a Charizard. Scarcity and scalping is still a big issue, but if you appreciate Pokemon cards as a collector and player, there’s never been a better time to be a fan.
I’ll admit I’m extremely biased about Evolving Skies as the self-proclaimed world’s biggest Umbreon fan, but that’s what Pokemon is all about. The personal connections we develop with Pokemon is what has kept the entire franchise thriving for over 20 years, and I know I’m not the only one with a deep affection for Eeveelutions. Eevee has become a second mascot for Pokemon next to Pikachu, especially after the success of Let’s Go, Eevee! So it’s no surprise that a set themed around Eeveelutions has a lot of people excited.
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But The Pokemon Company didn’t just dump one of each Eeveelution in the set and call it a day. Between V, VMAX, Alternate Art, Full Art, and rainbow cards, there’s a staggering 32 different Eeveelutions to hunt down in this set. This set is absolutely stuffed with Eevees, which gives collectors plenty of opportunities to open something exciting. No matter which Eevee is your favorite, you’ll have quite a few cards to chase. Sylveon and Umbreon have the best representation at six cards each, but every Eeveelution has at least two cards in this set. Some of the alternate art Eevees, like Espeon V and Umbreon V, are some of the best Alt Arts ever.
Evolving Skies isn’t just an Eevee hunt. As the name suggests, Dragon types make their triumphant return in Evolving Skies after being absent from the TCG for several years. While dragon energy is still extinct, this set features the return of many dragons including Rayquaza, Dragonite, Noivern, Duraludon, kyurem, Hydreigon, Salamanece, and more. It’s a lot of fun to see that golden hue of Dragon cards again, and the Alternate Cards for Rayquaza and Dragonite are just as exciting to me as the Eevees.
I’m not an expert on the meta, but I’m happy to see battle styles continue in the new expansion. I had feared that this mechanic was going to be a one-and-done system from the Battle Styles set, but it’s cool to see the way it’s impacted the game and refreshed it.
32 Eeveelutions was probably all I had to say to sell the value of Evolving Skies, but it’s so much more than that. The Pokemon Company could have hung its hat on a beautiful Eevee expansion, but the reintroduction of Dragon type, the continuation of battle styles, and the inclusion of fan-favorites like the Galarian legendary birds, Suicune, Gyrados, Rayquaza, and no less than 28 gold and rainbow cards, all combine to make Evolving Skies an unforgettable set.
An Evolving Skies Booster Box and ETB were provided to TheGamer for this review. Learn more about Evolving Skies on the official Pokemon TCG website.
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