The first cards from BW5 Dragon Blade / Dragon Blast have been revealed! The card images below were collected by Viper.Fox from the official TCG site and translations are also below thanks to Dorian Black. The sets and their 30-card decks will be released in Japan on March 16th.

Garchomp (#040/050), Altaria (#036), Emolga, Slaking, and their pre-evolutions will be in Dragon Blade while Hydreigon (#040/050), Ambipom, Durant, and Devolution Spray will be in Dragon Blast. Yes, it looks like Devolution Spray from Base Set is returning, though the text is too small to read to see if it is exactly the same card as before. Cards from the set's two 30-card theme decks were also revealed: Hydreigon, Roserade, Devolution Spray, and Rare Candy will come in the Hydreigon deck while Garchomp, Gabite, and Rare Candy are confirmed in the Garchomp deck. If you buy a booster box of either set from stores, you can get a Ninetailes promo, which will also be in one of the sets but with different artwork.

As usual, the Dragon Pokemon have completely random Energy costs. We're supposed to get a new Energy in this set - if we get a Dragon Energy, who wants to bet it'll be a sort of Rainbow Energy for Dragon-types? How else are these going to be viable?

These cards reference the Dragon-type in their text for the first time. Since "D," "R," "G," are all taken for Energy-types, we have decided to use "N" for these card spoilers.

Garchomp - Dragon - HP140
Stage 2 - Evolves from Gabite

[F] Sonic Cutter: 60 damage. Choose 1 Special Energy card attached to the Defending Pokemon and discard it.
[W][F] Dragon Blade: 100 damage. Discard 2 cards from the top of your deck.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

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Altaria - Dragon - HP70
Stage 1 - Evolves from Swablu

Ability: Battle Song
As long as this Pokemon is in play, your [N] Pokemon's attacks do 20 more damage.

[W][M][C] Glide: 40 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

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Hydreigon - Dragon - HP150
Stage 2 - Evolves from Zweilous

Ability: Dark Trance
As often as you like during your turn, you may choose one [D] Energy card attached to one of your Pokemon and attach it to another of your Pokemon.

[P][D][D][C] Dragon Blast: Discard 2 [D] Energy cards attached to this Pokemon.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3

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Hydreigon - Dragon - HP150
Stage 2 - Evolves from Zweilous

[D][C][C] Devour: 40 damage. Heal from this Pokemon the amount of damage done to the Defending Pokemon.
[P][D][C][C] Destroy Beam: 90 damage. Flip a coin, if heads, discard an Energy attached to the Defending Pokemon.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3

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Roserade - Grass - HP90
Stage 1 - Evolve from Roselia

Ability: Le Parfum
You may use this Ability once during your turn, when you play Roserade from your hand to evolve one of your Pokemon. Search your deck for any one card and put it in your hand. Shuffle your deck afterwards.

[G][C] Tighten: 30+ damage. Flip 1 coin. If heads, this attack does 30 damage plus 20 more damage, and the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.

Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Water (-20)
Retreat: 1

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Garchomp - Dragon - HP140
Stage 2 - Evolves from Gabite

[C] Jet Head: 40 damage.
[W][F][C] Sand Tomb: 80 damage. The Defending Pokemon can't retreat during your opponent's next turn.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 0

---

Gabite - Dragon - HP80
Stage 1 - Evolves from Gible

Ability: Dragon Call
You may use this Ability once during your turn. Search your deck for a [N] Pokemon, show it to your opponent, and put it in your hand. Shuffle your deck afterwards.

[W][F] Dragon Slice: 20 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

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Ninetales - Fire - HP90
Stage 1 - Evolves from Vulpix

Ability: Bright Look
Once during your turn (before you attack), when you play Ninetales from your hand to evolve one of your Pokemon, you may switch the Defending Pokemon with one of your opponent's Benched Pokemon.

[R] Cursed Flame: 20+ damage. This attack does 50 more damage for each Special Condition on the Defending Pokemon.

Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

A month of research has gone into this news story, and with the joint efforts of MeroMero and Jade, both ROM editors who visit our site, we can now post this: a placeholder for Kyurem's forme has been found deep in the game coding of Black and White. The games keeps a "chart" of all Pokemon who have formes, which we have compiled below. Notice anyone who shouldn't be on the list right now?

The first column is the National PokeDex number of the Pokemon, which is how the game keeps track of each species (I have put the name of the Pokemon in parenthesis). The second column is the ID number of the alternate forme, used only when something besides the Pokemon's sprite changes (for example, in Deoxys' case, its stats change between its formes, while in Unown's case, only the sprites do). The third column refers to another chart in the coding which contains the sprites of the alternate formes to display. And the final column is the total amount of formes for the Pokemon, including its original design (so Shaymin has its regular forme and its Sky Forme, meaning "2" designs).

In Kyurem's case above, we see a "1" in the data. All Pokemon either have 0 for no additional formes (like Pikachu, Mewtwo, etc.) or a number for its original design plus the amount of its alternate formes (such as a "4" for Deoxys, Deoxys Attack, Deoxys Defense, and Deoxys Speed). So a Pokemon will either have a "0" for nothing or a number above one for something. Kyurem is the only Pokemon to have a "1," which is the placeholder - no other Pokemon has a "1," meaning it was intentionally put into the data. The sprite for Kyurem's alternate forme (in the other table, not listed here) refers to Meloetta's sprite. This just means that Meloetta's sprite is a placeholder. The third column for Kyurem, which would denote what stats to use for the forme, is set to 0. This does not mean its future forme will not have its own stats - it just means that in the coding of Black and White, the stats do not exist.

Going back to Diamond and Pearl's game data, we have also found the same forme chart. It shows that Rotom, Shaymin, and Giratina had placeholders for new formes (a "1"), meaning Gamefreak planned their formes long before the release of Pokemon Platinum. No one knew to look for the chart at the time because no one expected any other Pokemon to have new formes back then. Just as we know how to find "hidden" Pokemon in the game coding like Keldeo, Meloetta, and Genesect, we now also know how to find out if a Pokemon will have a planned future forme.

The reason for the delay in this news story is that we did not know exactly why Gamefreak would put this information into the game coding. And unfortunately, we still do not know why. After all, it would reveal that there is going to be a future game ("Pokemon Gray?") with Kyurem's forme in it. Perhaps they did it for compatibility purposes. Or perhaps Gamefreak creates a chart for all Pokemon and formes they plan in a generation, then remove the data they will not be including in the first set of games (in this case, the stats and sprite for Kyurem's forme). Once we were able to confirm Shaymin and Giratina also had the same placeholder treatment in Diamond and Pearl, we felt confident enough to post this story.

Kyurem's new forme will probably be revealed within the next few months when we learn more about the Kyurem VS. the Sacred Swordsmen movie, just like Giratina's new forme and the Shaymin movie, if that is indeed when it will be introduced in the anime.

A Prerelease is a unique event because players build their decks as part of the event, not before the event. Decks consist of 40 cards instead of 60, and consequently, players start with four prizes instead of six. Players are not only restricted to using cards from one set, but also to using the cards they pull from only six packs (note that basic energy are provided). All of these factors combined make for a very unique and fun experience. Prereleases aren’t premier rated because there tends to be a lot of luck involved in both deck construction and actual playing. However, it still takes a decent amount of skill and understanding of the prerelease format to be able to do well.

Players get two extra packs and various other promotional items after the Prerelease is over regardless of how well they do. Generally, there is no physical benefit to winning a Prerelease. Regardless of what’s at stake, everybody knows it’s more fun to win. Those interested in doing well at Prereleases will want to read this article, as it contains some good tips for doing so.

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Been meaning to post these for a while! Each theme deck, as usual, comes with a special holo version of its feature card and a non-holo version. Thanks goes to Deicario for these lists! The theme decks will be released in stores at the same time the set's booster packs are.

Explosive Edge

• 2x Reshiram
• 1x Chandelure
• 2x Lampent
• 4x Litwick
• 2x Arcanine
• 2x Growlithe
• 2x Darumaka
• 2x Pansear
• 1x Beartic
• 2x Cubchoo
• 2x Vanillish
• 2x Vanillite
• 2x Basculin
• 1x Persian
• 2x Meowth
• 2x Cheren
• 2x Cilan
• 2x Heavy Ball
• 2x Energy Retrieval
• 2x Energy Search
• 2x Pokemon Communication
• 1x Skyarrow Bridge
• 12x Fire Energy
• 6x Water Energy

Voltage Vortex

• 2x Zekrom
• 2x Raichu
• 2x Pikachu
• 1x Luxray
• 2x Luxio
• 4x Shinx
• 2x Emolga
• 2x Blitzle
• 1x Weavile
• 2x Sneasel
• 1x Scrafty
• 2x Scraggy
• 2x Nuzleaf
• 4x Seedot
• 2x Energy Search
• 2x Potion
• 1x Pokemon Center
• 2x Pokemon Communication
• 2x Professor Juniper
• 2x Cilan
• 2x Level Ball
• 12x Lightning Energy
• 6x Darkness Energy

Arceus won the "Vote to Befriend a Pokemon" contest last December and its distribution went live today: it comes at Level 100 with Recover, Hyper Beam, Perish Song, and Judgment. To download it, you must go to the Pokemon Global Link website, enter the password "ARCEUSVOTE," and then use Game Sync to download it to your Black or White game. The distribution will last until May 1st.

Update #6 (2:45 PM, Sunday): All scans are now up!

We now have all Next Destinies scans thanks to website readers Torterra Chips, Deicario, GL Mo, CraZmatt, Patrick, ESP, Ginger C., Chuck C., Luis O., Creamyjeremy, Hailey, Mokoko, Artemis, Nigel, Fox, The Yoshi, Jason R., and Shadowshocker. Click the thumbnails below to enlarge the scans, and use your left and right arrow keys to scroll through them like a slideshow. Feel free to discuss this set on our forums or Facebook page.

Starting February 12th, English copies of Black and White will be able to download Mewtwo via Wi-Fi! It will come with Electro Ball, a move it cannot normally learn. The Mewtwo will more than likely match the Mewtwo that was given out in Japan last September for Pokemon Smash, which came at Level 70, knew Electro Ball, Shadow Ball, Aura Sphere, and Psystrike, and was holding a King's Rock. The end date for this download event was not announced.

Update #2 (9:30 AM) - Fixed First Pass' translation thanks to link8908. | Update (7:30 AM) - Translations posted below thanks to DorianBlack!

All 20 Dragon Selection scans have now been leaked early thanks to Toho Auctions. Click the thumbnails below for larger images. Translations are below thanks to DorianBlack.

As posted previously, all the cards in the set are holographic. Even more Dragon-type cards will be revealed in BW5: Dragon Blade / Dragon Blast on March 16th, so if these don't suit your fancy, there's more to look forward to! This set was more than likely intended to be a preview set to get people excited - the real goods will come with BW5 (and possibly a Dragon Energy).

Dratini – Dragon – HP40
Basic Pokemon

[G][L] Wrap: 20 damage. Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

---

Dratini – Dragon – HP40
Basic Pokemon

[G] Hypnotic Gaze: The Defending Pokemon is now Asleep.
[L] Tail Whap: 10 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

---

Dragonair – Dragon – HP70
Stage 1 – Evolves from Dratini

[C][C] Tail Whap: 20 damage.
[G][L][C] Dragon Pulse: 70 damage. Discard 1 card from the top of your deck.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

---

Dragonair – Dragon – HP70
Stage 1 – Evolves from Dratini

[G] Healing Song: Heal 10 damage from each of your Pokemon.
[L][C] Slam: Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

---

Dragonite – Dragon – HP150
Stage 2 – Evolves from Dragonair

[L][C][C] Hyper Beam: 50 damage. Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy card attached to the Defending Pokemon.
[G][C][C][C] Hurricane Tail: Flip 4 coins. This attack does 60 damage times the number of heads.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3

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Bagon – Dragon – HP50
Basic Pokemon

[C] Headbutt: 10 damage.
[R][W] Dragon Claw: 20 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

---

Shelgon – Dragon – HP80
Stage 1 – Evolves from Bagon

[C] Knock Away: Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage.
[R][W][C] Rollout: 50 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3

---

Salamence – Dragon – HP140
Stage 2 – Evolves from Shelgon

Ability: Lofty Wind
Your opponent discards cards from his or her hand until he or she has 4 cards remaining. You can use this Ability 1 time during your turn.

[R][W][C][C] Tear Through: 90 damage. This attack's damage isn't affected by any effects on the Defending Pokemon.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

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Latias – Dragon – HP100
Basic Pokemon

[C] Energy Assist: Search your discard pile for a basic Energy card and attach it to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
[R][P] Sky Gain: 40 damage. If there is a Latios on your Bench, heal 20 damage from this Pokemon.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

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Latios – Dragon – HP100
Basic Pokemon

[W][C] Sky Blade: If there is a Latias on your Bench, this attack does 20 damage plus 20 more damage.
[P][C][C] Speed Wing: 60 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

---

Rayquaza – Dragon – HP120
Basic Pokemon

[L] Dragon Pulse: 40 damage. Discard 2 cards from the top of your deck.
[R][L][C] Tear Through: 90 damage. This attack's damage isn't affected by any effects on the Defending Pokemon.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3

---

Axew – Dragon – HP40
Basic Pokemon

[F] Signs of Evolution: Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a Fraxure card, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
[M] Scratch: 10 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

---

Axew – Dragon – HP50
Basic Pokemon

[F][M] Lunge: 30 damage. Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

---

Fraxure – Dragon – HP70
Stage 1 – Evolves from Axew

Ability: Guts
If this Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition, this Pokemon's attacks do 40 more damage.

[F][M][C] Dragon Claw: 60 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1

---

Fraxure – Dragon – HP80
Stage 1 – Evolves from Axew

[M][C] Scratch: 20 damage.
[F][C][C] Sharp Fang: 40 damage.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

---

Haxorus – Dragon – HP140
Stage 2 – Evolves from Fraxure

[C][C] Axe Wallop: 60+ damage. If the Defending Pokemon is Colorless, this attack does 60 more damage.
[F][M][C][C] Dragon Pulse: 100 damage. Discard the top card from your deck.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 3

---

Druddigon – Dragon – HP110
Basic Pokemon

[C][C] Tight Jaw: 20 damage. Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
[R][W][C] Dragon Tail: Flip 2 coins. This attack does 80 damage times the number of heads.

Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

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Super Rod – Trainer

Shuffle 3 in any combination of Pokemon and basic Energy cards from your discard pile back into your deck.

You may play as many Trainer cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).

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First Ticket – Trainer

First Ticket may only be played to determine who goes first. If you play First Ticket, you go first.

If your opponent also plays First Ticket, play Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine who goes first.

You may play as many Trainer cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).

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EXP. Share – Trainer
Pokemon Tool

Attach a Pokemon Tool to 1 of your Pokemon that doesn't already have a Pokemon Tool attached to it.

When your Active Pokemon is Knocked Out by damage from an opponent’s Pokemon’s attack, choose 1 Basic Energy attached to that Pokemon and move it to the Pokemon that this card is attached to.

You may play as many Trainer cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).

Before jumping into this article, I should properly introduce myself since most writers on other sites do it. My name is Kennan, and I'm a competitive Master from Washington. I just got back into the game this year, but I managed to win one of the Fall Regionals and get a good number of top cuts/wins in Cities and Battle Roads. I've already written a few articles about Regionals and Cities, so feel free to check them out if you haven't already (unfortunately, they're pretty outdated now.)

Anyway, Cities are over, and States are still very far away, so there's no real rush to write about anything. States are probably the main topic of discussion, but we don't know what cards will be legal yet so it's risky writing a full article about the HS-ND format. Today, I'm just going to talk about my Cities experience, give a brief opinion on what the States format will look like, and offer a few general playing tips. Hopefully, I will have a Prerelease article coming out sometime next week.

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Update (12:45 PM) - Just noticed that Reshiram and Zekrom are Japanese; looks like the English ad used card images from Japan, which has happened a few times before. This means that the two will be coming to Japan at some point.

A new Next Destinies ad has revealed that the set will contain full art versions of Reshiram-EX and Zekrom-EX, which have yet to be released in Japan. This means for sure now that Kyogre-EX and Groudon-EX will be cut from the set (they will probably join Rayquaza-EX in a set or two).

The three-pack blister was also revealed, which will contain one of three holo promos (Luxio is pictured, which was originally a BW3 promo in Japan alongside Meowth and Riolu), three booster packs of the set, a sampling pack, and a coin. Click its thumbnail below for a larger image.