SM5 Sinnoh Starters, Energy Revealed; Set to Focus on Sinnoh Region!
Five new cards from SM5 Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have been revealed — Turtwig, Piplup, Chimchar, and two “Unit Energy,” which are basically new versions of Blend Energy.
It’s been officially announced SM5 will focus on Pokemon from the Sinnoh region, including its Legendary Pokemon. As we previously learned, the set will also contain Dawn Wings Necrozma, Dust Mane Necrozma, a new level of rarity called “Prism” cards, and five new Ultra Beasts.
The franchise is advertising Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon right now, so why the TCG is choosing to focus on the Sinnoh region is quite the mystery. Could it be possible we’re not getting Diamond and Pearl remakes? It wouldn’t make sense to make a Sinnoh set, then focus on Sinnoh Pokemon again if said remakes were to release within the next year or two. Unless the TCG is going to focus on a specific region with each upcoming set and this is the first of a series? But it would still be odd timing to choose Sinnoh now if the TCG makers know Diamond and Pearl remakes are on the horizon. Oddly, the 20th movie also had some Gen IV hints, so why we are getting so much Sinnoh advertising across the franchise’s different mediums right now seems oddish.
Turtwig – Grass – HP80
Basic Pokemon[C][C] Tackle: 20 damage.
[G][G][C] Razor Leaf: 50 damage.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Chimchar – Fire – HP60
Basic Pokemon[C] Fury Swipes: 10x damage. Flip 3 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Piplup – Water – HP70
Basic Pokemon[C] Peck: 10 damage.
[W][C] Splash: 20 damage.
Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Unit Energy GRW – Special Energy
This card provides [C] Energy. When this card is attached to a Pokemon, this card provides [G][R][W] Energy, but provides only 1 Energy at a time.
Unit Energy LPM – Special Energy
This card provides [C] Energy. When this card is attached to a Pokemon, this card provides [L][P][M] Energy, but provides only 1 Energy at a time.
Update: A second Piplup from the set has been revealed! Again, this seems really odd — they’re advertising Sinnoh heavily when there’s no DP remakes on the horizon. Are we not getting the remakes and this is their way of honoring Sinnoh? Or is something else going on? Even if this way their way of honoring Sinnoh, why choose to do it now during a new game release and not in the next set? Something’s fishy… Another possibility could be that originally Gamefreak was going to develop DP remakes, then switched to USUM before the rest of the franchise could change what they had planned. But that seems a little farfetch’d. So I don’t know.
Piplup – Water – HP60
Basic Pokemon[W] Water Gun: This attack does 20 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Thanks goes to Vincent and Jake C. for the translations!