Brilliant Stars – Pokémon TCG Card List & Set Guide (2022)


Released (English)	25 February 2022
Released (Japanese)	14 January 2022
Cards (English)	186 (172 + 14 secret rares) · 30-card Trainer Gallery (216 total)
Japanese set	Star Birth (s9)
Series	Sword & Shield (Generation VIII)
Set abbreviation	BRS
New mechanics	Pokémon VSTAR · Trainer Gallery
Previous expansion	Fusion Strike
Following expansion	Astral Radiance
Signature cards	Arceus VSTAR · Charizard VSTAR · Shaymin VSTAR

Brilliant Stars Arceus VSTAR booster pack

Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars is the ninth main expansion of the Sword & Shield era, released in English on 25 February 2022. Its 186-card main set is fronted by Arceus VSTAR, and it is one of the most important sets of the whole era — because it introduces two features at once that would go on to define the rest of Sword & Shield: the Pokémon VSTAR mechanic and the Trainer Gallery.

Brilliant Stars arrived at the very height of Arceus mania. Nintendo’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus had launched on 28 January 2022 — slotting neatly between the Japanese set (Star Birth, s9, 14 January 2022) and this English release — and The Pokémon Company leaned all the way in. The Alpha Pokémon itself launches the new mechanic, with Arceus VSTAR as the face of the logo, the booster boxes and the Elite Trainer Box. Fittingly, the “God Pokémon” opens a new chapter of the game.

The English set totals 186 cards — 172 in the regular numbering plus 14 secret rares (173–186) — and a separate 30-card Trainer Gallery subset (numbered TG01–TG30) sits alongside it, bringing the full expansion to 216 cards. The Trainer Gallery’s character-art cards were drawn from the Japanese high-class set VMAX Climax, grafted onto the English release of Star Birth.

Constellations Align in a Show of Force! A new wave of Pokémon V and Pokémon VMAX radiate power throughout the Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars expansion, and the stage is set for the arrival of Pokémon VSTAR! Arceus, Charizard, Shaymin, and more make their VSTAR debut, unleashing brilliant new VSTAR Powers. Discover a special Trainer Gallery filled with beloved characters and their Pokémon, then reach for the stars and shine!

— Official Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars

Set Highlights: A Universe of New Stars

If one card represents Brilliant Stars, it is Arceus VSTAR (123/172) — the Alpha Pokémon leading the debut of the VSTAR mechanic and the face of the entire set. But the card collectors chase hardest is the Charizard V alternate art (154/172), a moody, dragon-perched illustration that became one of the most iconic — and most expensive — cards of the entire Sword & Shield era. Around them the set is stacked with alternate-art secret rares and, for the very first time, a Trainer Gallery.

The VSTAR Mechanic: A New Kind of Power

Brilliant Stars is the set that introduced Pokémon VSTAR. Like a VMAX, a VSTAR evolves from a Pokémon V — but where a VMAX simply hits harder and gives up three Prize cards when Knocked Out, a VSTAR gives up only two Prizes, the same as a basic Pokémon V. That single difference made VSTAR one of the most competitively influential designs in the game’s history: enormous power for a very affordable prize trade.

Every VSTAR carries a VSTAR Power — either a special VSTAR attack or a VSTAR Ability — and each player may use only one VSTAR Power for the entire game, tracked by flipping over a physical VSTAR marker. It is the spiritual successor to the Sun & Moon-era GX attack, but far more flexible: because a VSTAR Power can be an Ability, it doesn’t have to cost you your attack for the turn. Four VSTAR Pokémon debuted here — Arceus, Charizard, Shaymin and Whimsicott — each evolving from its Pokémon V.

The Trainer Gallery: A First for the TCG

Brilliant Stars is also the first set ever to include a Trainer Gallery — a 30-card subset (numbered TG01–TG30, with its own set symbol) that revived the beloved “character + Pokémon” art style, showing Pokémon together with the Trainers of the Galar region. The cards were adapted from Japan’s VMAX Climax high-class set, and appear as special inserts pulled from a fraction of Brilliant Stars packs.

The subset runs from character-art Pokémon (TG01–TG23) through full-art Supporters — Gloria (TG26) and the two Mustards (TG27/TG28) — and finishes with the two rainbow “Character Super Rare” Urshifu VMAX (TG29/TG30). Its breakout stars are the two Eeveelution alt arts, Umbreon VMAX (TG23) and Sylveon VMAX (TG15), which remain among the most collected cards of the era. The Trainer Gallery was such a hit that it became a fixture of every Sword & Shield set that followed.

Print Versions

Brilliant Stars launched with the full Sword & Shield retail line-up. Booster packs held 10 cards each (with a code card for Pokémon TCG Live and either a basic Energy or a VSTAR marker card), and came in four wrappers — Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR and Whimsicott VSTAR. A booster box held 36 packs. The Arceus VSTAR Elite Trainer Box packed 8 boosters, 65 Arceus-art sleeves, 45 Energy, dice, a VSTAR marker and the usual accessories, while Build & Battle boxes and stadiums rounded out the prerelease range.

English version vs. Japanese Variations

As with every Sword & Shield set, the English Brilliant Stars is not a one-to-one copy of a single Japanese release. Its core comes from Star Birth (s9), which launched in Japan on 14 January 2022 with Arceus VSTAR as its headline card — but the Japanese set is smaller, and English localisation combined it with cards from other Japanese products. Most notably, the entire Trainer Gallery was imported from the Japanese high-class set VMAX Climax, whose “Character Rare” art style Brilliant Stars introduced to Western players for the first time.

Japanese Star Birth boosters carry 5 cards per pack rather than 10, and Japanese boxes contain more packs than their English counterparts — a long-standing difference that makes Japanese product a popular choice for collectors chasing the same artwork.

Set List

The complete 186-card set for Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars — 172 cards in the main numbering plus 14 secret rares (173–186) — with full card text for every card. Click any card image to open a full-size, high-resolution scan.

No.	Card Name	Card Type
1/172	Exeggcute
Card text Ram 10 Seed Bomb 20
2/172	Exeggutor
Card text Mega Drain 70 — Heal 30 damage from this Pokémon. Seed Bomb 130
3/172	Shroomish
Card text Headbutt 20
4/172	Breloom
Card text Spore Ball 30 — Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Asleep. Powdery Uppercut 130 — You can use this attack only if this Pokémon used Spore Ball during your last turn.
5/172	Tropius
Card text Ability — Curative Bower: All of your Pokémon that have Grass Energy attached can’t be Confused, and if they are already Confused, they recover from that Special Condition. Slicing Blade 100
6/172	Turtwig
Card text Bite 10 Headbutt Bounce 20
7/172	Grotle
Card text Ability — Sun-Drenched Shell: Once during your turn, you may search your deck for a Grass Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. Razor Leaf 50
8/172	Torterra
Card text Evopress 50× — This attack does 50 damage for each of your Evolution Pokémon in play. Hammer In 160
9/172	Burmy
Card text Hang Down 20
10/172	Wormadam
Card text Matron’s Anger 30+ — This attack does 10 more damage for each Pokémon in your discard pile. Leaf Drain 80 — Heal 30 damage from this Pokémon.
11/172	Mothim
Card text Raid 30+ — If this Pokémon evolved from Burmy during this turn, this attack does 90 more damage. Gust 80
12/172	Cherubi
Card text Ability — Lively Fruit: Prevent all effects of attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon done to this Pokémon. (Damage is not an effect.) Leafage 20
13/172	Shaymin V
Card text Flap 30 Revenge Blast 60+ — This attack does 40 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
14/172	Shaymin VSTAR
Card text Revenge Blast 120+ — This attack does 40 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
15/172	Karrablast
Card text Peck 10
16/172	Zarude V
Card text Leap to Leap 30 — This attack also does 30 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Jungle Rage 120+ — If your opponent’s Active Pokémon is a Pokémon V, this attack does 120 more damage.
17/172	Charizard V
Card text Incinerate 90 — Before doing damage, discard all Pokémon Tools from your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Heat Blast 180
18/172	Charizard VSTAR
Card text Explosive Fire 130+ — If this Pokémon has any damage counters on it, this attack does 100 more damage. Star Blaze 320 — Discard 2 Energy from this Pokémon. (You can’t use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)
19/172	Magmar
Card text Low Kick 20 Fiery Punch 70
20/172	Magmortar
Card text Mega Punch 50 Boltsplosion 120+ — If Electivire is on your Bench, this attack does 120 more damage.
21/172	Moltres
Card text Inferno Wings 20+ — If this Pokémon has any damage counters on it, this attack does 70 more damage. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness.
22/172	Entei V
Card text Ability — Fleet-Footed: Once during your turn, if this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, you may draw a card. Burning Rondo 20+ — This attack does 20 more damage for each Benched Pokémon (both yours and your opponent’s).
23/172	Torkoal
Card text Firebreathing 30+ — Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 more damage. Guard Press 90 — During your opponent’s next turn, this Pokémon takes 30 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
24/172	Chimchar
Card text Ember 30 — Discard an Energy from this Pokémon.
25/172	Monferno
Card text Flare 30 Flamethrower 50 — Discard an Energy from this Pokémon.
26/172	Infernape
Card text Infernal Vortex 80× — Reveal the top 5 cards of your deck. This attack does 80 damage for each Energy card you find there. Then, discard those Energy cards and shuffle the other cards back into your deck. Burning Kick 160 — Discard all Energy from this Pokémon.
27/172	Simisear V
Card text Bursting Power 20 — You may attach up to 2 basic Energy cards from your hand to your Pokémon in any way you like. Flare Juggling 90+ — This attack does 30 more damage for each Energy attached to your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
28/172	Kingler V
Card text Falling Bubbles — Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for up to 5 Water Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck. Raging Pincer 200 — This Pokémon also does 30 damage to itself.
29/172	Kingler VMAX
Card text Bubbles Galore — Search your deck for up to 5 Water Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck. G-Max Pincer 240 — This Pokémon also does 30 damage to itself.
30/172	Staryu
Card text Double Spin 10× — Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage for each heads.
31/172	Lapras
Card text Raging Freeze 110 — If any of your Pokémon were Knocked Out by damage from an attack from your opponent’s Pokémon during their last turn, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
32/172	Corphish
Card text Water Gun 10 Crabhammer 50
33/172	Crawdaunt
Card text Corkscrew Punch 30 Crab Impact 150 — Discard 2 Energy from this Pokémon.
34/172	Snorunt
Card text Ice Breath — Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed. Icy Snow 20
35/172	Piplup
Card text Bubble 10 — Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
36/172	Prinplup
Card text Peck 30
37/172	Empoleon
Card text Ability — Emergency Surfacing: Once during your turn, if this Pokémon is in your discard pile and you have no cards in your hand, you may put this Pokémon onto your Bench. If you do, draw 3 cards. Water Arrow — This attack does 60 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
38/172	Buizel
Card text Agility 20 — Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, prevent all damage from and effects of attacks done to this Pokémon.
39/172	Floatzel
Card text Floatify — Put up to 2 Item cards from your discard pile into your hand. Water Gun 60
40/172	Lumineon V
Card text Ability — Luminous Sign: When you play this Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench during your turn, you may search your deck for a Supporter card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. Aqua Return 120 — Shuffle this Pokémon and all attached cards into your deck.
41/172	Manaphy
Card text Ability — Wave Veil: Prevent all damage done to your Benched Pokémon by attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon. Rain Splash 20
42/172	Cubchoo
Card text Chilly 20
43/172	Beartic
Card text Sheer Cold 40 — During your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon can’t attack. Frost Smash 130
44/172	Eiscue
Card text Block Slider — This attack does 40 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon for each Fusion Strike Energy attached to all of your Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Icicle Missile 100
45/172	Raichu V
Card text Fast Charge — If you go first, you can use this attack during your first turn. Search your deck for a Lightning Energy card and attach it to this Pokémon. Then, shuffle your deck. Dynamic Spark 60× — You may discard any amount of Lightning Energy from your Pokémon. This attack does 60 damage for each card you discarded in this way.
46/172	Electabuzz
Card text Thunder Wave — Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed. Head Bolt 30
47/172	Electivire
Card text Explosive Bolt 30+ — If any of your Benched Magmortar have any damage counters on them, this attack does 90 more damage. High-Voltage Current — This attack does 50 damage to each of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
48/172	Raikou V
Card text Ability — Fleet-Footed: Once during your turn, if this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, you may draw a card. Lightning Rondo 20+ — This attack does 20 more damage for each Benched Pokémon (both yours and your opponent’s).
49/172	Shinx
Card text Gnaw 10
50/172	Luxio
Card text Thunder Shock 30 — Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
51/172	Luxray
Card text Energy Crush 50× — This attack does 50 damage for each Energy attached to all of your opponent’s Pokémon. Flash Impact 110 — This attack also does 30 damage to 1 of your Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
52/172	Pachirisu
Card text Windup Thunder 30× — This attack does 30 damage for each Pokémon Tool attached to all of your Pokémon.
53/172	Clefairy
Card text Pound 10 Magical Shot 30
54/172	Clefable
Card text Moonlit Miracle — Flip 3 coins. Choose a number of your Pokémon in play up to the number of heads. For each of those Pokémon, search your deck for a card that evolves from that Pokémon and put it onto that Pokémon to evolve it. Then, shuffle your deck. Magical Shot 90
55/172	Starmie
Card text Psychic 10+ — This attack does 30 more damage for each Energy attached to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Power Gem 60
56/172	Mewtwo
Card text Life Sucker 20 — Heal 20 damage from this Pokémon. Psyburn 110
57/172	Granbull V
Card text Chomp 30+ — This attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on this Pokémon. Bull Dash 190 — This Pokémon also does 30 damage to itself.
58/172	Baltoy
Card text Triple Spin 20× — Flip 3 coins. This attack does 20 damage for each heads.
59/172	Claydol
Card text Spinning Attack 40 Coinciding Figures 90+ — If you and your opponent have the same number of Benched Pokémon, this attack does 90 more damage.
60/172	Duskull
Card text Perplex 10 — Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Confused.
61/172	Dusclops
Card text Fade to Black 30 — Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Confused.
62/172	Dusknoir
Card text Ability — Special Transfer: As often as you like during your turn, you may move a Special Energy from 1 of your Pokémon to another of your Pokémon. Devour Soul 120
63/172	Chimecho
Card text Clear Tone — Search your deck for up to 2 Special Energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. Hang Down 30
64/172	Whimsicott V
Card text Fluff Gets in the Way 20 — If the Defending Pokémon is a Basic Pokémon, it can’t attack during your opponent’s next turn. Cotton Guard 90 — During your opponent’s next turn, this Pokémon takes 30 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
65/172	Whimsicott VSTAR
Card text Trick Wind 160 — During your opponent’s next turn, they can’t play any Pokémon Tool or Special Energy cards from their hand. Fluffball Star — This attack does 60 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon for each Energy attached to this Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) (You can’t use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)
66/172	Sigilyph
Card text Tri Recharge — Flip 3 coins. Attach a number of basic Energy cards up to the number of heads from your discard pile to your Benched Pokémon in any way you like. Psychic 10+ — This attack does 30 more damage for each Energy attached to your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
67/172	Dedenne
Card text Dede-Flash 20+ — If your opponent has exactly 1 Prize card remaining, this attack does 60 more damage, and your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Confused.
68/172	Mimikyu V
Card text Ability — Dummy Doll: When you play this Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench during your turn, you may prevent all damage done to this Mimikyu V by attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon until the end of your opponent’s next turn. Jealous Eyes — Put 3 damage counters on your opponent’s Active Pokémon for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
69/172	Mimikyu VMAX
Card text Ominous Numbers — Put 4 damage counters on your opponent’s Pokémon in any way you like. If you played Acerola’s Premonition from your hand during this turn, place 13 damage counters instead. Max Shadow 120 — Discard a random card from your opponent’s hand.
70/172	Milcery
Card text Lead — Search your deck for a Supporter card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. Ram 10
71/172	Alcremie
Card text Ability — Additional Order: As long as this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, your turn does not end when you use Café Master. Rainbow Flavor 10+ — This attack does 40 more damage for each type of basic Energy attached to all of your Pokémon.
72/172	Hitmontop
Card text Spinning Draw 20 — Draw a card. Cyclone Kick 100
73/172	Nosepass
Card text Ram 20
74/172	Trapinch
Card text Rising Lunge 10+ — Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 more damage.
75/172	Vibrava
Card text Razor Wing 30
76/172	Flygon
Card text Desert Pillar 50× — This attack does 50 damage for each Colorless in your opponent’s Active Pokémon’s Retreat Cost. Blasting Wind 110
77/172	Wormadam
Card text Matron’s Anger 30+ — This attack does 10 more damage for each Pokémon in your discard pile. Bind Down 80 — During your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon can’t retreat.
78/172	Riolu
Card text Low Kick 50
79/172	Lucario
Card text Ability — Roaring Resolve: Once during your turn, you may put 2 damage counters on this Pokémon. If you do, search your deck for a Fighting Energy card and attach it to this Pokémon. Then, shuffle your deck. Aura Sphere Volley 10+ — Discard all Fighting Energy from this Pokémon. This attack does 60 more damage for each card you discarded in this way.
80/172	Throh
Card text Lunge Out 30 Seismic Toss 110
81/172	Sawk
Card text Sweep the Leg 30 — Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
82/172	Golett
Card text Mud-Slap 10 Pound 20
83/172	Golurk
Card text Big Hand 30+ — This attack does 10 more damage for each card in your hand. Mega Punch 120
84/172	Grimer
Card text Poison Gas — Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Poisoned.
85/172	Muk
Card text Ability — Sludge Street: The Retreat Cost of your opponent’s Poisoned Pokémon is Colorless more. Shrieking Poison 90 — Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Confused and Poisoned.
86/172	Sneasel
Card text Scratch 10 Slash 20
87/172	Weavile
Card text Ransack — Flip 2 coins. If either of them is heads, your opponent reveals their hand. For each heads, choose a card you find there and put it on the bottom of your opponent’s deck in any order. Slash 100
88/172	Honchkrow V
Card text Ability — Boss Pockets: This Pokémon may have up to 4 Pokémon Tools attached to it. If it loses this Ability, discard Pokémon Tools from it until only 1 remains. Fearsome Shadow 130 — Your opponent reveals their hand.
89/172	Spiritomb
Card text Ticking Terror — Until the end of your next turn, the Defending Pokémon’s Weakness is now Darkness. (The amount of Weakness doesn’t change.) Cursed Drop — Put 2 damage counters on your opponent’s Pokémon in any way you like.
90/172	Purrloin
Card text Surprise Attack 30 — Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
91/172	Liepard
Card text Ability — Trade: You must discard a card from your hand in order to use this Ability. Once during your turn, you may draw 2 cards. Slash 60
92/172	Impidimp
Card text Call for Family — Search your deck for a Basic Pokémon and put it onto your Bench. Then, shuffle your deck. Bite 30
93/172	Morgrem
Card text Smash Kick 30 Pierce 50
94/172	Grimmsnarl
Card text Longhair Shot — This attack does 30 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon for each Darkness Energy attached to this Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Darkness Fang 110
95/172	Morpeko V
Card text Gnaw and Run 30 — You may switch this Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon. Hangry Spike 120+ — If you played Marnie’s Pride from your hand during this turn, this attack does 120 more damage.
96/172	Aggron V
Card text Rock Slide 90 — This attack also does 30 damage to 2 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Merciless Strike 150+ — If your opponent’s Active Pokémon already has any damage counters on it, this attack does 150 more damage.
97/172	Aggron VMAX
Card text Cracking Stomp 150 — Discard the top card of your opponent’s deck. Max Take Down 270 — This Pokémon also does 30 damage to itself.
98/172	Wormadam
Card text Matron’s Anger 30+ — This attack does 10 more damage for each Pokémon in your discard pile. Scrap Drop 90
99/172	Probopass
Card text Magnetic Tension — Switch 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon. This attack does 40 damage to the new Active Pokémon. Iron Tackle 120 — This Pokémon also does 20 damage to itself.
100/172	Heatran
Card text Guard Claw 30 — During your opponent’s next turn, this Pokémon takes 30 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Iron Hammer 80+ — If this Pokémon has any Fire Energy attached, this attack does 80 more damage.
101/172	Escavalier
Card text Ability — Miraculous Armor: This Pokémon takes 100 less damage from attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon V (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Pike 90 — This attack also does 30 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
102/172	Klink
Card text Vise Grip 10 Spinning Attack 20
103/172	Klang
Card text Beam 20 Guard Press 70 — During your opponent’s next turn, this Pokémon takes 30 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
104/172	Klinklang
Card text Ability — Gear Wall: Your Basic Pokémon take 20 less damage from attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Tumbling Attack 90+ — Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 90 more damage.
105/172	Zamazenta V
Card text Ability — Regal Stance: Once during your turn, you may discard your hand and draw 5 cards. If you use this Ability, your turn ends. Revenge Blast 120+ — This attack does 30 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
106/172	Flygon V
Card text Sand Spray 70 Draconic Impulse 160+ — If your opponent’s Active Pokémon is a Pokémon VMAX, this attack does 160 more damage, and discard 3 Energy from this Pokémon.
107/172	Gible
Card text Gnaw 30
108/172	Gabite
Card text Dragon Claw 70
109/172	Garchomp
Card text Ability — Sonic Slip: When you play this Pokémon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon during your turn, you may prevent all damage from and effects of attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon done to this Pokémon until the end of your opponent’s next turn. Dragonblade 160 — Discard the top 2 cards of your deck.
110/172	Axew
Card text Ultra Evolution — Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a Haxorus and put it onto this Axew to evolve it. Then, shuffle your deck.
111/172	Fraxure
Card text Sharp Fang 30 Dragon Claw 60
112/172	Haxorus
Card text Slash 60 Wild Axe 160 — This Pokémon also does 30 damage to itself.
113/172	Druddigon
Card text Revenge 40+ — If any of your Pokémon were Knocked Out by damage from an attack from your opponent’s Pokémon during their last turn, this attack does 120 more damage. Dragon Claw 120
114/172	Dracovish V
Card text Slosh ‘n’ Crash 60+ — Before doing damage, discard all Pokémon Tools from your opponent’s Active Pokémon. If you discarded a Pokémon Tool in this way, this attack does 120 more damage. Dragon Strike 210 — During your next turn, this Pokémon can’t use Dragon Strike.
115/172	Farfetch’d
Card text Leek Lash 20+ — This attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
116/172	Castform
Card text Double Draw — Draw 2 cards. Hurricane 30 — Move a basic Energy from this Pokémon to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
117/172	Starly
Card text Claw 30 — Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
118/172	Staravia
Card text Wing Attack 50
119/172	Staraptor
Card text Strong Breeze — Your opponent shuffles their Active Pokémon and all attached cards into their deck. Spinning Bird 180 — Discard 2 Energy from this Pokémon.
120/172	Bidoof
Card text Rollout 30
121/172	Bibarel
Card text Ability — Industrious Incisors: Once during your turn, you may draw cards until you have 5 cards in your hand. Tail Smash 100 — Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
122/172	Arceus V
Card text Trinity Charge — Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon V in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck. Power Edge 130
123/172	Arceus VSTAR
Card text Trinity Nova 200 — Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon V in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.
124/172	Minccino
Card text Call for Family — Search your deck for up to 2 Basic Pokémon and put them onto your Bench. Then, shuffle your deck. Pound 10
125/172	Cinccino
Card text Slap 40 Triple Axel 50× — Flip 3 coins. This attack does 50 damage for each heads.
126/172	Tornadus
Card text Ability — Sudden Cyclone: When you play this Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench, you may have your opponent switch his or her Active Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon. Blasting Wind 100
127/172	Hawlucha
Card text Showboating Pose — Attach up to 2 basic Energy cards from your discard pile to 1 of your Benched Pokémon. Cross-Cut 30+ — If your opponent’s Active Pokémon is an Evolution Pokémon, this attack does 30 more damage.
128/172	Drampa V
Card text Spike Draw 20 — Draw 2 cards. Dragon Pulse 160 — Discard the top 2 cards of your deck.
129/172	Acerola’s Premonition	T
Card text —
130/172	Barry	T
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131/172	Blunder Policy	T
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132/172	Boss’s Orders	T
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133/172	Café Master	T
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134/172	Cheren’s Care	T
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135/172	Choice Belt	T
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136/172	Cleansing Gloves	T
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137/172	Collapsed Stadium	T
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138/172	Cynthia’s Ambition	T
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139/172	Fresh Water Set	T
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140/172	Friends in Galar	T
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141/172	Gloria	T
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142/172	Hunting Gloves	T
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143/172	Kindler	T
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144/172	Magma Basin	T
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145/172	Marnie’s Pride	T
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146/172	Pot Helmet	T
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147/172	Professor’s Research	T
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148/172	Roseanne’s Backup	T
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149/172	Team Yell’s Cheer	T
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150/172	Ultra Ball	T
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151/172	Double Turbo Energy	E
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152/172	Shaymin V
Card text Flap 30 Revenge Blast 60+ — This attack does 40 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
153/172	Charizard V
Card text Incinerate 90 — Before doing damage, discard all Pokémon Tools from your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Heat Blast 180
154/172	Charizard V
Card text Incinerate 90 — Before doing damage, discard all Pokémon Tools from your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Heat Blast 180
155/172	Lumineon V
Card text Ability — Luminous Sign: When you play this Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench during your turn, you may search your deck for a Supporter card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. Aqua Return 120 — Shuffle this Pokémon and all attached cards into your deck.
156/172	Lumineon V
Card text Ability — Luminous Sign: When you play this Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench during your turn, you may search your deck for a Supporter card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. Aqua Return 120 — Shuffle this Pokémon and all attached cards into your deck.
157/172	Pikachu V
Card text Lightning Blast 100+ — You may discard all Lightning Energy from this Pokémon. If you do, this attack does 120 more damage.
158/172	Raichu V
Card text Fast Charge — If you go first, you can use this attack during your first turn. Search your deck for a Lightning Energy card and attach it to this Pokémon. Then, shuffle your deck. Dynamic Spark 60× — You may discard any amount of Lightning Energy from your Pokémon. This attack does 60 damage for each card you discarded in this way.
159/172	Granbull V
Card text Chomp 30+ — This attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on this Pokémon. Bull Dash 190 — This Pokémon also does 30 damage to itself.
160/172	Whimsicott V
Card text Fluff Gets in the Way 20 — If the Defending Pokémon is a Basic Pokémon, it can’t attack during your opponent’s next turn. Cotton Guard 90 — During your opponent’s next turn, this Pokémon takes 30 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
161/172	Honchkrow V
Card text Ability — Boss Pockets: This Pokémon may have up to 4 Pokémon Tools attached to it. If it loses this Ability, discard Pokémon Tools from it until only 1 remains. Fearsome Shadow 130 — Your opponent reveals their hand.
162/172	Honchkrow V
Card text Ability — Boss Pockets: This Pokémon may have up to 4 Pokémon Tools attached to it. If it loses this Ability, discard Pokémon Tools from it until only 1 remains. Fearsome Shadow 130 — Your opponent reveals their hand.
163/172	Zamazenta V
Card text Ability — Regal Stance: Once during your turn, you may discard your hand and draw 5 cards. If you use this Ability, your turn ends. Revenge Blast 120+ — This attack does 30 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
164/172	Flygon V
Card text Sand Spray 70 Draconic Impulse 160+ — If your opponent’s Active Pokémon is a Pokémon VMAX, this attack does 160 more damage, and discard 3 Energy from this Pokémon.
165/172	Arceus V
Card text Trinity Charge — Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon V in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck. Power Edge 130
166/172	Arceus V
Card text Trinity Charge — Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon V in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck. Power Edge 130
167/172	Barry	T
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168/172	Cheren’s Care	T
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169/172	Cynthia’s Ambition	T
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170/172	Kindler	T
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171/172	Marnie’s Pride	T
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172/172	Roseanne’s Backup	T
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173/172	Shaymin VSTAR
Card text Revenge Blast 120+ — This attack does 40 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
174/172	Charizard VSTAR
Card text Explosive Fire 130+ — If this Pokémon has any damage counters on it, this attack does 100 more damage. Star Blaze 320 — Discard 2 Energy from this Pokémon. (You can’t use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)
175/172	Whimsicott VSTAR
Card text Trick Wind 160 — During your opponent’s next turn, they can’t play any Pokémon Tool or Special Energy cards from their hand. Fluffball Star — This attack does 60 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon for each Energy attached to this Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) (You can’t use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)
176/172	Arceus VSTAR
Card text Trinity Nova 200 — Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon V in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.
177/172	Cheren’s Care	T
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178/172	Cynthia’s Ambition	T
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179/172	Kindler	T
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180/172	Roseanne’s Backup	T
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181/172	Galarian Articuno V
Card text Ability — Reconstitute: You must discard 2 cards from your hand in order to use this Ability. Once during your turn, you may draw a card. Psyray 110 — Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Confused.
182/172	Galarian Zapdos V
Card text Ability — Fighting Instinct: This Pokémon’s attacks cost Colorless less for each of your opponent’s Pokémon V in play. Thunderous Kick 170 — Before doing damage, discard a Special Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
183/172	Galarian Moltres V
Card text Ability — Direflame Wings: Once during your turn, you may attach a Darkness Energy card from your discard pile to this Pokémon. You can’t use more than 1 Direflame Wings Ability each turn. Aura Burn 190 — This Pokémon also does 30 damage to itself.
184/172	Arceus VSTAR
Card text Trinity Nova 200 — Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon V in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.
185/172	Magma Basin	T
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186/172	Ultra Ball	T
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Trainer Gallery Card List

The full 30-card Trainer Gallery (TG01–TG30). Cards TG01–TG23 are character-art Pokémon; TG24 (Acerola’s Premonition) and TG25 (Café Master) are full-art Supporters; TG26–TG28 are the Character cards Gloria and the two Mustards; and TG29–TG30 are the rainbow Character Super Rare Urshifu VMAX. Click any card to enlarge.

TG24 · Acerola's Premonition — TG24 · Acerola’s Premonition

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

Brilliant Stars is a collector’s set, and its ceiling is set by one card in particular. Approximate near-mint raw prices are given as a guide only — the market moves constantly.

Charizard V — 154/172 (Alternate Art)

The undisputed crown jewel of the set and one of the most beloved modern Charizard cards. Its brooding full-body illustration — Charizard perched against a dark sky — made it an instant grail, and its value has only climbed over the years (roughly $250–300 raw, with gem-mint PSA 10 copies commanding many times that). More than any other card, this is why people cracked Brilliant Stars packs.

Umbreon VMAX — TG23 (Trainer Gallery)

The breakout star of the very first Trainer Gallery. A gorgeous character-art Umbreon that rode the enormous “Eeveelution alt art” wave and has appreciated hard ever since — commonly $80–100 raw and climbing. Alongside the Evolving Skies “Moonbreon,” it cemented Umbreon as the most collected modern Eeveelution.

Charizard VSTAR — 174/172 (Secret Art)

The premium, alternate-art secret version of the set’s Charizard VSTAR and the natural companion chase to the 154 alt art. A striking full-art card that trades in the $50–70 range raw, with graded copies well beyond.

Sylveon VMAX — TG15 (Trainer Gallery)

The Trainer Gallery’s other Eeveelution headliner — a soft, elegant character-art Sylveon that has followed Umbreon’s upward trajectory, typically $50–70 raw. Together the two make the first Trainer Gallery one of the most desirable subsets of the era.

Arceus VSTAR — 184/172 (Gold Secret)

The gold “hyper rare” version of the set’s mascot, and the top-numbered card in the set. A premium collector chase for the face of Brilliant Stars (roughly $15–25 raw), joined by the beautiful alternate-art Arceus VSTAR at 176/172.

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

On the competitive table, Brilliant Stars was one of the most format-defining sets of the entire Sword & Shield era — largely because of a single colorless VSTAR.

Arceus VSTAR — 123/172

Arguably the most important competitive card of 2022–2023. Its VSTAR Power Ability, Star Birth, lets you search your deck for any 2 cards once per game — a colorless, universal tutor that sets up almost any turn perfectly. Its attack, Trinity Nova (200 damage), then accelerates up to three basic Energy onto your Pokémon V, powering a bigger partner on the Bench. As a splashable two-prize attacker that fuels the rest of the deck, “Arceus VSTAR + partner” became the defining archetype of the format.

Charizard VSTAR — 018/172

A heavy-hitting Fire attacker and a marquee card of the set. Its VSTAR Power attack, Star Blaze, deals a huge 320 damage (discarding 2 Energy), enough to one-shot almost anything in the format, while Explosive Fire gives it an efficient turn-to-turn option. Paired with Arceus VSTAR’s energy acceleration, it anchored one of the era’s most popular decks.

Whimsicott VSTAR — 065/172

A clever, disruptive VSTAR. Trick Wind (160 damage) stops your opponent from playing Pokémon Tools or Special Energy from hand on their next turn, and its VSTAR Power attack Fluffball Star snipes 60 damage for each Energy attached — a flexible control piece that showed off just how varied VSTAR Powers could be.

Trivia

Brilliant Stars is the only set to debut two lasting features at once: the Pokémon VSTAR mechanic and the Trainer Gallery subset both began here, and both ran through the rest of the Sword & Shield era.
The mechanic launched on the back of Arceus, the “Alpha/God Pokémon” — a perfect fit for the “star birth” creation theme and the set’s constellation branding, “Constellations Align in a Show of Force!”
The set rode a wave of Arceus hype: Pokémon Legends: Arceus released on Nintendo Switch on 28 January 2022, right between the Japanese and English TCG launches.
The Trainer Gallery revived the “character + Pokémon” art style that collectors had missed since the Sun & Moon era, and immediately produced two of the most collected modern cards in Umbreon VMAX (TG23) and Sylveon VMAX (TG15).
Every Trainer Gallery card was adapted from the Japanese high-class set VMAX Climax, which had introduced the “Character Rare” and “Character Super Rare” styles in Japan.
VSTAR replaced GX as the game’s “one big play per game” mechanic — but because a VSTAR Power can be an Ability rather than only an attack, it proved far more flexible and powerful than GX ever was.
A VSTAR gives up only two Prize cards when Knocked Out — the same as a basic Pokémon V, and one fewer than a VMAX — which is exactly what made Arceus VSTAR so dominant.
Boosters shipped with a physical VSTAR marker card so players could track their once-per-game VSTAR Power at the table.