Thetwo special sets focused on Pokémon from the Unova region. Black Bolt and White Flare (the Japanese names of the two sets) will feature all 156 Pokémon originally introduced in Pokémon Black and White. The set will also introduce Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare versions of all 156 Pokémon, providing a mega-sized set containing well over 300 cards.

In addition to the bounty of Illustration Rare cards in the set, the Pokémon TCG also announced a new kind of "BWR" rare card. These are monochromatic textured cards, with the coloration seemingly tied to the Pokémon featured on the card. Reshiram's BWR is white, while Zekrom's BWR card is entirely black. Unlike gold rare cards, which feature entirely gold backgrounds but feature the Pokémon in their typical coloration, these new cards use shading and foil texturing to depict the Pokémon artwork. No word on how rare these cards will be, but a red Victini BWR promo card is limited to prizes in a tournament and 2,000 lottery winners.

New Cards Bring Visually Distinct Identity to Pokémon TCG

BWR Cards Are Monochrome, Feature Legendary Pokémon

Currently, the Pokémon Trading Card Game offers four kinds of Secret Rare cards. In addition to Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards, the Pokémon TCG also offers Full Art cards and Gold Rare cards. However, almost all chase cards in a set is tied to Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards, with other kinds of rare cards mostly forgotten about due to their lack of a distinctive visual identity. Even the Gold Rare cards, which are supposed to be the rarest cards in a set, typically sell for less than their Special Illustration Rare counterparts.

The new BWR rarity offers something interesting and different to the Pokémon TCG. Not only are the new cards the first new kind of rare card to debut in the Pokémon TCG since Illustration Rare cards, they also have a more dynamic visual look compared to other cards. Zekrom and Reshiram both appear to be emerging from the card itself due to the texturing and overall design of the card.

While a monochrome art style might not work with every Pokémon, the BWR cards we've seen so far look fantastic and exciting. They're a definite upgrade over other non-Illustration Rare cards, in part because they have a distinct look that other cards are missing.

BWR Rarity Cards Offer A Big Upgrade Over Full Art Cards

New Cards Offer Much More Dynamic Art Style Compared To Other Rare Cards

The BWR rare cards might finally be the missing piece in the Pokémon TCG's rarity problem. Since the release of Illustration Rare and Secret Illustration Rare cards, other kinds of "Secret Rare" cards have been overshadowed due to the distinctive illustrations of the new set. For instance, Full Art cards typically feature a full art illustration of the Pokémon made by one of Pokémon's in house 3D art team behind a vibrant color background.

However, these cards just don't have the visual pop that Illustration Rare and Special Illustration cards do. Full Art cards don't have the same demand as Special Illustration Rare cards, which is reflected in lower prices on the secondary market. While it's likely that BWR cards will replace Gold Rare cards in this new set and only this new set, the Pokémon TCG should experiment with keeping them on as a permanent part of the Pokémon TCG game.

These cards look a lot cooler than Gold Rare or Full Art cards, and it's likely that they'll be more exciting to pull or collect than Gold Rare cards are. These BWR cards look to be chase cards in the truest sense of the word, and it would be foolish for the Pokémon TCG to not consider keeping the cards, especially as it enters a new era of the game.