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District Noir by Pandasaurus Games Coming Soon

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Pandasaurus has announced a new 2 player set collection game District Noir is coming this summer. Preorders will start on May 19th with retail release planned for July 19th. District Noir was originally published in Japanese by Taikikennai Games in 2016 as Throne and Grail. It was then published in 2019 as Chocolate Factory by Nasza Księgarnia in Polish. The current art and theme was published last year in French by Spiral Éditions. When the time is right, gain control! At the head of the city’s largest criminal organizations, men and women fight to control territories and gain support by trying every means possible to grow their influence. Control of the District Noir, a central and highly contested area, remains the major issue that will make all the difference in dominating the city. There are two paths to victory: win over District Noir's various supports, or directly control the city’s three strategic locations. Before players can claim these, they must be played to the center

Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield Battle Styles Set Officially Revealed

The English set that will be based of the upcoming expansion Rapid Strike Master and Single Strike Master in Japan Battle Styles was announced. Sword and Shield Battle Styles will be SwSh 5 and be released on March 19th after Shining Fates (SwSh 4.5).

The set will include 163 cards (+ secret rares) including; 60 Battle Styles cards, 12 Pokémon V cards, 16 Full-art Pokémon V cards, 6 Pokémon VMAX cards, 19 Trainer cards, 6 Full-art Supporter cards, and 2 Special Energy cards.

  • English: Battle Styles
  • French: Styles de Combat
  • German: Kampfstile
  • Italian: Stili di Lotta
  • Spanish: Estilos de Combate
  • Brazilian Portuguese: Estilos de Batalha

New Mechanics

This new set introduces a mechanic similar to prior expansions like Black and White's Team Plasma and Team Magma where cards belong to one of two Battle Styles, either Rapid Strike or Single Strike. These cards will have abilities and trainers that allow you to draw cards with this typing or enhance them with special energy or items.

In addition they have created a new mechanic that involves EX, GX, V and other cards with Rule Boxes. The Empoleon card has an ability that stops all Basic Pokémon's Abilities unless they have a Rule Box. This is a great way to keep new cards and existing cards from being played as unintended and getting banned in the future.

Products

As previously revealed by distributors the set will include;

  • Booster Packs (MSRP $3.99)
  • Mini Portfolio (MSRP $4.99)
  • 1-Pack Checklane Blisters (MSRP $4.99)
  • 3-Pack Blisters (MSRP $12.99)
  • Checklane Evo Blister (MSRP $5.99)
  • Elite Trainer Box (MSRP $39.99)

You will also note the lack of Theme Decks, which confirms my beliefs that the new V Battle Decks would be replacing them. I'm still curious how this will impact the Pokémon TCG and if they will just allow all purchased decks including Battle Arena and Battle League Decks to be played.

Revealed Cards

For additional Pokémon and Trainers including the Japanese Promos that will most likely come in future V Boxes and Tins see the Single Strike Rapid Strike article.

Official Description

Do you feel like taking your opponent down with a single, powerful punch—or seizing victory with clever, technical attacks that keep your opponent guessing? You'll soon get your choice with the release of the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Battle Styles expansion, coming March 19, 2021. The expansion will debut an exciting new gameplay mechanic called Battle Styles, introducing two different forms of attack: Single Strike and Rapid Strike. The former is the Pokémon equivalent of a throwing a knockout punch; the latter is like a chess game using tactical attacks to build steadily to victory.

Single Strike cards are accented with red, while Rapid Strike cards are adorned in blue. Additionally, both Trainer and Energy cards are available in Single Strike and Rapid Strike Styles to help Trainers develop a deck around their Battle Style of choice.

The Sword & Shield—Battle Styles expansion will include Battle Style Pokémon such as Single Strike Urshifu V, Rapid Strike Urshifu V, Single Strike Tyranitar V, and Rapid Strike Empoleon V, among others. Combine previously introduced VMAX mechanics with the new Battle Styles, and you get Single Strike Urshifu VMAX and Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX in their Gigantamax forms.

Here's what else you can expect from the Sword & Shield—Battle Styles expansion coming out in booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes, and special collections:

  • 60 Battle Styles cards
  • 12 Pokémon V and 16 full-art Pokémon V
  • 6 Pokémon VMAX
  • 19 Trainer cards and 6 full-art Supporter cards
  • 2 Special Energy cards

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