The upcoming Pokémon TCG: Hidden Fates expansion is unlike most Pokémon TCG expansions that you might be used to. In addition to the 68 cards in the main set, this expansion also features a Shiny Vault filled with Shiny Pokémon, full-art Trainer cards, and rare Secret cards that sport a golden hue. This 94-card subset features cards from previous Sun & Moon expansions, which range from powerful tournament cards to fun fan favorites. All 94 cards have amazing etched artwork for fans to collect.

Because the Shiny Vault cards are all from previous expansions, they are specially marked to indicate whether they’re legal for tournament play in the Standard format. As an example, let’s take a look at the Charizard-GX from Hidden Fates.

All cards in the Shiny Vault are marked with the Yellow A Alternate symbol (see callout A in the above diagram), meaning that each one is an existing card reprinted with a new illustration. Instead of the Hidden Fates expansion symbol, each card carries the symbol of its original expansion (callout B). This Charizard-GX has the expansion symbol from Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows, which signifies that it’s an alternate illustration of the Charizard-GX from that expansion.

Unlike regular Yellow A Alternate cards, the Shiny Vault cards have their own collector card numbers in order to denote that these cards are from Hidden Fates (callout C). When considering tournament legality, the important thing to look at is the expansion symbol. If the Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows expansion isn’t legal in the Standard format, then this Charizard-GX isn’t either.

By the time Hidden Fates is released, many of the Shiny Vault cards won’t be legal in the Standard format, but they can still be used in the Expanded format. And of course, they will still be awesome additions to your Pokémon TCG collection!

With 94 cards in the Shiny Vault, the Pokémon TCG: Hidden Fates expansion has more etched cards than any other expansion in the history of the Pokémon TCG. Remember that Hidden Fates booster packs will not be sold separately. Instead, look for these incredible cards in special collections beginning August 23, 2019, at the Pokémon Center and where Pokémon TCG products are sold.