This week, Pokémon begins to roll out its long-awaited Pokémon GO TCG crossover that introduces several never before seen features and mechanics to the quarter-century-old trading card game. Panini releases the annual premium 2021 Flawless Football set alongside the volcanic-inspired 2021-22 Obsidian Soccer, and Topps debuts 2021-22 Chrome UEFA Women’s Champions League Soccer as a traditional release for the first time in its history. Read up on all of these releases and more in this week’s installment of The Rip.
Pokémon GO TCG (Japanese Release)
The most highly-anticipated Pokémon release of the season begins rolling out this week with the Japanese edition of the Pokémon GO Trading Card Game crossover set finally hitting shelves in Japan this week. The set will introduce several new Radiant Pokémon, which are very powerful Pokémon that differ from their species’ traditional coloring. The lineup of Radiant Pokémon in the GO set includes several fan favorites including Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, and Eevee. One other surprise making its debut is peelable cards that appear to be a different Pokémon, but when the sticker is stripped off the surface it reveals the master of shape shifting, Ditto.
The Pokémon GO TCG Japanese Edition will be released through several different products including a Special Set and a Card File, in addition to Booster Boxes. The Pokémon GO TCG (Japanese) Booster Box comes packed with six cards per pack, and 20 booster packs total.
The whole collection of Pokémon GO TCG products will begin hitting Japanese Pokémon Center shelves on June 17th. The English language version of the set will see its release in just a few weeks on July 1st.
2021 Panini Flawless Football
On the heels of Flawless Basketball making waves throughout the hobby with the recent auction of the LeBron James triple logo man, the high-end 2021 Panini Flawless Football is ready for its release. The entire checklist holds cards that feature print runs of 25 copies or less with each card in the set containing a gemstone, anon-card autograph, a premium patch from a player’s uniform, or a combination of those features. While the set carries plenty of star power, Rookie Patch Autographs (RPAs) will be among the most sought-after cards. This batch of RPAs will supply collectors with rookies who made their NFL debut this past season like Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, plus more. Each player on the RPA checklist will also have a one-of-one Platinum NFL Shield card to chase after.
Inside the 2021 Panini Flawless Football Hobby Box, you will find ten total cards including six autographs, two to three memorabilia cards, and one or two Gem cards.
The 2021 Panini Flawless Football Hobby Box will be released on June 15th on the Panini Direct Store.
2021-22 Panini Obsidian Soccer
2021-22 Panini Obsidian Soccer is back for its third season, once again utilizing designs inspired by volcanic glass. The 100 card base set sees each card limited to 105 copies and features players from the top global clubs and national teams such as Luka Modric, Pedri, Kaka, plus more. The biggest hits that you can pull from each box include sticker autographs, relic cards, and the hobby favorite Color Blast insert featuring players against a rainbow of exploding color.
Inside the 2021-22 Panini Obsidian Soccer Hobby Box contains seven cards including four autographs or relic cards.
The 2021-22 Panini Obsidian Soccer Hobby Box will become available on June 15th on the Panini Direct Store.
2021-22 Topps Chrome UEFA Women’s Champions League Soccer
2021-22 Topps Chrome UEFA Women’s Champions League Soccer is a debut traditional release set for the top clubs across the European continent. Aside from the 100 card base set and its rainbow of limited print run color parallel editions, the 2021-22 Topps Chrome UEFA Women’s Champions League Soccer is slated to hold a subset of sticker autographs featuring a mix of current and rising stars.
The 2021-22 Topps Chrome UEFA Women’s Champions League Soccer Hobby Box carries four cards per pack, and 18 packs per box with the promise of one autograph per box.
You can look for the 2021-22 Topps Chrome UEFA Women’s Champions League Soccer Hobby Box starting on June 15th at local and online trading card hobby shops.
2021-22 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey
2021-22 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey marks the second installment of this year’s edition of the flagship product and brings with it a base set of 200 NHL Veterans, plus an additional 50 Young Guns Rookie cards. The first-year talents in the set include Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.
Much like Series 1, the 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 2 Hobby Box is loaded with eight cards per pack, and 24 packs per box, holding six Young Guns Rookie cards on average.
The 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Hobby Box will be released on June 15th at local and online trading card hobby shops, with retail products such as tins and blaster boxes stocking at Targets and Walmarts.
Pokémon Divergent Powers Tins
The Pokémon Divergent Powers Tins continue the journey into the Hisui region for the TCG. The three tins in the collection celebrate the Hisuian version of three different Pocket Monsters: Hisuian Decidueye V, Hisuian Typhlosion V, and Hisuian Samurott V.
Inside each Pokémon Divergent Powers Tin, you will find one of three foil promo cards in the form of Hisuian Decidueye V, Hisuian Typhlosion V, or Hisuian Samurott V, five Pokémon TCG booster packs, and a code for the online version of the Pokémon TCG.
The Pokémon Divergent Powers Tins will be released on June 17th wherever Pokémon cards are sold for a retail price of $25 per tin.
Pokémon Professor Juniper Premium Tournament Collection
The Pokémon Professor Juniper Premium Tournament Collection provides a jump-start for any trainer looking to launch their journey in the Unova region. Within the collection, you will add the expertise of Professor Juniper to your deck with a full-art foil Professor’s Research Supporter card featuring Professor Juniper, as well as three additional foil Professor’s Research Supporter cards, a variety of gameplay accessories, and seven Pokémon TCG booster packs.
You can look for the Pokémon Professor Juniper Premium Tournament Collection wherever Pokémon cards are sold starting on June 17th for a retail price of $40.
