The seventh expansion set in the Sword and Shield series has been announced. It will be called Evolving Skies and is scheduled for release on 27th August 2021.
The release comes just two months after the sixth expansion – Chilling Reign which was pushed back from the normal release schedule to June due to supply problems.
The colouring and design of the logo has prompted much speculation about the set.
Evolving Skies Speculation
Two Japanese sets are scheduled to release in July – Sky Stream and Towering Perfection. Each set contains 67 cards and it is widely believed that these sets may form the base for Evolving Skies. If this were the case it would give the set 134 cards without secret rares.
The colours used for the new logo are very similar that of XY Roaring Skies which was released in May 2015. The inclusion of ‘Skies’ in the name of both has given further credence to the theory that Evolving Skies may be based on Roaring Skies or have some similarities to it.
The Roaring Skies set is centred around 
Rayquaza and the colours used for the logo reflect those of this legendary Pokémon.
Rayquaza could therefore play a central part in Evolving Skies in much the same way as Urshifu has dominated Battle Styles. If this is the case we can expect V and VMAX cards as well as ultra and secret rare Rayquaza cards.
There is also much speculation based around the use of the word ‘Evolving’ in the name of the new set. Some commentators are suggesting that the highly anticipated Eevee Heroes, which was earlier rumoured to be an August release, could form a part of this set. Alternatively that set could have been pushed back to form part of the Anniversary Set later this year.
Booster Products Artwork
The artwork for the Booster Boxes and Booster Packs sees green and yellow featuring heavily as diagonal stripes across the top and bottom of the products. This reflects the colours used for the set logo.
Four different characters are featured on the Booster Packs – Rayquaza, Duraludon, Sylveon and Umbreon. All four characters are featured on the Booster Boxes.
Booster Boxes contain 36 Booster Packs and generally work out much cheaper than buying Booster Packs individually.
Elite Trainer Box Artwork
The artwork for the Evolving Skies Elite Trainer Boxes has also been revealed.
There will be an unprecedented four Elite Trainer Boxes released with the Evolving Skies expansion. Two will be regular Elite Trainer Boxes while the other two will be new Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes.
Each type of box is available in two colour schemes:
Orange, Yellow and Green featuring Umbreon, Flareon, Jolteon, and Leafeon
Pink, Blue and Purple featuring Sylveon, Vaporeon, Glaceon, and Espeon.
The contents of the regular boxes has been revealed and will include similar products to Elite Trainer Boxes of earlier sets including 8 Evolving Skies Booster Packs.
See also: Card List for Evolving Skies
