# When did Evolving Skies come out?

> Evolving Skies was released on 27 August 2021, in the Sword & Shield series.
>
> Source: https://www.nomekop.app/faqs/when-did-evolving-skies-come-out — NOMEKOP, an independent Pokémon TCG binder tool
> (not affiliated with Nintendo / The Pokémon Company). Figures as of June 2026.

**Evolving Skies was released on 27 August 2021, in the Sword & Shield series.**

## Evolving Skies release date

Evolving Skies launched on 27 August 2021 as a Sword & Shield-series expansion. It carries 203 main-set cards, or 237 counting its 34 secret rares — the #3 largest set Nomekop tracks by printed count, with 0 Illustration and Special Illustration Rares in the pool and marquee Pokémon like Umbreon, Rayquaza, Dragonite, Leafeon and Sylveon.

## What the 2021 set brought

The standout cards that arrived with Evolving Skies:

- [Umbreon VMAX (#215)](/card/swsh7-215) — Rare Rainbow (~$2,270.18)
- [Rayquaza VMAX (#218)](/card/swsh7-218) — Rare Rainbow (~$1,047.06)
- [Dragonite V (#192)](/card/swsh7-192) — Rare Ultra (~$506.45)
- [Rayquaza V (#194)](/card/swsh7-194) — Rare Ultra (~$447.29)
- [Leafeon VMAX (#205)](/card/swsh7-205) — Rare Rainbow (~$393.63)

Its top card on the secondary market is Umbreon VMAX (#215), around $2,270.18.

## Star Pokémon from the Evolving Skies release

The marquee Pokémon that debuted (or returned) in Evolving Skies, with their prints:

- **Umbreon** — Umbreon V (#188), Umbreon V (#189), Umbreon VMAX (#214), Umbreon VMAX (#215)
- **Rayquaza** — Rayquaza V (#193), Rayquaza V (#194), Rayquaza VMAX (#217), Rayquaza VMAX (#218)
- **Dragonite** — Dragonite V (#191), Dragonite V (#192)
- **Leafeon** — Leafeon V (#166), Leafeon V (#167), Leafeon VMAX (#204), Leafeon VMAX (#205)
- **Sylveon** — Sylveon V (#183), Sylveon V (#184), Sylveon VMAX (#211), Sylveon VMAX (#212)

## Where Evolving Skies sits in the lineup

Among the sets Nomekop tracks, Evolving Skies is the #3 largest set Nomekop tracks. A full master set of it runs to 369 cards including 132 reverse holos, so the 27 August 2021 release still gives collectors plenty to chase well after launch day — whether you're after the 203-card base set or every print.

Figures from the pokemontcg.io dataset, as of June 2026.