# When did Fusion Strike come out?

> Fusion Strike was released on 12 November 2021, in the Sword & Shield series.
>
> Source: https://www.nomekop.app/faqs/when-did-fusion-strike-come-out — NOMEKOP, an independent Pokémon TCG binder tool
> (not affiliated with Nintendo / The Pokémon Company). Figures as of June 2026.

**Fusion Strike was released on 12 November 2021, in the Sword & Shield series.**

## Fusion Strike release date

Fusion Strike launched on 12 November 2021 as a Sword & Shield-series expansion. It carries 264 main-set cards, or 284 counting its 20 secret rares — the largest set Nomekop tracks by printed count, with 0 Illustration and Special Illustration Rares in the pool and marquee Pokémon like Gengar, Espeon, Mew, Celebi and Genesect.

## What the 2021 set brought

The standout cards that arrived with Fusion Strike:

- [Gengar VMAX (#271)](/card/swsh8-271) — Rare Rainbow (~$979.95)
- [Espeon VMAX (#270)](/card/swsh8-270) — Rare Rainbow (~$343.15)
- [Mew VMAX (#269)](/card/swsh8-269) — Rare Rainbow (~$253.06)
- [Mew V (#251)](/card/swsh8-251) — Rare Ultra (~$114.13)
- [Mew VMAX (#268)](/card/swsh8-268) — Rare Rainbow (~$108.00)

Its top card on the secondary market is Gengar VMAX (#271), around $979.95.

## Star Pokémon from the Fusion Strike release

The marquee Pokémon that debuted (or returned) in Fusion Strike, with their prints:

- **Gengar** — Gengar VMAX (#271)
- **Espeon** — Espeon VMAX (#270)
- **Mew** — Mew V (#250), Mew V (#251), Mew VMAX (#268), Mew VMAX (#269)
- **Celebi** — Celebi V (#245)
- **Genesect** — Genesect V (#254), Genesect V (#255)

## Where Fusion Strike sits in the lineup

Among the sets Nomekop tracks, Fusion Strike is the largest set Nomekop tracks. A full master set of it runs to 501 cards including 217 reverse holos, so the 12 November 2021 release still gives collectors plenty to chase well after launch day — whether you're after the 264-card base set or every print.

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