The next Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion Lost Origin arrives in September, and it will take the TCG back to the Hisuian region for another round of cards themed around Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

The set includes a total of 217 cards, featuring Pokemon, items, and Trainers found while playing Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Hisuian Zoroark is the poster Pokemon for the set, with Hisuian Goodra, Magnezone, Aerodactyl, and Giratina also heavily featured. A subset of 30 promo cards can also be found in Lost Origin packs, offering full-art variants of Snorlax, Parasect, Pikachu, Eternatus, and more.

The Lost Origin expansion marks the return of a previously discontinued game mechanic: the Lost Zone. This mechanic works like the "exile" mechanic in Magic: The Gathering, removing cards sent to the Lost Zone from play for the remainder of the game. Some Pokemon in the set--particularly Giratina--use the Lost Zone to its advantage, powering attacks or enhancing abilities based on the numbers of cards in the Lost Zone.

The Pokemon TCG Lost Origin expansion will be available September 9 for prices ranging from $5 for a pack of 10 cards to $50 for premium box sets. We recently opened nearly 10 packs from the new expansion--including some from the Elite Trainer Box. These are our favorite cards pulled from those packs.

Hisuian Goodra V

The first regional variant we pulled from our packs, Hisuian Goodra V will feature heavily in decks designed to stall thanks to its attacks: one that can make an opponent switch Pokemon and another that raises Goodra's defenses.

Cresselia

Cresselia does not receive any V or V-Star cards in Lost Origin, but the holographic rare card has one of the most beautiful portraits in the entire set. That Moonglow Reverse attack is interesting, too, especially for a single Psychic energy.

Rotom V (Secret Rainbow Rare)

We had a stroke of luck this time around, pulling a hard-to-find secret rainbow rare variant! This time it was Rotom V, who can both stock your hand and deliver massive damage late in a game...just not in the same turn.

Radiant Gardevoir

Radiant Pokemon have returned in Lost Origin after debuting in Astral Radiance and appearing in the Pokemon Go expansion. These one-copy-per-deck variants can make an instant impact in a match, like this Radiant Gardevoir, which immediately reduces damage to all of your Pokemon from Pokemon V attackers.

Snorlax (Full-Art Subset Promo)

This fantastic full-art promo--one of two we pulled from this set--features the portly Pokemon Snorlax in the middle of a feeding session. All that food has built up a resistance to card effects apparently, as Snorlax's ability makes it immune to any opposing card's effects outside of damage.

Spiritomb (Full-Art Subset Promo)

The second full-art promo we pulled, the spooky Spiritomb is seen casting a shadow over its trainer as she looks wistfully out of her window. The Cursed Message ability makes Spiritomb a good choice for a starting Pokemon, as it lets you search your deck for anything you like when it is knocked out. Considering its HP is only 60, that may only take one attack.

Shiftry

Like Cresselia earlier, Shiftry is a great example of a Pokemon receiving magnificent artwork without needing to be a full-art card like a Pokemon V or a subset promo. This card also highlights the new Lost Zone mechanic, as both of its attacks can fuel the engine for a Giratina V or V-STAR waiting in the wings.

Honchkrow (Reverse Holographic)

Look, Honchkrow here doesn't have a moveset that will break the game, and the reverse holographic format means the artwork itself isn't glowing like the rest of the card. However, that Honchkrow looks so intimidating we just had to feature it. We're not going to mess with that bird, and neither should you.

Kingdra (Reverse Holographic)

Water-type decks have been powerhouses in the Trading Card Game meta for a long time now, and this Kingdra card could potentially make those decks even stronger. The Seething Currents ability means Kingdra can either replenish your hand or disrupt the opponent's hand every single turn, giving it a tremendous amount of control as soon as it hits the table.

Komala

We wrap things up with a basic uncommon card that, on the surface, has nothing noteworthy to mention. However, the abilities it possesses, coupled with the flexibility of being colorless, make this card a stalwart early-game option that will buy you time to strategize with little risk. Its one attack forces it to sleep, while its ability says that an opponent cannot take any Prize cards if Komala is knocked out while asleep. That nifty one-two punch can fit into any deck immediately, making Komala a potential standout from the Lost Origin set.