VSTAR Universe Pre-Order Guide: Japanese Release Date and How to Buy

Updated November 8, 2026

📋 Full card list: VSTAR Universe card list → every card by number with rarity, individual card pages and in-stock PSA 10 prices.

A VSTAR Universe pre order is no longer possible, because the Japanese High Class Pack “VSTAR Universe” (S12a) went on sale on December 2, 2022 at 550 yen per pack, according to the official Pokémon Card site. You buy it today as a released product. This guide gives the date, the contents and the ways to buy from Tokyo.

What are the key facts about VSTAR Universe?

VSTAR Universe is the Sword & Shield series High Class Pack with set code S12a, released in Japan on December 2, 2022. The table below holds the facts that identify it, all taken from the official S12a page.

The official page lists the Japanese edition only; it carries no English-edition information. Everything in this guide therefore describes the Japanese product.

Can You Still Make a VSTAR Universe Pre Order?

No. A pre-order only exists before a release date, and the VSTAR Universe release date passed on December 2, 2022. Anyone searching for a VSTAR Universe pre order today is really looking for a way to buy a set that is already out.

That changes the question. For an unreleased product, the buyer’s worries are the release date, the price and whether an allocation will be secured. For S12a, those worries are replaced by a different one: finding a specific card you want in the condition you want. The official page describes what is inside a pack, but a pack is random. If you want one named card, such as a Charizard or a Mewtwo VSTAR, buying a pack gives you a chance and nothing more.

Our VSTAR Universe listings are PSA 10 graded singles. A graded card is a known card with a known grade, so you are not relying on the contents of a random pack. One example is the PSA 10 Radiant Charizard K, S12a 015/172. The product page describes PSA 10 as the highest grade certifiable by Professional Sports Authenticator, awarded only to cards in flawless, gem mint condition.

If you came here expecting a release-day checklist, the useful parts of that idea still apply. Know the exact set code, know the number printed on the card you want, and read the shipping and payment rules before you pay. The sections below cover each.

What is inside a VSTAR Universe pack?

A VSTAR Universe pack contains 10 randomly inserted cards, and the official page’s heading says one V, VSTAR or VMAX card is included in every pack. The pack costs 550 yen with tax at the official price.

The same page states that this set introduced two new rarities to the Pokémon Card Game: AR (Art Rare) and SAR (Special Art Rare). The page also notes a gallery featuring 16 illustrators, with a link to an interview.

The page does not state any odds for AR, SAR or any other rarity, and this guide does not either. If a site quotes a pull rate for S12a, it is not coming from the official page. For a packaging-level breakdown of the product, our VSTAR Universe box guide covers pack facts, AR and SAR.

Which cards did VSTAR Universe add or re-record?

The official page splits the set into re-recorded cards and new cards. The re-recorded group is led by Mew VMAX and Mew V, Arceus VMAX and Arceus V, Origin Forme Palkia VMAX and V, and Giratina VMAX and V. The new group includes Regigigas VSTAR and V, Hatterene VMAX and V, Simisear VSTAR and V, Radiant Eternatus, the Pokémon Tool Sky Seal Stone, and two Supporters.

One detail matters if you track first appearances: the page notes that Simisear V is a re-recorded card, even though it sits in the new-card list next to Simisear VSTAR. So “new” in the official list does not mean every card in that group is a first printing.

For the whole numbering, our VSTAR Universe (S12a) card list is the place to check.

What do the official card pages show for Mewtwo, Mew and Arceus?

The official card database lists the top-rarity cards with numbers above the printed set total of 172. Mewtwo VSTAR SAR is 221/172, Mew AR is 183/172 and Arceus VSTAR is 262/172.

The details below come from the individual database entries. Each number is as printed in the database, so you can match it to a card in hand or to a listing.

Some game text is useful to know. The Mewtwo VSTAR SAR has a VSTAR Power that deals 120 damage to each of the opponent’s Pokémon V, and its card text says the opponent takes 2 Prize cards when a Pokémon VSTAR is Knocked Out. Mewtwo V has two attacks, one for 50 damage and one for 160. The Mew AR has an Ability and a 30-damage attack. The Arceus VSTAR has a 200-damage attack and the Ability Star Birth; its VSTAR Power can be used once per game.

For a deeper look at each Pokémon, see our guides on the S12a Mewtwo cards and Mew AR 183 and Mew VMAX.

Which VSTAR Universe cards can you buy from us today?

We list PSA 10 graded singles from S12a, and the cards below are the ones on our product pages. Each listing names the set as High Class Pack “VSTAR Universe”, the card number and, where relevant, the rarity.

Radiant Charizard K appears on another product page and a third, and Rayquaza VMAX has a second listing as well. Because every graded copy is a separate physical card, pick the listing you want and check its page before you pay; availability is shown on each page.

All of these cards are PSA 10 (Gem Mint). The product pages carry one caution that is easy to miss: the PSA case may have minor scratches or marks on its surface.

If Charizard is your target, three different cards share the 013 to 015 numbers, and they are not interchangeable. Charizard V is 013/172, Charizard VSTAR is 014/172 and Radiant Charizard K is 015/172. Matching the number is a simple way to avoid ordering the wrong card. Our Charizard VSTAR Universe guide explains the SARs and the Radiant card in more detail.

Which listing should you choose if you are not sure?

Choose by the Pokémon you collect, then by the number. There is no official ranking of these cards, and this guide does not make a value call.

Here is a plain way to decide, using only what the listings and the official pages say.

• You collect Charizard: Start with Charizard VSTAR 014/172 if you want the VSTAR card, or Radiant Charizard K 015/172 if you want the Radiant card. Charizard V 013/172 is the RR card in the same run.
• You collect Mewtwo: The graded listing is Mewtwo VSTAR 051/172 (RRR). The SAR version at 221/172 is shown on the official database; our listings do not include it.
• You want a VMAX card: Rayquaza VMAX 108/172 is listed as RRR.
• You collect Gengar: Gengar 048/172 is the listing, and its product page does not state a rarity.

Our VSTAR Universe chase cards guide covers Charizard, Mewtwo VSTAR, Rayquaza VMAX and more if you want a longer survey of the set’s headline cards.

What are the Jumbo Card Collections that include VSTAR Universe packs?

They are three Sword & Shield products, Lapras, Mew and Latias, each priced at 1,980 yen including tax (suggested retail), and each includes 3 VSTAR Universe packs. The details come from the official announcement.

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The announcement highlights AR illustrations in these sets. We do not list these collections on our site, so treat the entry as background on how the set’s packs were distributed.

How does shipping work for a VSTAR Universe order?

Orders ship by FedEx, and our shipping policy lists two service levels, Standard and Expedited. Shipping cost is calculated automatically at checkout from your delivery address.

Those transit times are estimates only, not set delivery dates, and they start only after dispatch. Handling is separate: most orders are processed and shipped within 5 business days after PayPal or Wise payment has cleared. That is also an estimate, and business days exclude weekends and Japanese national holidays.

Graded cards carry one extra rule. PSA graded cards may also be offered through our other sales channels, so an item shown online may already be sold before the team locks the allocation for your order. Once your payment has cleared, we secure the PSA graded card matching your order, even if additional sourcing is required. In that case dispatch may take longer, and we provide status updates whenever the schedule changes. Check the delivery schedule shown or communicated for your order.

Other points from the policy that matter for a card order:

• There is no minimum order amount or quantity.
• FedEx cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes, so give a physical address.
• Check the address carefully. While an order is paid and its shipment is not yet scheduled, you can change the shipping address yourself under My Account > Orders. The destination country cannot be changed.
• After dispatch, delivery timing is controlled by the carrier and destination-country authorities. Customs inspections, import procedures and carrier congestion may delay delivery, and transit delays alone do not create a right to cancel or refund after dispatch.
• You can follow your order status in your customer account, and after dispatch you can see the tracking number and the carrier’s latest estimate there or in the shipping confirmation email.

How can you pay for a VSTAR Universe order?

We accept Wise bank transfer, PayPal, credit and debit cards through PayPal, and PayPal Pay Later where PayPal offers it. All payments are made in Japanese yen, according to our payment methods page.

For Wise, the deadline depends on your choice at checkout. Without a screenshot, an order is cancelled automatically if payment has not arrived within 12 hours, or 3 hours when the order contains a pre-order item. With a screenshot, you upload it within 5 days and your order price is held for a total of 10 days. The screenshot option requires an account. Enter the payment reference SST-{order number} exactly as issued.

If you pay by SWIFT, a receiving fee of JPY 611 is deducted, so add that amount to your total. The page also asks you to choose the OUR charge option so correspondent bank fees are covered by the sender. Any gap between our charge and your statement from exchange rates or conversion fees is determined by your provider, not by us.

The Wise 12-hour rule is why a graded-card order needs a little planning. If you choose Wise without a screenshot, have the transfer ready before you place the order.

What does a pre-order mean for VSTAR Universe now?

A pre-order does not apply to S12a, because the set has been on sale since December 2, 2022. Our shipping and payment rules still mention pre-order items, and both mentions are covered below.

Our shipping policy says delivery estimates do not include pre-order release timing, and it lists pre-order releases later than announced among the reasons dispatch may take longer than the standard handling time. The payment page sets a 3-hour window, instead of 12 hours, for a Wise payment without a screenshot on an order that contains a pre-order item. A standard order for a listed graded card follows the 12-hour or screenshot rules above instead.

If you are comparing S12a with other sets before you spend, these guides place it next to other products:

• Crown Zenith Pokemon Booster Box vs Japanese VSTAR Universe (S12a)
• Pokemon Crown Zenith ETB and Bundle vs the Japanese VSTAR Universe Box
• Shiny Treasure ex vs VSTAR Universe: Pokemon Box Guide
• Pokemon 151 vs VSTAR Universe Box Guide
• Terastal Festival vs VSTAR Universe: Box Guide

Where can you read more about specific VSTAR Universe cards?

Our related guides cover the set as a whole, its box, and individual cards, starting with the VSTAR Universe (s12a) complete guide. Use the list below to jump to the topic you need.

• VSTAR Universe Booster Box Guide: S12a Japanese Pokemon Box Prices for buying a sealed box.
• Raikou V 038/172 vs 218/172 SAR for the versions of one Pokémon card.
• Entei V SAR vs Raikou V SAR vs Suicune V SAR for choosing between three SARs.

When two guides disagree on a card number or a name, trust the official database entries cited in this article. They are the source for the numbers, illustrators and HP we quote.

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