Five VMAX singles, five completely different price tiers — from under ¥10,000 to over a quarter million yen. Same core mechanic, same “V evolves into VMAX” template on the card, and a value spread wide enough that treating “a VMAX” as one category is how buyers overpay or underpay by a factor of twenty.
VMAX is one Pokemon TCG mechanic that ran across several years of Sword & Shield-era Japanese sets, and it produced chase cards in wildly different rarity tiers — HR, UR, CSR, SAR — often within the very same booster box. This guide lines up five VMAX singles we currently list, graded PSA 10, across four different sets, so you can see where the real value sits before you buy.
Our five listed PSA 10 VMAX singles span Mew VMAX HR (SA), 119/100 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) at the top, currently listed at ¥261,614, down to Zeraora VMAX SAR, 219/172 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) at ¥9,451. Graded copies are one-per-listing as a rule — availability changes as they sell.
Prices below are current listed prices for the specific graded copies referenced, converted at roughly ¥163/USD (2026-07 basis) for reference. Card numbers and rarities are cross-checked against card databases and commercial listings as noted.
Our Japanese VMAX PSA 10 Value Ladder
Five graded VMAX singles, currently listed, ranked by price:
| Card | Set / Number | Rarity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mew VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | Fusion Arts (S8), 119/100 | HR (SA) | ¥261,614 (~$1,605) |
| Pikachu VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | VMAX Climax (S8b), 279/184 | UR | ¥60,173 (~$369) |
| Rayquaza VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | VMAX Climax (S8b), 252/184 | CSR | ¥44,053 (~$270) |
| Pikachu VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | 25th Anniversary Golden Box (S8a-G), 006/015 | — | ¥14,708 (~$90) |
| Zeraora VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | VSTAR Universe (S12a), 219/172 | SAR | ¥9,451 (~$58) |
Two patterns stand out. First, the top and bottom of this ladder are roughly 27x apart despite every card sharing the same VMAX mechanic on the card face — rarity tier and set, not the mechanic itself, is what drives the price. Second, two of the five come from the same booster box (VMAX Climax, S8b), at two different price points, which is exactly why “I pulled a VMAX” and “I pulled a ¥60,000 VMAX” are not the same claim. The sections below break down each end of the ladder.
What Makes a Card a VMAX
VMAX is a Pokemon TCG mechanic that debuted with the Sword & Shield era, evolving from the Pokemon V line for an additional power spike. A Pokemon V evolves into its VMAX form the same way earlier eras evolved a Basic into a Stage 1 — it’s a distinct card, not a stat boost on the same card.
The mechanic carries real competitive weight: knocking out a VMAX gives the opponent three Prize cards instead of the usual one, putting it in the same “big knockout” bracket as the era’s most valuable Pokemon. VMAX arrived as the direct successor to the Sun & Moon era’s Pokemon-GX and Tag Team-GX line, which ended as Sword & Shield’s V/VMAX system took over. Even after the VSTAR mechanic launched alongside Star Birth (S9) in January 2022, VMAX cards kept appearing in mixed and reprint-heavy sets rather than disappearing overnight — which is part of why VMAX singles turn up across such a wide span of Japanese sets. For the fuller mechanical rundown of this era, see our Sword & Shield era Japanese Pokemon guide.
What the mechanic itself does not determine is rarity tier or price. A VMAX can be printed as a plain Rare, a Rainbow-style Alternate Rare, an HR, a CSR, a UR, or a SAR depending on the set and the specific printing — which is exactly the spread you can see in the ladder above.
The Top of the Ladder: Mew VMAX HR (SA), 119/100
Our highest-priced VMAX single comes from Fusion Arts (S8): Mew VMAX, printed as an HR with an SA (Special Art) treatment at card number 119/100. It’s the clear outlier on this list, priced well above every other VMAX we currently carry.
View Product → (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order)
We also list a second, lower-priced Mew VMAX printing from the same set — an HR without the SA treatment, at 118/100 — which is a useful reminder that within one set, two cards sharing a name and a mechanic can still land at very different price points once the specific printing and treatment are factored in.
VMAX Climax’s Two Headline Chases — and How to Tell Them Apart
VMAX Climax (S8b) released in Japan on December 3, 2021, as a high-class pack built around Sword & Shield-era V and VMAX reprints, and it’s the single most represented set on our ladder. Two of our five listed VMAX singles come from it, at very different rarities:
| Card | Number | Rarity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikachu VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | 279/184 | UR | ¥60,173 |
| Rayquaza VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | 252/184 | CSR | ¥44,053 |
View Product → (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order)
View Product → (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order)
The Pikachu VMAX UR (279/184) is our single most valuable VMAX Climax card, and its rarity claim is worth double-checking on any listing you see, because the same set also contains a completely different Pikachu VMAX printing at 046/184, rated Triple Rare rather than Ultra Rare — a much lower tier despite a similar look. For the full gold-tier rarity breakdown, including how CHR and CSR compare to UR across sets, see our Gold UR Japanese Pokemon cards guide.
All three cards above are pulled from the same 184-card VMAX Climax base set, sit within a handful of numbers of each other in places, and none of them is the ¥60,173 UR. Pikachu V (045/184) is the pre-evolution card, not a VMAX at all. Jolteon (193/184) is a Character Rare (CHR) — a Trainer-illustrated chase card, and also not a VMAX. If a listing just says “Pikachu VMAX Climax” without the full number, ask for it before assuming it’s the UR. Rayquaza VMAX (252/184), our second S8b anchor, is a Character Super Rare (CSR) — VMAX Climax’s other headline subset alongside CHR. For the complete pull-rate breakdown and the rest of the set’s chase list, see our S8b VMAX Climax pull rates and best cards guide and our full VMAX Climax card list. If you’re looking specifically for Umbreon VMAX CSR (245/184, VMAX Climax), it’s not currently in our stock — our closest current listing is the Umbreon V CSR, 244/184, at ¥33,022. Neither is the same card as the English-language “Moonbreon” alternate art some collectors ask us about — if that’s the specific card you’re after, our Moonbreon card guide covers it separately.
Budget Entry Points: Zeraora VMAX SAR and the S8a-G Pikachu VMAX
Not every VMAX single requires a five- or six-figure yen budget. Our two most affordable listed copies:
Zeraora VMAX (219/172) comes from VSTAR Universe (S12a), a set built around Pokemon VSTAR rather than VMAX — but VMAX singles like this one still turn up in its mixed checklist, reflecting how the two mechanics overlapped in Japanese releases rather than cutting over cleanly from one to the other. At ¥9,451, it’s the most accessible way into a graded VSTAR Universe-era VMAX on our current shelf.
The Pikachu VMAX (006/015) from the 25th Anniversary Golden Box (S8a-G) is our second budget pick, currently listed at ¥14,708. It comes from a different distribution channel than a standard booster box — a 25th Anniversary-themed box release — which is part of why its card number format (006/015, a much smaller set) looks different from the 184- and 172-card VMAX Climax and VSTAR Universe checklists above.
For more graded Japanese singles under ¥30,000 across sets beyond just VMAX, see our PSA 10 Japanese cards under ¥30,000 guide.
Which VMAX Fits Your Budget
- Under ¥10,000 — Zeraora VMAX SAR (¥9,451), VSTAR Universe. The most accessible graded VMAX on our current list.
- ¥10,000–¥20,000 — Pikachu VMAX, 25th Anniversary Golden Box (¥14,708). A different distribution channel from a standard box, at a similarly approachable price.
- ¥40,000–¥65,000 — Rayquaza VMAX CSR (¥44,053) or Pikachu VMAX UR (¥60,173), both from VMAX Climax. The set’s two headline chases, one tier apart.
- ¥260,000+ — Mew VMAX HR (SA), 119/100, Fusion Arts (¥261,614). The clear top of this particular ladder.
Confirm the full card number — not just the Pokemon’s name — against the specific rarity you’re paying for. As the VMAX Climax section above shows, one set can carry a VMAX, a V, and a CHR within a few digits of each other on the same checklist.
VMAX Climax vs VSTAR Universe: The Boxes Behind These Cards
Three of our five ladder cards trace back to two specific booster boxes: VMAX Climax (S8b) and VSTAR Universe (S12a). Both are currently in stock sealed, if you’d rather chase your own copy than buy a graded single.
We’ve compared the two boxes card-by-card, price-by-price, and pull-rate-by-pull-rate in a dedicated guide — including how their chase tiers (CHR/CSR versus SAR/UR) differ structurally, not just in price. See our VMAX Climax vs VSTAR Universe box guide for the full breakdown.
Where to Buy Japanese VMAX Cards
We ship graded Japanese singles and sealed product out of Tokyo with tracked delivery worldwide. All five VMAX singles from this guide, in order:
- PSA 10 Mew VMAX HR (SA), 119/100, Fusion Arts (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — currently listed at ¥261,614
- PSA 10 Pikachu VMAX UR, 279/184, VMAX Climax (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — currently listed at ¥60,173
- PSA 10 Rayquaza VMAX CSR, 252/184, VMAX Climax (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — currently listed at ¥44,053
- PSA 10 Pikachu VMAX, 006/015, 25th Anniversary Golden Box (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — currently listed at ¥14,708
- PSA 10 Zeraora VMAX SAR, 219/172, VSTAR Universe (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — currently listed at ¥9,451
Prefer to open your own box? Both VMAX Climax and VSTAR Universe are currently listed sealed, or browse the wider Sword & Shield-series booster box collection. Looking for a specific VMAX we haven’t listed here, a raw copy, or want to combine several of these into one order? Our Quick Order page is the fastest way to request it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most valuable Japanese VMAX card you currently list?
PSA 10 Mew VMAX HR (SA), 119/100, from Fusion Arts (S8), currently listed at ¥261,614. It’s a single graded copy and the clear outlier at the top of our current VMAX ladder.
What’s the difference between the Pikachu VMAX UR and the Pikachu VMAX Triple Rare from VMAX Climax?
They’re two entirely different printings from the same set. The Ultra Rare is numbered 279/184 and is our ¥60,173 anchor; the Triple Rare is a separate, lower-rarity printing numbered 046/184. Always check the full card number, not just the Pokemon name, before paying UR-level pricing.
Is Umbreon VMAX CSR the same card as “Moonbreon”?
Umbreon VMAX CSR (245/184, VMAX Climax) is currently not in our stock — our closest current listing is the Umbreon V CSR, 244/184, at ¥33,022. Neither is the same card as the English-language Umbreon VMAX alternate art that collectors nickname “Moonbreon.” See our dedicated Moonbreon card guide if that specific English printing is what you’re after.
What’s the most affordable graded VMAX card you sell?
PSA 10 Zeraora VMAX SAR, 219/172, from VSTAR Universe (S12a), currently listed at ¥9,451. Our Pikachu VMAX from the 25th Anniversary Golden Box, at ¥14,708, is the next step up.
Where can I buy Japanese VMAX cards graded PSA 10?
The five graded VMAX singles featured in this guide span four sets, ranging from ¥9,451 to ¥261,614, plus sealed VMAX Climax and VSTAR Universe booster boxes, all shipped from Tokyo with tracked delivery. Browse our PSA 10 collection or use our Quick Order page to request a specific card.
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