Three years, twelve main expansions, and a run of mechanics — V, VMAX, VSTAR — that carried the Japanese TCG from the end of GX through to the start of Scarlet & Violet. The Sword & Shield era is also where the modern “high-class pack” format really took hold: Shiny Star V, VMAX Climax, and VSTAR Universe are the sets most collectors mean when they say “chase card” today.
This guide maps the whole period: when it started and ended, what V, VMAX, and VSTAR actually do on the card, where CHR and SSR rarities come from, and how our own Sword & Shield-era booster box ladder — eleven sets, ranging from an entry-level box to a ¥300,000-plus vintage listing — lines up against the timeline. Every set-specific guide we’ve published gets a link from here, so treat this page as the hub and the linked guides as the detail.
The Sword & Shield era ran December 2019 through October 2022 across twelve main Japanese expansions, introducing Pokemon V/VMAX (S1) and Pokemon VSTAR (S9 Star Birth). We currently list S9 Star Birth Booster Box, the VSTAR debut set, at ¥21,525 (~$132), and PSA 10 Umbreon VMAX CSR [S8b 245/184], currently listed at ¥41,282 (~$253) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order). Both are current listings — prices and availability change.
Pricing reflects our own in-Tokyo stock listings, checked August 13, 2026. USD figures are approximate conversions at ¥163/USD (July 2026 basis). Pull-rate figures throughout this guide, where mentioned, are described in relative, community-reported terms only — we don’t publish official pack-odds percentages.
When the Sword & Shield Era Ran
Japan’s Sword & Shield era opened with S1, “Sword & Shield,” released December 6, 2019 — the set documented as the first to feature Generation VIII, Pokemon V, and Pokemon VMAX in the card game. It closed with S12, “Paradigm Trigger,” released October 21, 2022, recorded as the twelfth and final main expansion of the Sword & Shield series. That’s just under three years across twelve main-numbered expansions, plus a long run of high-class pack side-releases.
The S1 release actually shipped as two simultaneous half-sets — Sword and Shield — both dated December 6, 2019; our S1H Shield V stock comes from that half. And the era’s card template kept going a little past S12: S12a VSTAR Universe, a high-class pack rather than a main expansion, released December 2, 2022, six weeks after Paradigm Trigger closed the numbered series. We treat that release as the era’s closing high-class pack for the same reason our XY-era guide treats The Best of XY the same way — the card frame and mechanics belong to the era even though the calendar has technically moved on.
V, VMAX, and VSTAR: The Era’s Core Mechanics
Pokemon V and its evolved form Pokemon VMAX were both introduced at launch in S1 (December 6, 2019). The same set retired the Fairy type — Fairy-type Pokemon were folded into Psychic, and Poison-only Pokemon moved to Darkness — and dropped a rule change letting the second player use a Supporter card on their very first turn, a restriction the format hadn’t had before.
Umbreon VMAX, from S8b “VMAX Climax” (December 3, 2021), is one of the era’s most recognized VMAX prints — a large-format evolved Pokemon card that costs the opponent extra prizes on knockout. Pokemon VSTAR arrived later and separately: introduced in S9 “Star Birth” (January 14, 2022), a VSTAR evolves from a specified V Pokemon and carries a VSTAR Power — a special ability or attack usable only once per game. Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR, the top chase pull from S10D “Time Gazer” (April 2022), is a direct example of the mechanic at its secret-rare tier. For the full breakdown of that set’s chase run, see our S10D Time Gazer pull rates and best cards guide, and for VMAX specifically across every set that used it, our best Japanese VMAX cards guide ranks the top pulls in one place.
CHR, CSR, and SSR: Character and Shiny Rarities
SSR (Shiny Secret Rare) first appeared during the Sun & Moon era, in SM8b GX Ultra Shiny (2018); within Sword & Shield, S4a “Shiny Star V” (November 20, 2020) uses the rarity throughout its 330-card high-class pack — roughly 140 of those are secret-numbered. In that set’s rarity ladder, a standard color-variant Pokemon carries an “S” rank, while a color-variant Pokemon V card steps up to SSR. We currently list a graded example from the same set: PSA 10 Reshiram [S4a 021/190], currently listed at ¥6,695 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order).
CHR (Character Rare) predates the era too, first appearing in SM11b Dream League (2019); within Sword & Shield, S8b “VMAX Climax” (December 3, 2021) uses it heavily across its 285-card high-class pack. CHR denotes a full-art card built around a Pokemon Trainer character rather than the Pokemon itself, and the set carries several of them. We list two currently: PSA 10 Jolteon CHR [S8b 193/184], at ¥15,262 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), and PSA 10 Dedenne CHR [S8b 200/184], at ¥9,719 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order).
You’ll also see a CSR label on some of our listings, including the Umbreon VMAX above — we haven’t been able to confirm the exact set where that specific abbreviation first appeared, so we won’t date its debut here; treat it as a rarity tier alongside CHR rather than a separately-sourced fact. For every character-rare pull across the era ranked in one place, our CHR (Character Rare) cards guide covers the full lineup.
The High-Class Pack Ladder: S1a Through S12a
Alongside the twelve main-numbered sets, Japan’s Sword & Shield era is defined by its “S△a” high-class packs — standalone premium releases built around a single theme rather than a normal set rotation. These are the boxes most collectors are actually chasing:
| Code | Name | Japan Release |
|---|---|---|
| S1a | VMAX Rising | 2020-02-07 |
| S4a | Shiny Star V | 2020-11-20 |
| S6a | Eevee Heroes | 2021-05-28 |
| S8a | 25th Anniversary Collection | 2021-10-22 |
| S8b | VMAX Climax | 2021-12-03 |
| S12a | VSTAR Universe | 2022-12-02 |
S7R Blue Sky Stream doesn’t follow the “S△a” naming pattern — it’s a premium side release rather than a formal high-class pack, though it happens to be our highest-priced Sword & Shield box in the ladder below. S1a VMAX Rising and S8a 25th Anniversary Collection likewise sit closer to premium side releases than standard high-class packs, even though their “a” suffix matches the naming convention.
S6a Eevee Heroes (May 28, 2021) is the Eeveelution-focused release that anchors our biggest single box price in this ladder; see our S6a Eevee Heroes pull rates and best cards guide for the full checklist. S7R Blue Sky Stream (July 9, 2021) is the set most associated with dragon-type Pokemon returning to the format in this era, and Japan got its Rayquaza VMAX alternate-art print first, ahead of the English release. S4a Shiny Star V and S8b VMAX Climax each have dedicated guides too — S4a Shiny Star V pull rates and best cards and S8b VMAX Climax pull rates and best cards — and S12a VSTAR Universe gets the same treatment in our VSTAR Universe pull rates and best cards guide.
Eight Sets Worth Knowing
If you’re getting oriented in the Sword & Shield era for the first time, these eight releases — spanning the opening set to the closing one — give a reasonable cross-section of the run:
| Code | Name | Japan Release | Notable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Sword & Shield | 2019-12-06 | Series launch — introduces V, VMAX; retires Fairy type |
| S4 | Amazing Volt Tackle | 2020-09-18 | Mid-era main expansion ahead of Shiny Star V |
| S4a | Shiny Star V | 2020-11-20 | SSR tier throughout; 330-card high-class pack |
| S6a | Eevee Heroes | 2021-05-28 | Full Eeveelution V/VMAX lineup, high-class pack |
| S8 | Fusion Arts | 2021-09-24 | Main expansion immediately ahead of VMAX Climax |
| S8b | VMAX Climax | 2021-12-03 | CHR/CSR tiers in force; 285-card high-class pack |
| S9 | Star Birth | 2022-01-14 | Introduces the Pokemon VSTAR mechanic |
| S12 | Paradigm Trigger | 2022-10-21 | Twelfth and final main Sword & Shield expansion |
If you’re tracking a specific Pokemon rather than a set, our Groudon cards guide follows one legendary across multiple eras including its Sword & Shield-period appearances, and our vintage Japanese booster box guide covers sealed product selection and storage across sets spanning several generations, Sword & Shield included.
VMAX Climax vs VSTAR Universe: The Era’s Two Flagship Chase Sets
Two high-class packs get compared constantly from this era: S8b VMAX Climax (December 3, 2021, 285 cards, CHR/CSR-driven) and S12a VSTAR Universe (December 2, 2022, 262 cards — 172 main plus 90 secret-numbered). VMAX Climax leans on its CHR full-art Trainers and CSR-tier Pokemon VMAX prints; VSTAR Universe features mostly newly-collected cards rather than reprints, built around Pokemon VSTAR at its Alternate Art and Ultra Rare tiers, including four gold UR VSTAR cards — Origin Forme Dialga, Origin Forme Palkia, Giratina, and Arceus VSTAR.
Both are currently in our sealed stock. For a full side-by-side on pull structure, chase-card pricing, and which one fits a given budget, see our dedicated VMAX Climax vs VSTAR Universe box guide.
VMAX Climax is the older, CHR-and-CSR-driven set; VSTAR Universe is the newer, VSTAR-focused closer to the era. Our box guide linked above breaks down the price and pull-rate gap between the two in detail.
Shop the Era: Our Sword & Shield Box Ladder
Eleven curated picks from our full Sword & Shield-era box stock, sorted low to high by current price:
| Set | Name | Booster Box | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| S9a | Battle Region | View (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | ¥13,650 (~$84) |
| S10D | Time Gazer | View | ¥14,910 (~$91) |
| S9 | Star Birth | View | ¥21,525 (~$132) |
| S4a | Shiny Star V | View (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | ¥22,365 (~$137) |
| S12a | VSTAR Universe | View | ¥30,264 (~$186) |
| S8b | VMAX Climax | View | ¥39,375 (~$242) |
| S1H | Shield V | View | ¥65,100 (~$399) |
| S8a | 25th Anniversary Collection | View | ¥75,600 (~$464) |
| S1a | VMAX Rising | View | ¥105,000 (~$644) |
| S6a | Eevee Heroes | View | ¥154,350 (~$947) |
| S7R | Blue Sky Stream | View | ¥301,350 (~$1,849) |
The spread runs from S9a Battle Region at the entry end to S7R Blue Sky Stream — the dragon-type-return set where Japan got the Rayquaza VMAX alternate art first — at the top. For a broader look at how boxes from every era, not just Sword & Shield, stack up against each other, see our Japanese booster box price ladder 2026.
Every box and graded single linked in this guide is currently listed inventory, not a standing catalog entry — when a specific listing sells, it’s gone until we source another copy.
Where to Buy Sword & Shield Era Cards from Japan
We ship sealed Japanese product and graded singles worldwide from Tokyo with tracked delivery. For sealed boxes, the ladder above links to the eleven boxes featured in this guide — our full S&S range covers 29 boxes — from S9a Battle Region (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) at ¥13,650 to S7R Blue Sky Stream at ¥301,350 among the featured picks. Browse the full range, including boxes as low as ¥11,960, in our Sword & Shield box series collection.
For graded VMAX, VSTAR, CHR, and SSR-era singles — including the pieces linked throughout this guide — our PSA 10 collection is the fastest way to browse current stock, or use the visual PSA 10 card list. For a mixed order across sealed product and singles, or to ask us to source a specific Sword & Shield-era card we don’t currently list, our Quick Order page is the fastest route.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sword & Shield era start and end in Japan?
S1 “Sword & Shield” released December 6, 2019. The era closed with S12 “Paradigm Trigger” on October 21, 2022, the twelfth and final main Sword & Shield expansion. The high-class pack S12a VSTAR Universe followed on December 2, 2022.
What’s the difference between Pokemon V, VMAX, and VSTAR?
V and VMAX were both introduced together in S1 (December 6, 2019); VMAX is the evolved form of V. VSTAR is a separate mechanic introduced later, in S9 “Star Birth” (January 14, 2022) — it evolves from a specified V Pokemon and carries a VSTAR Power usable once per game.
Which set introduced SSR and CHR rarities?
SSR first appeared in SM8b GX Ultra Shiny (2018); S4a uses it throughout. CHR predates the era too (SM11b, 2019); S8b uses it heavily.
What is the “S△a” high-class pack ladder?
It’s the run of standalone premium releases following the “S△a” naming pattern — S1a VMAX Rising, S4a Shiny Star V, S6a Eevee Heroes, S8a 25th Anniversary Collection, S8b VMAX Climax, and S12a VSTAR Universe — each built around a single theme rather than the normal numbered-set rotation. S7R Blue Sky Stream is a related premium side release outside that naming pattern, and it’s our highest-priced Sword & Shield box in the ladder below.
How do VMAX Climax and VSTAR Universe compare?
VMAX Climax (December 2021, 285 cards) is built on CHR full-art Trainers and CSR-tier VMAX prints. VSTAR Universe (December 2022, 262 cards) features mostly newly-collected cards centered on VSTAR Alternate Art and Ultra Rare cards, including four gold UR VSTAR cards. See our dedicated comparison guide for the full pull-rate and pricing breakdown.
Which Sword & Shield-era booster boxes does Samurai Sword Tokyo currently carry?
Twenty-nine S-series boxes are currently listed; the eleven featured in this guide are: S9a Battle Region, S10D Time Gazer, S9 Star Birth, S4a Shiny Star V, S12a VSTAR Universe, S8b VMAX Climax, S1H Shield V, S8a 25th Anniversary Collection, S1a VMAX Rising, S6a Eevee Heroes, and S7R Blue Sky Stream, ranging from ¥13,650 to ¥301,350.
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