September 15, 2017 gave Japanese collectors two packs on the same shelf, released the same day, built around two very different jobs. SM4S “Awakened Heroes” introduced a Pokemon-GX that had never appeared in the card game before. SM4A “Beasts from the Ultradimension” spent its print run building out the Ultra Beast GX lineup the Sun & Moon games had just introduced.
Pokemon-GX cards themselves weren’t new by this point — the type debuted nine months earlier in SM1 “Collection Sun” and “Collection Moon,” released December 9, 2016. What SM4 added wasn’t the mechanic itself but two specific applications of it: one brand-new GX Pokemon, and a coordinated four-card GX line built around a single theme.
This guide covers what’s confirmed about both sets — release details, card counts, and the specific cards worth knowing — and flags anywhere the record is thin instead of guessing. We currently list one graded single from this pairing.
We currently list PSA 10 Gladion SR (055/050, Awakened Heroes) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) at ¥32,960 — stock is limited, so check the live product page for current availability before ordering. SM4S and SM4A themselves headline with Silvally GX’s Trading Card Game debut and a four-card Ultra Beast GX line split across the two packs.
Card numbers, sets, and release details below are sourced from the official pokemon-card.com product page and the LimitlessTCG card database, as cited throughout. Where a detail couldn’t be confirmed against a primary source — box pack counts, some rarity codes — we’ve said so rather than guessing.
SM4S and SM4A at a Glance
SM4S and SM4A are the fourth expansion-pack pairing of Japan’s Sun & Moon era, following the same two-pack, same-day release pattern the era used throughout — our Sun & Moon era guide covers how that pairing structure worked across the full era.
| Set | Japanese name | English name | Release | Pack | Cards catalogued |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SM4S | 覚醒の勇者 | Awakened Heroes | Sept 15, 2017 | ¥150+tax, 5 cards | 55 (to 050) |
| SM4A | 超次元の暴獣 | Beasts from the Ultradimension | Sept 15, 2017 | ¥150+tax, 5 cards | 55 (to 050) |
Both packs list 55 cataloged cards with main-set numbering running to 050 — secret and Hyper Rare slots print above that number. Box pack counts for either set weren’t confirmed against a primary source for this guide, so we’re not stating a per-box figure.
The set-code naming is worth flagging since it isn’t consistent across the era. SM1’s pairing used “S” and “M” for Sun and Moon, and SM5’s used the same S/M split for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. SM4 instead pairs “S” (Awakened Heroes) with “A” (Beasts from the Ultradimension) — so the letter after the number identifies the specific pack, not a fixed Sun/Moon position, and it’s worth checking the full set code rather than assuming from the number alone.
Silvally GX: The Debut Card of Awakened Heroes
SM4S is built around Silvally GX (045/050), which made its Pokemon Trading Card Game debut in this set according to the official pokemon-card.com product page. Nothing earlier in the Sun & Moon-era release lineup put Silvally on cardboard, which makes Awakened Heroes the point of origin for every Silvally GX print that followed.
The exact rarity code printed on Silvally GX (RR, SR, or another designation) wasn’t confirmed against a primary source for this guide, so we’re describing it here by its role in the set — the headline debut card — rather than assigning a rarity tier we can’t verify. If you’re tracking down a copy, confirm the rarity stamp against a card database before you buy rather than assuming from the card name alone.
The Ultra Beast GX Line Across SM4A
Where SM4S centers on a single debut, SM4A’s whole print run is organized around one theme: the official product page names a four-card Ultra Beast GX line running across the two packs — Guzzlord GX (アクジキングGX), Buzzwole GX (マッシブーンGX), Nihilego GX (ウツロイドGX), and Kartana GX (カミツルギGX). Of the two we could confirm placement for, both print out of SM4A specifically.
Nihilego GX is printed at 052/050 and Guzzlord GX at 053/050, both above the set’s 050 main-set ceiling — the secret-rare-style slots typical of the era. We could confirm print numbers and card images for these two directly against the LimitlessTCG database.
Buzzwole GX and Kartana GX are named on the same official product page as part of the same four-card line, but we couldn’t confirm their exact print numbers, set placement, or a verified card image for either one in the time we had for this guide. Rather than guess a card number, we’re flagging that as unconfirmed — if you’re chasing the full quartet, verify those two specifically before you buy.
For collectors, the practical takeaway is that the Ultra Beast GX theme isn’t contained in a single pack. Two of the four confirmed cards — Nihilego GX and Guzzlord GX — come out of SM4A boosters specifically, not SM4S, so opening Awakened Heroes alone won’t get you the full line even though the product page markets the theme across both sets together.
Gladion SR: The Card We Currently Stock
Alongside the debut and Ultra Beast cards, Awakened Heroes also carries a Super Rare-tier print: Gladion SR (055/050). It’s the one card from this SM4S/SM4A pairing we currently hold in graded stock, and it sits in the same set that introduced Silvally GX — so it’s a natural pickup for anyone building out Awakened Heroes as a complete pack rather than chasing a single headline card.
Note that the printed card number (055/050) runs above the set’s 050 main-set ceiling, the same pattern seen with Nihilego GX and Guzzlord GX in SM4A — each set’s above-050 slots are where its rarer, above-common-rarity prints live.
View Product → (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order)
This is a graded single and stock is limited — the live product page reflects current availability, and once it sells we’ll update the listing rather than source another PSA 10 example right away.
SM4S vs SM4A: Which Half to Chase First
Since both packs released the same day at the same price, the practical difference comes down to what you’re chasing:
- Want the debut card: SM4S is where Silvally GX (045/050) entered the card game, and it’s also the half that carries Gladion SR (055/050) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), currently listed at ¥32,960 in PSA 10.
- Want the Ultra Beast theme: SM4A carries Nihilego GX (052/050) and Guzzlord GX (053/050) directly, plus the set’s share of the four-card Ultra Beast GX line overall.
- Want the full theme in one place: since the Ultra Beast GX quartet and Silvally’s debut are split across both packs, completing the SM4-era storyline means picking up product from both SM4S and SM4A rather than one alone.
SM4 sits between two other Sun & Moon-era packs worth knowing if you’re working through the era in release order. The pack before it, released three months earlier, is covered in our SM3H “To Have Seen the Battle Rainbow” guide. The next main expansion after SM4, released December 8, 2017, is covered in our SM5S “Ultra Sun” guide.
Where to Buy SM4 Cards from Japan
We ship graded Japanese singles and sealed product out of Tokyo with tracked delivery worldwide. For the card covered in this guide:
- PSA 10 Gladion SR (055/050, Awakened Heroes) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — currently listed at ¥32,960 (stock is limited, see the live product page for availability)
- Browse the full graded lineup on our PSA 10 collection
- Looking for Silvally GX, Nihilego GX, Guzzlord GX, or other SM4S/SM4A singles not listed above? Our Quick Order page is the fastest way to request a specific card.
For a mixed order across SM4S, SM4A, or any other Sun & Moon-era pack, use the Quick Order page directly and we’ll source what we can.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are SM4S and SM4A?
SM4S “Awakened Heroes” (覚醒の勇者) and SM4A “Beasts from the Ultradimension” (超次元の暴獣) are a paired Japanese Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, both released September 15, 2017, at ¥150+tax per 5-card pack. Each catalogs 55 cards with main-set numbering to 050.
What is Silvally GX’s significance in Awakened Heroes?
Silvally GX (045/050) made its Pokemon Trading Card Game debut in SM4S, according to the official pokemon-card.com product page. It’s the set’s headline card.
What is the Ultra Beast GX line in SM4A?
The official product page names four Ultra Beast GX cards across SM4S/SM4A: Guzzlord GX, Buzzwole GX, Nihilego GX, and Kartana GX. We could confirm print numbers for Nihilego GX (052/050) and Guzzlord GX (053/050) against the card database; Buzzwole GX and Kartana GX’s exact print numbers weren’t confirmed for this guide.
What is Gladion SR worth, and is it currently listed?
We currently list a PSA 10 Gladion SR (055/050, Awakened Heroes) at ¥32,960. It’s a graded single with limited stock, so check the live product page for current availability.
Where does SM4 fit in the Sun & Moon release timeline?
SM4S and SM4A released September 15, 2017, after SM3H/SM3N (June 16, 2017) and before SM5S “Ultra Sun” (December 8, 2017). See our SM3H and SM5S guides for the packs on either side.
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