Both boxes carry a well-known Pikachu chase and a signature Eeveelution pull, but the two sets were built almost five years apart under very different disclosure rules. 30th CELEBRATION’s official page confirms a guaranteed Basic Energy per pack; VMAX Climax’s official page confirms only a per-pack card count and a guaranteed foil energy — neither its packs-per-box figure nor a box MSRP is stated on the official product page, and our own guide does not estimate them.
30th CELEBRATION (M6a) released on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s 30th-anniversary main set. VMAX Climax (S8b) released on December 3, 2021, as the High Class Pack that closed out the VMAX naming era before the franchise moved on to VSTAR. Both are Japanese booster boxes we currently list, so here is what’s confirmed inside each, the chase cards, and what each box was asking on September 18, 2026.
The October 7, 2026 update covers our store listings and prices only; the other facts in this article were last checked on September 25, 2026.
The 30th CELEBRATION Booster Box is 20 packs of 6 foil cards chasing a 32-card AR/SAR/FUR block. VMAX Climax is 11-card packs from a set catalogued at 277 cards per our VMAX Climax buying guide (the official database lists 279 entries), with Umbreon VMAX (245/184, CSR) as the print most collectors picture when they hear the set’s name — neither its packs-per-box count nor a box MSRP is stated on the official product page.
Store listings and prices refreshed October 7, 2026. Marketplace observations retain their stated dates. USD conversions use ¥154 per US dollar.
Figures below are official MSRP where stated, our current store listings, and SNKRDUNK’s lowest live asking prices, converted at ¥154/USD for reference.
30th Celebration vs VMAX Climax at a Glance
| 30th CELEBRATION (M6a) | VMAX Climax (S8b) | |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | September 16, 2026 | December 3, 2021 |
| Cards per pack | 6, all foil | 11, including one guaranteed foil Basic Energy |
| Packs per box | 20 (¥360 × 20 = ¥7,200) | Not stated on the official product page; our own guide does not estimate a figure either |
| Box price | Sold as a 20-pack box at ¥7,200 on Pokémon Center Online | Not stated officially; no box MSRP has been published for this set |
| Set size | 165 numbered cards plus 8 Basic Energy (173 in all); PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176 | 279 entries in the official card database; 277 cards as catalogued by Limitless TCG per our VMAX Climax buying guide |
VMAX Climax is the more tightly sealed of the two on official disclosure: the product page confirms the 11-card pack and its guaranteed energy card, but stops there. Neither a packs-per-box figure nor a box-level price is stated on the official product page for this set, and we are not going to guess at either.
What’s in a 30th Celebration Box
Every 30th CELEBRATION pack carries one Basic Energy guaranteed, per the official product page. The Japanese page does not itself say “one Pikachu per pack” — that guarantee is official only for the English product, and is reported for the Japanese pack by PokeBeach. PokeBeach reported, from an official box opening shown before release, that one 20-pack box contained 20 of the 30 Pikachu (each unique, no duplicates), 2 Classic Collection cards, 4 Illustration Rares, 1 Special Illustration Rare, and 1 Futuristic Rare. The Pokémon Company has not published pull rates, and one reported opening is not a rate.
M6a’s own Pikachu chase runs through a day and a night Pikachu ex pair — regular main-set prints at 047/103 and 048/103, with Special Art Rare treatments higher in the secret block at 126/103 and 127/103.
What’s in a VMAX Climax Box
Per our live buying guide, VMAX Climax’s secret tier runs to 65 cards split between two rarities: 42 Character Super Rare (CSR) and 23 Secret Rare. Two cards, Dedenne (200/184) and Jolteon (193/184), carry the separate Character Rare (CHR) designation rather than CSR or SR.
Chase Cards in Each Set
Here is what each set’s own catalogued chase list confirms:
| Set | Card | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| M6a | Mewtwo ex (Futuristic Rare, 134/103) | FUR |
| M6a | Mew ex (Futuristic Rare, 135/103) | FUR |
| S8b | Umbreon VMAX (245/184) | CSR |
| S8b | Pikachu VMAX (223/184) | CSR |
| S8b | Dedenne (200/184) | CHR |
| S8b | Jolteon (193/184) | CHR |
Per our live buying guide, “Umbreon VMAX (245/184, CSR) renders the Eeveelution in the set’s painted illustration style, and it’s the card most people picture when they hear ‘VMAX Climax.'” M6a’s own headline chase is its FUR pair, Mewtwo ex and Mew ex, both by YOSHIROTTEN — the only illustrator credited anywhere in the still-uncatalogued 104–135 block so far.
USD figures convert at ¥154/USD, approximate.
Dated Asking Prices
On SNKRDUNK, the lowest live asking price for a sealed (shrink) M6a box moved ¥47,200 (September 1) → ¥28,200 (September 10) → ¥17,500 (September 16, release day) → ¥20,994 (September 18) — still roughly 2.9× the ¥7,200 box price.
For VMAX Climax, SNKRDUNK’s lowest live ask on September 18, 2026 was ¥31,500, with no earlier dated figure in this update and no official box MSRP to compare it against. These are seller asking prices, not sale prices, and neither figure predicts where either box goes next.
Which Box Fits You
- You want the signature Umbreon VMAX painted-style print: VMAX Climax. It’s the card our own buying guide names as the one most people picture from this set.
- You want a lower entry point into an anniversary set: M6a’s current listing sits below VMAX Climax’s September 18, 2026 SNKRDUNK asking price.
- You want more cards per pack: VMAX Climax’s 11-card packs outnumber M6a’s 6-card packs, though M6a’s pack is cheaper (¥360 vs ¥550 for VMAX Climax).
- You want the newest release rather than a set that closed out an era in 2021: M6a released September 16, 2026; VMAX Climax closed the VMAX naming era before the franchise moved to VSTAR.
Nothing here says one box will move in price faster than the other — only what is confirmed to be inside each one as of this update.
Where to Buy
We ship both Japanese booster boxes out of Tokyo with tracked delivery. See the M6a 30th CELEBRATION Booster Box product page for current pricing and the dispatch date.
VMAX Climax is currently listed at ¥32,480 (~$211); the Damaged Box is listed at ¥31,181 (~$202). For the full 30th CELEBRATION card list, see our 30th CELEBRATION card list page. Both sets are also covered in our 30th CELEBRATION Booster Box guide and our VMAX Climax Booster Box buying guide, and if you’re weighing more than one 30th CELEBRATION product our Box vs FUTURISTIC BOX vs Premium Deck Set comparison covers the rest of the lineup. Browse the full Japanese Pokémon card collection, or use Quick Order for anything not currently listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between a 30th Celebration box and a VMAX Climax box?
Pack size and disclosure. A 30th CELEBRATION pack holds 6 cards for ¥360 in a 20-pack box (¥360 × 20 = ¥7,200). A VMAX Climax pack holds 11 cards for ¥550, but neither its packs-per-box count nor a box MSRP is stated on the official product page, and our own guide does not estimate them.
What is the signature chase card in VMAX Climax?
Umbreon VMAX at 245/184, Character Super Rare — described by our own buying guide as the card most people picture when they hear the set’s name.
How many cards are in VMAX Climax?
The official card database lists 279 entries; 277 cards as catalogued by Limitless TCG, per our VMAX Climax buying guide.
Does 30th Celebration have a Pikachu chase like VMAX Climax’s Pikachu VMAX?
Yes. 30th CELEBRATION prints a day and night Pikachu ex pair at 047/103 and 048/103, with Special Art Rare versions at 126/103 and 127/103. VMAX Climax’s confirmed Pikachu chase includes Pikachu VMAX at 223/184.
What is the current asking price for each box?
On SNKRDUNK, September 18, 2026: a sealed (shrink) 30th CELEBRATION box asked ¥20,994; a VMAX Climax box asked ¥31,500. Both are seller asking prices, not sale prices.
Can I buy both boxes from Samurai Sword Tokyo?
Yes. Both are listed on our site: the 30th CELEBRATION Booster Box (Sealed and No Shrink options) and the VMAX Climax box, which also has a separate Damaged Box listing. Listed products ship from Tokyo with tracked delivery, and prices are shown on each product page.
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