Brilliant Stars (Sword & Shield—Brilliant Stars) released in English on February 25, 2022 with 151 cards plus 35 secret rares and a 30-card Trainer Gallery. In Japan those cards came out earlier as VMAX Climax and Star Birth — set codes S8b, S9. This page maps the English set to its Japanese source sets, links the complete Japanese card lists (all 403 catalogued entries), and shows current sealed-box pricing from our Tokyo stock.
- Brilliant Stars = VMAX Climax and Star Birth in Japan (S8b, S9).
- English release February 25, 2022; Japanese releases December 3, 2021 (S8b) and January 14, 2022 (S9).
- 403 Japanese entries catalogued across the source sets vs 151 cards plus 35 secret rares and a 30-card Trainer Gallery in English.
- Sealed S8b box currently listed at ¥38,000 (August 28, 2026).
The Japanese Sets Behind Brilliant Stars
Brilliant Stars combines every card of Japan’s Star Birth (S9) with cards from the High Class Pack VMAX Climax (S8b) and Start Deck 100; it introduced the VSTAR mechanic. (Composition as reported by PokeBeach.) Entry counts below come from the Limitless TCG Japanese catalogue, which lists every numbered card including secret rares.
| Code | Japanese set | Type | JP release | Catalogued entries | Secret Rares | Full JP card list | Sealed box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S8b | VMAX Climax | High Class Pack | December 3, 2021 | 276 | 23 | — | ¥38,000 (~$239) |
| S9 | Star Birth | Expansion Pack | January 14, 2022 | 127 | 16 | S9 card list | ¥21,500 (~$135) |
Japanese Set-by-Set Breakdown
S8b VMAX Climax — High Class Pack, JP release December 3, 2021
Limitless TCG catalogues 276 entries for S8b: 23 Secret Rare, 19 Triple Rare, 25 Double Rare, 28 Character Holo Rare, 42 Character Super Rare, plus 139 entries listed without a rarity label. The Secret Rare run goes from Acerola’s Premonition (S8b 255) to Nessa (S8b 277).
S9 Star Birth — Expansion Pack, JP release January 14, 2022
Limitless TCG catalogues 127 entries for S9: 3 Ultra Rare, 16 Secret Rare, 4 Triple Rare, 8 Double Rare, 10 Rare, 34 Uncommon, 44 Common, 8 Holo Rare. The Secret Rare run goes from Shaymin V (S9 101) to Roseanne’s Backup (S9 116). Browse every card by number and rarity on our S9 Star Birth card list.
Top-Rarity Japanese Cards in Pictures
Where to Buy the Japanese Brilliant Stars Sets from Tokyo
Want the Japanese cards behind Brilliant Stars? Sealed Japanese boxes for the source sets are listed above; browse the full range in our Japanese Pokémon booster box collection. For singles or graded copies of a specific card, request a quote via Quick Order with the Japanese set code and number.
Brilliant Stars Japanese Card List FAQ
What Japanese set is Brilliant Stars in?
Brilliant Stars combines every card of Japan’s Star Birth (S9) with cards from the High Class Pack VMAX Climax (S8b) and Start Deck 100; it introduced the VSTAR mechanic. Set codes: S8b, S9.
When did Brilliant Stars release in English and in Japan?
English: February 25, 2022. Japanese source sets: VMAX Climax (S8b) on December 3, 2021; Star Birth (S9) on January 14, 2022.
How many cards are in Brilliant Stars compared with the Japanese sets?
The English set lists 151 cards plus 35 secret rares and a 30-card Trainer Gallery. The Japanese catalogue lists 403 entries across 2 source sets, counted from Limitless TCG’s Japanese database (secret rares included).
Can I buy the Japanese Brilliant Stars sets from Japan?
Yes — sealed Japanese boxes for VMAX Climax and Star Birth ship from Tokyo with tracking when listed; prices in this guide are our listings as of August 28, 2026. Singles and graded copies can be requested via Quick Order.
Are Japanese Brilliant Stars cards the same as the English ones?
They share Pokémon and artwork for the cards that were carried over, but the Japanese prints use their own set codes (S8b, S9) and numbering, and some Japanese cards were not included in the English release.
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