The Darkness Ablaze ETB has two Japanese counterparts on Bulbapedia’s list of Japanese expansions (snapshot September 15, 2026): the Infinity Zone (S3) box and the Explosive Walker (S2a) box, which the list describes as part of Darkness Ablaze. pokemon.com prints the English release date as August 14, 2020 and the card count as “Over 185”; S2a released on April 24, 2020 and S3 on June 5, 2020.
On the English side, the Elite Trainer Box holds 8 packs and the Build & Battle Box, released on August 28, 2020, holds 4. S3 is a 100-card main set with 5 cards a pack at ¥165 a pack at launch.
We sell Japanese sealed product and graded singles from Tokyo. USD figures convert at ¥154/USD, approximate.
The English set is officially listed at “Over 185” cards, with 14 Pokémon V and 7 Pokémon VMAX; its Elite Trainer Box holds 8 packs and comes with Eternatus sleeves. Limitless matches all 13 English Ultra Rare cards to SR prints in Japan: 7 in S3 and 6 in S2a. The Japanese Infinity Zone box is currently listed at ¥55,736 (~$362) and the SNKRDUNK lowest ask on September 30, 2026 was ¥51,999 (~$338).
- As of September 30, 2026, Limitless lists 201 rows for the English set: 189 numbered cards and 12 secret-numbered cards.
- As of September 30, 2026, Limitless lists a Japanese SR print for every one of the 13 English Ultra Rare cards; the 12 English Rainbow Rare and gold Secret Rare cards have no verified same-tier Japanese counterpart.
- Full Japanese card lists: Infinity Zone (S3) and Explosive Walker (S2a).
One English Set, Two Japanese Sets
Two Japanese sets feed the English Darkness Ablaze card list. S3 Infinity Zone is the one Bulbapedia pairs with Darkness Ablaze directly; S2a Explosive Walker is listed as part of it. No official page states that the English set equals either Japanese set, so the pairing is Bulbapedia’s and the card matches further down are Limitless’s.
| Code | Japanese name | Release | Main-set cards | Cards per pack | Launch price per pack | Bulbapedia pairing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2a | 爆炎ウォーカー (Explosive Walker) | April 24, 2020 | 70 | 5 | ¥165 | Part of Darkness Ablaze |
| S3 | ムゲンゾーン (Infinity Zone) | June 5, 2020 | 100 | 5 | ¥165 | Darkness Ablaze |
The split shows in the cards. The English set’s 13 Ultra Rare cards divide 7 to S3 and 6 to S2a, so no single Japanese box holds them all. Houndoom V, Rhyperior V, Crobat V, Scizor V, Salamence V, Piers and Rose sit in S3; Butterfree V, Centiskorch V, Vikavolt V, Galarian Stunfisk V, Kabu and Pokémon Breeder’s Nurturing sit in S2a.
What pokemon.com Lists for Darkness Ablaze
pokemon.com files Darkness Ablaze under the Sword & Shield Series with an August 14, 2020 release date and “Over 185” cards. The official highlights are 14 Pokémon V and 7 Pokémon VMAX, more than 15 Trainer cards and 3 new Special Energy cards. The overview names Eternatus V, Centiskorch V, Mew V and Galarian Slowbro V among the V cards, and Charizard VMAX, Grimmsnarl VMAX and Butterfree VMAX among the Gigantamax VMAX. The page prints no exact set size and no price.
| Official product | Launch | Contents as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Elite Trainer Box | August 14, 2020 | 8 Darkness Ablaze booster packs; 65 card sleeves featuring Eternatus; 45 Energy cards; a player’s guide to the expansion; a Pokémon TCG rulebook; 6 damage-counter dice; 1 competition-legal coin-flip die; 2 acrylic condition markers; a collector’s box with 4 dividers; a code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online |
| Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze Build & Battle Box | August 28, 2020 | A 23-card Evolution pack featuring key cards from current and prior sets, including 1 of 4 alternate-art promo cards; 4 Darkness Ablaze booster packs; 1 deck-building tip sheet |
The Build & Battle Box page describes its packs as four 10-card boosters. A Japanese pack holds 5 cards, so a pack is not the same unit on the two sides, and pack counts alone do not compare the products.
Spec Table: English Products vs the Japanese Boxes
The Elite Trainer Box is the sealed English product with accessories.
| Spec | English Darkness Ablaze (official) | Japanese S3 Infinity Zone box |
|---|---|---|
| Release | August 14, 2020 (set and Elite Trainer Box); August 28, 2020 (Build & Battle Box) | June 5, 2020 |
| Sealed products listed | Elite Trainer Box; Build & Battle Box | Booster box |
| Packs in the product | 8 (Elite Trainer Box); 4 (Build & Battle Box); the product gallery has no booster-box page | 30 is the sibling S1 figure carried in the Japanese set table; it is not confirmed for S3 |
| Cards per pack | 10 (Build & Battle Box description) | 5 |
| Set size | “Over 185” (official); 201 Limitless rows; printed total 189 per pokemon-tcg-data | 100 main-set cards; SR cards numbered 101 to 110 |
| Card numbering | Numbered on a /189 base (per pokemon-tcg-data), secret cards 190 to 201 | Numbered on a /100 base, for example 105/100 |
| Price | Not printed on the official pages | ¥165 per pack at launch |
| Our listing | Japanese sealed product only | S3: ¥55,736 (~$362) |
Release Dates on Both Sides
Japan’s S3 released ten weeks before the English set, and S2a came about sixteen weeks before it.
| Date | Product | Region | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2020 | S2a Explosive Walker | Japan | Japanese set table (Bulbapedia snapshot, September 15, 2026) |
| June 5, 2020 | S3 Infinity Zone | Japan | Japanese set table (Bulbapedia snapshot, September 15, 2026) |
| August 14, 2020 | Darkness Ablaze expansion and Elite Trainer Box | English | pokemon.com |
| August 28, 2020 | Build & Battle Box | English | pokemon.com |
Numbering differs as well. Japanese cards run on a /100 base in S3 and a /070 base in S2a, so the full-art SR cards read 101/100 to 110/100 and 071/070 to 078/070. English cards run on a /189 base per pokemon-tcg-data, since the pokemon.com page prints no denominator.
How the English Card List Is Built
As of September 30, 2026, Limitless lists 201 rows for the English set (an August 14, 2020 release). Rows 1 to 189 are the numbered set and rows 190 to 201 are the 12 secret-numbered cards. The printed total of 189 is cited to pokemon-tcg-data, a third-party dataset; the pokemon.com page prints only “Over 185”.
| Limitless rarity label | Rows |
|---|---|
| Common | 53 |
| Uncommon | 50 |
| Rare | 34 |
| Holo Rare | 18 |
| Double Rare | 21 |
| Ultra Rare | 13 |
| Rainbow Rare | 7 |
| Secret Rare | 5 |
| Total rows | 201 |
These are Limitless labels, not official rarity names. Limitless files the 21 standard V and VMAX cards under Double Rare, the 13 cards numbered 177 to 189 under Ultra Rare, and the secret rows under Rainbow Rare (190 to 196) and Secret Rare (197 to 201).
13 English Ultra Rare Cards and Their Japanese Prints
Limitless lists the Japanese prints of each English card as a JP print of the same card. Every Ultra Rare card has two Japanese prints in the paired sets: a main-set RR card (an R or U card for the Trainers) and a full-art SR card numbered above the main set. In each row the SR card carries the same illustrator credit as the English card. Where a PSA 10 copy is offered, the last column names it; PSA 10 back orders are sourced to order and the product page shows the current terms (see how PSA 10 back orders work).
| English card (Limitless: Ultra Rare) | Japanese set | Japanese main-set print | Japanese SR print | Illustrator credit | Our listing (Japanese SR print) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 177 Butterfree V | S2a | S2a 001/070 バタフリーV (RR) | S2a 071/070 バタフリーV (SR) | Saki Hayashiro | not listed |
| 178 Houndoom V | S3 | S3 009/100 ヘルガーV (RR) | S3 101/100 ヘルガーV (SR) | Ayaka Yoshida | not listed |
| 179 Centiskorch V | S2a | S2a 016/070 マルヤクデV (RR) | S2a 072/070 マルヤクデV (SR) | 5ban Graphics | not listed |
| 180 Vikavolt V | S2a | S2a 025/070 クワガノンV (RR) | S2a 073/070 クワガノンV (SR) | Ayaka Yoshida | not listed |
| 181 Rhyperior V | S3 | S3 049/100 ドサイドンV (RR) | S3 104/100 ドサイドンV (SR) | Eske Yoshinob | not listed |
| 182 Crobat V | S3 | S3 053/100 クロバットV (RR) | S3 105/100 クロバットV (SR) | PLANETA Mochizuki | not listed |
| 183 Scizor V | S3 | S3 066/100 ハッサムV (RR) | S3 107/100 ハッサムV (SR) | Satoshi Shirai | not listed |
| 184 Galarian Stunfisk V | S2a | S2a 055/070 ガラル マッギョV (RR) | S2a 076/070 ガラル マッギョV (SR) | PLANETA Tsuji | not listed |
| 185 Salamence V | S3 | S3 080/100 ボーマンダV (RR) | S3 108/100 ボーマンダV (SR) | Saki Hayashiro | not listed |
| 186 Kabu | S2a | S2a 067/070 カブ (U) | S2a 077/070 カブ (SR) | Hitoshi Ariga | not listed |
| 187 Piers | S3 | S3 095/100 ネズ (U) | S3 109/100 ネズ (SR) | kirisAki | PSA 10 back order: ¥14,280 (~$93) |
| 188 Pokémon Breeder’s Nurturing | S2a | S2a 068/070 ポケモンブリーダーの育成 (U) | S2a 078/070 ポケモンブリーダーの育成 (SR) | kirisAki | PSA 10 back order: ¥7,650 (~$50) |
| 189 Rose | S3 | S3 096/100 ローズ (U) | S3 110/100 ローズ (SR) | Naoki Saito | not listed |
Crobat V and Salamence V
English 182 Crobat V pairs with S3 105/100 クロバットV (SR), credited to PLANETA Mochizuki; its main-set print is S3 053/100 (RR). English 185 Salamence V pairs with S3 108/100 ボーマンダV (SR), credited to Saki Hayashiro, with S3 080/100 as the RR print. Our Darkness Ablaze chase cards article covers the Infinity Zone prints behind the English chase cards.
Piers and Rose
The two Supporters carry the last two SR numbers in S3. English 187 Piers pairs with S3 109/100 ネズ (SR), credited to kirisAki, with a U print at 095/100. English 189 Rose pairs with S3 110/100 ローズ (SR), credited to Naoki Saito, with a U print at 096/100. Piers SR is offered as a PSA 10 back order at ¥14,280 (~$93).
Butterfree V and Kabu
The S2a half of the list is smaller but follows the same pattern. English 177 Butterfree V pairs with S2a 071/070 バタフリーV (SR), credited to Saki Hayashiro, with S2a 001/070 as the RR print. English 186 Kabu pairs with S2a 077/070 カブ (SR), credited to Hitoshi Ariga, with a U print at 067/070.
The Seven VMAX Cards and Their Rainbow Rare Versions
The official page counts 7 Pokémon VMAX in the set, and the Limitless list shows seven numbered VMAX cards. Five of them have a Rainbow Rare version in the secret rows, English 190 to 194. Charizard VMAX and Grimmsnarl VMAX, both named in the official overview, have no Rainbow Rare row in the Limitless list.
| VMAX card | English numbered card | English Rainbow Rare | Japanese print of the same VMAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfree VMAX | 2 | 190 | S2a 002/070 バタフリーVMAX (RRR) |
| Charizard VMAX | 20 | No Rainbow Rare row in the Limitless list | — |
| Centiskorch VMAX | 34 | 191 | S2a 017/070 マルヤクデVMAX (RRR) |
| Grimmsnarl VMAX | 115 | No Rainbow Rare row in the Limitless list | — |
| Eternatus VMAX | 117 | 192 | S3 065/100 ムゲンダイナVMAX (RRR) |
| Scizor VMAX | 119 | 193 | S3 067/100 ハッサムVMAX (RRR) |
| Salamence VMAX | 144 | 194 | S3 081/100 ボーマンダVMAX (RRR) |
Limitless does not list a Japanese HR or UR row for these VMAX cards, so the RRR print is the Japanese card of the same name and text rather than a verified same-tier match to the Rainbow Rare. For the Japanese Centiskorch prints, see our Centiskorch V and VMAX guide.
Rainbow Rare Trainers and Gold Secret Cards
The remaining seven secret rows are two Rainbow Rare Trainers (195 and 196) and five gold Secret Rare cards (197 to 201). The Trainers carry the same illustrator credits as their Ultra Rare versions: Pokémon Breeder’s Nurturing to kirisAki and Rose to Naoki Saito.
| English no. | Card | Limitless rarity | Japanese print(s) of the same card in S3 / S2a | Our listing (Japanese card) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195 | Pokémon Breeder’s Nurturing | Rainbow Rare | S2a 068/070 ポケモンブリーダーの育成 (U); S2a 078/070 ポケモンブリーダーの育成 (SR) | PSA 10 back order: ¥7,650 (~$50) |
| 196 | Rose | Rainbow Rare | S3 096/100 ローズ (U); S3 110/100 ローズ (SR) | not listed |
| 197 | Rillaboom | Secret Rare | No print in S3 or S2a | not listed |
| 198 | Coalossal | Secret Rare | No print in S3 or S2a | not listed |
| 199 | Big Parasol | Secret Rare | S2a 066/070 ビッグパラソル (U) | not listed |
| 200 | Turbo Patch | Secret Rare | S3 090/100 ターボパッチ (U) | not listed |
| 201 | Capture Energy | Secret Rare | No print in S3 or S2a | not listed |
Rillaboom, Coalossal and Capture Energy have no Japanese print in S3 or S2a; Limitless lists their Japanese prints in other sets. Big Parasol and Turbo Patch do have an S2a or S3 print, at the regular U tier. No same-tier Japanese counterpart is verified for any of the seven.
S3 or S2a: Which Japanese Set Holds Which Card
S3 holds seven of the thirteen Ultra Rare cards and S2a holds six. Choosing a box means choosing which cards it can hold.
| S3 Infinity Zone (English no.) | S2a Explosive Walker (English no.) |
|---|---|
| Houndoom V (178) | Butterfree V (177) |
| Rhyperior V (181) | Centiskorch V (179) |
| Crobat V (182) | Vikavolt V (180) |
| Scizor V (183) | Galarian Stunfisk V (184) |
| Salamence V (185) | Kabu (186) |
| Piers (187) | Pokémon Breeder’s Nurturing (188) |
| Rose (189) |
A collector who wants all thirteen needs both Japanese sets, or singles. Card-by-card lists are on our Infinity Zone (S3) card list and Explosive Walker (S2a) card list; the S3 Infinity Zone booster box buying guide covers the Japanese box itself.
Japanese Box Listings and Asking Prices
The S3 box is the Japanese Darkness Ablaze booster box we list, and the Damaged Box products are separate product pages with their own condition details. SNKRDUNK figures are asking prices, not sold prices. The table sets our listing beside the market row and draws no conclusion from the gap.
| Japanese box | Our listing | SNKRDUNK lowest ask, September 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| S3 Infinity Zone | ¥55,736 (~$362) | ¥51,999 (~$338) |
| S3 Infinity Zone, Damaged Box | ¥55,734 (~$362) | Not a separate SNKRDUNK listing |
| S3 Infinity Zone, Damaged Box (Grade B) | ¥54,567 (~$354) | Not a separate SNKRDUNK listing |
| S2a Explosive Walker | ¥38,976 (~$253) | ¥43,000 (~$279) |
Where to Buy Darkness Ablaze Cards from Japan
The Infinity Zone box is on the S3 product page at ¥55,736 (~$362); the Explosive Walker box is on the S2a product page at ¥38,976 (~$253). For a specific single that is not listed, sourcing requests go through Quick Order, and the PSA 10 collection lists the graded cards we carry.
Wider context is in our Darkness Ablaze Japanese card list, the S3 Infinity Zone box guide and the Japanese vs English Pokemon cards explainer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards are in the English Darkness Ablaze set?
pokemon.com prints “Over 185” cards. As of September 30, 2026, Limitless lists 201 rows: 189 numbered cards and 12 secret-numbered cards (190 to 201). The printed total of 189 comes from pokemon-tcg-data, a third-party dataset, because the official page gives no exact figure.
When did Darkness Ablaze release in English and in Japan?
The English set and its Elite Trainer Box released on August 14, 2020, and the Build & Battle Box on August 28, 2020, per pokemon.com. Japan’s S2a Explosive Walker released on April 24, 2020 and S3 Infinity Zone on June 5, 2020, per the Japanese set table (Bulbapedia snapshot, September 15, 2026).
What comes in the Darkness Ablaze Elite Trainer Box?
pokemon.com lists 8 Darkness Ablaze booster packs, 65 sleeves featuring Eternatus, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide, a rulebook, six damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, two condition markers, a collector’s box with four dividers and a code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online.
Which Japanese cards match the English Ultra Rare cards?
Limitless lists a Japanese SR print for each of the 13 English Ultra Rare cards: 7 in S3, numbered 101 to 110 out of 100, and 6 in S2a, numbered 071 to 078 out of 070. The SR illustrator credits match the English credits, for example Saki Hayashiro on Salamence V.
How much does the Japanese Infinity Zone booster box cost?
The S3 box is currently listed at ¥55,736 (~$362). The lowest ask on SNKRDUNK on September 30, 2026 was ¥51,999 (~$338), an asking price rather than a sold price. Damaged-box versions of S3 are separate listings with their own product pages.
Is the S2a Explosive Walker box part of Darkness Ablaze?
Bulbapedia’s list of Japanese expansions (snapshot September 15, 2026) marks S2a as part of Darkness Ablaze and pairs S3 with it directly. No official page states either equivalence. S2a released on April 24, 2020, before S3, and its box is currently listed at ¥38,976 (~$253).
Which Darkness Ablaze VMAX cards have a Rainbow Rare version?
Five of the seven: Butterfree, Centiskorch, Eternatus, Scizor and Salamence, numbered 190 to 194. Charizard VMAX and Grimmsnarl VMAX have no Rainbow Rare row in the Limitless list. Limitless lists RRR prints of the five in S2a and S3, but no same-tier Japanese print is verified.
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