In the Japanese TCG, the printed S and SSR rarity marks are the shiny tiers this guide covers — not the holo pattern collectors argue about online. Look for a hollow gold star (or two) in the corner, and you’ve found one.
The system is simpler than it looks once you know the two marks. It debuted in one set in 2018, got reused twice more, and along the way produced a sub-category collectors call “baby shinies” — recoloured basic Pokemon that never evolved into anything flashier. This guide walks through what the marks mean, which Japanese sets actually carry them, and profiles twelve cards worth knowing across those sets.
S and SSR are printed Japanese rarity marks — one hollow gold star for S, two for SSR — introduced in SM8b GX Ultra Shiny (2018) and reused in S4a Shiny Star V (2020) and SV4a Shiny Treasure ex (2023). “Baby shinies” is collector slang for S-rarity shiny basic Pokemon like the PSA 10 Charmander S (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), currently listed at ¥10,912 (~$69). Not every gold-foil chase card is shiny — S8b VMAX Climax’s CHR/CSR cards, like the PSA 10 Umbreon VMAX CSR, use a different system entirely.
Prices below are our own “currently listed at” prices, converted at ¥159/USD (September 2026).
What Counts as a Shiny Pokemon Card
Per Bulbapedia’s rarity documentation, S Shiny Rare is “marked with a hollow gold star,” and SSR Shiny Super Rare carries “two hollow gold stars.” SSR applies to shiny versions of cards that would normally be Ultra Rare — think shiny V and VMAX cards reusing their non-shiny full-art layouts in a recoloured, often black-and-gold or muted palette. Regular S-rarity cards get entirely new artwork rather than a recolour of an existing print.
The marks first appeared in SM8b GX Ultra Shiny, released 2018-11-02 with 243 rows on Limitless — our own SSR guide covers that origin in more depth. The same S/SSR structure was reused twice: in S4a Shiny Star V (2020-11-20, 326 cards) and SV4a Shiny Treasure ex (2023-12-01, 360 cards). In both of those sets, Bulbapedia notes the pattern plainly: regular Shiny Pokemon cards get new artwork and the S mark, while Shiny Pokemon V or ex cards reuse their prior full-art print and carry the SSR mark instead.
Collectors call the S-rarity cards that feature basic, unevolved Pokemon in their shiny colouring “baby shinies”: think a shiny Rowlet or Charmander rather than a shiny Charizard VMAX. It’s community slang, not an official Pokemon Company term, but the shorthand has stuck because these are usually the most affordable entry point into a shiny-set collection.
Not every gold-star-adjacent chase card is a shiny. S8b VMAX Climax (2021-12-03, 277 rows) uses CHR (Character Holo Rare) and CSR (Character Super Rare) for its secret tiers — full-art cards featuring Pokemon Trainers in the artwork, not recoloured Pokemon. Our VMAX Climax card list breaks down that separate system. Older “Shining” cards (Shining Legends, 2017) and the 2013 Shiny Collection also predate the S mark entirely — the Shiny Collection Growlithe, for example, is rarity U (Uncommon), not S. Our Shiny Collection guide covers that earlier era.
Our Picks: 12 Shiny Cards to Know
Twelve cards across the three sets that actually carry the S/SSR marks — four from Shiny Star V, five from Shiny Treasure ex, and three from GX Ultra Shiny.
Charizard VMAX — S4a 308/190 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), SSR
The set’s marquee SSR, illustrated by aky CG Works (see our aky CG Works artist guide). Currently listed at PSA 10 ¥39,800 (~$250) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order).
Charizard V — S4a 307/190, SSR
The non-VMAX half of the pair, illustrated by 5ban Graphics. See our dedicated Charizard V SSR guide for more detail. Sourcing via Quick Order.
Ditto V — S4a 323/190, SSR
Illustrated by Saki Hayashiro, and one of the more distinctive SSRs in the set since Ditto’s shiny colouring reads almost pastel. Our Ditto cards guide rounds up its other shiny and non-shiny prints. Sourcing via Quick Order.
Rowlet — S4a 200/190, S (a “baby shiny”)
A textbook baby shiny: a basic, unevolved Pokemon in full shiny colouring, illustrated by Akira Komayama. S4a alone carries 104 cards at this S tier. Sourcing via Quick Order.
Mew ex — SV4a 327/190, SSR
Another aky CG Works SSR, this time opening the SSR block (320–337) of Shiny Treasure ex. Currently listed at PSA 10 ¥11,286 (~$71) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order).
Charizard ex — SV4a 331/190, SSR
Illustrated by 5ban Graphics. Note this is a separate print from the 349/190 Special Art Rare Charizard ex in the same set — that SAR isn’t a shiny card, it’s a different rarity tier, though we carry a PSA 10 ¥86,591 (~$545) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) listing of it if you’re after that print instead. The SSR is sourcing via Quick Order.
Charmander — SV4a 210/190, S (a “baby shiny”)
Illustrated by sowsow, and one of the most requested baby shinies from this set. Currently listed at PSA 10 ¥10,912 (~$69) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order).
Ditto — SV4a 309/190, S (a “baby shiny”)
Illustrated by 0313. Ditto shows up at both S and SSR across S4a and SV4a — see the Ditto cards guide for the full lineup. Sourcing via Quick Order.
Fuecoco — SV4a 215/190, S (a “baby shiny”)
Illustrated by OKACHEKE. One of the more recent starter baby shinies, from a set with 129 cards at the S tier alone. Sourcing via Quick Order.
Leafeon GX — SM8b 206/150, SSR
This is the card that started it all — the first SSR in the set that introduced the mark. Illustrated by 5ban Graphics. Currently listed at PSA 10 ¥29,700 (~$187). Our GX Ultra Shiny set guide covers the full pack.
Sylveon GX — SM8b 238/150, SSR
The Fairy-type SSR near the end of the set’s rare block, illustrated by 5ban Graphics. Currently listed at PSA 10 ¥77,220 (~$486) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — the highest-priced card in this roundup.
Darkrai GX — SM8b 230/150, SSR
Illustrated by 5ban Graphics. Currently listed at PSA 10 ¥43,999 (~$277).
Shiny Card Comparison Table
All twelve cards side by side, with our current PSA 10 listing where one exists:
| Card | Set | JP no. | Rarity | PSA 10 listed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylveon GX | SM8b GX Ultra Shiny | 238/150 | SSR | ¥77,220 (~$486) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| Darkrai GX | SM8b GX Ultra Shiny | 230/150 | SSR | ¥43,999 (~$277) |
| Charizard VMAX | S4a Shiny Star V | 308/190 | SSR | ¥39,800 (~$250) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| Leafeon GX | SM8b GX Ultra Shiny | 206/150 | SSR | ¥29,700 (~$187) |
| Mew ex | SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | 327/190 | SSR | ¥11,286 (~$71) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| Charmander | SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | 210/190 | S | ¥10,912 (~$69) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| Charizard V | S4a Shiny Star V | 307/190 | SSR | Ask via Quick Order |
| Ditto V | S4a Shiny Star V | 323/190 | SSR | Ask via Quick Order |
| Charizard ex | SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | 331/190 | SSR | Ask via Quick Order |
| Rowlet | S4a Shiny Star V | 200/190 | S | Ask via Quick Order |
| Ditto | SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | 309/190 | S | Ask via Quick Order |
| Fuecoco | SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | 215/190 | S | Ask via Quick Order |
Every card here is either S or SSR. If a card you’re chasing isn’t currently listed as a graded single, our Quick Order page is the fastest way to ask about it or build a mixed order.
Want to build a shiny binder from sealed product instead of singles? Both source sets are available as booster boxes:
How to Buy Japanese Shiny Pokemon Cards from Tokyo
We ship Japanese sealed product and graded singles worldwide from Tokyo with tracked delivery. For a full box of Shiny Treasure ex, currently listed at ¥16,640 (~$105), every S and SSR profiled above from that set comes from the same booster box. There’s no standalone SM8b GX Ultra Shiny box currently listed — for that set, singles and Quick Order sourcing are the way in.
If you’re deciding which shiny set to start with, our Shiny Star V vs Shiny Treasure ex box guide compares the two directly, and our GX Ultra Shiny vs Shiny Star V guide covers how the original set stacks up against its 2020 successor. For the complete card-by-card checklists behind this roundup, see our Shiny Star V (S4a) card list and Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) card list.
For any card not currently listed as a graded single, the Quick Order page lets you ask directly and build a mixed order across sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does S and SSR mean on a Pokemon card?
They’re printed Japanese rarity marks. S (Shiny Rare) is marked with a single hollow gold star and features new artwork of a shiny Pokemon. SSR (Shiny Super Rare) carries two hollow gold stars and applies to shiny versions of cards that would normally be Ultra Rare, such as shiny V or VMAX cards.
What is a “baby shiny” Pokemon card?
It’s collector slang, not an official term, for S-rarity cards featuring basic, unevolved Pokemon in their shiny colouring — a shiny Rowlet or Charmander rather than a shiny Charizard VMAX. They’re usually the most affordable entry point into a shiny-set collection.
Which Japanese sets have S and SSR rarity cards?
Three: SM8b GX Ultra Shiny (2018-11-02), where the marks debuted; S4a Shiny Star V (2020-11-20); and SV4a Shiny Treasure ex (2023-12-01). No other Japanese main sets use this exact S/SSR structure.
Is S8b VMAX Climax a shiny set?
No. VMAX Climax uses CHR (Character Holo Rare) and CSR (Character Super Rare) rarities, which feature Pokemon Trainers in the artwork rather than recoloured shiny Pokemon. It’s a separate rarity system from S/SSR.
Are Shining Pokemon cards the same as S-rarity shiny cards?
No. “Shining” cards, such as those from the 2017 Shining Legends era, and the 2013 Shiny Collection both predate the S mark and use different rarity systems entirely — the Shiny Collection Growlithe, for example, is rarity U (Uncommon).
Where can I buy Japanese shiny Pokemon cards from Tokyo?
We list PSA 10 graded singles and sealed booster boxes for S4a Shiny Star V and SV4a Shiny Treasure ex, shipped from Tokyo with tracked delivery. For anything not currently listed, our Quick Order page lets you ask directly.
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