One box is built around 151 pocket monsters everyone already knows. The other is a Sword & Shield-era finale that packed 90 secret slots into a single checklist. They released six and a half months apart, they draw from different card pools, and they’re still two of the most talked-about Japanese sets we ship — which is exactly why the comparison keeps coming up.
This guide lines up Pokemon 151 (SV2a) against VSTAR Universe (S12a) directly: what’s inside each box, how their headline chase cards compare, what each one is currently listed at in our catalog, and which one makes more sense depending on what you’re actually chasing.
Pokemon 151’s sealed box is currently listed at ¥45,900 (actualización: agotado — pide reposición vía Quick Order), while VSTAR Universe’s sealed box is currently listed at ¥33,280 — a ¥12,620 gap between two sets from entirely different Pokemon eras. Both sets happen to feature Charizard as a headline chase, just in different forms: Charizard ex in Pokemon 151, Charizard VSTAR in VSTAR Universe.
Card counts and secret rare listings are verified against Limitless (limitlesstcg.com/cards/jp/SV2a and /S12a). Prices reflect our own catalog listings as of August 19, 2026, and can change — check the linked product pages for the current figure before ordering.
Two Different Eras, Two Different Checklists
Pokemon 151 and VSTAR Universe aren’t a matched pair the way some premium Japanese sets are — they come from opposite ends of the modern Pokemon TCG timeline, built on different base sets, and the two checklists are built from different card pools.
| Artículo | Pokemon 151 (SV2a) | VSTAR Universe (S12a) |
|---|---|---|
| JP release date | June 16, 2023 | December 2, 2022 |
| Era | Scarlet & Violet | Sword & Shield (final high-class pack) |
| Collation | 165 main + 45 secret = 210 cards | 172 main + 90 secret = 262 cards |
| Secret rare structure | AR 166–183 → SR 184–199 → SAR 200–207 → UR 208–210 | AR → SAR → SR bands → UR 259–262 |
| Signature feature | Master Ball / Monster Ball mirror parallels of the 151 original Pokemon | Introduced the Art Rare (AR) tier to Sword & Shield-era high-class packs |
| EN counterpart | 151 (Scarlet & Violet—151) | Crown Zenith |
Pokemon 151 runs a tighter checklist — 210 cards total against VSTAR Universe’s 262 — but its concept is narrower and more collectible on its own terms: it’s themed around the original 151 Pokemon, and the set’s Master Ball and Monster Ball mirror parallels give the base 165-card run its own chase layer before you even reach the secret rares. That means a Pokemon 151 box has two separate ways to hit: a mirror-parallel version of a main-set card, or one of the 45 slots in the AR-through-UR secret run described above. VSTAR Universe, by contrast, was Sword & Shield’s closing statement — the set that brought the Art Rare tier into the format and packed 90 secret-rare slots into one checklist, spanning AR, SAR, SR, and UR tiers.
The two sets also sit on opposite sides of a format change. VSTAR Universe’s AR tier was new for Sword & Shield-era high-class packs, and it set the template that Scarlet & Violet-era sets like Pokemon 151 carried forward — which is part of why the two checklists feel structurally similar even though they’re built from entirely different card pools.
Neither set has published official pack odds, and we haven’t independently verified per-box distribution for either title — treat any specific figures you see elsewhere as community-reported, unofficial estimates, not confirmed numbers.
The Chase Card Lineups, Side by Side
Both sets have a clear headline card and a supporting cast of SAR and UR prints beneath it. Here’s how the top of each checklist stacks up:
| Rango | Pokemon 151 (SV2a) | VSTAR Universe (S12a) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charizard ex SAR 201/165 | Giratina VSTAR UR 261/172 |
| 2 | Mew ex SAR 205/165 (also UR 208/165) | Arceus VSTAR UR 262/172 |
| 3 | Erika’s Invitation SAR 206/165 | Pikachu AR 205/172 |
| 4 | Pikachu AR 173/165 | Charizard VSTAR SAR 212/172 |
| 5 | — | Mewtwo VSTAR SAR 221/172 |
Pokemon 151’s SAR band (200–207) also carries Venusaur ex, Blastoise ex, Alakazam ex, Zapdos ex, and Giovanni’s Charisma alongside the four cards above, while the UR band closes with a second Mew ex print, a Trainer card, and Basic Psychic Energy. VSTAR Universe’s UR run at 259–262 is a full Origin Forme sweep — Origin Palkia VSTAR, Origin Dialga VSTAR, Giratina VSTAR, and Arceus VSTAR.
For the full checklist and card-by-card breakdown beyond the top secret tier, see our Pokemon 151 best cards guide and VSTAR Universe best cards guide.
Charizard Shows Up in Both — Just Not the Same Way
If you’re a Charizard collector, the pick isn’t obvious, because Charizard is the headline chase in both sets — just in a different form each time. Pokemon 151 runs Charizard ex SAR 201/165, a Scarlet & Violet-era ex card in the set’s alt-art secret rare treatment. VSTAR Universe runs Charizard VSTAR SAR 212/172, the Sword & Shield VSTAR mechanic in the same secret rare finish.
They’re not the same card, they don’t compete for the same slot, and neither is a reprint of the other — they’re two separate Charizard chases from two separate eras, each exclusive to its own box within this pairing. A collector building a «one Charizard from each mechanic» run needs a box of both; a collector who just wants a Charizard secret rare and doesn’t care which mechanic can let price and checklist depth make the call instead.
The mechanic itself is a real difference beyond the artwork. The ex mechanic on Pokemon 151’s Charizard is the current Scarlet & Violet standard, still active in every set releasing today. The VSTAR mechanic on VSTAR Universe’s Charizard belongs to the closed Sword & Shield era — it isn’t printed in any current Scarlet & Violet set, which is part of why some collectors specifically seek out VSTAR Universe rather than treating it as interchangeable with newer high-class packs.
Pokemon 151 also prints a second Mew ex at UR 208/165, on top of the SAR 205/165 — two separate Mew secret rares in the same checklist.
Box Price Comparison
Both boxes are sold in our catalog, though Pokemon 151 currently has two listings at different prices while VSTAR Universe is split between a sealed and a No Shrink (shrink wrap removed, box and contents otherwise unopened) format. Here’s how they line up as of our latest catalog check:
| Caja | Listing | Precio |
|---|---|---|
| Pokemon 151 (SV2a) | Standard listing | currently listed at ¥45,900 (actualización: agotado — pide reposición vía Quick Order) |
| Pokemon 151 (SV2a) | Second listing | currently listed at ¥59,850 (actualización: agotado — pide reposición vía Quick Order) |
| VSTAR Universe (S12a) | Sellado | currently listed at ¥33,280 |
| VSTAR Universe (S12a) | Sin celofán | currently listed at ¥29,120 |
At the lowest listed price on each side, a Pokemon 151 box runs ¥12,620 above a sealed VSTAR Universe box, and ¥16,780 above VSTAR Universe’s No Shrink listing. That gap is roughly a third of VSTAR Universe’s own price again — enough that budget alone pushes a lot of buyers toward VSTAR Universe, even before factoring in which chase card they actually want.
These are catalog listings, not a guarantee of availability at the moment you read this — confirm current stock and price on the product page before ordering.
Which Box Should You Buy?
Given how different the two checklists actually are, the decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions:
- You want the concept card, not just a chase. Pokemon 151 is themed around the original 151 Pokemon plus its own Master Ball / Monster Ball mirror parallels — a self-contained theme VSTAR Universe doesn’t try to replicate. Sealed box is currently listed at ¥45,900 (actualización: agotado — pide reposición vía Quick Order).
- You want the deepest secret rare checklist for the price. VSTAR Universe runs 90 secret slots against Pokemon 151’s 45, and its sealed box is currently listed at ¥33,280 — well below Pokemon 151 on a per-box basis.
- Price is the deciding factor above all else. VSTAR Universe’s No Shrink listing, currently listed at ¥29,120, is the lowest entry point across both sets.
- You want Giratina VSTAR or Arceus VSTAR specifically. Both Origin Forme URs are exclusive to VSTAR Universe — Pokemon 151 doesn’t print either Pokemon.
- You’re chasing Charizard and the mechanic doesn’t matter to you. Either box gets you there — Charizard ex SAR in Pokemon 151, Charizard VSTAR SAR in VSTAR Universe — so the cheaper box and the mechanic you personally prefer can both weigh in.
This guide compares the two sets as they’re currently listed in our catalog. Prices move, and live stock is not reflected in this article — check the product page for the live figure and availability before checking out.
Where to Buy Pokemon 151 and VSTAR Universe from Japan
We ship both sets sealed from Tokyo with tracked delivery. VSTAR Universe is also available in a No Shrink format at a lower price point if the wrap itself doesn’t matter to you. If you’re ordering both boxes together, or mixing in singles alongside a box, our Quick Order page is the fastest way to build a combined order in one checkout.
For the direct product pages: Pokemon 151 (SV2a) Booster Box (actualización: agotado — pide reposición vía Quick Order) and VSTAR Universe (S12a) Booster Box. If you’re weighing this pairing against other premium Japanese sets, our Pokemon 151 vs Shiny Treasure ex box guide and Eevee Heroes vs Pokemon 151 box guide cover Pokemon 151 against two other sets, and our Eevee Heroes vs VSTAR Universe box guide does the same for VSTAR Universe.
Preguntas frecuentes
Which is more expensive, Pokemon 151 or VSTAR Universe?
Pokemon 151. Its sealed box is currently listed at ¥45,900, against VSTAR Universe’s sealed box at ¥33,280 — a ¥12,620 gap. VSTAR Universe’s No Shrink listing, at ¥29,120, is the lowest price point across both sets.
What’s the headline chase card in each set?
Pokemon 151’s top chase is Charizard ex SAR 201/165. VSTAR Universe’s top chase is Giratina VSTAR UR 261/172, followed closely by Arceus VSTAR UR 262/172.
Do Pokemon 151 and VSTAR Universe share any chase cards?
Not the same printing, but both sets feature Charizard as a headline secret rare — Charizard ex SAR 201/165 in Pokemon 151, and Charizard VSTAR SAR 212/172 in VSTAR Universe. They’re two different cards from two different Pokemon TCG mechanics, not reprints of each other.
What’s the difference between the Sealed and No Shrink listings for VSTAR Universe?
Sealed means the box retains its original shrink wrap. No Shrink means the shrink wrap has been removed while the box and its contents remain unopened. VSTAR Universe is sold in both formats in our catalog, at ¥33,280 and ¥29,120 respectively.
Which box has more secret rares?
VSTAR Universe, by a wide margin. Its collation runs 172 main cards plus 90 secret slots (262 total), against Pokemon 151’s 165 main cards plus 45 secret slots (210 total).
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