One Pikachu, two names, two countries. In Japan it is card 205/172 from VSTAR Universe, an Art Rare with a full illustration by Kouki Saitou. In English-language sets, the same character — different card number, different rarity code — shows up inside Crown Zenith’s Galarian Gallery subset.
If you are trying to work out exactly what you are holding, or what a graded copy is trading for, this guide lays out the card’s identifying details, where it sits relative to a couple of other modern Pikachu chase prints, and what our own PSA 10 listing looks like right now.
Pikachu AR 205/172 is a Basic Lightning-type card (HP 60, ability «Pika Dash») from VSTAR Universe (S12a), a Japanese high-class expansion released 2 December 2022. Its English equivalent is Crown Zenith’s Galarian Gallery GG30/GG70 (rarity GGH). We currently list a PSA10 example at ¥101,177 (~$636 at ¥159/USD) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), and you can also build a mixed order through Pedido rápido.
Pikachu AR 205/172: Card Overview
The card is a Basic, Lightning-type Pikachu with 60 HP, numbered 205/172 in VSTAR Universe (S12a). The «over-172» numbering is a giveaway that this is a secret/bonus-slot print rather than one of the set’s core 172 cards — a common pattern for the rarer illustration cards in a Japanese high-class pack.
Its printed ability is Pika Dash (ピカダッシュ): once an Energy card is attached to Pikachu, its Retreat Cost is removed entirely, letting you swap it out of the Active Spot for free. The card carries no attack of its own in this print — the illustration and ability are the draw.
The artwork is credited to illustrator Kouki Saitou, and the rarity is listed as Art Rare (AR).
Confirm the card number in the bottom corner reads 205/172 and the rarity mark matches Art Rare. VSTAR Universe shares Pikachu as a subject across several different prints and rarities within the same release, so the number is what pins down exactly which one you have.
What Does «Art Rare» Mean?
Art Rare is one of the illustration-focused rarity tiers used in Japan’s Pokemon Trading Card Game. Cards in this tier carry an expanded, full-illustration treatment built around the artwork rather than around competitive utility — this Pikachu print, for instance, ships with a support ability but no attack, which fits the pattern of AR cards being aimed squarely at collectors and illustration fans.
Because the number 205/172 places this card outside the set’s main numbered run, it slots into VSTAR Universe’s bonus tier of secret and illustration-rarity cards — the section of a Japanese high-class pack collectors open a box specifically hoping to hit.
We are not citing pull-rate figures or population data for this specific card, since neither has been independently verified for this guide. If you want that level of detail before buying, treat any pull-rate number you see elsewhere as a community estimate rather than an official figure.
VSTAR Universe: The Set Behind the Card
VSTAR Universe (S12a) is a Japanese high-class expansion pack, released in Japan on 2 December 2022. As a high-class pack rather than a standard main-series set, it is built around a denser concentration of secret and illustration-rarity cards — Pikachu AR 205/172 is one of those bonus-slot prints.
For the full checklist of what else shipped in the set, see our VSTAR Universe (S12a) card list. If you are deciding whether to buy sealed product from this release, our VSTAR Universe booster box buying guide and our Shiny Treasure vs VSTAR Universe box comparison cover box-level context that sits outside the scope of this single-card guide.
The English Equivalent: Crown Zenith’s Galarian Gallery
The English-language release does not carry the same card number or rarity code. This Pikachu appears in Crown Zenith, inside the Galarian Gallery subset, as card GG30/GG70, with the rarity listed as GGH (Galarian Gallery Holo).
In practice that means a collector working only from English checklists needs to look under Crown Zenith’s Galarian Gallery numbering (the «GG» prefix) rather than the main set list to find this print. The Japanese VSTAR Universe AR and the English Crown Zenith GGH are different print codes for the same character and illustration concept, issued in their respective regions’ set structures.
How It Compares to Other Modern Pikachu Chase Cards
Pikachu AR 205/172 is not the only high-rarity Pikachu print to come out of recent Japanese sets. Two other modern comparison prints worth knowing, purely as identification reference points, are Pikachu ex 132/106 SAR and Pikachu ex 764/742 SAR.
| Carta | Number | Rarity | Set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikachu (AR) | 205/172 | AR | VSTAR Universe |
| Pikachu ex (SAR) | 132/106 | SAR | Super Electric Breaker |
| Pikachu ex (SAR) | 764/742 | SAR | Start Deck 100 Battle Collection |
The distinction that matters when you are sorting a collection: AR and SAR are separate rarity tiers with separate numbering conventions, and none of these three cards are alternate prints of each other — they are three different Pikachu releases from three different products. Card number and set name, not just «Pikachu» and a rarity badge, are what confirm which one you are holding.
Our PSA 10 Listing and What It’s Worth
PSA 10 is the top grade on PSA’s 1–10 scale, reserved for a copy judged essentially flawless under the grader’s inspection — centering, surface, corners, and edges all graded to the highest tier. A copy of Pikachu AR 205/172 at this grade is currently listed on our site.
Our listing, PSA10 Pikachu 205/172 AR (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), is currently listed at ¥101,177 (~$636 at ¥159/USD) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order). This is our own asking price rather than a broader market average — we have not sourced independent third-party comparables for this specific graded card, so treat this figure as our current listing rather than a market-wide benchmark.
If you collect Pikachu prints more broadly and want to see how this one sits against other Japanese Pikachu chase cards, our Top 10 Pikachu Japanese cards roundup and our best Pikachu cards from the Japanese Pokemon TCG guide are the places to look next.
Where to Buy This Card from Japan
We ship graded and raw Japanese singles out of Tokyo with tracked delivery. The listing below for this card is graded PSA 10.
Looking for a raw copy, a different grade, or want to combine this with other VSTAR Universe singles in one shipment? Our Quick Order page is the fastest way to build a mixed order, and restock requests for out-of-stock items also go through Quick Order.
Preguntas frecuentes
What rarity is Pikachu 205/172?
It is an Art Rare (AR), the rarity printed on the card. The illustration is credited to Kouki Saitou.
What set is Pikachu AR 205/172 from?
VSTAR Universe (S12a), a Japanese high-class expansion pack released in Japan on 2 December 2022.
Is there an English version of this card?
Yes. The English equivalent is in Crown Zenith’s Galarian Gallery subset, card GG30/GG70, with the rarity GGH (Galarian Gallery Holo).
What does Pikachu’s Pika Dash ability do?
Once an Energy card is attached to this Pikachu, Pika Dash removes its Retreat Cost, letting you switch it out of the Active Spot for free.
How much is a PSA 10 copy of this card worth?
Based on our own current listing, a PSA 10 copy is priced at ¥101,177 (about $636 at ¥159/USD). This reflects our listing price, not an independently verified market average.
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