One box is built around 129 shades of shiny. The other closes with a four-card Ultra Rare block pulled from across the VSTAR generation. They released almost exactly one year apart, and they are two of the most-talked-about Japanese High Class Packs we ship — which makes them one of the more natural head-to-heads in our catalog.
SV4a Shiny Treasure ex and S12a VSTAR Universe draw from different card pools, but they compete for the same buyer: someone chasing an alternate-art secret rare from a beloved Japanese-only High Class Pack. This guide lines them up directly — what each box is built from, which cards drive the chase, what each is currently listed at, and which one makes more sense for your budget and your want-list.
SV4a Shiny Treasure ex (Dec 1, 2023) and S12a VSTAR Universe (Dec 2, 2022) are both Japanese-exclusive High Class Packs released almost exactly one year apart. Shiny Treasure ex runs deeper — 360 total card slots against VSTAR Universe’s 262 — and its secret-rare run leans on 129 Shiny Rares plus 18 Shiny Ultra Rares. VSTAR Universe is the shorter checklist but closes with a tight four-card Ultra Rare block led by Giratina VSTAR and Arceus VSTAR. Shiny Treasure ex is currently listed at ¥17,680; VSTAR Universe is currently listed at ¥33,280 — almost double.
Card counts and secret rare numbers are verified against Limitless (limitlesstcg.com/cards/jp/SV4a 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 High Class Packs, One Year Apart
Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) and VSTAR Universe (S12a) sit at the tail end of two different Japanese Pokemon eras. VSTAR Universe closed out the Sword & Shield period on December 2, 2022, pulling together VSTAR cards from across the generation into one High Class Pack. Shiny Treasure ex released almost exactly a year later, on December 1, 2023, as the Scarlet & Violet era’s answer to the same “greatest hits” High Class Pack format — except its theme is color, not VSTAR mechanics.
| SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | S12a VSTAR Universe | |
|---|---|---|
| JP release | December 1, 2023 | December 2, 2022 |
| Era | Scarlet & Violet High Class Pack | Sword & Shield High Class Pack (final of the era) |
| Total card slots | main 190 + secret 170 = 360 | main 172 + secret 90 = 262 |
| EN counterpart | Paldean Fates (Jan 26, 2024) | Crown Zenith |
The numbers alone tell you something about the design intent. Shiny Treasure ex is nearly 100 slots longer than VSTAR Universe, almost entirely because of how deep its secret-rare run goes — it isn’t a handful of chase cards bolted onto a normal set, it’s a set where nearly half the checklist sits past card 190.
Secret Rare Structure, Side by Side
This is where the two boxes really diverge. Shiny Treasure ex’s secret run (191 and up) is built almost entirely around color-swapped art, while VSTAR Universe’s secret run (173 and up) is built around alternate-art and full-art tiers that were still new to the format at the time.
| SV4a Shiny Treasure ex (191–360) | S12a VSTAR Universe (173–262) |
|---|---|
| S Shiny Rare ×129 | AR band → SAR band → SR band, then UR Ultra Rare at 259–262 (4 cards) |
| SSR Shiny Ultra Rare ×18 | |
| AR ×4 | |
| SR ×5 | |
| SAR ×8 (347–354) | |
| UR ×6 (355–360) |
Shiny Treasure ex’s 129-card Shiny Rare run is the largest single block in either set, and it’s the reason the box has a reputation among collectors as one of the deepest “chase the color swap” products in the Scarlet & Violet catalog — a pack made up entirely of Shiny Rare and Shiny Ultra Rare cards is what the community calls a God Pack. VSTAR Universe takes the opposite approach: a much shorter secret run that funnels straight to a four-card Ultra Rare block, with no equivalent “everything shiny” tier.
We don’t publish or verify pack odds figures for either box. Community-reported numbers exist online for both sets, but they’re unofficial — treat them as such.
The Headline Chases: Shiny SARs vs VSTAR Ultra Rares
Shiny Treasure ex’s top tier is the first four slots of its eight-card SAR band (347–354), led by Mew ex. VSTAR Universe’s top tier is the four-card Ultra Rare block at 259–262, led by Giratina VSTAR.
Mew ex (SAR 347/190) is Shiny Treasure ex’s headline chase. It’s followed by Gardevoir ex (SAR 348), Charizard ex (SAR 349), and Iono (SAR 350) — the first four consecutive slots of the box’s eight-card SAR band. Giratina VSTAR (UR 261/172) plays the same role for VSTAR Universe — the card most associated with the set, and the one sitting at the top of its four-card Ultra Rare block alongside Arceus VSTAR at 262.
Charizard ex (SAR 349) needs little introduction — it’s the third card in Shiny Treasure ex’s headline SAR run and the box’s most in-demand pull outside of Mew ex. On the VSTAR Universe side, Pikachu (AR 205/172) is the set’s other landmark chase: a fully art-rare Pikachu that collectors specifically look for in a God Pack pull — VSTAR Universe has its own version of the God Pack concept, an all-AR/SAR pack, distinct from Shiny Treasure ex’s all-Shiny God Pack — sitting well below the UR tier but carrying its own following.
Iono (SAR 350) closes out the headline run of four within Shiny Treasure ex’s eight-card SAR band. VSTAR Universe answers with its own Charizard printing — Charizard VSTAR (SAR 212/172), one slot above Charizard V (SAR 211) in the set’s SAR block, alongside Mewtwo VSTAR (SAR 221/172). Beyond the two boxes’ headline chases, Shiny Treasure ex’s UR band (355–360) rounds out with the Treasures of Ruin and Paradox legendaries — Chien-Pao ex, Chi-Yu ex, Ting-Lu ex, Wo-Chien ex, Miraidon ex, and Koraidon ex — while VSTAR Universe’s UR block completes with Origin Palkia VSTAR (259) and Origin Dialga VSTAR (260) ahead of Giratina and Arceus.
For the full checklist and every SAR, Shiny Rare, and Ultra Rare in each box, see our Shiny Treasure ex best cards guide and VSTAR Universe best cards guide.
Box Price Comparison
Shiny Treasure ex is sold across two lots in our catalog; VSTAR Universe is sold sealed and in a No Shrink format (shrink wrap removed, box and contents otherwise unopened). Here’s how the options line up:
| Box | Format | Harga |
|---|---|---|
| SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | Sealed (Lot A) | currently listed at ¥17,680 |
| SV4a Shiny Treasure ex | Sealed (Lot B) | currently listed at ¥20,176 |
| S12a VSTAR Universe | Tersegel | currently listed at ¥33,280 |
| S12a VSTAR Universe | Tanpa Shrink | currently listed at ¥29,120 |
At its lowest listed price, Shiny Treasure ex sits ¥15,600 below a sealed VSTAR Universe box — roughly half the price for a checklist nearly 100 slots longer. Even VSTAR Universe’s No Shrink listing, at ¥29,120, still runs ¥11,440 above Shiny Treasure ex’s cheaper lot. If you’re weighing whether the No Shrink format is worth the discount, our guide to what No Shrink actually means covers the difference before you buy.
This guide compares the two sets as they’re currently listed in our catalog. Prices move and live stock isn’t reflected here — confirm the current figure and availability on the product page before checking out.
Which Box Should You Buy?
Given how differently these two boxes are built, the choice usually comes down to what you’re actually chasing and what you want to spend.
- You want the widest field of shiny alternate-art pulls for less money. Shiny Treasure ex’s 129-card Shiny Rare run and 18-card Shiny Ultra Rare tier are unmatched by VSTAR Universe’s shorter secret run, and it’s currently listed at ¥17,680.
- You want Giratina VSTAR or Arceus VSTAR specifically. Within this pairing, only VSTAR Universe prints them, in its four-card UR block, currently listed at ¥33,280.
- You’re working to a tighter budget but still want the VSTAR Universe checklist. The No Shrink lot at ¥29,120 gets you the same contents as sealed, minus the shrink wrap.
- Price is the deciding factor above all else. Shiny Treasure ex’s Lot A at ¥17,680 is the lowest entry point across both boxes by a wide margin.
- You want a shorter, tighter secret-rare run rather than the deepest possible checklist. VSTAR Universe’s 262 total slots against Shiny Treasure ex’s 360 makes for a more contained box to chase down in full.
This isn’t the only Japanese High Class Pack head-to-head we’ve written up — see how Shiny Treasure ex compares against Shiny Star V, or how VSTAR Universe stacks up against Terastal Festival.
Where to Buy Shiny Treasure ex and VSTAR Universe from Japan
We ship both sets sealed from Tokyo with tracked delivery. 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 specific singles from either set, or to build a mixed order across sets, the Quick Order page covers both checklists.
Pertanyaan yang Sering Diajukan
Which is cheaper, Shiny Treasure ex or VSTAR Universe?
Shiny Treasure ex. Its cheapest lot is currently listed at ¥17,680, against VSTAR Universe’s sealed box at ¥33,280 — a ¥15,600 gap. VSTAR Universe’s No Shrink listing at ¥29,120 narrows that gap but doesn’t close it.
What’s the top chase card in each box?
Mew ex (SAR 347/190) leads the headline four cards within Shiny Treasure ex’s eight-card SAR band. Giratina VSTAR (UR 261/172) leads VSTAR Universe’s four-card Ultra Rare block, alongside Arceus VSTAR at 262/172.
Which box has more cards?
Shiny Treasure ex, by a wide margin — 360 total card slots (main 190 + secret 170) against VSTAR Universe’s 262 (main 172 + secret 90).
Do these two sets share an English release?
No, each has its own English counterpart. Shiny Treasure ex corresponds to Paldean Fates (English, January 26, 2024); VSTAR Universe corresponds to Crown Zenith.
What’s the difference between the Sealed and No Shrink listings?
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 different price points.
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