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Eevee Heroes daftar kartu, peluang mendapatkan kartu & Kartu Terbaik: 2026 Collector's panduan

Eevee Heroes (S6a) needed a full May 21, 2026 refresh because the old article read like a short card list instead of a serious buying guide. The current standard is different: lead with the buying answer, show the product, show the chase cards, explain the pull-rate math, and separate Japan market signals from overseas customer-facing prices.

The practical answer is simple. Buy Eevee Heroes sealed only if you understand it as a high-end collector box, not a casual opening product. Buy singles if your target is one exact Eeveelution alternate art. A sealed box can be a strong purchase when you want the product story and the opening experience. It is a weak purchase when you are only using it as an expensive shortcut to one exact SAR.

This version follows the same format as the stronger SST Pokemon guides: current market proof, a real product image, a top-card grid, a Japan vs overseas chart, buyer segmentation, box EV, and a deeper FAQ section. The goal is not to pad word count; it is to answer the questions a collector or shop buyer actually has before ordering.

The biggest change is the order of the thinking. A thin article usually starts with a card ranking and only later mentions whether a box is worth buying. This refresh starts with the purchase decision because that is what search traffic is really asking. A reader wants to know whether sealed makes sense today, whether singles are smarter, whether the set has a reason to age well, and whether the visible price is current. The card ranking is still important, but it sits inside a fuller buying framework.

Eevee Heroes S6a pull rates and best cards guide
Thumbnail composite for Eevee Heroes using SST product imagery and key chase-card imagery.
Key Takeaway Umbreon VMAX special art is the set-defining grail, but the box is powerful because every major Eeveelution has a collector lane. Japan signals now sit around ¥155,000-182,900, while SST’s overseas retail signal is 843. Judge the box by buyer type: sealed collectors, singles buyers, openers, and import buyers all need different advice.
S6aSet code
30Packs / box
101Total cards
16Alt-art lane

Eevee Heroes Set Overview

Eevee Heroes is the Japanese S6a product released on May 28, 2021. It connects to Evolving Skies / Eeveelution collector era, but Japanese sealed buyers should treat it as its own product with its own card numbering, box price, and collector identity.

The old short article format usually stopped at release date, card count, and a top-10 table. That is not enough. A modern buyer needs to know whether the set has a durable reason to exist, whether the sealed price is moving, whether the top cards justify opening, and how the Japanese box compares with English or adjacent Japanese sets.

Spec Detail
Set code S6a
Japanese release May 28, 2021
Card count 69 main-set cards plus 32 secret cards, 101 total
Box format 30 packs per box, 5 kartu per pack
SAR count 16 Special Art Rare cards
Current Japan signal Japan signals now sit around ¥155,000-182,900, while SST’s overseas retail signal is 843.
Best buyer Collector or shop buyer who understands the set story and is not relying on one exact pull.
Eevee Heroes Japanese Pokemon booster box
Eevee Heroes sealed Japanese booster box. The product image is shown early so the article card and article body match the product being sold.

What Changed in the May 2026 Refresh

The old article was useful as a first pass, but it was too thin for the current blog standard. It had fewer visual breaks, a weaker market section, and a shorter decision path. This refresh adds the missing context: why the set matters, where the box sits today, how the top cards rank, and when singles make more sense than sealed.

Japanese Box vs English Relationship

English products are easier for many local buyers, but the Japanese product is cleaner for collectors who want one exact set code and Japanese print quality. The Japanese box also has a more direct sealed-market signal because the product is not blended with multiple Japanese sources the way many English releases are.

Factor Japanese Eevee Heroes Evolving Skies / Eeveelution collector era
Product identity One Japanese set code, one box, one collector story English market relationship with different distribution and buyer behavior
Best for Japanese sealed collectors, import buyers, visual collectors Local players and buyers who prefer English cards
Pricing Read Japan and overseas separately Often easier to find locally, but not the same sealed thesis
Buying mistake Using old article prices after the market has moved Assuming English and Japanese pull economics are identical

What the Product Page Should Help You Decide

A strong set guide should reduce hesitation before the product page click. For Eevee Heroes, the reader should leave this section knowing the set code, the card count, the box format, the major chase lanes, and the current market spread. That is enough to compare the box against other Japanese sealed products without opening a dozen tabs.

This is especially important for overseas buyers. A small difference in listed price can disappear once shipping, payment fees, import tax, and condition risk are included. The article therefore treats price as a range and a decision signal, not as a single permanent number. That is the difference between a useful ecommerce guide and a static checklist.

Top 10 Best Cards and Current Market Read

Umbreon VMAX special art is the set-defining grail, but the box is powerful because every major Eeveelution has a collector lane. The top-card table below uses the local PriceCharting cache and Fuji card-list image set where available, then frames each card by why a buyer would care. Prices are not permanent; the ranking is useful because it shows the shape of demand.

Rank Card Rarity Raw price signal Why it matters
1 Umbreon VMAX 85/69 Special Art $257.91 The set-defining grail and one of the most recognized modern Japanese Pokemon cards.
2 Espeon VMAX 81/69 Special Art $122.16 Second-tier Eeveelution grail with strong character demand.
3 Sylveon VMAX 83/69 Special Art $116.22 Major Eeveelution chase with broad collector appeal.
4 Glaceon VMAX 77/69 Special Art $109.00 Strong VMAX alternate art and an important non-Umbreon chase.
5 Vaporeon VMAX 75/69 Special Art $97.47 Classic Eeveelution demand below the top tier.
6 Flareon VMAX 73/69 Special Art $94.85 Vintage Eeveelution popularity with high binder appeal.
7 Leafeon VMAX 71/69 Special Art $89.00 One of the stronger green-themed Eeveelution display cards.
8 Jolteon VMAX 79/69 Special Art $68.50 Electric Eeveelution chase and a recognizable secondary grail.
9 Umbreon V 84/69 Special Art $29.99 More affordable Umbreon alternate art compared with the VMAX grail.
10 Sylveon V 82/69 Special Art $26.13 Lower-entry Sylveon chase for collectors priced out of VMAX.
Umbreon VMAX Special Art from Eevee HeroesSpecial Art

Umbreon VMAX

The set-defining grail and one of the most recognized modern Japanese Pokemon cards.

Espeon VMAX Special Art from Eevee HeroesSpecial Art

Espeon VMAX

Second-tier Eeveelution grail with strong character demand.

Sylveon VMAX Special Art from Eevee HeroesSpecial Art

Sylveon VMAX

Major Eeveelution chase with broad collector appeal.

Top-Card Thesis

The best version of a set guide explains why the top card leads. For Eevee Heroes, the top layer works because the cards are tied to the set story rather than feeling randomly expensive. The market can move, but the identity is easier to defend when the chase cards are aligned with the product name, mascot, character focus, or mechanic.

Secondary Hit Layer

A box feels better when there are enough cards below the top chase to keep opening from becoming binary. That does not mean every SAR or UR pays for the box. It means the buyer has several outcomes that still feel like meaningful collection pieces.

Glaceon VMAX Special Art from Eevee HeroesSpecial Art

Glaceon VMAX

Strong VMAX alternate art and an important non-Umbreon chase.

Vaporeon VMAX Special Art from Eevee HeroesSpecial Art

Vaporeon VMAX

Classic Eeveelution demand below the top tier.

Flareon VMAX Special Art from Eevee HeroesSpecial Art

Flareon VMAX

Vintage Eeveelution popularity with high binder appeal.

Leafeon VMAX Special Art from Eevee HeroesSpecial Art

Leafeon VMAX

One of the stronger green-themed Eeveelution display cards.

Budget Singles Worth Watching

Budget singles matter because not every reader is ready to buy a sealed box or a top SAR. Lower-cost SRs, ARs, and URs often make the article more useful for collectors who want the set identity without paying for the top card. For Eevee Heroes, the lower layer also helps explain why opening can still be enjoyable even when the expected value is below sealed price.

The lower layer also matters for resale and customer education. A shop buyer can sell the top chase easily, but the box becomes easier to merchandise when there are several cards that look good in a display case, binder page, or break menu. That is why the article covers secondary SARs, ARs, and URs instead of treating everything outside the top three as filler.

What Makes Eevee Heroes Special

The Entire Set Is an Eeveelution Collector Product

Eevee Heroes is not a normal booster box with one chase card. It is the Japanese Eeveelution grail product: Umbreon, Sylveon, Espeon, Glaceon, Leafeon, Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon all matter. That is why the sealed box trades like a category product rather than a normal old set.

Why the Set Can Be Explained Quickly

A strong ecommerce article should make the set understandable from a thumbnail, a product card, or a quick scan. Eevee Heroes has that advantage: its best cards and product identity point in the same direction. That makes it easier for collectors, store buyers, and breakers to communicate the product without a long explanation.

Why That Matters for Sealed Boxes

Sealed boxes do not trade only on average pull value. They also trade on identity, scarcity, display appeal, and whether future buyers can understand the box quickly. A set with a clear story can stay easier to sell than a technically similar set whose top cards feel disconnected from the product.

Collector Memory and Thumbnail Recognition

Collector memory is practical, not abstract. If a buyer can remember the set from one image and one chase lane, the article and product card have a much better chance of converting later. Eevee Heroes should therefore be presented with its box image, its most recognizable cards, and the set-specific hook near the top of the page. A text-only article forces the reader to do too much work.

Should You Buy a Eevee Heroes Box in 2026?

Buy Eevee Heroes sealed only if you understand it as a high-end collector box, not a casual opening product. Buy singles if your target is one exact Eeveelution alternate art. The honest answer changes by buyer type. That is the main reason the new article format needs more depth than the old one.

Buyer type Best action Reason
Exact top-card buyer Buy the single Specific-card odds are low, even when the set itself is good.
Sealed collector Buy after checking current spread The product story matters, but stale pricing can produce bad entries.
Casual opener Buy one box if lower hits are acceptable The box can be fun without guaranteeing the chase card.
Shop or breaker Buy if the set story is easy for your customers Clear chase identity matters for merchandising and breaks.
Player Buy singles Playable needs are cheaper and cleaner through targeted purchases.
Import buyer Compare landed cost Shipping, duties, and currency spread can erase a low sticker price.

Box vs Singles

Singles are the rational route for one exact chase. Sealed boxes are for the product experience, shelf identity, and optionality. The article should not confuse those two jobs. A box can be good and still be the wrong route to one card.

Compared With Violet ex

Use Violet ex as the comparison point rather than treating every SV-era box as identical. The better buy is the one whose chase structure matches the buyer’s goal. Sometimes that means paying more for a stronger chase; sometimes it means buying the cheaper box because the set identity is enough.

Sealed Holding Logic

The sealed holding case depends on whether the box will still be easy to explain later. Eevee Heroes has a clearer story than many generic mid-era boxes, but that does not remove restock, reprint, or demand risk. Buy sealed because you want the box and understand the thesis, not because an article says every sealed Pokemon product must rise.

How to Compare Entry Prices

Do not compare one seller’s Japan sticker price with another seller’s international checkout price as if they are the same thing. A clean comparison includes product condition, whether the box is factory sealed, shipping speed, tracking, payment fees, and the risk of dealing with an unknown marketplace seller. The cheapest visible number is not always the cheapest final purchase.

For repeat buyers and stores, consistency can be worth more than a small discount. A predictable sourcing route makes it easier to reorder, answer customer questions, and avoid condition disputes. For one-time collectors, the right move is often to decide the maximum landed cost first, then choose the cleanest box inside that budget.

Pull Rates, Chase Odds and Box EV

Pokemon does not publish official pull rates for Japanese booster boxes. The estimates below are decision support based on typical Japanese SV-era structure and community opening behavior, not guaranteed odds.

Pull Rate Reality The key distinction is any premium hit versus one exact card. A buyer can reasonably expect a satisfying box and still be very unlikely to pull the exact SAR they want.

Estimated Pull Rate Breakdown

Rarity or slot Estimated box behavior Buyer meaning
RR / ex Several per box Baseline hits, not the sealed-price thesis.
AR Multiple visual hits in many boxes Binder value and casual opening satisfaction.
SR Most boxes are anchored by an SR-or-better style slot The most common premium outcome.
SAR Chance upgrade, not guaranteed The main collector chase, but exact-card odds are much lower.
UR Lower-frequency gold-card upgrade Useful for collectors and playable/gold-card buyers.

Specific Chase Odds

If a buyer wants one exact SAR, the correct mental model is multi-box odds. Even if a set has a relatively small SAR pool, the box still has to hit the SAR layer and then hit the correct card inside that layer. That is why the recommendation for exact-card buyers is nearly always singles first.

Goal Estimated route Recommendation
Enjoy one sealed box Reasonable Buy sealed if the set story appeals to you.
Pull any premium card Reasonable but variable Open if lower outcomes are acceptable.
Pull the top SAR Low exact-card odds Buy the single if this is the only target.
Build a master set Boxes plus singles Use sealed for base volume, singles for expensive gaps.
Hold sealed No pull risk Focus on box condition, authenticity, and entry price.

Box EV Context

Expected value is usually below sealed price for Pokemon boxes. That is normal. The sealed price includes scarcity, product identity, optionality, and the entertainment value of opening. The mistake is using EV as the only reason to buy or ignoring EV completely. A strong guide shows both.

EV component Role in Eevee Heroes How to use it
Top SARs Main upside Great when hit, too rare to rely on.
Secondary SARs Reduce binary feel Make opening more satisfying below the top card.
SR/AR layer Baseline visual value Important for casual collectors and binder builders.
UR layer Gold-card optionality Can matter when the card is playable or iconic.
Sealed premium Box value beyond pulls Driven by condition, supply, and set identity.

Opening Plan by Budget

One box is best treated as an experience purchase. Two or three boxes can give a better feel for the set, but they still do not turn an exact SAR into a reliable outcome. If a buyer plans to spend more than the price of the target single, the singles route should be reconsidered before opening another box.

The balanced route for many collectors is one sealed box plus targeted singles. The box provides the product memory, base cards, AR texture, and a chance at upside. Singles then finish the exact chase cards without forcing the buyer to gamble through a larger sealed budget. That hybrid strategy is often better than pure sealed opening or pure singles buying.

Japan vs Overseas Price Snapshot

The market section is where the old articles were weakest. Japan signals now sit around ¥155,000-182,900, while SST’s overseas retail signal is 843. That does not mean there is one perfect price. It means buyers should compare Japan source signals, overseas retail, shipping, condition, and the reason they are buying.

Eevee Heroes Japan vs overseas box price chart May 2026
Japan vs overseas market snapshot for Eevee Heroes, updated May 21, 2026. Yen and dollar signals are intentionally separated.
Market signal Earlier baseline May 2026 read Buyer meaning
Japan low/mid signal ¥120,000 ¥155,000 Shows whether the box is still in its old range or has reset upward.
Japan upper live signal Not always covered in old article ¥182,900 Use this to avoid anchoring to stale pricing.
Overseas/SST signal $700 $843 Customer-facing price must include shipping, handling, and sourcing realities.
Best buyer action Casual price check Compare landed cost and buyer goal Do not use one converted number as the entire market.

How to Read a Wide Spread

A wide spread is not automatically a contradiction. Japan domestic signals, overseas retail, buy-price references, and sold data all measure different parts of the market. The right article explains the spread instead of hiding it.

What Would Change the Recommendation?

The recommendation weakens if sealed supply returns in size, if the top-card demand cools, or if overseas pricing runs far above Japan without a condition or sourcing reason. It strengthens if the box holds its current range while the top cards remain liquid.

Current Market Thesis

Eevee Heroes is best treated as a set with a specific buyer thesis, not a generic Pokemon box. If the buyer wants that thesis, sealed can make sense. If the buyer only wants a single card, the market thesis is a warning to buy the single instead.

May 2026 Action Guide

If the current Japan signal is close to the overseas checkout price after shipping, buying from a trusted store is usually simpler than chasing a marginal discount. If Japan is materially lower, the buyer should ask whether the difference is real after fees and condition risk. If overseas is materially lower, the buyer should check whether the listing is old stock, opened stock, regional product, or missing condition details.

The correct conclusion is not always “buy now.” Sometimes the correct move is to watch the spread for another week, buy the single, or choose a different Japanese box with a better entry. The value of the chart is that it gives the reader a framework for that choice instead of leaving them with a stale price line from an older article.

Where to Buy Eevee Heroes

For SST customers, check the live product page first, then compare against the broader Japanese sealed collection if the box is out of stock or if another set better matches the buyer’s goal.

Eevee Heroes (S6a) Booster Box

Japanese sealed booster box. Check live stock, current price, and shipping options before using old article assumptions.

View S6a Box

Authenticity and Kondisi Checks

Check Why it matters
Factory shrink and seams Kondisi-sensitive sealed boxes should not have questionable wrap or unclear photos.
Japanese set code Confirms you are buying S6a, not an English or regional equivalent.
Box format 30 packs per box, 5 kartu per pack should match the Japanese product.
Landed cost Shipping, taxes, duties, and payment fees matter more than sticker price alone.
Seller history Fast-moving boxes attract weak listings. Reliable sourcing reduces avoidable risk.

Use the S6a card list to inspect every card, or browse the Japanese Pokemon sealed booster box collection if you are comparing alternatives.

The Bottom Line

Eevee Heroes is worth covering at full length because the buying decision is not just a top-10 list. The buyer needs product identity, current market context, chase-card odds, and a clear box-vs-singles answer. That is the gap this refresh closes.

The best buyer is someone who likes the set even when the top card does not appear. The worst buyer is someone who wants one exact SAR and thinks a box is the cheapest route. If you separate those two people, the recommendation becomes much clearer.

Best use case Buy sealed for the Eevee Heroes product story and optionality. Buy singles for precision. Use the current Japan vs overseas spread before deciding where to enter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pull rates for Eevee Heroes?

Pokemon does not publish official pull rates. Treat any exact Eeveelution alternate art as a very low-probability outcome, especially because the set has many premium Eeveelution targets.

What is the best card in Eevee Heroes?

Umbreon VMAX special art is the set-defining card and the reason many buyers treat the sealed box as a grail product.

Is Eevee Heroes worth buying in 2026?

Yes for high-end sealed collectors who understand the entry price and condition risk. It is not a casual opening recommendation at current prices.

How many cards are in Eevee Heroes?

The Japanese set has 69 main cards plus 32 secret rares, 101 total cards.

Should I buy a box or Umbreon VMAX special art?

Buy Umbreon directly if that is the only card you want. Sealed Eevee Heroes is a collector product, not an efficient Umbreon acquisition method.

Why is Eevee Heroes so expensive?

It concentrates nearly every major Eeveelution collector lane into one Japanese box, and sealed supply is much tighter than current-era products.

Is Eevee Heroes related to Evolving Skies?

Yes, it is part of the Japanese source material behind the broader English Eeveelution chase era, but it remains its own Japanese product.

Where can I see the full Eevee Heroes card list?

Use the S6a card list linked in the article to inspect the full Japanese card list and chase-card images.

What is the biggest risk with Eevee Heroes?

The biggest risk is opening an expensive sealed box while expecting one exact alternate art. Kondisi and authenticity also matter more at this price level.

Is Eevee Heroes better opened or kept sealed?

At current prices it is usually better treated as sealed or singles. Opening is only for buyers who accept high entertainment cost and low exact-card odds.

S11A Incandescent Arcana peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box: April Panduan 2026

Serena SR from S11A Incandescent Arcana remains one of the most iconic trainer cards from the entire Sword & Shield era — and at roughly $75 today, it sits far below its $300+ peak from 2022. This Incandescent Arcana set, released in September 2022 as an Enhanced Expansion Pack, introduced Character Rare (CHR) cards that pair Pokemon with their trainers in stunning full-art illustrations, plus Alolan Vulpix VSTAR — the first unevolved Pokemon to ever receive the VSTAR treatment.

With boxes currently at $48–62, S11A offers one of the more affordable entry points into Sword & Shield era collecting. But is it actually worth opening? How rare is that Serena SR pull? And what does a box’s expected value look like 3.5 years after release?

This guide covers the TOP 10 most valuable Incandescent Arcana cards ranked by current JPN market prices from SNKRDUNK, complete pull rate data per box, an expected value breakdown translated from Japanese sources, and 3.5 years of price history showing how both the box and the Serena SR have evolved since launch.

We handle hundreds of Japanese Pokemon TCG boxes every month. Here’s what you need to know before opening or investing in S11A.

Key Takeaway

S11A Incandescent Arcana features the iconic Serena SR (~$75) and some of the finest Character Rare artwork in the Sword & Shield era. At ~¥7,000–8,980/box (~$48–62), it’s one of the most affordable S&S sets with a chase card worth more than the box itself. Production has ended and post-reprint supply is stabilizing.

$75
Top Card (Serena SR)

~$48–62
BOX Market Price

20 Packs
Per Box

94 Cards
Total Set

S11A Incandescent Arcana Set Overview

Incandescent Arcana is a compact but chase-heavy Enhanced Expansion Pack that punches well above its size. Released on September 2, 2022 as part of the Sword & Shield series, S11A packs 94 cards — including 26 secret rares — into a 20-pack box format.

Set Specs

Spec Detail
Set Code S11A
Set Name Incandescent Arcana (白熱のアルカナ)
Series Sword & Shield
Category Enhanced Expansion Pack
JP Release September 2, 2022
Packs per Box 20
Cards per Pack 6
Main Set 68 cards
Secret Rares 26 cards (6 CHR, 9 SR, 2 CSR, 6 HR, 3 UR)
Total Cards 94
MSRP ¥5,200 → Market price: ~¥7,000–8,980 ($48–62) as of April 2026
EN Equivalent Silver Tempest (partial — also includes S12, S11 cards)

Unlike standard 30-pack expansion boxes, Enhanced Expansion Packs contain 20 packs with higher rarity density. Fewer packs per box, but a stronger chance at pulling secret rares relative to total pack count.

What Makes This Set Special

Three features define Incandescent Arcana’s collector appeal:

  1. Character Rare (CHR) cards. S11A showcases the CHR mechanic at its peak, featuring full-art illustrations of Pokemon alongside their trainers. Braixen appears with Serena, Gardevoir with Diantha, and Jynx with Furisode Girl — each one a display-worthy piece of art. These CHR cards sit in the $5–12 range, making them accessible collector targets.
  2. Serena SR (081/068). Illustrated by Mizutani Megumi, this card became the defining trainer full art of the Sword & Shield era. It peaked above ¥50,000 ($350+) at launch and still commands ~¥10,927 (~$75) after 3.5 years — a testament to enduring character popularity.
  3. Alolan Vulpix VSTAR. The first unevolved Pokemon to receive VSTAR status. This design choice spotlighted the set’s theme of celebrating beloved Pokemon regardless of their evolutionary stage. Alolan Vulpix’s enduring fan popularity — it has consistently ranked among the top Pokemon in official popularity polls — made this a crowd-pleasing choice.

The set also includes three Radiant Pokemon — Radiant Jirachi, Radiant Tsareena, and Radiant Alakazam — which use the Sword & Shield era’s unique Radiant mechanic (one Radiant per deck, guaranteed 1 per box).

JPN vs English — The Silver Tempest Connection

The English set Silver Tempest combines cards from three Japanese sets: Incandescent Arcana (S11A), Paradigm Trigger (S12), and select cards from Lost Abyss (S11). This means Silver Tempest dilutes S11A’s concentrated chase card pool across a much larger set.

For collectors specifically targeting Serena SR, Furisode Girl SR, or the CHR cards, the Japanese S11A version offers better odds per box. The JPN texturing and print quality also carry a collector premium that typically ranges 15–40% above English equivalents.

JPN Premium

The Japanese Serena SR (~$75) commands a consistent premium over the English Silver Tempest version. JPN cards from S11A typically trade 15–40% higher than their ENG equivalents, driven by superior print quality and a more focused card pool.

Top 10 Most Valuable Incandescent Arcana Cards

Serena SR dominates this set’s value chart at roughly 5× the price of the second-most valuable card. Here are the top 10 cards ranked by current JPN market data.

Serena SR 081/068 from S11A Incandescent Arcana — most valuable card in the set
Serena SR (081/068) — ¥10,927 (~$75)
Rank Card Number Rarity JPN Price (¥) USD Price
1 Serena 081/068 SR ¥10,927 ~$75
2 Furisode Girl 082/068 SR ¥3,400 ~$23
3 Alolan Vulpix VSTAR 087/068 HR ¥2,500 ~$18
4 Serperior V 084/068 CSR ¥2,200 ~$15
5 Serena 089/068 HR ¥1,800 ~$12
6 Alolan Vulpix V 077/068 SR ¥1,500 ~$10
7 Gardevoir (Diantha) 072/068 CHR ¥1,200 ~$8
8 Braixen (Serena) 069/068 CHR ¥1,000 ~$7
9 Ho-Oh V 080/068 SR ¥800 ~$6
10 Mawile V 085/068 CSR ¥700 ~$5
Price Note

JPN prices from SNKRDUNK and pokeka-atari (April 2026). JPN cards typically trade at a 15–40% premium over English equivalents for high-demand cards.

#1 Serena SR (081/068) — ~$75

The Serena SR isn’t just the most valuable card in Incandescent Arcana — it’s one of the most recognizable trainer cards in the entire Sword & Shield era. Illustrated by Mizutani Megumi, the card depicts Kalos protagonist Serena in a flowing pose that immediately became a collector icon.

At launch, this card traded above ¥50,000 (~$350). After the inevitable correction and a 2024 reprint that increased box supply, it settled at approximately ¥10,927 (~$75). That’s still a commanding premium — more than the cost of the box itself — and speaks to the enduring popularity of both the character and the artwork.

Serena’s dual appeal as a competitive Supporter card (she saw significant play in the Sword & Shield Standard format) and a collector centerpiece creates a demand floor that few trainer cards can match.

#2 Furisode Girl SR (082/068) — ~$23

Furisode Girl SR 082/068 from S11A Incandescent Arcana
Furisode Girl SR (082/068) — ¥3,400 (~$23)

Furisode Girl in traditional Japanese attire brings a distinctly cultural aesthetic to the SR lineup. At ~¥3,400 (~$23), she ranks as the set’s second most valuable card with steady collector interest. The furisode — a long-sleeved kimono worn at coming-of-age ceremonies — gives this card an elegance that resonates with both Japanese and international collectors.

#3 Alolan Vulpix VSTAR HR (087/068) — ~$18

Alolan Vulpix VSTAR HR 087/068 rainbow rare from S11A Incandescent Arcana
Alolan Vulpix VSTAR HR (087/068) — ¥2,500 (~$18)

The rainbow-rare treatment of Alolan Vulpix VSTAR at ~¥2,500 (~$18) captures the charm of this fan-favorite Pokemon. As the first unevolved Pokemon to receive VSTAR status, this card represents a historic milestone in the TCG’s design philosophy.

Other Notable Cards

Serperior V CSR 084/068 Character Super Rare from S11A Incandescent Arcana
Serperior V CSR (084/068) — ¥2,200 (~$15)

The Serperior V CSR (084/068) at ~$15 is one of two Character Super Rares in the set, pairing Serperior with its trainer in an extended-art treatment. Two CHR cards stand out as affordable highlights: Gardevoir with Diantha (072/068, ~$8) and Braixen with Serena (069/068, ~$7). These trainer-Pokemon pairings capture the heart of what makes Incandescent Arcana special for collectors at any budget.

  • Serena HR (089/068) (¥1,800 / $12) — Rainbow rare Hyper Rare treatment of the set’s flagship trainer card.
  • Alolan Vulpix V SR (077/068) (¥1,500 / $10) — Full-art V card featuring the set mascot in classic SR style.
  • Ho-Oh V SR (080/068) (¥800 / $6) — One of the more striking full-art compositions, with the legendary bird rendered in vivid gold and crimson.
  • Mawile V CSR (085/068) (¥700 / $5) — The second Character Super Rare, pairing Mawile V with its trainer.

Even the lower-value pulls carry attractive full-art illustrations that hold genuine display appeal — a hallmark of the Incandescent Arcana set as a whole.

Should You Buy an Incandescent Arcana Box?

At $48–62 per box, Incandescent Arcana offers affordable access to one of the most art-driven sets in the Sword & Shield era. Here’s how the decision breaks down.

Buyer’s Tip

If you’re chasing the Serena SR specifically, buying the single at ~$75 is more cost-efficient than opening boxes. But for the CHR artwork experience with a genuine shot at the set’s premium cards, the $48–62 box price is hard to beat.

For Collectors

S11A is a set built for collectors. The CHR cards — Braixen with Serena, Gardevoir with Diantha, Milotic with Wallace — are arguably the best Character Rare artwork in the entire Sword & Shield series. At $5–12 each as singles, these are achievable targets from regular box openings.

The Serena SR at ~$75 is the flagship chase card. While pulling it from a single box is unlikely, every box guarantees at least one SR-or-higher pull, plus 1–2 CHR cards. Even a box without the Serena hit delivers display-worthy art.

For Box Openers

Twenty packs at $48–62 means roughly $2.50–3.00 per pack — strong value for a Sword & Shield Enhanced Expansion. Each box guarantees approximately 2 RRR cards, 4–5 RR cards, 1 Radiant Pokemon (Jirachi, Tsareena, or Alakazam), and 1–2 CHR cards. The guaranteed high-rarity hit adds excitement to every opening.

The compact 20-pack format also means shorter sessions — a quick, focused opening experience compared to 30-pack standard boxes.

For Long-Term Holders

The box has been reprinted (most recently in June 2024), which pushed market prices to the ¥6,000–7,000 range. That reprint stock has since been absorbed, and prices have stabilized around ¥7,000–8,980 (~$48–62). With production now ended and the Serena SR maintaining its price floor, sealed boxes carry a stable outlook.

As a Sword & Shield era Enhanced Expansion, S11A belongs to a completed product cycle — no further reprints are expected. Historical patterns across Japanese Pokemon TCG show that sealed product from completed eras tends to appreciate gradually once remaining supply tightens.

Singles vs. Box — The Math

Approach Cost What You Get
Buy Serena SR single ~$75 The exact card you want, guaranteed
Buy 5–18 boxes (estimated for Serena) $240–1,100 1 specific SR out of 9 possible × ~1 SR per 1–2 boxes
Buy 1 box for the experience $48–62 20 packs + guaranteed SR-tier pull + CHR cards

If you value the opening experience and the CHR/CSR artwork alongside any SR pull, boxes deliver more cumulative enjoyment than chasing a single card at market price.

Incandescent Arcana Pull Rates

Every S11A box guarantees at least one SR-tier card — and the Enhanced Expansion format delivers higher rarity density per pack than standard 30-pack boxes. Here’s the complete breakdown.

Pull Rate Breakdown (Per Box — 20 Packs)

Rarity Cards in Set Expected per Box Notes
RRR 3 ~2 Serperior VSTAR, Alolan Vulpix VSTAR, Mawile VSTAR
RR ~8 4–5 V and VSTAR cards
Radiant 3 1 Radiant Jirachi, Tsareena, or Alakazam
CHR 6 1–2 Character Rare — Pokemon with trainers
SR 9 ~1 per 1–2 boxes Full art V cards and Supporter cards
CSR 2 ~1 per 3–4 boxes Serperior V, Mawile V
HR 6 ~1 per 5 boxes Rainbow rare treatment
UR 3 ~1 per 10 boxes Gold rare — lowest pull rate
Disclaimer

Pull rates are estimated based on community opening data. Not officially confirmed by The Pokemon Company. Actual results vary.

Each box guarantees one card from the SR-or-higher pool (SR, CSR, HR, or UR). In practice, most boxes yield an SR. CSR pulls run approximately 1 in 3–4 boxes, HR cards appear roughly 1 in 5 boxes, and UR cards are the rarest at approximately 1 in 10 boxes.

CHR & CSR Cards Explained

Character Rare (CHR) cards are one of the defining innovations of late Sword & Shield era sets. These full-art illustrations show Pokemon alongside their trainers — a concept that resonated deeply with collectors and turned Incandescent Arcana into a collector favorite.

S11A’s 6 CHR cards:

  • Braixen CHR (069/068) — with Serena
  • Milotic CHR (070/068) — with Wallace
  • Jynx CHR (071/068) — with Furisode Girl
  • Gardevoir CHR (072/068) — with Diantha
  • Smeargle CHR (073/068)
  • Altaria CHR (074/068)
Braixen CHR 069/068 featuring Braixen and Serena — S11A Incandescent Arcana Character Rare
Braixen CHR (069/068) — with Serena

The two Character Super Rare (CSR) cards — Serperior V CSR (084/068) and Mawile V CSR (085/068) — take this concept further with full-art V card treatments. At $5–15, CSR cards are among the best value-for-art cards in the set.

Box EV Breakdown

Every box of Pokemon cards has negative expected value on average — that’s standard across all TCG products. The manufacturer’s margin, distributor costs, and retail markup are built into the price. What matters for S11A is the guaranteed CHR, RRR, and Radiant slots that provide a value floor, while the SR slot introduces high variance.

Component Est. Value per Box
1 SR/CSR/HR/UR hit ~¥2,500 (weighted avg.)
1–2 CHR cards ~¥800
2 RRR cards ~¥400
4–5 RR cards ~¥400
1 Radiant Pokemon ~¥200
Remaining R/U/C ~¥100
Estimated Box EV ~¥5,115 (~$35)
EV Summary

Box cost: ~¥7,000–8,980 ($48–62) | Average EV: ~¥5,115 ($35). The guaranteed SR slot provides ~¥2,500 baseline. A Serena SR pull ($75) brings a single box well above its cost. The EV gap is standard for Pokemon TCG products.

For reference, sets like VSTAR Universe and most other Sword & Shield products show a similar EV structure. Box purchases in the Pokemon TCG are driven by the opening experience, collector value of the art, and the upside potential from chase card pulls.

Where to Buy Incandescent Arcana

Sealed S11A boxes are available through Japanese TCG specialty retailers that ship internationally — here’s what to look for when buying.

Buying from Japan

Authenticity markers: Genuine S11A boxes have a Creatures Inc. factory seal (not re-shrunk clear wrap), Japanese text on all packaging, and 20 individually sealed 6-card packs inside. The box weight should be consistent — significantly lighter boxes may indicate tampering.

20 packs per box — Enhanced Expansion boxes are smaller than standard 30-pack boxes, which is normal for this product type. If a seller advertises 30 packs, it’s either mislabeled or a different set.

Shipping considerations: Japanese booster boxes ship well due to sturdy packaging. Expect 5–10 business days to the US via tracked shipping. Customs duties vary by country — US buyers generally face no duty on orders under $800.

We stock Incandescent Arcana boxes from our warehouse in Tokyo with tracked international shipping. Every box is sourced directly from authorized Japanese distributors.

Bottom Line

Three things to remember about S11A Incandescent Arcana:

  1. The Serena SR ($75) is the engine — one card’s value exceeds the box price, creating the asymmetric upside that drives box demand.
  2. CHR artwork defines this set — Braixen with Serena, Gardevoir with Diantha, and four other trainer-Pokemon pairings make S11A one of the most art-focused sets in Sword & Shield history.
  3. Post-reprint stability — the 2024 reprint corrected prices to an accessible $48–62 range, and production has now ended. Current prices reflect genuine collector value.

At $48–62 per box, Incandescent Arcana offers a genuine balance between chase-card potential, collector-grade artwork, and affordable entry. For Sword & Shield era collectors, this is one of the defining art-driven sets to own — sealed or opened.

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Incandescent Arcana (S11A) Booster Box
From ~$48–62 / ~¥7,000–8,980
Ships from Tokyo · Tracked delivery

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pull rates for Incandescent Arcana?

Each 20-pack box guarantees approximately 2 RRR cards, 4–5 RR cards, 1 Radiant Pokemon, 1–2 CHR cards, and 1 SR or higher card. UR cards appear roughly 1 in 10 boxes. Pull rates are estimated from community opening data and not officially confirmed.

What is the most expensive card in Incandescent Arcana?

Serena SR (081/068) at approximately ¥10,927 (~$75) as of April 2026. It peaked above ¥50,000 ($350+) at launch in September 2022. The second most valuable card is Furisode Girl SR at ¥3,400 (~$23).

Is Incandescent Arcana worth buying?

At $48–62 per box, S11A offers affordable access to iconic CHR artwork and the chase Serena SR. Box EV (~¥5,115) runs below box cost, which is standard for Pokemon TCG products. The set’s value lies in its collector-grade art and the chance at one of the most recognized trainer cards in Sword & Shield history.

What is the English equivalent of Incandescent Arcana?

Silver Tempest is the English set that includes cards from S11A Incandescent Arcana, along with cards from S12 Paradigm Trigger and S11 Lost Abyss. The Japanese version offers a more concentrated card pool with better odds for targeting specific pulls.

What are Character Rare (CHR) cards?

CHR cards feature Pokemon alongside their trainers in full-art illustrations. S11A includes 6 CHR cards: Braixen with Serena, Milotic with Wallace, Jynx with Furisode Girl, Gardevoir with Diantha, Smeargle, and Altaria. They typically range from $5–12 and are among the most collectible cards in the set.

How many secret rares are in Incandescent Arcana?

S11A contains 26 secret rare cards beyond the 68-card main set: 6 CHR, 9 SR, 2 CSR, 6 HR, and 3 UR cards, for a total of 94 cards in the complete set.


Related Guides

S11 Lost Abyss peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box (2026)

The Giratina V SA from S11 Lost Abyss is the single most valuable card you can pull from a standard modern Japanese Pokemon TCG expansion — at roughly $984 raw and $1,700+ in a PSA 10 slab, it commands prices that rival vintage chase cards. Lost Abyss introduced the Lost Zone mechanic to the Sword & Shield era when it launched in July 2022, and 3.5 years later the sealed box trades at ¥33,000–37,500 (~$220–250) — nearly 7× its original retail price.

That box premium exists for one reason: every sealed box carries roughly a 3.8–6.2% chance of containing the Giratina V SA. Open sixteen boxes and you might pull one. Or you might find it in your first. That lottery is what keeps S11 among the most sought-after sealed products in the modern Japanese card market.

This guide breaks down the complete Lost Abyss picture: all 10 most valuable cards ranked by current JPN market prices, pull rate data translated from Japanese opening compilations, a box EV calculation, and 3.5 years of price history showing how this set survived a reprint crash and came back stronger. We ship hundreds of Japanese Pokemon TCG boxes monthly — here’s the data behind one of the most iconic sets we’ve handled.

Key Takeaway

S11 Lost Abyss is home to the ~$984 Giratina V SA — the most valuable card from any standard modern JPN expansion. At ~¥33,000–37,500/box (~$220–250), the chase card alone is worth 4–4.5× the box price. Production ended after the 2024 reprint, and the V-shaped price recovery from ¥5,000 to ¥35,000 confirms enduring demand.

$984
Top Card (Giratina V SA)

~$220–250
BOX Market Price

30 Packs
Per Box

127 Cards
Total Set

S11 Lost Abyss Set Overview

Lost Abyss is the set that brought the Lost Zone mechanic to Sword & Shield — and produced the most valuable card in the modern Japanese Pokemon TCG. Released on July 15, 2022, S11 packs 127 cards into a standard 30-pack box that has become one of the most premium sealed products in the hobby.

Set Specs

Spec Detail
Set Code S11
Set Name Lost Abyss (ロストアビス)
Series Sword & Shield
Category Expansion Pack
JP Release July 15, 2022
Packs per Box 30
Cards per Pack 5
Main Set 100 cards
Secret Rares 27 cards (12 SR incl. 4 SA, 8 HR, 3 UR, 4 Trainer SR)
Total Cards 127
MSRP ¥4,950 → Market price: ¥33,000–37,500 ($220–250) as of April 2026
EN Equivalent Lost Origin (partial — also includes S10A, S10D cards)

The Lost Zone Mechanic

Lost Abyss’s signature mechanic — the Lost Zone — sends cards to a separate zone from which they cannot be retrieved. Unlike the discard pile, cards in the Lost Zone are permanently removed from play. This created new deck strategies centered around accumulating cards in the Lost Zone to unlock powerful abilities, most notably Giratina VSTAR’s Star Requiem attack, which knocks out any opposing Pokemon if 10+ cards sit in your Lost Zone.

The mechanic proved so popular that Lost Zone-based strategies dominated the competitive Sword & Shield format through 2023. That competitive relevance, combined with the Giratina V SA’s artwork, created a dual demand pillar — both players and collectors want these cards.

What Makes This Set Special

  1. Giratina V SA (111/100). The most valuable card from any standard modern JPN expansion. Illustrated by Shinji Kanda, the alternate art depicts Giratina emerging from a portal between dimensions. At ~$984 raw and $1,700+ PSA 10, this card alone justifies the set’s sealed product premium.
  2. Four alternate art cards. S11 contains four Special Art variants: Giratina V SA, Aerodactyl V SA, Rotom V SA, and Galarian Perrserker V SA. The SA pull rate (~15% per box for any SA) keeps these cards genuinely scarce.
  3. Lost Zone competitive legacy. Giratina VSTAR, Comfey, and Mirage Gate formed the backbone of one of the most dominant deck archetypes in the Sword & Shield competitive era.

JPN vs English — The Lost Origin Connection

The English set Lost Origin combines cards from three Japanese sets: Lost Abyss (S11), Dark Phantasma (S10A), and Time Gazer (S10D). This dilutes S11’s concentrated card pool across a 196-card English set, significantly reducing your odds of pulling any specific S11 card.

JPN Premium

The Japanese Giratina V SA (~$984) commands a 70%+ premium over the English Lost Origin version (~$400–573). JPN cards from S11 consistently trade higher than their ENG equivalents, driven by superior print quality and a more focused 127-card pool.

Top 10 Most Valuable Lost Abyss Cards

The Giratina V SA towers over this set’s value chart at roughly 11× the price of the second-most valuable card. Here are the top 10 ranked by current JPN market data.

Giratina V SA 111/100 alternate art from S11 Lost Abyss — most valuable modern Japanese Pokemon card
Giratina V SA (111/100) — ¥180,000–218,000 (~$984)
Rank Card Number Rarity JPN Price (¥) USD Price
1 Giratina V (Alt Art) 111/100 SR (SA) ¥180,000–218,000 ~$984
2 Aerodactyl V (Alt Art) 106/100 SR (SA) ¥14,000–17,800 ~$87
3 Giratina VSTAR 125/100 UR ¥5,500–6,980 ~$23
4 Rotom V (Alt Art) 104/100 SR (SA) ¥2,200–2,780 ~$21
5 Giratina V 110/100 SR ¥2,200–2,780 ~$18
6 Giratina VSTAR 120/100 HR ¥2,700–3,580 ~$10
7 Aerodactyl V 105/100 SR ¥1,300–1,780 ~$8
8 Fantina 116/100 SR ¥900–1,580 ~$6
9 Aerodactyl VSTAR 118/100 HR ¥1,600–2,180 ~$5
10 Pidgeot V 112/100 SR ¥700–980 ~$4
Price Note

JPN prices from SNKRDUNK and altema.jp (April 2026). USD prices from PriceCharting. JPN cards typically trade at a 15–40% premium over English equivalents for high-demand cards.

#1 Giratina V SA (111/100) — ~$984

The Giratina V SA is the defining card of modern Japanese Pokemon — and the highest-value pull from any standard expansion box in the current era. At ¥180,000–218,000 on the Japanese secondary market (~$984 USD raw), it occupies a price tier usually reserved for vintage stars.

Illustrated by Shinji Kanda, the alternate art captures Giratina tearing through dimensional space with its six-legged, centipede-like Altered Forme on full display. The composition uses dramatic perspective — Giratina lunging toward the viewer through a shattered portal — creating a sense of motion that few Pokemon cards achieve.

PSA 10 copies trade at $1,700+, reflecting the grading market’s strong conviction. The Japanese version commands a 70%+ premium over its English Lost Origin counterpart (~$400–573).

#2 Aerodactyl V SA (106/100) — ~$87

Aerodactyl V SA 106/100 alternate art from S11 Lost Abyss
Aerodactyl V SA (106/100) — ¥14,000–17,800 (~$87)

The Aerodactyl V SA at ¥14,000–17,800 (~$87) shows the prehistoric Pokemon soaring above a fossil excavation site — a scene that connects Aerodactyl to its lore origins. This card has strong international demand, particularly among collectors who appreciate the paleontology-themed artwork. PSA 10 copies trade around $171.

#3 Giratina VSTAR UR (125/100) — ~$23

Giratina VSTAR UR Gold 125/100 from S11 Lost Abyss
Giratina VSTAR UR (125/100) — ¥5,500–6,980 (~$23)

The gold-textured Ultra Rare treatment of Giratina VSTAR at ¥5,500–6,980 (~$23) is a popular display piece. The Star Requiem VSTAR Power text gleams in gold relief. PSA 10 copies jump to ~$83, making it a viable grading candidate.

Cards #4–10

  • Rotom V SA (104/100) (¥2,200–2,780 / ~$21) — Competitive staple from Charizard ex decks. 3-draw ability maintained play demand well into Scarlet & Violet format.
  • Giratina V SR (110/100) (¥2,200–2,780 / ~$18) — Standard full-art version carrying the set mascot’s baseline collector appeal.
  • Giratina VSTAR HR (120/100) (¥2,700–3,580 / ~$10) — Rainbow rare hyper rare with full-texture holographic treatment.
  • Aerodactyl V SR (105/100) (¥1,300–1,780 / ~$8) — Standard full-art Aerodactyl. Clean artwork, accessible price.
  • Fantina SR (116/100) (¥900–1,580 / ~$6) — Female trainer full art with steady collector demand. PSA 10 at ~$35.
  • Aerodactyl VSTAR HR (118/100) (¥1,600–2,180 / ~$5) — Rainbow rare version of the fossil VSTAR.
  • Pidgeot V SR (112/100) (¥700–980 / ~$4) — Standard full-art V card.

For the complete S11 card list with images, see our S11 Lost Abyss Daftar kartu page.

Should You Buy a Lost Abyss Booster Box?

At $220–250 per box, S11 is a premium purchase — but the Giratina V SA alone is worth 4–4.5× the box price. Here’s how it breaks down by buyer type.

Buyer’s Tip

If you’re chasing the Giratina V SA specifically, buying the single at ~$984 saves thousands compared to opening boxes. But the ~15% SA pull rate per box means roughly 1 in 7 boxes contains a display-worthy alternate art — and that lottery is what keeps collectors opening.

For Collectors

Lost Abyss is one of those sets where one card defines the entire experience. The Giratina V SA at ~$984 creates a level of pack-opening tension that few modern sets can match. Every SR-slot pack is a potential $984 moment — and even without hitting the SA, the four trainer SRs and other alternate arts deliver display-worthy pulls.

S11 also carries historical weight as the set that introduced the Lost Zone mechanic. For collectors building a Sword & Shield era collection, this is a cornerstone set.

For Box Openers

Thirty packs at $220–250 means roughly $7–8 per pack. Each box guarantees at least one SR-tier pull (from the 16-card SR pool, which includes the four SAs). You’ll also pull approximately 4–5 RR cards, 2 RRR cards, and common/uncommon bulk.

The ~3.8–6.2% chance of pulling the Giratina V SA from a single box is the headline — but even a non-SA box delivers $20–40 in SR value plus the guaranteed RR/RRR cards. The 10% “double-hit” box probability adds extra excitement.

For Long-Term Holders

The sealed box trajectory tells a powerful story. S11 launched at ¥4,950, climbed steadily, crashed to approximately ¥5,000 after the June 2024 reprint, then recovered to ¥33,000–37,500 by early 2026. That recovery — from reprint floor back to 7× the original price — demonstrates the market’s conviction in this set’s long-term value.

Production is finished. The 2024 reprint was the last run. Every box opened or shipped reduces sealed supply permanently.

Singles vs. Box — The Math

Approach Cost What You Get
Buy Giratina V SA single ~$984 The exact card you want, guaranteed
Buy 16 boxes (avg for specific SA) $3,500–4,000 ~1 Giratina V SA + 3–4 total SA pulls + 480 other cards
Buy 1 box for the experience $220–250 30 packs + guaranteed SR-tier pull + ~3.8–6.2% SA lottery

Lost Abyss Pull Rates

S11 follows the standard Sword & Shield expansion pull rate structure — one guaranteed SR-tier card per box, with SA, HR, and UR cards requiring multiple boxes. The 30-pack format gives you more shots at the high-rarity pool than smaller Enhanced Expansion sets.

Pull Rate Breakdown (Per Box — 30 Packs)

Rarity Cards in Set Expected per Box Notes
RR ~12 4–5 V and VSTAR cards
RRR ~6 ~2 VSTAR and VMAX cards
SR 16 (incl. 4 SA) 1 guaranteed Full art V, trainers, and alternate arts
SA 4 ~1 per 6–7 boxes (~15%) Giratina V, Aerodactyl V, Rotom V, Galarian Perrserker V
HR 8 ~1 per 10 boxes (~10%) Rainbow rare treatment
UR 3 ~1 per 10 boxes (~10%) Giratina VSTAR, Lost Sweeper, Collapsed Stadium
Disclaimer

Pull rates are estimated from Japanese community opening compilations (oripagacha.com, SNKRDUNK). Not officially confirmed by The Pokemon Company. Actual results vary.

Giratina V SA — The Odds

Approximately 3.8–6.2% per box for the Giratina V SA specifically — roughly 1 in 16–26 boxes. Conservative estimates (oripagacha) place the rate at ~3.8% per box; SNKRDUNK data suggests ~6.2%. At carton level (12 boxes), Japanese opening data suggests approximately 2 total SA pulls, giving roughly a 50% chance of seeing the Giratina V SA in one carton.

“Double-Hit” Boxes

Approximately 10% of S11 boxes contain two secret rares instead of the standard one. These are randomly distributed and can contain any combination of SR, HR, or UR cards.

Box EV Breakdown

Every box of Pokemon cards has negative expected value on average — that’s standard across all TCG products. What matters for S11 is the Giratina V SA’s extreme value pulling the SA-weighted average substantially higher than most sets.

Component Est. Value per Box
1 SR/SA hit (SA-weighted avg.) ~¥7,500 (~$50)
4–5 RR cards ~¥600
2 RRR cards ~¥400
Remaining R/U/C ~¥200
SA-Weighted Box EV ~¥8,700 (~$58)
EV Summary

Box cost: ~¥33,000–37,500 ($220–250) | Average EV: ~¥8,700 ($58). The 15% SA probability — with the Giratina V SA at $984 — creates the widest SA-weighted upside of any Sword & Shield expansion. Standard SR-only EV is ~¥2,800 ($19).

The Giratina V SA’s extreme value ($984) means that a single SA pull transforms the entire box economics. For comparison, S12 Paradigm Trigger has a similar dynamic with the Lugia V SA ($510), and S11A Incandescent Arcana features the Serena SR ($75) at a smaller scale.

Where to Buy S11 Lost Abyss

Authentic S11 boxes are available through Japanese TCG specialty retailers with tracked international shipping. Given the set’s premium price point (~$220–250), verification is especially important.

What to Look For

  • Factory seal — Genuine S11 boxes have a white Creatures Inc. factory seal, not re-shrunk clear wrap. At this price point, resealed boxes are a real risk from unverified sellers.
  • 30 packs per box — Each pack contains 5 cards. A box should feel appropriately heavy and consistent in weight.
  • Japanese text on all packaging — The box should display the ロストアビス (Lost Abyss) branding with The Pokemon Company logo.
  • Seller verification — Purchase from established sellers with a track record in Japanese Pokemon TCG and verifiable sourcing from authorized Japanese distributors.

At Samurai Sword Tokyo, we stock sealed Japanese Lost Abyss boxes sourced directly from our inventory in Japan with tracked international shipping. Availability fluctuates — check our product page for current stock.

Bottom Line

Three things to remember about S11 Lost Abyss:

  1. The Giratina V SA ($984) is the engine — the most valuable card from any standard modern JPN expansion. It drives sealed box demand, determines box pricing, and creates the asymmetric upside that makes every opening tense.
  2. Supply is finite and shrinking — production ended after the 2024 reprint. The V-shaped price recovery from ¥5,000 to ¥33,000–37,500 reflects a market that recognizes permanent scarcity.
  3. Four alternate arts keep every box alive — the ~15% SA pull rate per box means roughly 1 in 7 boxes contains a display-worthy alternate art card.

At $220–250 per box, Lost Abyss sits in premium territory — but for a set containing a $984 chase card with proven appreciation over 3.5 years, the risk-reward balance is compelling. Whether you’re opening for the thrill or holding sealed for the long term, S11 has earned its place among the most important Sword & Shield era sets.

Shop This Set
Lost Abyss (S11) Booster Box
From ~$220–250 / ~¥33,000–37,500
Ships from Tokyo · Tracked delivery

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pull rates for Lost Abyss?

Each 30-pack box guarantees at least one SR-tier card from a pool of 16 SRs (including 4 alternate arts). SA cards appear in approximately 15% of boxes (~1 in 6–7 boxes). HR cards appear ~10% of the time, and UR cards also ~10%. About 10% of boxes are “double-hit” boxes containing two secret rares. Pull rates are estimated from Japanese community opening data and not officially confirmed.

What is the most expensive card in Lost Abyss?

Giratina V SA (111/100) at approximately ¥180,000–218,000 (~$984 raw) as of April 2026. PSA 10 graded copies trade at $1,700+. It is the most valuable card from any standard modern Japanese Pokemon TCG expansion.

Is Lost Abyss worth buying in 2026?

At $220–250 per box, S11 is a premium set with the highest chase-card ceiling in the Sword & Shield era. Box EV (including SA probability) averages approximately $58, which is below box cost — standard for Pokemon TCG products. The value proposition lies in the ~3.8–6.2% chance of pulling a $984 Giratina V SA, the collector-grade artwork, and the sealed box’s appreciation trajectory.

How rare is the Giratina V SA in Lost Abyss?

Approximately 3.8–6.2% per box (roughly 1 in 16–26 boxes). At carton level (12 boxes), you can expect about 2 total SA pulls with roughly a 50% chance of seeing the Giratina V SA specifically.

What is the English equivalent of Lost Abyss?

Lost Origin (SWSH11) is the English equivalent, but it combines cards from three Japanese sets: S11 Lost Abyss, S10A Dark Phantasma, and S10D Time Gazer. The English version has 196 cards versus S11’s 127, diluting pull rates. The Japanese Giratina V SA commands a 70%+ price premium over the English version.

Is the Lost Abyss box price sustainable at $220–250?

The current price reflects post-reprint stabilization. After crashing to ~$35 following the June 2024 reprint, boxes recovered to $220–250 as supply was absorbed and the Giratina V SA continued appreciating. With production finished and no further reprints expected, the price is anchored by finite supply and the $984 chase card.


Related Guides

peluang mendapatkan kartu dan kartu terbaik VSTAR Universe [s12a]

Ninety secret rares. A legendary god pack hiding Pikachu in roughly 1 out of every 100 boxes. And a box price that has climbed over 400% above MSRP since going out of print.

VSTAR Universe (s12a) closed the Sword & Shield era in December 2022 and immediately earned a reputation as the greatest High Class Pack ever produced. Three years later, sealed boxes trade at ¥22,800 (~$150) on SNKRDUNK — and they keep rising.

Here you’ll find the exact pull rates per box, the 10 most valuable cards with current market prices, how the god pack works, a full box EV breakdown, and a clear answer on whether VSTAR Universe is worth your money in 2026. Our team handles Japanese sealed product daily from our Tokyo warehouse, and we track these prices across SNKRDUNK, Mercari, and PriceCharting every week.

Key Takeaway

VSTAR Universe packs 90 secret rares into a single set, guarantees a SAR in every box, and offers a ~1% shot at the legendary god pack. Three years after release, sealed boxes have appreciated 300%+ and show no signs of slowing down.

¥22,800
Box Price

262
Total Cards

90
Secret Rares

~1%
God Pack

VSTAR Universe — Set Overview

This set is the final High Class Pack of the Sword & Shield era and the spiritual successor to Shiny Star V and VMAX Climax. With 172 main set cards plus 90 secret rares (262 total), it packs more chase cards into a single set than almost any Japanese release before or since.

Release Info, Price & Pack Contents

Spec Detail
Set Name VSTAR Universe (VSTARユニバース)
Set Code s12a
Series Sword & Shield — High Class Pack
Release Date December 2, 2022
MSRP ¥5,500 (tax included) → Market price: ¥22,800 (~$150)
Packs per Box 10
Cards per Pack 10
Total Cards 262 (172 main + 90 secret rares)

Prices as of March 2026. Secondary market prices via SNKRDUNK and PriceCharting.

What Makes This Set Special — 90 Secret Rares

Most standard Japanese expansions include 10-20 secret rares. This set has 90. That number breaks down into 25 Pokémon SARs, 10 Supporter SARs, 37 ARs, 14 SRs, and 4 Ultra Rares — each featuring exclusive artwork you won’t find in any other set.

The four UR cards form an interconnected panoramic illustration of Origin Forme Dialga, Origin Forme Palkia, Giratina, and Arceus — the Sinnoh creation quartet rendered in gold. These panoramic URs have become some of the most iconic cards in the modern era.

VSTAR Universe s12a Japanese booster box sealed with shrink wrap
VSTAR Universe (s12a) sealed booster box

JPN Version vs Crown Zenith

Crown Zenith, released in English in January 2023, adapts a portion of s12a’s card pool but is not a direct translation. Key differences:

  • Crown Zenith combines cards from VSTAR Universe, Paradigm Trigger, and Incandescent Arcana
  • Several JPN-exclusive SARs never appeared in Crown Zenith
  • The god pack mechanic is exclusive to the Japanese version
  • Japanese print quality — texture, holofoil, and card stock — commands a 20-40% price premium over English equivalents
JPN vs ENG

The Japanese VSTAR Universe commands a 20-40% premium over Crown Zenith equivalents. God packs, exclusive SARs, and superior print quality are JPN-only.

If you want the complete s12a experience, only the Japanese original delivers. For a deeper comparison of Japanese vs English Pokémon cards, see our detailed guide.

Top 10 Most Valuable Cards

The top cards from this set have held their value remarkably well for a three-year-old release. The Pikachu AR — locked exclusively behind the god pack — remains the most expensive card, while the four gold UR legendaries dominate the upper tier.

Rank Card Rarity Price (¥) Price (USD)
1 Pikachu #205 AR ~¥21,000 ~$231
2 Giratina VSTAR #261 UR ~¥16,000 ~$156
3 Arceus VSTAR #262 UR ~¥10,000 ~$90
4 Mewtwo VSTAR #221 SAR ~¥11,000 ~$66
5 Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR #260 UR ~¥7,500 ~$65
6 Charizard VSTAR #212 SAR ~¥6,500 ~$63
7 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR #259 UR ~¥7,000 ~$56
8 Leafeon VSTAR #210 SAR ~¥3,500 ~$36
9 Suicune V #215 SAR ~¥3,000 ~$32
10 Cynthia’s Ambition #239 SAR ~¥4,700 ~$31

Prices as of March 2026. USD via PriceCharting. JPN prices via SNKRDUNK/Mercari.

#1 Pikachu AR — The God Pack Exclusive (~$231 / ¥21,000)

Pikachu Art Rare 205 from VSTAR Universe s12a
Pikachu AR #205 — God pack exclusive

Pikachu AR sits in a category of its own. You cannot pull this card from a normal pack — it only appears inside the god pack, an ultra-rare 9-card Art Rare set that shows up in roughly 1 out of every 100 boxes. That exclusivity, combined with Pikachu’s universal popularity, keeps prices anchored above $200 even three years after release.

The card’s artwork, illustrated by sowsow, depicts Pikachu standing on a rooftop at sunset — a quietly beautiful composition that breaks from the usual action poses. PSA 10 copies trade around $350 on PriceCharting, making it one of the most grading-sensitive cards in the modern era.

For collectors who want to own this card, buying a raw single (~$231) is far more cost-effective than chasing the god pack across 100+ boxes.

#2 Giratina VSTAR UR — The Crown Jewel (~$156 / ¥16,000)

Giratina VSTAR Ultra Rare gold card 261 from VSTAR Universe
Giratina VSTAR UR #261 — Panoramic gold

Giratina VSTAR UR is the centerpiece of the four-card panoramic gold set and the most valuable UR in the entire s12a release. The golden artwork captures Giratina in its Origin Forme, radiating distortion energy. Only about 10% of boxes contain any UR card, and with four UR types in the set, your odds of pulling this specific Giratina are roughly 1 in 40 boxes.

PSA 10 copies have sold for $250+, and raw prices have appreciated steadily since 2023. Giratina was also the dominant competitive Pokémon of the Sword & Shield era, adding play-value nostalgia to its collector appeal.

#3 Arceus VSTAR UR — The Creator (~$90 / ¥10,000)

Arceus VSTAR Ultra Rare gold card 262 from VSTAR Universe
Arceus VSTAR UR #262 — Panoramic gold

Arceus VSTAR UR completes the Sinnoh creation myth alongside Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. As the “god” Pokémon, Arceus holds deep lore significance that transcends any single card game era. The golden rendering shows Arceus channeling its signature Stardust ability.

Arceus VSTAR was also one of the most versatile competitive decks in the Sword & Shield format, which adds a nostalgia layer for players who remember its dominance. At ~$90, it’s the most affordable of the four UR golds — and arguably the best entry point for collectors building the panoramic set.

#4-10 Quick Hits

Mewtwo VSTAR Special Art Rare 221 from VSTAR Universe s12a

Mewtwo VSTAR SAR
~$66 / ~¥11,000

Charizard VSTAR Special Art Rare 212 from VSTAR Universe s12a

Charizard VSTAR SAR
~$63 / ~¥6,500

Suicune V Special Art Rare 215 from VSTAR Universe s12a

Suicune V SAR
~$32 / ~¥3,000

#4 Mewtwo VSTAR SAR (~$66 / ¥11,000) — Mewtwo facing off in a dramatic battle scene. This card has appreciated significantly over the past year, with buying prices jumping from ¥6,300 to ¥11,000. Mewtwo’s enduring popularity across all Pokémon media drives consistent demand.

#5 Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR UR (~$65 / ¥7,500) — The time-controlling legendary in panoramic gold. Part of the four-card UR set that collectors chase as a complete series.

#6 Charizard VSTAR SAR (~$63 / ¥6,500) — Any set with a Charizard chase card holds long-term collector interest. The SAR artwork shows Charizard mid-flight in a dramatic composition by popular illustrator 5ban Graphics.

Depth Beyond the Top 10

VSTAR Universe has over a dozen cards worth $25+. That depth of value is what separates this set from nearly every other modern release.

#7 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR UR (~$56 / ¥7,000) — Palkia in panoramic gold, completing the Dialga-Palkia pair. Collectors who own one typically pursue the other.

#8 Leafeon VSTAR SAR (~$36 / ¥3,500) — Fan-favorite Eeveelution with stunning nature-themed artwork. Eeveelution cards have historically held value well across all eras.

#9 Suicune V SAR (~$32 / ¥3,000) — One of the most aesthetically praised SARs in the set. Suicune’s flowing mane and aurora backdrop make this a collector showpiece.

#10 Cynthia’s Ambition SAR (~$31 / ¥4,700) — The iconic Sinnoh Champion rendered in Special Art Rare quality. Trainer SARs featuring popular characters like Cynthia tend to appreciate as sealed supply decreases.

Beyond the top 10, notable honorable mentions include Mew AR #183 (~$30), Charizard V SAR #211 (~$30), and Irida SAR #238 (~$25). That depth — over a dozen cards worth $25+ — is what sets this High Class Pack apart from nearly every other modern release.

For more high-value Japanese cards across all sets, check our 2026 most valuable Japanese Pokémon cards ranking.

Pull Rates & What’s in Your Box

Every box guarantees at least 15 high-rarity pulls — a hallmark of the High Class Pack format that makes s12a one of the most generous sealed products in modern Pokémon TCG. Here’s exactly what to expect.

Guaranteed Pulls per Box

Guaranteed Pull Qty Note
Pokémon SAR 1 25 types — guaranteed
SR (Trainer/Energy) 1 14 types
AR (Art Rare) 3 37 types
K (Radiant) 1 6 types
RRR 3
RR 6

That’s a minimum of 15 hits per box — significantly more than a standard Japanese expansion where you might get 5-6 hits.

SAR, UR & God Pack Probabilities

Beyond the guaranteed pulls, boxes can contain bonus ultra-rare cards:

Pull Probability per Box Specific Card Odds
Pokémon SAR (guaranteed) 100% ~1/25 for a specific SAR (25 types)
Supporter SAR (bonus) ~20% ~1/50 for a specific Supporter SAR (10 types)
UR (Ultra Rare gold) ~10% ~1/40 for a specific UR (4 types)
God Pack (9 AR set) ~1% ~1/100 boxes
“2-Hit Box” (double SAR/UR) ~5-8% Rare bonus

Estimated based on community opening data. Not officially confirmed by The Pokémon Company.

Pull Rate Highlight

5-8% of VSTAR Universe boxes are “2-hit boxes” (2枚箱) — containing two SARs or a SAR plus a UR. That means roughly 1 in 15 boxes delivers an unexpected second premium pull.

The Legendary God Pack — Two Types

VSTAR Universe god pack containing 9 Art Rare cards including Pikachu
God pack — 9 Art Rare cards illustrated by Kouki Saitou

The god pack is this set’s most iconic feature. Instead of the normal 10-card distribution, a god pack replaces most cards with ultra-rare pulls. Two configurations have been confirmed:

At roughly 1 in 100 boxes (~1% probability), god packs are extremely rare. One Japanese card shop reported needing 80 boxes to find one, while another opened 200 and found three. The value of a complete Type 1 god pack exceeds ¥25,000 (~$165) in card value alone — but the true value is the experience of opening one.

God Pack Odds

~1 in 100 boxes. Type 1 (9 AR set with Pikachu) is the only way to pull the ¥21,000 Pikachu AR. Type 2 (5 SAR + 5 AR) delivers equal excitement without the Pikachu exclusive.

Box EV Breakdown

At approximately $65 expected value per $150 box (~44% return), VSTAR Universe fares better than most modern sets thanks to its high guaranteed hit count and bonus pull chances. Negative EV is the standard structure for every Pokémon TCG box — here’s how this set’s math works.

Expected Value Calculation

Component Qty Avg. Value (USD) Contribution
Pokémon SAR (guaranteed) 1 ~$20 $20.00
SR (Trainer/Energy) 1 ~$5 $5.00
AR (Art Rare) 3 ~$4 $12.00
K / Radiant 1 ~$3 $3.00
RRR 3 ~$1.50 $4.50
RR 6 ~$0.75 $4.50
Bulk (C/U/R) ~75 ~$0.02 $1.50
Subtotal (Guaranteed) $50.50
UR (10% chance × ~$90 avg) 0.1 ~$90 $9.00
Supporter SAR (20% × ~$22 avg) 0.2 ~$22 $4.40
God Pack (1% × ~$165 value) 0.01 ~$165 $1.65
Total Expected Value ~$65.55
EV Summary

Box cost: ~$150 | EV: ~$65 | EV ratio: ~44%. The guaranteed SAR + 3 ARs provide a solid base value that prevents any box from being a complete miss.

Variance & What Most Boxes Look Like

The average box returns about 44 cents per dollar — a typical ratio for Pokémon TCG sealed product. But averages hide the real story.

A “floor box” (the most common outcome) contains one mid-tier Pokémon SAR worth $10-15, one SR Energy worth $3-5, three common ARs worth $2-4 each, and various lower-rarity cards — totaling roughly $35-45.

A “ceiling box” with a Giratina VSTAR UR ($156) plus a guaranteed SAR delivers $180+ in card value from a $150 box. Hit the god pack, and a single box can return $300+.

Singles vs Box — Which Path Makes Sense?

Factor Buy Box Buy Singles
Cost for specific card $150 + luck Market price of that card
Experience Opening thrill, surprise pulls No surprises
Value for money ~44% EV return 100% — you get exactly what you pay for
Upside potential God pack, UR pull None
Collector experience Priceless

If you want a specific card — say the Pikachu AR — buying the single at $231 is objectively smarter than opening 100 boxes at $15,000. But if you want the joy of opening a premium Japanese product with guaranteed hits in every box, this set delivers one of the best opening experiences in Pokémon TCG history.

Should You Buy VSTAR Universe in 2026?

Three years after release, this set remains one of the most rewarding Japanese boxes you can open. Here’s who should consider it — and who should look elsewhere.

VSTAR Universe four gold Ultra Rare panoramic cards Dialga Palkia Giratina Arceus
The four gold UR panoramic set — Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Arceus

For Collectors — The Definitive Sword & Shield Experience

This set is the crown jewel of the Sword & Shield era. If you collect Japanese Pokémon cards, this set belongs on your shelf for three reasons:

  1. Unmatched chase card density — 90 secret rares means every box delivers genuinely exciting pulls
  2. Iconic artwork — The gold panoramic UR set and SAR illustrations represent peak modern Pokémon card design
  3. God pack potential — No other set offers this mechanic with the same level of collectible appeal

At $150 per box, the price has climbed from the ¥5,500 MSRP days, but you’re buying a sealed product from a set that will never be reprinted. Every box opened reduces the global sealed supply.

Buying Advice

For collectors, VSTAR Universe at ¥22,800 is a premium but justified purchase. For investors, monitor the sealed market for a stable entry point above ¥20,000 — if prices hold through 2026, that floor is likely established.

For Investors — Long-Term Sealed Potential

This High Class Pack is often compared to Hidden Fates and Ultra Shiny GX as a potential long-term hold. The bull case: it’s the definitive Sword & Shield era capstone with 90 secret rares, Pikachu/Charizard chase cards, and no future reprints.

The reality check: this set had a massive print run. Many collectors stashed sealed boxes specifically because they expected price appreciation, which means sealed supply isn’t as constrained as older sets. Prices have steadily climbed — from ¥8,000 in early 2023 to ¥22,800 in March 2026 — but the trajectory may flatten as SV-era High Class Packs compete for attention.

For Players — Nostalgia Over Competitiveness

Cards from this set belong to the Sword & Shield era, which has rotated out of competitive Standard play. If you’re building competitive decks, this isn’t your set. But if you played during the VSTAR era and want to own beautifully illustrated versions of cards you once used — Arceus VSTAR, Giratina VSTAR, Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR — there’s deep sentimental value here.

For a full comparison of what makes Japanese cards different, see our Japanese vs English Pokémon cards guide.

Where to Buy VSTAR Universe

Authenticity is critical for any out-of-print Japanese box — resealed product circulates widely on secondary markets. Here are the most reliable channels.

Authenticity Warning

Out-of-print Japanese boxes are frequent targets for resealing. Always verify factory-original shrink wrap, check seller history, and buy from sellers with verifiable Japan-sourced inventory.

Recommended Shops

Samurai Sword INC (samuraiswordtokyo.com) — Ships sealed VSTAR Universe boxes directly from Tokyo. Every box is serial-tracked for authenticity, and we inspect each unit before shipping. If a box shows signs of search or reseal, we trace it back to the supplier and ban them from our network. Tracked international shipping to US, CA, UK, AU, and more.

Other options include eBay (check seller ratings carefully — resealed boxes are common with out-of-print sets), TCG Republic, and Japan-based proxy services. For a complete guide to buying from Japan, see our how to buy Japanese Pokémon cards guide.

When buying out-of-print Japanese boxes, always verify:

  • Shrink wrap is factory-original (not re-wrapped)
  • Seller has verifiable Japan-sourced inventory
  • Return policy exists for tampered products

For tips on spotting fakes, check our fake Japanese Pokémon cards guide.

The Bottom Line

This set earned its reputation. Three years after release, it remains the benchmark against which every Japanese High Class Pack is measured.

Three things to remember:

  1. Best-in-class chase card density — 90 secret rares, guaranteed SAR per box, and the legendary god pack make every opening session exciting
  2. Prices are established and climbing — At ¥22,800 (~$150), the box has appreciated 300%+ from launch and shows no signs of reversing
  3. The god pack is real, and it’s spectacular — A ~1% chance at pulling Pikachu AR and 8 coordinated Art Rares is the ultimate collector moment

Whether you’re adding to a Sword & Shield collection, hunting your first god pack, or looking for a premium Japanese box to open with friends, VSTAR Universe delivers. It’s earned the “greatest High Class Pack” title — and the market agrees.

For a comparison with other top Japanese High Class Packs, see our complete HCP ranking.

Looking for the best box across all set types? Check our best Japanese Pokemon booster box guide for a full comparison.

Shop This Set
VSTAR Universe (s12a) Booster Box
From ~$150 / ~¥22,800
Ships from Tokyo · Tracked delivery

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View complete Vstar Universe card list →

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pull rates for VSTAR Universe?

Every VSTAR Universe box guarantees 1 Pokémon SAR, 1 SR, 3 Art Rares, 1 Radiant Pokémon, 3 RRR, and 6 RR cards. Beyond guaranteed pulls, there’s roughly a 10% chance of a UR (gold) card, 20% chance of a bonus Supporter SAR, and approximately 1% chance of a god pack. These rates are estimated from community opening data — official rates have not been published by The Pokémon Company.

Is VSTAR Universe the same as Crown Zenith?

No. Crown Zenith (English, released January 2023) adapts some VSTAR Universe cards but combines them with cards from Paradigm Trigger and Incandescent Arcana. Several s12a SARs are exclusive to the Japanese version and were never printed in English. The god pack mechanic is also exclusive to the Japanese set.

What is the most expensive card in VSTAR Universe?

Pikachu AR #205 at approximately $231 (¥21,000) as of March 2026. This card is exclusive to the god pack — a rare 9-card Art Rare set that appears in roughly 1 out of every 100 boxes. PSA 10 graded copies trade around $350. The second most valuable card is Giratina VSTAR UR #261 at approximately $156 (¥16,000).

How rare is the Pikachu AR in VSTAR Universe?

Extremely rare. The Pikachu AR only appears inside god packs, which have an estimated probability of roughly 1 in 100 boxes (1%). Since you can’t pull Pikachu AR from a normal pack, the only alternatives are buying the single card (~$231) or purchasing the complete AR 9-card set. One Japanese card shop reported opening 200 boxes and finding only three god packs.

What is a god pack in VSTAR Universe?

A god pack replaces the normal 10-card pack distribution with ultra-rare cards. Two types exist: Type 1 contains 9 coordinated Art Rares illustrated by Kouki Saitou (including Pikachu AR), and Type 2 contains 5 SARs plus 5 Art Rares. God packs appear in approximately 1 out of every 100 boxes. They’re the rarest and most exciting pull possible in VSTAR Universe.

Is VSTAR Universe still worth buying in 2026?

For collectors, yes. At ¥22,800 (~$150), you’re buying a sealed, out-of-print High Class Pack with 90 secret rares and the best god pack mechanic in Pokémon TCG history. Every box guarantees a SAR pull, and the opening experience is unmatched. For pure investment purposes, be aware that this set had a large print run, which may moderate long-term appreciation compared to older sets with smaller supply.

Will VSTAR Universe be reprinted?

Very unlikely. The set completed its print run during the Sword & Shield era, which ended in 2023. The Pokémon Company has moved fully to the Scarlet & Violet era product line. No official reprint has been announced, and the set’s out-of-print status is a key driver of its current ¥22,800 box price.


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Related Guides

S10B Pokémon GO peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box (2026)

The Japanese S10B Pokemon GO set has one card that doesn’t exist in the English Pokemon GO (PGO) release: the Mewtwo V Special Art at 074/071, currently trading at ¥13,000–17,800 (~$85–120) on altema.jp. That single difference is why Mewtwo collectors who care about alt art chase the Japanese box specifically — and why S10B continues to hold premium pricing 3.5 years after its June 2022 launch.

S10B is the only Pokemon TCG set ever built around the Pokemon GO mobile game crossover. It introduced four Radiant Pokemon (Venusaur, Blastoise, Charizard, and Eevee), the peelable Ditto gimmick that hides Ditto under common Pokemon cards, and a pack structure that guarantees two holos per pack instead of the usual one. The set has been out of print for over two years, and the 2026 Pokemon 30th anniversary has pulled renewed attention toward Kanto-focused releases like this one.

This guide breaks down the full S10B picture: all 10 most valuable cards ranked by JPN market prices, pull rate estimates translated from Japanese opening compilations, box EV math using Altema data, the JPN vs ENG differences that matter, and a 3.5-year price trajectory showing why Card Rush is buying boxes at ¥14,000 while SNKRDUNK’s lowest listing sits at ¥21,800. We handle Japanese Pokemon TCG boxes every week — here’s what we tell buyers asking about Pokemon GO.

Key Takeaway

S10B Pokemon GO is the only Pokemon TCG set with the Mewtwo V Special Art (074/071), a JPN-exclusive card that doesn’t exist in the English PGO release. At ~$100/box with four guaranteed Radiant Kanto Pokemon and a ~20% chance per box of any SA, S10B offers one of the most reliable EV floors in the Sword & Shield era. Out of print since late 2023.

~$120
Top Card (Mewtwo V SA)

~$100
BOX Market Price

20 Packs
Per Box (6 cards each)

93 Cards
Total Set

What Is S10B Pokemon GO? Set Overview

S10B Pokemon GO is the Japanese enhanced expansion pack (強化拡張パック) released on June 17, 2022, designed as a direct crossover with the Pokemon GO mobile game. The set brought Pokemon GO’s visual identity — Team Leaders, raid mechanics, candy rewards — into the physical TCG for the only time in the game’s history.

Set Specs

Detail Value
Set Code S10B
Japanese Name ポケモンGO
Series Sword & Shield
Category Enhanced Expansion Pack (強化拡張パック)
Release Date June 17, 2022
Packs per Box 20
Cards per Pack 6 (2 holos guaranteed)
Main Set 71 cards
Secret Rares 22 cards (12 SR incl. 2 SA, 7 HR, 3 UR)
Total Cards 93
MSRP ¥5,200 → Market price: ¥14,000–21,800 (~$93–145) as of April 2026

Enhanced Expansion Pack Structure

Enhanced expansion packs like S10B sit between regular expansion packs (standard S11 or S12) and premium high-class packs like VSTAR Universe. Three things distinguish them: 20 packs per box instead of 30, 6 kartu per pack instead of 5, and a guaranteed two-holo pack structure that puts a Pokemon V-or-better card in every single pack alongside a reverse holo. That’s 40 holo cards per box, not 20.

The trade-off: the total card pool is smaller (71 main + 22 secrets = 93 cards vs. 127 for S11), and only one SR-or-higher is guaranteed per box instead of the 1.2+ average from regular expansions. But the double-holo pack structure makes every pack feel like a “hit pack,” which is why enhanced expansions tend to be the most fun boxes to open for casual buyers.

Pokemon GO Theme and the Peelable Ditto

S10B isn’t just themed around Pokemon GO — it mechanically borrows from it. Team leaders Candela, Spark, and Blanche appear as Trainer cards with full-art SR treatments. Professor Willow, the game’s researcher, gets his own HR. Lure Modules and Egg Incubators appear as UR Trainer items. Even the card backs carry Pokemon GO visual motifs.

The set’s fan-favorite gimmick is the peelable Ditto. A handful of S10B commons feature Ditto hidden beneath the surface art — collectors can peel back a thin top layer to reveal a Ditto portrait underneath. For open-sealed collectors, the peelable Ditto is one of the most unique gimmicks in modern Japanese Pokemon TCG history.

Why S10B Still Matters in 2026

Three reasons: the set has been out of print since late 2023, Pokemon’s 30th anniversary in 2026 has renewed demand for Kanto-focused releases (S10B is Kanto-dense — Mewtwo, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur all get headline spots), and the Japanese version contains two Special Art cards (Mewtwo V SA and Conkeldurr V SA) that simply do not exist in the English PGO release. For Mewtwo collectors, the JPN S10B box is the only sealed product in existence that can pull a Mewtwo V Special Art.

JPN Exclusive

The Mewtwo V SA (074/071) and Conkeldurr V SA (076/071) are Japanese-only Special Art cards. Neither has an equivalent in the English Pokemon GO (PGO) set. For Mewtwo master collectors worldwide, the JPN S10B box is the only sealed product that can produce a Mewtwo V Special Art.

Top 10 Most Valuable S10B Pokemon GO Cards

Mewtwo V SA sits at the top of this set’s value chart at roughly 4× the price of the second-most valuable card. The top 10 below uses current JPN market data from Altema (April 2026), with USD conversions at approximately ¥150/USD.

Mewtwo V SA 074/071 Special Art from S10B Pokemon GO — the JPN-exclusive chase card
Mewtwo V SA (074/071) — ¥13,000–17,800 (~$85–120)
Rank Card Number Rarity JPN Price (¥) USD Price
1 Mewtwo V (Special Art) 074/071 SR (SA) ¥13,000–17,800 ~$85–120
2 Mewtwo VSTAR 091/071 UR ¥6,500–8,980 ~$43–60
3 Mewtwo VSTAR 084/071 HR ¥4,000–5,980 ~$27–40
4 Dragonite VSTAR 086/071 HR ¥3,000–3,780 ~$20–25
5 Radiant Charizard 011/071 K ¥2,700–3,580 ~$18–24
6 Mewtwo V 073/071 SR ¥2,000–2,780 ~$13–18
7 Conkeldurr V (Special Art) 076/071 SR (SA) ¥1,580–1,980 ~$10–13
8 Radiant Blastoise 018/071 K ¥1,500–1,980 ~$10–13
9 Dragonite V 078/071 SR ¥1,300–1,780 ~$9–12
10 Radiant Eevee 040/071 K ¥1,200–1,580 ~$8–10
Price Note

Prices from altema.jp, SNKRDUNK, and Card Rush as of April 2026. USD conversions at ~¥150/USD. Secondary market prices. JPN cards typically trade at a 15–40% premium over English equivalents for high-demand cards.

#1 Mewtwo V SA (074/071) — ~$85–120

The Mewtwo V Special Art is the card that defines S10B for Japanese collectors. Illustrated as a full-bleed portrait with Mewtwo in a meditative pose against a deep purple void, it’s the only Japanese full-art Mewtwo V in the entire Sword & Shield era. The card trades at ¥13,000–17,800 on altema.jp as of April 2026, with Card Rush’s buy price at ¥8,980.

Here’s the important detail no English guide mentions: this card does not exist in the English Pokemon GO (PGO) set. The English release has a Mewtwo V #30 (standard full art) and Mewtwo VSTAR alternate arts, but there’s no equivalent to the Japanese 074/071 Special Art treatment. For Mewtwo master set collectors, chasing the JPN S10B box is the only path.

PSA 10 copies trade at a meaningful premium — recent sales data from PriceCharting shows graded copies in the $180–220 range, giving graders roughly a 2× return on the raw cost. Mewtwo has unmatched collector staying power (Kanto original, anime icon, Pokemon GO raid boss, 30th anniversary headliner), which is why this card has held above $80 for most of 2024 and 2025 despite broader S10B price movement.

#2 Mewtwo VSTAR UR (091/071) — ~$43–60

Mewtwo VSTAR UR 091/071 gold rare from S10B Pokemon GO
Mewtwo VSTAR UR (091/071) — ¥6,500–8,980 (~$43–60)

The gold-textured Ultra Rare Mewtwo VSTAR at ¥6,500–8,980 (~$43–60) is S10B’s highest-numbered secret rare and the set’s premier display card. The gold leafing treatment on a Mewtwo illustration hits different than standard rainbow rares — the metallic backdrop makes Mewtwo’s psychic energy glow with a warmth that collectors keep in the top slot of binders. PSA 10 copies trade around $80–110.

#3 Mewtwo VSTAR HR (084/071) — ~$27–40

The Mewtwo VSTAR Hyper Rare at ¥4,000–5,980 uses a rainbow rare treatment over a dynamic Star Raid VSTAR Power composition. It’s a more accessible Mewtwo VSTAR display card than the UR version and pairs well alongside the SA at ~$27–40 per copy. For buyers who want “a Mewtwo VSTAR special rare” without paying UR prices, the HR is the value pick.

#4 Dragonite VSTAR HR (086/071) — ~$20–25

Dragonite VSTAR HR 086/071 rainbow rare from S10B Pokemon GO
Dragonite VSTAR HR (086/071) — ¥3,000–3,780 (~$20–25)

The Dragonite VSTAR HR at ¥3,000–3,780 (~$20–25) is the Kanto community’s other headline chase. Dragonite consistently ranks as one of the most beloved non-starter Kanto Pokemon, and S10B is one of the only modern sets that gives Dragonite a VSTAR treatment. The HR artwork uses a sunset-orange background that makes it a standout display card.

#5 Radiant Charizard (011/071) — ~$18–24

Radiant Charizard 011/071 from S10B Pokemon GO — the accessible chase
Radiant Charizard (011/071) — ¥2,700–3,580 (~$18–24)

Radiant Charizard is the card that pulls casual collectors into the S10B box. At ¥2,700–3,580 (~$18–24), it’s the most accessible “grail” pull in the set — and because Radiants appear at roughly 1–2 per box, every Pokemon GO box opener has realistic odds of pulling this Charizard on their first try. The shiny gold-accented illustration pairs Charizard against a flame backdrop using the shiny-Pokemon color palette rather than standard orange.

Radiant Charizard is one of four Radiant Pokemon in S10B (alongside Radiant Venusaur, Radiant Blastoise, and Radiant Eevee) — the first Radiant cards ever printed. For Charizard collectors specifically, this was the first “shiny Charizard” treatment in Sword & Shield.

#6 Mewtwo V SR (073/071) — ~$13–18

The standard full-art Mewtwo V SR at ¥2,000–2,780 is the baseline Mewtwo V pull — not the Special Art, but still carrying Mewtwo’s full collector premium. This is the SR version of the same Mewtwo V that appears in the main set as RR. Recommended for Mewtwo completionists who don’t want to spend $100+ on the SA.

#7 Conkeldurr V SA (076/071) — ~$10–13

Conkeldurr V SA 076/071 Special Art from S10B Pokemon GO — JPN-exclusive
Conkeldurr V SA (076/071) — the second JPN-exclusive Special Art

The second JPN-exclusive Special Art in S10B. Conkeldurr doesn’t have Mewtwo’s cultural star power, but the SA treatment at ¥1,580–1,980 (~$10–13) makes this card unique to Japanese collectors. There is no English equivalent to this card in the PGO set. For SA completionists who want both JPN-exclusive alt arts, Conkeldurr V SA is the lower-profile counterpart to Mewtwo V SA.

Cards #8–10

  • Radiant Blastoise (018/071) (¥1,500–1,980 / ~$10–13) — The Kanto starter alongside Venusaur and Charizard as Radiants. Uses the shiny blue-white color treatment over the classic Kanto #009 design.
  • Dragonite V SR (078/071) (¥1,300–1,780 / ~$9–12) — The standard full-art Dragonite V SR. Pairs with the Dragonite VSTAR HR for Kanto pseudo-legendary collectors.
  • Radiant Eevee (040/071) (¥1,200–1,580 / ~$8–10) — The fourth and final Radiant in S10B. Eevee consistently has the broadest collector base in Pokemon, and this card is a common binder-staple for Eevee main collectors.

For the complete S10B card list with all 93 cards, see our S10B Pokemon GO Daftar kartu page.

Should You Buy a Pokemon GO Booster Box?

At ~$100 USD per box, S10B sits below S11 Lost Abyss and S12 Paradigm Trigger in absolute price — but the EV math and buying decision work differently because of the enhanced expansion pack structure and the JPN-exclusive SA cards. Here’s how it breaks down by buyer type.

Buyer’s Tip

If you want the Mewtwo V SA specifically, buying the single at ~$85–120 is far cheaper than chasing through boxes (estimated ~25 boxes for a specific SA pull). But if you want the full S10B experience with multiple Radiants, Conkeldurr V SA, and a realistic chance at Mewtwo V SA, 2–5 boxes deliver the best balance.

For Pokemon GO Fans and Kanto Collectors

This is the most straightforward “yes” in the Pokemon TCG catalog. If you played Pokemon GO during the 2016–2022 peak, S10B is the only physical TCG set ever built around the mobile game’s visual identity. The Team Leaders (Candela, Spark, Blanche) are here in full art. Professor Willow is here. Lure Modules and Egg Incubators are tangible collectibles. And the set’s Kanto focus — Mewtwo, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Dragonite, Eevee — makes it one of the densest Kanto sets in Sword & Shield.

For Kanto-focused collectors, the four Radiants alone justify the box purchase. With 1–2 Radiants per box and four types in rotation, opening a full box typically delivers two Radiant Kanto Pokemon as display pieces.

For Mewtwo V SA Chasers

Here’s where the math gets interesting. Mewtwo V SA trades at ~$85–120 raw. A box at ~$100 has roughly 4% odds of pulling it directly — meaning the expected cost to chase the SA through boxes is around $2,500, or 25 boxes. For pure Mewtwo V SA hunters, buying the single is far cheaper.

But the chase changes if you also want the other JPN exclusives and Radiants. Opening 3–5 boxes gives you realistic odds on Conkeldurr V SA, a Mewtwo VSTAR UR, multiple Radiants, and a chance at the Mewtwo V SA — all alongside the pack-opening experience. For completionists building a full S10B Mewtwo collection, a small number of boxes can be the better path than buying six singles separately.

For Long-Term Holders

S10B has been out of print since late 2023. Card Rush’s current buy price of ¥14,000 reflects dealer confidence that boxes will continue to appreciate — dealers typically buy at 60–70% of their expected resale. At ¥14,000 buy and ¥21,800 SNKRDUNK lowest, the dealer-to-retail gap is consistent with appreciating sealed products in the Sword & Shield era.

The 2026 Pokemon 30th anniversary is a tailwind. Kanto-themed sets are seeing renewed attention across the board, and S10B’s four Kanto Radiants plus Mewtwo V SA put it squarely in the anniversary-driven demand zone.

Singles vs. Box — The Math

Approach Cost What You Get
Buy Mewtwo V SA single ~$85–120 The exact card, guaranteed
Buy 5 boxes for JPN exclusives ~$500 ~10 Radiants, 5+ SRs, ~50% chance at Mewtwo V SA, ~50% chance at Conkeldurr V SA, 1–2 VSTAR URs/HRs, 600 total cards
Buy 1 box for the experience ~$100 20 packs, 40 guaranteed holos, ~1–2 Radiants, 1 SR-or-higher

If you only want one specific card, singles win. If you want the full S10B experience with a realistic shot at JPN exclusives and multiple Radiants, 2–5 boxes deliver the best value.

S10B Pull Rates & Box EV Breakdown

S10B follows the enhanced expansion pack pull structure: 20 packs per box, 6 kartu per pack, with 2 holos guaranteed per pack. That’s 40 holo cards per box — roughly twice the density of a standard 30-pack expansion. Here’s how the high-rarity pool breaks down.

Pull Rate Breakdown (Per Box — 20 Packs)

Rarity Cards in Set Expected per Box Notes
RR (V) ~12 3–4 Pokemon V cards
RRR ~6 ~1 Mewtwo VSTAR, Melmetal VMAX, Dragonite VSTAR
K (Radiant) 4 1–2 Venusaur, Blastoise, Charizard, Eevee
SR 12 (incl. 2 SA) 1 guaranteed 10 standard SRs + 2 SAs
SA (any) 2 ~1 per 5 boxes (~20%) Mewtwo V SA or Conkeldurr V SA
Mewtwo V SA 1 ~1 per 25 boxes (~4%) Split 50/50 with Conkeldurr V SA
HR 7 ~1 per 10 boxes (~10%) Rainbow rare treatment
UR 3 ~1 per 10 boxes (~10%) Mewtwo VSTAR, Egg Incubator, Lure Module
Disclaimer

Pull rates are estimated from Japanese community opening compilations and baseline enhanced expansion pack structure. Not officially confirmed by The Pokemon Company. Actual results vary.

Enhanced Expansion Pack Guarantee

Every S10B box guarantees at least one SR-tier card (SR or higher). Because the SR pool includes both standard full arts and the 2 SAs, each box has roughly 20% odds of the SR slot being an SA — giving you ~1 in 5 chance of walking away with a Mewtwo V SA or Conkeldurr V SA from a single box.

This is why enhanced expansions are popular with casual openers. Unlike high-class packs where the SR slot can be anything across a massive card pool, S10B’s smaller 93-card total concentrates the secret rare odds into a narrower pool. More focus, higher per-box hit rate for any given chase card.

Mewtwo V SA — The Specific Odds

The number Mewtwo collectors want: approximately 4% per box for the Mewtwo V SA specifically, or roughly 1 in 25 boxes. That’s a harder chase than S11’s Giratina V SA (3.8–6.2%) because S10B has two SAs splitting the SA probability, while S11 has four SAs diluting the per-SA rate further.

At carton level (12 boxes at ~$1,200), Japanese opening data suggests roughly 2–3 SA pulls total, with 50/50 split between Mewtwo V SA and Conkeldurr V SA. So one carton gives you about a 60–70% chance of seeing at least one Mewtwo V SA — though the variance is high.

Box EV Breakdown

Using current Altema JPN prices and pull rate estimates, the expected value per box breaks down as follows:

Component Est. Value per Box
1 SR hit (weighted avg. incl. SA probability) ~¥3,200 (~$21)
1–2 Radiant cards ~¥3,500 (~$23)
~1 RRR (VSTAR/VMAX) ~¥800 (~$5)
3–4 RR cards ~¥400 (~$3)
Remaining R/U/C ~¥200 (~$1)
Standard Box EV ~¥8,100 (~$54)
EV Summary

Box cost: ~¥14,000–21,800 ($93–145) | Average EV: ~¥8,100 ($54). The SR-weighted average (~¥3,200) accounts for the 20% SA probability, with Mewtwo V SA’s ~$100 value raising the average meaningfully above the 10 standard SRs. Radiants contribute the second-largest EV component.

S10B’s EV structure differs from S11 and S12 in one important way: the Radiant guarantee provides a ~$20–25 EV floor that standard expansion sets don’t have. For value-conscious openers, this “guaranteed Radiant” mechanic gives S10B one of the most reliable EV floors in the Sword & Shield era. For comparison, see our S11 Lost Abyss guide and S12 Paradigm Trigger guide.

S10B vs English Pokemon GO (PGO)

The English Pokemon GO (PGO) release from July 2022 shares the Pokemon GO theme with Japanese S10B, but the two sets have meaningfully different card structures, numbering systems, and pull odds. For buyers choosing between JPN and ENG versions, the differences matter.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Spec S10B (JPN) PGO (ENG)
Release June 17, 2022 July 1, 2022
Main Set Cards 71 78
Secret Rares 22 (12 SR, 7 HR, 3 UR) ~12 (differently distributed)
Total Cards 93 ~88
Packs per Box 20 36
Cards per Pack 6 (2 holos) 10
Total Cards per Box 120 360
MSRP ¥5,200 ~$144
Language Japanese English

What’s Different in the JPN Version

Three JPN-specific cards don’t exist in the English set: Mewtwo V SA (074/071), Conkeldurr V SA (076/071), and the specific peelable Ditto gimmick treatment. The English PGO set has its own exclusive treatments (Giovanni’s Charisma SR, a different Mewtwo VSTAR alt art, rainbow versions of Radiants), but the Mewtwo V Special Art is Japanese-only.

Print quality is another factor. JPN Pokemon cards historically command a 15–40% premium over ENG versions of the same card, driven by superior holofoil textures, tighter print cuts, and the collector preference for original-language releases. For high-value SAs like Mewtwo V, this premium tends toward the higher end.

JPN Premium

The Mewtwo V SA (074/071) is Japanese-only. No English equivalent exists in the PGO set. For Mewtwo master set collectors, the JPN S10B box is the only sealed product in existence that can produce a Mewtwo V Special Art.

Which Version to Buy

  • Chasing Mewtwo V SA specifically? → JPN S10B box is the only option. The card doesn’t exist in English.
  • Want higher pull odds per dollar? → ENG PGO gives you 360 cards per box at a similar box price. More raw pulls, lower per-box SR ceiling.
  • Collecting both language versions? → Buy both. The sets are complementary rather than redundant.
  • Building a Japanese master set? → JPN S10B is required. No substitute exists.

Most of our international buyers go JPN for one of two reasons: they want the Mewtwo V SA specifically, or they prefer Japanese print quality for long-term holding. For casual openers who just want to pull “the Pokemon GO set,” either version works — but the JPN set is the only one with the peelable Ditto and Special Art cards.

Where to Buy S10B Pokemon GO Booster Box

Authentic sealed S10B boxes remain available through Japanese TCG specialty retailers. Because the set has been out of print for 2+ years and stocks are shrinking, verification matters more now than it did at launch.

What to Look For

  • Factory seal — Authentic S10B boxes have a white Creatures Inc. factory seal. At $100+ price points, resealed boxes are a real concern from unverified sellers.
  • 20 packs per box — Enhanced expansion packs use a 20-pack format, not 30. A box should feel appropriately weighted.
  • Japanese branding — The box should display ポケモンGO with Pokemon Company Japan branding.
  • Seller reputation — Purchase from sellers with a track record in Japanese Pokemon TCG. Ask about sourcing — legitimate boxes come from authorized Japanese distributors, not gray-market importers.

At Samurai Sword Tokyo, we stock sealed Japanese S10B Pokemon GO boxes sourced directly from our Tokyo inventory with tracked international shipping. Stock fluctuates — check our product page for current availability.

Bottom Line

Three things to remember about S10B Pokemon GO:

  1. Mewtwo V SA is the JPN-only chase — the 074/071 Special Art doesn’t exist in the English PGO set. For Mewtwo master collectors, this is a required JPN purchase with no English alternative.
  2. Four Radiant Kanto cards create an accessible chase floor — Radiant Venusaur, Blastoise, Charizard, and Eevee at 1–2 per box means every box opener gets at least one Kanto Radiant display piece. The Radiant guarantee is what makes S10B’s EV floor more reliable than standard expansion sets.
  3. Out of print since late 2023 with 2026 anniversary tailwind — production is finished, sealed supply shrinks with every box opened, and Pokemon’s 30th anniversary has pulled Kanto-focused demand back into the spotlight.

At ~$100 per box, S10B is one of the more accessible premium JPN sealed products in the Sword & Shield era. Whether you open it for the experience, chase the Mewtwo V SA, or hold sealed for long-term appreciation, the set earned its place as the only Pokemon TCG set ever built around the Pokemon GO crossover.

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Pokemon GO (S10B) Booster Box
From ~$100 / ~¥14,000–21,800
Ships from Tokyo · Tracked delivery

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pull rates for Pokemon GO S10B?

Each 20-pack box guarantees at least one SR-tier card from a pool of 12 SRs (including 2 Special Arts: Mewtwo V SA and Conkeldurr V SA). SA cards appear in approximately 20% of boxes (~1 in 5 boxes for any SA, ~4% per box for Mewtwo V SA specifically). HR cards appear ~10% of the time, and UR cards also ~10%. Each pack contains 2 guaranteed holos, and Radiant Pokemon appear at 1–2 per box. Pull rates are estimated from Japanese opening data and not officially confirmed.

What is the most expensive card in S10B Pokemon GO?

Mewtwo V SA (074/071) at approximately ¥13,000–17,800 (~$85–120 raw) as of April 2026. PSA 10 copies trade in the $180–220 range. It is a Japanese-exclusive Special Art and does not exist in the English Pokemon GO (PGO) set.

Is the Japanese Pokemon GO booster box worth buying in 2026?

At ~$100 per box, S10B offers one of the most reliable EV floors in the Sword & Shield era thanks to the Radiant Pokemon guarantee (1–2 Kanto Radiants per box at $8–24 each). Expected value averages approximately $54, below box cost — standard for Pokemon TCG sealed products. The value proposition lies in the Mewtwo V SA chase, four Kanto Radiants, and the set’s out-of-print status with 2026 30th anniversary tailwind.

How many packs are in a Pokemon GO S10B booster box?

Each S10B box contains 20 packs, with 6 kartu per pack — 120 total cards per box. Every pack guarantees 2 holographic cards, meaning each box delivers 40 holos total. This is the enhanced expansion pack (強化拡張パック) format, which differs from standard 30-pack expansions like S11 or S12.

What’s the difference between Japanese S10B and English Pokemon GO?

S10B (Japanese) has 71 main cards + 22 secret rares = 93 total, with 20 packs per box at 6 kartu per pack. English PGO has ~78 main cards and 36 packs per box at 10 kartu per pack. The biggest difference: Mewtwo V SA (074/071) and Conkeldurr V SA (076/071) are Japanese-exclusive Special Art cards that don’t exist in the English set. Japanese print quality also carries a historical 15–40% premium over English on matched cards.

How much is Radiant Charizard from Pokemon GO worth?

As of April 2026, the Japanese Radiant Charizard (011/071) from S10B trades at ¥2,700–3,580 (~$18–24 raw). PSA 10 graded copies trade at roughly 2× the raw price. Radiant Charizard is one of four Radiant Pokemon in S10B alongside Venusaur, Blastoise, and Eevee, and is the most popular Radiant due to Charizard’s collector demand.

Is Pokemon GO S10B out of print?

Yes. Production ended in late 2023, and no reprints have been announced or released. Sealed box supply has been shrinking for 2+ years, which is one of the drivers behind the current ¥14,000–21,800 JPN price range. The out-of-print status combined with Pokemon’s 30th anniversary in 2026 has pulled renewed attention to Kanto-focused sets like this one.


Related Guides

S10A Dark Phantasma peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box (2026)

The Japanese S10A Dark Phantasma set has one card that defines its entire collector identity: Akari’s Pikachu Character Rare at 073/071, currently trading at ¥5,980 raw and ¥31,600 PSA 10 on altema.jp. It’s the only Pikachu Character Rare ever paired with a Pokemon Legends: Arceus protagonist, and it has been the set’s undisputed #1 chase card since launch in May 2022.

S10A Dark Phantasma is the Japanese enhanced expansion pack that bridges the Sword & Shield Pokemon TCG with the Pokemon Legends: Arceus story. It introduced six Character Rares featuring Hisui region characters — Akari, the Miss Fortune Sisters, Rei, Vessa, Kamado, and Mani — alongside Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR, Hisuian Goodra VSTAR, Magnezone VSTAR, and a tight 71-card main set focused entirely on Hisui forms. The set has been out of print since 2023, and supply has been shrinking ever since.

This guide breaks down the full S10A picture: all 10 most valuable cards ranked by Altema April 2026 prices, pull rate estimates from PokéPatch’s 114-pack opening sample, box EV math using current JPN data, the JPN S10a vs English Astral Radiance distinction that confuses most international buyers, and a 4-year price trajectory showing why current market sits around ¥12,500 per box. We handle Japanese Pokemon TCG boxes every week from Tokyo — here’s what we tell collectors asking about Dark Phantasma.

Key Takeaway

S10A Dark Phantasma is the only Pokemon TCG set with the Akari’s Pikachu CHR (073/071), a Japanese-exclusive Character Rare currently at ¥5,980 raw / ¥31,600 PSA 10. With six Hisui region Character Rares, Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR, and a tight 99-card pool, S10A delivers the highest CHR-per-box density in the Sword & Shield era. Out of print since 2023.

~$42
Top Card (Akari Pikachu CHR)

~$85
BOX Market Price

20 Packs
Per Box (6 cards each)

99 Cards
Total Set

What Is S10A Dark Phantasma? Set Overview

S10A Dark Phantasma (ダークファンタズマ) is the Japanese enhanced expansion pack (強化拡張パック) released on May 13, 2022 as the dedicated TCG companion to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. While S10P Space Juggler and S10D Time Gazer (released earlier in 2022) covered the broader Sinnoh/Hisui transition, S10A is the focused Hisui-only release: every major Hisuian form gets a V or VSTAR treatment, and the secret rare pool is built around six Character Rares featuring Legends: Arceus story characters.

Set Specs

Detail Value
Set Code S10A
Japanese Name ダークファンタズマ
Series Sword & Shield
Category Enhanced Expansion Pack (強化拡張パック)
Release Date May 13, 2022
Packs per Box 20
Cards per Pack 6 (2 holos guaranteed)
Main Set 71 cards
Secret Rares 28 cards (6 CHR, 10 SR, 2 CSR, 7 HR, 3 UR)
Total Cards 99
MSRP ¥4,400 → Market price: ~¥12,500 (~$83) as of April 2026

Enhanced Expansion Pack Structure

Enhanced expansion packs like S10A use the same 20-pack format as S10B Pokemon GO. Three things distinguish them from regular S-series expansion packs (S11 or S12): 20 packs per box instead of 30, 6 kartu per pack instead of 5, and a guaranteed two-holo pack structure that puts a Pokemon V-or-better card in every pack alongside a reverse holo. That’s 40 holo cards per box, double the density of standard expansions.

The trade-off: total card pool is smaller (99 vs 127 for S11), and only one SR-or-higher is guaranteed per box instead of the 1.2+ average from regular expansions. But the double-holo pack structure makes every pack feel like a hit pack — which is why enhanced expansions remain the most fun JPN boxes to open for casual buyers.

The Six Character Rares — Hisui Region Story Cast

S10A’s defining feature is the six Character Rares (072–077), each pairing a Pokemon with a Pokemon Legends: Arceus story character:

  • 072 Parasect (Mani) — Mani is the elderly Diamond Clan member from the Coronet Highlands. Parasect references his bug-collecting role.
  • 073 Pikachu (Akari) — Akari is the female protagonist of Legends: Arceus. The set’s #1 chase. ~¥5,980 raw / ~¥31,600 PSA 10.
  • 074 Gengar (Miss Fortune’s Sisters) — Charm, Clover, and Coin are the Miss Fortune trio of bandits. Gengar fits their mischief perfectly.
  • 075 Hisuian Arcanine (Rei) — Rei is the male protagonist counterpart to Akari. Hisuian Arcanine ties to his fire-type signature.
  • 076 Spiritomb (Vessa) — Vessa is the Pearl Clan member tied to ghost types in the game.
  • 077 Snorlax (Kamado) — Kamado is the leader of the Galaxy Expedition Team. Snorlax is his iconic partner.

This is the highest CHR density of any Sword & Shield enhanced expansion. S11A Incandescent Arcana has Character Rares too (Serena, Skyla, Furisode Girl), but S10A is the only set where the entire CHR slot is built around a single video game’s story cast.

Why S10A Still Matters in 2026

Three reasons: the set has been out of print since 2023, Pokemon’s 30th anniversary in 2026 has revived broad collector demand for character-focused Sword & Shield era cards, and Akari’s Pikachu has emerged as one of the most iconic Pikachu prints of the modern era. For Pikachu master collectors building a complete CHR collection, the JPN S10A box is the only sealed product that drops Akari’s Pikachu — the card simply does not exist in the English Astral Radiance set in CHR form.

JPN Exclusive

All 6 Character Rares (072–077) are Japanese-only treatments. The English Astral Radiance set bundles cards from S10, S10P, and S10a, but does not include the JPN-exclusive CHR rarity tier. For Pikachu master collectors worldwide, the JPN S10A box is the only sealed product that can produce Akari’s Pikachu CHR.

Top 10 Most Valuable S10A Dark Phantasma Cards

Akari’s Pikachu CHR sits at the top of the value chart at roughly ¥5,980 (~$40) on altema.jp, with the second-place Miss Fortune’s Sisters Gengar CHR close behind at ¥5,480. The top 10 below uses current JPN market data from Altema (April 2026), with USD conversions at approximately ¥150/USD.

Akari's Pikachu CHR 073/071 from S10A Dark Phantasma — the JPN-exclusive #1 chase card
Akari’s Pikachu CHR (073/071) — ~¥5,980 raw / ~¥31,600 PSA 10
Rank Card Number Rarity JPN Price (¥) USD Price
1 Pikachu (Akari) 073/071 CHR ¥5,500–5,980 ~$37–40
2 Gengar (Miss Fortune’s Sisters) 074/071 CHR ¥4,200–5,480 ~$28–37
3 Snorlax (Kamado) 077/071 CHR ¥1,800–2,580 ~$12–17
4 Gallade V (Beni) 089/071 CSR ¥1,200–1,680 ~$8–11
5 Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR 097/071 UR ¥1,000–1,380 ~$7–9
6 Enamorus V (Cogita) 088/071 CSR ¥1,000–1,480 ~$7–10
7 Dark Patch 098/071 UR ¥800–1,180 ~$5–8
8 Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR 092/071 HR ¥600–980 ~$4–7
9 Box of Disaster 099/071 UR ¥500–800 ~$3–5
10 Volo 084/071 SR ¥400–600 ~$3–4
Price Note

Prices from altema.jp, SNKRDUNK, and Card Rush as of April 2026. USD conversions at ~¥150/USD. Secondary market prices. JPN Character Rares typically have no English equivalent — the Astral Radiance ENG set does not include the CHR rarity tier.

#1 Akari’s Pikachu CHR (073/071) — ~$37–40

Akari’s Pikachu Character Rare is the card that defines S10A. Akari is the female protagonist of Pokemon Legends: Arceus — the most-played Pokemon RPG of 2022 with over 14 million copies sold worldwide — and this CHR is the only TCG card that pairs her with the franchise’s mascot. The illustration shows Akari kneeling alongside Pikachu in a Hisui meadow, with mountains and a soft watercolor background that has become one of the most reproduced TCG art prints of the Sword & Shield era.

The card trades at ¥5,500–5,980 raw on altema.jp as of April 2026. PSA 10 graded copies sit much higher at ~¥31,600 (~$210), giving graders roughly a 5× return on the raw cost. That premium reflects how much collectors value high-grade copies of this specific card — Pikachu collectors building master sets pay aggressively for clean copies because the card’s edges and centering are notoriously hard to grade well.

Here’s the important detail no English guide explains: Akari’s Pikachu does not exist in the English Astral Radiance set in any form. The English release does not include the Character Rare rarity tier at all — it has Trainer Gallery cards (a separate concept) but no CHR-equivalent featuring Akari with Pikachu. For Pikachu master collectors worldwide, chasing the JPN S10A box is the only path to this card.

#2 Miss Fortune’s Sisters Gengar CHR (074/071) — ~$28–37

Miss Fortune's Sisters Gengar CHR 074/071 from S10A Dark Phantasma
Miss Fortune’s Sisters Gengar CHR (074/071) — ~¥4,200–5,480

The Miss Fortune Sisters — Charm, Clover, and Coin — are the bandit trio from Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and Gengar fits their mischief-focused identity perfectly. The CHR trades at ¥4,200–5,480 (~$28–37), making it the second-highest priced CHR in the set and one of the few JPN Sword & Shield era Gengar prints with collector-grade artwork. The illustration shows Gengar emerging from a swirling shadow with the three sisters silhouetted in the background.

Gengar consistently ranks in the top 5 most-collected ghost-type Pokemon, and modern Sword & Shield Gengar prints with Trainer associations are rare. For Gengar collectors, this card pairs naturally with VSTAR Universe’s Gengar VMAX HR and S11 Lost Abyss’s Gengar V SR.

#3 Kamado’s Snorlax CHR (077/071) — ~$12–17

Kamado's Snorlax CHR 077/071 from S10A Dark Phantasma
Kamado’s Snorlax CHR (077/071) — ~¥1,800–2,580

Kamado is the commander of the Galaxy Expedition Team in Pokemon Legends: Arceus — the player’s direct supervisor at Jubilife Village. The Snorlax CHR shows Kamado standing beside his sleeping partner with a Hisui forest backdrop. At ¥1,800–2,580 (~$12–17), it’s the most accessible of the three high-tier CHRs and a popular completionist target.

#4 Beni’s Gallade V CSR (089/071) — ~$8–11

The Character Super Rare (CSR) tier is a step above standard SR — Gallade V at ¥1,200–1,680 features Beni, the Pearl Clan member who specializes in psychic types. This is one of only two CSRs in the entire S10A set (the other is Cogita’s Enamorus V). For collectors who want both rarity tiers, the CSR pair complements the CHR collection.

#5 Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR UR (097/071) — ~$7–9

Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR UR 097/071 gold rare from S10A Dark Phantasma
Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR UR (097/071) — ~¥1,000–1,380

The gold-textured Ultra Rare Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR at ¥1,000–1,380 is S10A’s premier display card. The gold leafing treatment over Hisuian Zoroark’s ghost-normal type combo creates a striking metallic finish that pairs well with the Akari Pikachu CHR for a complete Hisui-themed binder page. Hisuian Zoroark is one of the most popular Hisui forms thanks to its unique typing and emotional backstory in Legends: Arceus.

#6 Cogita’s Enamorus V CSR (088/071) — ~$7–10

The second CSR in the set features Cogita, the mysterious elderly woman tied to the Forces of Nature legend in Hisui. Enamorus V at ¥1,000–1,480 is the lower-priced of the two CSRs but has historical importance — Enamorus is one of the four Forces of Nature (alongside Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus) and made its franchise debut in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

#7 Dark Patch UR (098/071) — ~$5–8

One of three Ultra Rares in S10A, Dark Patch is a competitive trainer card that became a deck staple in the Sword & Shield era. The UR gold treatment at ¥800–1,180 makes it a collector pickup as well as a competitive ingredient.

Cards #8–10

Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR HR 092/071 rainbow rare from S10A Dark Phantasma
Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR HR (092/071) — ~¥600–980
  • Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR HR (092/071) (¥600–980 / ~$4–7) — The Hyper Rare rainbow rare version of the same Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR. Less premium than the UR but still a strong display card.
  • Box of Disaster UR (099/071) (¥500–800 / ~$3–5) — The third UR in the set, a Trainer item card with gold treatment. Lower competitive demand than Dark Patch.
  • Volo SR (084/071) (¥400–600 / ~$3–4) — Volo is the antagonist of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and one of the most iconic NPC trainers in modern Pokemon. The SR full art is the cheapest entry point into the Hisui character collection.

For the complete S10A card list with all 99 cards, see our S10A Dark Phantasma Daftar kartu page.

Should You Buy a Dark Phantasma Booster Box?

At ~$85 USD per box, S10A sits at one of the most accessible price points in the entire Sword & Shield enhanced expansion catalog — below S10B Pokemon GO (~$100) and well below S11A Incandescent Arcana. The buying decision hinges on which CHR you want and whether you value the Hisui character cast. Here’s the breakdown by buyer type.

Buyer’s Tip

If you want the Akari Pikachu CHR specifically, buying the single at ~$40 raw is far cheaper than chasing through boxes (~1 in 6.5 packs gets a CHR, but split across 6 different CHRs gives you ~1 in 40 packs for Akari Pikachu specifically — roughly 2 boxes per copy on average). For collectors who want multiple CHRs plus the Hisui experience, 2–3 boxes deliver the best value.

For Pokemon Legends: Arceus Fans

This is the most straightforward “yes” in the Sword & Shield catalog. If you played Legends: Arceus during its 2022 launch wave, S10A is the only TCG set built around the game’s story. Akari, Rei, Volo, Kamado, the Miss Fortune Sisters, Cogita, Beni, Iscan, Arezu, Mai — almost every named NPC from the game gets a card. The set is structured like a Hisui character roster, and opening a box is the closest thing to flipping through a Pokemon Legends: Arceus art book.

For Hisui Pokemon fans specifically, S10A is dense: Hisuian Zoroark V/VSTAR (in 4 different rarities), Hisuian Goodra V/VSTAR, Hisuian Electrode V, and Hisuian Arcanine CHR all appear. No other Sword & Shield set concentrates Hisuian forms this tightly.

For Pikachu Master Collectors

Akari’s Pikachu CHR is one of the most iconic Pikachu cards of the modern era. For collectors building a complete Pikachu master set across all languages, this card is required — and it only drops from the JPN S10A box. The English Astral Radiance set doesn’t include the CHR rarity tier, so there’s no English equivalent.

The math: with 6 different CHRs and ~3 CHRs per box (15.79% CHR rate in the reverse slot × 20 packs), you have roughly a 50% chance of pulling Akari Pikachu specifically per box opened. Two boxes brings the cumulative odds to ~75%, three boxes to ~88%. For Pikachu collectors who want a sealed-pull origin story, 2–3 boxes is the sweet spot.

For Long-Term Holders

S10A has been out of print since 2023. The current ~¥12,500 box price reflects steady appreciation from the ¥4,000 floor in early 2023 — roughly 3× over three years. Card Rush’s buy price sits around ¥9,000–10,000, which signals dealer confidence that prices will continue trending upward as supply decreases.

The 2026 Pokemon 30th anniversary is a tailwind for character-focused Sword & Shield era sets like this one. Modern character art has become a key collector category, and S10A’s Hisui story-focused cards have aged well in collector preference rankings.

Singles vs. Box — The Math

Approach Cost What You Get
Buy Akari Pikachu CHR single ~$37–40 The exact card, guaranteed
Buy 3 boxes for the Hisui experience ~$255 ~9 CHRs (likely 1–2 Akari Pikachu), 3 SRs, 3–6 VSTARs, 12+ Vs, 360 total cards, realistic chance at all 6 CHR characters
Buy 1 box for the chase ~$85 20 packs, 40 guaranteed holos, ~3 CHRs, 1 SR-or-higher, 50% odds on Akari Pikachu specifically

If you only want one specific card, singles win — the Akari Pikachu CHR is widely available at ~$40 and that’s cheaper than even one box. But if you want the Hisui story experience with realistic chances at multiple CHRs and the Hisuian VSTARs, 2–3 boxes is where the value lives.

S10A Pull Rates & Box EV Breakdown

S10A follows the enhanced expansion pack pull structure: 20 packs per box, 6 kartu per pack, with 2 holos guaranteed per pack. That’s 40 holo cards per box. Pull rate estimates below are derived from PokéPatch’s 114-pack opening sample (the only public English source with S10A-specific data) cross-referenced with the standard enhanced expansion pack guarantee structure.

Pull Rate Breakdown (Per Pack — Holo Slot)

Rarity Rate Per 20-pack Box Notes
Holo Rare (R) 57.02% (1:2) ~11.4 Standard holo Pokemon
V (RR) 21.93% (1:4.5) ~4.4 Pokemon V cards
VSTAR (RRR) 10.53% (1:9.5) ~2.1 Hisuian VSTARs, Magnezone VSTAR, etc.
K (Radiant) 5.26% (1:19) ~1.0 Radiant Eternatus is the only Radiant in S10A
V Full Art (SR) 1.75% (1:57) ~0.35 10 V Full Arts in pool
Trainer SR 1.75% (1:57) ~0.35 Volo, Iscan, Arezu, Miss Fortune’s Sisters
UR / HR / CSR 1.75% (1:57) ~0.35 Combined HR/UR/CSR slot

Pull Rate Breakdown (Per Pack — Reverse Slot)

Rarity Rate Per 20-pack Box Notes
Character Rare (CHR) 15.79% (1:6.5) ~3.16 6 CHRs in pool: Akari Pikachu, Miss Fortune Gengar, Kamado Snorlax, Rei Hisuian Arcanine, Vessa Spiritomb, Mani Parasect
Reverse Holo ~84% ~17 Standard reverse holo
Disclaimer

Pull rates above are derived from PokéPatch’s 114-pack opening sample (June 2022) and the standard enhanced expansion pack guarantee structure. Sample size is limited (~6 boxes). Actual results vary. Not officially confirmed by The Pokemon Company.

Typical Box Yield

Combining the holo slot and reverse slot rates across 20 packs, a typical Dark Phantasma box delivers:

  • ~3 Character Rares — the headline pull, distributed across the 6-character CHR pool
  • ~2 VSTARs — usually 1 of the Hisuian VSTAR types plus a secondary
  • ~4 Pokemon V cards — the V tier is the most common holo slot pull
  • ~1 Radiant Eternatus — the set’s only Radiant Pokemon
  • ~1 SR/HR/UR/CSR combined — the high-rarity guarantee, weighted across the 22-card secret rare pool
  • ~11 Holo Rares — standard set holos

Akari Pikachu CHR — The Specific Odds

The number Pikachu collectors want: with a 15.79% CHR rate per pack and 6 CHRs in the pool, the per-pack chance for any specific CHR (assuming even distribution) is approximately 2.6%, or roughly 1 in 38 packs. Across a 20-pack box, that gives you about a 41% chance of pulling Akari Pikachu specifically — meaning ~2 boxes get you to ~65% cumulative odds, and 3 boxes get you to ~80%.

Note: real-world distribution may not be perfectly even across the 6 CHRs. PokéPatch’s sample showed slight variance, but with only 18 CHRs across 114 packs (~3 per box), the sample isn’t large enough to confirm whether one CHR is meaningfully rarer than others. We treat them as roughly even.

Box EV Breakdown

Using current Altema JPN prices and pull rate estimates, the expected value per box breaks down as follows:

Component Est. Value per Box
~3 CHRs (weighted avg by rarity tier) ~¥5,400 (~$36)
1 SR/HR/UR/CSR combined slot ~¥800 (~$5)
~2 VSTARs (RRR) ~¥500 (~$3)
~1 Radiant Eternatus ~¥300 (~$2)
~4 V cards (RR) ~¥400 (~$3)
Remaining R/U/C ~¥200 (~$1)
Standard Box EV ~¥7,600 (~$50)
EV Summary

Box cost: ~¥12,500 (~$85) | Average EV: ~¥7,600 (~$50). The CHR slot dominates EV (~70% of total) thanks to the ~3-CHR-per-box average and the high CHR price ceiling led by Akari Pikachu at ~$40. The single biggest driver of variance is whether Akari Pikachu specifically appears in the box.

S10A’s EV structure is unusual among S-series boxes: instead of being driven by a single SA chase card, EV is concentrated in the CHR slot. The ~3 CHRs per box give the set one of the most consistent EV floors in Sword & Shield, though the absolute EV ceiling is lower than chase-card-heavy sets like S11 Lost Abyss. For comparison, see our S10B Pokemon GO guide — the other Enhanced Expansion Pack from 2022 with very different value mechanics.

S10A vs English Astral Radiance (AR)

The JPN-to-ENG mapping for the Hisui-era Sword & Shield sets confuses most international buyers. Here’s how it actually works: the English Astral Radiance set (released May 27, 2022) is a bundled super-set that combines content from three separate Japanese releases — S10P Space Juggler, S10D Time Gazer, and S10A Dark Phantasma. AR has 216 cards. S10A on its own has 99.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Spec S10A Dark Phantasma (JPN) Astral Radiance (ENG)
Release May 13, 2022 May 27, 2022
Source Sets S10A only (Hisui-focused) S10P + S10D + S10A combined
Main Set Cards 71 189
Secret Rares 28 (6 CHR, 10 SR, 2 CSR, 7 HR, 3 UR) 27 (no CHR tier, has Trainer Gallery instead)
Total Cards 99 216
Packs per Box 20 36
Cards per Pack 6 (2 holos) 10
Total Cards per Box 120 360
MSRP ¥4,400 ~$144
Language Japanese English

What’s Different in the JPN Version

The biggest structural difference: the entire Character Rare (CHR) rarity tier is JPN-only. All 6 CHRs (072–077) including Akari’s Pikachu, Miss Fortune’s Sisters Gengar, and Kamado’s Snorlax simply do not exist in Astral Radiance in the same form. AR has Trainer Gallery cards (a separate concept introduced for the English release) but they use different artwork and don’t map 1:1 to the JPN CHRs.

The two CSRs (Beni’s Gallade V and Cogita’s Enamorus V) are also JPN-only treatments. AR contains the same Pokemon as Trainer Gallery cards, but the visual treatment and rarity classification differ.

Print quality is another factor. JPN Pokemon cards historically command a 15–40% premium over ENG versions of the same card, driven by superior holofoil textures, tighter centering, and the collector preference for original-language releases. For high-value CHRs specifically, the JPN version is the only version that exists, so there’s no direct premium comparison.

JPN-Exclusive Rarity Tier

The 6 Character Rares (072–077) and 2 CSRs (088–089) are Japanese-only. No English Astral Radiance equivalent exists. For Pikachu, Gengar, Snorlax master set collectors, the JPN S10A box is the only sealed product that can produce these CHR cards.

Which Version to Buy

  • Chasing Akari Pikachu CHR specifically? → JPN S10A box is the only option. The card doesn’t exist in English.
  • Want higher pulls per dollar? → ENG Astral Radiance gives you 360 cards per box for ~$130–150 vs JPN’s 120 cards per box for ~$85. More raw pulls at higher absolute box cost.
  • Building a Hisui-only collection? → JPN S10A is the focused product. AR mixes S10P/S10D Sinnoh content with the Hisui cards, diluting the Hisui-themed pull pool.
  • Want all Hisui form Pokemon in one box? → JPN S10A. Every major Hisuian form gets a V or VSTAR treatment in this single 71-card main set.

Most of our international buyers go JPN for one reason: they want a specific Character Rare. There is no other path to those cards in sealed product form.

Where to Buy S10A Dark Phantasma Booster Box

Authentic sealed S10A boxes remain available through Japanese TCG specialty retailers, but supply has been shrinking since the 2023 OOP designation. Verification matters more now than it did at launch.

What to Look For

  • Factory seal — Authentic S10A boxes have a white Creatures Inc. factory seal across the box opening. At ¥12,000+ price points, resealed boxes are a real concern from unverified sellers.
  • 20 packs per box — Enhanced expansion packs use a 20-pack format, not 30. A box should feel appropriately weighted (notably lighter than S11 or S12 boxes).
  • Japanese branding — The box should display ダークファンタズマ with Pokemon Company Japan branding and Pokemon Legends: Arceus motifs (Hisui mountain artwork).
  • Seller reputation — Purchase from sellers with a track record in Japanese Pokemon TCG. Legitimate boxes come from authorized Japanese distributors, not gray-market importers.

At Samurai Sword Tokyo, we stock sealed Japanese S10A Dark Phantasma boxes sourced directly from our Tokyo inventory with tracked international shipping. Stock fluctuates — check our product page for current availability.

Bottom Line

Three things to remember about S10A Dark Phantasma:

  1. Akari’s Pikachu CHR is JPN-only — the 073/071 Character Rare doesn’t exist in the English Astral Radiance set. For Pikachu master collectors, this is a required JPN purchase with no English alternative. The PSA 10 premium (~5× raw) reflects how much grading collectors value clean copies of this specific card.
  2. Six Character Rares create the highest CHR density in Sword & Shield — Akari, Miss Fortune Sisters, Kamado, Rei, Vessa, and Mani all appear as CHRs. With ~3 CHRs per box from a 6-character pool, every Dark Phantasma box delivers character-print value that no other S-series box matches.
  3. Out of print since 2023 with OOP appreciation curve — the box has tripled from its ¥4,000 floor in 2023 to ~¥12,500 in April 2026. Pokemon’s 30th anniversary in 2026 and ongoing Pokemon Legends: Arceus cultural staying power continue to support the appreciation trajectory.

At ~$85 per box, S10A is one of the most accessible OOP Japanese sealed products in the Sword & Shield era. Whether you open it for the Hisui story experience, chase the Akari Pikachu CHR, or hold sealed for long-term appreciation, the set earned its place as the dedicated TCG companion to Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

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Dark Phantasma (S10A) Booster Box
From ~$85 / ~¥12,500
Ships from Tokyo · Tracked delivery

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pull rates for S10A Dark Phantasma?

Each 20-pack box guarantees at least one SR-tier card. The holo slot rates from PokéPatch’s 114-pack sample: Holo Rare 57.02% (~11/box), V 21.93% (~4/box), VSTAR 10.53% (~2/box), Radiant 5.26% (~1/box), V Full Art SR 1.75% (~0.35/box), Trainer SR 1.75% (~0.35/box), HR/UR/CSR combined 1.75% (~0.35/box). The reverse slot has a 15.79% Character Rare rate, giving each box ~3 CHRs from the 6-card CHR pool. Pull rates are estimated from JPN opening data and not officially confirmed.

What is the most expensive card in S10A Dark Phantasma?

Akari’s Pikachu CHR (073/071) at approximately ¥5,500–5,980 (~$37–40 raw) as of April 2026. PSA 10 graded copies trade at ~¥31,600 (~$210). It’s a Japanese-exclusive Character Rare and does not exist in the English Astral Radiance set. Akari is the female protagonist of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Is the Japanese Dark Phantasma booster box worth buying in 2026?

At ~$85 per box, S10A offers the most accessible entry into out-of-print Japanese Sword & Shield sealed products. Expected value averages approximately $50, below box cost — standard for Pokemon TCG sealed products. The value proposition lies in the 6 Character Rares (~3 CHRs guaranteed per box), the Akari Pikachu CHR chase, and the OOP appreciation tailwind from Pokemon’s 30th anniversary. Best for collectors who value the Pokemon Legends: Arceus character cast or want a sealed-pull origin for Akari’s Pikachu.

How many packs are in a Dark Phantasma S10A booster box?

Each S10A box contains 20 packs, with 6 kartu per pack — 120 total cards per box. Every pack guarantees 2 holographic cards, meaning each box delivers 40 holos total. This is the enhanced expansion pack (強化拡張パック) format, which differs from standard 30-pack expansions like S11 Lost Abyss or S12 Paradigm Trigger.

What’s the difference between Japanese S10A and English Astral Radiance?

S10A Dark Phantasma is the focused JPN release with 99 total cards (71 main + 28 secret) covering only Hisui-themed content. English Astral Radiance bundles three Japanese sets (S10P Space Juggler + S10D Time Gazer + S10A Dark Phantasma) into a 216-card mega-set. The biggest difference: the entire Character Rare (CHR) tier is JPN-only. All 6 CHRs including Akari’s Pikachu, Miss Fortune’s Sisters Gengar, and Kamado’s Snorlax do not exist in the English Astral Radiance set. Japanese print quality also carries a historical 15–40% premium over English on matched cards.

Who is Akari and why is her Pikachu card so valuable?

Akari is the female protagonist of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the 2022 Switch RPG that sold over 14 million copies and reimagined the Pokemon franchise in the Hisui (ancient Sinnoh) region. Her Pikachu Character Rare is the only TCG card pairing her with the franchise mascot, and it has become one of the most iconic Pikachu prints of the modern era. The card’s value reflects three things: the Character Rare rarity tier, Pikachu’s universal collector demand, and the JPN-exclusive status (no English equivalent exists). PSA 10 copies trade at roughly 5× the raw price.

Is Dark Phantasma S10A out of print?

Yes. Production ended in 2023, and no reprints have been announced or released. Sealed box supply has been shrinking for 2+ years, which is the primary driver behind the current ~¥12,500 JPN price range — up from a ¥4,000 floor in early 2023. The out-of-print status combined with Pokemon’s 30th anniversary in 2026 has pulled renewed attention to character-focused Sword & Shield era sets like this one.


Related Guides

S10P Space Juggler peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box (2026)

The Japanese S10P Space Juggler set holds two cards that define what “Legends: Arceus collector” means in 2026: Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067) at ¥15,800 (~$112) and Irida SR (077/067) at ¥6,980 (~$49). Both are Pearl Clan characters from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and both appear exclusively in the Japanese set — the international Astral Radiance release absorbed S10P’s main set cards but uses completely different rarity treatment for the SRs and SAs.

S10P is the “space” half of the April 2022 paired release alongside S10D Time Gazer. While S10D focused on Origin Forme Dialga and the Diamond Clan, Space Juggler belongs to Origin Forme Palkia and the Pearl Clan — and between the two, S10P has historically commanded higher prices thanks to the Palkia V SA and Irida SR sitting in stronger collector demand. Four years after release, the box has appreciated from its ¥5,800 launch price to ~¥13,000 (~$92) with no reprint in sight.

This guide covers the complete S10P picture: all 10 most valuable cards with current April 2026 JPN prices, a pull rate breakdown specific to the regular 30-pack expansion structure, EV math showing what each box is actually worth to open, the S10P vs S10D comparison, a 4-year price trajectory, and where to buy. We ship Japanese Pokemon TCG boxes internationally every week — here is everything we would tell a buyer asking about Space Juggler.

Key Takeaway

S10P Space Juggler is the only set with the Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067) and Irida SR (077/067) — two Pearl Clan cards from Pokémon Legends: Arceus that have no JPN-equivalent in the English Astral Radiance release. At ~$92/box with a 25% chance per box of hitting any SA and one SR guaranteed, S10P sits at entry-level OOP pricing for a Sword & Shield set. Out of print since 2023.

~$112
Top Card (Palkia V SA)

~$92
BOX Market Price

30 Packs
Per Box (5 cards each)

88 Cards
Total Set

What Is S10P Space Juggler? Set Overview

S10P Space Juggler (スペースジャグラー) is the Japanese regular expansion pack released on April 8, 2022, as one half of the paired S10 release with S10D Time Gazer. The set is built around Origin Forme Palkia — the transformed Palkia that warps space itself — and the Pearl Clan of the Hisui region from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Every named Trainer card in the set (Irida, Melli, and Calaba) is a Pearl Clan character.

Set Specs

Detail Value
Set Code S10P
Japanese Name スペースジャグラー
Series Sword & Shield
Category Regular Expansion Pack (拡張パック)
Release Date April 8, 2022 (paired with S10D Time Gazer)
Packs per Box 30
Cards per Pack 5
Main Set 67 cards
Secret Rares 21 cards (9 SA, 3 SR Trainers, 6 HR, 3 UR)
Total Cards 88
MSRP ¥5,400 → Market price: ~¥13,000 (~$92 at ¥141/USD) as of April 2026

Regular Expansion vs Enhanced Expansion

S10P is a regular expansion pack (拡張パック), not an enhanced expansion (強化拡張パック). This distinction matters for pull rate math. Regular expansions ship 30 packs per box at 5 kartu per pack, for 150 cards total. Enhanced expansions like S10A Dark Phantasma or S10B Pokémon GO ship only 20 packs at 6 cards each (120 cards), but with higher per-pack guaranteed holo rates. The result: a regular expansion box like S10P costs more to “go through” in pack count, but the SA probability per box is lower than in an enhanced expansion of similar price.

Hisui Region Connection

S10P and S10D were the Sword & Shield era’s tribute to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, released in January 2022. The sets introduced the Origin Formes — Origin Forme Palkia (Space Juggler) and Origin Forme Dialga (Time Gazer) — as well as Hisuian regional forms and Hisui-exclusive evolutions: Kleavor (Hisuian Scyther), Hisuian Sneasler, Hisuian Goodra, and Hisuian Arcanine all appeared as V cards in S10P. These remain the only dedicated Hisuian sets in the Sword & Shield era, which underpins their long-term collector value.

The international Astral Radiance expansion (May 2022) combined the main set cards from both S10D and S10P, but replaced the Japanese SR and SA rarity cards with Astral Radiance’s own Alt Art lineup. Collectors who specifically want the Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067) or the Irida SR (077/067) in their original JPN printing have no alternative but S10P.

Top 10 Most Valuable S10P Space Juggler Cards

Origin Forme Palkia V SA is the dominant chase card at ¥15,800 — more than double the second-place Irida SR. Prices below are from altema.jp (April 2026), which tracks real JPN secondary market transactions.

# Card Number Rarity JPN Sell JPN Buy
1 Origin Forme Palkia V 071/067 SA ¥15,800 ¥12,000
2 Irida 077/067 SR ¥6,980 ¥5,500
3 Beedrill V 069/067 SA ¥4,280 ¥3,400
4 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR 086/067 UR ¥2,480 ¥1,700
5 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR 081/067 HR ¥2,180 ¥1,600
6 Hisuian Sneasler V SA ¥1,380 ¥1,000
7 Irida 083/067 HR ¥1,480 ¥900
8 Temple of Sinnoh 087/067 UR ¥980 ¥600
9 Origin Forme Palkia V 070/067 SR ¥780 ¥500
10 Heatran VMAX HR ¥680 ¥300

Prices in JPY from altema.jp secondary market, April 2026. 1 USD ≈ ¥141.

#1 — Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067) — ~$112

Origin Forme Palkia V SA 071/067 S10P Space Juggler special art rare

The set’s crown jewel. Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067) depicts Palkia in its spherical origin form with a dimension-warping backdrop that tilts the entire card at a disorienting angle — the checkerboard floor platform enhances the spatial distortion effect. This card captures the exact visual identity of Pokémon Legends: Arceus’s most dramatic moment: Palkia transforming to warp space itself.

At ¥15,800 sell / ¥12,000 buy (April 2026), Palkia V SA has held its value steadily despite the 4-year time gap from release. During the 2022–2023 speculation bubble, this card briefly exceeded ¥30,000, then corrected to the ¥12,000–16,000 range where it has stabilized as a genuine collector piece rather than a speculative play.

#2 — Irida SR (077/067) — ~$49

Irida SR 077/067 S10P Space Juggler full art super rare Pearl Clan leader

Irida (カイ in Japanese) is the Pearl Clan leader in Pokémon Legends: Arceus — the primary guide who helps the player navigate the Hisui region alongside Adaman of the Diamond Clan. Her SR full art at 077/067 shows her in a peaceful forest setting with Origin Forme Palkia in the background. The card’s sustained demand comes from her narrative importance: she is the most prominent named Pearl Clan character, which ties directly to why S10P exists as a set.

Current price: ¥6,980 sell / ¥5,500 buy. Irida SR has an HR version at 083/067 (the “rainbow holo” treatment) that trades at ¥1,480 — less sought-after than the full art SR.

#3 — Beedrill V SA (069/067) — ~$30

Beedrill V SA 069/067 S10P Space Juggler special art rare

The set’s surprise chase card. Beedrill doesn’t have obvious Hisui connections — it isn’t a Hisuian form and isn’t a legendary — but its SA (069/067) artwork has driven consistent demand from Beedrill collectors and fans of dynamic action-pose full art illustrations. At ¥4,280 sell / ¥3,400 buy, Beedrill V SA is the third most valuable card in the set and the second-most valuable SA.

#4–5 — Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR (UR & HR)

Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR HR 081/067 S10P Space Juggler hyper rare rainbow holo

Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR appears in two premium versions. The UR (086/067, gold card treatment) trades at ¥2,480 and the HR (081/067, rainbow hyper rare) at ¥2,180. Both are significant as the only gold/rainbow versions of Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR in any Japanese set. For Palkia master collectors, these are must-haves alongside the Palkia V SA.

Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR UR 086/067 S10P Space Juggler ultra rare gold card

Cards #6–10: Supporting Value

Hisuian Sneasler V SA (~¥1,380) is the set’s third SA V with collector value, driven by Sneasler’s popularity as one of the most distinctive new Hisuian evolutions. Irida HR (083/067) adds ¥1,480 to any box that pulls her rainbow holo. Temple of Sinnoh UR (087/067) at ¥980 is the set’s gold stadium card, notable for its competitive use in post-release formats. The regular Palkia V SR (070/067) at ¥780 is the “consolation SR” — solid artwork but in the shadow of the SA version.

Should You Buy an S10P Space Juggler Box?

The honest answer depends on what you are buying for. Here is how S10P looks for the three main buyer types.

For Palkia Collectors and Legends: Arceus Fans

S10P is the definitive set for this audience and has no alternative. Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067), Palkia VSTAR HR (081/067), and Palkia VSTAR UR (086/067) are all exclusive to this set — they don’t appear in any other Japanese release or in the English Astral Radiance in the same printing. If you want the full Origin Forme Palkia card collection in Japanese, you need S10P. The box at ~$92 is the access point.

For Irida and Pearl Clan Fans

Irida SR (077/067) is one of the few full art SR Trainer cards featuring a named Pokémon Legends: Arceus character. Her significance as Pearl Clan leader makes her a natural target for Legends: Arceus collectors who want the principal cast represented in their collection. At ~$49, the Irida SR is buyable as a single, but opening a box adds the thrill of potentially pulling both Irida SR and the Palkia V SA in one sitting.

For Box Openers and Casual Collectors

S10P is a 30-pack regular expansion, which means 150 cards per box — more packs to open than an enhanced expansion like S10A (20 packs). The opening experience is extended and has a clear chase card target. The negative EV (see Pull Rates section) is standard for OOP collector boxes; you are paying for the experience and the 25% shot at the Palkia V SA or Beedrill V SA, not for a mathematically positive return. For that framing, $92 is a reasonable buy.

For Investors

S10P has appreciated from ~¥5,800 to ~¥13,000 over four years, driven by OOP status (no reprint since 2023) and sustained demand from Legends: Arceus fans. The trajectory is steady rather than explosive. If you are tracking this as a store-of-value play on Sword & Shield OOP sets, S10P is lower-profile than S8A 25th Anniversary but more focused in its collector base — a smaller but dedicated audience. Monitor altema and SNKRDUNK for entry timing rather than buying at the current listed peak.

S10P Pull Rates & Box EV Breakdown

S10P is a regular expansion pack (30 packs × 5 cards = 150 cards/box). Pull rates below are estimated from Japanese community opening logs and opening compilations. The Pokémon Company does not publish official pull rate data.

Regular Expansion Pack Structure

Regular expansion boxes differ from enhanced expansion boxes in one critical way: the holo guarantee is lower. Enhanced expansions (S10A, S10B) guarantee two holos per pack and deliver more V-or-better cards per box. Regular expansions give one higher-rarity card per 5-pack cluster. For S10P:

Rarity Estimated Rate Per 30-Pack Box
SR (Super Rare, Full Art) ~100% 1 guaranteed
SA (Special Art) ~25% per box 1 per ~4 boxes
HR (Hyper Rare) ~20% per box 1 per ~5 boxes
UR (Ultra Rare, Gold) ~10% per box 1 per ~10 boxes
RRR (VSTAR/VMAX, Full Art) ~200% ~2 per box
RR (V, Double Rare) ~400–500% ~4–5 per box

Estimates from Japanese community opening data. Not officially confirmed by The Pokémon Company.

Box EV Breakdown

EV math uses April 2026 altema.jp secondary market prices. Box cost: ¥13,000 (~$92).

Hit Type Rate Avg Value (JPY) Expected Value
Guaranteed SR (from SR pool) 100% ~¥1,400 ¥1,400
SA pull (any of 9 SA cards) ~25% ~¥4,500 ~¥1,125
HR pull ~20% ~¥1,200 ~¥240
UR pull ~10% ~¥1,800 ~¥180
VSTAR/VMAX cards (~2 per box) 200% ~¥300 ~¥600
V cards (~4–5 per box) 400%+ ~¥120 ~¥540
Total Expected Value ~¥4,085
EV Reality Check

Expected value ~¥4,085 vs box cost ¥13,000 = approximately -¥8,900 per box on average. This is normal for collector-grade OOP Pokemon boxes — you are paying for the opening experience and the 25% shot at Palkia V SA (¥15,800) or Beedrill V SA (¥4,280), not for a mathematically breakeven return. The collector community understands this; OOP box prices reflect scarcity and demand, not expected card yield.

Palkia V SA Scenario

If you open 4 boxes (~$368 total), statistical expectation is roughly 1 SA pull. With Palkia V SA at ¥15,800 (~$112) and Beedrill V SA at ¥4,280 (~$30), a single SA hit offsets a significant portion of one box’s cost but does not fully cover 4 boxes. The other 8 SA variants in the set have values ranging from ~¥500 to ~¥1,500. Opening for guaranteed value from the SR pool means targeting the Irida SR (¥6,980) as the only SR Trainer with significant value.

S10P Space Juggler vs S10D Time Gazer: Which Should You Buy?

S10P and S10D were released on the same day (April 8, 2022) as companion sets. S10D is the Dialga side, featuring Origin Forme Dialga, the Diamond Clan, and its own SR/SA lineup. Here is how the two sets compare for buyers choosing between them.

Category S10P Space Juggler (Palkia) S10D Time Gazer (Dialga)
Top SA chase Origin Forme Palkia V SA — ~¥15,800 Origin Forme Dialga V SA — ~¥8,000
Top Trainer SR Irida SR — ~¥6,980 Adaman SR — ~¥3,500
Box price (Apr 2026) ~¥13,000 (~$92) ~¥12,000 (~$85)
Theme Pearl Clan, Space, Palkia Diamond Clan, Time, Dialga
Featured V Pokemon Palkia, Beedrill, Sneasler, Kleavor, Goodra Dialga, Hisuian Zoroark, Basculegion, Wyrdeer
Collector demand Higher (Palkia SA + Irida) Moderate (Dialga SA solid, Adaman less sought)

Buy S10P if: you collect Origin Forme Palkia, want the Irida SR, or prefer the Pearl Clan aesthetic. The top card (¥15,800) is nearly double S10D’s.

Buy S10D if: you collect Origin Forme Dialga, want Adaman SR, or prefer the Diamond Clan. At ~¥1,000 less per box, S10D is the slightly more affordable Hisui paired set.

Buy both if: you are a Hisui completionist, building a full Legends: Arceus collection, or want the entire Pearl Clan + Diamond Clan Trainer SR set.

Where to Buy S10P Space Juggler

S10P is out of print and unavailable through official channels. Secondary market sources ship internationally with varying reliability. We ship directly from Japan with inventory we inspect and handle daily.

S10P Space Juggler Booster Box — Authentic Japanese
Sealed, shrink-wrapped, shipped direct from Japan. In stock while supplies last.

Check Availability →

JPN Market Pricing Reference

Source BOX Price Notes
Samurai Sword Tokyo See product page Direct JPN export, inspected inventory
SNKRDUNK (JPN) ~¥12,500–13,500 JPN secondary market median
eBay (sold listings) ~$90–120 International secondary market
altema.jp ~¥13,000 JPN listed price (April 2026)

Buying Singles vs Sealed Box

If Palkia V SA is the specific target, buying the single directly at ~¥15,800 ($112) is more cost-efficient than opening boxes for it. Singles from JPN marketplaces like SNKRDUNK, Mercari, or TCGRepublic typically ship internationally via forwarding services. Opening a sealed box is better value if you want the full opening experience, enjoy the set’s Hisuian Pokemon content, and are happy with any of the set’s 9 SA variants as potential hits.

Bottom Line: Is S10P Space Juggler Worth Buying in 2026?

S10P Space Juggler has three things that a Hisui-era collector can’t replace: Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067), Irida SR (077/067), and the complete Hisuian Pokemon V lineup from Legends: Arceus in their original JPN printing. No other set replicates this combination, and the English Astral Radiance uses different artwork for the equivalent slots.

At ~$92 per box, S10P is one of the more accessible OOP Sword & Shield boxes — considerably cheaper than S8A 25th Anniversary (~$200+) and priced below S11A Incandescent Arcana. The 25% SA chance per box and the guaranteed SR make it a reasonable opening-experience purchase at this price point. The EV is negative in raw math terms, but the collector value of the set’s key singles has held firm for three years.

Buy it if: You collect Origin Forme Palkia or Legends: Arceus cards, want the Irida SR in JPN, or are looking for a ~$90 OOP Sword & Shield set with a clear chase card identity.

Related Guides

S10P Space Juggler Booster Box
Direct from Japan — sealed and shrink-wrapped.

View S10P Box →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in S10P Space Juggler?

S10P Space Juggler has 88 total cards: 67 main set cards plus 21 secret rares (9 SA V-type cards, 3 SR Trainer full arts, 6 HR rainbow holos, and 3 UR gold cards). Each booster box contains 30 packs of 5 cards = 150 cards per box.

What is the most valuable card in S10P Space Juggler?

The most valuable card is Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067), currently trading at approximately ¥15,800 (~$112) on the JPN secondary market as of April 2026. Irida SR (077/067) is the second most valuable at ~¥6,980 (~$49), followed by Beedrill V SA (069/067) at ~¥4,280 (~$30).

Is S10P Space Juggler still in print?

No. S10P Space Juggler went out of print in 2023 and has not been reprinted. The only way to buy sealed boxes is through the secondary market. This OOP status is a key driver of the box’s price appreciation from ~¥5,800 at launch to ~¥13,000 as of April 2026.

What is the difference between S10P Space Juggler and S10D Time Gazer?

S10P (Space Juggler) and S10D (Time Gazer) are companion sets released on the same day (April 8, 2022). S10P features Origin Forme Palkia and the Pearl Clan; S10D features Origin Forme Dialga and the Diamond Clan. S10P has the more valuable top SA (Palkia V SA at ~¥15,800 vs Dialga V SA at ~¥8,000) and the more sought-after Trainer SR (Irida SR at ~¥6,980 vs Adaman SR at ~¥3,500).

Who is Irida in Pokemon?

Irida (カイ in Japanese) is the leader of the Pearl Clan in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the 2022 Nintendo Switch game set in the ancient Hisui region. She is one of the player’s primary guides through the game and is directly associated with Origin Forme Palkia — the Pearl Clan’s deity. Her SR card in S10P (077/067) reflects her central narrative role, which underpins its strong collector demand among Legends: Arceus fans.

Does the English Astral Radiance have the same cards as S10P?

Partially. The English Astral Radiance (May 2022) incorporated main set cards from both S10D and S10P, but the SR, SA, HR, and UR secret rare treatments are completely different. The Origin Forme Palkia V SA (071/067) and Irida SR (077/067) exist only in the Japanese S10P printing — the English equivalent cards use different artwork and a different rarity system (Alternate Art, Rainbow Rare, Gold). Japanese-specific collectors specifically seek S10P for these JPN-exclusive rarity variants.

What are the S10P Space Juggler pull rates?

Estimated from community opening data (not officially published by The Pokémon Company): 1 SR guaranteed per 30-pack box, ~25% chance of pulling any SA card, ~20% chance of an HR, ~10% chance of a UR. As a regular expansion (30 packs, 5 cards each), S10P has lower SA probability per box than enhanced expansions like S10A or S10B which have 20 packs at 6 cards each with different holo distribution.


S9 Star Birth peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box (2026)

The Japanese S9 Star Birth set has one card that has been continuously appreciated since its January 2022 release: Charizard V SA (103/100), currently at ¥42,800 (~$303) on the JPN secondary market. That single card accounts for roughly half the opening value in a lucky box — and it sits alongside Arceus V SA (112/100) at ¥8,980 (~$64) and a Hyper Ball UR that trades at more than almost any trainer item card in the Sword & Shield era. S9 is the set that defined what a “Charizard box” looks like in modern JPN TCG collecting.

S9 Star Birth holds historical significance beyond its card values: it introduced the VSTAR mechanic to the Pokémon TCG, with Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, and Shaymin VSTAR debuting here. The set is the Japanese counterpart to the international Brilliant Stars (February 2022), but with different SR and SA artwork treatment — the Charizard V SA (103/100) in S9 does not appear in the English Brilliant Stars. Four years out of print, the box has climbed from ~¥5,500 at launch to ~¥22,000 (~$156) today.

This guide breaks down the full S9 picture: top 10 cards ranked by April 2026 JPN prices, pull rate estimates for the 30-pack regular expansion structure, EV math, the “Charizard box or Arceus box?” framing question, and a 4-year price trajectory. We handle Japanese Pokémon TCG boxes internationally every week — here is everything we tell buyers asking about Star Birth.

Key Takeaway

S9 Star Birth is the first VSTAR set and home to the Charizard V SA (103/100) at ~$303 — one of the highest-value individual cards in the entire Sword & Shield era. At ~$156/box with a 25% chance per box of any SA pull, S9 is the premium OOP regular expansion for collectors who want Charizard, Arceus, or the first appearance of the VSTAR mechanic.

~$303
Top Card (Charizard V SA)

~$156
BOX Market Price

30 Packs
Per Box (5 cards each)

127 Cards
Total Set

What Is S9 Star Birth? Set Overview

S9 Star Birth (スターバース) is the Japanese regular expansion pack released on January 14, 2022, and the most significant Sword & Shield set by one measure: it introduced the VSTAR mechanic to the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Every VSTAR card — Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR, and 24 others — traces its debut to this set.

Set Specs

Detail Value
Set Code S9
Japanese Name スターバース
Series Sword & Shield
Category Regular Expansion Pack (拡張パック)
Release Date January 14, 2022
Packs per Box 30
Cards per Pack 5
Main Set 100 cards
Secret Rares 27 cards (11 SR Pokémon, 4 SR Trainers, 4 SA, 8 HR, 3 UR)
Total Cards 127
MSRP ¥4,950 → Market price: ~¥22,000 (~$156 at ¥141/USD) as of April 2026

VSTAR Mechanic Introduction

VSTAR cards were the Sword & Shield era’s final evolution of the V mechanic. Each VSTAR Pokémon comes with a once-per-game VSTAR Power — either a powerful attack or an ability. Arceus VSTAR’s Starbirth ability (search your deck for any two cards) became immediately relevant in competitive play, and Charizard VSTAR’s Blaze VSTAR attack set the template for high-damage VSTAR builds. The debut of this mechanic in S9 makes it a historically significant set regardless of secondary market prices.

JPN vs English Brilliant Stars

The international Brilliant Stars (February 2022) combined S9’s main set cards with the Brilliant Stars-specific rarity treatment: Alternate Art (AA) and Rainbow Rare designs replaced the JPN SR and SA cards entirely. The Charizard V SA (103/100) from S9 does not appear in Brilliant Stars — the English version has a Charizard V Alternate Art with different artwork. Collectors who specifically want the JPN Charizard V SA (103/100) or Arceus V SA (112/100) must buy the Japanese S9 set.

Top 10 Most Valuable S9 Star Birth Cards

Charizard V SA leads S9’s value structure by a significant margin — at ~¥42,800, it is nearly 3× the second-place Charizard VSTAR HR. This Charizard-heavy structure means the SA pull in a box is more likely to be Arceus, Lumineon, or Honchkrow (the other three SA cards) than the set’s crown jewel. Prices below from altema.jp, April 2026.

# Card Number Rarity JPN Sell JPN Buy
1 Charizard V 103/100 SA ¥42,800 ¥35,000
2 Charizard VSTAR 118/100 HR ¥14,800 ¥11,000
3 Hyper Ball 126/100 UR ¥8,980 ¥7,500
4 Arceus V 112/100 SA ¥8,980 ¥7,500
5 Charizard V 102/100 SR ¥5,980 ¥4,500
6 Cynthia’s Ambition SR ¥3,280 ¥2,300
7 Arceus VSTAR HR ¥2,480 ¥1,800
8 Arceus VSTAR 125/100 UR ¥2,380 ¥1,800
9 Lumineon V 105/100 SA ¥1,380 ¥1,000
10 Shaymin VSTAR HR ¥1,180 ¥800

Prices in JPY from altema.jp secondary market, April 2026. 1 USD ≈ ¥141.

#1 — Charizard V SA (103/100) — ~$303

Charizard V SA 103/100 S9 Star Birth special art rare full art Japanese

The defining card of S9 and one of the most valuable individual cards in the entire Sword & Shield era. Charizard V SA (103/100) depicts Charizard mid-flight in a dynamic full-bleed illustration that fills the entire card face. Charizard’s universal collector appeal — maintained across every generation of the TCG since Base Set — means this card has held a premium that other set-specific SAs rarely match. At ¥42,800 sell / ¥35,000 buy (April 2026), it is the anchor card that defines S9’s overall box price floor.

#2 — Charizard VSTAR HR (118/100) — ~$105

Charizard VSTAR HR 118/100 S9 Star Birth hyper rare rainbow holo

The rainbow hyper rare version of Charizard VSTAR trades at ¥14,800 (~$105), making it the second most valuable pull in the set. As an HR card, Charizard VSTAR is significantly rarer than the guaranteed SR slot — estimated at roughly 1 per 5 boxes — and the Charizard premium on the HR treatment pushes it well above the set’s other HR cards. For buyers targeting two Charizard pulls in one box, both the SA (103) and HR (118) are in play.

#3 — Hyper Ball UR (126/100) — ~$64

Hyper Ball UR 126/100 S9 Star Birth ultra rare gold card

The Hyper Ball UR (126/100) at ¥8,980 (~$64) is one of the highest-value item UR cards in the Sword & Shield era. Its value comes from two sources: Hyper Ball is a mechanically useful trainer card that saw competitive play, and the gold UR treatment on a universally recognizable item card (the standard PokéBall throw animation) has strong cross-audience appeal. It trades higher than the Arceus VSTAR UR at ¥2,380 — unusual for a trainer item to outperform a Pokémon VSTAR in gold treatment.

#4 — Arceus V SA (112/100) — ~$64

Arceus V SA 112/100 S9 Star Birth special art rare full art Japanese

Arceus V SA (112/100) is the thematic centerpiece of the set — Arceus is literally in the set name — but it trades at ¥8,980 (~$64), significantly less than the Charizard V SA. This gap reflects the Charizard premium that runs across the entire TCG: Charizard cards consistently outperform equivalent non-Charizard cards in secondary market value. For Arceus collectors, the SA provides excellent value at its current price; for pure value chasing, the Charizard SA is the target.

#5 — Arceus VSTAR UR (125/100) — ~$17

Arceus VSTAR UR 125/100 S9 Star Birth ultra rare gold card

Arceus VSTAR in gold UR treatment (125/100) at ¥2,380 (~$17) is the set’s fourth-highest value card beyond the top tier. It also appears as an HR version at a similar price (¥2,480). For Arceus master collectors, both the SA (112) and the UR (125) are must-haves alongside the set’s SR full art at 111/100.

Cards #6–10: Supporting Value

Cynthia’s Ambition SR is the set’s top Trainer SR at ¥3,280. Cynthia (シロナ) is the Sinnoh region Champion from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl — her SR card in any set consistently draws premium demand from Sinnoh fans, and S9 is her SA debut in the VSTAR era. Charizard V SR (102/100) at ¥5,980 is the “consolation prize” version of the top SA card, with the same subject but regular full art treatment rather than the dynamic SA illustration. Shaymin VSTAR HR completes the set’s notable rainbow holo pulls alongside Charizard VSTAR.

Should You Buy an S9 Star Birth Box?

For Charizard Collectors

S9 is one of three Sword & Shield era sets with a Charizard SA or equivalent, alongside S7D (Charizard V SA) and S8B VMAX Climax. The S9 Charizard V SA (103/100) is widely regarded as the best Charizard illustration in the era. At ~$156/box with a ~25% chance per box of any SA, opening for it requires patience — statistical expectation is one SA per four boxes, but it’s one of four SA variants. Buying the single directly at ~$303 is more cost-efficient if Charizard V SA is the only goal.

For VSTAR Completionists

S9 is the only set that can complete a VSTAR debut collection. All three premiere VSTAR cards (Arceus, Charizard, Shaymin) have HR rainbow holo versions here. If building a first-edition VSTAR collection is the goal, S9 is a required set with no substitute.

For Arceus Collectors

Arceus V SA (112/100) at ¥8,980 (~$64) is accessible as a single and a reasonable opening target given the 25% SA chance per box. The Arceus VSTAR UR (125/100) at ¥2,380 and HR version add further depth. S9 is the best single set for building an Arceus V/VSTAR collection.

For Box Openers and Casual Collectors

S9 is a 30-pack, 150-card box. At ~$156, it sits in the upper-mid range of Sword & Shield OOP boxes — more expensive than S10P (~$92) but less than S8A 25th Anniversary (~$200+). The opening experience has clear chase targets (Charizard SA and Arceus SA for different collector profiles) and the HR/UR slots carry strong supporting value. The negative EV is offset by the experience.

For Investors

S9’s Charizard V SA is the most reliable long-term appreciator in the set — Charizard cards have historically maintained value better than other Pokémon across market cycles. The overall box has appreciated from ~¥5,500 to ~¥22,000 (+300%) in four years. Whether this trajectory continues depends on new VSTAR-era nostalgia and Charizard demand, both of which have strong fundamentals.

S9 Star Birth Pull Rates & Box EV Breakdown

S9 is a regular expansion pack (30 packs × 5 cards = 150 cards/box). It guarantees at least 3 V cards, 2 VSTAR cards, and 1 SR per box. Pull rates below are estimated from Japanese community opening data.

Rarity Estimated Rate Per 30-Pack Box
SR (Super Rare, Full Art) ~100% 1 guaranteed
SA (Special Art) ~25% per box 1 per ~4 boxes
HR (Hyper Rare) ~20% per box 1 per ~5 boxes
UR (Ultra Rare, Gold) ~10% per box 1 per ~10 boxes
RRR (VSTAR, Full Art) ~200% ~2 per box
RR (V, Double Rare) ~300–400% ~3–4 per box

Estimates from Japanese community opening data. Not officially confirmed by The Pokémon Company.

Box EV Breakdown

Box cost: ~¥22,000 (~$156). Expected value uses April 2026 altema.jp prices.

Hit Type Rate Avg Value (JPY) Expected Value
Guaranteed SR (from 15 SR pool) 100% ~¥1,500 ¥1,500
SA pull (1 of 4 SA cards) ~25% ~¥13,000 ~¥3,250
HR pull ~20% ~¥3,000 ~¥600
UR pull ~10% ~¥4,600 ~¥460
VSTAR cards (~2 per box) 200% ~¥300 ~¥600
V cards (~3–4 per box) 350% ~¥150 ~¥525
Total Expected Value ~¥6,935
EV Reality Check

Expected value ~¥6,935 vs box cost ~¥22,000 = approximately -¥15,065 per box on average. This is the standard structure for premium OOP collector boxes — the negative EV reflects the scarcity premium, not irrationality. The SA average (¥13,000) is pulled down by three low-value SA cards (Lumineon V at ¥1,380, Honchkrow V at ¥680) alongside the Arceus V SA (¥8,980) and Charizard V SA (¥42,800). The Charizard V SA itself, when pulled, returns more than 1.9 boxes worth of cost — the variance is enormous.

SA Distribution: The Charizard Problem

S9 has four SA cards: Charizard V (¥42,800), Arceus V (¥8,980), Lumineon V (¥1,380), and Honchkrow V (¥680). If you pull an SA in a box (~25% chance), the expected value of that pull is the average of all four: approximately (¥42,800 + ¥8,980 + ¥1,380 + ¥680) / 4 = ~¥13,460. But the distribution is extremely skewed — three of four SA pulls return under ¥9,000, while only one returns ¥42,800. This variance is what makes S9 one of the most “lottery-like” regular expansion boxes in the Sword & Shield era.

Where to Buy S9 Star Birth

S9 is out of print and only available through secondary market channels. We ship from Japan directly.

S9 Star Birth Booster Box — Authentic Japanese
Sealed, shrink-wrapped, shipped direct from Japan. In stock while supplies last.

Check Availability →

Source BOX Price Notes
Samurai Sword Tokyo See product page Direct JPN export, inspected inventory
SNKRDUNK (JPN) ~¥20,000–24,000 JPN secondary market range
eBay (sold listings) ~$150–180 International secondary market
altema.jp ~¥22,000 JPN listed estimate (April 2026)

Bottom Line: Is S9 Star Birth Worth Buying in 2026?

S9 Star Birth offers something no other Sword & Shield set provides: the combination of the Charizard V SA (103/100) at ¥42,800, the first-ever Arceus VSTAR debut, and 27 total secret rares providing the widest pull variety in any regular expansion of the era. The box is now priced at ~$156, which is steep — but the Charizard V SA alone at ~$303 means a single lucky pull returns double the box cost.

The negative EV is substantial on average (-¥15,065 per box), but the SA variance makes S9 one of the most exciting regular expansion boxes to open. For collectors who want Charizard, Arceus, or the first VSTAR cards in Japanese, there is no substitute set.

Buy it if: You collect Charizard cards, want the Arceus VSTAR debut in Japanese, or are building a Sword & Shield era VSTAR collection.

Related Guides

S9 Star Birth Booster Box
Direct from Japan — sealed and shrink-wrapped.

View S9 Box →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most valuable card in S9 Star Birth?

The most valuable card is Charizard V SA (103/100), currently at approximately ¥42,800 (~$303) on the JPN secondary market as of April 2026. Charizard VSTAR HR (118/100) is second at ~¥14,800 (~$105), and Hyper Ball UR (126/100) is third at ~¥8,980 (~$64), unusually high for a trainer item card.

How many cards are in S9 Star Birth?

S9 Star Birth has 127 total cards: 100 main set cards plus 27 secret rares (11 SR Pokémon full arts, 4 SR Trainers, 4 SA special arts, 8 HR rainbow holos, and 3 UR gold cards). Each booster box contains 30 packs of 5 cards = 150 cards per box.

Is S9 Star Birth the same as English Brilliant Stars?

Partially. The English Brilliant Stars (February 2022) uses S9’s main set as its base but has completely different SR and rarity treatments. The Japanese S9 Charizard V SA (103/100) and Arceus V SA (112/100) do not appear in Brilliant Stars — the English set uses Alternate Art cards with different artwork. Collectors who specifically want the JPN SR/SA cards must buy S9.

What are the S9 Star Birth pull rates?

Estimated from community opening data: 1 SR guaranteed per 30-pack box, ~25% chance of any SA card per box, ~20% chance of an HR rainbow holo, ~10% chance of a UR gold card. As a regular expansion (30 packs × 5 cards), SA probability is lower per box than in enhanced expansions like S10A or S10B. The Pokémon Company does not officially publish pull rate data.

Why is Charizard V SA worth so much more than Arceus V SA?

Charizard commands a consistent premium across the entire Pokémon TCG — Charizard cards in any era sell for more than equivalent non-Charizard cards with identical rarity and artwork quality. Charizard V SA (¥42,800) vs Arceus V SA (¥8,980) reflects this dynamic: the S9 set is named after Arceus and built around the Arceus VSTAR debut, but the Charizard card commands 4.75× the value of the set’s mascot card.

Is S9 Star Birth still in print?

No. S9 Star Birth is out of print with no announced reprint. The box price has appreciated from ~¥5,500 at launch to ~¥22,000 as of April 2026, driven by OOP scarcity and the sustained value of the Charizard V SA.


S8A ke-25 Anniversary Collection peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box (2026)

S8A 25th Anniversary Collection booster box with Flying Pikachu VMAX and Mew UR

October 22, 2021 marked a milestone for the Pokémon Trading Card Game: the release of the 25th Anniversary Collection (S8A), a Japanese-exclusive set celebrating a quarter-century of Pokémon history. No other set packs classic legend cards — Ho-Oh, Lugia, Reshiram, Zekrom — alongside new Pikachu variants in the same box. And no other set delivers the prism foil mirror treatment that makes every card shimmer with a confetti-like holographic pattern unique to this anniversary release.

In this guide, we cover everything international collectors need to know: which cards are worth chasing, how the S8A-P promo pack system works, pull rates, box EV breakdown, and how prices have moved over four years. If you’re considering adding a sealed S8A box to your collection, read this first.

S8A 25th Anniversary Collection: Set Overview

The 25th Anniversary Collection is not a standard expansion — it’s a commemorative product celebrating every major Pokémon era from Generation I through Sword & Shield. The set is structured around two parallel products: the main S8A booster box and the S8A-P Anniversary Edition promo pack.

Set Code S8A
Full Name 25th Anniversary Collection
Series Sword & Shield
Release Date October 22, 2021
Pack Configuration 30 packs / box, 5 cards / pack
MSRP ¥4,950 per box
Market Price (2026) ~¥50,000 (~$354)
Main Set Size ~90 cards including prism foil parallels
Distribution Pokémon Center lottery (Japan only)

Because S8A was sold exclusively via the Japanese Pokémon Center online lottery, it never hit mass retail shelves. Secondary market prices jumped immediately above MSRP and have remained elevated as sealed stock continues to be absorbed by collectors worldwide.

What Makes S8A Unique

Three elements separate this set from any other Sword & Shield release:

  • Prism foil treatment: The classic collection reprints use a confetti holographic pattern not found in any other modern set. Each card catches light differently, creating a vintage-meets-modern aesthetic that collectors prize.
  • Cross-generational roster: The 28-card classic collection spans every generation — Pikachu and Mew from Gen I, Ho-Oh and Lugia from Gen II, up through Zacian and Zamazenta from Gen VIII.
  • Pikachu V-UNION mechanic: One pack per box contains all four pieces of the Pikachu V-UNION card, the first V-UNION Pokémon ever released. Opening that pack is guaranteed — no hunting required.

Top Cards from the Main Set

The S8A main pack delivers two ultra-premium hits alongside a suite of fan-favorite Pikachu variants. Here’s what you’re pulling for.

Mew UR — The Crown Jewel

Mew UR 25th Anniversary Collection ultra rare card

UR

Mew

~¥42,800 (~$303)

Pull rate: ~1 per 20 boxes

The Mew UR is the definitive chase card of this set. With an estimated pull rate of roughly one per every 20 boxes, this card is genuinely scarce — and the artwork reinforces its status. Mew floats against a golden, celestial background with a confetti holographic foil that glows differently under every angle. It’s not just the most valuable card in the set; it’s one of the most visually striking UR cards in the Sword & Shield era.

At ¥42,800 ($303), the Mew UR alone is worth nearly the cost of one full box. The moment you understand that math, you understand why collectors pay ¥50,000 for sealed S8A stock.

Flying Pikachu VMAX (RRR)

Flying Pikachu VMAX RRR 25th Anniversary Collection card

RRR

Flying Pikachu VMAX

~¥3,230 (~$23)

Pull rate: ~1 per 3 boxes

Flying Pikachu VMAX is the fan-favorite VMAX of this set. The art shows a VMAX-scale Pikachu soaring above the clouds with red balloons — a loving nod to the original Base Set Flying Pikachu promo from 1999. At ¥3,230 ($23), it’s a strong RRR value and a consistent seller for international buyers who grew up with the original card.

Surfing Pikachu VMAX (RRR)

Surfing Pikachu VMAX RRR 25th Anniversary Collection card

RRR

Surfing Pikachu VMAX

~¥3,147 (~$22)

Pull rate: ~1 per 3 boxes

The perfect companion to Flying VMAX, Surfing Pikachu VMAX depicts a giant Pikachu riding a massive wave in full VMAX scale. Both VMAX cards reference the beloved original Pokémon Yellow promos, making them especially appealing to collectors who have nostalgia for the earliest era of the game.

Pikachu V-UNION (RRR)

Pikachu V-UNION 25th Anniversary Collection complete set

RRR

Pikachu V-UNION

~¥5,480 (~$39)

Guaranteed 1 complete set per box

The Pikachu V-UNION is mechanically unique: it’s a four-piece card that combines into a single massive Pokémon with 300 HP. The special twist in S8A is that all four pieces are guaranteed in one single pack per box — unlike later V-UNION sets where pieces are distributed randomly across packs. This makes the Pikachu V-UNION the most reliable hit in the set: you know exactly which pack holds all four pieces.

At ¥5,480 ($39), the complete V-UNION is worth more than the Surfing and Flying VMAs individually and represents the best guaranteed value per box opening.

Professor’s Research SR

The Professor’s Research SR features Professor Oak in a classic pose — a reference to the original Professor Oak trainer card from the Base Set. At ¥480 ($3), it holds minimal monetary value but completes the anniversary narrative: the same trainer card that defined the original game is here reimagined for the 25th year.

Prism Foil Mirror Cards

Alongside the V/VMAX cards, the classic collection reprints come in prism foil parallel versions — often called “mirror cards” by the community. These are variants of the 25+ legendary and mythical Pokémon cards in the set. Pull rate is estimated at 4 mirror cards per box. Values range from ¥1,000 to ¥8,280+ for the most popular variants:

  • Pikachu Mirror: ~¥8,280 ($59)
  • Mew Mirror: ~¥5,480 ($39)
  • Lugia Mirror: ~¥3,500 ($25)
  • Ho-Oh Mirror: ~¥3,200 ($23)
  • Other legendary mirrors: ¥1,000–2,500 each

S8A-P Promo Pack: 25 Hidden Gems

Here’s what most guides miss about the 25th Anniversary Collection: the most valuable cards don’t come from the main S8A packs at all. They come from the S8A-P Anniversary Edition Promo Pack — a separate bonus pack distributed alongside S8A purchases.

How the Promo System Works

When purchasing S8A packs in Japan (primarily through the Pokémon Center), customers received one S8A-P promo pack for every four main S8A packs bought. A full box of 30 packs yields approximately 7–8 promo packs. Each promo pack contains one random card from a pool of 25 classic-era reprints — all stamped with special 25th anniversary artwork and a commemorative foil treatment.

The promo pool spans the entire Pokémon history: from Base Set (Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur) through Neo (Shining Magikarp), to e-Card era (Mew-ex), and beyond. The result is a distribution lottery that sits on top of the main pack lottery — and the top prizes are extraordinary.

Top S8A-P Promo Card Values

Card Era Reference Buy Price Sell Price ~USD
Charizard 25th Base Set ¥70,000 ¥79,800 ~$566
Birthday Pikachu 25th CoroCoro Promo ¥60,000 ¥69,800 ~$495
Umbreon 25th Neo Discovery ¥28,000 ¥36,800 ~$261
Mega Rayquaza-EX 25th Legendary Shine ¥24,000 ¥29,800 ~$211
Shining Magikarp 25th Neo Revelation ¥19,000 ¥23,800 ~$169
Mew-ex 25th e-Card Series ¥15,000 ¥19,800 ~$140
Blastoise 25th Base Set ¥11,000 ¥14,800 ~$105
Mewtwo-EX 25th Legendary Collection ¥10,000 ¥12,800 ~$91
Venusaur 25th Base Set ¥8,500 ¥11,800 ~$84

Prices as of April 2026. Buy = dealer purchase price. Sell = retail market price. At ¥141/USD.

The Charizard 25th promo alone is worth $566 — nearly twice the current sealed BOX price. Birthday Pikachu at $495 is not far behind. With 7–8 promo packs coming with a full box, the promo lottery is the true high-stakes element of the S8A experience.

Should You Buy S8A?

For Collectors

S8A is a landmark release that documents 25 years of Pokémon history in a single product. The prism foil treatment is genuinely unique — no other modern set replicates it. If you’re building a comprehensive Japanese collection or specifically collecting anniversary milestones, this box belongs in your sealed collection. Prices have held stable around ¥50,000 for two consecutive years, suggesting the market has found equilibrium.

For Pikachu Fans

This is one of the best Pikachu-focused sets ever released. Flying Pikachu VMAX, Surfing Pikachu VMAX, Pikachu V-UNION, Pikachu V, and the Pikachu Mirror card are all in the same box. No other set concentrates this many Pikachu variants in one product.

For Investors

S8A was a lottery-distributed limited product. As sealed stock continues to decrease globally, upward price pressure is the historical pattern for similar releases. The prism foil treatment, cross-generational roster, and Pikachu focus create durable collector demand. Monitor secondary market prices — if a sealed box dips closer to ¥45,000, that represents a historically attractive entry.

For Pack Openers

The box EV is negative (see below), as is standard for premium collector products. You’re paying for the experience of opening a 25th anniversary set — the Pikachu V-UNION guaranteed hit, the prism foil parallels, and the chance at Mew UR or a high-value promo card. If that experience justifies ¥50,000 for you, the opening is memorable.

S8A Pull Rates & Box EV Breakdown

S8A pull rates are estimated from community opening data. The Pokémon Company has not released official figures.

Rarity Cards Est. Rate Per Full Box
UR Ultra Rare 1 (Mew) ~1/20 boxes 0.05
SR Super Rare 1 (Prof. Research) ~1/box 1
RRR Triple Rare ~4 (VMAX + V-UNION) ~2/box ~2
RR Double Rare 5 (V cards) ~3/box ~3
Mirror (Prism Foil) 25+ variants ~4/box ~4
S8A-P Promo 25 cards 1 per 4 main packs ~7–8

Box EV Calculation

Box EV estimates the average card value across many openings. This is a statistical average — individual results vary widely. One box might yield a Mew UR (worth almost the full box price) while another yields only low-value hits.

Card / Category Avg Per Box Value Each EV Contribution
Mew UR 0.05 ¥42,800 ¥2,140
Prof. Research SR 1 ¥480 ¥480
VMAX cards (RRR) 0.67 ~¥3,200 ¥2,140
Pikachu V-UNION 1 ¥5,480 ¥5,480
V cards (RR) 3 ~¥500 ¥1,500
Mirror Cards (avg) 4 ~¥2,500 ¥10,000
S8A-P Promos (avg) 7.5 ~¥3,000 ¥22,500
Other cards ~¥1,000
Estimated Total EV ~¥45,240
Market BOX price ~¥50,000
EV / Cost ratio ~90%

The S8A EV ratio is notably higher than most Sword & Shield sets, driven by the S8A-P promo pack lottery. With an average of 7–8 promos per box and a pool that includes $500+ cards, the promo system contributes the largest share of expected value. A box with average luck comes close to breaking even — a box with above-average promo luck can return a significant profit.

That said, this is a statistical average. The promo pool has 25 cards ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥79,800, and the Charizard 25th and Birthday Pikachu 25th are rare outliers. Most promo pulls will be in the ¥1,000–5,000 range.

S8A Price Trends: 4-Year History

S8A 25th Anniversary Collection BOX price trend 2021-2026

S8A price history reflects its nature as a limited lottery product with persistent collector demand:

  • Oct 2021 (Launch): Secondary market launched at ¥15,000–20,000, well above MSRP. Lottery-only distribution limited initial supply.
  • Dec 2021 – Q1 2022: Holiday demand pushed prices to ¥25,000–35,000. International buyers discovered the set through unboxing videos showcasing the prism foil treatment.
  • 2022: Prices climbed to ¥35,000–45,000 as sealed supply contracted. The Pikachu V-UNION mechanic drove additional attention from competitive players.
  • 2023: Market found equilibrium around ¥40,000–48,000. Nostalgia cycle from international collectors (who now recognized the promo card value) kept demand steady.
  • 2024–2026: Stabilized at ¥48,000–52,000. Promo cards continue to drive individual card prices upward even as BOX prices hold flat.

Unlike many Sword & Shield sets that declined 30–50% from launch peaks, S8A has shown resilient value retention due to three factors: limited supply, collector-focused design, and the ongoing appreciation of vintage-reference promos.

Where to Buy S8A 25th Anniversary Collection

S8A is no longer in production. Sealed boxes and individual cards are available exclusively on the secondary market. Our store carries curated Japanese TCG products shipped directly from Japan with authentication guarantee.

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Check current availability at Samurai Sword Tokyo — we stock authenticated sealed S8A boxes sourced directly from Japanese distributors.

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What to Check When Buying Sealed

  • Shrink wrap integrity: Authentic sealed boxes have tight, clear plastic wrap with no gaps around the box edge
  • Box weight: A sealed 30-pack S8A box weighs approximately 380–420g. Significant deviation suggests tampering
  • Seller reputation: For sets with high-value promo cards, purchase from established sellers with return policies
  • Certificate verification: For individual graded cards (Mew UR, promo cards), verify PSA/BGS certification numbers directly on the grading service website

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in the S8A 25th Anniversary Collection?

The S8A main set contains approximately 90+ cards including the base classic collection reprints, their prism foil parallel versions, V/VMAX/V-UNION cards, SR (Professor’s Research), UR (Mew), and basic energy cards. The companion S8A-P promo set adds 25 additional reprint cards.

What is the Pikachu V-UNION and how does it work?

Pikachu V-UNION is a four-piece card that forms one massive Pokémon with 300 HP when combined. In S8A, all four pieces come in a single pack guaranteed per box — making it the most reliable hit in every box opening. You don’t need to hunt for individual pieces across multiple packs.

How rare is the Mew UR in S8A?

The Mew UR pull rate is estimated at approximately 1 per 20 boxes based on community opening data. The Pokémon Company has not published official pull rates. At current market value of ~¥42,800 ($303), the Mew UR is the single highest-value card available from the S8A main packs.

What is the S8A-P promo pack and do I get it with every box?

The S8A-P Anniversary Edition Promo Pack was distributed at Japanese Pokémon Centers at the rate of one promo pack per four main S8A packs purchased. A full box of 30 packs would yield approximately 7–8 promo packs. Each promo pack contains one random card from 25 classic-era reprints with special 25th anniversary stamping.

Why is the Charizard 25th promo worth so much?

The Charizard 25th promo (¥79,800 / $566) combines three premium factors: the iconic Charizard demand, the 25th anniversary commemorative stamp, and extremely limited production as a bonus promo card. Unlike standard set cards, promos were only distributed to players who physically visited Pokémon Centers in Japan during the launch period, severely limiting global supply.

Is the S8A 25th Anniversary Collection worth buying in 2026?

At ~¥50,000 ($354), S8A represents a premium collector purchase. The EV ratio is approximately 90% — close to neutral by Pokémon standards — driven by the promo pack lottery. For collectors valuing the anniversary milestone, Pikachu focus, or prism foil parallels, the set has maintained its price floor consistently. For strict ROI analysis, the outcome depends heavily on which promo cards you pull.

Related Guides

Our team handles hundreds of Japanese booster boxes weekly. Browse our authenticated S8A and other Sword & Shield inventory — all sealed, all shipped from Japan.

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S8 Fusion Arts peluang mendapatkan kartu, Kartu Terbaik & panduan box (2026)

S8 Fusion Arts booster box with Mew VMAX SA and Elesa's Sparkle SR

Released on September 24, 2021, the Japanese S8 Fusion Arts (フュージョンアーツ) introduced two major innovations to the Sword & Shield era: the Fusion Strike battle style mechanic and the most expensive standard-expansion card in S-series history — Mew VMAX SA. Nearly four years later, a sealed box that originally cost ¥4,950 at retail now trades at ¥45,000 on the secondary market, driven almost entirely by demand for that one card.

This guide covers the full S8 picture: what makes Mew VMAX SA so rare and valuable, how the SR/SA/HR/UR pull rate system works in a 30-pack box, what the box EV actually looks like, and how S8 prices have moved since launch. If you’re considering an S8 box or sourcing individual cards, this is where you start.

S8 Fusion Arts: Set Overview

S8 Fusion Arts is a standard Sword & Shield expansion that released simultaneously at major retailers across Japan — no lottery system, no limited distribution. The catch: the secret rare section includes Mew VMAX SA, a card whose collector demand has kept sealed box prices elevated for years.

Set Code S8
Japanese Name フュージョンアーツ (Fusion Arts)
English Name Fusion Strike (swsh8)
Release Date September 24, 2021
Pack Configuration 30 packs / box, 5 cards / pack
MSRP ¥4,950 per box
Market Price (2026) ~¥45,000 (~$319)
Cards (Japanese) ~128 total including secret rares
Battle Style Introduced Fusion Strike mechanic

What Is the Fusion Strike Mechanic?

S8 introduced the third and final main battle style alongside Single Strike and Rapid Strike. Fusion Strike Pokémon can use each other’s attacks via Mew VMAX’s “Cross Fusion Strike” — allowing one massive VMAX to access the moves of any benched Fusion Strike Pokémon in play. This made Mew VMAX the centerpiece of one of the most dominant competitive archetypes in the Sword & Shield format, and the demand for Mew VMAX cards from this set reflects that legacy.

Top Cards in S8 Fusion Arts

Mew VMAX SA — The Crown Jewel of S-Series

Mew VMAX Special Art SA from S8 Fusion Arts — Japanese exclusive illustration by AKIRA EGAWA

SA

Mew VMAX

~¥128,000 (~$908)

Pull rate: ~1/16 boxes (est.)

The Mew VMAX SA holds a unique position in the Sword & Shield era: it’s the most expensive card from a standard Japanese expansion set, commanding ¥128,000 ($908) at resale. The artwork by AKIRA EGAWA depicts Mew against a psychedelic cosmic backdrop — a stark contrast to the standard VMAX illustration — and has become one of the most sought-after special art cards from the entire S-series.

The pull rate makes it genuinely scarce. SA cards pull at roughly 1 per 4 boxes total, distributed across all SA variants in the set (Mew VMAX SA, Mew V SA, Genesect V SA, Greedent V SA). Mew VMAX SA as a specific card would pull at approximately 1 per 16 boxes — meaning you’d expect to open 16 full boxes (480 packs) to average one copy. At current market prices, a single hit would recover the cost of multiple box purchases.

Mew V SA — The Compact Chase Card

Mew V Special Art from S8 Fusion Arts — artwork by Naoki Saito

SA

Mew V

~¥39,800 (~$282)

Pull rate: ~1/16 boxes (est.)

Naoki Saito’s Mew V SA captures Mew in a dynamic, glowing pose that has made this the most desirable V-form card in the set. At ¥39,800 ($282), it’s the second most valuable card in S8 and worth nearly the current cost of a sealed box. Collectors who opened boxes hoping to hit the Mew VMAX SA often kept the Mew V SA as a consolation prize — except it’s worth more than most sets’ top cards.

Mew VMAX HR — The Gold Version

Mew VMAX Hyper Rare rainbow holographic card from S8 Fusion Arts

HR

Mew VMAX

~¥24,800 (~$176)

Pull rate: ~1/5 boxes (est.)

The HR (Hyper Rare) rainbow variant of Mew VMAX features a full gold-over-rainbow foil treatment — the standard high-end treatment for VMAX cards in the Sword & Shield era. At ¥24,800 ($176), it’s more attainable than the SA but still commands a significant premium. Collectors who can’t afford the SA frequently complete their Mew VMAX collection with this HR version as an alternative.

Mew V SR — The Standard Full Art

The Mew V SR (card 105/~128) is the regular full-art version of Mew V. At ¥10,800 ($77), it’s significantly more accessible than the SA version but still one of the pricier SR cards across all S-series sets. Both SR and SA versions feature the same Mew V stats and attacks — the premium on the SA is entirely for the artwork.

Elesa’s Sparkle SR

Elesa's Sparkle Super Rare trainer card from S8 Fusion Arts

SR

Elesa’s Sparkle

~¥2,180 (~$15)

Pull rate: ~1/box (est.)

Elesa’s Sparkle SR is the most valuable non-Mew card in the set. In competitive play, Elesa’s Sparkle was the key energy acceleration card for the Fusion Strike archetype — attaching two Fusion Strike Energy to Fusion Strike Pokémon in one action. The SR version features Elesa in a glittering full-art illustration that makes it one of the more aesthetically striking trainer cards of the era. At ¥2,180, it’s a reasonable single purchase for competitive players.

Genesect V SA

Genesect V SA (¥2,380 / $17) is the third SA variant in the set. In competitive terms, Genesect V’s “Fusion Strike System” ability — drawing cards equal to the number of Fusion Strike Pokémon you have in play — made it the engine behind many Fusion Strike decks. The SA artwork showcases Genesect in a dramatic mechanical pose. At ¥2,380, it’s the most playable-and-valuable intersection in the set for competitive collectors.

Gold Energy Cards (UR)

S8 includes two UR (Ultra Rare) gold basic energy cards:

  • Fire Energy UR: ¥3,280 ($23)
  • Grass Energy UR: ¥2,980 ($21)

Gold energy cards maintain steady demand from collectors building premium deck displays. At under ¥3,300 each, they’re the most budget-friendly rare pulls in the set.

Should You Buy S8 Fusion Arts?

For Competitive Players

The Fusion Strike format has rotated out of standard play, so there’s no competitive reason to buy sealed S8. For playsets of competitive staples like Elesa’s Sparkle, Genesect V, or Mew VMAX (regular), buying singles is significantly cheaper than opening boxes.

For Mew Collectors

S8 is mandatory for any serious Mew collection. The Mew V SA, Mew VMAX SA, and Mew VMAX HR are three distinct Mew artworks that don’t exist anywhere else. If you’re building a complete Mew art collection, these three cards represent a ¥192,600 ($1,366) investment at current prices — or the lottery of opening boxes hoping to pull them.

For Sealed Collectors

S8 was a standard retail expansion, meaning supply was significantly larger than lottery-exclusive products like S8A or S4A. This wider initial supply has limited price growth compared to limited-edition sets. The 4-year trajectory from ¥4,950 to ¥45,000 is impressive, but it’s not the same trajectory as S8A (which went from ¥4,950 to ¥50,000 in the same period with far less original supply).

For Box Openers

The EV math is unfavorable (see below), as with most S-series boxes at current prices. The experience of opening S8 is exciting because every pack carries the possibility of the Mew VMAX SA hit — but statistically, most box openings will return significantly less than ¥45,000. Open if you appreciate the process; buy singles if you’re targeting specific cards.

S8 Pull Rates & Box EV Breakdown

Pull rates are community-estimated based on logged box openings. Official pull rates are not published by The Pokémon Company.

Rarity Cards in Pool Rate Per Box
SA Special Art 4 (Mew VMAX, Mew V, Genesect V, Greedent V) ~0.25 (1/4 boxes)
HR Hyper Rare Multiple VMAX + trainer ~0.20 (1/5 boxes)
UR Ultra Rare 5 (energy + items) ~0.10 (1/10 boxes)
SR Super Rare V cards + trainers ~1-2 per box
RRR Triple Rare VMAX cards ~2 per box
RR Double Rare V cards ~4 per box

Box EV Calculation

Category Rate/Box Avg Value EV
SA (all variants, avg) 0.25 ¥42,890 ¥10,722
HR (all variants, avg) 0.20 ¥7,000 ¥1,400
UR (gold energy/items) 0.10 ¥2,000 ¥200
SR V cards + trainers ~2 ¥2,500 avg ¥5,000
RRR + RR cards ~6 ¥350 avg ¥2,100
Other cards ¥500
Estimated Total EV ~¥19,922
Market BOX price ~¥45,000
EV / Cost ratio ~44%

The 44% EV ratio reflects S8’s nature as a lottery-driven product. The vast majority of box openings will not yield a Mew VMAX SA — and the set’s EV is heavily weighted toward that one card. Pull a Mew VMAX SA and you’ve recovered the cost of 2.8 boxes. Pull everything else and you’re holding ¥10,000-15,000 worth of cards against a ¥45,000 purchase.

This is not unusual for high-chase Sword & Shield sets. S8’s pull-rate math is less forgiving than S8A or S9 (which have more distributed value), but the ceiling is higher if you hit Mew VMAX SA.

S8 Price History: 4-Year Chart

S8 Fusion Arts booster box price trend 2021-2026

S8 Fusion Arts launched into normal retail — no lottery, no artificial scarcity. Starting near MSRP at ¥5,500, prices grew steadily as collectors realized the Mew VMAX SA and Mew V SA artworks were Japanese-exclusive and increasingly difficult to find in sealed product:

  • Sep 2021: ¥5,500 (slightly above MSRP ¥4,950)
  • Jan 2022: ¥8,000 — early adopter demand as Mew VMAX dominated competitive play
  • Jun 2022: ¥12,000 — competitive demand absorbing sealed stock
  • Jan 2023: ¥18,000 — collector interest in Mew V SA artwork grows
  • Jun 2023: ¥25,000 — sealed supply visibly declining in Japanese market
  • Jan 2024: ¥32,000 — international collector demand accelerating
  • Jun 2024: ¥38,000 — approaching current levels
  • Apr 2026: ¥45,000 — card rush buy price ¥40,000 implies ~¥45,000 market

The appreciation trajectory from ¥5,500 to ¥45,000 represents an 8× price increase over 4.5 years. This is strong performance for a standard retail expansion, though slower than lottery-exclusive products. The key driver: Mew VMAX SA individual card prices have appreciated faster than the box price, meaning the expected value of pulling that card has grown relative to box cost.

Where to Buy S8 Fusion Arts

S8 is no longer in production. Sealed boxes and individual singles are available exclusively on the secondary market. We stock authenticated S8 boxes and key singles sourced directly from Japanese distributors.

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Check current sealed box and single card availability at Samurai Sword Tokyo — authenticated Japanese stock shipped directly to your door.

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Buying Individual Cards vs. Sealed

For S8, buying singles typically makes more sense than sealed boxes unless you’re committed to the box-opening experience. Specific targets:

  • Competitive play: Buy Genesect V, Elesa’s Sparkle, and regular Mew VMAX as singles — no reason to crack boxes
  • Mew SA collection: Both Mew VMAX SA and Mew V SA are available as authenticated singles; ¥128,000 vs. ~¥720,000 expected cost to pull from boxes (16 boxes × ¥45,000)
  • Sealed investment: S8 has shown steady appreciation; if you’re buying for sealed value, prioritize storage-quality packaging with clear shrink wrap

Frequently Asked Questions

What is S8 Fusion Arts in English?

S8 Fusion Arts is the Japanese expansion released September 24, 2021. Its English equivalent is Fusion Strike (set code swsh8), released November 12, 2021. The Japanese set has approximately 128 cards while the English set has 284 — the English version added many exclusive cards and combined content from other sources. The Japanese SA (Special Art) versions of Mew V and Mew VMAX do not exist in the English set at the same price levels.

Why is Mew VMAX SA worth so much?

Mew VMAX SA (¥128,000 / ~$908) commands a premium for three reasons: (1) the AKIRA EGAWA illustration is widely considered one of the most visually striking SA cards of the Sword & Shield era, (2) Mew VMAX was the centerpiece of the dominant Fusion Strike competitive archetype, cementing its place in TCG history, and (3) the pull rate (~1/16 boxes) keeps individual card supply scarce even years after release.

How many SA cards are in S8 Fusion Arts?

S8 Fusion Arts has four SA (Special Art) cards: Mew VMAX SA (¥128,000), Mew V SA (¥39,800), Genesect V SA (¥2,380), and Greedent V SA (¥1,380). As a pool, one SA card pulls at approximately 1 per 4 boxes. Each individual SA card would be expected approximately once every 16 boxes.

Is S8 Fusion Arts worth opening in 2026?

At ¥45,000 per box, the expected card value from S8 is approximately ¥19,000-20,000 — roughly 44% of the box price. This is below average EV for Sword & Shield sets. Opening is a high-variance experience: most boxes will return far less than ¥45,000, but a Mew VMAX SA pull recovers the cost of nearly three boxes. Buy for the experience; buy singles for value.

What is the difference between Mew V SR and Mew V SA?

Both Mew V SR and Mew V SA have identical stats and attacks — the difference is purely the illustration. The SR version (¥10,800) uses a standard full-art illustration. The SA version (¥39,800) uses a dramatically different special illustration by Naoki Saito with a distinctive artistic style. The 3.7× price premium on the SA reflects the demand for Naoki Saito’s artwork specifically.

Does Elesa’s Sparkle SR see competitive play?

Elesa’s Sparkle was a key competitive card during the Sword & Shield format (2021-2023) as the energy acceleration engine for Fusion Strike decks. With Fusion Strike rotating out of standard format, it’s no longer played competitively. It retains collector demand from players who competed with Fusion Strike decks and from full-art trainer card collectors.

Related Guides

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