Two Japanese Pokemon booster boxes released on exactly the same day, carry exactly the same card count, and were later merged into a single English set. If you are trying to decide between SV1S Scarlet ex and SV1V Violet ex, the honest answer is that they were never built to compete with each other — they were built to be bought together.
SV1S and SV1V were the first Japanese Scarlet & Violet-era Pokemon TCG expansions, both released January 20, 2023, and together they introduced the Tera (Terastal) mechanic to the card game for the first time. Each box is built around its own legendary mascot ex card, and on our current listings the two boxes sit at different prices.
This guide compares them directly: what actually differs between the two sets, which mascot each box is built around, how the Japanese split compares to the combined English version, and what each box currently costs.
SV1S Scarlet ex and SV1V Violet ex both released on January 20, 2023, as a split twin pair — 108 cards each, 216 combined — and together introduced the Tera mechanic to the Pokemon TCG. SV1S is built around Koraidon ex (SV1S 106/108, Ultra Rare); SV1V is built around Miraidon ex (SV1V 106/108, Ultra Rare). We currently list the SV1S Scarlet ex booster box at ¥14,896 (~$94) and the SV1V Violet ex booster box at ¥11,536 (~$73).
Prices in this guide are current listings on our site, converted at ¥159/USD (September 2026 rate).
SV1S vs SV1V: The Basics
Set for set, SV1S and SV1V are structurally identical — same card count, same release date, same era-opening mechanic. The differences are in the mascot, the illustrator, and, on our current stock, the price.
| SV1S Scarlet ex | SV1V Violet ex | |
|---|---|---|
| Set code | SV1S | SV1V |
| Cards in set | 108 | 108 |
| JP release date | January 20, 2023 | January 20, 2023 |
| Box mascot | Koraidon ex, 106/108, Ultra Rare | Miraidon ex, 106/108, Ultra Rare |
| Mascot illustrator | aky CG Works | 5ban Graphics |
| Mascot HP / type | HP 230, Fighting | HP 220, Lightning |
| Current box price | ¥14,896 (~$94) | ¥11,536 (~$73) |
We couldn’t confirm a packs-per-box or cards-per-pack figure for either set from the sources used to build this guide, so we’re not quoting one here — treat any number you see elsewhere for either box as unverified.
For the complete 108-card breakdowns of each set, see our Scarlet ex (SV1S) complete card list and Violet ex (SV1V) card list.
Why Two Boxes Instead of One
SV1S and SV1V are the very first Japanese expansions of the Scarlet & Violet era, and Japan released them as a split twin pair rather than a single combined set — one box per game version, mirroring the Scarlet and Violet video games themselves. As Bulbapedia puts it, “In Japan, the expansion split into two separate releases: ‘Scarlet ex’ and ‘Violet ex.'”
That splitting pattern became the template for how The Pokemon Company Japan has handled several era-opening releases since: two parallel boxes, released the same day, each carrying its own legendary mascot, aimed at collectors who want both versions rather than forcing a single choice.
For more on how this Japanese-set structure maps onto the wider Scarlet & Violet era, our Scarlet & Violet Japanese card list hub covers SV1S, SV1V, and the SV1a set that followed them.
Box Mascots: Koraidon ex vs Miraidon ex
The clearest difference between the two boxes is the ex card each one is built around.
Koraidon ex (SV1S 106/108) is a Fighting-type card with HP 230, illustrated by aky CG Works. Miraidon ex (SV1V 106/108) is a Lightning-type card with HP 220, illustrated by 5ban Graphics. Both sit at Ultra Rare within their respective sets, and both are the card most collectors associate with each box.
If you already have a favourite between the two Paradox legendaries, that preference is likely to matter more to most buyers than anything else in this comparison. For a closer look at one of the chase cards adjacent to this era, see our Miriam Pokemon card guide, which covers SIR and SAR prints from SV1V.
The Tera Mechanic Debut
Beyond the mascots, SV1S and SV1V share the same historical significance: together they introduced the Tera (Terastal) mechanic to the Pokemon Trading Card Game for the first time. That mechanic has continued through later Scarlet & Violet-era sets in both Japanese and English releases.
The image above is from SV3, a set released after SV1S and SV1V, and is included purely to show what the Tera ex card format looks like in general — it is not one of the 216 combined SV1S/SV1V cards. If a mechanic’s origin point matters to your collection, SV1S and SV1V are the two boxes that started it.
For the sets that came directly after this pair, see our Paldea Evolved Japanese card list (SV2D/SV2P), the next chronological twin release.
How This Compares to the English Scarlet & Violet Set
If you’ve only collected the English side of the Scarlet & Violet era, it’s worth being precise about what SV1S and SV1V add up to. The English market combined both Japanese sets into a single release, “Scarlet & Violet,” which shipped March 31, 2023, with 258 English cards — against 216 combined Japanese cards across SV1S and SV1V.
That’s not a like-for-like reprint. The English set is not simply “SV1S plus SV1V translated” — it carries more total cards than the two Japanese sets combined, which means the English and Japanese versions of this era are not interchangeable collections. If you want the original split-set structure, including cards or print details unique to the Japanese release, you need the Japanese boxes specifically.
For the wider context on how the Japanese Scarlet & Violet-era sets are organised, our Kirlia Japanese Pokemon cards guide also touches on SV1S prints within this era.
Price Comparison: SV1S vs SV1V
On our current listings, the two boxes are priced differently:
| 박스 | Mascot | Currently listed at |
|---|---|---|
| SV1S Scarlet ex | Koraidon ex, 106/108 UR | ¥14,896 (~$94) |
| SV1V Violet ex | Miraidon ex, 106/108 UR | ¥11,536 (~$73) |
That’s roughly a ¥3,360 (~$21) gap between the two boxes on our current listings. We’re not going to speculate on why that gap exists or which box is the better buy financially — pricing reflects our own listing at the time of writing, not a market-wide valuation of either set, and we don’t have verified pull-rate data for either box to weigh into a value argument.
Which One Should You Buy
Since SV1S and SV1V are structurally the same set split in two, the decision usually comes down to two things: which mascot you want, and what you’re prepared to spend.
- Pick SV1S Scarlet ex if Koraidon ex is the card you want as your box mascot, or if you’re building a Fighting-type-leaning collection from this era.
- Pick SV1V Violet ex if Miraidon ex is your preferred mascot, if you’re leaning Lightning-type, or if the lower current listing price matters to your budget.
- Consider both if you want the complete twin-release pair as it was originally sold in Japan — together they cover all 216 combined cards from this era.
Neither box is objectively “better” as a collectible — they’re the same release split by game version. The mascot you prefer and your budget are the two variables that actually differ between them.
Where to Buy SV1S and SV1V
We ship Japanese sealed Pokemon booster boxes worldwide from Tokyo with tracked delivery. Both twin-release boxes are currently listed individually: the SV1S-Scarlet ex Japanese Pokemon Booster Box at ¥14,896 (~$94), and the SV1V-Violet ex Japanese Pokemon Booster Box at ¥11,536 (~$73).
For the wider range of Japanese sealed booster boxes we carry, browse our Japanese sealed booster box collection. For singles, mixed orders, or specific cards from either set that aren’t listed individually, our Quick Order page is the fastest way to build a request.
자주 묻는 질문
What’s the difference between SV1S Scarlet ex and SV1V Violet ex?
Both are 108-card Japanese sets that released on the same day, January 20, 2023, as a split twin pair. The main differences are the box mascot (Koraidon ex for SV1S, Miraidon ex for SV1V), the illustrator, and current listing price.
Which box mascot does each set feature?
SV1S Scarlet ex is built around Koraidon ex (SV1S 106/108, Ultra Rare, HP 230, Fighting, illustrated by aky CG Works). SV1V Violet ex is built around Miraidon ex (SV1V 106/108, Ultra Rare, HP 220, Lightning, illustrated by 5ban Graphics).
How do SV1S and SV1V compare to the English Scarlet & Violet set?
The English market combined both Japanese sets into one release, “Scarlet & Violet,” with 258 English cards, versus 216 combined cards across the two Japanese sets. It is not a direct one-to-one reprint of either Japanese set.
What new mechanic did SV1S and SV1V introduce?
Together, these two sets introduced the Tera (Terastal) mechanic to the Pokemon Trading Card Game for the first time.
Which box costs more, SV1S or SV1V?
On our current listings, SV1S Scarlet ex is priced higher at ¥14,896 (~$94), compared to SV1V Violet ex at ¥11,536 (~$73).
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