VSTAR Universe (s12a) Complete Guide: The Japanese High Class Pack Explained

VSTAR Universe (ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」, set code s12a) is a Japanese-edition Pokémon TCG 高级包 from the Sword & Shield series. It came out in Japan on December 2, 2022. Each pack holds 10 cards for 550 yen (tax included) and is guaranteed to include a V, VSTAR or VMAX card.

Updated November 4, 2026

Key facts: VSTAR Universe at a glance

Here are the main facts from the official Pokémon Card Game product page for s12a. Each row is backed by an official page or one of our own product pages.

Looking for graded singles from this set? Our PSA 10 Radiant Charizard K (s12a 015/172) product page is a good place to start, and the sections below cover the other s12a cards we list.

What is VSTAR Universe?

VSTAR Universe is a Japanese 高级包 in the Sword & Shield (ソード＆シールド) line, and its set code is s12a. Pokémon’s own page calls it ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」. The full line name is ポケモンカードゲーム ソード＆シールド ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」.

, and the official product page guarantees a card of one of those three types in every pack (V・VSTAR・VMAXいずれか確定！).

When people search for “VSTAR Universe” they could mean three things: the set as a whole, a sealed pack or box, or a single card from the set. All three use the same code, s12a, so put that code in any search or listing check. Card numbers from the set are printed with “/172” after the number, for example 015/172 or 051/172. Cards can also carry numbers higher than 172. The official database lists アルセウスVSTAR (Arceus VSTAR) as 262/172.

This guide covers the Japanese edition only. If you want a comparison with Crown Zenith, see our article Crown Zenith Booster Box vs Japanese VSTAR Universe (S12a). We only use Japanese official sources here so it is always clear which product a fact applies to.

When was VSTAR Universe released, and what did a pack cost?

VSTAR Universe came out in Japan on Friday, December 2, 2022 (2022年12月2日（金）), and one pack was priced at 550 yen including tax. Both facts are on the official s12a page.

The 550 yen figure is the official price for a single pack when the set launched. It is not a current market price and it is not our shop’s price. When you compare offers, use the price on the listing you are actually looking at, and remember that the official price is per pack.

The official product page does not give a number of packs per box. We won’t fill that gap with a guess here. If you are buying a sealed box, read the seller’s own product description for what it contains, and see our VSTAR Universe booster box guide for more on boxes.

What is inside a VSTAR Universe pack?

Every VSTAR Universe pack holds 10 cards and is guaranteed to include a V, VSTAR or VMAX card. The official page also says the cards are inserted at random (※カードはランダムに封入されています。).

In practice, two facts are fixed: how many cards are in a pack, and that the pack includes a V, VSTAR or VMAX card. Everything else depends on luck. The official page gives no rates for any rarity, and we don’t publish odds or pull-rate numbers either. For more on this topic, see our VSTAR Universe pull rates article.

Because of the guarantee, a single pack always gives you at least one V, VSTAR or VMAX card. The guarantee on the official page does not mention AR or SAR cards, so it tells you nothing about whether a pack contains one.

Which cards does the official VSTAR Universe page feature?

The official s12a page lists 18 cards by name, including ミュウVMAX, アルセウスVMAX, オリジンパルキアVMAX and ギラティナVMAX. It also has a “他にも多数！” (and many more) section that shows extra cards as images only. The page doesn’t give text names for those extra cards, so the table below covers only the named list.

The names below are copied exactly from the official Japanese page. We give them in Japanese only, because the page does not list English names.

Of the 18 named cards, 14 have V, VMAX or VSTAR in their names. The other four are かがやくムゲンダイナ, 空の封印石, シンオウの仲間たち and ヒスイの仲間たち. This list is only what the official page shows by name. Many other cards are in the set, including several in our own catalogue, such as Charizard, Mewtwo, Gengar and Rayquaza cards. For a full numbered view of the set, see our VSTAR Universe (S12a) card list article.

ミュウVMAX and ミュウV are among the named cards on the official page. Our Mew VSTAR Universe card guide covers the different Mew cards in s12a.

What rarities appear in VSTAR Universe?

The official s12a page names two rarities, AR (アートレア, Art Rare) and SAR (スペシャルアートレア, Special Art Rare). The card names on our product listings also show RR and RRR rarities, and our listing for 015/172 uses the name Radiant Charizard K.

Here is how these labels show up on cards you can actually look up:

• RR: our listing for Charizard V, s12a 013/172, gives the rarity as RR.
• RRR: our listings for Charizard VSTAR (014/172), Mewtwo VSTAR (051/172) and Rayquaza VMAX (108/172) give the rarity as RRR.
• かがやく / Radiant: the official page lists かがやくムゲンダイナ. Our listing name for card 015/172 is “Radiant Charizard K”.
• AR and SAR: the official product page uses both names. Our Raikou V 038/172 vs 218/172 SAR article compares a regular card with its SAR version, so you can see how the same Pokémon appears at different numbers.

Watch out for one thing in the official database. Some card pages show the rarity only as an icon, with no text. The アルセウスVSTAR page, number 262/172, is one example. It shows a rarity icon image but no written rarity. When a seller gives a rarity label for a card like this, compare the card number with the database entry and don’t rely on the label alone.

The アルセウスVSTAR 262/172 page does give these details as text:

• HP: 280
• Attack: トリニティノヴァ, 200 damage. You choose up to 3 basic Energy from your deck, attach them to your Pokémon V in any way you like, then shuffle your deck.
• VSTAR Power (Ability): スターバース. You can use it during your turn to search your deck for up to 2 cards, put them into your hand, then shuffle. You can use a VSTAR Power only once per game.

Source: official card database entry for アルセウスVSTAR (S12a 262/172).

Which VSTAR Universe cards are listed as PSA 10 graded copies in our shop?

The s12a PSA 10 cards we list include Radiant Charizard K (015/172), Charizard V (013/172), Charizard VSTAR (014/172), Gengar (048/172), Mewtwo VSTAR (051/172) and Rayquaza VMAX (108/172). Every listing gives the full card number and set name, so you can check it against the card in the PSA case.

Prices and availability change often, so this table has no prices. Open the product page for the price shown today. Each product description says the card is graded PSA 10 (Gem Mint) and that the PSA case may have minor scratches or marks. Since you are buying a graded card, look at the case photos before you order.

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The Charizard line: 013, 014 and 015

Three Charizard cards sit next to each other in the s12a numbering: Charizard V at 013/172, Charizard VSTAR at 014/172 and Radiant Charizard K at 015/172. Our Charizard VSTAR Universe card guide covers the Charizard cards in more detail.

We list more than one PSA 10 copy of some cards. Radiant Charizard K, for example, has separate pages such as this PSA 10 Radiant Charizard K listing. Each graded copy has its own case and label, so check the photos on the exact listing you order from.

Mewtwo VSTAR, Gengar and Rayquaza VMAX

Away from the Charizard numbers, our s12a graded cards include Mewtwo VSTAR (051/172, RRR), Gengar (048/172) and Rayquaza VMAX (108/172, RRR). Mewtwo VSTAR also has a second page, PSA 10 Mewtwo VSTAR 051/172.

Is there another official product that includes VSTAR Universe packs?

Yes. Three Jumbo Card Collection sets, Lapras, Mew and Latias, each include three VSTAR Universe packs. They came out in Japan on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 1,980 yen (tax included) each, according to the official announcement on pokemon-card.com.

The official Japanese product names are:

• ポケモンカードゲーム ソード＆シールド「ジャンボカードコレクション ラプラス」 (Jumbo Card Collection Lapras)
• ポケモンカードゲーム ソード＆シールド「ジャンボカードコレクション ミュウ」 (Jumbo Card Collection Mew)
• ポケモンカードゲーム ソード＆シールド「ジャンボカードコレクション ラティアス」 (Jumbo Card Collection Latias)

According to the announcement, each set contains 2 jumbo cards, 2 card stands and 3 packs of ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」. The notice also says each 高级包 holds 10 random cards, the same as a standalone s12a pack.

These sets suit buyers who want the jumbo cards and stands for display plus a few s12a packs to open. If you only want packs, a sealed s12a product is the direct route. Either way, the packs inside the jumbo sets are the same VSTAR Universe product.

How does Japanese VSTAR Universe compare with other sets?

We cover set-against-set comparisons in separate articles, so this guide sticks to official s12a facts. Pick the article for the comparison you have in mind:

• Crown Zenith: Pokemon Crown Zenith ETB and Bundle vs the Japanese VSTAR Universe Box
• Shiny Treasure ex and Terastal Festival: Shiny Treasure ex vs VSTAR Universe, Terastal Festival vs VSTAR Universe
• Pokémon 151: Pokemon 151 vs VSTAR Universe Box Guide
• VMAX Climax, Eevee Heroes and Tag All-Stars: VMAX Climax vs VSTAR Universe, Eevee Heroes vs VSTAR Universe, Tag All-Stars vs VSTAR Universe
• Within s12a: Entei V SAR vs Raikou V SAR vs Suicune V SAR

Whatever you compare, keep the edition clear: check that a listing shows the s12a code and the Japanese name ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」 if the Japanese edition is what you want.

How do I buy VSTAR Universe products from Japan and get them shipped?

You order on our site, pay in Japanese yen with Wise, PayPal or a card through PayPal, and we ship with FedEx and give you a tracking number. Our shipping policy and payment methods page have the full terms. The main points are below.

A few practical points for s12a buyers:

• PSA graded cards: the shipping policy says PSA cards may also be sold through our other sales channels. Two orders can arrive almost at the same moment. If that happens after your payment clears, we secure a matching PSA graded card for your order, even if more sourcing is needed, and dispatch may take longer.
• Delays: if dispatch is delayed, we email you with a new estimate. For significant delays before the order goes to FedEx, we may offer the choice to wait or cancel with a full refund.
• After dispatch: once FedEx has the parcel, customs, weather and carrier conditions affect timing. These are outside our control.
• Address changes: before the shipment is scheduled, you can change the shipping address yourself under My Account > Orders. You cannot change the destination country.

What should I check before buying a VSTAR Universe pack or graded card?

Check five things: the set code, the card number, the rarity label, the graded case and the edition.

1. Set code and name. Look for s12a and the name ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」 or “高级包 VSTAR Universe”. Our product titles include both the code and the set name.
2. Card number. Compare the number on the listing (such as 015/172 or 108/172) with the official Japanese card database. Many Pokémon have several cards in s12a at different numbers, so the number tells you which version you are getting.
3. Rarity label. Treat a rarity label as a description, not a way to identify the card. Some official database pages show rarity only as an icon, so the number is the more reliable reference.
4. Graded case. For PSA cards, the label should show the same card name and number as the listing title. Our descriptions note that cases may have minor surface scratches, so look at the photos.
5. Edition. Check that the listing says Japanese edition and shows the s12a code if that is what you want.

Where can I go next for VSTAR Universe cards?

For a full card-by-card view of the set, go to our VSTAR Universe card list article. For one Pokémon, use the character guides. For graded copies, open the product pages linked above.

A simple route: decide whether you want a whole set, a sealed product or one card. For sealed product, read the box guide. For one card, find its exact number first and then open the matching PSA 10 page, such as Charizard VSTAR 014/172 or Rayquaza VMAX 108/172.

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