Pokémon VSTAR Universe (s12a) Box: Pack Facts, AR & SAR

Updated November 6, 2026

The Pokemon VSTAR Universe booster box is built from the Japanese-edition 高級卡包 “VSTAR Universe” (set code s12a, Japanese name ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」), released on December 2, 2022. Each pack holds 10 cards and has one V, VSTAR or VMAX card confirmed inside, according to the official Pokémon Card site.

What are the key facts about the Pokemon VSTAR Universe booster box?

The set is a Japanese-edition high-class pack, and the table below lists every identifying fact the official page confirms. Anything the page does not print is marked as not listed.

The cleanest way to read these facts: the official page describes the pack, not the box. Pack price, card count and the V-class card are all confirmed. The number of packs in a sealed box is not on that page, so treat any figure you see elsewhere as unverified until you can match it to a product listing. We cover the buying side in our VSTAR Universe booster box buying guide.

What is a Pokemon VSTAR Universe booster box?

A Pokemon VSTAR Universe booster box is a box of Japanese-edition s12a High Class Packs, a set built around V, VSTAR and VMAX cards. The official page names the product ハイクラスパック「VSTARユニバース」, which is 高級卡包 “VSTAR Universe” in English.

The official page states that every pack has a V-class card confirmed (V・VSTAR・VMAXいずれか確定！). The headline on the page is かつてない、スペシャルアートの世界！ (“a world of special art like never before”), and the text adds that the Pokémon’s traits and each illustrator’s personality draw you into the artwork. The page also links to an interview with 16 illustrators.

Three details define the product:

• Pack-level V-class card. V, VSTAR or VMAX in every pack, per the official page.
• Two new rarities. AR and SAR debut in this set, per the same page.
• Reprints plus new cards. Some V-class cards return in new form, and several cards are new.

For a card-by-card reference, our VSTAR Universe (s12a) card list and the complete guide to the Japanese 高級卡包 go deeper than this box-focused article.

When was VSTAR Universe released and what does a pack cost?

The set went on sale on December 2, 2022, and the official page lists 550 yen including tax per pack. The banner on the page reads 12月2日（金）発売！, which confirms a Friday release.

The 550 yen figure is the Japanese list price of one pack. It is not a price for a box. We do not print box prices in this article because box listings change; check the live product page for the current price. What the 550 yen figure does give you is a unit for comparing sealed product: a box is a multiple of packs, and you can only compute that multiple once you know the pack count of the specific box you are buying.

What is inside one VSTAR Universe pack?

One pack holds 10 cards, inserted at random, and at least one of them is a V, VSTAR or VMAX card. The official page notes that cards are randomly inserted (※カードはランダムに封入されています).

The page does not publish the rest of the pack’s slot layout, and it gives no insertion odds. We therefore do not state how often an AR or SAR appears, and you should be wary of any source that quotes a precise rate without naming where it comes from. What you can rely on is the V-class card, the 10-card count and the existence of the two new rarities.

The official card database entry for Arceus VSTAR shows the pattern: the card evolves from a V card, and the special rule states that when a VSTAR is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards. On Arceus VSTAR the VSTAR power is Star Birth (スターバース).

What are AR and SAR cards in VSTAR Universe?

AR stands for Art Rare (アートレア) and SAR for Special Art Rare (スペシャルアートレア), two rarities that first appear in this set. The official page says the set introduces both, and its galleries show 17 AR cards and 25 SAR cards.

The gallery counts come from the official page, and you should read them as the number of cards displayed there. We do not claim they are a complete tally of every special-art card, and the set also contains cards numbered beyond 172, which we cover below.

One concrete AR example is Mew No. 151, card number 183/172. The official database page for this card carries an AR icon file name but no text rarity label, so the AR reading is an inference from the icon. The card has HP 60, the Ability ふしぎなしっぽ, the attack サイコショット30 and illustrator Ryota Murayama. Our Mew VSTAR Universe card guide covers Mew AR 183 and Mew VMAX in more detail.

Which cards are reprints and which are new?

The official page names four reprinted V-class families and a handful of new cards. Reprints are Mew VMAX/Mew V, Arceus VMAX/Arceus V, Origin Forme Palkia VMAX/V and Giratina VMAX/V; the new cards are listed below by their official Japanese names.

To avoid mistranslating, the table gives the Japanese names exactly as printed, with the one caution the page adds itself: バオッキーV is a reprinted card, even though バオッキーVSTAR/V appears in the new-card list.

We do not rank any of these cards by value here, and we make no forecasts. The point of the table is identification: if a listing names one of these cards, you can match it to the official page.

Why do some VSTAR Universe cards have numbers above 172?

Because the official card database shows cards numbered above the 172 base count: Arceus VSTAR at 262/172 and Mew at 183/172. The printed total is 172, and these cards sit past it.

The practical lesson for buyers is simple: Always match the full number and the name, not only the number before the slash.

The Arceus VSTAR entry gives these details: set S12a, HP 280, evolves from Arceus V, illustrator AKIRA EGAWA. Its VSTAR power Star Birth lets you search your deck for up to 2 cards and put them in your hand. Its attack Trinity Nova (トリニティノヴァ) does 200 and attaches up to 3 basic Energy cards from your deck to your Pokémon V. The database text does not state a rarity for this card; the icon file name suggests UR, but that is only an inference, so we describe the card by number and name.

The rest of the list is in our s12a card list, which is the right place for a full number-by-number check. This article stays on the box and the sealed-versus-single decision.

How many packs are in a VSTAR Universe box?

The official page does not list a box configuration, so we cannot give a pack count from an official source. It describes the 10-card pack and the cards, not the carton or box layout.

If you are comparing box offers, do this:

1. Open the product page of the box you are considering and read its stated contents.
2. Check that it says Japanese edition and names s12a or “VSTAR Universe”.
3. Multiply the pack count shown there by 10 cards to get the total card count.
4. Only then compare per-pack cost against the 550 yen original pack price.

For how this box compares with other products, see the Crown Zenith booster box vs Japanese VSTAR Universe comparison and the Crown Zenith ETB and Bundle comparison.

Does the VSTAR Universe pack also come in other products?

Yes. The Jumbo Card Collection series, announced on the official site, includes three High Class Packs “VSTAR Universe” in each product. There are three products, each priced at 1,980 yen including tax.

The official notice gives the on-sale day as December 16 (a Friday) and does not print the year on the page. The packs inside are the same ten-card high-class packs, randomly selected. The source is the official Jumbo Card Collection announcement. We do not present these jumbo sets as a current product in this article.

Which VSTAR Universe cards are available as PSA 10 singles?

Our product pages cover PSA 10 graded singles from s12a for six cards: Radiant Charizard K, Charizard V, Charizard VSTAR, Mewtwo VSTAR, Gengar and Rayquaza VMAX. Check each page for its current status.

選購本系列【No Shrink】S12A-VSTAR Universe Japanese Pokemon Booster Box

¥24,279僅剩少量

東京出貨，含物流追蹤

查看商品

Each product page describes the card as graded PSA 10 (Gem Mint) and notes that the PSA case may have minor scratches or marks on its surface. Each page also says stock levels can change, so an order may take a little longer to ship.

These are graded singles, not sealed boxes. If your goal is to open packs, a box is the sealed product; if your goal is one specific card in a known grade, a graded single removes the randomness. Our Charizard VSTAR Universe card guide explains the Charizard cards in the set, including the Radiant version.

Should you buy a box or graded singles?

Buy a box if you want to open packs and enjoy the chase; buy a graded single if you want a specific card and a known grade. The right pick depends on what you want to own, not on a prediction of value, which we do not make.

The honest limit of a box purchase is the same as for any random pack: the official page confirms a V-class card and says nothing about hitting a given SAR. For a cross-set view see our Pokemon 151 vs VSTAR Universe box guide, and for the other SARs read Entei vs Raikou vs Suicune V SAR.

How does shipping work for these products?

We ship with FedEx, and most orders are processed and shipped within 5 business days after PayPal or Wise payment clears. The details below come from our shipping policy, last updated September 8, 2026.

Both transit times are estimates only. The policy also states these points:

• There is no minimum order amount or quantity.
• The 5-business-day handling window is an estimate, and business days exclude weekends and Japanese national holidays.
• Delivery estimates do not include handling time, supplier allocation delays, quality inspection holds, customs processing, carrier congestion, weather or destination-country conditions.
• If dispatch is delayed, we contact you by email with a revised estimate.
• FedEx cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes, so you need a physical address.
• After handoff to FedEx, customs inspections and carrier events are outside our control.

For PSA graded cards the policy adds a specific note: PSA cards may also be sold through other channels, so an item shown online may already be sold before the allocation for your order is locked. Once payment has cleared, we secure the matching PSA card even if more sourcing is needed, which can lengthen dispatch, and we send status updates when the schedule changes.

What payment methods can you use?

You can pay by Wise bank transfer, PayPal, or credit and debit card through PayPal, and all payments are in Japanese yen. The payment methods page (last updated November 5, 2026) sets out the rules.

Any gap between the amount we charge and your statement comes from exchange rates and fees set by your card issuer, bank or PayPal, which are outside our control. The screenshot option for Wise needs an account and is not available at guest checkout. Enter the payment reference SST-{order number} exactly as issued.

What should you check before buying a Japanese VSTAR Universe box?

Check five things: the edition, the set name or code, the box contents on the product page, the shipping estimate and the payment method. Each one prevents a common mix-up.

1. Edition. Confirm it says Japanese edition. Other products are compared with s12a in our Crown Zenith comparison.
2. Name and code. The set is 高級卡包 “VSTAR Universe”, code s12a. Match both the name and the code to the listing.
3. Box contents. The official page gives no box configuration, so read the listing.
4. Timing. Allow for handling (usually within 5 business days after payment clears) plus FedEx transit.
5. Payment. Wise avoids the 5% processing fee; PayPal and cards carry it.

Other Japanese sets are worth comparing if you are choosing between boxes. We have box guides against Shiny Treasure ex, VMAX Climax, Eevee Heroes, Tag All-Stars and Terastal Festival.

What do we not know about the VSTAR Universe box?

The official page leaves out the box configuration, insertion odds and a full rarity breakdown. Because we only state confirmed facts, here is the list of gaps:

• Packs per box: not listed on the official page.
• Odds for AR, SAR or any single card: not published there, so we give none.
• Rarity text for Arceus VSTAR 262/172: not stated; only an icon file name hints at UR.
• Rarity text for Mew 183/172: not stated; AR is inferred from an icon.
• Year of the Jumbo Card Collection notice: not printed on that page.

We prefer to name a gap than to fill it with a guess. If an official source later prints any of these, the official page is where to check first.

Where can you buy VSTAR Universe cards?

You can buy graded s12a singles from our product pages. Start with the card you want, such as Radiant Charizard K, Mewtwo VSTAR or Rayquaza VMAX, and read its page for current status. For the full set background, return to the VSTAR Universe complete guide, and for the Raikou V cards see Raikou V 038/172 vs 218/172 SAR.

What other VSTAR Universe articles should you read?

Start with the box buying guide and the card list, then move to the card-specific guides below.

• VSTAR Universe Booster Box Guide: S12a Japanese Pokemon Box Prices
• VSTAR Universe (s12a) Complete 卡牌列表
• Charizard VSTAR Universe (S12a) Pokemon Card Guide
• Mew VSTAR Universe (S12a) Pokemon Card Guide
• Pokemon 151 vs VSTAR Universe Box Guide

為本文精選

【No Shrink】S12A-VSTAR Universe Japanese Pokemon Booster Box¥24,279僅剩少量S12A-VSTAR Universe Japanese Pokemon Booster Box¥27,920有庫存PSA 10PSA10 Mewtwo VSTAR RRR[s12a 051/172](高級卡包 "VSTAR Universe")¥10,415僅剩少量