Japanese and Korean Pokémon sets

The Japanese and Korean Pokémon sets have their own names, their own codes and their own packs. A Japanese set often corresponds to part of an English one, or the other way round: Two Japanese twin sets can become one English main set, and a Japanese special set can end up inside a larger English one. This page covers the sets from VSTAR Universe onwards, one paragraph per set, with the code, the release month, what is unique about the set and which cards are chased the most. What is available to buy is listed under Japanese Pokémon.

How they relate to the English sets

A Japanese set and the English set where its cards end up often have different names and different numbers of cards. Scarlet ex and Violet ex, for example, were merged with three starter sets into the English base set Scarlet & Violet. The English main sets, era by era and with their codes, are listed in Pokémon sets from Base Set onwards.

Japanese and Korean sets

VSTAR Universe (Japanese edition)

VSTAR Universe is a so-called High Class Pack and closed the Sword & Shield era in Japan. The Art Rare and Special Art Rare rarities debuted here, and the set reprints many popular cards from the era with new illustrations, including Charizard VSTAR and Mewtwo VSTAR as Special Art Rare. Each pack has ten cards and a guaranteed V, VMAX or VSTAR card, and a display has ten packs. In English the cards became part of Crown Zenith, where the Art Rare cards are called Galarian Gallery.

The chase card is Charizard VSTAR as a Special Art Rare.

Violet ex (Japanese edition)

Violet ex and its twin set Scarlet ex were the first sets with Pokémon from Generation IX, and Violet ex centres on Miraidon and Pokémon from the game Pokémon Violet. The set brought back Pokémon ex, and it includes Tera Pokémon, which take no damage from attacks while they are on the Bench. A Japanese pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English, Violet ex was merged with Scarlet ex and three starter sets into the base set Scarlet & Violet.

The chase card is Miraidon ex as a Special Art Rare, the set's cover legendary.

Scarlet ex (Japanese edition)

Scarlet ex and its twin set Violet ex opened the Scarlet & Violet era in Japan and reintroduced Pokémon ex: cards with high HP that come as Basic, Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon and give the opponent two Prize cards when they are Knocked Out. Tera Pokémon ex also debuted here; they take no damage from attacks while they are on the Bench. Scarlet ex centres on Koraidon ex, with the Ability Dino Cry, which attaches Fighting Energy from the discard pile, and the attack Wild Impact for 220 damage; alongside it are Gardevoir ex, Great Tusk ex, Gyarados ex, Toxicroak ex and Oinkologne ex. The base set has 78 cards, 108 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Scarlet & Violet, the era's first set.

The chase cards are Koraidon ex as a Special Art Rare and Ultra Rare, with Gardevoir ex and Great Tusk ex in Special Art Rare.

Clay Burst (Japanese edition)

Clay Burst and its twin set Snow Hazard were released on the same day and together make up the second main set of the Scarlet & Violet era in Japan. Ting-Lu ex is at the centre, and the other Pokémon ex include Chi-Yu ex, Tinkaton ex and Bellibolt ex. The Gym Leader Iono, who is called Nanjamo in Japanese, appears as a Trainer card in several rarities. A Japanese pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Paldea Evolved together with the cards from Snow Hazard and Triplet Beat.

The chase card is Iono as a Special Art Rare.

Snow Hazard (Japanese edition)

Snow Hazard and its twin set Clay Burst were released on the same day and together make up the second main set of the Scarlet & Violet era in Japan; the SV2P mark in the corner of the card distinguishes Snow Hazard from Clay Burst's SV2D. Chien-Pao ex is at the centre, a Basic Pokémon whose Ability searches the deck for two Water Energy and whose attack Hail Blade discards any number of Water Energy from your own Pokémon for 60 damage per card. Wo-Chien ex also belongs here, as do Slowking ex, Annihilape ex, Copperajah ex and Squawkabilly ex, and Grusha and Penny appear as Trainer cards in several rarities. The base set has 71 cards, 99 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Paldea Evolved, together with the cards from Clay Burst and Triplet Beat.

The chase cards are Chien-Pao ex as a Special Art Rare and Ultra Rare, with Wo-Chien ex and Grusha in Special Art Rare.

Raging Surf (Japanese edition)

Raging Surf is a so-called enhanced expansion pack in the Scarlet & Violet era, centred on Garchomp ex and Gholdengo ex. The other Pokémon ex include Froslass ex, Tapu Koko ex, Hoopa ex and Bombirdier ex, and the Trainer cards Rika and Parasol Lady also come as Special Art Rare. The base set has 62 cards, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards ended up in Paradox Rift, together with the cards from Ancient Roar and Future Flash.

The chase cards are the Special Art Rare cards of Parasol Lady, Gholdengo ex and Garchomp ex.

Future Flash (Japanese edition)

Future Flash and its twin set Ancient Roar introduced Paradox Pokémon to the card game with the Future and Ancient labels, which work like Rapid Strike and Single Strike: Some cards only boost Pokémon with the same label. Future Flash is the future side, centred on Iron Valiant ex, whose Ability Tachyon Bits puts two damage counters on an opponent's Pokémon, and Iron Hands ex, whose attack gives an extra Prize card. Boost Energy Future removes the Retreat Cost and gives 20 extra damage, and Professor Turo's Scenario returns a Pokémon to the hand. The other ex are Toxtricity ex, Aegislash ex, Altaria ex and Maushold ex. The base set has 66 cards, 94 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Paradox Rift.

The chase cards are Iron Valiant ex as a Special Art Rare and Ultra Rare, with Iron Hands ex and Professor Turo's Scenario in Special Art Rare.

Wild Force (Japanese edition)

Wild Force and its twin set Cyber Judge were released on the same day and brought back ACE SPEC cards, cards so strong that a deck may contain only one. Wild Force is the set of the ancient Paradox Pokémon, centred on Gouging Fire ex, Walking Wake ex and Raging Bolt ex, with Torterra ex, Wugtrio ex and Gengar ex alongside. Walking Wake ex has the Ability Cerulean Pulse, and Raging Bolt ex has the attack Extreme Ascent. The set's ACE SPEC is Neo Upper Energy, which counts as two Energy of any type on a Stage 2 Pokémon. The base set has 71 cards, 100 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Temporal Forces, together with the cards from Cyber Judge.

The chase cards are Gouging Fire ex, Walking Wake ex and Raging Bolt ex, which all come both as Special Art Rare and as Ultra Rare.

Cyber Judge (Japanese edition)

Cyber Judge is the future half of the twin pair with Wild Force, released on the same day, and is about the futuristic Paradox Pokémon: Iron Leaves ex, Iron Crown ex and Iron Boulder ex are at the centre, with Incineroar ex, Farigiraf ex and Scizor ex alongside. Iron Crown ex has the Ability Cobalt Commander and the attack Twin Shotels. Together with Wild Force, the set brought back ACE SPEC cards, of which a deck may hold at most one; Cyber Judge's is Prime Catcher, which combines Boss's Orders and Switch in one card. The base set has 71 cards, 100 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Temporal Forces, together with the cards from Wild Force.

The chase cards are Iron Leaves ex, Iron Crown ex and Iron Boulder ex, which all come both as Special Art Rare and as Ultra Rare.

Crimson Haze (Japanese edition)

Crimson Haze is a so-called enhanced expansion pack themed around Kitakami, the land from The Teal Mask, and in English its cards are part of Twilight Masquerade together with the cards from Mask of Change. Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex is at the centre: a Basic Pokémon with 260 HP whose Ability reduces the attack cost by one Energy for each Prize card the opponent has taken, so that the attack Blood Moon for 240 damage becomes cheap late in the game. Alongside it are Greninja ex, Scream Tail ex, Iron Thorns ex, Sinistcha ex and Magcargo ex, and the ACE SPEC cards are Unfair Stamp and Hyper Aroma. The base set has 66 cards, 96 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs.

The chase cards are Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex as a Special Art Rare and Ultra Rare, with Greninja ex and Sinistcha ex in Special Art Rare.

Mask of Change (Japanese edition)

Mask of Change is the Japanese original of Twilight Masquerade and was announced at the same time as the English set. Ogerpon from The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero appears as a Tera Pokémon ex in four masks that give it different types – Teal Mask, Hearthflame Mask, Wellspring Mask and Cornerstone Mask – and the Item card Ogre's Mask lets the player switch masks. Palafin ex has 340 HP as a Stage 1 and the attack Giga Impact for 250 damage for a single Water Energy, and alongside it are Dragapult ex, Luxray ex and Blissey ex. A new Ability lets some Pokémon attack twice in a row when the set's festival Stadium is in play, and the ACE SPEC cards are Legacy Energy and Scoop Up Cyclone. The base set has 101 cards, 133 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs.

The chase cards are the four Ogerpon ex cards as Special Art Rare, with Teal Mask Ogerpon ex also as Ultra Rare, and the Trainer cards Kieran and Carmine in Special Art Rare.

Night Wanderer (Japanese and Korean editions)

Night Wanderer is the Japanese original of Shrouded Fable and is about Pecharunt, which debuts as a Pokémon ex, and the Loyal Three: Okidogi, Munkidori and Fezandipiti. The theme is villains and shady dealings, and Cassiopeia is among the Special Art Rare cards. A pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. The Korean edition follows the Japanese numbering, while the English Shrouded Fable has a few more cards.

The chase cards are Pecharunt ex as a Special Art Rare, the set's main character, with Cassiopeia in the same rarity.

Stellar Miracle (Japanese edition)

Stellar Miracle is the set where Stellar Tera Pokémon ex debuted, centred on Terapagos ex. The theme comes from The Indigo Disk, and the cards include Lapras ex, Galvantula ex and Hydrapple ex. A Japanese pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. The English counterpart Stellar Crown is based on Stellar Miracle and a Japanese Battle Academy kit.

The chase cards are Terapagos ex, printed in four rarities up to Special Art Rare, and the Trainer card Lacey in the same rarity.

Battle Partners (Japanese edition)

Battle Partners is the Japanese original of Journey Together and brought back Trainer's Pokémon, cards where a named Trainer's Pokémon can only evolve into the same Trainer's cards. Four Trainers carry the set: N with N's Zoroark ex and N's Reshiram, Lillie with Lillie's Clefairy ex, Hop with Hop's Zacian ex and Iono with Iono's Bellibolt ex, each with a full line of their own Pokémon, from Hop's Wooloo to Iono's Kilowattrel. Alongside them are regular ex such as Volcanion ex, Mamoswine ex, Salamence ex and Dudunsparce ex. The base set has 100 cards, 132 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs.

The chase cards are Lillie's Clefairy ex and N's Zoroark ex as Special Art Rare, with N's Zoroark ex and Iono's Bellibolt ex also as Ultra Rare.

The Glory of Team Rocket (Japanese edition)

The Glory of Team Rocket introduced the card category Team Rocket's Pokémon, where all cards with Team Rocket's in the name count as the same category, regardless of which Trainer appears in the lower right of the artwork. Giovanni and Mewtwo feature on the pack, and the cards include Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex and Team Rocket's Persian ex. A Japanese pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Destined Rivals, together with cards from Hot Wind Arena.

The chase card is Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex as a Special Art Rare.

White Flare (Japanese and Korean editions)

White Flare is Black Bolt's Japanese twin set with Reshiram as its theme, and Reshiram ex is the set's Black White Rare. Together the two sets have all 156 Pokémon from Unova, each also in a secret version as Art Rare or higher, and foil cards with the Tinsel pattern returned with them. Besides regular packs with seven cards, Japan also had Deluxe packs with 35 cards and at least one Art Rare. The Korean edition came out in August 2025 with the same numbering, while the English White Flare has a rebuilt set list.

The chase card is Reshiram ex as a Black White Rare, the set's rarest card, with a monochrome foil surface that is only found in Black Bolt and White Flare.

Black Bolt (Japanese and Korean editions)

Black Bolt is White Flare's Japanese twin set with Zekrom as its theme, and the two closed the Scarlet & Violet era in Japan with all 156 Pokémon from Unova. Each Pokémon also comes in a secret version as Art Rare or higher, and Zekrom ex is the set's Black White Rare, a rarity introduced with the two sets. A regular pack has seven cards, two of them guaranteed foil cards, and a display has 20 packs. The Korean edition came out in August 2025 with the same numbering, while the English Black Bolt has a rebuilt set list.

The chase card is Zekrom ex as a Black White Rare, the set's rare top card, at an estimated one card per 24 to 48 boxes.

Mega Brave (Japanese edition)

Mega Brave and its twin set Mega Symphonia opened the Japanese MEGA series and brought back Mega Evolutions as Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, which give three Prize cards when they are Knocked Out. Mega Brave centres on Mega Lucario ex, alongside Mega Venusaur ex, Mega Camerupt ex, Mega Absol ex and Mega Mawile ex, and the set has no Pokémon of the Lightning or Dragon types. The Mega Ultra Rare rarity was introduced here, with its own illustrations where the Mega Pokémon stand in front of circular backgrounds. A Japanese pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs, and in English the cards are part of the set Mega Evolution.

The chase cards are Mega Lucario ex as a Mega Ultra Rare, the set's mascot card in the highest rarity, with the Special Art Rare version and the Trainer card Lillie's Determination in the same rarity.

Mega Symphonia (Japanese edition)

Mega Symphonia and its twin set Mega Brave opened the Japanese MEGA series and brought back Mega Evolutions as Mega Evolution Pokémon ex: Stage 2 cards that evolve from their previous stage and give the opponent three Prize cards when they are Knocked Out. Mega Symphonia centres on Mega Gardevoir ex, with 360 HP, an Ability that attaches Psychic Energy from the deck to each Benched Pokémon and the attack Mega Symphonia for 50 damage per Psychic Energy in play. The other Mega cards are Mega Latias ex, Mega Kangaskhan ex, Mega Abomasnow ex and Mega Manectric ex, and Wally returns as a Trainer card with Wally's Compassion. This set was the first where Item cards became Super Rare, with Rare Candy. The base set has 63 cards, 92 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs. In English the cards are part of Mega Evolution.

The chase cards are Mega Gardevoir ex as a Mega Ultra Rare and as a Special Art Rare, with Wally's Compassion and Mega Latias ex in Special Art Rare.

MEGA Dream ex (Japanese edition)

MEGA Dream ex is a High Class Pack made up largely of reprints of notable cards from 2024 and 2025, complemented by Mega Evolution Pokémon ex that made their debut here, such as Mega Dragonite ex and Mega Eelektross ex. The Mega Attack Rare rarity was introduced here – Mega cards in a pop art style where the attack is written in large text over the artwork – and on the Japanese cards that text is in English. Each pack has ten cards with at least one Pokémon ex, and a display has ten packs. In English the cards are part of Ascended Heroes.

The chase cards are Mega Dragonite ex as a Mega Ultra Rare and the reprinted Mega Gengar ex in Special Art Rare.

Nihil Zero (Japanese edition)

Nihil Zero is the Japanese original of Perfect Order and is based on Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with Lumiose City as a Stadium card. Mega Zygarde ex is at the centre, a Basic Pokémon with 310 HP whose attack Nihil Zero flips a coin for each of the opponent's Pokémon and does 150 damage to each one that shows heads; with the Tool Core Memory it also gets an attack for 350 damage. Alongside it are Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, Mega Skarmory ex, Decidueye ex, Salazzle ex, Yveltal ex and Meowth ex, whose Ability searches the deck for a Supporter card when it is played to the Bench from the hand. The base set has 80 cards, 117 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs.

The chase cards are Mega Zygarde ex as a Mega Ultra Rare and as a Special Art Rare, with Meowth ex and Mega Starmie ex in Special Art Rare.

Ninja Spinner (Japanese edition)

Ninja Spinner is the Japanese original of Chaos Rising and is based on Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with Prism Tower as a Stadium card. Mega Greninja ex is at the centre, a Stage 2 Pokémon with 350 HP whose Ability puts six damage counters on an opponent's Pokémon in exchange for discarding a Water Energy from the hand, and whose attack Ninja Spinner does 120 damage plus 80 if an Energy is returned to the hand. Mega Floette ex has one attack that heals 30 HP from all Pokémon in play and one that does 200 damage. The other ex are Mega Pyroar ex, Mega Dragalge ex, Gourgeist ex, Cobalion ex, Beedrill ex and Cinccino ex. The base set has 83 cards, 120 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs.

The chase cards are Mega Greninja ex as a Mega Ultra Rare and as a Special Art Rare, with Mega Floette ex and Mega Dragalge ex in the same rarity.

Abyss Eye (Japanese edition)

Abyss Eye is the first set based on Mega Dimension, the expansion to Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and centres on Mega Darkrai ex. Mega Darkrai ex can Knock Out the opponent's Active Pokémon regardless of its remaining HP if that Pokémon is affected by a Special Condition, and the set also has Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex. The set was announced on 17 April 2026, at the new moon, when Darkrai is said to be active. A Japanese pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs, and in English the cards are part of Pitch Black, whose set list differs slightly.

The chase card is Mega Darkrai ex, both as a Mega Ultra Rare and as a Special Art Rare.

Storm Emeralda (Japanese edition)

Storm Emeralda is the Japanese original of Delta Reign and centres on Mega Rayquaza ex. The attack Storm Emeralda does 50 damage times the number of Fire and Lightning Energy on all your own Pokémon, and the Ability lets the player attach a basic Energy from the top four cards of the deck when Mega Rayquaza ex is played to the Bench. The set introduces Stadium cards that are played in pairs: Two cards with the same name are put into play at the same time and count as one Stadium. Legendary Summit reduces by one the number of Prize cards a Colorless Pokémon gives when it is Knocked Out, Legendary Trench doubles healing, and there are three such pairs. Alongside are Mega Golisopod ex, Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex and Talonflame ex. The base set has 76 cards, 113 with the secret rares, a pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs.

The chase cards are Mega Rayquaza ex as a Mega Ultra Rare and as a Special Art Rare, with Mega Golisopod ex and Mega Golurk ex in the same rarity.

30th Celebration (Japanese edition)

The Japanese edition of 30th Celebration was released on the same day as the English one, but the set list is not the same: The Japanese one is numbered to 103 and the English one to 128. Espeon ex and Umbreon ex, which are in the English set, come in Japan in a separate deck set, Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon. As in English, every card is a foil card and every pack has one of 30 Pikachu cards by 30 different illustrators, and Mew ex and Mewtwo ex come as Futuristic Rare drawn by YOSHIROTTEN.

The chase cards are Mew ex and Mewtwo ex as Futuristic Rare.

Aura Seeker (Japanese edition)

Aura Seeker brings the Mega Evolutions with Z in their name into the card game – the forms from Mega Dimension, the expansion to Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Mega Lucario Z ex is at the centre, a Metal card with 330 HP whose Ability Aura Seeker searches the deck for any Supporter card and whose attack hits harder against Pokémon ex. Alongside it are Mega Garchomp Z ex, whose attack does 30 damage per Dragon Pokémon in the discard pile, Mega Absol Z ex, whose attack does 160 and stops the opponent from playing Stadiums and Special Energy on their next turn, and Sigilyph ex, which takes no damage from Mega Evolution Pokémon ex. Korrina returns as a Trainer card with Korrina's Earnestness. Mega Lucario Z ex was shown for the first time at the 2026 World Championships. A pack has five cards and a display has 30 packs.

The chase card is Mega Lucario Z ex, the set's cover card.

Read more about English or Japanese cards and the Asian editions.

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Written by those of us who run Bangerpack. The range and prices change continuously. What applies when you read this is shown in the category.