Astral Radiance vs Brilliant Stars Booster Box: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Buy Brilliant Stars if you want the Arceus VSTAR and the first-ever VSTAR set. Buy Astral Radiance if Hisuian Pokémon, Origin Forme VSTARs, and Radiant Pokémon are your focus.
Both are Sword and Shield era English booster boxes with 36 packs each. Brilliant Stars (SWSH9) launched February 25, 2022. Astral Radiance (SWSH10) followed on May 27, 2022.
Both sets are long out of print, so secondary-market prices apply.
On this page 5 sections
At a glance
| Brilliant Stars (SWSH9) | Astral Radiance (SWSH10) | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | February 25, 2022 | May 27, 2022 |
| Set code | SWSH9 | SWSH10 |
| MSRP at launch | $99.99 USD | $99.99 USD |
| Packs per box | 36 | 36 |
| Regular cards | 172 | 189 |
| MSRP per pack at launch | $2.78 USD | $2.78 USD |
| Signature mechanic debut | VSTAR (first set) | Radiant Pokémon |
| Key chase cards | Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR | Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR, Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR |
| Observed price (Oct 2026) | from $629.00 USD | from CA$549.95 CAD |
Observed prices are from independent shops on October 19, 2026. MSRP at launch sourced from official press.pokemon.com product listings.
Where Astral Radiance wins
Hisuian Pokémon make their English debut
Astral Radiance was the first English set to print Hisuian form Pokémon cards, arriving exactly four months after Pokémon Legends: Arceus launched on January 28, 2022. That tight gap between the game and the TCG release is unusual. It means the set caught real enthusiasm for the Hisui region at its peak.
Hisuian Lilligant, Hisuian Zoroark, Hisuian Samurott, and others appeared in English print for the first time. For collectors building a complete Hisui region card set, this box is the only starting point.
Origin Forme VSTARs bring dual-type appeal
Astral Radiance introduces Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR, each carrying a different typing from their standard forms. Origin Forme Dialga is Metal-type; Origin Forme Palkia is Water-type. Both appeared as legendaries central to Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Their alternate-art versions are the set's most sought-after pulls, distinct from anything in Brilliant Stars.
Radiant Pokémon are unique to this set
Astral Radiance introduced Radiant Pokémon: single-prize cards with shiny artwork and a restriction of one per deck. They are mechanically distinct from Shining Pokémon in older sets and from V or VSTAR cards.
Radiant Greninja became one of the most-used competitive singles in the era that followed. If the Radiant mechanic matters to your collection, this is its debut English set.
Where Brilliant Stars wins
Arceus VSTAR is the mechanic's origin point
Brilliant Stars introduced the VSTAR mechanic to the English TCG. Every VSTAR card released after it references this set as its origin. Arceus VSTAR is the set's centerpiece: a Colorless-type VSTAR with the Starbirth VSTAR Power, which lets a player search their deck for any two cards once per game.
It became one of the defining engine cards of the Sword and Shield era. For collectors focused on historical firsts, Brilliant Stars holds a specific kind of status that Astral Radiance simply cannot match.
Charizard VSTAR sustains long-term demand
Charizard appears in this set as Charizard VSTAR, a Fire-type VSTAR with its own alternate-art version. Charizard cards drive collector demand across nearly every modern set, and the VSTAR version from Brilliant Stars is no exception. The set's Charizard alternate art is one reason this box has held its price well above launch MSRP years after printing stopped.
More alternate-art Secret Rares per pull window
Brilliant Stars introduced Trainer Gallery cards, a special subset of trainer-art prints embedded into the booster packs alongside regular Secret Rares. That increases the variety of high-rarity pulls available in each box. Astral Radiance also uses the Trainer Gallery format, but Brilliant Stars established it, and its Trainer Gallery cards include Charizard, Mimikyu, and Magikarp in art styles not seen elsewhere in the set.
The deciding question
These are both discontinued sealed products at secondary-market prices. The question is what you are actually buying them for.
If you are opening packs, Brilliant Stars gives you the Arceus engine, Charizard VSTAR, and the broadest range of widely-recognized alt-art targets in a single box. It is the VSTAR origin point. If you are building a regional Pokémon collection, Astral Radiance is the only English set that covers Hisui properly at launch.
For a player who competed during the Sword and Shield era, Brilliant Stars packs more in-game relevance per box: Arceus VSTAR decks defined the format. Astral Radiance is more of a collector's set, driven by regional novelty and the Radiant Pokémon debut rather than a single dominant deck engine.
If neither full box fits your budget, both sets also have ETB and single-pack options available from independent shops. The Brilliant Stars vs Astral Radiance ETB comparison covers the Elite Trainer Box route in detail. For a broader look at the SWSH lineup, Astral Radiance vs Silver Tempest runs through the later sets in the same era.
DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company. All shops listed here are independent merchants. Verify stock and condition before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
How many packs are in each booster box?
Both sets come in a standard booster box of 36 packs. That is the same count for all Sword and Shield booster boxes released by The Pokémon Company.
What are the key chase cards in Brilliant Stars?
The most sought-after cards are Arceus VSTAR (the first VSTAR printed), Charizard VSTAR and its alternate art, and Trainer Gallery cards featuring Mimikyu, Magikarp, and Charizard. Full card checklists are on Bulbapedia.
What are the key chase cards in Astral Radiance?
Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR (both with alternate-art variants), Radiant Greninja, and the Trainer Gallery cards featuring Hisuian Pokémon. Full checklists are on Bulbapedia.
Are these sets still legal in tournament play?
Neither set is currently in the Standard format rotation, which moves forward with new sets each year. Both remain legal in Expanded format. Check the official Pokémon TCG rotation page for current Standard legality.
Is there a Pokémon Center exclusive ETB for either set?
Yes. Both sets had a Pokémon Center exclusive Elite Trainer Box with different promo card artwork. These are a separate product from the standard ETB and are also available from independent shops at secondary-market prices.
Browse Astral Radiance, Brilliant Stars, and the rest of the Sword and Shield booster box lineup from independent shops at DexHaul's Pokémon TCG booster boxes collection.
Catch 'em all
More Astral Radiance and Brilliant Stars products from independent shops.