Battle Region (S9a): Japanese Equivalent of Astral Radiance (2022)
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 7 min read
Japanese Battle Region (S9a, released February 25, 2022) became English Astral Radiance, released May 27, 2022. Most S9a cards appear in Astral Radiance, but not all: a small number of cards were held back and printed in Lost Origin (September 9, 2022) instead.
That split is the most important thing to know before you buy either set. If you pull a Japanese Battle Region card and cannot find its English counterpart in Astral Radiance, check Limitless TCG's S9a card list: the English destination is listed for each card individually.
On this page 7 sections
Set at a glance
| Detail | Japanese Battle Region (S9a) | English Astral Radiance (SWSH10) |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | February 25, 2022 | May 27, 2022 |
| Base set size | 100 cards | 189 cards + 27 secret rares |
| Cards per booster pack | 6 cards | 10 cards |
| Packs per booster box | 30 packs | 36 packs |
| Official MSRP per pack | 165 yen (Serebii) | $3.99 USD |
| JP source sets (English) | S9a + selected S10 cards | Single EN release |
| Notable first prints | Origin Forme Palkia V, Origin Forme Dialga V, Shining Mew CHR | Radiant Gardevoir, Radiant Greninja, Radiant Charizard |
| Set code | S9a | SWSH10 |
Astral Radiance is notably larger than Battle Region because the English release also drew from the Japanese Time Gazer and Space Juggler sets (S10), which released in Japan on April 8, 2022. The EN team combined three JP sets into one release to deliver the Radiant Pokémon mechanic in a single wave.
What's different in the box
| Aspect | Battle Region (JP) | Astral Radiance (EN) |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rarity tier | Character Super Rare (CSR), Character Rare (CHR) | Alternate Art (Trainer Gallery), Rainbow Rare |
| Trainer Gallery subset | No (JP equivalent = CHR) | Yes: 30-card Trainer Gallery insert subset |
| Radiant Pokémon cards | Not present in S9a | Yes: Radiant Charizard, Greninja, Gardevoir, Hisuian Sneasler, Steelix |
| Language text on cards | Japanese only; no English rules text | English only; tournament-legal in US/UK/AU/CA |
| Art style note | CHR cards show Pokémon with their trainers, often exclusive art not in EN | Alternate Art reprints trainer art in English, with some variation |
| Pack art | Origin Forme Palkia, Dialga, Hisuian Decidueye | Origin Forme Palkia and Dialga |
The Trainer Gallery concept is unique to the English release. In Japan, the closest equivalent is the Character Rare and Character Super Rare rarity tier, where a Pokémon appears alongside its trainer in full-illustration art. The EN Trainer Gallery is a dedicated 30-card insert numbered TG01–TG30, separate from the main set numbering.
Key card crosswalk: where S9a cards landed in English
Most Battle Region cards translated directly into Astral Radiance. A collector rule worth knowing: if a specific S9a card is not in Astral Radiance, the next place to check is Lost Origin. A small number of cards from S9a were printed there instead, confirmed via individual card lookups on Limitless TCG's S9a set page.
| JP Card (S9a) | English destination | EN card number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Forme Palkia V (001/067) | Astral Radiance | 040/189 | Regular and alternate art versions |
| Origin Forme Dialga V (002/067) | Astral Radiance | 056/189 | Regular and alternate art versions |
| Hisuian Decidueye VSTAR (003/067) | Astral Radiance | 017/189 | Standard and alternate art |
| Shining Mew CHR | Astral Radiance | Trainer Gallery TG29/TG30 | CHR art becomes TG alternate art in EN |
| Oddish (#001 in some S9a numbering) | Lost Origin | Varies | Notable split: not in Astral Radiance |
| Hisuian Arcanine VSTAR | Astral Radiance | SWSH10 set | Fire-type VSTAR from Hisui region |
| Irida SR (supporter) | Astral Radiance | 186/189 or higher (full art) | Full-art supporter; popular pull in EN |
| Adaman SR (supporter) | Astral Radiance | 185/189 or higher (full art) | Hisuian supporter from Legends: Arceus |
The CHR to TG conversion is worth understanding before you buy. A JP CHR card shows a Pokémon alongside its trainer in a full-illustration portrait style.
In Astral Radiance EN, the equivalent cards are in the Trainer Gallery subset, numbered TG01–TG30, separate from the main set numbering.
Japanese or English: which should you buy?
Price per pack
Japanese Battle Region packs had an official MSRP of 165 yen per pack in 2022, per Serebii's set listing. At current secondary market prices observed October 2026, sealed Battle Region booster boxes are listed from approximately $98–$169 USD across independent shops, which works out to roughly $3.27–$5.63 per 6-card JP pack. English Astral Radiance booster boxes are listed from CA$479.95 at current secondary market prices, about $3.70–$5.00 per 10-card EN pack at typical rates.
Tournament legality
English Astral Radiance cards are tournament-legal at Pokémon Organized Play events in English-speaking regions. Japanese Battle Region cards are legal in Japan's domestic circuit and at events explicitly permitting any-language play.
If you play competitively in the US, UK, Australia, or Canada, English is the correct choice.
Language and collector appeal
Japanese cards carry no English rules text, which means new players cannot easily read game effects. Collectors often seek Japanese cards for the different card stock (glossier finish, slightly different holo texture) and exclusive art variants: the CHR rarity tier in S9a includes trainer-and-Pokémon scenes that were restyled for the EN Trainer Gallery, and some collectors prefer the original JP framing. Both versions are officially licensed.
Grading considerations
PSA and BGS grade Japanese cards, but they are evaluated as their own market segment. A PSA 10 Japanese Irida SR and an English Irida full-art are distinct grades with separate populations and market prices. Buy whichever you plan to showcase, since crossover value between the two is limited.
The set that brought Hisui to the TCG
Battle Region was the first Japanese expansion released after Pokémon Legends: Arceus launched on January 28, 2022, and its card selection reflects that: Origin Forme Palkia and Dialga, Hisuian regional variants (Decidueye, Arcanine, Electrode), and the fan-favourite supporter duo Irida and Adaman all made their TCG debut in this set.
That timing is its main collector draw today. If your interest is the Hisui-era Pokémon specifically, Battle Region and Astral Radiance are the two sets that concentrated that art and lore most heavily before they were spread across later expansions. The Shining Mew CHR is the other notable pull, featuring an art style that does not reappear in the same form in any later set.
Related Japanese sets in this era
Battle Region (S9a) sits between Star Birth (S9, January 14, 2022), which introduced VSTAR Pokémon and became English Brilliant Stars, and Time Gazer/Space Juggler (S10, April 8, 2022), whose content also feeds Astral Radiance EN. For the full breakdown, see the Time Gazer vs Space Juggler guide.
For the full Sword & Shield era mapping in one place, the Japanese Pokémon sets to English equivalents guide covers every JP-to-EN pairing.
FAQ
Is Battle Region the same as Astral Radiance?
Battle Region (S9a) is the primary Japanese source for Astral Radiance EN, but not the only one. English Astral Radiance also drew cards from the Japanese Time Gazer and Space Juggler sets (S10), and a small number of S9a cards were held back and printed in Lost Origin instead.
What cards from Battle Region went to Lost Origin instead of Astral Radiance?
A handful of S9a cards were printed in English Lost Origin (September 9, 2022) rather than Astral Radiance. The specific cards can be confirmed via Limitless TCG's S9a set list, which shows the English destination for each card individually.
How many cards are in Battle Region S9a?
Battle Region has 100 cards in the base set, per the Serebii set listing, plus additional secret-rare variants. English Astral Radiance has 189 cards plus 27 secret rares and a 30-card Trainer Gallery subset, for a much larger total.
Are Japanese Battle Region cards legal in English tournaments?
No. Pokémon Organized Play events in English-speaking regions require English-language cards. Japanese Battle Region cards are valid only at domestic Japanese events or those explicitly permitting any-language play.
What is the Trainer Gallery in Astral Radiance?
The Trainer Gallery is a 30-card insert subset exclusive to English Astral Radiance (and select international releases), numbered TG01–TG30. It features trainer-and-Pokémon artwork similar in style to the JP CHR and Character Rare rarities. It has no direct equivalent in the Japanese Battle Region set.
Find in-stock Battle Region booster packs and Astral Radiance booster boxes from independent shops at DexHaul's Japanese Pokémon cards collection. DexHaul is independent and unofficial: not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures Inc., or The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Battle Region and Astral Radiance finds from independent shops.