Brilliant Stars Booster Box (2022): Contents and Pull Rates
By Dexhaul Team · October 28, 2026 · 6 min read
The Brilliant Stars Booster Box contains 36 booster packs with 10 cards each, for 360 cards total. MSRP at launch was $143.64 USD ($3.99 per pack at the standard Sword and Shield era retail price). The set released February 25, 2022, as part of the Sword and Shield series.
Brilliant Stars introduced the VSTAR mechanic and the 30-card Trainer Gallery subset, both debuting in this set. It is the ninth Sword and Shield main set (SWSH09) and the one collectors most commonly reference when discussing VSTAR hits. Independent shops carry sealed boxes in October 2026, with prices from $168.99 USD observed at time of writing.
If you're comparing sealed formats for this set, see the breakdown at Astral Radiance vs Brilliant Stars Booster Box. For the full Sword and Shield set list, check the Pokémon TCG sets reference page.
On this page 9 sections
What's inside the Brilliant Stars Booster Box
Each box contains only booster packs: no accessories, promo cards or box toppers. The 36-pack configuration is standard for all Sword and Shield era booster boxes. The Elite Trainer Box and Pokémon Center ETB are sold separately and include additional accessories.
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brilliant Stars booster packs | 36 | 10 cards per pack; SWSH09 |
| Cards per box (total) | 360 | 36 packs × 10 cards |
| Foil energy | ~36 | One basic energy (often foil) per pack |
| Reverse holo | ~36 | One guaranteed per pack |
| Accessories | None | Booster box only; no coin, sleeves or playmat |
The Trainer Gallery subset contains 30 full-art cards (TG01–TG30) depicting Pokémon alongside their human Trainers. These appear in place of a standard card slot and were new to the format in this set. A full card list is maintained on Bulbapedia with set numbers and rarities.
MSRP and price per pack
Brilliant Stars launched at the standard SWSH-era booster box price. Independent shops had varying prices in October 2026 depending on the seller's region and sourcing. The table below shows prices observed on October 28, 2026.
| Format | Packs | MSRP at launch (USD) | Observed Oct 2026 (USD) | Per pack (observed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booster Box (36 packs) | 36 | $143.64 ($3.99/pack) | From $168.99 | $4.69+ |
| Single booster pack | 1 | $3.99 | From $15.75 | $15.75 |
| Sleeved booster pack | 1 | $4.99 | From $23.99 | $23.99 |
| Elite Trainer Box (9 packs) | 9 | $49.99 | From $180.00 | $20.00+ |
Buying by the box is consistently cheaper per pack than buying individual packs at today's secondary market prices. A sealed booster box from $168.99 works out to $4.69 per pack; individual packs at $15.75 are over three times that rate. The SWSH09 MSRP of $3.99 per pack reflects launch pricing from the official Pokémon TCG product page; secondary market prices reflect the full set now being out of print.
Rarity tiers and what to expect per box
The Pokémon Company does not publish official pull rates for any TCG set. The numbers below are drawn from player-reported opening data and represent averages, not guarantees. Individual boxes vary.
| Rarity tier | Symbol | Typical per box | Notable cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| V | Double rare ◆◆ | 2–4 | Arceus V, Charizard V, Mimikyu V |
| VSTAR / VMAX | Double rare ◆◆ | 1–2 | Arceus VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR |
| Full Art (Ultra Rare) | Five-star ★★★★★ | 1–2 | Arceus VSTAR (FA), Supporters |
| Rainbow / Gold Secret | Six-star ★★★★★★ | 0–1 | Arceus VSTAR Rainbow, Gold Items |
| Trainer Gallery (TG) | TG prefix | 3–5 | TG25 Cynthia / Garchomp, TG30 Arceus |
| Reverse Holo | Any common/uncommon | 36 (1 per pack) | Guaranteed every pack |
The Trainer Gallery is where the most sought-after non-ultra content lives. Cards like TG25 Cynthia and Garchomp (full-art paired) were some of the most pulled and traded cards from this set on release. The rainbow rare Arceus VSTAR (193/172) and the Shaymin VSTAR rainbow (189/172) remained the set's headline hits.
How Brilliant Stars compares to nearby sets
Brilliant Stars sits between Fusion Strike (SWSH08, November 2021) and Astral Radiance (SWSH10, May 2022). All three use the same 36-pack booster box format. The comparison below covers the factors that actually change between boxes.
| Set | Code | Release (US) | MSRP at launch | Observed Oct 2026 | Introduced mechanic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Strike | SWSH08 | Nov 12, 2021 | $143.64 | Available | Fusion Strike energy type |
| Brilliant Stars | SWSH09 | Feb 25, 2022 | $143.64 | From $168.99 | VSTAR, Trainer Gallery |
| Astral Radiance | SWSH10 | May 27, 2022 | $143.64 | From $157.50 | Radiant Pokémon |
Brilliant Stars is the VSTAR debut set. If the mechanic itself is the draw, this is the correct box. Astral Radiance introduced Radiant Pokémon and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR, appealing to collectors focused on those cards. See Astral Radiance vs Brilliant Stars Booster Box for a side-by-side breakdown.
The price per pack is better to track than the headline box price when comparing SWSH sets, since all boxes hold 36 packs. Check the current price-per-pack guide for a live comparison across every sealed format DexHaul carries.
Release timeline
The dates below are drawn from the official Pokémon TCG product page and player-facing announcements. All years are included since SWSH sets are now fully out of print.
| Milestone | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Official announcement | December 2021 | pokemon.com news |
| Prerelease events (US) | February 19–20, 2022 | pokemon.com |
| Launch date (US) | February 25, 2022 | pokemon.com product gallery |
| Set retired from Standard format | September 2023 | pokemon.com format rotation |
| Still in stock (independent shops) | October 2026 | DexHaul catalogue scan |
Who should buy a Brilliant Stars Booster Box
Buy a Brilliant Stars Booster Box if you want the VSTAR debut set in sealed form. The Trainer Gallery (30 full-art cards featuring iconic Trainers paired with their Pokémon) was exclusive to this set and does not appear in any other English release. Arceus VSTAR, Shaymin VSTAR and the Trainer Gallery hits are the three pulls most associated with this box.
Skip it if you want tournament-legal cards. Brilliant Stars rotated out of Standard format in September 2023. Every card from the set is Expanded or Unlimited legal. Opened product is not suitable for Standard play.
Skip it if you want the best per-pack rate in the SWSH range. Astral Radiance boxes are observed at slightly lower prices in October 2026, and that set also introduced Radiant Pokémon. The two sets serve different collector interests; the Brilliant Stars VSTAR debut is the distinguishing factor here.
Frequently asked questions
How many packs are in a Brilliant Stars Booster Box?
36 packs, with 10 cards per pack. The total card count per sealed box is 360 cards, per the standard Sword and Shield booster box configuration.
What is the MSRP for the Brilliant Stars Booster Box?
The official MSRP at launch was $143.64 USD ($3.99 per pack × 36 packs), per the Pokémon TCG product page. Independent shops priced boxes from $168.99 USD in October 2026, reflecting the secondary market for this out-of-print set.
What set is Brilliant Stars?
Brilliant Stars is Sword and Shield set number nine (SWSH09). It introduced the VSTAR card mechanic and the Trainer Gallery subset, and features Arceus VSTAR as the headline card.
What are the best pull rate targets in Brilliant Stars?
Community data consistently points to Arceus VSTAR (193/172 rainbow rare), TG25 Cynthia and Garchomp (Trainer Gallery full art) and Shaymin VSTAR (189/172) as the most sought-after hits. Official pull rates are not published by The Pokémon Company for any set.
Is the Brilliant Stars Booster Box good value in 2026?
The box-rate price per pack (from $4.69 observed in October 2026) is lower than buying individual packs. The set's appeal is the VSTAR debut and the Trainer Gallery subset, both unique to this set. Whether that justifies the box cost depends on which cards you are targeting.
Find a Brilliant Stars Booster Box
DexHaul searches independent Pokémon shops so you can compare sealed booster boxes in one place. Browse the full range of booster boxes, including Brilliant Stars, at the link below.
Browse Booster Boxes on DexHaul