Collection Sun and Collection Moon (SM1, 2016): English Equivalent Sun and Moon Base Set
By Dexhaul Team · October 15, 2026 · 7 min read
Japanese Collection Sun (SM1S) and Collection Moon (SM1M) launched on December 9, 2016, marking the start of the Sun & Moon era.
Their English counterpart, the Sun & Moon base set (SUM), followed on February 3, 2017: Japanese collectors had an eight-week head start on every GX card in the set.
That gap matters to collectors today. Anyone chasing a sealed Japanese box, a specific GX single, or a graded copy of Espeon GX or Umbreon GX needs to know which Japanese set to look in. This guide gives the full mapping.
At a glance: SM1 to English Sun & Moon
Three Japanese sets together fed the English Sun & Moon base set. Collection Sun and Collection Moon were the two main releases; Expansion Pack Sun & Moon (SM1+), which followed on January 20, 2017, added the three starter GX evolutions and a handful of Alola Pokémon that rounded out the English 149-card set.
| Japanese set | Set code | JP release | English set | EN release | JP card count | EN equivalent cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collection Sun | SM1S | Dec 9, 2016 | Sun & Moon (SUM) | Feb 3, 2017 | 60 + SRs (up to 072/060) | ~60 cards in SUM |
| Collection Moon | SM1M | Dec 9, 2016 | 60 + SRs (up to 069/060) | ~60 cards in SUM | ||
| Expansion Pack Sun & Moon | SM1+ | Jan 20, 2017 | 51 + SRs | ~29 new cards in SUM | ||
| English Sun & Moon base set total | 149 cards + 12 Secret Rares (161 total), Serebii | |||||
Sources: Bulbapedia: Collection Sun, Collection Moon. Card-count overlaps confirmed via Limitless TCG SM1S and SM1M.
On this page 7 sections
What's different in the box
Japanese boosters and English boosters are not the same product. The box format, pack size, and card numbering all differ.
| Detail | JP Collection Sun / Moon (SM1S / SM1M) | EN Sun & Moon (SUM) |
|---|---|---|
| Packs per box | 30 | 36 |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Total cards per box | 150 | 360 |
| MSRP per pack at launch | 150 yen (official Pokémon JP) | $3.99 USD (Pokémon.com) |
| Set pool | SM1S: 60 + SRs; SM1M: 60 + SRs | 149 + 12 SRs (three JP sets merged) |
| Card language | Japanese only | English |
| Tournament legal (Play! Pokémon) | JP cards: Japan-only events | EN cards: international events |
The smaller JP pack size (5 cards vs 10 in English) is the most important structural difference. A JP box gives you 150 card slots from a pool of roughly 60 cards, so you cycle through the set multiple times per box. The EN box pulls from a much larger merged pool of 149 cards, spreading your pulls further.
The GX mechanic: Japan saw it first
Collection Sun and Collection Moon introduced the GX mechanic to the Pokémon TCG on December 9, 2016. English players had to wait until February 3, 2017, to open their first GX cards from a booster.
GX cards carry a one-use GX attack printed in a gold banner at the bottom of the card. They replaced the EX mechanic from the XY era and brought a new card layout: the updated black-border "sword" design that defined every Japanese set through Cosmic Eclipse (SM12, 2019).
Below is the card-number crosswalk for the five most-searched SM1 GX cards, confirmed via Limitless TCG SM1S and SM1M:
| Card | JP set | JP number | EN set | EN number | Rarity (JP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solgaleo GX | SM1S | 001/060 | SUM | 89/149 | RR |
| Espeon GX | SM1S | 024/060 | SUM | 61/149 | RR |
| Lunala GX | SM1M | 001/060 | SUM | 62/149 | RR |
| Umbreon GX | SM1M | 037/060 | SUM | 80/149 | RR |
| Tauros GX | SM1M | 047/060 | SUM | 100/149 | RR |
The Full Art (SR) versions use numbers above the set's base count. Espeon GX SR in Collection Sun is 068/060; Umbreon GX SR in Collection Moon is 063/060. Both are printed only in Japanese in their SM1 form.
Collection Sun or Collection Moon: choose by your target card
The thematic split between the two sets is the part most import guides skip. Collection Sun and Collection Moon are not interchangeable. The GX and SR cards in each set follow the Sun/Moon game version divide.
Collection Sun (SM1S) holds the Day-side cards: Solgaleo GX, Espeon GX, Alolan Ninetales GX, and the Rotom Pokédex UR (072/060). That Rotom Pokédex is a Japan-only Ultra Rare with no direct English equivalent in the base set.
Collection Moon (SM1M) holds the Night-side: Lunala GX, Umbreon GX, Incineroar GX, Tauros GX, Team Skull Grunt SR (065/060), and Lillie SR (062/060).
That last point matters for graders. The Lillie SR from Collection Moon was among the first Lillie cards ever printed and predates the English Lillie Full Art by several months. Copies observed for sale today reach into the high three-figures.
Japanese or English: which to buy?
Price per pack
Japanese booster packs from Collection Sun and Collection Moon carry five cards rather than ten, so cost-per-card is roughly double that of an English pack on a raw count basis.
Sealed Japanese boxes are vintage product: prices observed on independent shops as of October 2026 start at around $269 CAD for the base SM01 box. English sealed boxes of Sun & Moon base set sit in a similar vintage-tier range.
Play legality
Japanese cards are legal only in Japanese-format Play! Pokémon events. For international tournament play, the English Sun & Moon (SUM) cards are required.
If you are building a deck for a local league or regional, buy the English version. For a collection display or grading submission, language does not affect eligibility.
Language and artwork
The Japanese print uses hiragana and katakana card names, with attack text in Japanese. For a collector who reads the cards, English makes them more accessible.
For a display-focused collector, many graders (PSA, CGC, Beckett) accept Japanese cards and designate them on the label. Japanese prints also tend to come out of the press with sharper centering standards on average, which matters for top-grade submissions.
See our guide to Japanese Pokémon sets and their English equivalents for the full SM and SV era mapping in one place.
Grading and resale
Collection Moon's Umbreon GX SR and the Rotom Pokédex UR from Collection Sun are two of the most-submitted SM-era Japanese singles to PSA.
Japanese-exclusive Full Art SRs from this set carry a different card number from their English counterpart, which grading companies record on the label. That makes a PSA-graded Japanese Espeon GX SR a distinct item from an English one. Both exist in the market; which one you want depends on your collecting focus.
SM1 as a gift: what to know before buying sealed
Collection Sun and Collection Moon sealed boxes make a meaningful gift for a Japan-focused collector or anyone who wants to own a piece of the era that introduced GX cards. One thing to flag: these are vintage sealed products, not current retail releases. Pack artwork varies (Solgaleo pack for SM1S, Lunala pack for SM1M), and condition of the outer box matters for display-grade purchases.
For gift ideas across every budget and Pokémon category, the DexHaul holiday gift guide covers everything from single packs to sealed boxes. For graded singles from this era, the product authenticity guide covers what to check before buying.
FAQ
What is the English equivalent of Japanese Collection Sun (SM1S)?
Collection Sun (SM1S) is one of three Japanese sets that fed the English Sun & Moon base set (SUM, February 3, 2017). The other two are Collection Moon (SM1M) and Expansion Pack Sun & Moon (SM1+, January 20, 2017).
Is Umbreon GX in Collection Sun or Collection Moon?
Umbreon GX (RR 037/060) is in Collection Moon (SM1M). Espeon GX (RR 024/060) is in Collection Sun (SM1S). The Sun/Moon thematic split is consistent throughout both sets.
Are Japanese SM1 cards tournament legal?
Japanese Collection Sun and Collection Moon cards are legal only in Japanese-format Play! Pokémon events, not international formats. For competitive play in any other region, you need the English Sun & Moon (SUM) prints.
What is the Rotom Pokédex UR from SM1S?
The Rotom Pokédex (072/060) in Collection Sun is a Ultra Rare (UR) supporter card printed only in Japanese in this set. It has no direct equivalent in the English Sun & Moon base set, making it a Japan-exclusive chase card from this era.
When did Collection Sun and Collection Moon release?
Both sets released on December 9, 2016 in Japan. The English Sun & Moon base set followed on February 3, 2017.
Browse Japanese Pokémon TCG cards and sealed product on DexHaul to find Collection Sun, Collection Moon, and the full range of SM-era Japanese sets from independent shops, in your currency. DexHaul is an independent search engine and is not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Collection Sun, Collection Moon, and SM-era Japanese cards from independent shops.