Dark Rush (BW4): English Equivalent Dark Explorers (2012)
By Dexhaul Team · October 30, 2026 · 7 min read
Japanese Dark Rush (BW4) is the direct source set for English Dark Explorers, released on December 16, 2011, and its English equivalent arrived May 9, 2012. Dark Rush brought 69 standard cards and 7 secret rares to Japan, while the English release expanded that to 108 standard cards and 3 secret rares under the Black & White label.
The dark rush english equivalent dark explorers pairing is well-known for one reason above all others: Darkrai EX. This set was Darkrai EX's debut in the Trading Card Game, and it arrived in both languages carrying the card that would define the BW competitive format for years.
Set mapping: Dark Rush to Dark Explorers
The gap between the two releases was 145 days, calculated from December 16, 2011 to May 9, 2012 (sources: Serebii Dark Rush and Serebii Dark Explorers). That is the standard BW-era window between a Japanese release and its English counterpart. Only one of the nine BW-era EN sets missed that five-month window by more than a week.
For a complete overview of every Japanese set and its English counterpart, see the DexHaul Japanese to English set guide.
| Detail | Japanese: Dark Rush | English: Dark Explorers |
|---|---|---|
| Set code | BW4 | BW5 (EN series) |
| Release date | December 16, 2011 | May 9, 2012 |
| Standard cards | 69 | 108 |
| Secret rares | 7 | 3 |
| Total cards | 76 | 111 |
| Packs per booster box | 30 | 36 |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Set focus | Dark-type Pokémon, Darkrai EX debut | Expanded card pool including Kyogre EX, Groudon EX, and Tornadus EX |
The EN set is noticeably larger. English Dark Explorers includes 39 additional numbered cards beyond the Japanese Dark Rush lineup. In the BW era, TPCi routinely combined cards from adjacent Japanese sets or inserted cards held back from earlier EN releases to build out the full 108-card EN set.
Dark Explorers is the fifth set in the English Black & White series. Dark Rush is the sixth Japanese BW release.
On this page 7 sections
What is different in the box
Opening a sealed Japanese Dark Rush pack gives you 5 cards. An English Dark Explorers pack gives you 10. That is the most immediate difference for collectors and openers.
| Feature | JP Dark Rush (BW4) | EN Dark Explorers |
|---|---|---|
| Pack contents | 5 cards | 10 cards |
| Set theme | Dark-types: Darkrai, Sharpedo, Houndoom, Weavile | Dark-types plus Legendary EX trio: Raikou, Entei, Suicune-line |
| EX cards (standard numbered) | Darkrai EX, Shaymin EX, Empoleon | Darkrai EX, Raikou EX, Entei EX, Kyogre EX, Groudon EX, Tornadus EX |
| Notable non-EX rares | Weavile, Sharpedo, Houndoom | Eevee, Espeon, Umbreon, Empoleon, Haxorus |
| Language | Japanese only | English |
| Card legality (2026) | Not Standard-legal; check regional Expanded rules | Not Standard-legal; check regional Expanded rules |
The Legendary Beasts trio (Raikou EX, Entei EX, Suicune-adjacent) gave EN Dark Explorers a wider collector appeal than the JP source set. Raikou EX and Entei EX are in the EN set with both regular and Full Art versions; only Darkrai EX appeared in the original Japanese Dark Rush in that same dual-version format.
Card-number crosswalk: top cards
Card numbers shift completely between JP and EN. The Japanese Dark Rush set runs 1 through 69 for standard cards, with secret rares above that. When the cards crossed into English Dark Explorers, they were renumbered into the 108-card EN sequence alongside the additional cards unique to the EN printing.
| Card | EN Dark Explorers number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Darkrai EX | 63/108 (regular holo) · 107/108 (Full Art) | Debut set for Darkrai EX; two versions in both JP and EN |
| Raikou EX | 38/108 (regular holo) · 105/108 (Full Art) | EN-expanded card; not in JP Dark Rush standard numbering |
| Entei EX | 13/108 (regular holo) · 103/108 (Full Art) | EN-expanded card; not in JP Dark Rush standard numbering |
| Kyogre EX | 104/108 (Full Art) | EN-expanded card |
| Groudon EX | 106/108 (Full Art) | EN-expanded card |
| Tornadus EX | 108/108 | EN-expanded card |
| Eevee | 84/108 | Popular Espeon/Umbreon evolution starter; prominent in BW playsets |
| Espeon | 48/108 | Psychic-type Rare |
| Umbreon | 60/108 | Dark-type Rare; key thematic fit for the set |
Card numbers above 108 in this set (109/108, 110/108, 111/108) are the three secret rares. These cards carry full-art treatment and are the highest-end pulls in any Dark Explorers pack.
Japanese or English: which to buy
Both versions of the set are strictly collector territory in 2026. Neither Dark Rush nor Dark Explorers is Standard-legal in any current Pokémon TCG format.
Price per pack
Sealed Japanese Dark Rush booster packs and sealed English Dark Explorers booster packs both carry significant collector premiums (observed October 30, 2026). A single sealed EN booster pack lists at over $500 USD from independent merchants on DexHaul. JP packs in comparable condition are typically priced similarly once import costs are factored in.
Singles from both sets vary widely based on condition and card.
Play legality
Neither set is Standard-legal. Expanded format availability depends on your region and local tournament organizer. For competitive play in 2026, always verify current legality with Limitless TCG before building a deck around any card from this era.
Language considerations
English Dark Explorers cards are tournament-legal for English-language formats where Expanded is offered. Japanese Dark Rush cards can be used in Japanese-format tournaments. For collectors who want the wider card selection and easier readability, EN is the practical choice.
For collectors chasing the original Darkrai EX print with Japanese text, JP Dark Rush is the source.
Grading
English cards from Dark Explorers are generally more in demand for grading through Western services such as PSA and BGS. Darkrai EX Full Art (107/108) in gem-mint condition represents one of the key BW-era graded targets. JP Dark Rush Darkrai EX submissions are less common in the Western market but do appear.
Both languages are accepted by the major grading companies.
What the EN set added and what collectors miss from JP
The English Dark Explorers set expanded the JP Dark Rush lineup by 39 numbered cards. Most of those additions are EN-exclusive in their placement: Raikou EX, Entei EX, Kyogre EX, Groudon EX, and Tornadus EX all appear in EN Dark Explorers but were not part of the original JP Dark Rush print run.
What JP collectors keep is the original dark-type flavor of the set. Dark Rush was designed as a cohesive dark-type set, and the JP version carries that theme without dilution. Every pack from JP Dark Rush feeds into that focused dark aesthetic.
The EN version is more varied, which suits collectors targeting the Legendary Beast EX trio but dilutes the pull rate for any single card.
One collector note: the JP Dark Rush secret rares (7 of them) outnumber the EN Dark Explorers secret rares (3). If you specifically want a full set of secret rares from the original print, JP Dark Rush has more to chase, not fewer.
Dark-type Pokémon cards as a gift this Q4
BW-era dark-type singles make memorable gifts for collectors who grew up with the Black & White format. Darkrai EX 63/108 at around $21 USD (observed October 30, 2026) is an accessible entry point from this set, and the Full Art 107/108 is a premium option for a collector who already owns the regular holo version.
For gift ideas beyond this era, the DexHaul 2026 holiday gift guide covers TCG products across all formats and budgets. The Pokémon Christmas gifts guide for 2026 narrows the list to what is shipping in time for the holiday season.
Frequently asked questions
What is the English equivalent of Japanese Dark Rush?
Japanese Dark Rush (BW4, released December 16, 2011) became English Dark Explorers (released May 9, 2012). The English set is the fifth set in the Black & White EN series and carries 108 standard cards compared to Dark Rush's 69.
Is Dark Rush the same as Dark Explorers?
They are not the same set. Dark Rush is the Japanese source set (BW4); Dark Explorers is the expanded English release. The EN set includes all the key Dark Rush cards plus 39 additional cards not in the JP print run, including Raikou EX, Entei EX, and several Legendary Pokémon EX.
Is Darkrai EX in Dark Rush or Dark Explorers?
Both. Darkrai EX debuted in Japanese Dark Rush (BW4) on December 16, 2011, and appeared in English Dark Explorers as cards 63/108 (regular holo) and 107/108 (Full Art) on May 9, 2012.
Are Dark Rush or Dark Explorers cards Standard-legal in 2026?
No. Both sets are from the 2011 to 2012 Black & White era and are not Standard-legal. They may be usable in Expanded or Legacy formats depending on your region; check with your local organizer or Limitless TCG for current rulings.
How do I read the Japanese Dark Rush cards?
Japanese Dark Rush cards are printed in Japanese. The card name, attacks, HP, and text all appear in Japanese script. For play purposes, you can reference the English Dark Explorers card with the same collector number (adjusted for the EN numbering) to understand the card's rules text.
Browse in-stock Dark Rush and Dark Explorers singles, packs, and vintage BW-era cards from independent merchants at DexHaul Japanese Cards. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Dark Explorers and Dark Rush singles from independent shops.