Explosive Walker (S2a, 2020) English Equivalent: Rebel Clash and Darkness Ablaze
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 5 min read
Explosive Walker (S2a) has no single English equivalent.
Released in Japan in May 2020, this Sword & Shield-era set divided its card pool across two English expansions: Rebel Clash (SWSH02, May 2020) and Darkness Ablaze (SWSH03, August 2020). It is one of a handful of Japanese sets from the Sword & Shield era whose cards required two English boxes to cover, rather than a clean one-to-one mapping.
If you own the Japanese box and want to compare cards to English prints, or if you are looking to import S2a, this guide maps the full picture. See the complete Japanese-to-English set guide for the broader era overview.
Set mapping at a glance
The table below shows S2a alongside both of its English counterparts. The set code, release dates, and format differences are listed for each.
| Japanese set | Set code | JP release | English set(s) | EN code | EN release | Packs per box | Cards per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explosive Walker | S2a | May 29, 2020 | Rebel Clash | SWSH02 | May 1, 2020 | 30 (JP) / 36 (EN) | 5 (JP) / 10 (EN) |
| Explosive Walker | S2a | May 29, 2020 | Darkness Ablaze | SWSH03 | August 14, 2020 | 30 (JP) / 36 (EN) | 5 (JP) / 10 (EN) |
To find exactly which card numbers from S2a landed in which English set, the full S2a card list on Limitless TCG shows every card's JP print alongside any English prints it received and the set they appeared in.
On this page 5 sections
What's inside the Japanese S2a box
The standard Japanese S2a set contains 70 cards, plus a layer of secret rares beyond that number. Each booster box holds 30 packs of 5 cards each, totalling 150 cards per box.
The set is also referred to as "Explosive Flame Walker" in some markets, including the UK. Both names refer to the same set with the same code (S2a); the naming variation comes from seller translation rather than any official distinction.
| Format | JP S2a box | EN Rebel Clash box | EN Darkness Ablaze box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packs per box | 30 | 36 | 36 |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| Total cards | 150 | 360 | 360 |
| Language | Japanese | English | English |
| Set size (standard) | 70 cards | 192 cards | 189 cards |
| S2a cards present | All 70 | Partial | Remainder |
The English set sizes reflect full expansion counts; Rebel Clash and Darkness Ablaze each draw from multiple Japanese source sets, not from S2a alone. S2a contributed to both, but neither English set is exclusively S2a.
Why the split across two English sets
The Sword & Shield era ran Japanese set releases roughly every six to eight weeks. English releases followed on a longer cadence, and each English set absorbed cards from two or more Japanese sources simultaneously.
S2a fell squarely between two English print cutoffs. The cards Pokémon Company International had access to in time for Rebel Clash's print run were folded into SWSH02. The remaining S2a designs became part of Darkness Ablaze (SWSH03) three months later.
This is different from the main S2 set, which maps much more cleanly to Rebel Clash. If you are researching the S2 side of that equation, see the Rebellion Crash (S2) English equivalent guide for that mapping.
Japanese or English: which to buy
Price per pack
The Japanese S2a box (30 packs of 5 cards) costs roughly £6–£7 GBP per pack from import sellers, observed October 12, 2026. English Rebel Clash boxes (36 packs of 10 cards) are currently observed at around $330–$340 USD per box from independent sellers, with Darkness Ablaze running slightly lower at around $260–$280 USD.
Both English boxes have a larger pack count and double the cards per pack. Neither contains exclusively S2a cards.
Play legality
S2a is a Japanese-language set. Most tournament formats require English cards, or Japanese cards with an official English equivalent.
Since the vast majority of S2a designs have English prints in Rebel Clash or Darkness Ablaze, players can use those equivalents. Importing S2a purely for play is not necessary: the English versions exist and are legal where the JP cards are not.
Grading
PSA, CGC, and Beckett all grade Japanese cards. The Serebii S2a card list provides full card numbers for submission forms. Japanese prints of S2a cards are distinct from their English equivalents for grading purposes and carry separate population counts.
Language and collector angle
The Japanese S2a box is the only product that presents these cards in their original Japanese packaging and printing. For collectors who focus on Japanese-language sealed product or who want the authentic S2a box art, no English equivalent reproduces that. The English split across two sets is a direct consequence of the localization schedule, not a designed product difference.
For a broader look at how other Japanese Sword & Shield sets map to their English counterparts, the VMAX Climax (S8b) guide covers a similar case study where a Japanese set has no clean English equivalent.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rebel Clash contain all the Explosive Walker cards?
No. Rebel Clash received a portion of S2a's card pool at its May 2020 release, with the remaining designs appearing in Darkness Ablaze (August 2020).
Neither set alone covers all 70 standard S2a cards.
Why did Explosive Walker split across two English sets instead of one?
S2a was released in Japan between the print cutoffs for two English sets. Pokémon Company International assigned S2a designs to Rebel Clash and Darkness Ablaze based on production timing, not set theme. The result is a split that requires both English sets to match the full Japanese S2a pool.
Can I use Explosive Walker Japanese cards in Pokemon TCG tournaments?
Most official formats require English-language cards. Because nearly all S2a designs have English prints in Rebel Clash or Darkness Ablaze, the English equivalents are the correct cards for tournament play. Verify specific card legality against the S2a print history on Limitless TCG before submitting a deck list.
Is Explosive Walker still available to import?
Yes. Japanese S2a booster boxes and individual packs remain available from import sellers as of October 2026. Prices vary by seller and currency; the listings above reflect observed prices on that date from independent shops.
What is the set code for Explosive Walker?
S2a. It is part of the Sword & Shield era of the Japanese Pokemon TCG, sitting between S2 (Rebellion Crash) and S3 (Infinity Zone) in the release order.
Browse all Japanese TCG sets, import booster boxes, and single cards from independent shops at DexHaul's Japanese cards collection. Dexhaul is independent and not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Explosive Walker and Sword & Shield-era Japanese product from independent shops.