Fusion Arts (S8, 2021) English Equivalent: Fusion Strike
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 5 min read
Fusion Arts (S8) is the Japanese set behind English Fusion Strike, but the two are not a one-to-one swap.
Japanese Fusion Arts (S8) released on September 24, 2021. The English equivalent, Fusion Strike (SWSH8), followed on November 12, 2021. Most S8 cards debut in Fusion Strike, but the English set is considerably larger: it also absorbed overflow cards from Eevee Heroes (S6a) and the Blue Sky Stream and Skyscraping Perfection duo (S7R/S7D), bringing the English total to 284 cards against the Japanese core of around 100 numbered cards.
That three-set compilation is the reason Fusion Strike remains one of the biggest physical SWSH releases and why some of its most-wanted pulls, including the Espeon VMAX and Umbreon VMAX alternate arts, are not from Fusion Arts at all. They came from Eevee Heroes (S6a), which you can read about in our Eevee Heroes English equivalent guide.
Set mapping at a glance
Fusion Strike drew from three Japanese Sword and Shield releases. Here is where each set's cards ended up, confirmed by Serebii and Limitless TCG's card-by-card database:
| JP Set | Code | JP Release | EN Set | EN Release | Coverage in FST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Arts | S8 | Sep 24, 2021 | Fusion Strike | Nov 12, 2021 | Core set; nearly all S8 cards debut here |
| Eevee Heroes | S6a | May 28, 2021 | Fusion Strike (+ Evolving Skies) | Nov 12, 2021 | ~31 S6a cards, including Espeon and Umbreon VMAX alt arts |
| Blue Sky Stream | S7R | Aug 27, 2021 | Fusion Strike (+ Evolving Skies) | Nov 12, 2021 | Select overflow cards not included in Evolving Skies |
| Skyscraping Perfection | S7D | Aug 27, 2021 | Fusion Strike (+ Evolving Skies) | Nov 12, 2021 | Select overflow cards not included in Evolving Skies |
All four source sets used the Sword and Shield era's numbered rarity system: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Double Rare (RR), Ultra Rare (SR), High Rare (HR), and Ultra Rare (UR). English Fusion Strike uses the same rarity names with different numbering across its expanded card pool.
On this page 5 sections
What's different in the box
Japanese and English packs are formatted differently and are not interchangeable for tournament play. Here is a side-by-side of what each format delivers:
| Feature | JP Fusion Arts (S8) | EN Fusion Strike (SWSH8) |
|---|---|---|
| Set code | S8 | FST / SWSH8 |
| Release date | Sep 24, 2021 | Nov 12, 2021 |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Packs per booster box | 30 | 36 |
| Official MSRP per pack | Yen price on pokemon-card.com (JP) | $4.99 USD MSRP |
| Tournament legality | Japan (Expanded) | International (Expanded) |
| Language | Japanese only | English only |
| Battle style mechanic | Fusion, Single Strike, Rapid Strike | Fusion Strike, Single Strike, Rapid Strike |
Japanese packs contain five cards, so one box yields 150 cards. English booster boxes hold 36 packs of 10, giving 360 cards per box. The per-pack card count difference is the biggest practical gap for anyone comparing box-to-box value.
Top chase cards: which Japanese set they came from
Knowing the source set matters when you are grading or cross-referencing cards between Japanese and English prints. The table below shows the most-searched Fusion Strike pulls and their original Japanese set:
| Card | JP Source Set | JP Code | Appears in EN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mew VMAX | Fusion Arts | S8 | Fusion Strike | Flagship card of S8; Double Rare and SR versions |
| Gengar VMAX (Alt Art) | Fusion Arts | S8 | Fusion Strike | One of the most-pulled alt arts in the SWSH era |
| Inteleon VMAX | Fusion Arts | S8 | Fusion Strike | Fusion/Rapid Strike hybrid; strong competitive card |
| Espeon VMAX (Alt Art) | Eevee Heroes | S6a | Fusion Strike | From S6a overflow, NOT from S8 itself |
| Umbreon VMAX (Alt Art) | Eevee Heroes | S6a | Fusion Strike | From S6a overflow, NOT from S8 itself |
The Espeon and Umbreon VMAX alt arts are genuinely from Eevee Heroes (S6a). Searching specifically for S6a packs gives you a better hit rate at those two cards than S8 packs, which do not contain them. For the full card-by-card S8 list, see Limitless TCG's Fusion Arts database.
Japanese or English: four ways to decide
Price per pack
Japanese S8 single packs are available from independent sellers from around $10.99 to $14.99 USD, observed October 12, 2026. English Fusion Strike packs list at a $4.99 USD MSRP but trade considerably higher on the secondary market given the set's age. The import premium on S8 is real: factor in the five-card pack format before comparing raw pack prices.
Play legality
Both versions are Expanded-legal but not Standard-legal. For international Play! Pokemon events, you need English FST prints: Japanese cards are only legal in Japan.
Collectors have no legality constraint either way.
Language and grading
Japanese cards are printed on thicker card stock and often show tighter holo registration than their English counterparts, which graders note at PSA and CGC. Japanese Mew VMAX and Gengar VMAX consistently grade well in raw form. English alt art copies of the Espeon and Umbreon VMAX command strong premiums in graded slabs, since those two cards are technically from Eevee Heroes (S6a) rather than Fusion Arts and carry that crossover context.
Which version is harder to find
Japanese S8 booster boxes trade at a significant premium over their original MSRP, with listings observed at $400 to $506 USD in October 2026. English Fusion Strike booster boxes also trade well above MSRP in the secondary market. Neither version is in print production now.
For the complete Japanese import guide and a broader comparison of which SWSH-era sets have English equivalents, see our Japanese sets and English equivalents hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fusion Arts the same as Fusion Strike?
Fusion Arts (S8) is the Japanese core set that maps to English Fusion Strike (FST), but they are not identical products. Fusion Strike is a larger compilation set that absorbed three Japanese releases: S8 (Fusion Arts), S6a (Eevee Heroes), and portions of S7R/S7D (Blue Sky Stream and Skyscraping Perfection).
When did Fusion Arts release in Japan?
Fusion Arts (S8) released in Japan on September 24, 2021. The English equivalent, Fusion Strike, released on November 12, 2021, about seven weeks later.
Are Espeon VMAX and Umbreon VMAX from Fusion Arts?
No. The Espeon VMAX and Umbreon VMAX alternate arts both originated in Eevee Heroes (S6a), released May 28, 2021. They appear in English Fusion Strike because some S6a cards were held over for that release rather than included in Evolving Skies.
How many cards are in Fusion Arts versus Fusion Strike?
Fusion Arts (S8) has approximately 100 numbered cards in the standard set, with additional SR, HR, and UR rarities above that number. English Fusion Strike totals 284 cards, including Secret Rares, reflecting its compilation of multiple Japanese sets.
Can Japanese Fusion Arts cards be used in English tournaments?
No. Japanese-language cards are only legal in official Japanese tournament events.
For Play! Pokemon events outside Japan, you need English Fusion Strike prints. Both versions are Expanded-legal but not Standard-legal in 2026.
Browse Japanese Fusion Arts booster packs and English Fusion Strike sealed products from independent sellers at DexHaul's Japanese cards collection. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Fusion Arts and Fusion Strike sealed products from independent shops.