Guardians Rising Japanese (SM2): English Equivalent (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 13, 2026 · 6 min read
Guardians Rising has two Japanese equivalents, not one. Japanese SM2L (Alolan Moonlight) and SM2S (Islands Waiting for You) both released on February 3, 2017, and their cards were combined into the English Guardians Rising set on April 28, 2017.
That same-day release is the detail most collectors miss. Guardians Rising draws from two separate 50-card Japanese expansions, not one.
Buy only Alolan Moonlight, and you skip every card from Islands Waiting for You, including Lurantis GX and Oranguru. Buy only Islands Waiting for You, and you miss Metagross GX and Aqua Patch.
Here is the full mapping, and what it means for buying the set in Japanese.
Set mapping at a glance
| Japanese set | Code | JP release | Cards (base + SR) | English set | EN release | EN base count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Moonlight | SM2L | Feb 3, 2017 | 50 + 10 SR/UR/HR | Guardians Rising | Apr 28, 2017 | 145 + 65 SR |
| Islands Waiting for You | SM2S | Feb 3, 2017 | 50 + 10 SR/UR/HR |
The English Guardians Rising set (Serebii) has 145 numbered cards plus 65 ultra rare and secret rare cards above that number, for a total of 210 cards. The two Japanese source sets contribute roughly equal numbers of unique cards.
On this page 7 sections
What is in each Japanese box
Both SM2L and SM2S are standard Japanese booster boxes: 30 packs of 5 cards each, 150 cards per box. Japanese Sun and Moon packs have a guaranteed rare or better in every pack.
Alolan Moonlight (SM2L) focuses on Alolan forms and steel types. Its headliners are Metagross GX, Wishiwashi GX, and the Trainer card Aqua Patch, which became one of the defining search-and-retrieval Items of the Sun and Moon standard format. The UR print of Aqua Patch (numbered 060/050) is the secret rare most collectors hunt from this box.
Islands Waiting for You (SM2S) leans into tropical Alolan Pokémon. Lurantis GX and Kommo-o GX are its pull targets, alongside Passimian and Oranguru, two Pokémon that arrived in English Guardians Rising with significant competitive potential (Oranguru's Instruct ability became a staple draw engine in later formats).
Neither Japanese box has a guaranteed GX in every box. Typical box odds for a given GX RR are around one per two to three boxes, similar to other SM-era sets.
Top card crosswalk: Japanese numbers to English
| Card | JP set | JP number | JP rarity | EN Guardians Rising number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua Patch | SM2L | 047/050 (U) / 060/050 (UR) | Uncommon / Hyper Rare | 119/145 (U) / 152/145 (HR) |
| Metagross GX | SM2L | 035/050 (RR) | Double Rare | 85/145 |
| Wishiwashi GX | SM2L | 014/050 (RR) | Double Rare | 38/145 |
| Lurantis GX | SM2S | 014/050 (RR) | Double Rare | 15/145 |
| Kommo-o GX | SM2S | 022/050 (RR) | Double Rare | 100/145 |
| Rescue Stretcher | SM2L | 048/050 (U) | Uncommon | 130/145 (U) |
| Olivia | SM2S | 042/050 (U) | Uncommon | 120/145 (U) |
Card number assignments verified via Limitless TCG (SM2L). English numbering follows the combined set's alphabetical-within-type ordering, so a card's JP number does not predict its EN number.
Metagross GX RR 035/050 SM2L Alolan Moonlight - Pokémon Card Japanese Sun & Moon
$4.41 USD
Japanese or English: which should you buy?
Price per pack
Japanese SM2L and SM2S booster packs observed at roughly $3 to $4 per pack in October 2026 (based on current merchant listings), which is comparable to English Guardians Rising single packs at $39 to $57 each. At current secondary market prices, the Japanese route is not significantly cheaper than the English route on a per-card basis, particularly because you need both JP boxes to mirror the full EN set.
Play legality
Japanese cards are not legal in English-language Pokémon TCG tournament play. For competitive Standard or Expanded formats, the English Guardians Rising printings are the cards you need. The Japanese versions play identically at kitchen-table level, and the card text reads the same once you look it up.
Language and grading
PSA and CGC both grade Japanese singles. Japanese SM2L and SM2S cards often grade exceptionally well because Japanese booster packs use individual wrappers that protect cards from print-to-open handling damage. If Aqua Patch UR or a Metagross GX Full Art is on your grading list, the Japanese print is worth considering.
The same-day release detail: why it matters for import collectors
Most Sun and Moon era Japanese sets released several weeks apart. SM2L and SM2S are the exception: they landed simultaneously on February 3, 2017. That means no "first box only" shortcut exists for this set.
Collectors who research "Japanese Guardians Rising equivalent" and buy only one box routinely end up with roughly half the GX pool and none of the other set's key Trainers.
The equivalent purchase for a Japanese SM2 collector is one SM2L box and one SM2S box. That gives you 300 cards (60 packs at 5 cards each) covering most of the card pool that became Guardians Rising in English, before the additional promo reprints and Tapu GX cards added during the English localization process.
Finding SM2 cards today
Both sets are out of print in Japan. Single cards from SM2L and SM2S remain easy to source via Japanese TCG sellers; the Aqua Patch UR in particular has stayed in steady supply.
Sealed booster boxes are the harder find, with prices varying widely by condition and seller. The Double Blaze (SM10) import guide covers the same research process for a later SM-era set.
For the English side, Guardians Rising single packs are consistently available. Sealed booster boxes are the higher-cost option; for buyers focused on specific singles, sourcing individual cards (Aqua Patch UR, Metagross GX Full Art) from a single seller is often more cost-effective than cracking boxes. See the Japanese sets English equivalents hub for the full SM-through-modern mapping, including which JP sets skipped to multiple EN products.
Q4 gift angle: SM2 as a collector gift
A sealed SM2L or SM2S booster pack makes a distinctive gift for a Sun and Moon era collector. The era is recent enough that cards are still readily playable, and Aqua Patch remains one of the most recognizable Trainer Items of the format. Pair it with the 2026 Pokémon gift guide for broader budget options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese equivalent of Guardians Rising?
Two Japanese sets: SM2L (Alolan Moonlight) and SM2S (Islands Waiting for You), both released on February 3, 2017 in Japan. Their cards were combined into English Guardians Rising, released April 28, 2017.
Do I need to buy both SM2L and SM2S to get all the Guardians Rising cards?
Yes. SM2L and SM2S cover separate portions of the English set's card pool. Buying only one of them means missing roughly half the unique cards, including either Metagross GX (SM2L) or Lurantis GX (SM2S) depending on which box you skip.
Are Japanese Guardians Rising cards worth more than English ones?
Values vary by specific card and condition; no investment or price-direction claims are made here. Japanese holos and secret rares from sealed packs often grade well, which can affect graded card prices. Check a current marketplace for today's prices rather than relying on any article.
Can I use Japanese SM2 cards in an English Pokémon TCG tournament?
No. Official Pokémon TCG events in English-speaking regions require English-language cards. Japanese SM2L and SM2S cards are only legal for kitchen-table or Japanese-language tournament play.
How many packs are in a Japanese SM2 booster box?
30 packs, with 5 cards per pack, for 150 cards per box. English Guardians Rising booster boxes contain 36 packs of 10 cards each.
Browse current listings for both Japanese and English Guardians Rising singles and sealed product on the DexHaul Japanese TCG Cards collection, sourced from independent shops. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Guardians Rising and SM2 finds from independent shops.