Incandescent Arcana (S11a): Japanese to English Guide (2022)
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 4 min read
Incandescent Arcana (S11a, released September 2, 2022 in Japan) did not map cleanly to a single English set. Its 94 cards split across two releases: Silver Tempest (SWSH12), out November 11, 2022, absorbed roughly 70% of them, while Crown Zenith (SWSH12.5), out January 20, 2023, picked up the rest as its Galarian Gallery subset.
That split matters if you are deciding which box to buy.
The regular card pool, including all the V and VMAX cards, ended up in Silver Tempest. The high-rarity alternate-art trainers and special-illustration cards from S11a went to Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery (numbered GG01 onward). Buying Silver Tempest to hunt an S11a alternate-art trainer is a common mistake; those cards are only in Crown Zenith.
On this page 5 sections
Set mapping at a glance
| Japanese set | Code | JP release | English set | EN release | Cards from S11a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incandescent Arcana | S11a | Sep 2, 2022 | Silver Tempest (SWSH12) | Nov 11, 2022 | ~65 of 94 (~70%) |
| Incandescent Arcana | S11a | Sep 2, 2022 | Crown Zenith (SWSH12.5) | Jan 20, 2023 | ~24 of 94 (~25%) |
Sources: Limitless TCG S11a card list and Bulbapedia Crown Zenith.
What changed between the Japanese and English boxes
| Feature | Japanese S11a box | English Silver Tempest | English Crown Zenith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packs per box | 10 | 36 | No standard booster box (boosters only) |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| Card pool | 94 cards | ~195 cards (with Trainer Gallery subset) | 159 + GG subset |
| High-rarity alternate arts | Yes (included) | Trainer Gallery (TG prefix) | Galarian Gallery (GG prefix) |
| Language | Japanese only | English | English |
| Play legality | Not legal in Pokémon TCG tournaments outside Japan | Standard-legal at release (now Expanded) | Standard-legal at release (now Expanded) |
Japanese S11a packs have 5 cards, not 10. That is standard for Sword and Shield era Japanese sets.
A sealed Japanese box gives you 50 cards total, while a Silver Tempest booster box gives you 360. Pack-for-pack, the Japanese box is denser for chasing specific high-rarity cards because the pool is much smaller.
Card-number crosswalk: top cards from S11a
The table below covers notable cards. Full card lists are on Limitless TCG (S11a) and Bulbapedia (S11a).
| Card | JP number (S11a) | English set | EN number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Vulpix VSTAR | 058/068 | Silver Tempest (SWSH12) | SWSH12 numbering |
| Regidrago VSTAR | 040/068 | Silver Tempest (SWSH12) | SWSH12 numbering |
| Serperior VSTAR | 007/068 | Silver Tempest (SWSH12) | SWSH12 numbering |
| Lugia VSTAR (SAR) | 120/068 (SR) | Silver Tempest (SWSH12) | Trainer Gallery / silver-border |
| Trainer full-art alternate arts (SARs) | Various 069+ (SR) | Crown Zenith (SWSH12.5) | GG prefix (Galarian Gallery) |
Exact English card numbers vary. Verify individual cards on Limitless TCG before buying. DexHaul is independent/unofficial and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Pokemon Card Incandescent Arcana (S11a) Japanese Booster Box - With Shrink
$102.00 USD
Japanese or English: which should you buy?
Price per pack
The Japanese S11a booster box (10 packs, observed at $82–$102 USD on October 12, 2026) works out to roughly $8–$10 per pack. Individual Silver Tempest booster packs are observed at $13–$22 USD each from independent shops. For the regular card pool, the Japanese import is meaningfully cheaper per pack.
Play legality
Japanese S11a cards are not legal for Pokémon TCG tournament play outside Japan. If you play competitively, you need Silver Tempest or Crown Zenith editions. Both English sets are now in the Expanded format; verify current rotation at pokemon.com.
Language and grading
Japanese cards grade at the same tier scales with PSA and BGS as English cards. Japanese packaging is often tighter-printed with fewer misprints, which some graders note as an advantage. See our guide to authenticating Pokémon products before buying sealed imports from private sellers.
Which set for the alternate arts
This is the single most important thing to know about S11a. The standard VSTAR and V cards (Alolan Vulpix VSTAR, Regidrago VSTAR, Serperior VSTAR) are in Silver Tempest.
The ultra-high-rarity alternate-art trainer cards from S11a landed in Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery subset. If you are chasing a specific trainer SAR from S11a, Crown Zenith packs are where to look, not Silver Tempest.
Frequently asked questions
Is Incandescent Arcana the same as Silver Tempest?
No. Silver Tempest (SWSH12) contains roughly 70% of S11a's card pool, but the two sets are not identical. Crown Zenith (SWSH12.5) holds the remaining 25% as its Galarian Gallery subset, and Silver Tempest adds additional cards not in S11a at all.
When did Incandescent Arcana release in Japan?
September 2, 2022, according to the official Pokémon Card Game Japan page. The English equivalent, Silver Tempest, followed on November 11, 2022.
Does S11a contain Lugia VSTAR?
Yes. Lugia VSTAR appears in Incandescent Arcana and its English counterpart Silver Tempest (SWSH12), where it was one of the most-sought cards at the time of release. Verify the exact card number on Limitless TCG.
Are Japanese Incandescent Arcana cards legal to play?
Japanese S11a cards are not legal in official Pokémon TCG tournaments outside Japan. For competitive play, you need the English Silver Tempest or Crown Zenith versions. Both English sets are in the Expanded format as of 2026.
Which English set has the S11a alternate-art trainers?
Crown Zenith (SWSH12.5). The trainer alternate arts from S11a appear in Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery (GG-prefix cards), not in Silver Tempest. Silver Tempest holds the standard V and VSTAR cards from S11a.
Browse Japanese import Pokémon TCG sets, including Incandescent Arcana booster boxes and packs, at DexHaul Japanese Cards. All listings are from independent merchants.
Catch 'em all
More Incandescent Arcana and Japanese TCG imports from independent shops.