Infinity Zone (S3, 2020): Japanese Equivalent of Darkness Ablaze
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Japanese Infinity Zone (S3, released July 10, 2020) is the source set for English Darkness Ablaze, which landed 35 days later on August 14, 2020.
If you are shopping for Eternatus VMAX, Centiskorch VMAX, or Crobat V in Japanese, S3 is the set you need. It is also one of the tighter JP-to-EN localization gaps in the Sword & Shield era, meaning the import window was short.
Set mapping at a glance
The table below shows the direct relationship between S3 and Darkness Ablaze. Both feature the same headline VMAX Pokémon, but the box structure and card count differ significantly, as is standard across all SWSH-era JP and EN sets. Full card lists are available at Serebii (Infinity Zone) and Serebii (Darkness Ablaze).
| S3 Infinity Zone (JP) | Darkness Ablaze (EN) | |
|---|---|---|
| Set code | S3 | SWSH3 |
| Release date | July 10, 2020 | August 14, 2020 |
| JP-to-EN gap | N/A | 35 days |
| Numbered cards | ~100 | 189 |
| Secret rares (above base count) | Yes | Yes |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Packs per booster box | 30 | 36 |
| Cards per booster box | 150 | 360 |
| Series | Sword & Shield (JP) | Sword & Shield (EN) |
On this page 5 sections
What's different in the box
An English Darkness Ablaze booster box contains 360 cards: 36 packs of 10. A Japanese S3 Infinity Zone box contains 150 cards: 30 packs of 5. The EN box yields 2.4 times as many cards, which matters when you are hunting for specific pulls.
The EN set also includes cards that do not exist in S3. English sets in the Sword & Shield era routinely added full-art trainer secret rares and alternate art cards beyond the JP base count, which is part of why the EN numbered set reaches 189 cards against S3's approximately 100.
| Component | S3 Infinity Zone (JP) | Darkness Ablaze (EN) |
|---|---|---|
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Packs per booster box | 30 | 36 |
| Total cards per box | 150 | 360 |
| EN-only full art trainer SRs | Not included | Yes |
| Rainbow/Gold rares | Not included | Yes |
| Language | Japanese | English |
| Play legality | JP official events | EN/international events |
One important distinction: S3a Legendary Heartbeat, which released in Japan on August 28, 2020, is a separate set. It is not Darkness Ablaze.
Legendary Heartbeat's card pool went mostly to the English set Champion's Path (September 2020) and partially into Vivid Voltage. Buyers searching Darkness Ablaze for cards from S3a will not find them.
Top card crosswalk
The card numbers shift between the JP and EN printings. The same card can carry a different collector number in S3 versus Darkness Ablaze. The five highest-demand cards from this era are listed below; see Serebii's full S3 and Darkness Ablaze set pages for the complete numbering.
| Card | S3 (JP) number | Darkness Ablaze (EN) number |
|---|---|---|
| Eternatus VMAX | 082/100 | 117/189 |
| Centiskorch VMAX | 027/100 | 034/189 |
| Crobat V | 044/100 | 104/189 |
| Inteleon VMAX | 054/100 | 079/189 |
| Rose (full art SR) | 073/100+ | 168/189 (SR) |
Crobat V deserves a separate note. It became one of the most-played draw-engine Pokémon of the entire Sword & Shield competitive era, used across dozens of archetypes. Japanese players could test with it 35 days before the English release, which is meaningful in a format where new cards shift the meta quickly.
Japanese or English?
This is not a new set with an active secondary market spike. Both S3 and Darkness Ablaze are 2020 products. The question today is purely about collecting goals, not timing an import window.
Price per pack
Single S3 Infinity Zone packs are available from independent sellers for around $13.99 USD per pack (observed October 12, 2026). EN Darkness Ablaze singles run approximately $11.70–$19.95 per pack, observed the same date.
JP S3 booster boxes range from about $374–$480 for 30 packs (150 cards); EN Darkness Ablaze booster boxes range from about $286–$562 for 36 packs (360 cards). At most price points, the EN box delivers more cards per dollar spent, because the higher EN box price is spread across 2.4 times as many cards.
Play legality
Japanese S3 cards are not legal in English-language official tournaments. If you intend to play in EN local events or Regionals, you need the Darkness Ablaze EN versions. For casual play or collection, the JP versions are identical in terms of card art and effect text (English-speaking players sometimes use JP cards in casual settings with a decklist reference).
Language and display
The Japanese cards carry Japanese text only, with the set symbol printed on the lower left of the card. For collectors who display cards visually, the JP printing has narrower card borders and slightly different foiling textures.
For graded submissions, both PSA and BGS accept Japanese cards, though some graders note that JP card stock can differ in centering tolerance from EN. Confirm with your grading service before submitting raw Japanese cards for high-value grades.
Grading
There is no inherent premium or discount for JP versus EN versions of S3 and Darkness Ablaze cards at major grading services. The same PSA or BGS 10 criteria apply regardless of language. Population reports for JP and EN are tracked separately; consult the PSA population report for current JP versus EN pop counts on specific cards if graded copies matter to your collection goals.
For Japanese import shopping, DexHaul's Japanese cards section surfaces in-stock S3 listings and related SWSH-era Japanese sets from independent sellers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Darkness Ablaze and Infinity Zone the same set?
They are the JP and EN versions of the same era's content. Infinity Zone (S3, JP) released July 10, 2020; Darkness Ablaze (SWSH3, EN) released August 14, 2020. Most cards appear in both, but EN includes additional full-art and rainbow secret rares not found in the JP base set.
What set is S3 in English?
S3 Infinity Zone maps to Darkness Ablaze, the third main English Sword & Shield expansion (set code SWSH3, released August 14, 2020).
Does Darkness Ablaze contain cards from Legendary Heartbeat (S3a)?
No. Legendary Heartbeat is a separate Japanese set released August 28, 2020, after Darkness Ablaze. S3a cards went mainly to Champion's Path (September 2020) and Vivid Voltage (November 2020) in English.
Is Crobat V in Infinity Zone?
Yes. Crobat V appears in both S3 Infinity Zone (JP) and Darkness Ablaze (EN). It was one of the most-played draw-engine cards of the SWSH era and is present in the booster pool for both versions.
Which box has better value, S3 or Darkness Ablaze?
At current secondary market prices (observed October 12, 2026), an EN Darkness Ablaze booster box typically yields more cards per dollar spent, since it contains 360 cards versus 150 in the JP S3 box, and EN box prices do not scale 2.4x higher to compensate. For language preference or display collecting, the JP box is the only option for Japanese-text copies.
Browse in-stock Japanese Pokémon TCG sets from the Sword & Shield era, including S3 Infinity Zone boxes and singles, at DexHaul's Japanese cards collection, where independent sellers from multiple regions list current inventory. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More S3 Infinity Zone and Darkness Ablaze listings from independent shops.