Legendary Heartbeat (S3a, 2020) English Equivalent: Vivid Voltage
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Japanese Legendary Heartbeat (S3a) is the set behind English Vivid Voltage.
S3a released in Japan on July 10, 2020, per Limitless TCG. The English counterpart, Vivid Voltage (VIV), arrived on November 13, 2020. Both versions introduced Amazing Rares, a rarity class that had never appeared in the Pokémon TCG before that release.
Legendary Heartbeat to Vivid Voltage: Set Mapping at a Glance
| Detail | Japanese: Legendary Heartbeat (S3a) | English: Vivid Voltage (VIV) |
|---|---|---|
| Set code | S3a | VIV |
| Release date | July 10, 2020 | November 13, 2020 |
| Total cards | 85 | 203 (including secret rares) |
| Cards per pack | 7 | 10 |
| Packs per booster box | 20 | 36 |
| Amazing Rares | 10 (debut) | 10 (same cards) |
| Key VMAX cards | Pikachu VMAX, Togekiss VMAX | Pikachu VMAX, Togekiss VMAX |
| Language | Japanese | English |
S3a is the primary Japanese source for Vivid Voltage. With 85 cards, S3a is considerably smaller than VIV's 203 total cards. The gap exists because English sets draw from multiple Japanese releases and promotional products in a single print run, folding in cards from other sources alongside the S3a core.
The key cards map directly. Every Amazing Rare from S3a appears in VIV with identical artwork. The VMAX cards, V cards, and the core trainer and energy suite all have English counterparts in Vivid Voltage.
DexHaul's Japanese sets and English equivalents reference page covers Sword & Shield through the Mega Evolution era.
On this page 6 sections
What Changes Between the Japanese and English Box
| Feature | JP S3a Booster Box | EN VIV Booster Box |
|---|---|---|
| Packs per box | 20 | 36 |
| Cards per pack | 7 | 10 |
| Total cards per box | 140 | 360 |
| Language | Japanese only | English |
| Card stock | Thinner, single holofoil layer | Standard SWSH English stock |
| Official MSRP per pack | 165 yen (pokemon-card.com) | $3.99 USD at US retail |
The physical product differs meaningfully in size. A Japanese S3a box holds 20 packs of 7 cards for 140 cards total. The English VIV booster box holds 36 packs of 10 cards for 360 cards total.
On secondary markets as of October 2026, sealed Japanese S3a boxes are observed between $180 and $406 USD across DexHaul listings, while VIV booster boxes start around $519 USD. The English box delivers more total cards, but the Japanese box carries a scarcity premium as sealed copies become harder to find six years after release.
Key Card Crosswalk
All 13 entries below appear in both S3a and Vivid Voltage. For exact Japanese card numbers, the Limitless TCG S3a set page is the most reliable crosswalk source.
| Card | Rarity | In S3a | In VIV (EN number) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikachu VMAX | VMAX / Rainbow Rare (SR) | Yes | Yes (044/185) |
| Togekiss VMAX | VMAX / Rainbow Rare (SR) | Yes | Yes |
| Zarude V | V | Yes | Yes (016/185) |
| Rayquaza | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Zarude | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Raikou | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Jirachi | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Suicune | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Tapu Koko | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Latios | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Virizion | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Yveltal | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
| Shaymin | Amazing Rare | Yes | Yes |
Every S3a Amazing Rare appears in VIV with identical artwork and foil treatment. The card numbering differs between the Japanese and English versions; see the Limitless TCG Vivid Voltage set page for the full English crosswalk.
Pokemon Card Game Sword & Shield Legendary Heartbeat Japanese Booster Box (20 Packs)
$406.00 USD
Japanese or English: Which Should You Buy?
Price per pack
At launch MSRP, Japanese S3a packs were 165 yen each (approximately $1.50 USD at 2020 exchange rates). English VIV packs retailed at $3.99 USD.
In October 2026, sealed Japanese S3a boxes are observed at $180 to $406 USD on DexHaul; the VIV booster box is observed at around $519 USD. The 6-year-old Japanese product carries a collector premium over bulk English packs.
Play legality
Both S3a and VIV cards are legal in Expanded format as of October 2026. Neither set is currently Standard-legal following Sword & Shield rotation.
Japanese-language cards are fully legal in official Pokémon TCG play. Most Regional Championships and League Cups expect an English-language reference card when running Japanese copies. Confirm with your local organizer before building a Japanese S3a Expanded deck.
Language and collecting
Japanese cards from the Sword & Shield era use thinner card stock than English prints, with a single holofoil layer that produces a crisper, sharper reflection. Collectors chasing the Amazing Rare art often prefer the Japanese version for display. English VIV cards are easier to sleeve, fit standard binders, and are readable by anyone at a glance.
Grading
PSA and BGS both grade Japanese and English cards. Japanese copies frequently score higher surface grades because they bypass the bulk US retail distribution chain. Pikachu VMAX and the Amazing Rares, particularly Rayquaza and Jirachi, are the most frequently submitted S3a cards for grading based on collector community reports.
The Amazing Rare Mechanic: Why These Cards Matter
Amazing Rares are the reason most collectors still hunt for S3a boxes in 2026.
Each of the 10 Amazing Rare cards requires three or more different Energy types to use its attack. That multi-Energy requirement makes them unplayable in virtually any competitive deck. They were designed specifically as collector showcase pieces, not as competitive tools.
The artwork is full-bleed illustrated with a distinctive rainbow foil pattern across the entire card surface. Every Amazing Rare features a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon: Raikou, Latios, Jirachi, Virizion, Shaymin, Tapu Koko, Rayquaza, Suicune, Yveltal, and Zarude.
Here is the practical collector insight: with only 85 total cards in S3a and 10 Amazing Rares among them, the proportion of Amazing Rare slots per box is higher than in VIV's 203-card set. A sealed Japanese S3a booster box (20 packs, 7 cards each, 140 cards total) gives a statistically stronger chance of pulling multiple Amazing Rares per box compared to opening the same number of cards from the larger English set. For dedicated Amazing Rare hunters, the Japanese box is the more efficient choice.
The Amazing Rare mechanic also debuted in this exact set and was never repeated in later sets at the same scale. That debut status, combined with the Sword & Shield era's strong secondary market presence, makes S3a a set that collectors return to even six years on. For a broader look at similar SWSH-era Japanese-to-English mappings, see the Eevee Heroes (S6a) to Evolving Skies guide, which covers another high-demand collector set from the same era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Legendary Heartbeat the same as Vivid Voltage?
S3a Legendary Heartbeat is the primary Japanese source for English Vivid Voltage, but the two are not identical sets. VIV has 203 total cards compared to 85 in S3a, because English releases draw from multiple Japanese products in a single print run. All S3a Amazing Rares and key VMAX cards appear in VIV with the same artwork.
How many Amazing Rares are in Legendary Heartbeat?
There are 10 Amazing Rares in S3a: Raikou, Latios, Jirachi, Virizion, Shaymin, Tapu Koko, Rayquaza, Suicune, Yveltal, and Zarude. The same 10 appear in Vivid Voltage with identical artwork and foil treatment.
Are Japanese S3a cards legal in Pokémon TCG tournaments?
Both S3a and VIV cards are currently legal in Expanded format. Neither is Standard-legal. Japanese cards are allowed in official play; bring an English reference card to most organized events and confirm legality with your tournament organizer before building a Japanese deck.
What are the main chase cards in Legendary Heartbeat?
Pikachu VMAX (the Gigantamax Pikachu full art), Togekiss VMAX, and the full 10-card Amazing Rare set are the top pulls. Among Amazing Rares, Rayquaza and Jirachi attract the strongest collector demand based on observed secondary market activity.
Is a Japanese S3a box better for hunting Amazing Rares than Vivid Voltage packs?
Yes, in terms of hit rate per card opened. S3a has 85 cards and 10 Amazing Rares; VIV has 203 cards and the same 10 Amazing Rares.
Opening a 140-card Japanese box gives a higher Amazing Rare concentration than opening the equivalent number of cards from the larger English set. The Japanese box costs more per unit, but yields more Amazing Rare pulls per box on average.
Browse sealed Japanese Legendary Heartbeat and English Vivid Voltage products from independent shops at DexHaul's Japanese cards collection. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Legendary Heartbeat and Vivid Voltage sealed products from independent shops.