Matchless Fighters (S5a, 2021) English Equivalent: Chilling Reign
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 5 min read
Japanese Matchless Fighters (S5a) became English Chilling Reign, with a smaller share of its cards later appearing in Evolving Skies.
S5a released in Japan on March 19, 2021. The English counterpart, Chilling Reign (SwSh06), followed on June 18, 2021. For a complete overview of which Japanese sets map to which English releases, see our Japanese Pokémon sets and English equivalents guide.
The split mapping is S5a's defining feature for collectors. Most cards went directly to Chilling Reign, but a portion of supporter cards and some Galarian-form Pokémon from S5a were held back for Evolving Skies (SwSh07), released August 27, 2021.
Set at a glance
| JP: Matchless Fighters | EN Primary: Chilling Reign | EN Secondary: Evolving Skies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set code | S5a | SwSh06 / CRE | SwSh07 / EVS |
| Release date | March 19, 2021 | June 18, 2021 | August 27, 2021 |
| Regular cards in set | 70 cards | 198 cards | 203 cards |
| Secret rares | ~15 (numbered above 070) | ~34 (numbered above 198) | ~37 (numbered above 203) |
| Share of S5a cards here | Source set | Majority of S5a cards | Smaller share of S5a cards |
The size gap between 70 Japanese cards and 198 English cards reflects how The Pokémon Company builds English sets. Chilling Reign drew from S5a plus other Japanese sets released in the same period, including the Single Strike Master and Rapid Strike Master sets from January 2021.
The full card-by-card crosswalk is available on Limitless TCG's S5a set page, which maps each S5a card number to its English equivalent.
On this page 6 sections
What makes S5a notable
The set is built around Pokémon with strong fighting energy themes. Blaziken VMAX is the set's signature card, sitting at number 008/070 in the standard range and 085/070 as a secret rare HR (hyper rare) print.
The Galarian forms of the legendary birds also feature prominently. Galarian Zapdos V appears as a secret rare at 075/070 in S5a. It is one of the most sought-after cards from this set on secondary market, since the Galarian birds printed in S5a received a wider English release in both Chilling Reign and Evolving Skies.
The unique detail for S5a collectors: the set introduced the "RRR" designation (Triple Rare) for Pokémon VMAX cards in Japan, which corresponds to Double Rare in English sets from the same era.
Card-number crosswalk
S5a card numbers and their English equivalents shift significantly because Chilling Reign reorders its cards by type and dex number. Use the table below for confirmed key cards, then cross-reference the full set on Serebii's Chilling Reign set list.
| Pokémon | S5a number (JP) | English set | Card type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blaziken VMAX | 008/070 (RRR), 085/070 (HR) | Chilling Reign | VMAX |
| Galarian Zapdos V | 075/070 (secret rare) | Chilling Reign / Evolving Skies | V (alt art) |
| Galarian Moltres V | S5a secret rare | Chilling Reign / Evolving Skies | V |
| Galarian Articuno V | S5a secret rare | Chilling Reign | V |
| Calyrex VMAX (Shadow Rider) | Separate JP set | Chilling Reign | VMAX |
Note: Shadow Rider Calyrex and Ice Rider Calyrex in Chilling Reign EN did not come from S5a. Those cards originated in a separate Japanese expansion. S5a's primary contribution to Chilling Reign is the Swords of Justice line, the Galarian birds, and Blaziken.
What is different in the box
The Japanese S5a booster box holds 30 packs of five cards each. The English Chilling Reign booster box holds 36 packs of ten cards. No guaranteed hit exists in either version.
The Pokémon Center produced exclusive ETBs for Chilling Reign in both Shadow Rider and Ice Rider Calyrex variants. These Japan-only-equivalent premium products do not exist for S5a.
S5a packs are Japanese-only text. For grading submissions, PSA and CGC categorize the two printings separately. The Galarian Zapdos V secret rare from S5a (075/070) has its own PSA census distinct from any Chilling Reign or Evolving Skies English print.
Japanese or English?
Price per pack
Secondary-market S5a Japanese booster boxes are observed at around £230 GBP (October 12, 2026). The Chilling Reign English booster box runs roughly $385 USD from sellers on secondary market, and the ETB is available in the $139-$200 USD range from independent shops.
Play legality
S5a and Chilling Reign share the same game text on every card. Both are legal in the Expanded format. Standard format rotated them out in the 2023-24 season.
For sanctioned play, check with your tournament organizer about language requirements before bringing Japanese copies.
Language
S5a is printed in Japanese. For collectors displaying the Galarian birds or Blaziken, Japanese prints carry separate serial numbers and population report data. For kitchen-table play or deck building, the English Chilling Reign version is easier to verify during a game.
The split mapping
S5a's cards landing in both Chilling Reign and Evolving Skies means that importing an S5a booster box delivers cards spread across two English releases. If you want a complete Chilling Reign set, buying the English booster box is more direct. If you want the Japanese originals of the Galarian birds and Blaziken as collectors' items, the S5a box is the source.
Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Chilling Reign Elite Trainer Box (Pokemon Center) Shadow Rider Calyrex
$199.99 USD
FAQ
What is the English equivalent of Matchless Fighters S5a?
Chilling Reign (SwSh06), released June 18, 2021, is the primary English equivalent of Japanese Matchless Fighters S5a, which released March 19, 2021. A smaller share of S5a cards appeared later in Evolving Skies (SwSh07), released August 27, 2021.
Why do some S5a cards appear in Evolving Skies instead of Chilling Reign?
English sets combine cards from multiple Japanese releases and can split a JP set's cards across two consecutive English releases. Certain trainer cards and some Galarian-form Pokémon from S5a were assigned to Evolving Skies rather than Chilling Reign during localization. The Limitless TCG S5a page shows which cards went where.
What is the most valuable card from Matchless Fighters S5a?
Galarian Zapdos V (075/070 secret rare) and Blaziken VMAX HR (085/070) are among the most graded cards from this set on secondary market. Verified prices change frequently; check current listings before buying or selling.
Is the Japanese Blaziken VMAX from S5a different from the English Chilling Reign version?
The card art and game text are identical. The Japanese copy carries set code S5a with its Japanese card number; the English copy carries the CRE set code with its English number. PSA and CGC grade the two printings on separate population reports.
Are S5a Japanese cards legal in Pokémon tournaments?
S5a cards share the same game text as Chilling Reign English cards and are generally accepted in Expanded format events. Language requirements vary by tournament organizer, so confirm before competing. Standard format rotated both sets after the 2023-24 season.
Browse Japanese Pokémon TCG booster boxes, Chilling Reign sealed products, and Galarian-era single cards from independent shops at DexHaul Japanese Cards. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
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