Pokémon Card 151 vs Shiny Treasure ex: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 6, 2026
Buy Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a) if you want the Kanto nostalgia set with a complete English counterpart and maximum pack count per box. Buy Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) if you want the 115 cards that Paldean Fates never printed, at a significantly lower box price.
Both are Japanese special sets from 2023 serving different collector goals.
At a glance
| SV2a: Pokémon Card 151 | SV4a: Shiny Treasure ex | |
|---|---|---|
| JP release | June 16, 2023 | December 1, 2023 |
| Set type | Standard expansion | High Class Pack |
| JP box contents | 30 packs × 5 cards | 10 packs × 10 cards |
| JP total cards | 210 (165 base + 45 secret) | 360 (190 base + 170 secret) |
| EN equivalent | Pokémon 151 (SV3.5) | Paldean Fates (SV4.5) |
| EN release | September 22, 2023 | January 26, 2024 |
| EN card count | 210 (identical to JP) | 245 (115 fewer than JP) |
| JP-exclusive cards | None | ~115 |
| Box floor (Oct 2026) | $329 | $143 |
Data: Serebii 151; Serebii Shiny Treasure ex. Box prices observed October 6, 2026.
What's different in the box
The two sets are built on completely different box structures. SV2a is a standard Japanese expansion: 30 packs of 5 cards each (150 cards total per box). SV4a is a High Class Pack: 10 packs of 10 cards each (100 cards total per box).
High Class Packs are designed to carry a higher hit rate per pack. Each SV4a pack gives you better odds for rare pulls than a standard expansion pack.
Standard sets trade lower per-pack odds for more total cards per box. SV2a gives you three times as many packs to open.
| Item | SV2a: Pokémon Card 151 | SV4a: Shiny Treasure ex |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Standard expansion | High Class Pack |
| Packs per box | 30 | 10 |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Total cards per box | 150 | 100 |
| Shiny Rare (S) cards | None | 129 |
| Shiny Super Rare (SSR) cards | None | 18 |
| Special Art Rare (SAR) cards | 8 | 8 |
| Theme | Original 151 Kanto Pokémon | Paldean Pokémon shiny variants |
The 129 Shiny Rare cards in SV4a are the headline: full-art shiny versions of Paldean Pokémon that do not exist in standard pack expansions. No other set prints them in this quantity.
The 115 cards Paldean Fates did not print
SV2a is the cleanest JP-to-EN mapping in the modern Scarlet and Violet era. English Pokémon 151 (SV3.5) preserves all 210 JP cards with matching card numbers: JP #001 equals EN #001, through to #210. Every JP pull has a direct EN counterpart.
SV4a is different. Paldean Fates brought 245 of the 360 JP cards to English.
The remaining 115 cards were cut entirely. They have no confirmed EN print as of October 2026, and the only way to own them is to buy the JP set.
Price per pack: what the numbers actually show
The sticker prices make SV4a look dramatically cheaper.
A SV4a box sits at $143 to $148 (observed October 2026). An SV2a box ranges from $329 to $421. That is a large gap in absolute cost.
On a per-pack basis, the gap narrows sharply. SV2a at the $329 floor works out to roughly $11 per pack (30 packs). SV4a at the $143 floor works out to roughly $14.30 per pack (10 packs).
SV2a actually costs less per pack at current prices. SV4a packs carry 10 cards at higher hit rates; SV2a packs carry 5 cards at standard expansion odds.
SV4a costs less to enter. SV2a gives you three times more packs for that higher price.
Japanese or English?
Price per pack
SV2a gives better per-pack value at current prices. For collectors focused on opening volume, SV2a delivers more cards per dollar. SV4a's premium is for exclusive content, not pack economics.
Play legality
Japanese cards are not legal in official Pokémon TCG tournaments unless the event explicitly allows them. For competitive play, buy English Pokémon 151 or Paldean Fates.
Language and collecting
SV2a is popular among bilingual collectors because the JP and EN card numbers match exactly. You can pull JP Mew ex #205 and immediately find the EN counterpart at #205. SV4a does not offer this: the 115 JP-exclusive cards have no EN number, and the shared 245 use different EN numbering.
Grading
PSA and CGC grade Japanese cards at the same tier as English cards. There is no premium or discount for language.
The condition of the card matters; the printing language does not. See the guide to spotting counterfeit Pokémon products before buying sealed Japanese product from unfamiliar sellers.
Both are popular with JP import collectors. SV2a chase: Mew ex SAR #205, Charizard ex SAR #204. SV4a chase: Shiny Charizard ex SSR #232, Shiny Mewtwo ex SSR #225.
Which set to start with
Pokémon Trading Card Game SV4A Scarlet & Violet High Class Booster Box Shiny Treasure Japanese Sealed
$142.99 USD
Start with SV4a if you are new to Japanese imports. The lower box price reduces the risk, and the 10-card packs make each opening feel substantial.
Start with SV2a if you are a Kanto collector. Every original 151 Pokémon gets its card, the JP-to-EN mapping is clean, and the set has a clear gift case to EN collectors who already own the English version.
If you already own Paldean Fates in English, SV4a is the only way to access its 115 JP-exclusive cards. If you own English 151, SV2a still offers the original Japanese printing as a separate collector piece.
For more Japanese import comparisons, see the Mega Dream ex guide and the Wild Force vs Cyber Judge breakdown.
FAQ
Does Paldean Fates have all the same cards as Shiny Treasure ex?
No. Paldean Fates has 245 of the 360 JP cards. About 115 cards from SV4a were cut from the EN release and have no EN print as of October 2026.
Is Japanese Pokémon Card 151 the same as the English 151 set?
In content, yes. The Limitless TCG card list confirms 210 JP cards numbered 1 through 210. English 151 (SV3.5, September 22, 2023) uses the same 210 cards with matching numbers.
Language and print origin are the only differences.
How many packs are in each box?
SV2a Pokémon Card 151: 30 packs of 5 cards (150 cards total). SV4a Shiny Treasure ex: 10 packs of 10 cards (100 cards total).
Which set has more valuable pulls?
SV4a has 129 Shiny Rare cards including Shiny Charizard ex and Shiny Mewtwo ex, the most sought-after pulls in the Scarlet and Violet era. SV2a has Special Art Rare Mew ex and Charizard ex. Both are strong; the SV4a shiny variants are rarer by print volume.
Are Japanese Pokémon cards legal in tournaments?
Not in standard sanctioned play unless the event explicitly allows JP cards. Buy English Pokémon 151 or Paldean Fates for competitive play. JP versions are for collectors and casual play.
Browse Japanese booster boxes from both sets on DexHaul's Japanese cards collection to compare current prices from independent sellers. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.