Pokémon Scale World vs Moncolle: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Buy Scale World if you want trainer-and-Pokémon dioramas at a precise 1/20 scale. Buy Moncolle if you want the widest possible species coverage at a lower per-figure price.
Both lines are official, licensed products from major Japanese toy makers. The question is what you are actually building: a posed scene from a specific region, or a shelf that eventually covers every Pokémon ever made.
At a Glance
| Scale World (Bandai Candy) | Moncolle (Takara Tomy) | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Bandai Candy | Takara Tomy |
| Scale | 1/20 (consistent across figures) | Not to scale (display proportions) |
| Standard height | Approx. 4-7 cm depending on Pokémon | Approx. 5 cm (MS), 10 cm (ML) |
| MSRP per figure (Japan) | ~330-550 yen | ~660-1,320 yen |
| Observed US price | $10-$60+ per set, observed Oct 9, 2026 | $9.95-$26 per figure, observed Oct 9, 2026 |
| Trainer figures | Yes, included in region sets | No |
| Blind box | Some sets | No (open packaging) |
| Generations covered | Select regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Kalos, Paldea) | All generations (Gen 1 through Gen 9) |
| US availability | Import shops only | Wide: game stores, import shops |
On this page 7 sections
What Is Pokémon Scale World?
Scale World is a Bandai Candy line that builds every figure, trainer and Pokémon alike, at exactly 1/20 scale. That means a 6-foot trainer figure stands around 9 cm tall, and the Pokémon beside them are sized to match.
Each release is region-themed: Kanto brings Ash, Professor Oak, and the original 151; Kalos brings Serena and the Gen 6 starters. You can pose the whole cast together because the proportions actually work out.
The format is a candy toy, sold as individual blind boxes in Japan. Import shops break sets down by figure or sell them as complete region lots. The Scale World collector guide covers every released region and what each set includes.
What Is Moncolle?
Moncolle is short for Monster Collection, Takara Tomy's long-running Pokémon figure range. It is the closest thing to a physical Pokédex: new figures release alongside each game generation, and the back catalog covers species from Gen 1 through Gen 9.
The standard MS series runs about 5 cm per figure and retails for under $10 in Japan. The ML line handles larger Pokémon, and the Mega and Primal sub-lines added Mega Evolutions and Primal forms when those were current in the games.
Packaging is open (not blind box), so you choose exactly which Pokémon you are buying. That matters when you are tracking down a specific species for a shelf or a desk.
Where Scale World Wins
Trainer figures at the same scale
This is Scale World's defining edge. No other current official Pokémon figure line includes trainers at a consistent scale with the Pokémon themselves.
A 1/20-scale Ash stands next to a 1/20-scale Pikachu and the proportions look right. Moncolle is Pokémon-only: every trainer, researcher, and rival is absent. If the person matters as much as the Pokémon in your display, Scale World is the only option.
Diorama-ready region sets
Scale World releases are designed to work together. Buying the full Kanto set gives you a cohesive cast with matching proportions. The Paldea Eevee Evolutions set places all the Eeveelution forms from that region at the same 1/20 scale, making it a shelf-ready display with no mixing required.
Moncolle figures have no unified scale relationship. A Charizard ML figure will tower over an MS Pikachu in a way that reflects Pokédex lore but not real-world display harmony.
Where Moncolle Wins
Every species, every generation
Moncolle is the only official figure line to track the full Pokédex across generations. Scale World covers select Pokémon per region release: important species from each game get a figure, but hundreds of others do not.
Completionists building a species-by-species shelf will find Moncolle far more practical. You can browse the Serebii Moncolle listings to check which series covers a specific Pokémon before buying.
Lower cost per figure
A standard Moncolle MS figure runs $9.95-$10.99 at most US import shops, observed October 9, 2026. Scale World single figures imported from Japan start around $10 for the smaller starters but climb to $39 for standalone large Pokémon like Charizard.
If you are buying dozens of figures across multiple generations, the per-unit cost difference adds up fast.
Open packaging: no blind-box luck required
With Moncolle, what you see on the package is what you get. Scale World's blind-box format means buying duplicates to complete a set, which raises the effective cost further.
The Deciding Question
Ask yourself: are you a displayer or a completionist?
Displayers care about how the shelf looks as a whole. Scale World's consistent 1/20 scale and trainer figures produce a scene, not just a lineup. Buy the Kanto set and you have a coherent slice of Pokémon history in miniature.
Completionists want the figure for any Pokémon they care about, which means needing Gen 4 and Gen 7 species that Scale World has never released. Moncolle is the practical choice here: it is available at more US shops, costs less per figure, and covers every generation.
One more consideration: Scale World is primarily a Japanese import product. Pricing depends on import markup and shipping, and availability for older region sets fluctuates. Moncolle figures for current generations appear reliably at game stores and online shops in the US.
Q4 gift note: if you are buying for someone else, Moncolle's open packaging makes it easier to confirm you are getting the right Pokémon. Scale World sets make a strong gift when the recipient collects a specific region, but confirm the region before buying. For broader gift options in this category, see the guide to Pokémon statues and resin figures and the Scale World collector guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Scale World and Moncolle?
Scale World (Bandai Candy) builds every figure at a consistent 1/20 scale and includes trainer characters alongside Pokémon. Moncolle (Takara Tomy) covers far more species across all generations but does not include trainers and is not built to a single consistent scale.
Does Moncolle have trainer figures?
No. Moncolle covers Pokémon species only. If you want officially scaled trainer figures, Scale World is the only current option.
Is Scale World still being made?
Yes. Bandai Candy continues to release new Scale World sets alongside current Pokémon games and anniversaries. The Paldea region Eevee Evolutions set is a recent example.
New region releases are announced through Bandai Candy's official channels at bandai.co.jp.
Can I buy Scale World figures in the US without importing?
Scale World is a Japanese product and does not have a wide US retail presence. Most US buyers purchase through import shops. Moncolle figures for current-generation Pokémon are easier to find at US specialty and hobby stores.
Which line is better for a child's first Pokémon figure?
Moncolle. The figures are sturdier, clearly labeled, and sold individually at lower prices. Scale World is better suited to display collectors who already know which region sets they want.
Browse both lines and compare prices across independent shops at DexHaul's Pokémon figures collection. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with Bandai, Takara Tomy, or The Pokémon Company.
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