Japanese Premium Trainer Box ex (SVB, 2023): Import Guide
By Dexhaul Team · October 12, 2026 · 6 min read
The Japanese Premium Trainer Box ex (SVB) launched the entire Scarlet & Violet TCG era on January 20, 2023. No English equivalent was ever released.
If you want the physical launch moment of the SV era in Japanese, importing the SVB is the only path. The box combines packs from both inaugural SV sets, Scarlet ex (SV1S) and Violet ex (SV1V), plus exclusive promo cards unavailable anywhere else. This guide maps what you get, how SVB content relates to the English market, and what import prices look like right now.
On this page 6 sections
SVB at a glance
The SVB set code appears on Limitless TCG, which lists every promo card exclusive to this box. The release date of January 20, 2023, is confirmed by the official Pokémon Card Game website alongside Serebii's SV1S entry, where Scarlet ex and Violet ex launched on the same day.
| Detail | Japanese (SVB) | English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Premium Trainer Box ex | None released |
| Set code | SVB | N/A |
| Release date | January 20, 2023 | N/A |
| Packs included | Scarlet ex (SV1S) + Violet ex (SV1V) | Not available as a bundle; SV1 sold separately in EN |
| Promo cards | SVB-exclusive promos (see Limitless) | Not distributed in the EN market |
| Play legality | Japan Standard-legal at release | EN SVB promos are not legal in official EN events |
| Observed import price | $56.85–$144.99 USD (multiple sellers, October 2026) | |
The closest EN products from the SV1 era are the individual Scarlet & Violet Base Set ETBs and booster boxes, but those are single-set products. The PTB ex bundled both launch sets with exclusive promos in one box: that combination never appeared in the English market.
What comes in the box
The SVB is built around the two sets that opened the Scarlet & Violet era. Packs come from Scarlet ex (SV1S) and Violet ex (SV1V), the Japanese source sets for what the English market eventually received as Scarlet & Violet Base Set (SV1). The exclusive SVB promos sit on top of that pack content.
| Component | Notes |
|---|---|
| Booster packs | From Scarlet ex (SV1S) and Violet ex (SV1V) |
| Promo cards | SVB-exclusive; full list at Limitless TCG |
| Card sleeves | Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex design |
| Trainer accessories | Card dividers, damage counters |
For the complete card list and card numbers, check the Limitless SVB page directly. That listing is the most reliable source for which promos were included and is updated if additional printings appear.
The sets inside: Scarlet ex and Violet ex
Scarlet ex (SV1S) and Violet ex (SV1V) opened the Scarlet & Violet series on January 20, 2023. They introduced the ex mechanic and debuted Special Illustration Rares. The English market received a single combined set, Scarlet & Violet Base (SV1), on March 31, 2023, drawn from both Japanese sets but without the SVB promos.
For collectors building a Japanese SV set run, the PTB ex is often the most cost-efficient entry: packs from both inaugural SV sets in one purchase, with exclusive promos included.
DexHaul's Super Electric Breaker vs Surging Sparks comparison covers a more recent SV-era import decision if you're building forward from the SVB rather than backward.
Japanese or English: which to import?
Price per pack
At observed prices of $56.85–$144.99 USD for a sealed PTB ex (October 2026), the per-pack cost depends on how many packs are in the box. Sellers typically list the pack count in their product descriptions; verify that before buying. Compared to purchasing SV1S and SV1V booster boxes separately, the PTB ex often comes in at a competitive per-pack rate and adds the exclusive promos.
Play legality
SVB promos are not legal in official English-format Pokémon TCG events. For casual play or display, this does not matter.
For competitive play in English events, SVB cards cannot substitute for their EN counterparts. The SV1S and SV1V pulls inside the PTB ex are Japanese-language versions of EN Standard-legal cards, but Japanese prints are excluded from official EN play.
Language and grading
Japanese cards from SV1S and SV1V grade well with PSA, BGS, and CGC. Graded Japanese Scarlet & Violet ex SIRs (Special Illustration Rares) have a documented market, particularly the Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex SIRs. If grading is part of your plan, confirm with the grading company which Japanese SV-era cards they currently accept before committing to a large import purchase.
Condition and seals
The SVB released in 2023, which means three-year-old sealed stock varies in condition. Listings that mention original shrink wrap, Japanese-text box art, and intact tamper seals on the packs are worth the higher price. An unsealed box is not necessarily resealed, but confirm with the seller before buying.
Importing the SVB: what to expect
The PTB ex remains in stock at several independent Japanese-import merchants as of October 2026. Prices span $56.85 at the low end to $144.99 for shrink-wrapped copies from specialist importers.
For AU buyers, Gameology lists the PTB ex at $100.00 USD with AU-based shipping. For US and EU buyers, Solaris Japan ($84.00 USD) and Japan With Love ($56.85 USD) are frequently used options for Japanese import cards.
DexHaul lists Japanese import cards from independent shops at /collections/tcg/japanese-cards. That page aggregates current listings across the eight DexHaul categories so you can compare sellers in one place.
For a read on what a more recent Japanese SV-era set looks like as an import, the Super Electric Breaker vs Surging Sparks import guide covers the SV8 decision in the same format as this guide.
FAQ
Is there an English version of the Japanese Premium Trainer Box ex?
No. The PTB ex (SVB) was released only in Japan on January 20, 2023. The English market received individual Scarlet & Violet Base Set products (ETBs, booster boxes, collection boxes) but no equivalent box combining both inaugural SV sets with exclusive promos.
What sets are the packs inside the SVB from?
Packs inside the SVB come from Scarlet ex (SV1S) and Violet ex (SV1V), the two Japanese sets that opened the Scarlet & Violet series. The English equivalent of those sets is Scarlet & Violet Base Set (SV1), released March 31, 2023.
Are SVB promo cards worth importing for?
The SVB promos are exclusive to this box and were not distributed in the English market. For collectors building a complete Japanese SV run or who specifically want the launch-era promos, they add genuine value. For casual pack-opening, the main draw is packs from both SV1S and SV1V in a single purchase.
Can I use SVB cards in official tournament play?
SVB promos are not legal in official English-format events. Japanese-language prints of cards that exist in the EN format are also excluded from official EN competitive play. For casual play or collection purposes, legality is not a concern.
How do I know a sealed SVB is genuine?
Authentic boxes have Japanese-language text throughout the packaging, intact factory shrink wrap (where still present), and tamper-evident seals on individual packs. Buy from established Japanese-import merchants with return policies and ask for photos of the seals before purchasing.
Browse current Japanese import listings, including the Premium Trainer Box ex and SV1S/SV1V booster boxes, at DexHaul's Japanese cards collection. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company or Nintendo.