Japanese Prismatic Evolutions (SV8a, 2024): Card Guide
By Dexhaul Team · October 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Japanese collectors got the Eeveelution set six weeks before the English release.
Terastal Festival ex (SV8a) is the Japanese source set for English Prismatic Evolutions (SV8.5). The Japanese version released December 6, 2024, confirmed on the official Pokémon Card website; English Prismatic Evolutions followed on January 17, 2025. They share the same core Eeveelution theme, but the sets differ in card count, pack structure, and what goes in the box.
For the full picture of how every Scarlet & Violet era Japanese set maps to English, see the Japanese Pokémon Sets and Their English Equivalents guide.
At a glance
Both sets center on Eevee and all eight Eeveelutions as Stellar Tera Pokémon ex: the Scarlet & Violet era's version of full-art characters with type-changing flair. The Japanese High Class Pack released in December 2024 at an official MSRP of 550 yen per pack (税込, tax included), per the official Pokémon Card website. English packs also contain 10 cards each at a $4.49 MSRP.
| Japanese (SV8a) | English (SV8.5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Official set name | Terastal Festival ex | Prismatic Evolutions |
| Set code | SV8a | SV8.5 |
| Release date | December 6, 2024 | January 17, 2025 |
| Base set size | 91 cards | 131 cards |
| Cards per pack | 10 | 10 |
| Pack MSRP | 550 yen (tax incl.) | $4.49 USD |
| Language | Japanese | English |
On this page 5 sections
What the English version added
When The Pokémon Company International released EN Prismatic Evolutions, it expanded the JP base set from 91 to 131 cards, adding 40 cards that do not appear in the Japanese SV8a run. Limitless TCG's SV8a set page lists the Japanese base set at 91 numbered cards; Serebii confirms 131 normal cards in the EN set before secret rares begin.
That expansion works differently from a simple translation. The EN set pulls in illustration rares and alternate art variants from the broader Scarlet & Violet era, rather than adding new Eeveelution ex cards. The Eeveelution ex cards that drove demand for the JP release still appear in both versions.
One practical effect: the EN version has a lower density of the signature Eeveelution ex cards per pack. If the Umbreon ex Special Art Rare is your target, the JP set's smaller pool concentrates those chase cards into fewer slots. If you want the broader card variety, including full-art trainer cards that are EN-only variants, the English set delivers a wider pull experience.
Eeveelution ex cards: what's in both versions
Every Stellar Tera ex for the Eeveelution line appears in both sets. The nine core Eeveelution ex cards, the Eevee ex with the Rainbow DNA Ability, and the core alternate-art variants are all present in both the JP SV8a and EN SV8.5 runs.
| Card | In JP SV8a | In EN SV8.5 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eevee ex (Stellar Tera) | Yes | Yes | Rainbow DNA Ability; evolves into any Eeveelution ex |
| Vaporeon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | Water-type Stellar Tera form |
| Jolteon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | Lightning-type Stellar Tera form |
| Flareon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | Fire-type Stellar Tera form |
| Espeon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | Psychic-type Stellar Tera form |
| Umbreon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | High-demand SAR chase card in both |
| Leafeon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | Grass-type Stellar Tera form |
| Glaceon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | Water-type Stellar Tera form |
| Sylveon ex (Stellar) | Yes | Yes | Psychic-type Stellar Tera form |
| EN-only art rare variants | No | Yes | 40 cards added to EN base set only |
For the full card-by-card crosswalk, including JP and EN set numbers for each card, Limitless TCG's SV8a set page is the authoritative reference. The companion SV8 article on Super Electric Breaker and Surging Sparks covers the main SV8 set that released the same month in Japan.
Japanese or English: which to buy
Price per pack
At MSRP, the JP pack costs 550 yen, roughly $3.45 USD at late-2024 exchange rates. English packs carry a $4.49 MSRP. Neither version is easy to find at MSRP on the secondary market. Japanese single packs were observed at $19.99 on DexHaul on October 20, 2026; EN singles ranged from $12.99 to $18.50 from independent sellers in the same session. Import costs and exchange fluctuations close most of the theoretical JP price gap for buyers outside Japan.
Play legality
In most official English-language tournaments, players must use English-language cards. Japanese Terastal Festival ex cards are legal in Japan's regional and national circuit but not in Play! Pokémon events outside Japan.
For competitive play in North America, Europe, or Oceania, you need the EN Prismatic Evolutions versions of these cards. For collectors who want to display, grade, or trade the Japanese originals, legality is not a concern.
Language and grading
All card text in SV8a is in Japanese, which means Ability names, HP values, and attack costs require cross-referencing an EN scan for non-Japanese readers. Both PSA and CGC accept Japanese cards for grading. Japanese Scarlet & Violet packs often have a slightly different surface finish compared to EN cards, so the same card artwork may grade differently depending on the language version.
FAQ
Is Terastal Festival ex the same as Prismatic Evolutions?
They share the same Eeveelution Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards, but are different products. Terastal Festival ex (SV8a) is the Japanese source set, released December 6, 2024; Prismatic Evolutions (SV8.5) is the English expansion, released January 17, 2025, with 40 additional cards in the base set.
How many cards are in the Japanese SV8a set?
The Japanese Terastal Festival ex base set has 91 numbered cards, plus additional special art rares and ultra rares. The English Prismatic Evolutions expanded the base to 131 cards before secret rares.
When did the Japanese version of Prismatic Evolutions release?
December 6, 2024, confirmed on the official Pokémon Card website. English Prismatic Evolutions followed on January 17, 2025.
Which version is better for pull rates?
The Japanese SV8a has a smaller 91-card base set, which concentrates the Eeveelution ex cards into fewer slots per pack compared to the EN set's 131-card base. That can mean higher effective odds for specific chase cards, though the EN set adds art-rare variants not found in JP.
Can I use Japanese SV8a cards in English-language tournaments?
No. Play! Pokémon events outside Japan require English-language cards. Japanese cards are legal in Japan's official circuit. For collecting, trading, or grading, there is no restriction on the language version.
Browse Terastal Festival ex and Prismatic Evolutions products from independent sellers on the DexHaul Japanese Cards collection. DexHaul is an independent Pokémon search engine, unaffiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Terastal Festival ex and Prismatic Evolutions finds from independent shops.