Rage of the Broken Sky (XY9): English Equivalent BREAKthrough (2015)
By Dexhaul Team · October 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Japanese Expansion Pack XY9, known in English as "Rage of the Broken Sky" (also listed as "Rage of the Broken Heavens" by some importers), is the source set for the English XY-BREAKthrough expansion. XY9 released in Japan on December 12, 2015. English BREAKthrough launched November 4, 2015, which means the English edition actually arrived about five weeks before the Japanese original.
That reversal is rare in the TCG's history.
The English set pulled cards from both XY9 and the beginning of JP XY10 (Awakening Psychic King), growing the card count from 80 in the Japanese set to 162 in English. This guide maps the sets, flags what changed between editions, and walks through the buying decision.
You can browse the full Japanese card list for XY9 on Limitless TCG. For the broader JP-to-EN set mapping across modern eras, our Japanese sets and English equivalents guide covers the full picture.
Set at a glance
Both sets introduce the BREAK Evolution mechanic, where a BREAK-style gold card placed sideways on top of a Stage 1 adds HP and a new attack. XY9 is the Japanese debut of that system.
| Detail | JP XY9 | EN XY-BREAKthrough |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Rage of the Broken Sky (Rage of the Broken Heavens) | XY-BREAKthrough |
| Set code | XY9 | BKT |
| Release date | December 12, 2015 | November 4, 2015 |
| Total card count | 80 + secret rares | 162 cards |
| Japanese source sets | XY9 only | XY9 + partial XY10 |
| 1st Edition available | Yes | No |
On this page 5 sections
What's different in the box
Packs are not identical between editions. Japanese packs contain five cards, compared to ten in English. A Japanese booster box holds 30 packs; the English display box holds 36.
The card count gap comes from the way English sets were structured in the XY era. Wizards of the Coast and later The Pokémon Company used multiple Japanese sets to fill a single English release. BREAKthrough drew from XY9 and a portion of XY10, so cards that appear only in XY10 in Japan are in BREAKthrough in English but not in XY9.
| Feature | JP XY9 | EN XY-BREAKthrough |
|---|---|---|
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Packs per booster box | 30 | 36 |
| 1st Edition print run | Yes (first-print mark on box) | No |
| Source sets | XY9 cards only | XY9 + partial XY10 |
| Set size | 80 + secret rares | 162 cards |
Key XY9 cards and their Japanese numbers
The BREAK Pokémon are the centerpiece of XY9. Both Trevenant BREAK and Raticate BREAK appear in the Japanese set and carry through to English BREAKthrough. The secret rare slots include M Scizor EX, numbered above the base set count.
| Card | JP Set | JP Number | In EN BREAKthrough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trevenant BREAK | XY9 | 047/080 | Yes |
| Raticate BREAK | XY9 | 066/080 | Yes |
| Garbodor (Holo) | XY9 | 040/080 | Yes |
| M Gyarados EX (RR) | XY9 | 019/080 | Yes |
| M Scizor EX (SR) | XY9 | 087/080 | Yes |
Japanese card numbers above 080 in XY9 are secret rares (SR). Collector interest in M Scizor EX SR has stayed steady among XY-era grading submissions. The Japanese card numbers confirmed above come from the Limitless TCG XY9 card list.
Japanese XY9 or English BREAKthrough: which to buy?
The decision depends on what you're collecting for. Both sets are out of the Standard rotation and have been since 2019, so neither has tournament relevance today.
Price per pack
At original MSRP, Japanese XY9 packs were 150 yen each before tax. English BREAKthrough packs launched at $3.99 USD. On the secondary market today, XY9 1st Edition sealed packs carry a significant premium over Unlimited, while EN BREAKthrough sealed booster boxes are available at collector prices reflecting a decade of demand.
Tournament legality
XY9 and XY-BREAKthrough rotated out of Standard play in the 2019-2020 season. Both are legal for Expanded format, but Expanded events are uncommon and the decks that use BREAK mechanics are fringe picks. For casual Legacy play with friends, either edition works fine.
Language and play
Japanese cards are legal in officially sanctioned tournaments with a judge check, but most competitive players use English cards for convenience. Language-independent elements like basic Energy and numeric attack costs read the same regardless of print language. If you're collecting for display or grading rather than play, the language decision comes down to pack artwork and personal preference.
Grading Japanese XY9 singles
Japanese 1st Edition prints are among the most graded cards from the XY era at PSA and BGS. The 1st edition mark appears on the booster box in Japan, not on individual cards as it did in early English sets. A clean Japanese XY9 holo or secret rare submitted in a clean sleeve and top loader can attract strong collector interest when graded 9 or higher.
English BREAKthrough has no 1st Edition print. Condition and centering still matter for EN copies, but without the edition premium.
For more XY-era Japanese import comparisons, our guide to the Bandit Ring XY8 to English Ancient Origins mapping covers the set immediately before XY9 in the same format.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Rage of the Broken Sky the same set as XY-BREAKthrough?
- They share the same cards, but not entirely. Japanese XY9 has 80 cards. English XY-BREAKthrough has 162 cards, drawing from both XY9 and the beginning of JP XY10 (Awakening Psychic King). Every XY9 card appears in BREAKthrough, but not every BREAKthrough card exists in XY9.
- Why did English BREAKthrough come out before Japanese XY9?
- In the XY era, The Pokémon Company occasionally scheduled English sets ahead of or very close to their Japanese equivalents. BREAKthrough launched November 4, 2015 in North America, roughly five weeks before XY9's Japanese release on December 12, 2015. This reversed the usual JP-first pattern.
- Are XY9 or BREAKthrough cards legal in Standard play?
- No. Both sets rotated out of Standard in the 2019-2020 season. They remain legal in Expanded format for sanctioned events. For casual play, both sets are unrestricted.
- Does Japanese XY9 have a 1st Edition print?
- Yes. Japanese XY-era sets had 1st Edition print runs marked on the booster box. English BREAKthrough has no 1st Edition equivalent. Sealed Japanese XY9 1st Edition packs and boxes are considered collector items at a premium over Unlimited prints.
- Which BREAK Pokémon are in XY9 and BREAKthrough?
- Confirmed BREAK Pokémon in JP XY9 include Trevenant BREAK (#047/080) and Raticate BREAK (#066/080). English BREAKthrough also includes Raichu BREAK and Chesnaught BREAK, which come from JP XY10 rather than XY9 itself.
Browse Japanese XY-era singles and sealed product from independent shops at DexHaul's Japanese cards collection. DexHaul is independent and unofficial: not affiliated with Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, or any manufacturer.
Catch 'em all
More XY-BREAKthrough and XY9 Rage of the Broken Sky products from independent shops.