Japanese Scarlet ex & Violet ex: English Equivalent (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 8, 2026 · 5 min read
![[JP] Pokemon Scarlet Ex SV1S Booster Box - Japanese](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0700/6843/7223/files/BOX-SCARLET.png?width=800)
Japanese Scarlet ex (SV1S) and Violet ex (SV1V), released January 20, 2023, became the English Scarlet & Violet base set (SVI), released March 31, 2023. Every new card from both JP sets debuted in the single unified EN set, with no cards split across other English releases.
The critical difference: SV1S and SV1V are two separate Japanese sets that launched on the same day, while EN SVI is one unified set drawing from both. That structure changes which box you need depending on what you want to pull.
At a glance: SV1S, SV1V and SVI
| Japanese set | JP code | JP release | EN equivalent | EN code | EN release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet ex | SV1S | Jan 20, 2023 | Scarlet & Violet | SVI | Mar 31, 2023 |
| Violet ex | SV1V | Jan 20, 2023 | Scarlet & Violet | SVI | Mar 31, 2023 |
Both JP sets opened the Scarlet & Violet era on the same day in Japan. Serebii's Scarlet & Violet card listing confirms that EN SVI draws from both JP source sets, merged into one booster pool. There is no English equivalent for SV1S alone or SV1V alone.
![[JP] Pokemon Violet Ex SV1V Booster Box - Japanese](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0700/6843/7223/files/BOX-VIOLET.png?width=800)
On this page 6 sections
What's different in the box
| Format | Packs per box | Cards per pack | Cards per box | Observed box price (Oct 2026) | Per pack | Per card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP SV1S (Scarlet ex) | 30 | 5 | 150 | $106.33 USD | $3.54 | $0.71 |
| JP SV1V (Violet ex) | 30 | 5 | 150 | $87.87 USD | $2.93 | $0.59 |
| EN SVI (Scarlet & Violet) | 36 | 10 | 360 | $310.00 USD | $8.61 | $0.86 |
The per-card math surprises most buyers. Japanese packs are smaller, but the per-card cost is lower than the English equivalent at current secondary market prices.
JP packs open differently too: each SV1 pack contains a guaranteed foil card of some kind. EN SVI packs use a reverse holo slot on top of the regular pack, giving 10 cards per pack with one reverse holo and potentially a hit.
Card-number crosswalk: the version legendaries
This is the most important structural fact about the SV1 split: Koraidon ex is exclusive to SV1S (Scarlet ex), and Miraidon ex is exclusive to SV1V (Violet ex). A Japanese collector who buys only SV1S cannot pull Miraidon ex, and vice versa.
EN SVI merges both card pools.
Both Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex appear in every EN SVI booster box's pull pool, so a single English box can yield either legendary.
| Card | Japanese set | JP set code | English set | EN set code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koraidon ex | Scarlet ex | SV1S | Scarlet & Violet | SVI | SV1S only; not in SV1V |
| Miraidon ex | Violet ex | SV1V | Scarlet & Violet | SVI | SV1V only; not in SV1S |
| Arcanine ex | Scarlet ex | SV1S | Scarlet & Violet | SVI | SV1S only |
| Magnezone ex | Violet ex | SV1V | Scarlet & Violet | SVI | SV1V only |
Card numbers differ between the JP and EN prints, since SV1S and SV1V each have their own JP numbering while EN SVI assigns a unified sequential number. For the complete card-by-card crosswalk, Limitless TCG's SV1S database lists every JP card alongside its EN SVI equivalent.
Japanese or English Four things to weigh
Price per pack
Japanese boxes are considerably cheaper per card at current market prices (October 8, 2026). The catch: buying both SV1S and SV1V to access the full SV1 card pool costs more than a single EN SVI box. If you want cards from both version sets, the English box is more economical per unique card.
Play legality
Japanese-language cards are not permitted in official English-language Pokémon organized play events. US, EU, and Australian Standard-format tournaments require EN SVI prints. Competitive players building a Koraidon ex or Miraidon ex deck need the English versions for sanctioned play, regardless of JP availability.
Language and artwork
JP packs use Japanese text throughout. Card names, attack descriptions and trainer text are all in Japanese. Collectors drawn to JP prints cite the cleaner card design: SV1S and SV1V launched a new Scarlet & Violet aesthetic that first appeared in Japan ten weeks before the English release.
Grading
PSA and CGC grade Japanese cards. The JP SV1S and SV1V card stock is the same thickness and material as EN SVI, so centering, surface and edge grading criteria are identical. JP cards are labelled as "Japanese" on their grading labels, which collectors treat as a separate registry from EN SVI prints of the same card.
SV1 boxes as Q4 gifts
JP SV1S and SV1V booster boxes make a strong Q4 gift for a Paldea-era collector who has not explored Japanese imports. The Koraidon/Miraidon split is a natural conversation starter, and the box design clearly marks which legendary is inside. For gift buyers unsure whether the recipient plays competitively, the EN SVI box is the safer pick since those cards are tournament-legal.
See the Pokémon 2026 holiday gift guide for a full range of TCG and non-TCG options at every price point. Browse Japanese Pokémon imports by collection at DexHaul's Japanese Cards collection.
FAQ
What is the English equivalent of Japanese Scarlet ex (SV1S)?
English Scarlet & Violet, set code SVI, released March 31, 2023. SV1S and its twin set SV1V (Violet ex) were both released January 20, 2023 in Japan, and their combined card pool forms the single EN SVI set.
Can I use Japanese SV1S or SV1V cards in English organized play?
No. Official English-language Pokémon TCG events require English-language cards. Japanese-language prints of SVI cards, including Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex, are not legal in US, EU, or Australian Standard-format competition.
Are the card numbers the same in JP SV1S and EN SVI?
No. JP SV1S and SV1V each have their own sequential card numbering, and EN SVI assigns new numbers across the merged card pool. The same physical card carries a different number in JP versus EN.
Use Limitless TCG to look up any card's JP-to-EN crosswalk.
Should I buy SV1S or SV1V to get Koraidon ex?
Buy SV1S (Scarlet ex). Koraidon ex is the version legendary for the Scarlet game and is exclusive to the SV1S booster pool. SV1V (Violet ex) contains Miraidon ex instead.
How many cards per pack in Japanese SV1S and SV1V?
Five cards per pack. Each JP SV1 pack contains five cards, compared to ten cards per EN SVI pack. The JP box contains 30 packs for 150 total cards; the EN box contains 36 packs for 360 total cards.
Browse in-stock Japanese Pokémon TCG imports, including SV1S and SV1V booster boxes, at DexHaul's Japanese Cards collection from independent sellers worldwide. For a full set-by-set overview, see Japanese Pokémon TCG sets and their English equivalents (2023-2026).
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Japanese Pokémon TCG booster boxes and packs from independent sellers worldwide.