Blog · Trading Cards & TCG
Silver Tempest vs Brilliant Stars ETB: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 15, 2026 · 5 min read
Buy Brilliant Stars if you want the set that launched the VSTAR mechanic and a box built around Arceus in its TCG debut. Buy Silver Tempest if you want the Trainer Gallery's illustration variety and the final chapter of the main Sword and Shield run.
Both ETBs launched at $49.99 MSRP, and neither is in print today. In 2026 they sit at $170 and up on the secondary market, with the right pick depending on what you are collecting for. Browse current listings in the DexHaul Elite Trainer Box collection to compare available prices.
On this page 5 sections
At a Glance
Both sets belong to the Sword and Shield VSTAR era, share the same 8-pack ETB format, and launched at the same MSRP. The differences are in set size, subsets, and which milestone each one represents.
| Brilliant Stars | Silver Tempest | |
|---|---|---|
| Set number | Sword & Shield 9 | Sword & Shield 12 |
| Release date | February 25, 2022 | November 11, 2022 |
| Standard card count | 172 standard + secret rares | 195 standard + Trainer Gallery + secret rares |
| Packs per ETB | 8 | 8 |
| MSRP at launch | $49.99 | $49.99 |
| MSRP per pack at launch | $6.25 | $6.25 |
| Key mechanic | First VSTAR set | Continues VSTAR; adds Trainer Gallery |
| Chase cards | Arceus VSTAR, Charizard VSTAR, Shaymin V alternate art | Lugia VSTAR, Alolan Vulpix VSTAR, Trainer Gallery hits |
| Observed ETB price | from $169.99 (October 15, 2026) | from $170.00 (October 15, 2026) |
| PC ETB observed price | from $244.75 (October 15, 2026) | from $382.00 (October 15, 2026) |
Where Silver Tempest Wins
The Trainer Gallery Subset
Silver Tempest contains a 30-card Trainer Gallery subset not found in any earlier Sword and Shield set. These cards depict Pokémon alongside their trainers in full-art scenes, separate from standard V and VSTAR card artwork. Lugia, Charizard VMAX, Eevee, and Pikachu appear in the subset, and finding a TG pull adds visual variety that the Brilliant Stars pack pool cannot match.
A Larger Set
Silver Tempest has 195 standard cards before the Trainer Gallery and secret rares, compared to Brilliant Stars' 172. The wider card pool means more total outcomes across 8 packs. For collectors targeting specific cards rather than specific chase hits, the spread is a genuine advantage.
The Closing Chapter
Silver Tempest is the last main-series Sword and Shield expansion, per the official Silver Tempest product page. The set closes the VSTAR run before the series moved to Scarlet and Violet. Collectors working through the SwSh ETB lineup often end here; it is also the natural single-box purchase for anyone who wants one sealed product representing the close of the era.
Where Brilliant Stars Wins
The VSTAR Launch Set
Brilliant Stars introduced the VSTAR mechanic to the Pokémon TCG on February 25, 2022, per the official Brilliant Stars product page. Every VSTAR card in every subsequent set traces back to this one. Owning a sealed Brilliant Stars ETB means owning the box that started the mechanic, and that historical position is fixed regardless of what future sets do.
Arceus and Charizard VSTAR
Arceus VSTAR is the marquee card of Brilliant Stars, which makes sense given Arceus's role as the "original one" in Pokémon lore. Its VSTAR debut in this set carries genuine franchise significance. Charizard VSTAR also appears here for the first time, and Charizard remains one of the most consistently sought-after Pokémon in the TCG across every era and rarity level.
A Tighter Pool Per Pack
Brilliant Stars runs 172 standard cards before secret rares. The smaller pool means each pull type is slightly more concentrated across the same 8 packs. This is a marginal difference in practice, but for collectors chasing specific cards rather than broad variety, the tighter distribution is worth noting.
The Deciding Question
The choice between these two ETBs is almost entirely about which milestone matters to you.
Brilliant Stars is the historically significant pick. If you want the set that launched VSTAR, or if Arceus and Charizard are the specific Pokémon you are most interested in, this is the box. It is the opening chapter of the Sword and Shield VSTAR run.
Silver Tempest is the richer pull experience. If you want the Trainer Gallery's illustration variety, the wider card spread, or the closing chapter of the SwSh era, Silver Tempest is the stronger choice for box openings.
Standard ETBs for both are priced similarly as of October 15, 2026: Silver Tempest from $170, Brilliant Stars from around the same level. The Pokémon Center ETB variants diverge sharply: Silver Tempest PC at $382 and Brilliant Stars PC from $244.75, reflecting limited original production runs for each. Both PC variants include 10 packs per box rather than the standard 8, plus exclusive promo cards and sleeves.
For a closer look at how Brilliant Stars compares to the set that followed it, see Brilliant Stars vs Astral Radiance ETB. If you are comparing later-era SwSh versus SV boxes, Temporal Forces vs Twilight Masquerade covers the same format for Scarlet and Violet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many packs are in a Brilliant Stars or Silver Tempest ETB?
Both contain 8 booster packs. This is standard for all Sword and Shield era Elite Trainer Boxes. Pokémon Center ETBs for each set include 10 packs.
What is the Trainer Gallery subset in Silver Tempest?
The Trainer Gallery is a 30-card subset within Silver Tempest featuring full-art illustrations of Pokémon alongside their trainers in non-battle scenes. These cards are distributed through regular Silver Tempest packs, not a separate product, and are not found in Brilliant Stars.
What is the difference between the standard ETB and the Pokémon Center ETB?
The Pokémon Center ETB includes 10 booster packs instead of 8, plus exclusive promo cards and sleeves not available in the standard version. Both sets had Pokémon Center ETB variants produced in limited runs; their secondary market prices sit substantially above the standard ETB for both titles.
Are Silver Tempest and Brilliant Stars still being printed?
Neither set is in print. All available copies come from secondary market sellers on independent shops.
Which set introduced the VSTAR mechanic?
Brilliant Stars (Sword and Shield 9) introduced VSTAR cards when it released on February 25, 2022. Silver Tempest continues the mechanic but was not the first VSTAR set.
Browse Silver Tempest and Brilliant Stars ETBs from independent sellers at DexHaul's Elite Trainer Box collection.
Catch 'em all
More Silver Tempest and Brilliant Stars ETBs from independent shops in the DexHaul network.