Tidal Storm and Gaia Volcano (XY5, 2014): English Equivalent Primal Clash
By Dexhaul Team · October 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Two separate Japanese booster sets, one built around Kyogre and one around Groudon, shipped on the same day in December 2014 and then merged into a single English release seven weeks later.
Tidal Storm (XY5t) and Gaia Volcano (XY5g) both released December 13, 2014, in Japan. Their English equivalent, Primal Clash (PRC), launched February 4, 2015, with 164 cards across both themes. The combined JP card count is 156 (78 per set), making the EN release eight cards larger, a difference explained below.
This 2-into-1 structure is the sharpest difference between the JP and EN releases and matters most if you are sourcing individual booster packs rather than sealed boxes. For more on how XY-era sets map between regions, see Bandit Ring (XY7): English Equivalent Ancient Origins and Blue Impact and Red Flash (XY6): English Equivalent Roaring Skies.
Set mapping at a glance
| JP Set | Code | JP Release | EN Set | EN Release | JP Cards | EN Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidal Storm | XY5t | Dec 13, 2014 | Primal Clash | Feb 4, 2015 | 78 | 164 (combined) |
| Gaia Volcano | XY5g | Dec 13, 2014 | Primal Clash | Feb 4, 2015 | 78 |
JP dates and card counts are confirmed via Limitless TCG (XY5t) and Limitless TCG (XY5g). The EN release date and card count come from Limitless TCG (PRC).
On this page 5 sections
What is different in the box
The most practical difference is pack count: a JP booster box contained 30 packs while a standard EN Primal Clash booster box contained 36 packs, both with 5 cards per pack in JP and 10 cards per pack in EN. The thematic split matters for collectors: Tidal Storm is water-heavy (Kyogre, Sharpedo, Wailord) while Gaia Volcano leans into fire and ground (Groudon, Aggron, Trevenant). EN Primal Clash blended both themes.
| Category | Tidal Storm (XY5t) | Gaia Volcano (XY5g) | EN Primal Clash (PRC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | Dec 13, 2014 | Dec 13, 2014 | Feb 4, 2015 |
| Packs per booster box | 30 | 30 | 36 |
| Cards per pack | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Total cards in set | 78 | 78 | 164 |
| Theme anchor | Primal Kyogre EX | Primal Groudon EX | Both |
| Language | Japanese | Japanese | English |
The eight cards present in EN Primal Clash but absent from both JP sets are primarily the subset of Hyper Rare reprints and Secret Rare Full Arts that The Pokémon Company International added for English audiences. These include Full Art versions of Trainers and the two "Ancient Trait" variant EX cards that got new treatment at the EN print stage. None of them appear in either JP XY5 set.
Card-number crosswalk for key EX cards
JP sets use their own sequential numbering within each 70-card base (with Secret Rares numbered beyond /070). EN Primal Clash renumbers every card from 1 to 160, then continues for Secret Rares. The table below covers the main EX cards confirmed via Limitless TCG; the full EN numbers are accessible from the PRC card database on Limitless.
| Card | JP Set | JP Number | EN Name in PRC | Rarity (JP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord EX | Tidal Storm (XY5t) | 017/070 | Wailord EX | RR |
| Kyogre EX | Tidal Storm (XY5t) | 031/070 | Kyogre EX | RR |
| Primal Kyogre EX | Tidal Storm (XY5t) | 032/070 | Primal Kyogre EX | RR |
| Sharpedo EX | Tidal Storm (XY5t) | 044/070 | Sharpedo EX | RR |
| Gardevoir EX | Tidal Storm (XY5t) | 050/070 | Gardevoir EX | RR |
| Sharpedo EX (SR) | Tidal Storm (XY5t) | 074/070 | Sharpedo EX (Full Art) | SR |
| Trevenant EX | Gaia Volcano (XY5g) | 011/070 | Trevenant EX | RR |
| Groudon EX | Gaia Volcano (XY5g) | 039/070 | Groudon EX | RR |
| Primal Groudon EX | Gaia Volcano (XY5g) | 040/070 | Primal Groudon EX | RR |
| Aggron EX | Gaia Volcano (XY5g) | 045/070 | Aggron EX | RR |
RR = Double Rare (the standard EX tier in JP XY sets). SR = Secret Rare, numbered above the set total. Full Art equivalents carry higher EN collector demand than their RR counterparts and were the chase cards in both JP sets.
Japanese or English: which should you buy?
The right answer depends on what you want the cards for.
Price per pack
Original JP retail was lower than EN, but both sets are now vintage sealed product, so current prices are set by scarcity rather than original MSRP.
JP booster packs from Tidal Storm are listed around $199 USD per individual pack from independent sellers (observed October 2026). EN Primal Clash booster boxes are observed around $227 USD for a sealed 36-pack box. Source both from the Japanese cards collection on DexHaul to compare current offerings.
Play legality
Neither set is currently legal in Standard constructed play. Both JP and EN prints remain legal in Expanded, which covers sets from Black and White (2011) onward. Primal Kyogre EX and Primal Groudon EX have seen Expanded play; the JP prints are functionally identical to EN for Expanded purposes.
Language and collector use
JP cards carry Japanese text and the original /070 numbering that many XY-era collectors prefer. EN cards use the combined /160 numbering and English text.
For grading, both JP and EN are accepted by PSA and CGC. JP packs also featured different artwork on some Full Art cards compared to the EN prints.
Set completionism
Completing Tidal Storm XY5t (78 cards) and Gaia Volcano XY5g (78 cards) as separate collections requires sourcing two distinct JP sets. EN Primal Clash collectors only need one set, though at 164 cards it is a larger undertaking. Serious XY-era collectors often target both JP sets and the EN set as three separate goals.
FAQ
What is the English equivalent of Tidal Storm?
Tidal Storm (XY5t, Japan, December 13, 2014) became part of English Primal Clash (PRC), which released February 4, 2015. Gaia Volcano (XY5g, same JP release date) fed the same EN set.
How many cards are in Tidal Storm?
Tidal Storm (XY5t) has 78 cards: 70 base set cards plus 8 Secret Rares numbered 071/070 through 078/070. Gaia Volcano (XY5g) has the same count.
Are Tidal Storm cards the same as Primal Clash cards?
Yes, every card in Tidal Storm and Gaia Volcano has a functional EN equivalent in Primal Clash. The EN versions carry different card numbers, English text, and the EN copyright line. Eight cards appear in EN Primal Clash that have no direct JP XY5 equivalent; these were added at the EN print stage.
Is Primal Kyogre EX in Tidal Storm or Gaia Volcano?
Primal Kyogre EX (032/070) is in Tidal Storm (XY5t). Primal Groudon EX (040/070) is in Gaia Volcano (XY5g). Each Primal legendary anchors its own JP set.
Can I use Japanese Tidal Storm cards in Expanded play?
Yes. The Pokémon TCG allows JP-language cards in Expanded, provided you have a translation or reference available at the event. Neither set is Standard legal as of 2026.
Browse sealed packs, booster boxes, and individual cards from both JP XY5 sets and EN Primal Clash at the Japanese and import TCG collection on DexHaul. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, with no affiliation with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Primal Clash and Tidal Storm picks from independent shops.