It is weird. Usually, in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, a set comes out, everyone loses their minds for three months, and then we all collectively move on to the next shiny thing. But the VSTAR Universe booster box refuses to die. Even now, years after its December 2022 release in Japan, it remains the gold standard for what a "High Class Pack" should actually feel like.
You've probably seen the pulls on social media. The god packs. The Art Rare cards that look more like museum pieces than gaming tools. Honestly, if you’re looking to scratch that itch of opening something that feels premium without mortgage-level prices, this is basically the final boss of modern sets.
Most people think it’s just another Japanese reprint set. They’re wrong. It’s a curated victory lap for the entire Sword & Shield era.
What is inside a VSTAR Universe booster box anyway?
If you're used to Western booster boxes, the VSTAR Universe booster box is going to feel tiny. You get 10 packs. That’s it. But here is the kicker: every single pack is loaded. In a standard set, you’re lucky to get a shiny piece of cardboard every five packs. In VSTAR Universe, you are guaranteed a V, VMAX, or VSTAR in every single pack.
The "hit rate" is almost comical.
The breakdown of a box
Typically, a box contains 100 cards total (10 per pack). You're hunting for the "Secret Rares," which in this set are mostly Art Rares (AR) and Special Art Rares (SAR). A standard box usually nets you about three or four of these high-tier art cards.
But the real legend—the thing that keeps the secondary market price of these boxes so high—is the God Pack. It is a 1-in-600-ish chance. If you hit it, every single card in the pack is a secret rare. It’s the kind of dopamine hit that makes grown adults scream at their webcams.
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The Art Rare Revolution
Before VSTAR Universe, Pokémon cards were mostly just... creatures in front of colorful swirls. This set changed the design language. We got the "Galarian Gallery." These aren't just drawings; they are stories.
Take the Mew AR, for example. It’s not just Mew floating in a void. It’s Mew hanging out in a messy room, looking at books and curiosities. It feels lived-in. Then you have the legendary "God VSTAR" cards—Arceus, Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina—drawn by Akira Egawa. When you line them up, they form a single, massive mural of the Pokémon creation myth.
It is breathtaking. Seriously.
These cards are the reason why the VSTAR Universe booster box outperformed its English counterpart, Crown Zenith, in the eyes of many hardcore purists. While Crown Zenith is great, the Japanese card stock has a specific texture and a silver border that just... pops. It feels more like a collectible and less like a toy.
Why the market for these boxes is so volatile
If you tried to buy a VSTAR Universe booster box at launch, you might have paid around 5,000 to 6,000 yen if you were lucky enough to be in Japan. Today? Good luck. Prices have been a literal rollercoaster.
We saw a massive spike where boxes were clearing $150 USD. Then, The Pokémon Company did something they rarely do: they printed it into the ground. They wanted to kill the scalpers. It worked, for a while. Prices dipped back down to the $70-$90 range.
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But here’s the thing about "High Class" sets. They don't stay in print forever. Once the factories switch over to the newer Scarlet & Violet era sets like Shiny Treasure ex or Terastal Festival, the supply of VSTAR Universe dries up instantly.
We are currently in that "drying up" phase.
The "Reprint" Myth
You’ll hear people on Discord or Reddit saying, "Oh, a reprint is coming, just wait."
Don't bet on it.
Historically, Japanese High Class sets get a one-year window of heavy production. We are well past that. Any "new" stock appearing on sites like Plaza Japan or AmiAmi is usually just found warehouse stock, not a fresh press from the factory.
Spotting a fake (Don't get burned)
Because this set is so popular, the scammers are out in force. If you see a VSTAR Universe booster box for $40 on an untrusted site, you are buying a box of paper scraps.
- The Shrink Wrap: Real Japanese boxes have a very specific, tight shrink wrap with a perforated "tear" line on the side of the cardboard. If the plastic looks loose or like it was melted on with a hair dryer, run.
- The "Unsealed" Trap: Be extremely wary of "unsealed" boxes sold at a discount. Japanese packs can be "searched" using high-end scales or even bright lights. If the box seal is broken, assume the high-tier hits have been fished out and replaced with duds.
- The Texture: If you do open it, feel the cards. Real Japanese SARs have a fingerprint-like texture. Fakes are usually smooth and oily.
Crown Zenith vs. VSTAR Universe: Which is better?
This is the eternal debate. Crown Zenith is the English version of this set. It’s also amazing. But there are fundamental differences.
Crown Zenith doesn't have booster boxes. You have to buy Elite Trainer Boxes or "collection boxes" to get the packs. It’s bulky. It’s a lot of plastic waste.
The VSTAR Universe booster box is compact. It fits on a shelf. It’s "display-grade."
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Also, the Japanese set has a few cards that never made it into the English version in the same way, or the pull rates feel more "fair" in the Japanese 10-pack format. If you’re a gambler, the Japanese box is a better rush because the floor is higher—you’re guaranteed those VSTARs.
The investment angle (if you're into that)
I’m not a financial advisor, and treating cardboard like the S&P 500 is a risky game. But if you look at the history of sets like GX Ultra Shiny or Tag All Stars (the predecessors to VSTAR Universe), they have all tripled or quadrupled in price once they hit the five-year mark.
VSTAR Universe is widely considered the best set of the Sword & Shield era. Maybe the best set of the last decade. That usually bodes well for long-term value.
But honestly? If you buy a box, open it. The experience of pulling a Suicune V or a Charizard SAR from this specific set is way more fun than staring at a sealed box on a shelf for five years.
What you should actually do now
If you’re looking to get into this, don't just FOMO into the first eBay listing you see.
- Check Japanese Secondary Markets: Use a proxy service to check Mercari Japan or Yahoo! Auctions Japan. Sometimes you can find a better deal even after shipping.
- Look for "Case Fresh" Sellers: Try to find sellers who are selling an entire "case" (carton) or who can prove the box came from one. This reduces the risk of getting a "leftover" box from a case where the God Pack was already found.
- Focus on the Singles: If you just want the Irida or the Friends in Sinnoh card, just buy the single. Chasing one specific card in a VSTAR Universe booster box is a fool's errand because the secret rare pool is massive. There are 37 different Art Rares alone.
Summary of Actionable Steps
First, verify the seller's reputation specifically regarding "re-sealed" boxes; look for feedback mentions of the "shrink wrap" condition. Second, if you're buying for investment, ensure the box has the original Japanese tax 10% sticker or markings, as these are often stripped on secondary markets. Finally, compare the current market price against recent sold listings on 130Point or eBay "Sold" filters to ensure you aren't overpaying during a temporary price spike.
The era of cheap VSTAR Universe is ending. If you want the experience of the best High Class pack Pokémon has ever made, the window is closing, but the cards inside will remain legendary for as long as people are still collecting these little pocket monsters.