S4A PSA 10 Guide
Set History & Release Context
Shiny Star V (ハイクラスパック シャイニースターV, s4a) released November 20, 2020 as the Japanese High Class Pack closing out the first Sword & Shield era year. Its English counterpart, Shining Fates, followed on February 19, 2021 with a slimmer 195-card set vs. the Japanese 190+140 master count.
The set is themed around shiny Pokemon V and VMAX, building a dedicated 'Shiny Vault' subset (S-numbered) that sits alongside the main 190-card list. High Class Packs in Japan operate on a different distribution model from regular expansions — every pack contains a guaranteed holo, and SR/HR/SSR pull rates are higher than standard sets, making s4a one of the most pulled and graded Sword & Shield-era Japanese products (Bulbapedia accessed 2026-05-09).
S4A PSA 10 Cards
2 cards
Top Chase Cards Explained
The undisputed chase card of s4a is Shiny Charizard VMAX (SSR / Amazing Rare treatment), which became one of the defining grail cards of the Sword & Shield era and remains a top-five PSA 10 target across all modern Pokemon TCG. Other major pulls include Shiny Rayquaza V/VMAX, Shiny Eternatus VMAX, Shiny Pikachu V, and rainbow-rare and gold-rare versions of the era's signature Pokemon V lineup.
The Shiny Vault subset in particular drives PSA 10 demand because the embossed shiny treatment is unique to this set and its English counterpart — collectors targeting the Shiny Vault commonly grade the entire S-numbered run.
Investment Analysis
Shiny Star V is widely considered the flagship modern Japanese set. Its investment thesis rests on three pillars: (1) the iconic Shiny Charizard VMAX, which has a strong independent collector base; (2) the Shiny Vault as a closed, finite subset of shiny-only prints that cannot be reissued; and (3) the High Class Pack format, which keeps sealed product desirable for box-grading despite a generous 5-year supply window. Risk: print run was very large, and PSA 10 census numbers for the Charizard alone exceed five figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shiny Star V (s4a) released?
November 20, 2020 in Japan (Bulbapedia accessed 2026-05-09).
What is the English equivalent of s4a?
Shining Fates, released February 19, 2021. The English version has 195 main cards plus a 122-card Shiny Vault.
How many cards are in Shiny Star V?
190 cards in the main Japanese set, plus a Shiny Vault subset — totalling 330+ cards in master set form.
What is the chase card in s4a?
Shiny Charizard VMAX (SSR), the flagship pull and one of the most-graded modern Pokemon cards in PSA 10.
Is Shiny Star V worth opening?
Sealed s4a boxes remain desirable for PSA 10 graders targeting Charizard VMAX and the Shiny Vault, though large print run limits long-term sealed appreciation.
Is s4a part of the Sword & Shield era?
Yes — it is the first Sword & Shield High Class Pack in Japan, released within the era's opening year.