Surging Sparks is the eighth main Scarlet & Violet set, and it belongs to Pikachu. A Stellar Tera Pikachu ex leads the set, with a special illustration rare that became one of the most wanted modern Pikachu cards. This guide covers the card list, every Pikachu ex version, the other chase cards, the Dragon-type theme and the products you can open.
Quick facts: released November 8, 2024 · 252 cards (191 + 61 secret) · 11 special illustration rares · 6 gold hyper rares · Japanese versions: Super Electric Breaker and Paradise Dragona.
Table of Contents
Release date and set size
The set launched at retailers worldwide on November 8, 2024. Prerelease events started on October 26, and Pokémon TCG Live got the cards on November 7. The official Pokémon media alert listed these highlights:
- 8 ACE SPEC cards
- Stellar Tera Pokémon ex and regular Pokémon ex
- 23 illustration rares
- 11 special illustration rares, including Supporters
- 6 gold-etched hyper rares
The main set runs from 001 to 191. Cards 192 to 252 are the illustration rares, ultra rares, special illustration rares and hyper rares, for 252 cards in total. That makes it one of the larger Scarlet & Violet sets.
Surging Sparks card list highlights
Pikachu ex is the star, but the set has a strong Dragon-type theme too. Latias ex, Latios, Hydreigon ex and Archaludon ex all feature, along with a Stellar Alolan Exeggutor ex and its very long neck. Bulbapedia’s set page has the full checklist.
Special illustration rares
There are 11 special illustration rares, numbered 236 to 246:
- Durant ex (236)
- Milotic ex (237)
- Pikachu ex (238)
- Latias ex (239)
- Hydreigon ex (240)
- Archaludon ex (241)
- Alolan Exeggutor ex (242)
- Clemont’s Quick Wit (243)
- Drayton (244)
- Jasmine’s Gaze (245)
- Lisia’s Appeal (246)
Gold hyper rares
The six gold cards are Pikachu ex (247), Alolan Exeggutor ex (248), Counter Gain (249), Gravity Mountain (250), Night Stretcher (251) and Jet Energy (252).
Every Pikachu ex card in the set
Surging Sparks Pikachu collectors have four versions to chase:
- 057/191 double rare (the regular card)
- 219/191 ultra rare full art
- 238/191 special illustration rare
- 247/191 gold hyper rare
The Pikachu ex Surging Sparks special illustration rare, 238/191, is the most valuable card in the set. The gold 247/191 is also in the top four, and the full art 219/191 makes the top ten. The regular double rare is the easiest to pull and still a great card for play, with its Topaz Bolt attack.
If you want the full Pikachu set, start with the double rare and full art, then trade or buy the two big hits. Keep all four together in a binder page; they look great side by side.
Surging Sparks chase cards
Here is the order of the most valuable cards from a March 2026 ranking:
- Pikachu ex 238/191 special illustration rare
- Latias ex 239/191 special illustration rare
- Milotic ex 237/191 special illustration rare
- Pikachu ex 247/191 gold hyper rare
- Hydreigon ex 240/191 special illustration rare
- Alolan Exeggutor ex 242/191 special illustration rare
- Latios 203/191 illustration rare
- Durant ex 236/191 special illustration rare
- Pikachu ex 219/191 full art
- Lisia’s Appeal 246/191 special illustration rare
The Surging Sparks chase cards are led by Pikachu, but Latias ex and Milotic ex are the top non-Pikachu picks. Latios is the standout illustration rare and pairs nicely with the Latias ex special illustration rare. An earlier launch-week ranking also had the Pikachu ex special illustration rare at number one, so its place at the top has held steady.
Why Surging Sparks is so popular
Pikachu is the face of Pokémon, and a Pikachu ex special illustration rare was always going to be a big deal. Surging Sparks also arrived in November 2024, in time for the holiday season, which made it a natural gift pick. The large card list gives plenty to chase, and the Dragon-type Pokémon add variety beyond Pikachu.
The set has something for players too. Its 8 ACE SPEC cards and Trainer cards like Night Stretcher and Counter Gain give deck builders a reason to open packs, not just collectors.
The Japanese versions
The English set combines cards from two Japanese releases: Paradise Dragona (SV7a), which came out in Japan on September 13, 2024, and Super Electric Breaker (SV8), released on October 18, 2024. Paradise Dragona supplied much of the Dragon-type theme, while Super Electric Breaker brought Pikachu ex.
That is why the English set is so big. If you collect Japanese cards, you will need both Japanese sets to cover the same cards. Browse our Japanese Pokémon booster boxes for current Japanese releases.
Surging Sparks products
Booster box
The Surging Sparks booster box is the best choice if you want to chase the special illustration rares, as it gives you the most packs for the set in one sealed box. It is also the usual pick for collectors trying to complete the whole card list. See all of our English Pokémon booster boxes.
Elite Trainer Box
The Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box has 9 packs, a full-art foil Magneton promo (SVP 159), 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide, 6 damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, 2 condition markers, a collector’s box with 4 dividers and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.
Pokémon Center ETB
The Pokémon Center version was sold through Pokémon Center in the US, Canada and the UK. It has 11 packs and 2 full-art Magneton promos, one with the Pokémon Center logo, plus the same accessories.
Build & Battle Box and other products
The Build & Battle Box was available from October 26, 2024 at prerelease events. It has 4 packs, a 40-card ready-to-play deck and 1 of 4 foil promos: Chien-Pao, Magneton, Gouging Fire or Indeedee. Other products include the Latias ex Special Collection and the Black Kyurem ex and Archaludon ex boxes. The Grand Adventure Collection, released on November 15, 2024, also launched alongside the set.
Which product should you buy?
- To chase the Pikachu ex special illustration rare: the booster box.
- For packs and accessories in one box: the Elite Trainer Box.
- For players: the Build & Battle Box, which comes with a ready deck.
Tips for collecting the set
- Sort by number first: anything above 191 is a secret rare.
- Keep all four Pikachu ex cards together as a set.
- Pair the Latias ex special illustration rare with the Latios illustration rare.
- Sleeve the gold hyper rares straight away, as the etched gold surface shows marks easily.
- Look out for the Supporter special illustration rares, like Lisia’s Appeal, which also rank highly.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are in Surging Sparks?
252 cards: 191 in the main set and 61 secret cards.
Which Pikachu ex is the most valuable?
The special illustration rare, 238/191, followed by the gold hyper rare, 247/191, and then the full art, 219/191.
Is there a Surging Sparks booster box?
Yes. As a main set, it has a full booster box, unlike special sets such as Prismatic Evolutions, which only came in bundles, tins and collections.
What is the theme of the set?
Pikachu ex and Stellar Tera Pokémon, plus a big Dragon-type focus with Latias, Latios, Hydreigon and Archaludon.
More Scarlet & Violet guides
The set before this one was Stellar Crown, which introduced Stellar Tera Pokémon with Terapagos ex. The next release was the Eevee special set, Prismatic Evolutions, followed by Journey Together. Find more in our TCG news and guides.
