Pikachu took center stage in Surging Sparks, released on November 8, 2024. It's led by a Tera Pikachu ex and packed with some of the most loved Special Illustration Rares of the Scarlet & Violet era, including Latias ex and Milotic ex. Here's the collector's guide: the dates, the chase cards and what came in every box.
Surging Sparks at a Glance
- Release date: November 8, 2024
- Set code: SV08
- Set size: 191 cards plus secret rares
- Headliner: Pikachu ex
- Also featuring: Latias ex, Milotic ex and Alolan Exeggutor ex
Pikachu ex Takes the Stage
Surging Sparks gives Pikachu a Tera ex card with a huge attack, and its Special Illustration Rare and gold versions became instant chase cards. The set's Dragon and Water Special Illustration Rares are some of the strongest art in the era.
The Chase Cards
Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare. The headliner in top-tier art and the set's most valuable card.
Gold Pikachu ex. The Hyper Rare version, a must for Pikachu collectors.
Latias ex Special Illustration Rare. One of the most beautiful cards of the era.
Milotic ex Special Illustration Rare. Another fan-favorite illustration.
The Product Lineup
| Product | What's inside |
|---|---|
 Booster Pack
|
10 cards plus a basic Energy, in one of four pack artworks |
| Build and Battle Box | 4 packs and a ready-to-play 40-card deck with 1 of 4 promos |
 Booster Bundle
|
6 packs |
 Elite Trainer Box
|
9 packs, sleeves, Energy cards, dice and a storage box |
 Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box
|
More packs and extra promos, plus everything in the standard box |
| Booster Box | 36 packs |
Our quick picks: The Elite Trainer Box is the best all-around pick. The Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box is the collector's version, and the Booster Bundle and single packs are easy ways to chase Pikachu.
Tips for Collectors
- Know your Pikachus. The Special Illustration Rare and gold versions are priced very differently, so check the card number.
- Grade the Latias. Clean copies of the Latias ex Special Illustration Rare grade well and carry a premium.
- Check sold listings. Compare recent eBay sold listings before buying or selling singles.
Keep Collecting With Booster Pack Cards
Browse our Pokémon TCG Elite Trainer Boxes, Booster Bundles and Booster Packs, or shop the full Pokémon TCG collection. Next up: every Eeveelution in our Prismatic Evolutions collector's guide.
