Set Spotlights · Scarlet & Violet 151

Scarlet & Violet 151: The Complete Set Guide

Everything that matters about the modern Kanto set — what's in it, which cards to chase, which sealed product to buy, and whether it's still worth collecting in 2026.

Scarlet & Violet 151 is the modern Pokémon set built entirely around the original 151 Kanto Pokémon. It launched on September 22, 2023 as the first "special expansion" of the Scarlet & Violet era, and it's still one of the most-collected sets in the hobby — driven by nostalgia and one card in particular: the Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare.

This guide covers what's in the set, which cards are worth chasing, which sealed product to buy, and whether 151 still makes sense to collect in 2026.

What is Scarlet & Violet 151?

151 is a Kanto-only nostalgia set. Every card is one of the original 151 Pokémon, and the set is ordered by National Pokédex number instead of by type — so it reads like a modern Base Set tribute with current Scarlet & Violet mechanics and artwork.

It's officially a special expansion, not a mainline set. That matters for two reasons: special sets get printed in finite waves rather than indefinitely, and the English release skipped the usual booster box in favor of collection-style products.

151 is the closest thing the modern era has to Base Set — the one set even lapsed collectors instantly recognize.

How many cards are in the 151 set?

The English set has 207 cards total: 165 in the numbered base set plus 42 secret rares numbered above 165. (The Japanese version has 210 — it includes three extra secret rares.)

The high-rarity cards break down like this:

• Illustration Rare — 16 cards. One gold star; full-art Pokémon, no ex.
• Special Illustration Rare — 7 cards. Two gold stars; the top chases.
• Ultra Rare — 16 cards. Two silver stars; full-art ex and Supporters.
• Hyper Rare — 3 cards. Three gold stars; gold etched cards.

There are 12 Pokémon ex cards across the set. The seven SIRs are where nearly all the value sits.

What are the chase cards in 151?

The chase list is led by the Charizard ex SIR #199/165 — the most expensive and most wanted card in the set by a wide margin. Behind it are the other Kanto-starter and legendary SIRs.

Below are the main chase cards with approximate market values as of early 2026, plus a first-pass read on whether each is worth grading. These are aggregate market estimates — CardBrain Grader runs the live raw-vs-graded math on your exact card.

Beyond the SIRs, the standout Illustration Rares are the Kanto starters and Pikachu — Charmander #168, Squirtle #170, and Pikachu #173 — which trade in the $40–65 range raw despite not being ex cards, purely on character demand.

Which 151 sealed product should you buy?

There's no booster box, so your choice is between four products. What you're really choosing is pack count vs. exclusive promos vs. price.

• Ultra Premium Collection — 16 packs. Exclusive metal Mew ex plus gold Mew/Mewtwo promos. ~$300–600+ sealed. The flagship.
• Elite Trainer Box — 9 packs. Stamped promo and accessories. ~$120–200.
• Booster Bundle — 6 packs. Packs only; the lowest-cost entry.
• Poster Collection — 3 packs. Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle foil promos plus a poster. ~$40.

The Ultra Premium Collection is the flagship — it's the only way to get the metal and gold promos, and sealed copies have held a strong premium the way the Celebrations UPC did before it. If you just want to open packs, the Booster Bundle is the cheapest entry; if you want a gift-ready display, the Poster Collection punches above its price.

Is Scarlet & Violet 151 still worth it in 2026?

For collecting: yes, with eyes open. 151's demand is unusually durable for a modern set because it's not really competing as a modern set — it's a Kanto nostalgia product anchored by the single most bankable character in the hobby. That keeps the Charizard SIR liquid and the starter SIRs in steady demand.

For investing: be honest that it's a collectible, not a yield. Special-set reprint waves can soften raw prices, and the graded premium does most of the heavy lifting on returns — a PSA 10 chase is often 3–5× its raw price. The move is to track live prices and grade selectively, not to buy sealed and assume it only goes up.

Either way, the first step is knowing what your copies are actually worth today — which is exactly what the Tracker is for.

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