Pokémon 151 Set Guide: 207 Cards and a Wonderful Kanto Pokédex
Everything about Scarlet & Violet—151: the 207-card Kanto set, its rarity ladder, the starter chase cards, the English product line and the Japanese original.
In this guide 9 sections
Pokémon 151 is the Scarlet & Violet special set that took the TCG back to where it all began. Released in English on 22 September 2023, it features only the original 151 Kanto Pokémon, from Bulbasaur to Mew, printed in National Pokédex order. That simple idea has made it a favourite with collectors, and this guide explains why.
Pokémon 151 at a glance
- Full name: Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—151 (set code SV3.5)
- English release: 22 September 2023
- Size: 207 cards, made up of 165 in the main set and 42 secret cards
- Type of set: a special set, so it has no 36-pack English booster box
- Japanese original: Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a), released on 16 June 2023
- Headline cards: Venusaur ex, Charizard ex, Blastoise ex and Mew ex
A Kanto Pokédex in card form
Most expansions sort their cards by type. Pokémon 151 doesn’t. Card 001 is Bulbasaur, card 006 is Charizard ex, card 025 is Pikachu and card 151 is Mew ex, so the numbers on the cards match the original Pokédex. If you grew up with Red and Blue, flicking through the set feels like scrolling through that old Pokédex again.
After the Pokémon come 14 Trainer cards numbered 152 to 165. They lean into Kanto nostalgia too: the Antique Dome Fossil, Antique Helix Fossil and Antique Old Amber, the Cycling Road Stadium, and Supporters named after familiar faces, including Bill’s Transfer, Daisy’s Help, Erika’s Invitation and Giovanni’s Charisma.
Twelve Pokémon ex appear in the main set: Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Arbok, Ninetales, Wigglytuff, Alakazam, Golem, Kangaskhan, Jynx, Zapdos and Mew. English packs also include Reverse Holofoil versions of every Rare and below, and Cosmos Holo Basic Energy can turn up in packs.
The rarity ladder in 151
The 42 secret cards are where the 151 Pokémon set really shines. They break down like this:
- 16 illustration rares (166–181), including Pikachu, Psyduck, Mr. Mime and Dragonair
- 16 ultra rares (182–197): full-art versions of all 12 Pokémon ex plus four Supporters
- 7 special illustration rares (198–204): Venusaur ex, Charizard ex, Blastoise ex, Alakazam ex, Zapdos ex, Erika’s Invitation and Giovanni’s Charisma
- 3 gold hyper rares (205–207): Mew ex, Switch and Basic Psychic Energy
The starter chase cards
The most famous cards in Pokémon 151 are the Kanto starter lines. Look at the artists and you’ll see why they work so well as a group. Yoriyuki Ikegami drew the Bulbasaur and Ivysaur illustration rares as well as the Venusaur ex special illustration rare. Artist miki kudo did the same for Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard ex 199/165, and Mitsuhiro Arita handled Squirtle, Wartortle and Blastoise ex. Collecting a full line gives you three cards by the same artist.
Charizard ex 199/165 is the set’s best-known chase card, and Mew ex 205/165, the gold hyper rare that closes out the set, is the fitting final entry in the Pokédex. Alakazam ex 201/165 and Zapdos ex 202/165 round out the special illustration rare Pokémon.
Why collectors love the 151 Pokémon set
A few things set it apart from a regular expansion:
- Nostalgia with modern art. The original 151 Pokémon get Scarlet & Violet-era illustration rares and special illustration rares.
- An easy binder layout. Pokédex order means a nine-pocket binder fills up exactly like a Kanto Pokédex.
- A clear finish line. At 207 cards it’s big enough to be a project but small enough to complete.
- Something for every fan. Charizard, Pikachu, Mew and the starters all appear in more than one rarity.
The English product line-up
Because Pokémon 151 is a special set, English packs reached shelves through a range of boxes rather than a standard booster box. The official line-up included:
- Pokémon 151 Elite Trainer Box: nine packs, a full-art Snorlax promo (SVP 051), 65 sleeves, 45 Energy cards and accessories
- Pokémon 151 Booster Bundle: six packs, available from launch day
- Ultra-Premium Collection (6 October 2023): 16 packs, an etched metal Mew ex card, a Mew ex promo, a Mewtwo promo, a playmat, a deck box and a Mew coin
- Mini Tins (6 October 2023): two packs, a coin in one of 10 Energy-type styles and an art card matching the tin, also available in our Pokémon 151 Mini Tin Display
- Poster Collection, Binder Collection, and the Alakazam ex and Zapdos ex Collections
Not sure which to pick? Our 151 Booster Bundle guide compares the bundle, ETB, UPC and mini tins side by side. If you were hoping for a full box, read our guide to the Pokémon 151 booster box question, which covers the Japanese box and the other ways to open a box’s worth of packs.
Promo cards that pair with Pokémon 151
A complete Pokémon 151 collection doesn’t stop at card 207. Several of the English products came with Black Star Promos themed around Kanto, and many collectors keep them on a page at the back of their binder:
- Snorlax (SVP 051), the illustration rare-style promo from the Elite Trainer Box
- Mew ex and Mewtwo promos, plus the etched metal Mew ex card, from the Ultra-Premium Collection
- Alakazam ex, Kadabra and Abra promos from the Alakazam ex Collection
- Zapdos ex and Electabuzz promos from the Zapdos ex Collection, which also came with an oversize Zapdos ex card
- Three Kanto first partner promos from the Poster Collection
If you’re building a master set, decide early whether promos count. Adding them gives the project a longer tail, while sticking to the 207 numbered cards keeps the goal tidy. Either way, the Pokédex numbering makes the 151 Pokémon easy to slot into place as you go.
Japanese Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a)
The set began in Japan as Pokémon Card 151, an enhanced expansion pack released on 16 June 2023, three months before the English version. Japanese packs hold seven cards with two guaranteed holofoils, and the official recommended price was 290 yen per pack. The Japanese set has 210 cards in total, three more than the English release.
One extra worth knowing about: in Japanese packs, Common, Uncommon and Rare cards have mirror holofoil versions with a Poké Ball pattern or a Master Ball pattern. English packs use the standard Reverse Holofoil instead. You can read more on the official Pokémon Card Game page for SV2a (in Japanese) and the Bulbapedia set page.
Shop the Kanto range
Whether you’re filling a Pokédex binder or hunting Charizard ex, Pokémon 151 rewards collectors at every level. Explore our full Pokémon TCG range for more Scarlet & Violet sets.
Pokémon 151 FAQs
When was Pokémon 151 released?
The English set Scarlet & Violet—151 was released on 22 September 2023. The Japanese original, Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a), came out on 16 June 2023.
How many cards are in Pokémon 151?
The English set has 207 cards: 165 in the main set and 42 secret cards, including 16 illustration rares, 16 ultra rares, 7 special illustration rares and 3 gold hyper rares.
Does Pokémon 151 include all of the original 151 Pokémon?
Yes. The set features only the original 151 Kanto Pokémon, from Bulbasaur to Mew, in National Pokédex order, followed by 14 Trainer cards.
What are the chase cards in 151?
The best-known chase cards are the special illustration rares of Charizard ex, Venusaur ex and Blastoise ex, plus the gold hyper rare Mew ex 205/165.
Is there an English booster box for 151?
No. As a special set, 151 was sold in English through products such as the Elite Trainer Box, Booster Bundle, Ultra-Premium Collection and Mini Tins rather than a 36-pack booster box.
