Surging Sparks: 252 Cards, Tera Pikachu ex and Amazing Dragons

Surging Sparks is one of the biggest expansions of the Pokémon TCG’s Scarlet & Violet series. Released on 8 November 2024 under the code SV08, it holds 252 cards, led by a supercharged Tera Pikachu ex and backed by a parade of Dragon-type Pokémon. This guide explains what the set is about, which cards matter, where it came from in Japan and the easiest ways to open it.

Surging Sparks at a glance

If you only have a minute, these are the essentials:

• Release date: 8 November 2024, with digital play in Pokémon TCG Live opening a day earlier
• Set code: SV08; deck lists use the short form SSP
• Size: 252 cards, made up of 191 main-set cards and 61 secret rares
• Headliner: Pikachu ex as a Stellar Tera Pokémon ex
• Theme: the Terarium, the main setting of The Indigo Disk, the second part of the DLC for the Scarlet and Violet video games
• Japanese sources: Super Electric Breaker and Paradise Dragona

Where Surging Sparks sits in the Scarlet & Violet era

The set landed two months after Stellar Crown, which launched on 13 September 2024 and introduced Stellar Tera Pokémon ex, led by Terapagos ex. Surging Sparks picks up that idea and runs with it: the official announcement lists nine Stellar Tera Pokémon ex and nine regular Pokémon ex, so the main set carries 18 Double Rare ex cards in total. The next English release after it was the special set Prismatic Evolutions on 17 January 2025.

The Terarium link explains a lot of the card selection. Drayton, a Dragon-type specialist from The Indigo Disk, turns up as a Supporter, and the official announcement describes several cards as themed around the Terarium, the artificial paradise players explore in that DLC.

Tera Pikachu ex, the Stellar headliner

Pikachu has fronted plenty of releases over the years, but here it’s the card the whole expansion revolves around. Pikachu ex is a Basic Stellar Tera Pokémon ex, and its signature attack is Topaz Bolt. In play it’s a Lightning card, given the Stellar Tera treatment that Stellar Crown introduced.

You can find Pikachu ex in four versions in Surging Sparks:

• 057/191 – Double Rare, the regular version
• 219/191 – Ultra Rare, a full-art card
• 238/191 – Special Illustration Rare
• 247/191 – Hyper Rare, finished in gold

A parade of Dragon-type Pokémon

The second big story is dragons. The official announcement describes a parade of Dragon-type Pokémon led by Alolan Exeggutor ex in its Stellar form, joined by Latias ex and Archaludon ex. Alolan Exeggutor ex gets the same four-version treatment as Pikachu ex, running from Double Rare 133/191 up to a gold Hyper Rare at 248/191.

One detail catches newer players out. In the video games Latias and Archaludon are Dragon types, but in the TCG Latias ex is a Psychic card and Archaludon ex is a Metal card. The cards that actually use the Dragon type sit at 133–142 in the main set, including Dialga, Palkia, Eternatus, Flapple, Appletun and Tatsugiri ex. The Trainer section adds Dragon Elixir plus the Supporters Drayton and Drasna.

Eight ACE SPEC cards

ACE SPEC cards returned to the Scarlet & Violet era in Temporal Forces, and Surging Sparks includes eight of them – a generous number for one set. Only one ACE SPEC card is allowed in a deck, so picking the right one becomes part of deck building. Seven are Trainers and one is a Special Energy:

• Amulet of Hope (Pokémon Tool)
• Brilliant Blender (Item)
• Energy Search Pro (Item)
• Megaton Blower (Item)
• Miracle Headset (Item)
• Precious Trolley (Item)
• Scramble Switch (Item)
• Enriching Energy (Special Energy)

The chase cards collectors look for

Beyond the main 191 cards sit 61 secret rares: 23 illustration rares, 21 ultra rares, 11 special illustration rares and six gold hyper rares. The special illustration rares are the most eye-catching part of the set:

• Pikachu ex 238/191
• Alolan Exeggutor ex 242/191
• Latias ex 239/191 and Archaludon ex 241/191
• Hydreigon ex 240/191 and Milotic ex 237/191
• Durant ex 236/191
• Supporters Clemont’s Quick Wit, Drayton, Jasmine’s Gaze and Lisia’s Appeal (243–246)

The six gold hyper rares are Pikachu ex, Alolan Exeggutor ex, Counter Gain, Gravity Mountain, Night Stretcher and Jet Energy. Want every number in one place? Our Surging Sparks card list covers all 252 cards with rarities and works as a printable checklist.

Japanese roots: Super Electric Breaker and Paradise Dragona

Like most English expansions, Surging Sparks blends Japanese releases. Super Electric Breaker (超電ブレイカー) launched in Japan on 18 October 2024 with Pikachu ex as its headliner, according to the official Japanese product page. Its packs hold five cards and a booster box holds 30 packs.

The dragons come from Paradise Dragona, an enhanced expansion pack released in Japan on 13 September 2024. It centres on Stellar Alolan Exeggutor ex, with Latias, Latios and Gouging Fire also featured. The Surging Sparks page on Bulbapedia lists both as the sources of the English cards.

If you enjoy comparing languages, the Japanese Super Electric Breaker SV8 Booster Box gives you the Japanese prints of the Pikachu ex side of the set, with Japanese text and smaller packs.

Ways to open the set

There are three main sealed options, and each suits a different kind of collector:

• Surging Sparks Booster Box – 36 booster packs, each with 10 cards and a Basic Energy. The natural pick for set builders, players chasing playsets and group box breaks.
• Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box – nine packs plus a full-art Magneton promo, sleeves, Energy and accessories. Our Surging Sparks ETB guide walks through everything inside.
• Surging Sparks Sealed Case – six sealed booster boxes (216 packs) for clubs, large breaks or anyone working on several master sets at once.

Who the set suits

Pikachu fans have the obvious reason to open Surging Sparks, but dragon lovers, Supporter art fans and competitive players hunting ACE SPECs all get something too. With 18 Pokémon ex in the main set and a deep run of illustration rares, it rewards people who enjoy filling a binder page by page rather than chasing one single card.

It’s also a friendly set for newer players. Every ex card is clearly marked, the Stellar Tera mechanic is easy to explain, and the eight ACE SPEC cards give you a simple first lesson in deck-building limits.

Shop the range

• Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box
• Surging Sparks Booster Box
• Japanese Super Electric Breaker SV8 Booster Box

Surging Sparks closed out 2024 with a set that has something for almost everyone, from an electric Pikachu to a sky full of dragons. For the full launch details, read the official announcement from The Pokémon Company International, then explore more sets in our Pokémon TCG range.

Surging Sparks FAQs

When was Surging Sparks released?

Surging Sparks was released in English on 8 November 2024. Its main Japanese source, Super Electric Breaker, came out in Japan on 18 October 2024.

How many cards are in Surging Sparks?

There are 252 cards: 191 in the main set and 61 secret rares, made up of 23 illustration rares, 21 ultra rares, 11 special illustration rares and six gold hyper rares.

What are the main chase cards in Surging Sparks?

Collectors mostly chase Pikachu ex, especially the Special Illustration Rare 238/191 and the gold Hyper Rare 247/191, along with the Alolan Exeggutor ex, Latias ex and Archaludon ex special illustration rares.

How many ACE SPEC cards are in Surging Sparks?

Eight: seven Trainers (Amulet of Hope, Brilliant Blender, Energy Search Pro, Megaton Blower, Miracle Headset, Precious Trolley and Scramble Switch) and the Special Energy Enriching Energy. A deck can include only one ACE SPEC card.

Is Surging Sparks the same as Super Electric Breaker?

Not exactly. The English set combines cards from Super Electric Breaker with the Dragon-focused Paradise Dragona, which is why it is much larger than either Japanese release.