Surging Sparks Card List: 10 Amazing Pikachu ex Chase Cards Ranked
The Surging Sparks card list is one of the most loved of the Scarlet and Violet era, and Pikachu is the reason. Released on 8 November 2024, Surging Sparks put a Stellar Tera Pikachu ex at the centre of a huge 252-card set packed with Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares and gold Hyper Rares. Its top card is still one of the most wanted modern Pikachu cards. This guide breaks down the full Surging Sparks card list, explains the numbering, ranks the top chase cards and helps you choose the right products in Australia.
Surging Sparks was followed by the Eevee special set Prismatic Evolutions two months later, and many collectors opened the two side by side. If you are building a binder of the final Scarlet and Violet sets, this is a great place to begin.
Table of Contents
Surging Sparks card list at a glance
- Release date: 8 November 2024
- Set code: SV08, set symbol SSP
- Total cards: 252, made up of 191 main set cards and 61 secret rares
- Japanese source: the Super Electric Breaker expansion
- Headline Pokémon: Pikachu ex in its Stellar Tera form, with Latias ex, Milotic ex, Hydreigon ex and Archaludon ex
- Extras: 8 ACE SPEC Trainer cards, plus several Stellar Tera Pokémon ex
How the Surging Sparks card list is numbered
Cards numbered 001 to 191 are the main set, including the double rare Pokémon ex such as Pikachu ex at 057/191, Hydreigon ex at 119/191 and Archaludon ex at 130/191. Anything numbered 192 or higher is a secret rare. The 61 secret rares sit in four blocks.
- 192 to 214: 23 Illustration Rares
- 215 to 235: 21 Ultra Rares, made up of 14 full-art Pokémon ex and 7 full-art Trainers
- 236 to 246: 11 Special Illustration Rares
- 247 to 252: 6 gold Hyper Rares, starting with Pikachu ex
The large Illustration Rare block is one of the best parts of the set. There are 23 of them, and several, like Vivillon and Vibrava, have become fan favourites in their own right. They are also the most affordable way to fill the secret rare pages of your binder.
Stellar Tera Pokémon ex are a key part of the Surging Sparks card list. These cards show Pokémon wearing a rainbow crystal crown, and they use Stellar Energy mechanics that rewarded players for mixing Energy types. Pikachu ex is the best known example, but several other Stellar Tera cards appear in both the main set and the secret range.
Every rarity in the Surging Sparks card list
Here is how the 252 cards divide by rarity. It is a big set, so tracking it by rarity block is the easiest way to see how close you are to finishing.
- Main set: 191 cards of commons, uncommons, rares, ACE SPECs and double rare Pokémon ex
- Illustration Rare: 23 cards
- Ultra Rare: 21 cards
- Special Illustration Rare: 11 cards
- Hyper Rare: 6 cards
Top 10 chase cards in the Surging Sparks card list
Market prices change every week, so treat this list as a ranking based on sales across 2025 and 2026 rather than a price guide.
- Pikachu ex, Special Illustration Rare 238/191
- Latias ex, Special Illustration Rare 239/191
- Milotic ex, Special Illustration Rare 237/191
- Pikachu ex, Hyper Rare 247/191
- Hydreigon ex, Special Illustration Rare 240/191
- Alolan Exeggutor ex, Special Illustration Rare 242/191
- Durant ex, Special Illustration Rare 236/191
- Lisia’s Appeal, Special Illustration Rare 246/191
- Night Stretcher, Hyper Rare 251/191
- Pikachu ex, Ultra Rare 219/191
Three premium Pikachu ex cards
Pikachu ex appears four times in Surging Sparks: the double rare at 057, the Ultra Rare at 219, the Special Illustration Rare at 238 and the gold Hyper Rare at 247. The Special Illustration Rare, illustrated by GIDORA, shows Pikachu in its Stellar Tera form surrounded by crystal light. It has been the most valuable card in the set since release, and one copy was even reported to have made a trip to the International Space Station in 2026.
Latias ex and Milotic ex
Latias ex and Milotic ex give the set real depth beyond Pikachu. Both Special Illustration Rares feature calm, water-themed scenes that look wonderful side by side, and they have consistently ranked second and third. Collectors who cannot justify the price of the Pikachu often make these two their main goal.
The surprising Durant ex
Not every chase card is a fan favourite Pokémon. The Durant ex Special Illustration Rare shows a line of ants marching through the scene, and its quirky charm has made it a cult classic. It is a good reminder that great artwork can lift any Pokémon into the top ten.
Pull rates are never officially published, so any numbers you read online are community estimates from large openings. As a rough guide, each specific Special Illustration Rare in the Surging Sparks card list is thought to appear roughly once in many hundreds of packs, and a 36-pack booster box usually gives a handful of Illustration Rares and Ultra Rares rather than a top chase card. That is why buying singles is the most reliable way to finish.
What Surging Sparks changed for players
Surging Sparks had a big impact on competitive play. Archaludon ex became a strong Metal attacker, Alolan Exeggutor ex found a niche, and several Trainer cards became staples. The Hyper Rare versions of Night Stretcher, Gravity Mountain and Jet Energy show how important those Trainers and Energy cards were, since collectors and players both wanted premium copies.
If you play, collect the double rare versions of the Pokémon ex in multiples. They play exactly the same as the expensive Special Illustration Rares and cost a fraction of the price.
How to complete the Surging Sparks card list
- Open one or two booster boxes to complete most of the 191-card main set
- Fill main set gaps with cheap singles rather than more packs
- Collect the 23 Illustration Rares, which are the most affordable secret rares
- Trade your duplicate Ultra Rares at local game nights
- Buy the Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares as singles once prices settle
A master set with reverse holos comes to well over 400 cards, so a large binder or two smaller binders will be needed. Many collectors split the main set and the secret rares into separate binders to make browsing easier.
Looking after your Surging Sparks pulls
Sleeve every Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare as soon as it leaves the pack, then store it in a toploader or magnetic case. Look closely at the corners, edges and surface under bright light before you grade anything, because modern cards can show print lines and whitening straight out of the pack. Keep binders upright in a cool, dry room away from sunlight.
Sealed collectors should store boxes flat, away from sunlight and humidity, and keep the shrink wrap intact. A box in excellent condition is always easier to sell or display later. Keep a printed copy of the Surging Sparks card list with your collection so you can check your progress at a glance.
Best Surging Sparks products to buy
- Surging Sparks booster box: 36 packs and the best value per pack
- Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs, sleeves, energy, dice and storage
- Surging Sparks booster bundle: 6 packs and an easy gift
- Surging Sparks booster box case: for stores and sealed collectors
Browse all of our Pokémon booster boxes to compare Surging Sparks with other sets.
Surging Sparks card list FAQ
How many cards are in Surging Sparks?
There are 252 cards: 191 in the main set and 61 secret rares numbered from 192 to 252.
What is the most valuable Surging Sparks card?
The Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare 238/191 has been the most valuable card since release, followed by Latias ex and Milotic ex.
Is Surging Sparks still worth opening?
Yes. The set has a deep pool of Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares, so even without a Pikachu there is plenty to enjoy.
Where can I see the full checklist?
The Bulbapedia Surging Sparks page lists every card with numbers and rarities.
More Scarlet and Violet set guides
Continue through the late Scarlet and Violet era with Prismatic Evolutions, Journey Together, Destined Rivals and Black Bolt and White Flare. For the newest era, start with the Mega Evolution card list, and browse everything on the Obsidia Collectables trading card blog.
The Surging Sparks card list offers something for everyone: a headline Pikachu, a deep bench of beautiful Illustration Rares and some of the best Trainer cards of the era. Take your time, trade often and enjoy one of the strongest sets Scarlet and Violet produced.