Crown Zenith Card List: 10 Amazing Galarian Gallery Chase Cards
The Crown Zenith card list closed the Sword and Shield era with one of the most loved subsets ever printed: the Galarian Gallery. Released on 20 January 2023, Crown Zenith is a special set that combines a 159-card main set with a 70-card gallery of full-art cards, capped by four gold VSTARs of the legendary creation Pokémon. Its Giratina VSTAR and Mewtwo VSTAR are still two of the most wanted cards of the era. This guide explains the full Crown Zenith card list, how the Galarian Gallery works, which cards to chase and what to buy in Australia.
If you collect across eras, Crown Zenith is the bridge between Sword and Shield and the Scarlet and Violet sets that followed, such as Paldea Evolved and Pokémon 151.
Table of Contents
Crown Zenith card list at a glance
- Release date: 20 January 2023
- Set code: SWSH12.5
- Main set: 159 cards, plus a gold Pikachu secret rare at 160
- Galarian Gallery: 70 cards numbered GG01 to GG70
- Total: 230 cards across the main set and the gallery
- Japanese counterpart: VSTAR Universe
- Set type: special set, sold through bundles, Elite Trainer Boxes and collections rather than booster displays
Crown Zenith arrived at a special moment. It was the last English set before the Scarlet and Violet era changed card frames, rarities and borders, so it marks the end of the yellow-bordered era for English cards. Many collectors treat it as a farewell set and keep it sealed for exactly that reason.
What the Galarian Gallery is
The Galarian Gallery is a subset of 70 full-art cards that can appear in any Crown Zenith pack. It replaced the reverse holo slot in some packs, so opening the set felt special from the first pack. The gallery covers three types of card: character-style cards where Pokémon interact with their surroundings, full-art V, VMAX and VSTAR Pokémon, and full-art Supporters.
At the end of the gallery sit four gold VSTARs drawn by Akira Egawa: Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR at GG67, Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR at GG68, Giratina VSTAR at GG69 and Arceus VSTAR at GG70. Together they form one of the most iconic finishing runs in any modern set.
The character-style gallery cards are a highlight of the Crown Zenith card list. They show regular Pokémon in detailed scenes rather than plain backgrounds, similar to the Trainer Gallery and the later Illustration Rares. They are affordable, beautiful and perfect for building a themed binder page.
How the Crown Zenith card list is numbered
- 001 to 159: the main set, including Pokémon V, VSTAR, Radiant Pokémon and full-art Trainers such as Elesa’s Sparkle and Friends in Hisui
- 160: a gold Pikachu secret rare
- GG01 to roughly GG34: character-style gallery cards of regular Pokémon
- Around GG35 to GG57: full-art V, VMAX and VSTAR Pokémon, including Glaceon VSTAR, Raikou V, Zeraora VSTAR, Mewtwo VSTAR, Deoxys VMAX and Darkrai VSTAR
- Around GG58 to GG66: full-art Supporters such as Gardenia’s Vigor, Grant, Melony, Raihan and Roxanne
- GG67 to GG70: the four gold creation-trio and Arceus VSTARs
Because gallery cards use their own GG numbering, it is easy to sort them separately from the main set. Many collectors keep the gallery in its own binder.
When sorting an opening, keep main set cards and gallery cards apart from the start. The GG prefix makes gallery cards easy to spot, and checking that pile against the Crown Zenith card list straight away ensures nothing valuable is mixed into bulk.
Top 10 chase cards in the Crown Zenith card list
Values move all the time, so treat this as a ranking based on sales through 2025 and 2026 rather than a price list.
- Giratina VSTAR, gold secret rare GG69
- Mewtwo VSTAR, Galarian Gallery GG44
- Arceus VSTAR, gold secret rare GG70
- Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR, gold secret rare GG68
- Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR, gold secret rare GG67
- Glaceon VSTAR, Galarian Gallery GG40
- Darkrai VSTAR, Galarian Gallery GG50
- Deoxys VMAX, Galarian Gallery GG45
- Pikachu, gold secret rare 160
- Leafeon VSTAR, Galarian Gallery
Giratina VSTAR
The gold Giratina VSTAR at GG69 shows Giratina in a black and gold landscape that seems to tunnel into the card. It has been the consensus chase card since launch and is often described as the crown jewel of the whole Sword and Shield era.
Mewtwo VSTAR
Mewtwo VSTAR at GG44 is the only non-gold card in the top five. Its colourful, dramatic artwork made it a chase card the moment it was revealed, and it has traded neck and neck with Giratina at times.
The creation trio
Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR join Giratina and Arceus to complete the gold run. Collecting all four is one of the most popular goals in modern Pokémon collecting.
Pull rates are never officially published, so treat any figures online as community estimates. Gallery cards turn up regularly, the full-art V and VSTAR cards are less common, and each gold VSTAR is a rare pull. That is why most collectors open a few bundles for fun and buy the gold cards as singles.
Crown Zenith for players
The set reprinted several important cards for the end of Sword and Shield, and its Radiant Pokémon and VSTARs saw play at the time. Today it is mainly a collector set, but its main set Trainers remain useful in the Expanded format. Players can always use the cheaper main set versions instead of the gallery cards.
Condition matters with gold cards, because the textured foil shows scratches and edge wear quickly. Sleeve every gallery hit straight away, keep the best in toploaders or magnetic cases, and store binders upright in a cool, dry room away from sunlight. Before grading, check centring and surface under a bright light.
Sealed Crown Zenith product has become harder to find since release, so if you keep anything sealed, store it flat, out of the sun and with the shrink wrap untouched.
How to complete the Crown Zenith card list
- Complete the 159-card main set and the gold Pikachu
- Collect the character-style Galarian Gallery cards, which are the most affordable
- Add the Supporter gallery cards
- Buy the V, VMAX and VSTAR gallery cards as singles
- Finish with the four gold VSTARs, starting with whichever you love most
Many collectors also link Crown Zenith to the Pokémon of Hisui. Origin Forme Dialga and Palkia come from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and the gold Arceus VSTAR that closes the gallery celebrates that game’s legendary centrepiece. If you enjoyed Legends: Arceus, the gold run tells its story in four cards.
Setting a goal like this, rather than trying to own everything at once, keeps the hobby enjoyable and your spending under control.
The Japanese counterpart: VSTAR Universe
Crown Zenith shares much of its artwork with the Japanese VSTAR Universe high class pack, which is famous for its own gold cards and character rares. Japanese collectors can explore the VSTAR Universe booster box and VSTAR Universe sealed case, and Korean collectors can look at the Korean VSTAR Universe box.
Keep a printed Crown Zenith card list in the front of your binder, with the main set and the gallery on separate pages. It makes trading easier and helps you see at a glance which gold or gallery cards you still need.
For new collectors, a single booster bundle is a friendly way to try the set. Every pack has a chance at a gallery card, so even a small opening feels exciting.
Best Crown Zenith products to buy
- Crown Zenith booster bundle: 6 packs and the simplest way to open the set
See what is in stock on our Crown Zenith product page, and browse every Pokémon booster bundle we carry.
Crown Zenith card list FAQ
How many cards are in Crown Zenith?
There are 230 cards: a 159-card main set, a gold Pikachu at 160 and the 70-card Galarian Gallery.
What is the best Crown Zenith card?
The gold Giratina VSTAR GG69 and the Mewtwo VSTAR GG44 have been the most valuable cards.
Is there a Crown Zenith booster box?
No. As a special set, Crown Zenith was sold in bundles, Elite Trainer Boxes, tins and collections.
Where can I see the full checklist?
The Bulbapedia Crown Zenith page lists the main set and the full Galarian Gallery.
More Pokémon set guides
Look back at Lost Origin from late Sword and Shield, or move forward to the Scarlet and Violet era with Paldea Evolved, Obsidian Flames and Pokémon 151. Every guide is on the Obsidia Collectables trading card blog.
The Crown Zenith card list is a fitting finale for Sword and Shield. With a gallery packed with beautiful full-art cards and four of the most iconic gold cards ever printed, it remains a favourite with collectors years after release.