Brilliant Stars: Trainer Gallery & Chase Cards

Brilliant Stars: Introducing the Trainer Gallery

Released in February 2022, Brilliant Stars is one of the most significant Sword & Shield era sets thanks to its introduction of the Trainer Gallery subset and the debut of the VSTAR mechanic. With a massive 186 standard cards plus the 30-card Trainer Gallery and additional secret rares, Brilliant Stars offers an incredible amount of content for collectors. The set is anchored by the highly sought-after Charizard VSTAR chase card. Browse the full card list in our set database.

Top Chase Cards & Pricing

Brilliant Stars features a strong lineup of valuable cards across multiple rarity tiers:

• Charizard VSTAR (Rainbow Rare, 174/172) — The rainbow rare version is the set's most valuable card at $80-$200 for raw near-mint copies.
• Charizard V (Alternate Art, 154/172) — A stunning alt art featuring Charizard surrounded by other Pokemon, valued at $60-$150.
• Arceus VSTAR (Gold, 184/172) — The legendary creator in gold at $30-$70.
• Umbreon VMAX (Trainer Gallery, TG23) — A reprinted variant that remains highly popular at $30-$70.
• Sylveon VMAX (Trainer Gallery, TG15) — A Trainer Gallery highlight at $15-$40.
• Lumineon V (Alternate Art) — A beautiful underwater scene at $20-$50.

The Trainer Gallery Revolution

The Trainer Gallery was a game-changer for Pokemon TCG collecting. This 30-card subset features character rares (Pokemon depicted alongside their trainers in beautiful full-art illustrations) and full art trainer cards. The concept, borrowed from the Japanese Character Rare system, immediately became a fan favorite and would continue in subsequent sets. Trainer Gallery cards are found in place of the reverse holo slot in booster packs, giving every pack a chance at these special cards.

VSTAR: The New Power Level

Brilliant Stars introduced the VSTAR mechanic, which allowed Pokemon to use a powerful one-time "VSTAR Power" ability during a game. This mechanic replaced the VMAX gigantamax cards as the pinnacle of competitive play. Arceus VSTAR quickly became one of the most important competitive cards, while Charizard VSTAR became one of the most desired collector cards.

From a collecting perspective, VSTAR cards added another tier to the chase card hierarchy. Each VSTAR has standard, full art, and rainbow/gold variants, giving collectors multiple options at different price points.

Collecting Brilliant Stars

The sheer size of Brilliant Stars (210+ cards including Trainer Gallery and secret rares) makes completing a master set a significant project. However, the set has been widely printed, keeping sealed product relatively affordable. Booster boxes typically trade near retail, making this an accessible set for collectors on a budget who want to chase pulls.

For those with Brilliant Stars cards to sell — whether it's a Charizard VSTAR or bulk from box openings — get a free quote from our team. We buy both singles and bulk from modern sets. For more Sword & Shield era set reviews, visit our blog.