Start Deck 100 Battle Collection: Complete Guide for New Players & Collectors
Start Deck 100 Battle Collection, released in Japan on December 19, 2025: one random ready-to-play deck out of 100, 766 cards, rare decks and secret cards.
Start Deck 100 Battle Collection: Complete Guide for New Players
📅 AFTER RELEASE — updated November 4, 2026: the first version of this guide (December 17, 2025) described a generic box with several decks, a playmat and accessories for groups, deck archetypes and price forecasts. None of it came from the real product, and much of it was wrong: each box contains one random deck. We rewrote the guide on the product that came out in Japan on December 19, 2025, with the card list from TCGdex.
Quick Answer: Start Deck 100 Battle Collection is a Japanese Pokémon TCG product released on December 19, 2025. Each box contains one ready-to-play deck, picked at random from 100 different decks: you don't know which one you get until you open it. Every deck has at least two Pokémon ex. The card list has 766 numbered cards (742 + 24 secret), including a Mega Charizard Y ex, and there are also rare decks beyond the 100. Many of its new cards came to English in Ascended Heroes. It isn't sold in English.
Key Takeaways
- 🇯🇵 Japan only: released December 19, 2025, cards in Japanese.
- 🎲 One random deck per box, out of 100 different decks, each playable as-is.
- ⚡ At least two Pokémon ex in every deck.
- 🃏 766 cards: 742 numbered plus 24 secret cards (743-766), such as Mega Charizard Y ex, Pikachu ex and Lillie's Clefairy ex.
- 💎 Rare decks: beyond the 100, there are rarer decks, such as deck 101 with special cards of the Pokémon Legends: Z-A starters (PokéWiki).
- 🔁 Same idea as Start Deck 100 (Japan, December 17, 2021).
Table of Contents
- Product Overview
- Contents and Structure
- Designed for Teaching and Quick Play
- Value for Collectors and Competitive Players
- Frequently Asked Questions
Product overview
📌 TL;DR: A Japanese product that sells a single ready-to-play deck, chosen at random from 100. It follows Start Deck 100 from 2021.
Start Deck 100 Battle Collection was announced in August 2025 and released in Japan on December 19, 2025 (SNKRDUNK, TCGdex). It belongs to the Mega Evolution era of the Japanese game.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Release date | December 19, 2025 (Japan) |
| Language | Japanese |
| What's in a box | 1 random deck, ready to play |
| Possible decks | 100, plus rare decks |
| Pokémon ex per deck | At least 2 |
| Card list | 742 numbered + 24 secret cards, plus basic Energy |
The first Start Deck 100
The idea isn't new: Start Deck 100 came out in Japan on December 17, 2021, also with 100 random decks. The Battle Collection uses the same formula with cards from the Mega Evolution era.
English availability
The product wasn't released in English. Many of its new cards appeared in English in Ascended Heroes (January 30, 2026), such as Mega Meganium ex, Mega Emboar ex and Mega Feraligatr ex. To play in English, look at English products such as Battle Academy or the Elite Trainer Boxes.
Contents and structure
📌 TL;DR: One deck per box. The card list mixes new cards and reprints, with 108 Pokémon ex among the 742 numbered cards and 24 secret cards at the end.
Each box contains one deck, ready to shuffle and play. You can't choose it: the box doesn't show which deck is inside.
The card list
The TCGdex list numbers the cards from 001 to 766:
- 001-742: the cards of the 100 decks, new cards and reprints, including 108 Pokémon ex.
- 743-766: secret cards, including Boss's Orders, Mega Meganium ex, Mega Emboar ex, Mega Feraligatr ex, Pikachu ex, Lillie's Clefairy ex and, as number 766, Mega Charizard Y ex.
- Basic Energy of the eight types, outside the numbering.
Rare decks
According to PokéWiki, there are more decks than the 100 advertised: deck 101 is very rare and contains special cards of the Pokémon Legends: Z-A starters. The Pokémon Company doesn't publish how often they appear.
Designed for teaching and quick play
📌 TL;DR: A ready deck is a simple way to start, but with one random deck per box you need two boxes to play with a friend, and the cards are in Japanese.
What works for beginners:
- The deck is complete: no deckbuilding needed to play the first game.
- Every deck has at least two Pokémon ex, so it shows the modern rules: a Knocked Out Pokémon ex gives the opponent 2 Prize cards.
What to keep in mind:
- One deck per box: for two players you need two boxes, and you can't choose the matchup.
- Japanese text: fine if you know the cards, harder for someone learning the rules in English.
For English-speaking beginners, Battle Academy is a box with three decks and teaching material for two players, in English.
Value for collectors and competitive players
📌 TL;DR: Collectors look at the secret cards and rare decks. Our catalogue doesn't list this product's prices yet, so we don't give values.
For collectors, the interest is in the 24 secret cards and in the rare decks, which aren't in regular booster packs. Prices for this product aren't in the PokéWallet catalogue yet: check Japanese marketplaces before buying a single card.
For players, each deck has at least two Pokémon ex and the usual Trainer cards. The cards are Japanese, so they're for Japanese play; many of the new cards exist in English in Ascended Heroes.
The first version of this guide gave upgrade costs, appreciation percentages and examples of past products with prices. They had no source and we removed them.
Frequently asked questions
What is Start Deck 100 Battle Collection?
A Japanese Pokémon TCG product released on December 19, 2025. Each box contains one ready-to-play deck, picked at random from 100 different decks, each with at least two Pokémon ex.
Who is this product for?
Players who want a ready deck and collectors of Japanese cards. The cards are in Japanese, so for beginners who play in English an English product such as Battle Academy is easier.
How many decks are included in the box?
One. Each box contains a single deck, picked at random from 100. There are also rare decks beyond the 100, such as deck 101.
Are the decks competitive for tournaments?
They're built to play as-is, not to win tournaments. Each deck has at least two Pokémon ex. The cards are Japanese; many of the new ones are available in English in Ascended Heroes.
Do the cards have collector value?
The secret cards (743-766) and the rare decks are the ones collectors look for, such as Mega Charizard Y ex and Pikachu ex. The PokéWallet catalogue doesn't list prices for this product yet, so we don't give values.
Where can I buy Start Deck 100 Battle Collection?
In Japan, and from shops that import Japanese products. It wasn't released in English.
Do I need anything else besides the box?
To play a game you need two decks, so two boxes (or another deck). Card sleeves are useful if you play often.
How does it compare to Battle Academy?
Battle Academy is an English box with three decks and teaching material, made for two players learning the game. Start Deck 100 Battle Collection is Japanese and contains one random deck per box.
Can I mix cards from different decks?
Yes. Once you have several decks you can build your own: a deck has 60 cards and at most 4 copies of a card with the same name, except basic Energy.
How long does a typical game last?
There's no official figure for this product: it depends on the decks and on how well the players know the rules. First games take longer, while you read the cards.
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