ひかる伝説 (Shining Legends): Japanese Pokémon TCG Set Guide (SM3+)

SM3+, Shining Legends (ひかる伝説), was released on 15 July 2017 in Japan as an enhanced expansion coinciding with the 20th Pokémon movie. With 82 cards, the set revived the beloved Shining Pokémon mechanic alongside powerful new GX cards, making it one of the most popular sets of the Sun & Moon era.

By PulloraX · Published 30 October 2026

Set overview

Shining Legends brought back the Shining Pokémon concept from the Neo era, featuring Legendary and Mythical Pokémon with a special holofoil pattern. The set was tied to the theatrical release of "Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!" and featured Pokémon spanning multiple generations. Booster packs contained five cards each.

Key cards

The Shining Pokémon were the star attraction: Shining Mew, Shining Celebi, Shining Jirachi, Shining Genesect, Shining Volcanion, Shining Rayquaza, and Shining Arceus. Each featured a distinctive golden border and holofoil treatment.

Among the GX cards, Zoroark-GX stood out as one of the most competitively impactful cards ever printed, with its Trade Ability and Riotous Beating attack dominating tournaments. Mewtwo-GX, Entei-GX, and Raichu-GX completed the GX lineup. Full Art and Hyper Rare variants added chase value.

What is in the box

A Japanese SM3+ booster box contains 20 packs of 5 cards. The set totals 82 cards including main-numbered cards, Full Art GX, Hyper Rare GX, and the coveted Shining Pokémon cards.

Browse Japanese Pokémon sealed product or read more in the PulloraX Magazine.