Pokemon TCG collectors are raising concerns over Japan’s new Abyss Eye set after players claimed some sealed booster packs are thin enough that card numbers can be seen before the packs are opened.
Abyss Eye released in Japan on May 22, 2026, with Mega Darkrai ex as the headline card. The Japanese set has already become a major target for collectors thanks to high-value chase cards, including Mega Darkrai, Mega Zeraora, and Kasumi.
However, shortly after launch, photos began circulating on X showing sealed Abyss Eye packs being held over a phone flashlight. The packs are not completely see-through, but some collectors claim that shining a light through the bottom corner of the wrapper can make parts of the card inside visible.
The concern is that Pokemon TCG card numbers correspond to specific cards in a set. If someone can read the number through a sealed pack, they may be able to identify whether it contains a rare or valuable pull without opening it.
Collectors debate whether Abyss Eye packs can be searched
One Japanese collector posted several photos of Abyss Eye packs over a light source, claiming they were able to see enough through the wrapper to identify pulls such as Mega Darkrai, Mega Zeraora, and Kasumi.
In one post, they said Mega Darkrai had “arrived” and joked that it was hard to take a picture, but that they could see it with their eyes. In another, they said Mega Zeraora “really pops” when light is shined from the left side.
The photos were later picked up by Pokemon TCG creator ItsMeCooper, who said it was already known that Japanese pack foil is thinner than English-language packaging, but called the Abyss Eye situation “bad news for Pokemon collectors.”
“Can’t believe so this is actually true? This is bad. Very bad,” Cooper wrote after another collector claimed they had received Abyss Eye packs and could confirm the issue.
However, not everyone is convinced the images prove loose Abyss Eye packs can be reliably searched.
Several users questioned whether the card being shown would actually be in the right position inside a sealed pack. One argued that the secret rare “wouldn’t be the first card in the pack,” claiming the example may have involved opening a pack, removing cards, and placing one back inside before shining a light through it.
Another user called the claim “fake,” arguing that moving the cards inside an undamaged pack enough to expose the fourth card would be difficult and could risk damaging the card.
Others gave a more measured response. One collector said they could confirm light can reveal the rim of the first card in a Japanese pack, but added that it was hard to make out the card behind it and that it “won’t result in people being able to pick out winning packs.”
ItsMeCooper also acknowledged the uncertainty, saying he had heard cards may be able to slide inside the pack, but did not yet have Abyss Eye packs to test the claim himself.
Japanese Pokemon TCG booster packs are physically different from English packs. They are generally smaller, contain fewer cards, and use thinner, softer foil packaging. Modern Japanese packs also commonly use an easier tear strip or pull-tab design, rather than the thicker plastic-style wrapper used for many English packs.
Because of those differences, some collectors say the safest option is buying sealed booster boxes or sticking with trusted retailers rather than purchasing loose packs from resellers.
