The Top 5 High-Value & Rare Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Cards | Featuring Union Arena and Exclusive Promos
The anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba boasts explosive popularity both in Japan and overseas. This popularity has extended to the trading card market, where BANDAI’s card game, UNION ARENA, features numerous cards based on the series.
Some of these cards are traded for tens of thousands of yen or more, drawing significant attention from collectors and fans.
This article introduces the types of Demon Slayer cards, the rarity system, specific cards that are trading at high values, and finally, explains how to safely purchase them from overseas.
Types of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Cards
Demon Slayer trading cards are primarily released as part of BANDAI’s “UNION ARENA” series.
This series is a cross-over TCG (Trading Card Game) that brings together multiple popular anime and game titles. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was featured as part of the initial lineup in 2023, alongside series like Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and Code Geass.
UNION ARENA
A cross-over card game developed by BANDAI. Besides Demon Slayer, it includes titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia. It is popular both for its gameplay and its high visual and collectible appeal.
- Publisher: BANDAI
- Features: A competitive trading card game with high visual quality and collectibility.
- Featured Characters: Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Kyojuro Rengoku, Giyu Tomioka, and others.
- Series Releases: Vol. 1 (released March 2023) / Vol. 2 (released Spring 2024), etc.
- Key Rarities: SR, SEC, SP (Signed), PR (Promotion)
In addition, items like “Demon Slayer Wafer Cards” and “Clear Cards” are also released by entities like Bandai Candy for collection purposes. While these are different from the UNION ARENA series, they often fetch high prices due to their limited designs and special inclusions.
Types and Identification of Rarity
Rarity
The biggest factor influencing a card’s value is its “Rarity” (scarcity). In UNION ARENA, cards are classified into the following tiers:
| Rarity | Features |
| C (Common) | The most basic cards. Highest inclusion rate, forming the foundation of deck construction. |
| U (Uncommon) | Slightly lower inclusion rate than Common. Often features stronger, more versatile cards. |
| R (Rare) | Features a gloss finish, often including popular characters. High collectibility. |
| SR (Super Rare) | Features foil stamping and hologram processing. Approximately 1 per BOX. Characterized by a beautiful finish. |
| SP (Special) | Includes a reproduction of the voice actor’s signature (foil stamped/printed). A higher tier of SR, typically a few per master carton. |
| PR (Promotion) | Cards distributed at events or as special bonuses. Not for sale and not found in packs. |
| UR (Union Rare) | Exclusive bonus card obtained through exchanging Union Tickets, etc. Features new artwork and luxurious foil stamping. |
- Note: Inclusion rates vary by set, and high rarities like SP and PR can be less than 0.1% to 1%.
- Example: For “Demon Slayer Vol. 2,” specifications like “Star 2 Parallel 1 per Carton” and “Star 3 Parallel 1 per 10 Cartons” have been reported.
- Note: UR (Union Rare) is a special bonus rarity unique to UNION ARENA, not “Ultra Rare.” It is acquired through effort or achievement, such as exchanging 5 Union Tickets, rather than through purchase or pack inclusion.
- Note: “SEC (Secret)” is a term sometimes used by fans and trading sites to refer to special designs with different backgrounds or compositions. However, this is a market nickname, not an official rarity, and may refer to extremely low-pull specifications like Star 2 / Star 3 Parallels.
Identifying Rarity on Physical Cards
UNION ARENA cards do not have rarity icons like the “★ mark” found on Pokémon cards.
Check the Code Suffix on the Bottom Left of the Card
The suffix, such as “SR,” “UR,” or “SP,” in codes like “UA05BT/KMY-1-031 SR,” indicates the rarity. This is the simplest way to check.
Observe Differences in Processing
- R / SR: Gloss or hologram processing
- UR: Borderless full art, prominent hologram, gold or silver foil
- SEC: Different composition/background from the regular version, full-surface hologram
- SP: Voice actor’s reproduction signature (foil stamped/engraved)
- PR: No hologram / Printed with “NOT FOR SALE” or “PROMO” on the back
Parallel Specification (★2 / ★3)
If “★2” or “★3” is printed near the card number or title, it indicates a parallel design. This is a design variant for the same character, not a rarity name.
Examples of Physical Card Rarities
C (Common)
Urokodaki — C
U (Uncommon)
Sanemi — U
R (Rare)
Inosuke — R
SR (Super Rare)
Tengen — SR
SP (Special)
Muichiro — SP
PR (Promotion)
Akaza — PR
UR (Union Rare)
Nezuko — UR
Top 5 High-Value Demon Slayer Cards
The following are representative examples of high-value cards based on market trends as of October 2025. Prices fluctuate depending on condition, grading, and listing time, but graded cards like PSA 10 have been known to exceed ¥100,000.
| Card Name | Rarity | Estimated Price Range | Notes |
| Tanjiro Kamado (SP Signed) | SP | Approx. ¥30,000–¥50,000 (PSA Graded items may exceed ¥100,000) | Features Natsuki Hanae’s reproduction signature. One of the most popular in the series. |
| Kyojuro Rengoku (SP Signed) | SP | Approx. ¥40,000–¥70,000 | Characterized by a flame effect background and foil stamping. |
| Nezuko Kamado (SEC Secret) | SEC | Approx. ¥20,000–¥35,000 | Features a striking pink-hued holographic background. |
| Shinobu Kocho (PR Limited Distribution) | PR | Approx. ¥10,000 and up | Event exclusive. High difficulty of acquisition. |
| Giyu Tomioka (SR Special Art) | SR | Approx. ¥5,000–¥10,000 | Standard BOX inclusion. Popular for its beautiful water-flow effect. |
These cards are highly sought after both domestically and internationally. Users are increasingly searching for trading information using queries in English such as “Demon Slayer Union Arena SP Tanjiro” and “Nezuko SEC card Japan.”
For instance, a “PSA10 Union Arena Tanjiro Kamado Star 3 Parallel” was listed on Mercari for ¥147,000 (May 2025). Some card shops have even listed Action Point cards for around ¥190,000.
Note: The prices above are estimates based on past transaction history and market listings, determined by the editorial team. Actual prices fluctuate based on condition, grading, and time of sale.
Reasons for Price Soaring
The main factors determining the value of Demon Slayer cards are:
Scarcity of Limited Production / First Editions
Limited first-edition cards and event-distributed cards are not reprinted, causing their price to rise over time.
Existence of Signed Cards
Voice actor signed cards (SP) are highly popular as collector’s items, with main characters (Tanjiro, Rengoku, Nezuko) seeing a large number of transactions.
Increased Value of Mint / Graded Cards
Graded cards (e.g., PSA 10) have a stable price among collectors due to guaranteed condition.
Entry of Overseas Collectors
Demon Slayer‘s popularity in North America and Asia is high, and international demand is driving up prices.
How to Obtain / Purchase and Precautions
Demon Slayer cards can be purchased at various shops and online marketplaces in Japan.
- Card Shops / BANDAI Official Mail Order: New products, reprints, limited BOXes, etc.
- Secondary Market (Mercari, Yahoo! Auction, Surugaya, etc.): Abundant with out-of-print and high-rarity cards.
- Proxy Purchase Services (Neokyo, etc.): Convenient proxy services for overseas users to purchase Japan-exclusive products, supporting everything from search to purchase and shipping from major Japanese marketplace sites like Mercari, Yahoo! Auction, and Surugaya.
However, popular cards are often counterfeited (copy cards). Pay attention to the following points:
- Be wary of discrepancies in print color or hologram placement.
- Copies with rough back logos/fonts also exist.
- When buying high-value cards, choose “PSA Graded items” or trusted sellers.
Summary
The collection value of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba cards is increasing annually alongside the popularity of the work. Signed and limited edition cards, in particular, are gaining attention both as fan items and as investment targets. For those starting their collection, it is recommended to first understand the rarity system and safely acquire cards of their “Oshi” (favorite character).
For Purchasing Japan-Exclusive Cards from Overseas: Neokyo
Rare cards exclusive to Japan, such as Demon Slayer, One Piece, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, can be easily purchased from overseas using Neokyo. Neokyo offers comprehensive support—from searching to purchasing and shipping—for products on major Japanese marketplace sites like Mercari, Yahoo! Auction, and Surugaya.
