A new wave for the Knights of the Zodiac
Chinese manufacturer Kayou, already well established in the TCG space with licenses like Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece, continues to expand its Saint Seiya line with Wave 5, officially released on May 8, 2026. After four waves built around the visual style of the iconic anime that began airing in 1986, this fifth series takes a different direction: it draws directly from the original panels of Masami Kurumada’s manga, with comic-panel-style illustrations never used before in this format.
A fully manga-driven art direction
This is the headline feature of Wave 5, also marketed as the “Comic Version Collection” or Series 5 “Yuan 10”. Instead of reusing the animated designs popularized by Toei Animation, Kayou chose to honor Kurumada’s original linework: dynamic framing inspired by manga panels, premium holographic effects, and high-end finishes for a rawer look closer to the source material.
The set features the series’ historic heroes — Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun and Ikki — alongside the Gold Saints, and several iconic battles from the Sanctuary arc and the Twelve Houses.
Booster and box contents
Depending on the distribution channel, two configurations coexist for this Wave 5:
- Standard display (Kayou 110): 18 boosters per box, 5 cards per booster, 36 boxes per carton.
- “Yuan 10” version (T4W5): 4-card boosters, with one rare, foil or parallel card guaranteed per pack.
As with previous waves, hunting for numbered/serialized cards remains a major draw for collectors chasing limited pulls.
Rarities to know
The set follows Kayou’s usual TCG rarity scale, from most common to most sought-after:
- R (Rare) — the base of the set
- SR (Super Rare)
- SSR (Super Super Rare)
- UR (Ultra Rare)
- AR (Absolute Rare)
- OR (Over Rare)
- TR / TGR (Transparent Rare / Transparent Gold Rare), exclusive to certain booster formats
Where to find Wave 5
Since the product is manufactured in China, importing remains the main route for collectors outside Asia: specialty card shops, AliExpress, or Western retailers who pre-ordered display boxes. As is often the case with Kayou releases, expect a slight gap between the official China release date and actual availability at Western retailers.
With Wave 5, Kayou delivers one of its most anticipated Saint Seiya collections yet, leaning on nostalgia for the original manga to win over longtime fans and new collectors alike.