Obsidian Flames: Charizard ex and Beyond

Obsidian Flames: Charizard Ignites the Scarlet & Violet Era

Released in August 2023, Obsidian Flames is the third expansion in the Scarlet & Violet era and immediately grabbed attention with its headline chase card: Charizard ex in both illustration rare and special illustration rare variants. As the first Scarlet & Violet set to feature Charizard prominently, Obsidian Flames drew massive collector interest. With 230 cards including numerous beautiful illustration rares, the set has established itself as one of the Scarlet & Violet era's strongest entries. Browse the full set in our set database.

Key Chase Cards & Pricing

Obsidian Flames packs a strong lineup of chase cards across the new Scarlet & Violet rarity tiers:

• Charizard ex (Special Illustration Rare, 223/197) — The most valuable card in the set, featuring Charizard in a dramatic volcanic scene. Raw NM copies sell for $80-$200, with PSA 10s at $300-$600.
• Charizard ex (Illustration Rare, 215/197) — The illustration rare variant at $30-$80.
• Charizard ex (Ultra Rare, 125/197) — The standard ultra rare version at $10-$25.
• Revavroom ex (Special Illustration Rare) — A surprise hit at $20-$50.
• Dragonite ex (Special Illustration Rare) — A fan favorite at $30-$70.
• Tyranitar ex (Special Illustration Rare) — The dark-type powerhouse at $20-$50.
• Vespiquen ex (Special Illustration Rare) — An underrated gem at $15-$40.

Scarlet & Violet Rarity System

Obsidian Flames uses the Scarlet & Violet era's updated rarity system, which replaced the V/VMAX/VSTAR system with Pokemon ex (lowercase "ex" to distinguish from the original EX era). Cards now come in standard, illustration rare, and special illustration rare variants, plus hyper rare gold versions. The illustration rare and special illustration rare cards feature the full-art, borderless designs that have become the most coveted modern Pokemon cards.

The Charizard Effect

It's impossible to discuss Obsidian Flames without acknowledging the "Charizard effect." Any Pokemon TCG set that features Charizard as a prominent chase card sees dramatically increased demand for sealed product. Obsidian Flames booster boxes spiked in value upon the Charizard ex reveal, and individual packs carry premiums at retail. The three different Charizard ex rarities give collectors multiple price points to pursue their favorite fire-type.

Beyond Charizard, the set features strong representation from Paldean Pokemon alongside returning classics. Eevee, Dragonite, and Tyranitar give the set broad appeal beyond just Charizard chasers.

Collecting Obsidian Flames

With 230 cards in the full set, completing Obsidian Flames requires dedication. The good news is that as a relatively recent and well-printed set, sealed product remains accessible near retail price. The special illustration rares have low pull rates (roughly 1 per 3-4 booster boxes on average), so targeting specific cards on the secondary market is more efficient than chasing pulls for most collectors.

If you've opened Obsidian Flames boxes and have cards to sell — from the Charizard ex to bulk commons — get a free quote from our buying team. We buy modern Pokemon cards at competitive prices. For more Scarlet & Violet era set reviews and market analysis, check our Pokemon card blog.