Reshiram ex
Quick take
- Special Illustration Rare of the set's headline Pokemon, Reshiram
- Sits just below the unique BWR Reshiram ex in White Flare's hierarchy
- Illustrated by kawayoo, a well-known full-art illustrator
- Core chase card for anyone building the White Flare master set
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in White Flare
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 166/86 · $179.38 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe Reshiram chase in a set built around Reshiram
White Flare landed in English on July 18, 2025 as one half of a paired release with Black Bolt. The whole set leans into Generation V and the Unova region, and Reshiram is the cover Legendary. That gives this card extra weight. When a set is named and themed around a Pokemon, the premium versions of that Pokemon become the cards people remember.
“Special Illustration Rare of the set's headline Pokemon, Reshiram”
This is the Special Illustration Rare print, number 166. It sits near the top of the White Flare chase list, just under the one-of-a-kind BWR Reshiram ex that the set introduced. Both matter to master set builders. The SIR is the more attainable of the two showpieces, and it is the one most collectors actually expect to slot into a binder.
kawayoo handled the art. The illustrator has a long track record of full-scene Pokemon pieces, and that pedigree is part of why the card holds attention past the release hype.
By the numbersMarket analysis
A strong chase SIR, near the top of White Flare's secondary market behind the unique BWR Reshiram ex. It trades well above the set's bulk and above most regular ultra rares.
Prices settled off the launch spike through late 2025 as supply from a heavily printed set caught up, then leveled out. Reshiram being the namesake gives the card a demand floor that pure filler SIRs do not have. The live market price on this page reflects the current read.
Namesake Legendaries from themed sets tend to age better than generic SIRs. White Flare was printed in large volume, though, so do not expect vintage-style scarcity. Treat it as a desirable modern card, not a guaranteed appreciator. Condition and grade matter most for upside.
Graded copies are widely available across PSA and CGC. A clean Gem Mint 10 commands a clear premium over raw, while a 9 sits much closer to raw value. On a card this modern, the gap between a 10 and a 9 is where the money is.
White Flare is a Scarlet & Violet era release, so the standard era odds apply. Any Special Illustration Rare lands at roughly 1 in 90 packs. The odds for one specific SIR run much longer, because a set spreads several SIRs across the print run, which pushes the realistic hunt for this exact Reshiram into the hundreds of packs. For comparison, a Double Rare hits around 1 in 5 packs, an Illustration Rare around 1 in 12, an Ultra Rare around 1 in 15, and a Hyper Rare anywhere from 1 in 300 to 1 in 700. If you want this card specifically, buying the single is far more sensible than ripping packs.
Within White Flare, only the one-of-a-kind BWR Reshiram ex sits clearly above this card in desirability. The SIR is the more reachable of the two showpieces and the one most master set builders actually plan around.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
kawayoo is a veteran Pokemon TCG illustrator known for dramatic full-art and special illustration pieces across multiple Scarlet & Violet era sets. The name carries weight with collectors who follow specific artists, and kawayoo cards tend to draw extra attention on the secondary market.
This is the Special Illustration Rare treatment, which extends the art past the standard frame and gives Reshiram a full-scene composition with the holo pattern washing across the whole card. The piece centers the Fire-type Legendary in the expansive style these SIRs are built for. For a precise read of every detail in the scene, view the card image on this page.
Special Illustration Rare from a Scarlet & Violet era set, numbered 166/086. That number falls in the secret-rare range above the set's printed 086 base count. Full-art borderless layout with holofoil across the entire card face.
It is the premium illustrated version of the exact Pokemon the set is named for. That alignment between subject and set theme is uncommon, and it is the biggest reason this card stands out from the other SIRs in White Flare.
BackgroundAbout Reshiram ex
Reshiram is the white Dragon Fire Legendary introduced in Pokemon Black and White in 2010, and it is the box mascot of Pokemon White. It is part of the Tao trio alongside Zekrom and Kyurem. In lore it represents truth, set against Zekrom's ideals, which is exactly why White Flare and Black Bolt shipped as a matched set.
- ›Box-art Legendary of a mainline generation, so name recognition is huge
- ›Striking white and fire design that reads well in full-art treatments
- ›Long competitive and collector history dating back to the original Black and White era
- ›Direct pairing with Zekrom drives matched-set collecting
- ›Box mascot of Pokemon White (2010)
- ›Featured Legendary across multiple Black and White era TCG sets
- ›Headline Pokemon of the 2025 White Flare expansion
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art SIRs with heavy holo across the whole face show edge whitening and surface scratches easily. Check the borders under good light and look for print lines in the flat color areas. Centering on these borderless cards can be tricky to judge, so compare the art margins on all four sides.
Worth grading if you pull or buy a near-mint copy, since the 10 premium over a 9 is meaningful on a card this modern. If the card has visible edge wear or a centering issue, the grading fee often is not worth it. Grade the clean ones, keep the rest raw. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve in a penny sleeve, then a snug top loader or a one-touch for anything you plan to keep long term. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from humidity. For a master set binder, use side-loading pages so the card does not slide against the holo surface. See the storage guide →
Buy the single rather than chasing it in packs, the specific-card odds are brutal. For raw copies, ask for clear photos of all four corners and the surface at an angle to catch scratches. For serious money, buy it already graded from a reputable seller so you are not paying a Gem Mint price for a card that grades a 9. See the singles buying guide →
This is a modern card, so counterfeit risk is lower than vintage, but cheap fakes still circulate. Check that the holo pattern behaves correctly when tilted, confirm the texture and font crispness, and be wary of listings with no clear photos. For high-value graded copies, verify the cert number on the grader's site.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
The card was well received as one of White Flare's signature pulls, helped by Reshiram being the namesake and by kawayoo's art. Collectors generally rank it just under the unique BWR Reshiram ex among the set's most wanted cards.
Reshiram and Zekrom from the Black Bolt and White Flare pair drew a lot of attention in collector coverage around the 2025 release, with the matched-set angle a recurring talking point. Interest has stayed steady rather than spiking.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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