Koraidon ex
Quick take
- Box-art legendary of Pokemon Scarlet, paired with Miraidon ex
- Special Illustration Rare from the first set of the SV era
- Required slot for any Scarlet & Violet base set master set
- Art by Ryota Murayama
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Scarlet & Violet Base Set
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 247/198 · $22.48 — 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 face of Scarlet, in full-art form
Koraidon is the box-art legendary of Pokemon Scarlet, the ancient paradox counterpart to Violet's Miraidon. When the Scarlet & Violet base set launched in 2023, it kicked off a new era of the TCG. New rarity symbols, new card frames, the ex mechanic back in lowercase. Koraidon ex sits right at the front of that story.
“Box-art legendary of Pokemon Scarlet, paired with Miraidon ex”
This is the Special Illustration Rare, number 247. It is the version collectors actually chase. The regular Double Rare exists for players, but the SIR is the one that goes in the binder. As one of two mascot legendaries anchoring the first set of the generation, it carries symbolic weight that keeps a card in demand long after the set leaves print.
For master set builders this is a non-negotiable slot. You cannot complete the Scarlet & Violet base set master set without it, and its status as a generation opener means it tends to hold attention better than a random SIR from a mid-cycle set.
By the numbersMarket analysis
The Koraidon ex SIR sits in the mid range for Scarlet & Violet Special Illustration Rares. It is not a top-of-the-set chase the way a Charizard or Pikachu SIR would be, but it holds steady value as a recognizable legendary from a heavily printed set. Raw copies trade in a comfortable mid-range band, with graded gem-mint copies pulling a meaningful multiple over raw.
Prices softened from the launch hype as the base set was printed in large volume, then settled into a stable floor. Mascot legendaries from generation-opening sets tend to resist the long slow decline that hits less iconic SIRs, so expect this one to hold rather than crater.
A steady hold rather than a flip. The heavy print run of the base set caps the upside, but the mascot tie-in and master set demand give it a durable floor. If you want one, buy the best raw copy you can and grade it yourself, or buy a graded copy at a price you would be happy to sit on.
Gem-mint graded copies command a solid multiple over raw, in line with a popular but high-supply SIR. The premium is real but not dramatic, because clean raw copies are easy to find.
In Scarlet & Violet sets you can expect any Special Illustration Rare roughly once every 90 packs. For context, a Double Rare lands about 1 in 5 packs, an Illustration Rare about 1 in 12, an Ultra Rare about 1 in 15, and Hyper Rares run anywhere from 1 in 300 to 1 in 700. Those numbers are for hitting any card of that rarity. Pulling one specific SIR like Koraidon ex runs far longer, since each set spreads many SIRs across the tier, so the realistic expectation for this exact card stretches into the hundreds of packs.
The Koraidon ex SIR is one of the more available SIRs from the base set because the set was printed in huge quantities during the era's launch. That keeps raw supply high relative to a chase SIR from a short-printed set.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Ryota Murayama is a regular contributor to the Pokemon TCG with a long list of full-art and special illustration credits across the Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet eras. The work leans toward clean, dynamic creature poses set against detailed natural environments.
Koraidon stands in a dense jungle, framed by large leafy plants, with a small Dedenne scampering through the undergrowth. Light breaks through the canopy above. The composition puts the legendary front and center in a grounded, confident pose, and the foliage gives it scale and a sense of place. The greens of the environment play against Koraidon's warm reds and the cooler tones of its build.
The Special Illustration Rare treatment means full-bleed artwork extending across the whole card face with textured holo foil and no standard window frame. The SIR foil pattern catches light across the illustration rather than sitting in a contained box.
The jungle framing fits Koraidon's identity as an ancient paradox Pokemon, an animal that belongs in a wild prehistoric landscape. It reads as a creature in its habitat rather than a battle pose, which is what separates the SIR from the plainer player-facing versions.
BackgroundAbout Koraidon ex
Koraidon is a Legendary Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet for the Nintendo Switch in 2022. It is both the Scarlet box-art mascot and the player's rideable companion through the open world, used for running, climbing, gliding, and swimming. Classified as a Paradox Pokemon, it is the ancient form tied to the Scarlet version, mirrored by the futuristic Miraidon in Violet.
- ›Box-art legendary, the most visible Pokemon in Scarlet marketing
- ›Functions as the player's ride mount, so players spend the whole game with it
- ›Distinctive design that stands apart from typical legendaries
- ›Anchors the first TCG set of the generation
- ›Box art and mascot of Pokemon Scarlet (2022)
- ›Player's rideable companion throughout the Scarlet & Violet open world
- ›Featured across the launch wave of Scarlet & Violet TCG products
Koraidon ex saw real competitive play in the Scarlet & Violet era. Its Dino Cry Ability attaches Basic Fighting Energy from the discard pile to your Basic Fighting Pokemon, at the cost of ending your turn, which enabled fast aggressive Fighting decks. The SIR is the collector's version, but the card had a job on the table too.
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art SIRs show edge whitening and surface scratches easily because the holo runs all the way to the border. Check the corners and the foil surface under angled light before buying. Whitening on the dark border areas is the most common condition killer.
Worth grading only if your copy is genuinely clean, centered, and sharp-cornered. Because the card is high-supply, a 9 will not pay off much over raw, so grade for a 10 or hold a strong raw copy. Inspect centering front and back before sending. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and toploader or slab it right away. Keep it out of direct light to protect the foil, and avoid stacking raw SIRs where surfaces can rub. See the storage guide →
Raw is the value play here. Supply is plentiful, so be picky. Hold out for a well-centered copy with clean borders rather than overpaying for the first listing. If you want graded, buy the grade you actually want rather than gambling on a raw submission. See the singles buying guide →
Modern SV-era SIRs are far less faked than vintage chase cards, but still buy from reputable sellers. Check that the SIR foil texture catches light across the whole illustration, confirm the 247/198 numbering and the SV set symbol, and compare the back swirl and font weight to a known genuine card.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Collectors generally like the Koraidon ex SIR as a clean, on-brand legendary card, even if it does not top anyone's chase list. It is respected as a must-have for the base set rather than a card people obsess over. The consensus is that it is a solid, fairly priced SIR.
Discussion tends to pair it with the Miraidon ex SIR, since collectors like owning the matched mascot pair together. Most chatter frames the two as a display piece for the start of the generation.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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