Roaring Moon ex
Quick take
- Special Illustration Rare 251/182, near the top of Paradox Rift
- Ancient Paradox form of the pseudo-legendary Salamence
- Aggressive Murayama full-art that stands out among calmer SIRs
- A required slot for the Paradox Rift master set
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Paradox Rift
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 251/182 · $32.86 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyA flagship Paradox SIR with one of the set's loudest art scenes
Roaring Moon was a breakout from Scarlet and Violet. It is the ancient Paradox counterpart to Salamence, a fan-favorite pseudo-legendary, so it arrived with built-in demand. When Paradox Rift dropped in late 2023, the Special Illustration Rare at 251/182 became one of the cards people ripped packs hoping to hit.
“Special Illustration Rare 251/182, near the top of Paradox Rift”
The card matters for two reasons. The Pokemon itself carries weight across the franchise, with a strong competitive history for its ex card. And the SIR art is genuinely good. Murayama leans into threat rather than cuteness, which gives the card a different feel from a lot of the softer SIR illustrations in the era.
For master set builders, this is a must-have slot. Paradox Rift is a large Scarlet and Violet set, and the high-rarity tier is where most of the cost and the chase live. Roaring Moon ex is one of the names that anchors that tier.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Roaring Moon ex sits in the upper band of Paradox Rift singles, alongside the set's other marquee Special Illustration Rares. It is a strong, established SIR rather than a budget filler. The live market price is shown elsewhere on this page.
Prices settled after the set's initial release window, which is normal for Scarlet and Violet SIRs once box supply works through. It has held interest better than many set-mates thanks to the Pokemon's popularity. Treat any specific figure on the live ticker as the current read.
This is a popular-Pokemon SIR from a mainline Scarlet and Violet set, so demand has a real floor. It is not vintage and supply is modern, which caps explosive upside. The realistic case is steady collector demand driven by the character. Buy it because you want it for the set, not as a flip.
High grades carry a meaningful premium over raw, as they do for most modern SIRs. The gap between a clean PSA 10 and a 9 is where most of the graded value separation shows up. Centering and surface on the foil are the usual deciders.
In Scarlet and Violet sets like Paradox Rift, the rough pack odds are about 1 in 5 for any Double Rare, 1 in 12 for any Illustration Rare, 1 in 15 for any Ultra Rare, and roughly 1 in 90 for any Special Illustration Rare. Hyper Rares run far longer, around 1 in 300 to 700. Those numbers are for hitting any card of that rarity. Pulling this specific Roaring Moon ex SIR is much rarer, because each set has many SIRs, so the odds on one named card stretch into the hundreds of packs. For most collectors, buying the single is far cheaper than chasing it in packs.
Compared to the Illustration Rares and Ultra Rares in the same set, the SIR tier is several times scarcer per pack, and that is reflected in price. It still sits below the set's Hyper Rare gold cards on pure pull difficulty.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Ryota Murayama has illustrated for the Pokemon TCG across the Scarlet and Violet era and is known for high-energy, motion-heavy compositions. The Roaring Moon ex SIR is a good example of that style.
Roaring Moon fills the frame with its jaws open mid-roar. The scene plays up the ancient, dangerous read on Salamence's Paradox form rather than softening it. The full-art layout pushes the illustration past the usual card borders.
Special Illustration Rare, full-art treatment, holofoil. The foil runs across the whole illustration, so light catches the entire scene. Card number 251/182 places it in the set's secret rare range above the printed 182-card base count.
Most SIRs in this era lean calm or scenic. This one is loud. The composition sells threat and motion, which fits the Pokemon and gives the card a distinct identity next to its set-mates.
BackgroundAbout Roaring Moon ex
Roaring Moon is an ancient Paradox Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, presented as a prehistoric counterpart to Salamence. Salamence is a Generation III pseudo-legendary with a long fanbase, and that history carries straight into Roaring Moon's appeal. The Paradox theme of ancient versions of familiar Pokemon ran through the Scarlet and Violet TCG sets and gave Paradox Rift its name.
- ›Direct tie to Salamence, a long-running pseudo-legendary favorite
- ›Strong design as a menacing ancient Dragon-type Paradox form
- ›Competitive relevance for the Roaring Moon ex card in Standard
- ›One of the recognizable faces of the Paradox Rift set
- ›Debuted in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet as an ancient Paradox Pokemon
- ›Roaring Moon ex saw meaningful competitive play in the Scarlet and Violet Standard format
The Roaring Moon ex card was a real deck option in Standard during its run, which kept the name in front of players and helped the SIR's profile. Tournament demand for play copies sits mostly on the lower-rarity versions, but the competitive footprint feeds collector interest in the chase art.
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art foil SIRs show edge whitening and surface scuffs easily because the holo runs to the borders. Check the corners and the foil surface under angled light before buying raw. Roaring Moon's dark, busy art can hide light scratches in photos, so ask for clear angled shots.
Worth grading if you have a clean copy, since the PSA 10 premium on modern popular-Pokemon SIRs is real. Inspect centering front and back first. If centering is off or the surface shows print lines, a 9 is the likely ceiling and the math on grading gets thinner. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and toploader at minimum, or a graded slab if you have submitted it. Keep it out of direct light and away from humidity. For a master set in a binder, use side-loading pages rated for thick cards so the foil edges do not catch. See the storage guide →
Buy the single rather than ripping packs for it. For raw copies, prioritize centering and clean foil over a slightly lower price on a beat-up card. If you want a high grade for display, a graded PSA or CGC 9 or 10 removes the condition guesswork. Just expect to pay the grade premium. See the singles buying guide →
Modern SIRs are far less faked than vintage chase cards, but for higher-value buys still check foil pattern consistency, sharp print on the text, and a correct rarity symbol. Buying graded from a reputable seller is the safest route if you are spending real money.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Collectors generally rate the Roaring Moon ex SIR as one of the better-looking chase cards in Paradox Rift, with the aggressive art singled out as a highlight against the calmer SIRs elsewhere in the set. The Salamence connection gives it a built-in audience.
It is a recognized name when Paradox Rift comes up in set rankings and value lists, and it shows up regularly in discussions of the set's standout secret rares. Demand tracks the character's broad popularity more than any single hype moment.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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