Altaria ex
Quick take
- One of three Altaria ex prints in Paradox Rift, and the chase SIR at 253/182
- Unique Jiro Sasumo sky art, separate from the Saki Hayashiro regular and UR prints
- A required slot for any Paradox Rift master set
- Liked for design more than hype, which suits binder builders
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Paradox Rift
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 253/182 · $45.93 — 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 sky-dragon SIR that closes out Altaria in Paradox Rift
Altaria ex has three faces in Paradox Rift. There is the playable Double Rare at 140, an Ultra Rare full art at 232, and this card, the Special Illustration Rare at 253/182. For master-set builders, the SIR is the one that matters. It sits near the top of the set's chase tier, and it is the print people picture when they think of this card.
“One of three Altaria ex prints in Paradox Rift, and the chase SIR at 253/182”
What makes it land is the subject. Altaria is a flying dragon with cotton-cloud wings, and Jiro Sasumo leans into that. The art puts the Pokemon in open sky instead of a battle pose, which fits the calmer read collectors associate with Altaria. The regular and Ultra Rare prints use different art by Saki Hayashiro, so the SIR scene is unique to this slot.
In a set best known for the ancient and future Paradox lines, Altaria is a quieter pick. That works in its favor for binder people. It is not the loudest card in Paradox Rift, but it is a clean, well-composed SIR that fills a slot every master set needs.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Altaria ex sits in the mid pack of Paradox Rift SIRs by value. It is a solid three-figure card in top graded condition, well clear of bulk, but it does not run with the set's headline chases. Live market price is shown elsewhere on this page.
Pricing has been steady, with the slow upward drift typical of a well-liked SIR a couple of years past release. Sealed Paradox Rift product drying up over time tends to firm singles like this rather than spike them. Expect gradual moves, not sudden jumps.
Treat it as a steady hold, not a flip. It carries the dual support of Pokemon popularity and SIR scarcity, which gives it a floor most commons never get. Upside is moderate and tied to overall Paradox Rift demand. Buy it because you want it in the binder, and let any appreciation be a bonus.
A high grade carries a meaningful premium over raw, and the gap widens at the very top because SIR foils show whitening and edge wear easily. The jump from a near-mint raw copy to a gem-grade slab is large enough that condition is worth checking before you buy.
In Scarlet and Violet sets the rough odds run about 1 Double Rare in every 5 packs, 1 Illustration Rare in every 12, 1 Ultra Rare in every 15, and 1 Special Illustration Rare in roughly every 90 packs. Those are odds for ANY card of that tier, not this exact one. Because each set has many SIRs, the odds of pulling this specific Altaria run far longer, often into the hundreds of packs. For most master-set builders, buying the single is far more sensible than chasing it out of product.
An SIR is one of the rarer pulls in the set, but it is not the rarest. Hyper Rare gold cards sit deeper still, landing somewhere around 1 in 300 to 1 in 700 packs. So Altaria's SIR is genuinely scarce while staying more attainable than the top gold rarities.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Jiro Sasumo has illustrated a number of Scarlet and Violet era cards. The style here is consistent with that body of work. A single Pokemon gets space, soft light, and a focus on mood over busy detail.
The SIR shows Altaria in flight against open sky, its cloud-like cotton wings blending into the surrounding clouds, with distant land below. The composition gives the dragon room rather than packing the frame, which suits the airy character of the Pokemon. It is a gentler scene than most of the Paradox-themed art in the set.
This is a Special Illustration Rare, so the art breaks past the normal card window and the foil treatment runs across the full extended illustration. It is a Dragon-type Stage 1 ex with 260 HP, in line with the era's ex cards.
The match between subject and treatment. Altaria is a sky dragon, and an SIR that puts it in open clouds is the obvious right call. The art is unique to this print, separate from the Saki Hayashiro art on the regular and Ultra Rare versions, so owning the SIR means owning the standout scene.
BackgroundAbout Altaria ex
Altaria debuted in Generation 3 as the evolution of Swablu, a Dragon and Flying type known for its cotton-cloud wings and humming song. It later picked up a Mega Evolution in the Hoenn remakes, which cemented its place as a fan favorite. In the TCG it has appeared many times over the years, usually leaning on its soft, melodic design rather than raw power.
- ›Cloud-wing design that is instantly recognizable
- ›Long history as a beloved Hoenn Pokemon
- ›Dragon typing that collectors gravitate toward
- ›Gentle aesthetic that stands out in a Paradox-heavy set
- ›Anime appearances tied to Hoenn-region arcs
- ›Mega Altaria in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- ›Multiple TCG prints across generations, including the three Altaria ex variants in Paradox Rift
The Paradox Rift Altaria ex was a supportive option thanks to its healing ability, but it was never a defining meta card. Its draw for most owners is the design and the SIR art, not tournament results.
Own it wellCollector guide
Like all Scarlet and Violet SIRs, the large foil surface shows wear fast. Check the edges and corners for whitening, look across the foil under angled light for scratches and print lines, and inspect the back border for off-centering. Front-to-back centering is a common knock on these.
Worth grading if you have a clean copy, since the gem-grade premium on this card is substantial. Pull a copy with sharp corners and no surface scratches before you send it. If the centering or foil is already marginal, the grade likely will not justify the cost. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve it in a penny sleeve inside a top loader or one-touch, kept out of direct light and away from humidity. SIR foils scratch if they slide around, so do not store loose. See the storage guide →
For a master set, buying the single is the smart move given how long the specific pull odds are. Ask for clear angled-light photos of the foil and all four corners before buying raw. For a top copy, a graded slab removes the condition guesswork. See the singles buying guide →
Modern SIRs are faked less often than vintage chase cards, but verify anyway. Confirm the 253/182 number and the SIR extended art, check that the foil pattern and texture match known genuine scans, and buy graded from a trusted slab for any serious money.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Altaria ex is generally well liked among collectors as one of the more pleasant SIRs in Paradox Rift. It is rarely called a top-tier chase, but it gets steady positive mentions for its clean sky art and the appeal of the Pokemon itself.
Buzz is steady rather than loud. Altaria has a devoted fanbase, so the card shows up regularly in collection posts and display-case listings, but it does not generate the hype of the set's biggest names.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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