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Umbreon VMAX Secret VMAX
#214/203Illus. AKIRA EGAWA
Secret Rare

Umbreon VMAX Secret

#214/203 · from Evolving Skies · released August 27, 2021
Track this card
Holofoil
82/ 100
A-Tier Chase

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A top chase card for this set.

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Quick take

  • Gold etched Secret Rare of Umbreon VMAX, companion to the famous Moonbreon Alt Art
  • TCGPlayer market around $63 raw, $50-75 range stable across four years
  • AKIRA EGAWA art rendition of the standard Umbreon VMAX preserved under gold foil
  • Master set entry point for collectors who can't justify Moonbreon prices

Collector's readWhat it means for your master set

Set position
14 of 369
Among the higher-value cards in the set
Demand vs rarity Est.
8.7×
Well above its rarity · others at this rarity sell for about $9.55
Cost to complete
≈1%
of the ~$8153 to finish Evolving Skies
Completion difficulty Est.
Very Hard
A pricey pickup for set completers
Where it sits in the price lifecycle
Release Hype
Post-Release Correction
Stable / Reprint Risk
End-of-Print Spike
Out-of-Print Maturation
Buy timingOut of print for years — chase cards have held value through several market cycles.
Out of print · pricing stable · estimated

Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Evolving Skies

fewermore cards
Common
39
1
2
42
Uncommon
51
51
Rare
19
19
Rare Holo
8
4
12
Rare Holo V
3
9
2
14
Rare Holo VMAX
3
6
3
12
Ultra Rare
3
12
8
12
4
6
45
Secret Rare
7
14
5
3
5
34
Holo Rare
7
1
8
all
124
12
33
30
20
7
11
237
0.5
1
5
15
50
150
150+
Columns = resale price up to $X (log) · shade = cards in cell (log) · right & bottom = totals · white ring = this card

VariantsCard variants

Holofoil 214/203 · $83.11 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.

Umbreon VMAX Secret Rare is the gold-etched companion to Moonbreon, the most expensive English modern Pokemon card. The Alt Art at #215 is the grail. The Secret Rare at #214 is the gold variant collectors chase when they want Umbreon VMAX without paying Moonbreon prices. TCGPlayer market around $63 raw, holding stable for four years. AKIRA EGAWA's gold rendition of the standard Umbreon VMAX art reads as the investment-grade Umbreon entry point.

The storyThe Gold Umbreon VMAX, Not the Moon One

Umbreon VMAX has two famous secret-rare-numbered versions in Evolving Skies. The Alt Art at #215 (nicknamed Moonbreon) is the grail card of the entire SWSH era, currently trading north of $1,000 raw and pushing $4,000+ PSA 10. The Secret Rare at #214 is the gold etched variant. Same Pokemon, same VMAX form, different rarity treatment. The Secret Rare uses the standard Umbreon VMAX card art preserved under hammered-metal gold foil.

“Gold etched Secret Rare of Umbreon VMAX, companion to the famous Moonbreon Alt Art”

For collectors who want Umbreon VMAX in their Evolving Skies collection but can't justify Moonbreon pricing, the Secret Rare at $63 is the entry tier. The two cards target different buyers. Moonbreon goes to art collectors and grail hunters. Secret Rare goes to master set builders and rarity-tier completionists. Both are required for a true complete Evolving Skies master set, but the Secret Rare is the version most collectors actually hold.

Pricing has held the $50-75 range across four years. The gap between Moonbreon and the Secret Rare has widened over time as Moonbreon's chase status compounded, but the Secret Rare's floor has stayed firm through every market cycle.

By the numbersMarket analysis

Price context

Around $63 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Mid-tier of Evolving Skies' Secret Rare lineup. Comfortably below Rayquaza VMAX Secret (~$83) but above Sylveon VMAX Secret (~$51) and Glaceon VMAX Secret. PSA 10 graded copies push past $150.

Price trend

Has held the $50-75 range across four years with mild cyclical fluctuation. Umbreon's permanent collector demand keeps the floor firm despite the Moonbreon shadow drawing most of the spotlight away from the Secret Rare. The gap between Moonbreon and the Secret Rare has widened (Moonbreon has appreciated dramatically while the Secret Rare has stayed stable) but neither has dropped.

Investment outlook

Stable. Umbreon's character durability is unparalleled in the Eeveelution lineup. The Secret Rare positioning provides a master set hold rather than a speculative play. PSA 10 graded copies are the cleanest long hold. Most collectors who buy Moonbreon also pick up the Secret Rare for completeness, which keeps demand consistent.

Demand drivers
Umbreon's permanent collector demand as a top-tier EeveelutionMoonbreon-driven demand spillover from collectors who buy both versionsEvolving Skies master set completionist demandGold etched Secret Rare treatment appeals to rarity-focused collectorsClosed print run since 2021 with no reprint possible
Graded premium

PSA 10 around 2-2.5x raw, $130-160. The dark Umbreon-Moonbreon palette translated to gold is forgiving on minor surface marks but exposes any centering drift. Submit clean copies, the premium clears submission costs.

Approx. pull rate

SWSH-era Secret Rares pulled at roughly 1 in 80-120 packs across the rarity tier. Per-specific Secret Rare, roughly 1 in 600+ packs in Evolving Skies given the set's secret rare slot count.

Rarity context

Mid-tier of Evolving Skies' Secret Rare lineup. Comfortably below Moonbreon Alt Art ($1,000+) and Rayquaza VMAX Secret (~$83), above Sylveon VMAX Secret and others. The pricing position is anchored by Umbreon's character demand combined with master set requirements.

ArtworkWhy the art matters

Card artwork
Artist · AKIRA EGAWA

AKIRA EGAWA is a Japanese illustrator with multiple Pokemon TCG credits across the Sword and Shield era. The EGAWA style favours dynamic VMAX poses with strong silhouette work. The Evolving Skies Umbreon VMAX is one of the most-cited EGAWA contributions.

The artwork

The standard Umbreon VMAX card art preserved within a gold etched border treatment. The illustration shows Umbreon VMAX in dynamic pose, the dark Pokemon's gold rings and accents emphasised under the Secret Rare foil. Background and figure both render in gold tones.

Technical details

Secret Rare with full-card etched gold foiling. The Sword and Shield era's Secret Rare treatment is consistent across the era, the texture follows the Pokemon's body contours. No coloured ink layers visible on the card face, everything reads as gold under any lighting.

What makes it special

Umbreon's design relies on the gold ring patterns against dark fur. The Secret Rare treatment renders the entire card in gold, which collapses that visual contrast. Some collectors find the gold-on-gold treatment less effective for Umbreon specifically than for legendaries like Rayquaza. Others appreciate it as a deliberate departure from the standard Umbreon palette. Reception is split.

BackgroundAbout Umbreon VMAX Secret

Umbreon debuted in Pokemon Gold and Silver (1999) as the night-form Eeveelution, paired with Espeon as the day form. National Pokedex #197. Dark-type. Evolves from Eevee through high friendship during nighttime, the night-form counterpart to Espeon's friendship-day mechanic. Generation II introduction made Umbreon one of the original five-Eeveelution post-Gen-I expansion. Umbreon has held competitive presence across multiple generations via Synchronoise, Foul Play, and Wish/Protect defensive sets. The Pokemon's design centred on the gold rings against dark fur has made it one of the most-collected Eeveelutions.

Why fans love it
  • ›Generation II Eeveelution alongside Espeon, original night-form addition to the line
  • ›Top-tier popularity within the Eeveelution lineup, often #1 or #2 in collector polls
  • ›Dark-type design with iconic gold ring patterns
  • ›Friendship-evolution mechanic with day/night specificity
  • ›Moonbreon's grail status keeps Umbreon visible in modern TCG culture
Notable appearances
  • ›Generation II debut in Pokemon Gold/Silver (1999) and Crystal (2000)
  • ›Multiple anime arcs including various Eeveelution-focused episodes
  • ›Pokemon Colosseum (2003) as one of Wes's starting Shadow Pokemon
  • ›Pokemon GO release with subsequent special events
  • ›Moonbreon (Umbreon VMAX Alt Art from Evolving Skies, 2021) reshaped modern Umbreon collecting
Competitive relevance

Umbreon has held niche competitive presence across multiple generations via Synchronoise, Foul Play, and defensive Wish/Protect sets. In Doubles formats, Umbreon's bulk plus Foul Play makes it a viable utility Pokemon. The Evolving Skies VMAX has playable stats but is universally a display piece at this price.

Own it wellCollector guide

Condition notes

Gold etched surfaces grade harshly on handling defects. The card is now four years old, inspect carefully for any aging-related issues (edge whitening, surface haze, handling marks). Centering on the long axis is the main grading downgrade.

Grading recommendation

Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 2-2.5x raw, $130-160 on a $63 raw card. Submission economics work for clean copies but margin is tighter than for Moonbreon Alt Art. Only submit copies with strong centering and clean surfaces. Read the grading guide →

Storage advice

Perfect-fit sleeve, rigid top loader or magnetic case for raw. Graded slabs are the standard for long holds at this price tier. Climate-controlled storage matters more for gold-etched cards than standard holofoils. See the storage guide →

Buying advice

TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. The Secret Rare moves slower than the Alt Art subset, no urgency on timing. Collectors who buy Moonbreon typically pick up the Secret Rare alongside it for master set completeness. See the singles buying guide →

Protect your card

High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guide
Inner sleeveVault X Exact Fit SleevesA snug perfect-fit inner layer — double-sleeve valuable cards with these before the matte sleeve goes on.View on Amazon →Outer sleeveDragon Shield Matte SleevesMatte, archival-safe outer sleeves — the everyday standard for keeping surfaces and edges clean.View on Amazon →Rigid holderCardboard Gold Top LoadersPSA-recommended acid-free top loaders — rigid protection against bends and scratches on raw high-value cards.View on Amazon →Premium binderDragon Shield Card Codex 360A 360-card side-loading portfolio with a padded cover for long-term, display-safe storage.View on Amazon →

Word on the streetCommunity sentiment

Reception

Steadily positive but in Moonbreon's shadow. The Secret Rare is consistently mentioned as the 'other Umbreon VMAX' rather than discussed on its own merits. Collectors who specifically prefer the Secret Rare treatment over the Alt Art exist but are a minority of the Umbreon community.

Notable sales
  • ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $63 raw
  • ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $130-160 range over the past 18 months
Social buzz

Moderate. Less viral than Moonbreon by a wide margin. Features in 'Evolving Skies master set' content and 'best Umbreon cards' rankings as the rarity-tier alternative. AKIRA EGAWA's other work occasionally surfaces in artist-collector discussions.

Good to knowFrequently asked questions

No. Moonbreon is Umbreon VMAX Alternate Full Art at #215 (swsh7-215), the grail card of the SWSH era trading north of $1,000 raw. This card is Umbreon VMAX Secret Rare at #214, the gold etched variant of the standard Umbreon VMAX art. Different rarity treatment, different price tier, same Pokemon. Both numbered slots exist in Evolving Skies.
Moonbreon is the alt art with the famous moonlit composition by Mitsuhiro Arita. That card has grail tier demand from art collectors plus the Umbreon fanbase. The Secret Rare uses the standard Umbreon VMAX art under gold foil, which appeals to investment collectors rather than art collectors. The demand pools don't overlap fully. Pricing reflects that.
Depends on your collecting focus. For a true complete Evolving Skies master set, you need both. For a representative Umbreon VMAX card in your collection at reasonable cost, the Secret Rare at $63 makes more sense than Moonbreon at $1,000+. Most collectors who buy Moonbreon eventually pick up the Secret Rare anyway for completion.
For clean copies, yes. PSA 10 premium runs 2-2.5x raw, which on a $63 raw works to $130-160. Submission economics are tighter than for Moonbreon Alt Art but still positive. Only submit copies with strong centering and clean surfaces. The four-year-old print means condition varies, inspect carefully.
Most Moonbreon owners also pick up the Secret Rare for the matched-pair effect. The two cards are different rarity treatments of the same Pokemon in the same set, positioned adjacent in the numbering (#214 Secret Rare, #215 Alt Art). Display sets typically include both. Skipping the Secret Rare leaves a visible gap in any serious Umbreon-focused collection.

Keep collectingRelated cards

Rayquaza VMAX SecretSame set, paired Secret Rare, Rayquaza VMAX SecretRayquaza VMAX SecretEspeon V Alternate Full ArtSame set, Eeveelution alt subset, Espeon V Alternate Full ArtEspeon V Alternate Full ArtSylveon V Alternate Full ArtSame set, Eeveelution alt subset, Sylveon V Alternate Full ArtSylveon V Alternate Full Art
Game data
Type
Pokémon
Element
Darkness
Stage
VMAX
HP
310
Rarity
Secret Rare
Artist
AKIRA EGAWA
AbilityDark Signal
When you play this Pokémon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon during your turn, you may switch 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon.
DCCMax Darkness
160
Weakness
GGrassx2
Resistance
DDragonone
Retreat
CC

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