M Charizard EX
Quick take
- Headline Full Art ex tribute card from XY Evolutions (xy12, 2016)
- TCGPlayer market around $52 raw, $45-65 range stable for nine years
- 5ban Graphics low-angle dragon composition referencing 1999 Base Set Charizard
- Mega Charizard X design from Pokemon X/Y Mega Evolution era
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in XY - Evolutions
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 13/108 · $39.88 — 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 Evolutions Headline That Reframed Base Set Charizard
XY Evolutions (xy12, November 2016) released as the 20th-anniversary tribute set to the original 1999 Base Set. Every card in Evolutions has either a direct counterpart in Base Set or a thematic reference to it. The Full Art ex slots reimagined the Base Set chase cards in modern art treatment. M Charizard EX at #13 is the headline of that tribute concept.
“Headline Full Art ex tribute card from XY Evolutions (xy12, 2016)”
The card sits at #13 specifically to reference Base Set Charizard's #4 position. The Evolutions numbering doesn't match Base Set numerically (Evolutions has its own progression), but the M Charizard EX placement at the top of the tribute Full Art rotation signals which card carries the most cultural weight. 5ban Graphics' composition uses a low-angle perspective, dragon-spread pose, and dark Mega Charizard X palette that calls back to the original Arita composition without copying it directly.
Pricing has held the $45-65 range for nine years. TCGPlayer market around $52 raw. Evolutions is one of the most-printed XY-era sets, which limits scarcity-driven appreciation. Charizard's character durability provides the demand floor. PSA 10 graded copies push past $130 in clean condition.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Around $52 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Mid-tier of XY Evolutions Full Art ex slots. Below M Blastoise EX FA (~$59), above M Venusaur EX FA (~$36) and Dragonite EX FA (~$41). PSA 10 graded copies trade in the $130-180 range.
Has held the $45-65 range for nine years with cyclical fluctuations. Evolutions' broader print exposure caps scarcity-driven appreciation. Charizard's character durability provides firm demand floor across every market cycle. The Base Set tribute angle keeps the card relevant beyond pure Charizard collector demand.
Stable. Evolutions' broader print exposure caps upside, but Charizard's permanent collector demand provides firm floor. The card works as a tribute-set completion piece or Charizard-focused collection entry rather than a speculative play. PSA 10 graded copies are the cleanest long hold.
PSA 10 around 2.5-3x raw, $130-180. The dark Charizard X palette is moderately forgiving on minor surface marks but exposes any centering drift. The card is now nine years old, condition varies. Submit clean copies.
XY-era Full Art ex pulls roughly 1 in 16-20 packs across all Full Art slots in Evolutions. Per-specific Full Art card, roughly 1 in 200+ packs.
Headline Full Art ex of Evolutions' Base Set tribute trio. Pairs with M Blastoise EX FA (#102) and M Venusaur EX FA (#100). The trio is the consensus chase subset of Evolutions, all three required for any tribute-set collection.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
5ban Graphics is one of the most prolific TCG illustration studios with credits across nearly every modern Pokemon TCG set. The studio approach favours digitally composited scenes with strong atmospheric backgrounds. The Evolutions Base Set tribute Full Art ex cards are among the studio's most-cited individual works.
Mega Charizard X in a low-angle dragon-spread pose, wings extended, body angled forward. The composition references Mitsuhiro Arita's 1999 Base Set Charizard pose without copying it directly. Background uses deep blues and purples for the stormy atmosphere with cloud formations suggested through gradient. The dark blue Mega Charizard X palette contrasts with the original orange Charizard while maintaining the dragon-spread silhouette.
Full Art ex rarity uses full-bleed holofoil treatment. The XY-era Full Art treatment is consistent across the era. Texture follows the dragon's body contours and atmospheric background elements.
The low-angle perspective and dragon-spread pose are deliberate callbacks to the 1999 Base Set Charizard. 5ban Graphics didn't reproduce Arita's composition exactly; they referenced it through pose and angle while updating the palette and mood. The result is a tribute card that reads as both a modern Mega Charizard X piece and a Base Set echo simultaneously.
BackgroundAbout M Charizard EX
Charizard debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996) as the final evolution of the Charmander/Charmeleon/Charizard line. National Pokedex #006. Fire/Flying type. The most-collected Pokemon across the entire franchise. Mega-evolves into both Mega Charizard X (Fire/Dragon type) and Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying retained) in Generation VI (Pokemon X/Y, 2013) and Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire (2014). Mega Charizard X is widely considered the cooler-looking variant, with the dark blue palette and dragon typing positioning it differently from the original orange Charizard silhouette.
- ›Franchise mascot status, most-collected Pokemon across all eras
- ›Generation I starter line with permanent legacy
- ›Mega Charizard X design as one of the best Mega Evolutions
- ›Cross-generational cultural recognition that exceeds even Pikachu in collecting circles
- ›Permanent merchandise presence across every Pokemon product line
- ›Generation I starter in Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (1996-1998)
- ›Ash's Charmander to Charmeleon to Charizard storyline in the original anime
- ›Pokemon Stadium / Stadium 2 prominent feature
- ›Mega Charizard X and Y in Pokemon X/Y (2013)
- ›Pokemon GO release in 2016 with subsequent Mega Charizard events
Charizard has been a competitive presence across multiple generations. Mega Charizard X in Gen VI broke metas via Dragon Dance + Tough Claws + Flare Blitz. The TCG Full Art ex has playable stats for vintage formats but is universally a display piece at this price.
Own it wellCollector guide
The dark Mega Charizard X palette hides minor surface marks better than light palettes, but exposes edge whitening. The card is now nine years old, condition varies significantly across the population. Centering drift on the long axis is the most common XY-era print issue.
Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 2.5-3x raw, $130-180 on a $52 raw card. Submission economics clear comfortably. Verify centering at 55/45 or better on both axes. The XY-era Full Art ex grading rubric is mature. Read the grading guide →
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 at nine-year vintage. See the storage guide →
TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. The Evolutions Base Set tribute trio (M Charizard, M Blastoise, M Venusaur EX Full Arts) is best collected as a unit rather than card-by-card. Combined runs about $147 raw, gives you the complete tribute concept in one purchase decision. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Universally positive. The Evolutions Base Set tribute trio is treated as one of the most-coherent tribute concepts in Pokemon TCG history. M Charizard EX Full Art specifically is cited in 'best XY-era Charizard cards' and 'best tribute illustrations' discussions consistently.
- ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $52 raw
- ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $130-180 range over the past 12 months
Steady. The card features in 'best Evolutions cards', 'Base Set tribute' content, and Charizard-focused collector videos. 5ban Graphics' work on the trio gets specific attention in studio-focused collector content.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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