Obsidian Flames Master Set: 406 Cards, Checklist & Prices
By Cardrake Research Team · Updated
Released 2023
Get Collector to track your progress.
Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames chase cards & key targets
Charizard ex leads Obsidian Flames at $112.59, with Ninetales ($40.05) and Cleffa ($39.68) behind it. The top three alone are 39% of the estimated master-set cost — plan these purchases first and the rest of the set follows on a normal budget.
| Rank | Card | Number | Rarity | Variant | Market Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Charizard ex | 223/197 | Special Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $112.59 |
| #2 |  Ninetales | 199/197 | Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $40.05 |
| #3 |  Cleffa | 202/197 | Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $39.68 |
| #4 |  Charizard ex | 228/197 | Hyper Rare | Holofoil | $35.92 |
| #5 |  Gloom | 198/197 | Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $24.03 |
| #6 |  Charizard ex | 215/197 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $21.91 |
| #7 |  Pidgeot ex | 225/197 | Special Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $20.58 |
| #8 |  Scizor | 205/197 | Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $17.51 |
| #9 |  Pidgey | 207/197 | Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $16.88 |
| #10 |  Lechonk | 209/197 | Illustration Rare | Holofoil | $12.68 |
Acquisition Strategy
- • Monitor price trends - chase cards often fluctuate based on tournament results and influencer coverage
- • Consider condition flexibility - a LP/MP copy can save 30-50% on vintage cards
- • Check multiple marketplaces - prices vary significantly between TCGPlayer, eBay, and local stores
- • Buy during market dips - major releases and reprints often cause temporary price drops
What's in the Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames master set
The Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames master set is 406 cards: 197 base + 176 reverse holos + 33 secret rares. That covers every printed variant — reverse holofoils, secret rares, and the special-art chase cards numbered past 197/197.
Open the Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames binder layout planner →
About this set
Obsidian Flames produced the Charizard card that the Scarlet & Violet era needed. The Darkness-type Tera Charizard ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. shows a crystallized black-flame Charizard erupting through obsidian rock in a full-bleed illustration. The type shift from Fire to Darkness is a genuine design choice that worked: the card looks unlike any Charizard before it and still reads immediately as Charizard. The Illustration Rare lineup is worth noting separately. Ninetales in a sunlit forest, Cleffa asleep under a starlit sky, Pidgeotto on a city street sign. These are scene-based illustrations that reward collectors who flip through the full set rather than skipping to the secret rares. The set also carries historical weight as the first English TCG set to feature type-shifted Tera Pokemon ex. Every Tera ex that appeared in later SV sets was following the format that Charizard introduced here.
Where Obsidian Flames fits in the era
Obsidian Flames released August 11, 2023 as the third main English expansion in the Scarlet & Violet series, adapting Japan's Ruler of the Black Flame set (July 28, 2023). The set introduced Tera Pokemon ex with type-shifted typing, the first time the mechanic appeared in the English TCG. A Fire-type Pokemon like Charizard could be printed as Darkness-type in its Tera form, which is what made the Charizard ex reveal such a talking point. The comparison to Charizard Star from the 2006 EX Dragon Frontiers set was everywhere in the community: that card is also a rare Darkness-type Charizard, and it currently trades at four figures raw. Competitively, Charizard ex's Infernal Reign ability and Pidgeot ex's Quick Search became tournament staples quickly. The August 2023 launch was one of the calmer modern Pokemon TCG releases. Most collectors reported finding booster boxes at MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. retail during the first week, scalper activity was minimal compared to Crown Zenith, and there were no mass pre-order cancellations or allocation shortfalls.
Collecting challenges
Obsidian Flames is a mid-difficulty set to complete. The base set is accessible, prices on most singles are reasonable, and the set has been out long enough that supply is stable. The cost cliff is the SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. Charizard ex #223, which accounts for 20-30% of what the full 406-card master set (197 base + 176 reverse holos + 33 secret rares) costs via singles today. The reverse holo count catches collectors off guard. Budgeting for the base set and then discovering that the reverse holo half more than doubles the checklist is a common miscalculation. Promo tracking adds another layer: the PC · Pokemon CenterThe Pokemon Company's official store. Its exclusive products often add packs or a stamped promo. exclusive Charmander SVP044 promo, the standard ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. Charizard ex promo, and B&B stamp variants were each sold through separate channels with no overlap. The good news is that unlike 151 or Phantasmal Flames, there's no single card here anywhere near their top-chase prices. With a moderate singles budget and patience, completing Obsidian Flames is a realistic goal for most collectors.
Rarity breakdown
| Rarity | Cards | Share of printed set |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 92 | 47% |
| Uncommon | 74 | 38% |
| Double Rare | 21 | 11% |
| Ultra Rare | 12 | 6% |
| Illustration Rare | 12 | 6% |
| Rare | 10 | 5% |
| Special Illustration Rare | 6 | 3% |
| Hyper Rare | 3 | 2% |
Price distribution
How card values spread across the set. Most cards are bulk under a dollar; a few chase cards hold most of the value.
Artist spotlight
The illustrators behind the most cards in this set, with their standout artwork. Tap a card for details.
5ban Graphics
16 cards in this set
Souichirou Gunjima
6 cards in this set
Jerky
6 cards in this set
Kouki Saitou
6 cards in this set
Saya Tsuruta
5 cards in this set
Pani Kobayashi
5 cards in this set
Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames master set buying guide
Where to buy Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames, which sealed product is worth the money, and when to pull the trigger.
Packs or singles?
Pack opening offers good value for this set
Sealed product comparison
Booster Box
36 packs · MSRP $144 · Market $371.07 · $10.31/pack
Secondary market price is 2.4x MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. as of April 2026. Excellent value at MSRP if you can find retail stock, but paying market price makes singles-buying far more efficient for completing the set. Each box statistically yields about 1.3 SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. of any kind, not guaranteed to be Charizard.
Shop Obsidian Flames Booster Box on TCGPlayer →
Elite Trainer Box (Retail)
9 packs · MSRP $49.99 · Market $275.31 · $30.59/pack
Includes full-art foil Charizard ex promo card required for master set completionists. At MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. this is reasonable value for the promo alone. Market price is elevated but the promo justifies it if you need the ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. card. Not a good vehicle for pack opening to chase singles.
Shop Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box (Retail) on TCGPlayer →
Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box
11 packs · MSRP $59.99 · Market $632.79 · $57.53/pack
Contains the PC · Pokemon CenterThe Pokemon Company's official store. Its exclusive products often add packs or a stamped promo.-exclusive Charmander SVP044 stamp promo (~$72 raw standalone). At $237 market you're paying a significant premium for 11 packs plus the promo. If you need the Charmander promo for master set, buying the single promo card separately is more cost-efficient than purchasing the full PC ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. at market.
Shop Obsidian Flames Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box on TCGPlayer →
Booster Bundle (6 packs)
6 packs · MSRP $24.99 · Market $121.73 · $20.29/pack
Market price makes this a poor value compared to direct singles purchasing. At MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. ($4.17/pack effective) this was excellent, but current market pricing means you're better served buying the specific singles you need.
Shop Obsidian Flames Booster Bundle (6 packs) on TCGPlayer →
Build & Battle Box
4 packs · MSRP $14.99 · Market $57.68 · $14.42/pack
Includes a stamped Charizard ex promo card, but most master set definitions don't require B&B promos. At $45 market for 4 packs plus a stamp promo most collectors don't count, this is poor value. Skip unless you specifically want the B&B stamp for a promos-included master set.
Shop Obsidian Flames Build & Battle Box on TCGPlayer →All Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames sealed products
| Product | Market | |
|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box Case | $2849.57 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Booster Box Case | $2450.75 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Sleeved Booster Pack Case | $1509.94 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Build & Battle Box Display | $391.56 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Build & Battle Stadium | $186.00 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Single Blister Pack [Annihilape] | $63.99 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Sleeved Booster Pack Art Bundle [Set of 4] | $57.76 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Booster Pack Art Bundle [Set of 4] | $52.65 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Single Blister Pack [Kingambit] | $49.99 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames 3 Pack Blister [Eevee] | $41.21 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames 3 Pack Blister [Houndstone] | $39.06 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Single Blister Pack [Houndstone] | $21.49 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Single Blister Pack [Revavroom] | $17.60 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Single Pack Blister [Paldean Wooper] | $15.10 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Single Pack Blister [Pawmi] | $14.63 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Sleeved Booster Pack | $13.78 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Booster Pack | $12.89 | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames 3 Pack Blister [Set of 2] | — | Shop → |
| Obsidian Flames Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box Case (Exclusive) | — | Shop → |
Where to buy
TCGPlayer
singlesPricing: Market · Reliability: high
Best for: Singles purchasing for base set and SIR completion
Best source for the Charizard ex SIR at current market pricing. Use TCGPlayer Direct listings for faster shipping and buyer protection. The Market Price tool is reliable for Obsidian Flames given high transaction volume.
Shop Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames singles on TCGPlayer →Pokemon Center
sealedPricing: MSRP · Reliability: varies
Best for: MSRP booster boxes and PC exclusive ETB when in stock
The PC exclusive ETB was the main source for the Charmander SVP044 stamp promo at launch. The website restocks without warning, so email notifications are worth setting up. Not a useful source for singles.
Local Game Stores
bothPricing: MSRP · Reliability: medium
Best for: Remaining sealed product at or near MSRP
Some local stores still have Obsidian Flames booster boxes in back stock near MSRP. Worth calling before paying secondary market prices. LGS singles cases are also worth checking; prices are often slightly below TCGPlayer once you factor in shipping.
eBay
bothPricing: Market · Reliability: medium
Best for: Graded cards (PSA 10 Charizard ex) and bundle lots
Best platform for graded Charizard ex SIR PSA 10 copies ($385-425 range). Also useful for bulk reverse holo lots that occasionally appear below TCGPlayer prices. Always check completed/sold listings before bidding to confirm actual market value. Filter for 98%+ positive feedback on sellers for any purchase over $50.
r/pkmntcgtrades
bothPricing: Below Market · Reliability: varies
Best for: Below-market singles and trades for mid-tier cards
Prices run 10-15% below TCGPlayer for most Obsidian Flames singles. Good for the $10-50 Illustration Rares and Double Rares. For the Charizard ex SIR at $100+, check trade history carefully and use PayPal Goods & Services only. The community also accepts reverse holo bulk as trade credit, which can work well if you have duplicates.
Mercari
bothPricing: Below Market · Reliability: medium
Best for: Deal hunting on individual cards and small lots
Sellers on Mercari often don't track real-time pricing, so cards from older sets like Obsidian Flames can appear below TCGPlayer market. Use 'Make Offer'; most sellers accept 10-20% below asking on this set. Good for reverse holo lots. Request a condition photo before paying for any SIR and use Mercari's buyer protection.
When to buy
Singles panic-priced. Sealed carries 30–50% premium. Wait if you can.
Best window for singles. Chase cards find their floor.
Bulk dips 15–20% on reprint news. Chase cards stay steady.
Sealed and top chase cards begin appreciation cycle.
Collecting strategy
Most cards in this set are worth around $0.29 as singles. Opening packs is the fun way to build your base of commons and uncommons with a chance at lucky pulls — but chase cards are statistically unlikely from sealed product. For most master set collectors, the smart approach is packs for bulk, singles for the rest.
Mix of singles and strategic pack opening
Open 1 booster box at MSRP if you can find one for the bulk commons and opening experience, then buy all remaining singles including the Charizard ex SIR, all IRs, and all SIRs in NM via TCGPlayer. Include the retail ETB Charizard ex stamp promo. Skip the PC ETB promo unless you can find the single card separately at a sensible price. Completes the full set plus retail ETB promo. If you pull a well-centered Charizard ex SIR, submitting for PSA grading is worth considering.
Track your progress in the Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames binder planner →
Community insights
From collector discussions, forums, and social media.
What collectors are saying
- The Darkness-type Tera Charizard ex stopped people mid-scroll when spoilers dropped. Nobody expected Charizard to be a Darkness type, and the comparison to Charizard Star from Dragon Frontiers (now four-figure raw) came up in basically every discussion thread within hours of the reveal
- Opening videos from August 2023 racked up millions of combined views as people chased the Charizard ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards.. For the first time in the SV era, there was a single card that made pulling nothing else still feel like a miss
- r/pkmntcg threads noted that Obsidian Flames launched with better retail availability than Crown Zenith. Most collectors reported finding booster boxes at MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. during the first week, which was not a given for 2023
- The SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. spiked in the first weeks on competitive demand alone, before settling lower. Collectors building Charizard ex decks and collectors wanting the card for display were bidding against each other, which is rare for any secret rare
- The Illustration Rare lineup got real attention beyond the Charizard. Ninetales, Cleffa, Pidgeotto, and Gloom all feature narrative-driven scenes that collectors noted would have been impossible to commission even five years ago
- The set split the community on whether Obsidian Flames is a good deal. Half the argument: everything except the SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. is cheap, which is great for accessibility. The other half: you're essentially paying a Charizard tax on every sealed product purchase
- The base set got called 'completable' on r/pkmntcg in contrast to Paldea Evolved's 264 cards. A standard 9-pocket binder with 216 card capacity holds the full base set with nine pages to spare
- Competitive players were happy with Pidgeot ex's Quick Search ability and Charizard ex's Infernal Reign. Obsidian Flames is one of the few sets where the most expensive cards for collectors are also the ones people actually play
- The Pokemon Center ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. Charmander SVP044 promo became a regret purchase for collectors who skipped it at release. It climbed sharply within two years, which most people didn't see coming for what looked like a throwaway promo at launch
Tips from the community
- Buy the Charizard ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. as a single. The 3.6% SIR rate applies to all 6 SIRs in the set, not just Charizard. Statistically you're opening 28+ packs per SIR of any kind, and there's no guarantee which one you get. The math on gambling for the specific card doesn't work
- Open 2-3 booster boxes at MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. for bulk commons, uncommons, and most reverse holos, then buy the remaining singles. This gets you 80-90% of the set at pack-opening cost and leaves you only needing to buy the high-value singles you didn't pull
- The Pokemon Center ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. contains the Charmander SVP044 stamp promo, which is not in standard retail ETBs. If you're building a promo-inclusive master set, this is a separate purchase from the regular ETB, not an upgrade to it
- The standard retail ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. has a Charizard ex full-art promo, not the Charmander. Two different products, similar packaging. Decide upfront what your master set scope includes so you don't end up buying both by accident
- Obsidian Flames reverse holos use SV-era galaxy patterns rather than the classic holo swirl. The full 176-card reverse holo set has more visual consistency than earlier SV sets partly because dark/fire types dominate the set's aesthetic
- Ninetales IR · Illustration RareA full-art card showing a Pokemon in an illustrated scene, numbered after the main set. #199 and Cleffa IR #202 have held their prices better than most illustration rares from the same era. Gen I Pokemon with good artwork don't tend to fall below a floor. Buy them when you see good prices rather than waiting
- The Hyper Rare gold Charizard ex #230 is harder to pull than the SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. but trades cheaper, because most collectors prefer the SIR artwork. If you're neutral on which version you display, the gold is the better buy on a per-rarity basis
- Pidgeot ex #164 is worth buying before format rotation removes it from play. Competitive demand has kept a floor under the price. Once it rotates out of Standard, the price will adjust downward 15-25%
- Build & Battle Boxes (4 packs) are not useful for completing the set. The B&B promo is a stamped variant that most master set definitions don't count, and the pack math is worse than booster bundles
Market insights
- Booster boxes trade at roughly a 2.4x markup over MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. (April 2026), almost entirely explained by the Charizard ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards.. Sets where one card holds most of the value tend to see sealed product price hold because a single good pull can recover your investment
- Charizard ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. #223 carries a PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 premium of 3-4x over raw (April 2026). That's above average for modern SV cards
- The Hyper Rare gold Charizard ex #230 is rarer than the SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. by pull rate (~2% vs 3.6% for the entire SIR slot) but trades cheaper. Collectors prefer the SIR artwork. This price inversion has held since release and shows no sign of closing
- The full Illustration Rare slot (12 cards) costs less than one SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. to complete. Buying all 12 ILs is one of the better value plays in this set
- Pidgeot ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. #225 has held value better than the other non-Charizard SIRs because of competitive play usage. It will correct 15-25% when it rotates out of Standard format. Avoid overpaying during tournament season peaks
- The Charmander SVP044 promo from the PC · Pokemon CenterThe Pokemon Company's official store. Its exclusive products often add packs or a stamped promo. ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. has made roughly a 5x move since release (April 2026), on a card that most people didn't flag as collectible at launch. PC exclusives in the SV era have been undervalued consistently
- There are 6 SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. in the set, so the 3.6% per-pack SIR rate splits six ways for any specific card. Opening boxes to target one SIR is not a reasonable strategy at any price point
- The full 406-card master set (all base, reverse holos, secret rares) prices out moderately via singles today. The SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. Charizard ex is 20-30% of that total. Compare to sets like Phantasmal Flames where a single chase card is over 50% of set value
Watch out for
- Don't open booster boxes to chase the Charizard ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards.. The 3.6% SIR rate applies to all 6 SIRs combined, so the expected cost to pull any specific SIR is roughly 4.6 boxes at MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more., several times what the single costs raw. Buy the single
- The Pokemon Center ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. and the standard retail ETB both have Charizard-themed packaging and are easy to confuse. The PC version has 11 packs and the Charmander SVP044 stamp promo. The retail version has 9 packs and a different promo. Double-check before buying if you're tracking which promos you own
- Booster boxes trade well above MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more.. If you're building the set via singles, there's no financial case for buying sealed at current prices. The only reason to buy boxes now is if you want the opening experience
- Most master set definitions don't include Build & Battle Box promos. The B&B stamp variant is a grey area in the community. Decide before you start whether you're counting it, rather than adding it retroactively after buying a box you didn't need
- Obsidian Flames has 176 reverse holos. Collectors who budget only for the base set are typically surprised when they realize the reverse holo count nearly doubles the total card target for a full master set
- Centering is inconsistent on Obsidian Flames SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. and full art cards. Don't submit for grading without checking all four edges first. The PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 premium on the Charizard ex SIR needs a 3.3x return just to cover grading fees, not counting your time and the opportunity cost of holding
- If you need the Charmander SVP044 promo for your master set, buying the single is far cheaper than buying the full PC · Pokemon CenterThe Pokemon Company's official store. Its exclusive products often add packs or a stamped promo. ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. just to get the promo card out of it
Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames grading guide
Which Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames cards are worth the $20+/card grading fee? PSA 10 premiums vary significantly by rarity tier. See our complete grading guide for how grading works, costs, and international submission options.
Tier 1 - Mandatory Grading
Worth gradingOnly submit 60/40+ centering copies. SV-era cards have variable centering; check all four edges before submitting. PSA 10 rate is estimated at 15-20% because the thick foil pattern shows corner wear clearly. The 3-4x grading premium has held since release.
Tier 2 - Recommended Grading
Worth gradingGrade only pristine copies with strong centering. The premium over raw is real but thinner than the Charizard. Makes sense at bulk submission rates ($25-30/card) if you're holding long-term, not if you're trying to flip quickly.
Tier 3 - Selective Grading
Worth gradingThe Ninetales and Cleffa IRs have collector appeal and real grading premiums. The Hyper Rare gold trades below the SIR despite being rarer to pull; a PSA 10 gold has upside if the SIR keeps rising. Grade only if you have a clearly gem-quality copy.
Tier 4 - Not Worth Grading
Skip gradingGrading costs ($20-75) consume most or all of the value premium. Keep raw in penny sleeves inside a quality binder. The exception: if you're building a full PSA 10 master set as a personal project, grade everything, but that's a passion project rather than an investment.
Before you submit — PSA checklist, fees, and tips▾
PSA 10 requirements
- Centering
- 55/45 minimum front and back. Modern SIRs frequently fail here — pre-screen every candidate.
- Corners
- Sharp, no whitening under magnification. Sleeve the moment you pull the card.
- Surface
- No scratches, print lines, or holo damage. SIR foils are especially vulnerable from the factory.
- Edges
- No chipping or fraying. Inspect under bright light.
PSA service tiers
- Value
- $20/card, 4–6 month turnaround. Right for raw values $75–500.
- Regular
- $50/card, 6–8 week turnaround. Right for raw values $500+.
- Express
- $75–150/card, 2–3 week turnaround. Only worth it above $1,000 raw.
Budget for a 5-card submission: $135–170 once you add shipping, insurance, and supplies.
Tips from experienced submitters
- • Pre-screen with a loupe — 70%+ of modern cards fail centering.
- • PSA Collectors Club ($99/year) pays for itself with 2–3 value-tier submissions.
- • Ship in batches of 10+ to amortize shipping and insurance.
- • PSA 9 typically sells at 40–60% of PSA 10 — still a premium over raw.
Storage & protection
Protect your 406-card Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames master set with archival binders, perfect-fit sleeves, and top loaders for the chase cards. Plan on $150–250 for complete coverage.
Premium binders
Dragon Shield Codex · $30–50
Archival pages, side-loading pockets, acid-free. For 406 cards, plan on 23 double-sided 9-pocket pages.
Perfect-fit sleeves
Every card · $30–50 total
Prevent micro-scratches from sliding cards in and out of binder pockets. You'll need roughly 5 packs for full coverage.
Top loaders
Chase cards · $15–25/pack
Rigid protection for SIRs and grading candidates. Essential for anything over $28 raw.
Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames card list
Every card in the Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames master set. Search, filter by rarity or price, and mark off what you own as you go. Tap any card for prices and variants.
Track your collection. Mark cards owned or wanted, add condition & notes, and watch your master set progress.
| Card | Price | Collection |
|---|---|---|
Oddish1/197 · Common | $0.19 | N RH |
Gloom2/197 · Common | $0.19 | N RH |
Bellossom3/197 · Uncommon | $0.22 | N RH |
Scyther4/197 · Common | $0.28 | N RH |
Shuckle5/197 · Common | $0.24 | N RH |
Surskit6/197 · Common | $0.10 | N RH |
Masquerain7/197 · Uncommon | $0.17 | N RH |
Combee8/197 · Common | $0.18 | N RH |
Foongus9/197 · Common | $0.15 | N RH |
Amoonguss10/197 · Uncommon | $0.20 | N RH |
Phantump11/197 · Common | $0.14 | N RH |
Trevenant12/197 · Uncommon | $0.12 | N RH |
Rowlet13/197 · Common | $0.19 | N RH |
Dartrix14/197 · Uncommon | $0.14 | N RH |
Decidueye ex15/197 · Double Rare | $1.08 | Holo |
Bounsweet16/197 · Common | $0.12 | N RH |
Steenee17/197 · Common | $0.14 | N RH |
Tsareena18/197 · Uncommon | $0.19 | N RH |
Smoliv19/197 · Common | $0.11 | N RH |
Dolliv20/197 · Common | $0.13 | N RH |
Arboliva21/197 · Uncommon | $0.19 | N RH |
Toedscruel ex22/197 · Double Rare | $0.83 | Holo |
Capsakid23/197 · Common | $0.17 | N RH |
Capsakid24/197 · Common | $0.09 | N RH |
Scovillain25/197 · Rare | $0.13 | Holo RH |
Charmander26/197 · Common | $0.24 | N RH |
Charmeleon27/197 · Uncommon | $0.17 | N RH |
Vulpix28/197 · Common | $0.17 | N RH |
Ninetales29/197 · Uncommon | $0.24 | N RH |
Entei30/197 · Rare | $0.18 | Holo RH |
Numel31/197 · Common | $0.13 | N RH |
Camerupt32/197 · Uncommon | $0.14 | N RH |
Victini ex33/197 · Double Rare | $1.01 | Holo |
Darumaka34/197 · Common | $0.11 | N RH |
Darmanitan35/197 · Uncommon | $0.15 | N RH |
Litwick36/197 · Common | $0.15 | N RH |
Lampent37/197 · Common | $0.16 | N RH |
Chandelure38/197 · Uncommon | $0.24 | N RH |
Heatmor39/197 · Common | $0.14 | N RH |
Larvesta40/197 · Common | $0.17 | N RH |
Volcarona41/197 · Uncommon | $0.15 | N RH |
Eiscue ex42/197 · Double Rare | $1.00 | Holo |
Charcadet43/197 · Common | $0.14 | N RH |
Armarouge44/197 · Uncommon | $0.23 | N RH |
Lapras45/197 · Uncommon | $0.23 | N RH |
Carvanha46/197 · Common | $0.15 | N RH |
Sharpedo47/197 · Uncommon | $0.20 | N RH |
Buizel48/197 · Common | $0.14 | N RH |
Floatzel49/197 · Uncommon | $0.12 | N RH |
Tympole50/197 · Common | $0.12 | N RH |
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are in the Obsidian Flames master set?▾
The Obsidian Flames master set is 406 cards: 197 base cards, 176 reverse holofoils, and 33 secret rares and special-art cards. The base set alone is 230 unique cards, numbered 001/197 through the secret rares. Track all 406 with the free interactive checklist on Cardrake.
See also: Binder layout planner
What are the chase cards in Obsidian Flames?▾
The top chase card in Obsidian Flames is Charizard ex (Special Illustration Rare) at $112.59. Other high-value cards include Ninetales ($40.05) and Cleffa ($39.68). See the full chase card rankings above for current prices.
See also: Chase card rankings, Binder layout planner
How much does a Obsidian Flames master set cost?▾
A complete Obsidian Flames master set is estimated at $487 based on current TCGPlayer market prices. Budget collectors can start with the base set for significantly less, while premium completionists targeting graded copies should expect higher costs.
See also: Master set budgeting guide, Binder layout planner
What is the complete Obsidian Flames master set card list?▾
The Obsidian Flames set contains 197 base cards across 8 rarity tiers plus 33 secret rares. View the complete card list with images, prices, and rarity information on the Obsidian Flames binder layout page on Cardrake.
See also: Binder layout planner
How should I organize Obsidian Flames in a binder?▾
For 406 cards (including reverse holos), a 9-pocket binder needs 23 double-sided pages and a 12-pocket binder needs 17 pages. Use Cardrake's visual binder planner to preview exactly how your cards will be laid out before you start sleeving.
See also: Binder layout planner, Binder organization guide
Is there a Obsidian Flames master set checklist?▾
Yes — Cardrake provides a visual master set checklist for Obsidian Flames with all 230 cards. You can track owned and missing cards, view your completion percentage, and plan your binder layout. Sign up for the Collector plan to save your progress.
See also: Binder layout planner
What are the Special Illustration Rares (SIRs) in Obsidian Flames?▾
Obsidian Flames has 6 Special Illustration Rares: Eiscue ex (222/197), Charizard ex (223/197), Revavroom ex (224/197), Pidgeot ex (225/197), Geeta (226/197), Poppy (227/197). SIRs are the set's premier chase cards — check the chase card rankings above for current market prices.
See also: Chase card rankings, Binder layout planner
Is Obsidian Flames worth collecting as a master set?▾
Obsidian Flames has 230 unique cards with an estimated completion cost of $487. It is a large and ambitious master set that requires significant commitment. With 12 cards over $10, most of the value is concentrated in a few key cards.
See also: Master set guide, Binder layout planner
What is the total card count for a complete Obsidian Flames master set?▾
A complete master set is 406 cards: 197 base set cards (numbered 1-197), 176 reverse holo versions of the base set cards, and 33 secret rare cards (numbered 198-230). The 33 secret rares include 12 Illustration Rares, 12 Ultra Rares (full art), 6 Special Illustration Rares, and 3 Hyper Rares.
What are the actual SIR pull rates in Obsidian Flames?▾
Based on 500-pack sample data: Special Illustration Rares appear at roughly 3.6% per pack (about 18 SIRs per 500 packs), which works out to approximately 1 SIR per 28 packs on average. With 6 different SIRs in the set, that's statistically about 6x longer odds for any specific SIR like the Charizard ex. Hyper Rares appear at roughly 2% (1 per 50 packs).
Is the Pokemon Center exclusive ETB required for a master set?▾
It depends on your master set definition. The Pokemon Center ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. includes an exclusive Charmander promo (#SVP044) with a PC stamp that's not in standard retail ETBs. If you're going promo-inclusive, you need it. Most collectors define master set as the main set plus 176 reverse holos and don't count promos; the ETB promos are optional territory beyond that.
How does Obsidian Flames compare to Paldea Evolved (sv2) for collecting?▾
Obsidian Flames is more expensive at the top (Charizard ex SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. creates a real cost spike) but cheaper overall because value isn't spread across dozens of high-price cards. Paldea Evolved has a 264-card base set versus Obsidian Flames' 197, so the reverse holo count is also higher. For collectors who want a visually cohesive single-binder display set, Obsidian Flames wins. For collectors who want volume and variety, Paldea Evolved offers more for the same budget.
What makes the Charizard ex Darkness-type instead of Fire-type?▾
Obsidian Flames introduced Tera Pokemon ex, a game mechanic from the Scarlet & Violet video games where Pokemon can crystallize into a Tera type that differs from their normal typing. In the games, Charizard can Terastallize into a Darkness-type variant, and the card reflects that: it shows Charizard in a crystalline black-flame form. The mechanic first appeared in the TCG in this set.
Which Obsidian Flames singles offer the best value as entry points?▾
The Illustration Rares are the best entry point. Ninetales IR #199, Cleffa IR #202, Scizor IR, Gloom IR, and Pidgeotto IR all have good artwork well below the SIR · Special Illustration RareThe top full-art rarity for Pokemon ex and Trainer cards, and usually a set's most valuable cards. price range. Pidgeot ex #164 (Double Rare / full art) is worth buying early given its competitive play usage. For other SIRs, there's no urgency on price.
Does Obsidian Flames have booster boxes available at retail?▾
At release (August 2023), booster boxes were available at most major retailers near MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more.. By April 2026, the secondary market price has risen to roughly 2.5x MSRP and retail restocks are uncommon. Your best options for near-MSRP sealed product are Pokemon Center restocks or local game stores with remaining inventory. For most collectors today, buying singles is more cost-efficient than sealed product.
What promos are associated with Obsidian Flames?▾
Three main promos: (1) Charizard ex full-art foil promo from the standard retail Elite Trainer Box; (2) Charmander #SVP044 with Pokemon Center stamp from the PC exclusive ETB, which commands a meaningful premium on the secondary market today; (3) stamped Charizard ex from the Build & Battle Box. Play! Pokemon Prize Packs (Series 4-6) also distributed stamped Charizard ex variants. Most master set collectors count the ETB promos and skip the B&B and prize pack stamps, but it's a personal call.