Pokemon TCG: The Most Valuable Cards In Obsidian Flames (2024)

The Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) has provided us with some stunning-looking cards, with iconic cards like the base set Charizard, to full art trainers that leave you breathless. The Scarlet & Violet expansion Obsidian Flames is no different. The set introduces a remarkable selection of Pokemon cards that will leave you in love with the various designs.

Adding to the already intriguing displays of artwork are the Pokemon in their Tera form, showcasing a crystal-like appearance, making each one collectible. The best part is that the set is inexpensive compared to the value of previous expansions, meaning it's great if you're on a budget.

Updated June 14, 2024 by Ryan Hay: There are plenty of really cool cards in Obsidian Flames, but the majority of the most valuable ones are taken up by two all-stars from the set. Charizard ex and Pidgeot ex both take up the majority of this list, with seven of the ten most valuable cards including them, while an eighth slot is taken up by Pidgey. If you're curious about how the set stacks up, we've got all the values here.

10 Pidgey

Illustration Rare - $3.90

Pidgey may be known for being a Pokemon you run into far too often on Pokemon Go, but it's Illustration Rare variant in Obsidian Flames is a suprising collection of the hand-drawn Pokemon, all showcasing different personality styles.

While this card is nothing special in battle, only having 60HP and a very weak Gust attack. It cannot be understated how collectible this card is. Normally, in the Pokemon TCG different rarities are exclusive to final evolutions or powerful cards, so it's a pleasant surprise to see something like a Pidgey getting some love with some artistic flair.

9 Charizard ex

Double Rare - $4.73

Charizard ex quickly solidifed itself as a staple card in the competitive Pokemon TCG and it's easy to see why. When it comes into play, you get to search your deck for three Fire Energy cards and distribute them in any way you see fit.

You can use this ability to powerup your board, all but guaranteeing that you can pull off any attack you want just by evolving Charizard. Any type of consistency in a deck is appreciated, and when your key Pokemon gives you all that on an impressive body, all while bucking traditional typing, gives you a powerhouse of a card.

8 Charizard ex

Ultra Rare - $8.01

The ultra rare version of Charizard ex is a special variant of the powerful Terastallized Pokemon. Ultra rare isn't the most uncommon type of special rarity you can find of Charizard. Breaking down pull rates for Obsidian Flame packs puts you at around a 1 in 15 chance of your pack containing

an ultra rare, though there's no way to ensure that you'll get a Charizard ex out of it.

Charizard has quite a few different printings in Obsidian Flames, and there's something special about the ultra rare one. The stark contrast of the red of Charizard against the white background really makes him pop off the card.

7 Pidgeot ex

Ultra Rare - $8.16

Another ultra rare but this time we're looking at the Colorless Pidgeot ex. This fantastic card ensures consistency on an increadible level, making it a natural fit into any deck featuring Charizard ex, and really, any deck that can benefit from the free card each turn.

With Quick Search, you can search your deck once per turn to grab any card of your choice and add it to your hand. While you are limited to just doing it once per turn, so if you have multiple Pidgeot ex in play you can only activate one of these abilities a turn, you basically have access to every card in your deck.

6 Cleffa

Illustration Rare - $8.20

First introduced in Generation Two, Cleffa is an adorable pre-evolved form of Clefairy. This Illustration Rare variant showcases the Pokemon's affiliation with its astronomical background and lore.

However, where this card in particular excels is its Grasping Draw move. This allows you to draw until you have seven cards in your hand, which is exceptionally helpful when you're in desperate need for energy cards to power up your Pokemon, or for something a lot more specific. The only downside to this Cleffa card is it's 30HP, meaning it is very unlikely that it'll last very long in battle.

5 Ninetales

Illustration Rare - $8.33

Ninetales is a Generation One Pokemon and is the final evolution of Vulpix. The Illustration Rare variant of Ninetales uses gorgeous earthy tones and shows the Fire type taking in nature with a stroll through a warm forest setting. A perfectly beautiful, low-cost card that would look amazing in any collection.

Overall, the usability of the card is not great within the TCG. While the chance to inflict 90 damage using its Nine-Tailed Dance attack can be coupled with its low retreat cost, 90 damage is not at all enough for the cost it takes to bring Ninetales out.

4 Pidgeot ex

Double Rare - $9.76

Not everyone enjoys the special versions of cards and that's why the Pokemon TCG still prints cards like the double rare Pidgeot ex. Double rare cards are some of the most common rarities in Obsidian Flames, but that doesn't make them any less special.

Double rare cards are, more or less, the same level of rarity as the Pokemon V, VSTAR, and VMAX cards that players loved opening from the Pokemon TCG Sword & Shield sets. Your odds of opening one of these cards is around 1 in 7 packs, which is pretty good all things considered.

3 Pidgeot Ex

Special Illustration Rare - $12.96

The Special Illustration Rare Pidgeot is a beautiful piece of art, as we see it flying past the cityscape behind it. While again offering no advantages and possessing the same stats as its other variants, the Pidgeot ex card has come under fire for being a possibly game-breaking card.

Pidgeot’s ability, Quick Search, allows players to search their deck for one card of their choosing. It would be fine if it were once per game. However, they can do this every turn, meaning they can endlessly search for the specific cards they require to easily win the match.

2 Charizard ex

Hyper Rare - $19.34

The telltale golden frame and design of the hyper rare cards return in Obsidian Flames and Charizard ex leads the pack in terms of value among them. The hyper rare version of the Flame Pokemon is posed in the same stance as the ultra rare version of the card, but clearly there's a much more dazzling feel to it.

Pulling a hyper rare is much harder than most other rarities, giving you only a 1 in 52 chance of opening one of these rarities in any given Obsidian Flames pack. There are two other hyper rare cards in the set, so you're not guarenteed to be getting a Charizard either, making this card exceptionally hard to find.

1 Charizard ex

Special Illustration Rare - $45.42

It’s no surprise that the most expensive card in Obsidian Flames is a Charizard card. In this Special Illustration Rare variant, Charizard offers a mighty stance while the entirety of the card art is pleasantly hand-drawn to capture the fierce essence of the fan-favourite Pokemon.

This will be a card that will continue to be sought after for many years due to its rarity. The fact that Charizard is an extremely popular Pokemon to collect only increases this possibility. In battle, its high HP and its energy acceleration cement it as a very powerful Pokemon to build a deck around, which will further add to its value in the future.