Pokmon Sword & Shield: Darkness Ablaze
Pokémon Sword and Shield: Darkness Ablaze released in August 2020, and immediately introduced dozens of valuable and memorable Pokémon cards. While it offered significant design overhauls to beloved monsters from previous generations, it also depicted Galar’s newest collection of unique monsters in impressive art and powerful movesets. Unlike earlier depictions of the Galarian starter Pokémon, Darkness Ablaze featured a rare secret art, gold Rillaboom card, as the second most valuable card in the set. However, it’s unable to beat Charizard, a popular and valuable Pokémon card monster that regularly defeats its legions of competitors.
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According to Hobbybin, Darkness Ablaze expansion’s ultra-rare VMAX Charizard launched with prices over $600, though these have dropped to around $300 as time passes. Unfortunately, the overabundance of Charizard cards lessens this Darkness Ablaze‘s impact, especially since it so vastly outvalues other cards in the expansion.
Top 10 Pokemon Tcg Sword & Shield Block Cards
Hello ChannelFireball! TrainerChip here with another collecting/investing article. This is a very exciting time in the world of collectible Pokemon. Evolving Skies is just around the corner, and Celebrations wont be too far behind. These sets are going to be highly collectible, and certainly seem like worthwhile investments as well. I plan to do more in-depth articles about both sets a little closer to release, once we know a bit more about the contents of each set.
But for today, I want to talk about my top 10 cards from the first Sword & Shield block with regards to long-term potential value. With this first block ending with the release of Battle Styles earlier this year, I figure now is a great time to speculate on the future of many of these cards. The first block will include any cards with the D regulation mark in the bottom left corner of the card. So, this list will consider all cards from Sword & Shield, Rebel Clash, Darkness Ablaze, Champions Path, Vivid Voltage, Shining Fates, and some promo cards as well.
Regulation mark circled here!
This top 10 list is going to be in reference to the long-term potential value. There are no guarantees in the collecting and investing world, so nothing I write on here should by any means be considered fact. This is just my opinion based on years of collecting and monitoring how cards retain or lose their value.
Pokmon Sword & Shield: Rebel Clash
Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Rebel Clash expansion released on May 1, 2020, featured dozens of cards that did not inspire much excitement. The card series and the Sword and Shield games were young, restricting the collection to the base Galar region. Many cards featured basic art, even with rarer cards like Ninetails V. Additionally, most of the rarer cards in this set featured less popular Pokémon like Galarian Perrserker. Perhaps the most disappointing feature of this set is that its rarest and most valuable cards weren’t Pokémon, and instead featured Sonia and Boss’s Orders . Both Sonia’s Trainer Card and Boss’s Orders appeared with full rainbow art versions, providing players with a colorful – but useless – addition to their decks and collections. According to Hobbybin, each card barely earned a 50 dollar value at release, making this set the worst in the Sword and Shield series.
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Expansion Pass Cost And Release Date
The Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass is available to purchase now for $29.99 – this pass will grant you access to both The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra on release. The Expansion Pass for Sword and the Expansion Pass for Shield are separate however. If you want the Expansion Pass for both versions, you will need to buy for both.
The first expansion will release by the end of June, 2020 and the second expansion will release Fall 2020.
Pokmon Sword & Shield: Chilling Reign
Pokémon Sword and Shield: Chilling Reign released with inspiration from the Sword and Shield Crown Tundra DLC, featuring unique monsters and Galarian forms that revitalized classic designs. The most valuable monsters in these expansions were the Kanto legendary birds featured in Galarian form. While the Chilling Reign expansion isn’t an invaluable expansion, its heavy reprint decreases its card value significantly. Thankfully, its art and diverse content counteract its lower values, with Galarian Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos featuring valuable alternate art alongside Calyrex in Ice Rider and Shadow Rider forms. Moltres V’s alternate full art sells for approximately $83, but this card easily surpassed $100 at launch and is extremely powerful in Pokémon TCG matches. However, its most valuable card doesn’t hail from Galar: the Blaziken VMAX alternate art secret card, which can range from $101 to $150 depending on the card’s condition. Overall, Chilling Reign isn’t a terrible expansion but drops rank compared to other Sword and Shield expansions.
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How The Expansions Work
Both expansions are open areas similar to the Wild Area which include Pokemon Dens and Max Raid Battles, but have new characters and storylines. They can be accessed as soon as you reach the Wild Area, regardless of whether you have beaten the main story or not. However, each expansion area has additional end-game content. There are also additional cosmetic options and clothing introduced in each expansion.
and
You can access a free sneak-peek at the expansion pass content in the base game by going to Wedgehurst Station and speaking to the new trainer there – Klara in Sword or Avery in Shield.
Pokmon Tcg: Sword & Shieldchilling Reign
Seize the advantage with Pokémon of the frozen lands, phantom hauntings, howling blizzards, and wild battles, expanding the realms of your Pokémon strategy with new powers and new possibilities.
Channel the incredible power of this expansionâs 15 Pokémon V, including Liepard V, Metagross V, Zeraora V, and more! A handful of these incredible Pokémon even have Battle Styles, allowing you to seize victory with Rapid Strike or Single Strike Pokémon.
Harness your maximum potential with this expansionâs eight Pokémon VMAX, including Sandaconda, Blaziken, and Celebi. The Sand Snake Pokémon even boasts a unique Gigantamax form that will add intrigue to each match.
Each Pokémon TCG card tells a story through its unique illustration. Check out this expansionâs exciting new special illustrations that feature a unique artistic edge.
Celebrate many of your favorite Pokémon Trainers hailing from regions across the wide, wonderful world of Pokémon. Stack your deck with Trainers like Agatha, Flannery, and Caitlin to give yourself a competitive edge and bring depth and personality to your collection.
Canât get enough Single Strike and Rapid Strike Pokémon? Sword & ShieldâChilling Reign has you covered with even more, including Beedrill, Weavile, Passimian, and others ready to strike fast or strike hard.
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The Power Of Hydration
Watch out! Blastoise is preparing to launch a wily Ambipom into battle. Blastoiseâs Vitality Spring Ability ends your turn but is the perfect refreshment for Ambipom, attaching up to 6 Energy cards from your deck to any of your Pokémon. You can power up Ambipom while itâs getting a little rest and relaxation on the Bench, or in a pinch, Ambipomâs Primate Dexterity Ability has a 50/50 chance of preventing all damage done to Ambipom by attacks. Then, Ambipom will be ready to get to work with Full Tilt Fling, flipping a coin for each attached Energy and doing 60 damage for each heads.
Icipate In Max Raid Battles With Other Players
Max Raid Battles are a completely new battle format where you will team up with three other Trainers in order to take on a wild Dynamax Pokémon.
4.8 out of 5 stars
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5.0 out of 5 stars
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Charizard Vmax Rainbow Rare
The artwork on this card is the exact same as the previous entry on this list, the only difference being the previous card is a shiny, and this one is the Rainbow Rare Version. Rainbow Rare cards are interesting to me. I personally prefer Full Art and shiny versions of cards to the Rainbow Rare pattern pictured above, but since Rainbow Rares are also Secret Rares, they will command a premium. I think that entries six and seven on this list could be flip-flopped either way, but overall, the cards are just very similar and should long term retain similar values.
#5: Pikachu VMAX Rainbow RareThis is the last Rainbow Rare card on this list. This is currently the only card from Vivid Voltage that has over a $50 price tag, and as it stands this card normally sells for around $200. This is the first ever Rainbow Rare Pikachu card that doesnt feature another Pokemon as well. There is of course also Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, but that card doesnt focus solely on Pikachu. Being a Secret Rare, a Pikachu, a VMAX, and being the most valuable card in its respective set, lead me to believe that this card is a great collectible and investment option.
Quick Ball Secret Rare
It is not often that a competitive card will rank this highly on a list like this, but I really do believe Quick Ball is just that good! Pokemon has shown no signs of getting rid of, or even rotating the Expanded format. This list is in reference to long term value. But even after Quick Ball rotates out of the Standard format, I expect it to still be heavily played in Expanded, allowing the card to retain much of its value. And of course, there is always the chance that this card could see a reprint, which would boost its value even more!
Note: This is the only card on this list that I would not recommend someone to get graded, as its value comes almost entirely from its playability.
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How Many New Pokemon Are In The Expansion
See every new and returning Pokemon revealed for the expansion pass so far in the slideshow below.
They both add old Pokemon otherwise unavailable via the original Pokemon Sword and Shield Pokedex. In total, these expansions will add 200+ Pokemon from previous games to Pokemon Sword and Shield, along with at least five brand new Legendary Pokemon and other new Pokemon, like Galarian Slowpoke .
Pokmon Sword & Shield: Vivid Voltage
The Vivid Voltage Pokémon TCG expansion released on November 12, 2021, and featured an emphasis on Electric-type Pokémon. Pikachu and Zarude appear alongside over a dozen V and VMAX cards with unique alternate art and foils. When Vivid Voltage appeared in stores, many players and collectors sought to get their hands on some of the amazing legendary monsters inside, which could sell for impressive prices. Unsurprisingly, the most popular and valuable rare cards in these packs are Pikachu and Charizard, trademark monsters for the Pokémon franchise.
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According to PriceCharting, the Rainbow Pikachu VMAX card can cost over $465 at PSA 10, while the foil Pikachu V card sells for approximately $131 in similar conditions. In addition, other legendary Pokémon like Jirachi and Celebi frequently appear in available booster packs, rewarding players that invest in this set.
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What Are The Benefits Of Purchasing The Double Pack As Opposed To Each Game Individually
From the looks of it so far, there’s nothing special about the Pokémon Sword & Shield Double Pack that Nintendo has announced, at least in America. All it does is include both games bundled up in your purchase. There are no bonuses or rewards for purchasing the Double Pack known at this time, and it’s not even being offered for any savings. It’s $120, which is exactly what you’d be paying if you bought each game individually. It’s a nice package for fans who want both versions, but it’s really nothing more than that.
However, during the announcement of this bundle, the UK Pokémon stream gave us a glimpse of a golden steelbook that will be included, but it is unknown if that will be available in all regions.
Snorlax Vmax Rainbow Rare
A secret rare version of a popular Pokemon is always something to keep your eye on! Snorlax doesnt quite stand up to some of the other cards on this list, but when you compare this card to similar ones like the Rainbow Rare Eevee & Snorlax-GX from Team Up, it stands to retain a good amount of value!
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Pokmon Sword & Shield: Shining Fates
Despite several similarities to a previous Pokémon TCG expansion called Hidden Fates, Pokémon Sword and Shield‘s Shining Fates sets itself apart with its Galarian themes and full art Trainers. While its reprints and limited full art collection robs Shining Fates of becoming the best Sword and Shield set, its contents make it one of the greatest options for collectors and players alike. Shining Fates features dozens of Shiny Pokémon, including Ditto, Suicune, and Charizard. Holographic alternate art forms of these cards easily sell for over $100, with value changing depending on the card’s condition. According to TCGPlayer, Shining Fates‘ Shiny Charizard VMAX card fluctuates from $188 to $130. Combined with impressive art for Trainers like Skylar and high pull rates, Shining Fates is the second-best set worth collecting in the Sword and Shield series.
Charizard Vivid Voltage Prerelease Promo
It should be no surprise to see a Charizard card in the top 10, and dont worry, this is the first of quite a few Charizards on this list. Prerelease promos always hold their value well, and when you factor in the fact that this card is a Charizard, it stands to really be a solid investment option. Prerelease promos can be difficult to get in a 10 from any grading company, so if you are able to secure a highly graded copy, I would consider it worthwhile.
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Pokmon Sword & Shield: Battle Styles
While the Pokémon Sword and Shield: Battle Styles expansion vastly improved the set’s values, it still suffered from a drastically low pull rate and made most booster packs disappointing purchases. Despite several well-designed cards and valuable cards located in the Battle Styles expansion, it’s improbable that players can find anything of value in many remaining booster packs. Though Battle Styles took inspiration from the Pokémon Sword and Shield DLC, The Isle of Armor, it failed to deliver an impactful addition to the existing series.
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Its most valuable cards eluded many dedicated players and collectors due to the overwhelming number of commons in most packs. According to TCGPlayer, Battle Styles’ Tyranitar V alternate art card is still selling for close to $100, one of the most valuable and well-designed cards available in the game. Pokémon Sword and Shield: Battle Styles‘ low ranking is an unfortunate disappointment and an example of how card distribution can undermine an expansion’s worth.
How To Get The Expansion Pass Bonus
Preorder the expansion pass and receive a Mystery Gift code for a Pikachu Uniform and an Eevee Uniform to use in Sword and Shield immediately. Internet connection required, and these codes are one-time-use.
Following the Nintendo Direct Mini on March 26th, players who have purchased the Expansion Pass can also get Leon‘s Cap and Leon‘s Tights as an in-game bonus.
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Pokmon Sword & Shield Base Set
The base set for the Pokémon Trading Card Game series often features the most disappointing of the generation, with community feedback unavailable and arts working with the barebones Pokémon and characters of the namesake game. The base TCG set for Pokémon Sword and Shield proves this, with disappointing art for a single title legendary failing to raise its value very much. The set released on February 7, 2020, and its most valuable cards are far better designed than Rebel Clash but still fall short with monetary value compared to other expansions. The base set’s most valuable card is Zacian V’s secret rare and gold version, which features the Pokémon Sword title legendary in a stunning golden setting with a slick border. The Zacian V card fetches a $60 value on various vendors like eBay and PriceCharting. While the Pokémon Sword and Shield set didn’t start the series on the best foot, other expansions quickly improved on designs and value.
Charizard Staff Prerelease Promo
This card being number one should be no surprise. It is currently the most expensive card on this list, and of all the cards on this list it is almost certainly going to be the one to be the most valuable moving forward. It is easy to make a comparison for this card since there is a regular and staff prerelease promo of the Evolutions Charizard as well. The Staff Evolutions promo has continued to rise in value year over year. While I dont expect this card to get to quite the level that the Evolutions print is, it will certainly continue to rise, and it will remain a great investment and collecting option!
Wow, thats a lot of Charizard! Compiling this list made me realize just how much love Charizard has gotten over the last couple of years as a collectible card. I think in most investing facets, this would lead to a decrease of interest, and would over saturate the market. But I dont think that will be the case with any of the cards on this list. These cards are all great collecting and investing opportunities, and I look forward to seeing where all these cards are over the next few years.
Thanks for reading as always! If you are purchasing any Pokemon singles or sealed product, dont forget that ChannelFireball is the place to do it! If you are buying anything on the site, please be sure to use my code CHIP to help support me, and my content! Until next time, keep playing, and keep collecting Pokemon.
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