Obsidian Flames: Top 10 Most Expensive Cards from the New Set

The arrival of Scarlet & Violet: Obsidian Flames, which will be released worldwide on 08/11/2023, will be right before the Yokohama World Championship, in Japan.

We'll apply here the market value using the dollar and its ranking positions as parameters, but it's worth stressing that this isn't the final price, as the market can vary.

And, regarding the images, when they are shown in their Japanese versions, please don't confuse their numbering with the American numbering, which will be described in the card's introduction/presentation.

So, let's go.

10 - Revavroom ex (Secret Art Rare/Special Illustration Rare - 224/197)

Revavroom is highlighted in this list due to its vivid Souichirou Gunjima art, which created arts such as Pikachu VMAX LOR TG17, Marnie's Pride BRS 171, Flareon V PR-SW SWSH179, besides Radiants such as Radiant Eevee PR-SW SWSH230 and Radiant Greninja ASR 46; it represents what this Pokémon can do, taking hold of a car and becoming its "new engine", as if it was boosting the vehicle.

Its ability is the old recycling similar to Honchkrow V BRS 88, with Tune-Up, which makes this Pokémon capable of accepting 4 Tools attached to it at the same time.

The card costs around US$18.99.

9 - Arzaton (Gold Full Art - 229/197)

It is one of the good stadiums currently in the game, due to the lack of Quick Ball, which was rotated. It is also useful in case our Battle VIP Pass fails.

Artazon enables you to, between turns, yours and the opponents, look for a basic Pokémon which doesn't have Rule Box, reveal it, and place it on your bench.

It's almost the same as an additional Nest Ball in the format.

The card costs around US$25.24.

8 - Pidgeot ex (Illustration Rare - 225/197)

Without a question, this is one of the best support cards in the block, as it is an excellent recursive Pokémon, which brings back an effect similar to its predecessor, Pidgeot RG 10.

Only this is a more "nerfed" version, in which its ability, Quick Search can only be used once per turn, being able to search any card in your deck and place it in your hand.

The card costs around US$29.69.

7 - Poppy (Secret Art Rare/Special Illustration Rare - 227/197)

Poppy has a very simple effect: move two energies from one of your Pokémon to another. There are better ways to do transfers like these, but the card is in this ranking due to its rarity.

The card costs around US$30.94.

6 - Geeta (Secret Art Rare/Special Illustration Rare - 226/197)

Geeta has a good effect to be used on your game's turn 2, as its goal is to energize your Pokémon directly and efficiently - which means, it enables you to get two basic energies from your deck and attach it to one of your Pokémon. However, your Pokémon can't attack that round.

The card costs around US$39.58.

5 - Escuie (Secret Art Rare/Special Illustration Rare - 222/197)

The attack effect, Scalding Block, asks you to discard an energy attached to this Pokémon, which, besides the base damage it deals, disables your opponent from attacking in the following round.

That forces them to retreat to remove this effect, and spend energies to pay for the retreat cost, or use cards such as Escape Rope.

As there is Baxcalibur sv2 60 in the format being the biggest mover of Water energy among Pokémon in the archetype, it might provide consistency for Escuie's combo.

The card costs around US$40.09.

4 - Tyranitar ex (Full Art - 211/197)

This is an excellent Pokémon even in its pre-evolution form (Larvitar and Pupitar). They can be a nuisance to Electric type Pokémon, which are still very present in the Standard format, as it deals double the damage to them. Additionally, some Dark type Pokémon may also have weaknesses against Tyranitar due to their types.

However, the situation changes with Tyranitar ex, which becomes an Electric type Pokémon, calling back to the same types of its predecessor in the Ruby/Shappire: Dragon Frontiers set, Tyranitar ex δ DF 99.

Its attack, Lightning Rampage, is something fantastic, which for the cost of two Fighting energies (F) (F), it deals 150 extra damage and plus 100 more if any of your benched Pokémon have any damage counters.

This card costs around US$ 44.18.

3 - Charizard ex (Full Art - 215/197)

Without a question, this is one of the rarest cards in the set, and its other variants will complete the Top 3, as it is no mystery: "once a Charizard, always a Charizard."

But this Charizard isn't here only due to its collector's value, as it is also a very interesting card for the competitive format, which is something so rare it happened for the last time at the Sun/Moon: Unbroken Bonds era, with its Tag Team card.

Its ability, Infernal Reign, has the following effect: if you play this Pokémon from your hand to evolve any of your Pokémon (be it a Charmeleon in a classic way or cheating out its evolution by using Rare Candy with Charmander), you can look in your deck for three basic Fire energies and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you'd like.

And its attack, Burning Darkness, deals 180 damage plus 30 more for each Prize Card your opponent has taken, for just two basic Fire (F) energies.

It is a very efficient and strong card in the format, which will certainly grab the spotlight.

The card costs around US$59.34.

2 - Charizard ex (Gold Full Art - 228/197)

This version comes in due to its rarity as a Gold Full Art version.

The card costs around US$88.90.

1 - Charizard ex (Secret Art Rare/Special Illustration Rare - 223/197)

And, to finish, no secrets here: Charizard ex comes to the first place spot in its Secret Rare rarity, from the renowned artist Akira Egawa, which has already created wonderful illustrations such as Mewtwo VUnion and the Sinnoh gods in the Sword/Shield: Crown Zenith artworks, which I wrote about in this article about illustrations.

The card costs around US$170.22.

1 - Larvitar (Illustration Rare - 203/197)

It is a very simple card, but, as it is part of Tyranitar's evolution line, and is a Pokémon which sells and is a great resale piece for Johto lovers and collectors, it is part of the list of Pokémon which bring financial return to its owners.

The card costs around US$7.31.

2 - Cleffa (Illustration Rare - 202/197)

Cleffa comes in here also due to nostalgia, for the lovers of "Fairy" type Pokémon (which currently don't exist anymore), and also due to its amazing art, with a good use of the scene and vivid colors, which give off the look of a starry night sky. Here we have the artist Hyogonosuke, the same which worked on the Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GX PR-SM SM210 artwork.

The card costs around US$10.02.

3 - Scizor (Illustration Rare - 205/197)

Here we have the supremacy of one of the most beloved Bug type Pokémon in the Pokémon fandom (losing only to Volcarona), giving off violence in its illustration made by Oku through its dynamism and intense red hues. This is, curiously, this artist's first work for Pokémon Company.

Its first attack, Punishing Scissors, is very efficient, as it deals 10 plus 50 damage for each enemy Pokémon that has an ability.

The card costs around US$15.03.

4 - Ninetales (Illustration Rare - 199/197)

The nostalgia factor here very heavily influences the choice of this Pokémon, both due to its beauty and involvement in the legendary Japanese myth, "Kyuubi".

This is also a great illustration with a rich scenery, quite vivid shrubbery, and the Pokémon seems to be in a "fairy tale".

This card costs around US$19.80.

What did you think of the list? Was it useful as some kind of guide for future investments? Comment your opinion down below!