ThePokemon Trading Card Game (TCG)has provided us with some stunning-looking cards, with iconic cards like thebase 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 youin 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.

The Obsidian Flames Houndour Illustration Rare from the Pokemon TCG.

Updated May 08, 2025, by Andrew Scariati:Obsidian Flames' chase cards have undergone some major price shifts, opening the door for more of Obsidian Flames' best cards to make their names. We’ve added a handful of new entries to Obsidian Flames' top cards and updated the pricing of the set’s top chase cards.

The prices in this article are taken fromTCGPlayer.comand are subject to change over time.

Double Rare Pidgeot Ex from Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames

14Houndour (Illustration Rare) – $3.58

Release The Hounds

Houndour makes the cut asone of Obsidian Flames' best cardsthanks to this adorable scene featuring an entire litter of Houndour. While the scene offers a somewhat sad depiction of these Dark-type dogs living on the streets, their sweet poses – including some Houndour sleeping soundly – are hard not to dote on.

2024 was very kind to Houndour, as this underrated Illustration Rare made major strides, from the $1.50 range to over double that, settling at its current market price.

The Obsidian Flames Tyranitar ex Ultra Rare from the Pokemon TCG.

13Pidgeot ex (Double Rare) – $3.66

A Surprisingly Solid Value

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 you may rememberfrom the Pokemon TCG Sword & Shield sets.Your odds of opening one of these cards is around 1 in 7 packs, which is pretty good.

Ultra Rare Pidgeot Ex from Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames

12Tyranitar ex (Ultra Rare) – $3.71

A Quiet Roar

While Tyranitar is typically regarded as one of the most ferocious Pokemon in the games and one of the more valuable Pokemon to collect in the TCG, this card is relatively cheap. Compared to some ofTyranitar’s most valuable cards,this ultra rare seems like a bargain, trading in a tight range.

While it’s only seen a minor bump in value over the past year or so, Tyranitar is a Pokemon that commands significant attention, so this card might not dwell so low on the list of Obsidian Flames' best cards in the future.

The Obsidian Flames Fire Energy Hyper Rare from the Pokemon TCG.

11Pidgeot ex (Ultra Rare) – $3.75

Longing For The Sky

Another ultra rare, but this time we’re looking at the Colorless Pidgeot ex. This fantastic card ensures consistency on an incredible 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 have access to every card in your deck.

Illustration Rare Pidgey from Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames

10Basic Fire Energy (Hyper Rare) – $3.91

Bringing The Heat

Thoughenergy cards can reach surprising prices at their peak,this Fire Energy is one of the most affordable Obsidian Flames chase cards in the set. Hyper Rare cards aren’t typically valued highly, though Obsidian Flames' relatively low card values make space for this unusual inclusion.

Perhaps the biggest surprise with this card is that it continues to bounce up and down in value, from as low as three dollars to as high as roughly $5.50. While it’s nearly guaranteed to rise in price when Obsidian Flames goes out of print, this card won’t be a likely candidate for the top spots anytime soon.

The Obsidian Flames Scizor Illustration Rare from the Pokemon TCG.

Flocking To Value

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

It cannot be overstated 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.

The Obsidian Flames Gloom Illustration Rare from the Pokemon TCG.

8Scizor (Illustration Rare) – $7.10

An Underdog Emerges

Scizor slides into our list as one of the best Obsidian Flames cards thanks to a shockingly epic depiction of this Pokemon set on a matching red background. Though the red makes it difficult to distinguish all of Scizor’s features from afar, this scene is stunning up close.

While Scizor began 2024 around the three-dollar mark, it picked up steam by the end of the year, surging to its current market price. It’s likely to continue its meteoric rise into uncharted territory once the set becomes harder to find. For now – stock up on this hidden gem while you may.

Ultra rare Charizard ex from Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames

7Gloom (Illustration Rare) – $8.50

Vibrant And Verdant

Gloom experienced major gains in 2024, boasting an upward price trajectory that’s remarkably similar to Scizor’s. Gloom began at around the two-dollar plateau, and sustained an impressive run past every major milestone until it left the eight-dollar mark in the dust.

One glance at this card makes it clear how it got to its current price – on the back ofone of the most beautiful scenes in the set.While it may not be Obsidian Flames' most valuable chase card, Gloom is a massive winner that has surpassed all expectations.

Illustration Rare Cleffa from Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames

6Charizard ex (Ultra Rare) – $10.12

One Of Many

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 on Charizard against the white background makes him pop off the card.

Soaring Into The Sky

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 of 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.