Obsidian Flames Card List: 10 Amazing Charizard ex Chase Cards Ranked
The Obsidian Flames card list is built around one of the most memorable Charizard cards of the modern era. Released on 11 August 2023, Obsidian Flames introduced type-shifted Tera Pokémon ex, including a Darkness-type Tera Charizard ex that changed both collecting and competitive play. With 230 cards, 33 secret rares and a strong run of Illustration Rares, it remains one of the most popular early Scarlet and Violet sets. This guide breaks down the full Obsidian Flames card list, how it is numbered, which cards collectors chase and which products to buy in Australia.
Obsidian Flames followed Paldea Evolved and arrived just before the Kanto special set Pokémon 151, which made late 2023 a huge period for Charizard collectors.
Table of Contents
Obsidian Flames card list at a glance
- Release date: 11 August 2023
- Set code: SV3, set symbol OBF
- Total cards: 230, made up of 197 main set cards and 33 secret rares
- Japanese source: Ruler of the Black Flame
- Headline Pokémon: Tera Charizard ex as a Darkness type, with Pidgeot ex, Tyranitar ex, Revavroom ex and Eiscue ex
- Secret rares: 12 Illustration Rares, 12 Ultra Rares, 6 Special Illustration Rares and 3 gold Hyper Rares
What type-shifted Tera Pokémon are
In the Scarlet and Violet games, Terastallization can change a Pokémon’s type. Obsidian Flames brought that idea to the card game with Tera Pokémon ex whose type differs from their usual one. The headline example is Charizard ex as a Darkness type, drawn with black crystal effects. Tera Pokémon ex also cannot be damaged by attacks while they are on the bench, which made them very strong in play.
Tyranitar ex, Revavroom ex and Eiscue ex are also type-shifted, so the set has a pleasing variety of unusual colours. Spotting the Tera crystal crown on a card is the easiest way to tell a Tera Pokémon ex apart from a regular Pokémon ex when you sort a fresh pile.
How the Obsidian Flames card list is numbered
Cards numbered 001 to 197 form the main set, including the double rare Pokémon ex. Anything numbered 198 or higher is a secret rare. With only 33 secret rares, the top end of the set is compact and easy to track.
- 198 to 209: 12 Illustration Rares, including Ninetales, Cleffa, Scizor and Varoom
- 210 to 221: 12 Ultra Rares, including Charizard ex at 215 and the Supporters Ortega, Poppy and Ryme
- 222 to 227: 6 Special Illustration Rares of Eiscue ex, Charizard ex, Revavroom ex, Pidgeot ex, Geeta and Poppy
- 228 to 230: 3 gold Hyper Rares of Charizard ex, Artazon and Basic Fire Energy
Because there are only six Special Illustration Rares, each one is a significant pull. The set is a good choice for collectors who want a realistic chance of completing the secret range.
When you open a large amount of product, sort as you go: main set cards in number order, reverse holos in a second stack, and anything above 197 in a third. Checking that last stack against the Obsidian Flames card list takes seconds and stops a valuable Illustration Rare from being mixed into bulk.
Top 10 chase cards in the Obsidian Flames card list
Values change all the time, so treat this as a ranking based on sales through 2025 and 2026 rather than a price guide.
- Charizard ex, Special Illustration Rare 223/197
- Ninetales, Illustration Rare 199/197
- Cleffa, Illustration Rare 202/197
- Charizard ex, Hyper Rare 228/197
- Pidgeot ex, Special Illustration Rare 225/197
- Charizard ex, Ultra Rare 215/197
- Revavroom ex, Special Illustration Rare 224/197
- Geeta, Special Illustration Rare 226/197
- Poppy, Special Illustration Rare 227/197
- Scizor, Illustration Rare 205/197
Charizard ex in four versions
Charizard ex appears as a double rare, an Ultra Rare at 215, a Special Illustration Rare at 223 and a gold Hyper Rare at 228. The Special Illustration Rare shows Charizard bursting through cracked obsidian with its wings spread wide, and it has been the most valuable card in the set since release. The Ultra Rare and Hyper Rare give collectors more affordable ways to own a premium Charizard.
Ninetales and Cleffa
Two Illustration Rares sit near the top of the rankings. The Ninetales card shows the fox Pokémon in warm sunlight, while Cleffa gazes up at a starlit sky. Both are excellent examples of how Illustration Rares can rival Special Illustration Rares when the artwork connects with collectors.
Pidgeot ex
Pidgeot ex is popular with collectors and players alike. Its Special Illustration Rare is one of the set’s best, and the card itself became a competitive staple thanks to its search ability, which let players find any card they needed each turn.
Pull rates are not officially published, so treat online figures as community estimates. Across the Obsidian Flames card list, Illustration Rares appear fairly regularly, while each specific Special Illustration Rare is much rarer. The Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare is estimated at several hundred packs, which is why many collectors buy it as a single.
Obsidian Flames for players
Charizard ex and Pidgeot ex together formed one of the defining decks of the Scarlet and Violet era. Charizard ex could power up quickly and hit harder as the opponent took prize cards, while Pidgeot ex made the deck consistent. Players who want to build the deck should collect the main set versions, which play exactly the same as the expensive secret rares.
Protect your Charizard pulls from the start. Sleeve them immediately, store them in toploaders or magnetic cases, and keep binders upright in a cool, dry room. Dark artwork shows scratches and edge wear easily, so handle the Special Illustration Rare by its edges and check it under bright light before you think about grading.
If you plan to grade, compare the cost of grading and return postage from Australia against the value difference between raw and graded copies. For cards like the Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare, a high grade can make a big difference.
How to complete the Obsidian Flames card list
- Open one or two booster boxes to complete most of the 197-card main set
- Use singles to finish the main set
- Collect the 12 Illustration Rares, starting with Ninetales and Cleffa
- Trade duplicate Ultra Rares at local game nights
- Buy the Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares as singles once prices settle
A master set with reverse holos comes to over 400 cards. A large binder, or a separate binder for the main set and secret rares, keeps it manageable.
Collectors who love Charizard often build a page that follows the Pokémon across the whole era. The dark Tera Charizard ex from this set sits naturally beside the Charizard ex from Pokémon 151, the shiny Charizard ex from Paldean Fates and the Mega Charizard X ex from Phantasmal Flames. Seen together, they show how much the artwork and mechanics have evolved in just a few years.
Setting a clear goal before you start, such as one copy of every Charizard or a complete Illustration Rare run, helps you decide where to spend and keeps the hobby fun.
The Japanese set behind Obsidian Flames
Obsidian Flames is based on the Japanese Ruler of the Black Flame expansion. Japanese collectors can explore the Ruler of the Black Flame booster box, which shares much of the same artwork, including the Tera Charizard ex.
Sealed boxes from 2023 are becoming harder to find, so keep any you own flat, out of sunlight and with the shrink wrap intact. Print a copy of the Obsidian Flames card list and store it with your binder, so you always know which singles to look for next.
Best Obsidian Flames products to buy
- Obsidian Flames booster box: 36 packs and the best value per pack
- Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs, sleeves, energy, dice and storage
- Obsidian Flames booster box case: for stores and sealed collectors
See everything in stock on our Obsidian Flames product page.
Obsidian Flames card list FAQ
How many cards are in Obsidian Flames?
There are 230 cards: 197 main set cards and 33 secret rares numbered from 198 to 230.
What is the best card in Obsidian Flames?
The Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare 223/197 has been the most valuable card since release.
Why is Charizard ex a Darkness type?
It is a type-shifted Tera Pokémon ex, reflecting the Terastallization mechanic from the Scarlet and Violet games.
Where can I see the full checklist?
The Bulbapedia Obsidian Flames page lists all 230 cards with numbers and rarities.
More Scarlet and Violet guides
Read on with Pokémon 151, Paldea Evolved, Paldean Fates, Temporal Forces and Twilight Masquerade. Every article lives on the Obsidia Collectables trading card blog.
The Obsidian Flames card list is compact, Charizard-focused and full of character. Whether you chase the dark Tera Charizard ex or the gentle Cleffa, it is a set that rewards every collector who opens it.