Paldea Evolved Card List: 10 Amazing Chase Cards from Magikarp to Iono
The Paldea Evolved card list is famous for one thing above all: it is the set where a Magikarp became the most valuable card. Released on 9 June 2023, Paldea Evolved was the second main expansion of the Scarlet and Violet era. It brought the final evolutions of the Paldea starters, the four Treasures of Ruin legendaries and an Iono Special Illustration Rare that defined the early era. With 279 cards and 86 secret rares, it is also one of the biggest sets of its time. This guide covers the full Paldea Evolved card list, the numbering, the top chase cards and the best products to buy in Australia.
Paldea Evolved came after the Scarlet and Violet base set and before Obsidian Flames. If you are working through the early Scarlet and Violet sets, it is one of the most rewarding to collect because its Illustration Rares are so strong.
Table of Contents
Paldea Evolved card list at a glance
- Release date: 9 June 2023
- Set code: SV2, set symbol PAL
- Total cards: 279, made up of 193 main set cards and 86 secret rares
- Japanese sources: Triplet Beat, Snow Hazard and Clay Burst
- Headline cards: Meowscarada ex, Skeledirge ex, Quaquaval ex and the Treasures of Ruin Pokémon ex
- Secret rares: 36 Illustration Rares, 26 Ultra Rares, 15 Special Illustration Rares and 9 gold Hyper Rares
How the Paldea Evolved card list is numbered
Cards numbered 001 to 193 form the main set, including the double rare Pokémon ex such as Forretress ex at 005/193 and Meowscarada ex at 015/193. Everything numbered from 194 to 279 is a secret rare. The 86 secret rares sit in four blocks.
- 194 to 229: 36 Illustration Rares, including Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Magikarp, Marill, Raichu, Mismagius, Tyranitar and Maushold
- 230 to 255: 26 Ultra Rares, with full-art Pokémon ex and Supporters
- 256 to 270: 15 Special Illustration Rares, including Meowscarada ex, Chi-Yu ex, Quaquaval ex, Dendra, Grusha, Iono and Saguaro
- 271 to 279: 9 gold Hyper Rares, including Basic Grass and Water Energy at 278 and 279
With 36 Illustration Rares, the secret range is packed with affordable full-art cards. That makes the set one of the best for collectors who love scenic artwork without paying Special Illustration Rare prices.
The final evolutions of the Paldea starters are another highlight of the Paldea Evolved card list. Meowscarada ex, Skeledirge ex and Quaquaval ex each appear as double rares, Ultra Rares and Special Illustration Rares, and collectors who build starter pages often pair them with the Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly cards from the same set.
The Magikarp story
The Magikarp Illustration Rare at 203/193 shows Magikarp leaping through a beautifully painted waterfall scene. Illustration Rares are normally the more affordable part of the secret range, but this card broke the rules. Demand from collectors who loved the artwork pushed it above every Special Illustration Rare in the set, including Iono. It has stayed at the top of the rankings ever since and is often cited as proof that great artwork matters more than rarity.
Graded copies of the Magikarp have become especially sought after. If you pull one, sleeve it immediately and consider grading, because high-grade copies sell for many times the value of a raw card.
A quick sorting tip for big openings: split your pulls into main set cards, Illustration Rares and everything above them. The Illustration Rare pile will grow fastest, and keeping it separate makes it much easier to tick off the Paldea Evolved card list as you go.
Top 10 chase cards in the Paldea Evolved card list
Prices change constantly, so treat this as a ranking based on sales through 2025 and 2026 rather than a price list.
- Magikarp, Illustration Rare 203/193
- Iono, Special Illustration Rare 269/193
- Raichu, Illustration Rare 211/193
- Tyranitar, Illustration Rare 222/193
- Maushold, Illustration Rare 226/193
- Chi-Yu ex, Special Illustration Rare 259/193
- Fuecoco, Illustration Rare 201/193
- Meowscarada ex, Special Illustration Rare 256/193
- Dendra, Special Illustration Rare 266/193
- Sprigatito, Illustration Rare 196/193
Iono, the defining Trainer card
Iono is an electric gym leader and streamer who became one of the breakout characters of Scarlet and Violet. Her Special Illustration Rare, illustrated by kirisAki, was the most expensive card at release and has remained one of the most wanted Trainer cards of the era. It was also a powerful competitive card, which kept demand high from players and collectors at the same time.
Illustration Rares dominate the list
Six of the top ten cards are Illustration Rares, which is unusual. Raichu, Tyranitar and Maushold all have charming, story-driven artwork, and the starter Illustration Rares of Sprigatito and Fuecoco are popular with collectors who build a Paldea starter page.
The Treasures of Ruin
Paldea Evolved introduced Wo-Chien ex, Chien-Pao ex, Ting-Lu ex and Chi-Yu ex, often called the Ruinous Four. Chi-Yu ex has the strongest Special Illustration Rare, but many collectors aim to complete all four in matching rarities.
Pull rates are never officially published, so treat any numbers you read online as community estimates. Across the Paldea Evolved card list, Illustration Rares turn up fairly often thanks to their number, while each specific Special Illustration Rare is far harder to find. A booster box usually delivers a good spread of Illustration Rares and Ultra Rares, which is perfect for building a binder.
Paldea Evolved for players
The set had a major impact on competitive play. Chien-Pao ex became the core of a strong Water deck, Iono became one of the best Supporters in the format, and Super Rod returned as a reliable recovery card. Players should collect the main set versions of these cards, which play exactly the same as the premium printings and cost far less.
Condition is important, especially for the Magikarp and Iono. Sleeve every hit as soon as it leaves the pack, move the best cards into toploaders or magnetic cases, and store binders upright in a cool, dry room away from sunlight. Before grading, check the centring, corners, edges and surface under a bright light.
How to complete the Paldea Evolved card list
- Open one or two booster boxes to complete most of the 193-card main set
- Fill main set gaps with singles rather than more packs
- Collect the 36 Illustration Rares, saving Magikarp for last
- Trade duplicate Ultra Rares at local game nights
- Buy the Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares as singles
A master set with reverse holos runs to over 470 cards, so you will need a large binder or two. Many collectors keep the Illustration Rares in their own binder because there are so many of them.
Japanese sets behind Paldea Evolved
The English set combines cards from three Japanese releases: Triplet Beat, Snow Hazard and Clay Burst. Japanese collectors can explore the Triplet Beat booster box, the Snow Hazard booster box and the Clay Burst booster box. Japanese packs contain fewer cards, but the artwork is the same and the print quality is excellent.
Sealed boxes from 2023 are becoming harder to find, so store any you own flat and out of the sun, with the shrink wrap intact. A well-kept box is always easier to display, open later or sell.
Keep a printed Paldea Evolved card list with your binder. It is the fastest way to see which singles you still need when trading at a local game night.
Best Paldea Evolved products to buy
- Paldea Evolved booster box: 36 packs and the best value per pack
- Paldea Evolved booster box case: for stores and sealed collectors
Browse everything in stock on our Paldea Evolved product page.
Paldea Evolved card list FAQ
How many cards are in Paldea Evolved?
There are 279 cards: 193 main set cards and 86 secret rares numbered from 194 to 279.
Why is the Paldea Evolved Magikarp so valuable?
Its artwork is widely considered one of the best of the modern era, and strong collector demand pushed it above every Special Illustration Rare in the set.
What is the best Trainer card in Paldea Evolved?
The Iono Special Illustration Rare 269/193 is the most valuable and most popular Trainer card.
Where can I see the full checklist?
The Bulbapedia Paldea Evolved page lists all 279 cards with numbers and rarities.
More Scarlet and Violet guides
Continue with Obsidian Flames, Pokémon 151, Paldean Fates, Temporal Forces and Twilight Masquerade, or browse every guide on the Obsidia Collectables trading card blog.
The Paldea Evolved card list proves that any card can become a chase card with the right artwork. Whether you hunt for the famous Magikarp or simply enjoy its long run of Illustration Rares, Paldea Evolved is one of the most rewarding sets of the Scarlet and Violet era.