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Jul 26, 2023

10 Best Obsidian Flames Pokemon Cards, Ranked

A host of great pulls for in-game and display. Here are the 10 best cards from Obsidian Flames. We’re over halfway through the year, and serving as the penultimate Pokémon TCG expansion of 2023 is

A host of great pulls for in-game and display. Here are the 10 best cards from Obsidian Flames.

We’re over halfway through the year, and serving as the penultimate Pokémon TCG expansion of 2023 is Obsidian Flames, unleashing an army of fire-based Pokémon to set this release alight, including a number of rare Charizard cards.

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The third expansion of the Scarlet and Violet series is scheduled to release on August 11, 2023, boasting over 190 cards with Illustration Rares and six cards that will introduce the Tera Pokémon ex. Here are the 10 best cards in Obsidian Flames based on artwork and gameplay perks.

All prices discussed in the list reflect their cost at the time of writing.

It’s always a pleasure to see Entei’s artwork even in regular rare cards, and the big cat’s appearance in Obsidian Flames showcases a full gallop through the colorful wilds with a sun-kissed glow. Additionally, this Basic’s Pressure Ability gives Entei a stronger defense during gameplay, and its Blaze Ball attack dealing 150 damage is not to be messed with.

Sitting with a current market price of $1.22 on the TCGplayer marketplace, this card should be easy enough to pull for gamers and collectors alike, and a worthy mention on this list even if its overall appeal is overshadowed by others.

This double rare Dragonite ex is one of the more eye-catching cards that doesn’t flaunt a full-spread special illustration. The Dragon Pokémon can be seen crashing through the art frame and breaking the fourth wall in one fell swoop. The broken shards are designed into the edge of the card to give it a 3D effect, which makes it a rather unique pull.

With a $3.08 market price over on TCGplayer marketplace, this card is by no means sought after and very easy to pull which gives it a lower rank, but it’s an eye-catching one to have in the collection nonetheless.

Even though this Revavroom ex card (try saying that five times fast) is pretty basic on the design front (the rubble effect is a nice touch, however) it very much deserves a place in the ranks for the combos it sets up in gameplay thanks to its ability to hold four Tool cards instead of the regular one.

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With a modest $3.24 market price on TCGplayer, this card is nothing to write home about in terms of aesthetics, but it’s a solid card to have in your deck to enhance gameplay with a slightly higher price tag than previous entries.

There is not a lot of color to bring this Pidgeot ex card to life, even though we can feel the wind through the design, but the Pokémon’s Quick Search Ability is the real attraction to this pull. This ability allows you to search for any card in your deck once activated, and you’ll be able to repeat the feat during every turn.

Sitting with a slightly higher market price of $7.21 on TCGplayer, this card is a no-brainer to have in your deck going forward. It's represented by one of the original Kanto Pokémon, which is why this card earns a middle ranking on this list.

The first Illustration Rare on this list goes to the water Pokémon Palafin, who’s been given a bright welcome into Obsidian Flames through its bold and blue artwork. Taking a confident stance surrounded by dolphins, the artwork is busy and vibrant, similar to the rubber hose animation seen in the Cuphead franchise.

Currently worth an affordable $5.85 market price on TCGplayer, Palafin is one of the heavy hitters when it comes to best artwork within this expansion, and it’s the perfect entry to sit around the halfway mark to set a precedent for the other Illustration Rares on this list.

This Cleffa Illustration Rare, featuring the Psychic Pokémon, is minimalism at its finest. Not only does this entry allow you to draw cards until you have seven cards in hand, but it also gives you a starlit canvas to look at while gameplay is in progress, with the sky matching the color palette of the featured Pokémon.

The second Illustration Rare on this list currently has an $11.19 market price on the TCGplayer marketplace, and it’s a worthy fourth-place entry for its simple but effective artwork alone. This card is also a contender for the cutest artwork in the expansion.

You may be more taken with the tranquil village shown in the Artazon card or the frenzied patterns in any one of the three Charizard cards in this set, but you can’t deny the clean design of this Pidgeot ex card that boasts sharp line work and bold colors while the Flying-type Pokémon is soaring over a seaside city.

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Sitting with a market price of $21.78 on TCGplayer, this Pidgeot ex card is one entry you can’t stop looking at, and therefore, it’s a must-have in your collection if you’re driven by artwork alone, and a solid fourth-place entry on this list.

If we’re talking about the most ethereal card on the list, then it has to go to the Geeta Trainer card. This Special Illustration Rare is the only Trainer card on the list, and it shows Geeta sitting reading a book on a set of stairs with the gray environment merging with her black and purple hair.

In addition to the stunning artwork, Geeta allows you to search your deck for two Basic Energy Cards while your Pokémon are on standby. The rarity of this card is currently sitting at a $35.92 market price on TCGplayer, and its design alone is worth a third-place entry.

Second place is awarded to this beautiful Illustration Rare featuring the magical Ninetales. The Pokémon can be seen shrouded in the forest as we look past some tree branches to observe the mystical creature enjoying the sunlight. This card allows you to put nine damage counters on one of your opponent’s Pokémon which stalls its attack in the next turn.

This card has a warm glow to it and a slightly higher market price of $20.77 on TCGplayer which makes it a lot more sought after than other entries on this list. It's also a fitting homage to one of the original Pokémon that we never tire of seeing.

First place is awarded to one of three Charizard ex cards in this expansion, but this one carries a more intriguing design than the rest as it looks like it could be found engraved within an ancient tomb showcasing the great Fire Pokémon. Additionally, this card is also a Tera entry, and its Infernal Control Ability allows you to search your deck for three Basic Energy Cards while your Pokémon is evolving.

Currently known as the rarest and most expensive card in the Obsidian Flames set, with a market price of $186.00 on TCGplayer, the shattered glass effect surrounding the Pokémon demonstrates the creature's power in battle, and this card will likely be at the top of everyone’s search list.

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Jo Craig has been in the industry for nearly a decade and finds dissecting Marvel trailers for hours standard practice and still finds time to review, analyze, and research anime, video games and everything on the nerdy spectrum. Writing for TheGamer, CBR, and GRV Media, Jo also maintains a strong social media presence with a passion for contributing to the geek culture community.