Darkness Ablaze Best Cards & Chase Guide (2026)
Darkness Ablaze gave the Sword & Shield era its first Charizard VMAX — the card that kicked off the 2020 collecting boom. The set remains the most affordable way to own a modern big-art Charizard.
Prices below were pulled from TCGplayer market data when this guide was last updated — they move daily, so every card links to its live price page.
The top 10 chase cards in Darkness Ablaze
| Rank | Card | Rarity | Market Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charizard VMAX (#20) | Holo Rare VMAX | $44.55 |
| 2 | Butterfree VMAX (#190) | Secret Rare | $15.73 |
| 3 | Salamence VMAX (#194) | Secret Rare | $14.22 |
| 4 | Scizor VMAX (#193) | Secret Rare | $11.05 |
| 5 | Eternatus VMAX (#192) | Secret Rare | $10.71 |
| 6 | Charizard V (#19) | Holo Rare V | $7.97 |
| 7 | Centiskorch VMAX (#191) | Secret Rare | $6.51 |
| 8 | Rillaboom (#197) | Secret Rare | $6.44 |
| 9 | Coalossal (#198) | Secret Rare | $5.56 |
| 10 | Houndoom V (#178) | Ultra Rare | $4.96 |
Charizard VMAX
Darkness Ablaze
$44.55
Why these cards lead the set
Charizard VMAX (#20) is the set, commercially. At ~$45 raw it’s the cheapest iconic Charizard of the modern era, which is exactly why it keeps selling — it’s the entry-level grail. PSA 10 copies carry a healthy multiple.
The Secret Rare VMAX row — Butterfree (#190), Salamence (#194), Scizor (#193), Eternatus (#192) — forms a tight $10-16 band. Eternatus VMAX is the dark horse: it was the legendary mascot of the era and saw competitive play.
Charizard V (#19) at ~$8 is the most-graded card in the set by volume; clean copies are everywhere, gem-mint centering is not.
Track live prices for Darkness Ablaze
The ranking above re-sorts itself as the market moves. These pages stay current automatically:
Scanning your own pulls with Eyevo shows the same TCGplayer, Cardmarket, and eBay data per card — including the exact variant you’re holding.
FAQ
What is the most expensive card in Darkness Ablaze?
Charizard VMAX (#20) is currently the most valuable card in Darkness Ablaze at roughly $44.55 — see the live top-10 ranking for today’s exact number.
Should I buy packs or singles?
Darkness Ablaze boosters are heavily reprinted compared to later SWSH sets, so sealed appreciation is slow. Singles, and specifically the Charizard ladder, are where this set’s money moves.
When was Darkness Ablaze released?
Darkness Ablaze released on August 14, 2020 as part of the Sword & Shield era.
Check what your Darkness Ablaze pulls are worth
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