While it’s being overlooked by many Pokemon TCG fans, the list of cards coming in Scarlet and Violet: Obsidian Flames is sure to catch some eyes thanks to its new Charizard.
When it comes to both collectors and competitive Pokemon TCG players, all eyes are on the upcoming Scarlet and Violet: 151 expansion. While it’s understandable given the fact that the set is fan service-focused, many are overlooking the next Pokemon TCG expansion as a result. That might change once Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Obsidian Flames drops, as TCG fans and collectors have plenty to enjoy here.
Because of that, it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s set to come out. Here’s the release date and full card list for the Pokemon TCG Scarlet and Violet: Obsidian Flames expansion, and all the details on its new Charizard card.
Pokemon TCG Scarlet and Violet: Obsidian Flames expansion release date
The Pokemon TCG will see the Scarlet and Violet: Obsidian Flames expansion hit shelves on August 11, 2023. The expansion is named for a unique, dark-type Charizard card that will be one of the biggest chase cards of this generation.
Obsidian Flames is something of an odd expansion. While Western expansions have traditionally combined two Japanese expansions into one package, Obsidian Flames splices together Japan’s Ruler of the Black Flame set, odds and ends found in Japan-only theme decks, and cards that were left out of Paldea Evolved.
While 151 is set to receive a long list of promotional items including tins, collector boxes, and more, Obsidian Flames won’t receive that same treatment. The only promotional items lined up for this expansion are blister sets of one or three packs, build-and-battle boxes, and an Elite Trainer Box.
Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames full card list
Obsidian Flames is set to receive a number of interesting additions to the game, alongside a few oddities. Players looking over the set list might notice how many evolutionary lines are broken up across the Obsidian Flames card list order. This stems from the new Pokemon-ex card mechanic, which mimics the Terastalization ability in the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games. Terastalization allows Pokemon to change their typing mid-battle and this is seen with the title Pokemon of “Obsidian Flames,” a dark-type Charizard.
There are also two different Paldean Wooper, Greavard, Clodsire, and Houndstone cards. These come from a mix of promotional sets, Japan-only theme decks, and Ruler of the Black Flame.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Obsidian Flames TCG full card list | ||
001/197 – Oddish | 078/197 – Bellibolt | 155/197 – Varoom |
002/197 – Gloom | 079/197 – Miraidon-ex | 156/197 – Revavroom-ex |
003/197 – Bellossom | 080/197 – Cleffa | 157/197 – Dratini |
004/197 – Scyther | 081/197 – Clefairy | 158/197 – Dragonair |
005/197 – Shuckle | 082/197 – Clefable-ex | 159/197 – Dragonite-ex |
006/197 – Surskit | 083/197 – Togepi | 160/197 – Altaria |
007/197 – Masquerain | 084/197 – Togetic | 161/197 – Drampa |
008/197 – Combee | 085/197 – Togekiss | 162/197 – Pidgey |
009/197 – Foongus | 086/197 – Espeon | 163/197 – Pidgeot-exto |
010/197 – Amoonguss | 087/197 – Snubbull | 164/197 – Pidgeot-ex |
011/197 – Phantump | 088/197 – Granbull | 165/197 – Kangaskhan |
012/197 – Trevenant | 089/197 – Mawile | 166/197 – Eevee |
013/197 – Rowlet | 090/197 – Spoink | 167/197 – Zigzagoon |
014/197 – Dartrix | 091/197 – Grumpig | 168/197 – Linoone |
015/197 – Decidueye-ex | 092/197 – Lunatone | 169/197 – Swablu |
016/197 – Bounsweet | 093/197 – Solrock | 170/197 – Lillipup |
017/197 – Steenee | 094/197 – Baltoy | 171/197 – Herdier |
018/197 – Tsareena | 095/197 – Claydol | 172/197 – Stoutland |
019/197 – Smoliv | 096/197 – Vespiquen-ex | 173/197 – Audino |
020/197 – Dolliv | 097/197 – Sinistea | 174/197 – Bouffalant |
021/197 – Arboliva | 098/197 – Polteageist | 175/197 – Bunnelby |
022/197 – Toedscruel-ex | 099/197 – Greavard | 176/197 – Yungoos |
023/197 – Capsakid | 100/197 – Greavard | 177/197 – Gumshoos |
024/197 – Capsakid | 101/197 – Houndstone | 178/197 – Skwovet |
025/197 – Scovillain | 102/197 – Houndstone-ex | 179/197 – Greedent-ex |
026/197 – Charmander | 103/197 – Diglett | 180/197 – Lechonk |
027/197 – Charmeleon | 104/197 – Dugtrio | 181/197 – Lechonk |
028/197 – Vulpix | 105/197 – Larvitar | 182/197 – Lechonk |
029/197 – Ninetales | 106/197 – Pupitar | 183/197 – Oinkologne |
030/197 – Entei | 107/197 – Nosepass | 184/197 – Oinkologne |
031/197 – Numel | 108/197 – Barboach | 185/197 – Flamigo |
032/197 – Camerupt | 109/197 – Whiscash | 186/197 – Arven |
033/197 – Victini-ex | 110/197 – Bonsly | 187/197 – Brassius |
034/197 – Darumaka | 111/197 – Drilbur | 188/197 – Geeta |
035/197 – Darmanitan | 112/197 – Stunfisk | 189/197 – Letter of Encouragement |
036/197 – Litwick | 113/197 – Diggersby | 190/197 – Ortega |
037/197 – Lampent | 114/197 – Crabrawler | 191/197 – Patrol Cap |
038/197 – Chandelure | 115/197 – Crabominable | 192/197 – Pokémon League Headquarters |
039/197 – Heatmor | 116/197 – Rockruff | 193/197 – Poppy |
040/197 – Larvesta | 117/197 – Lycanroc | 194/197 – Ryme |
041/197 – Volcarona | 118/197 – Toedscool | 195/197 – Team Star Grunt |
042/197 – Eiscue-ex | 119/197 – Toedscruel-ex | 196/197 – Town Store |
043/197 – Charcadet | 120/197 – Klawf-ex | 197/197 – Vengeful Punch |
044/197 – Armarouge | 121/197 – Glimmet | 198/197 – Gloom |
045/197 – Lapras | 122/197 – Glimmet | 199/197 – Ninetales |
046/197 – Carvanha | 123/197 – Glimmora-ex | 200/197 – Palafin |
047/197 – Sharpedo | 124/197 – Koraidon-ex | 201/197 – Bellibolt |
048/197 – Buizel | 125/197 – Charizard-ex | 202/197 – Cleffa |
049/197 – Floatzel | 126/197 – Paldean Wooper | 203/197 – Larvitar |
050/197 – Tympole | 127/197 – Paldean Wooper | 204/197 – Houndour |
051/197 – Palpitoad | 128/197 – Paldean Clodsire | 205/197 – Scizor |
052/197 – Seismitoad | 129/197 – Paldean Clodsire | 206/197 – Varoom |
053/197 – Cubchoo | 130/197 – Umbreon | 207/197 – Pidgey |
054/197 – Beartic | 131/197 – Houndour | 208/197 – Pidgeot-exto |
055/197 – Cryogonal | 132/197 – Houndour | 209/197 – Lechonk |
056/197 – Froakie | 133/197 – Houndoom-ex | 210/197 – Eiscue-ex |
057/197 – Frogadier | 134/197 – Houndoom-ex | 211/197 – Tyranitar-ex |
058/197 – Wiglett | 135/197 – Absol-ex | 212/197 – Vespiquen-ex |
059/197 – Wugtrio | 136/197 – Darkrai | 213/197 – Glimmora-ex |
060/197 – Finizen | 137/197 – Inkay | 214/197 – Charizard-ex |
061/197 – Finizen | 138/197 – Malamar | 215/197 – Absol-ex |
062/197 – Palafin | 139/197 – Salandit | 216/197 – Revavroom-ex |
063/197 – Magnemite | 140/197 – Salazzle | 217/197 – Pidgeot-ex |
064/197 – Magneton | 141/197 – Scizor | 218/197 – Geeta |
065/197 – Magnezone | 142/197 – Skarmory | 219/197 – Ortega |
066/197 – Tyranitar-ex | 143/197 – Mawile | 220/197 – Poppy |
067/197 – Tynamo | 144/197 – Bronzor | 221/197 – Ryme |
068/197 – Eelektrik | 145/197 – Bronzong | 222/197 – Eiscue-ex |
069/197 – Eelektross | 146/197 – Probopass | 223/197 – Charizard-ex |
070/197 – Thundurus | 147/197 – Excadrill | 224/197 – Revavroom-ex |
071/197 – Toxel | 148/197 – Pawniard | 225/197 – Pidgeot-ex |
072/197 – Toxtricity | 149/197 – Bisharp | 226/197 – Geeta |
073/197 – Pawmot-ex | 150/197 – Kingambit | 227/197 – Poppy |
074/197 – Tadbulb | 151/197 – Togedemaru | 228/197 – Charizard-ex |
075/197 – Tadbulb | 152/197 – Meltan | 229/197 – Artazon |
076/197 – Tadbulb | 153/197 – Melmetal-ex | 230/197 – Basic Fire Energy |
077/197 – Bellibolt | 154/197 – Varoom |
Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames features dark-type Charizard-ex as its big chase card
Obsidian Flames will give fans the first Charizard-ex cards, and they will be among the biggest chase cards of the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet generation. Three versions of the card exist including an ultra rare and hyper rare. The two special versions of the card have different artwork, and both will likely fetch a high price on the secondary market.
Fans might be wondering why these cards aren’t the usual fire type. The Obsidian Flames Charizard-ex card is dark type because Pokemon-ex cards are based on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Terastalization mechanic. While most Pokemon-ex cards released to this point have had standard typing, that’s changing here. Obsidian Flames will add an electric Tyranitar, psychic Vespiquen, and fire Eiscue.
Despite having different typings, the energy requirements of these cards are standard fare. Obsidian Flames’ Charizard-ex uses fire energies, Eiscue-ex uses water energies, and so on.
Tyranitar, Ortega among best cards in Obsidian Flames
Pokemon TCG collectors will find one of Scarlet and Violet’s best chase cards in Charizard-ex, while players can look forward to Glimmora-ex, Tyranitar-ex, and the Ortega supporter card.
Glimmora has become the center of a popular budget deck in the Pokemon TCG in 2023, resurrecting the amplified poison deck archetype. Glimmora-ex offers higher up-front damage and has a highly disruptive ability that forces the opponent to only have three benched Pokemon when it’s in the active spot. This can be brutal for some of the most popular decks in the format right now that fill up their bench, including those built around Chien Pao-ex, Miraidon-ex, and Gardevoir-ex.
Tyranitar-ex offers high damage potential with little energy investment, hitting 150 damage with just two fighting energies or 250 if any Pokemon behind it have damage counters. This style of deck has had some success with Hisuian Zoroark-VSTAR, and Tyranitar-ex has some potential synergy with Koraidon-ex.
Obsidian Flames is set to add a number of notable trainer cards to the mix, but one that could leave many players frustrated is the Ortega supporter card. Ortega lets the player look at their opponent’s hand, place one of their cards on the bottom of their deck, then draw a card. Given how many decks rely on securing the right early-game supporter and how many games are stolen with a late-game Iono, Ortega could find a place on many decks.