Paldean Fates: Top 5 Chase Cards

Released in February 2024, Paldean Fates is the shiny-focused special set of the Scarlet & Violet era — following in the footsteps of Hidden Fates and Shining Fates from the Sword & Shield era. The set features Shiny Rare variants of Paldean Pokemon and a set of Special Illustration Rares featuring shiny versions of Paradox and ex Pokemon.

The result is one of the highest-value sets in the entire modern era, with cards that have established themselves as all-time modern classics. Here are the five cards — ranked by current secondary market value — that you need to know.

1. Mew ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$508)

Known to collectors as "Bubble Mew", the Mew ex SIR from Paldean Fates is one of the most iconic Pokemon cards of the modern era — and one of the most valuable cards in the entire SV era. The artwork depicts shiny Mew in a whimsical, child-like scene surrounded by translucent bubbles, rendered in a style that feels simultaneously dreamlike and playful.

The combination of factors here is almost unbeatable: Mew is a mythical Pokemon with generational appeal, the SIR treatment is executed flawlessly, and the artwork style is unlike anything else in the set or era. Bubble Mew isn't just a chase card — it's a conversation piece.

2. Charizard ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$236)

Paldean Fates features a shiny Charizard ex in its dark, crystalline shiny form — and as always, Charizard commands extraordinary collector demand regardless of the set it appears in. The SIR treatment of the shiny form gives this version of Charizard a brooding, dark metallic quality that distinguishes it from every other Charizard card in the era.

At ~$236, this is one of the most valuable Charizard cards available in the modern SV era.

3. Gardevoir ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$116)

Shiny Gardevoir has a distinctive black and gold colouring that suits the elegance of the Pokemon perfectly. The Paldean Fates SIR depicts Gardevoir flowing through a twilight forest scene, and the shiny form's colour palette adds a regal quality to the artwork that the standard form doesn't have. Gardevoir's combination of competitive relevance and collector popularity makes this a strong, sustained performer.

4. Pikachu — Shiny Rare (~$33)

In shiny card sets, the "Baby Shiny" Pikachu is always a collector target — and Paldean Fates is no exception. The Pikachu Shiny Rare is a standard-sized shiny card featuring the mascot Pokemon, and demand from Pikachu collectors is effectively bottomless. For collectors building the full shiny set, this is an essential card.

5. Iono — Special Illustration Rare (~$27)

Iono's second SIR appearance in Paldean Fates maintains her status as one of the most consistently valued trainer characters in the SV era. Her characteristically energetic artwork style carries over to this shiny-set appearance, and her dedicated fan base ensures she remains in demand across every set she features in.

Paldean Fates vs. Other Special Sets

Paldean Fates is arguably the most successful special set of the SV era in terms of secondary market performance. Unlike standard mainline sets, the shiny focus means almost every rare card has collector significance — even lower-rarity Shiny Rare "baby shiny" Pokemon carry value that similar cards in standard sets wouldn't.

The top 3 cards (Bubble Mew, Shiny Charizard, Shiny Gardevoir) represent a steep premium above the rest of the set — but the overall pull experience remains strong throughout. If you're opening Paldean Fates, you're in for one of the most rewarding pack experiences in the modern game.

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