Temporal Forces: Top 5 Chase Cards

Released in March 2024, Temporal Forces builds on the Paradox Pokemon concept introduced in Paradox Rift, this time focusing on the legendary beasts — ancient and future Paradox forms of Raikou, Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion. The set also features one of the most celebrated artwork cards of the entire SV era, proving that a common-rarity Pokemon can become a chase card on the strength of art alone.

Here are the five cards — ranked by current secondary market value — commanding the most demand in Temporal Forces.

1. Raging Bolt ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$70)

Raging Bolt is the Ancient Paradox form of Raikou — a massive, prehistoric thunder lizard that looks almost nothing like its modern descendant. The SIR artwork depicts it in the untamed landscape of prehistoric Area Zero, crackling with electric energy. As one of the strongest competitive cards in the set (Raging Bolt ex featured in tournament-winning decks through 2024), it carries both collector and player demand.

2. Gastly — Illustration Rare (~$56)

This is the sleeper of the set — and arguably one of the most celebrated artwork cards in the entire SV era. The Gastly Illustration Rare depicts a procession of ghost-type Pokemon (Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, and more) marching through a moonlit night in a hauntingly beautiful composition. It's atmospheric, cinematic, and completely unlike anything else in the set.

Gastly is a common Pokemon that most collectors would pass over without a second glance. The artwork makes it unforgettable. It's the kind of card that demonstrates exactly what the Illustration Rare format is capable of at its best.

3. Iron Crown ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$45)

Iron Crown is the Future Paradox legendary beast — a sleek, mechanical counterpart to Raging Bolt, based on Cobalion. Its SIR artwork features a regal full-moon backdrop with Iron Crown rendered in sharp, angular detail that suits its robotic design perfectly. Iron Crown was also a tournament-relevant card in 2024, contributing to sustained competitive demand.

4. Morty's Conviction — Special Illustration Rare (~$42)

Trainer SIRs with beloved characters consistently punch above their weight, and Morty's Conviction is no exception. Morty is the Ghost-type Gym Leader from Johto (Gold and Silver), and his SIR depicts him in a quiet café setting accompanied by a Gengar — a slice-of-life scene that's completely unexpected for a character typically associated with haunted towers and spectral battles. The contrast is exactly what makes it memorable.

5. Gengar ex — Hyper Rare (~$42)

Gengar is one of the most beloved Pokemon in the franchise — perpetually in the upper tier of fan popularity polls — and its Hyper Rare (gold card treatment) in Temporal Forces benefits from that status. The gold Gengar ex is a visually striking card and a must-have for Gengar collectors building out their collections. Pokémon with dedicated collector communities always sustain Hyper Rare demand better than average.

The Full Paradox Legendary Beast Picture

Temporal Forces is unusually strong across its top tier. The four Paradox legendary beasts — Raging Bolt, Iron Crown, Walking Wake (~$40), and Gouging Fire (~$35) — all sit within range of each other, making this one of the more balanced set chases in the era. If you pull any of the four Paradox legend SIRs, you've got a solid hit.

The Gastly IR remains the wild card — a card that outperforms based purely on artwork quality, with no competitive application and no legendary or fan-favourite status to lean on. It's just exceptional art.

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