2020 201 cards

Pokemon Darkness Ablaze Set

A 201-card dark-themed expansion headlined by the massive Charizard VMAX and the Eternatus VMAX competitive engine.

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swsh3

Difficulty

2/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Charizard VMAX

See market

Rarity Tier

Moderate

Overview

Darkness Ablaze is a 201-card expansion released in August 2020 with a dark-type focus. The set is headlined by Charizard VMAX, whose 300 damage G-Max Wildfire attack and stunning artwork make it one of the most iconic modern Pokemon cards. Eternatus VMAX brought a competitively dominant Dark-type strategy, while Crobat V served as the era-defining draw support Pokemon.

Best for

Modern chase collectors riding SWSH alt-art markets
people attempting a wide Darkness Ablaze master set who will split base numbers from high-number / special rows
anyone specifically hunting Charizard VMAX / Crobat V and needing the rest of the set for context

Skip this path if

you treat every Eeveelution-looking card as the same SKU
you want a weekend master set — Darkness Ablaze is 201 cards; budget the chase tier alone

Common mistakes

Collectors mishandle Darkness Ablaze by mixing Trainer Gallery / special subsets into the main numbered set mentally. Charizard VMAX / Crobat V still does most of the economic work inside a 201-card list — do not price bulk like hits. Listings labeled only “SWSH V / VMAX / alt arts” are not a SKU: match set code swsh3 (2020) before you match the art.

What to check first

Start with whether the hit is main-set or a parallel gallery/subset. Then inspect Charizard VMAX / Crobat V under real light before anyone says “NM” or grade. Gap the rest with the Darkness Ablaze checklist; sealed product does not replace the expensive row.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

Charizard VMAX (#020) is the flagship card at $80-200+ near-mint, with the rainbow rare (#074) reaching $150-350+. Crobat V Full Art (#182) holds $15-25 as a competitive staple. Eternatus VMAX (#117) and its rainbow rare command $15-30. Butterfree VMAX rainbow rare is an underrated collectible at $10-15.

Rose

Rillaboom

Coalossal

Big Parasol

Turbo Patch

Capture Energy

Full Collection

Cards from Darkness Ablaze

Tap any card to see price history and details.

28 of 201

Butterfree V

Butterfree VMAX

Paras

Parasect

Charizard V

Centiskorch V

Cubchoo

Toxel

Golett

Vibrava

Darkrai

Scizor VMAX

Kangaskhan

Staraptor

Glimwood Tangle

Powerful Colorless Energy

Butterfree VMAX

Centiskorch VMAX

Eternatus VMAX

Scizor VMAX

Salamence VMAX

Pokémon Breeder's Nurturing

Rose

Rillaboom

Coalossal

Big Parasol

Turbo Patch

Capture Energy

Tips to finish the set

Darkness Ablaze was one of the most opened SWSH sets due to Charizard VMAX demand. Commons and uncommons are plentiful and cheap. The Charizard VMAX variants are the overwhelming value center; consider buying them as singles. Crobat V was essential competitively, so multiple copies may be in your collection already.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify Darkness Ablaze cards by set code swsh3 / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

Split bulk commons/uncommons from holos and special rarities before pricing
03

Track Charizard VMAX and Crobat V as priority singles, not pack EV fantasies
04

Scan or checklist-gap the rest after the chase budget is honest

Scan with the app

Charizard VMAX from Darkness Ablaze is heavily counterfeited. The scanner verifies authenticity through foil pattern analysis, card weight indicators, and print detail verification. It differentiates between the regular VMAX and rainbow rare versions and flags common counterfeit tells.

FAQ

Common questions

01 How much is Charizard VMAX from Darkness Ablaze worth?

The regular Charizard VMAX (#020) is valued at $80-200+ near-mint, while the rainbow rare (#074) reaches $150-350+. PSA 10 copies of the rainbow rare have sold for $500+ at auction.

02 Why was Eternatus VMAX dominant competitively?

Eternatus VMAX's Dread End attack does 30 damage for each Dark Pokemon on your bench, hitting 270 with a full Dark bench. Its Eternal Zone ability increases bench size to 8 for Dark Pokemon, creating a consistent, high-damage engine.

03 What made Crobat V essential?

Crobat V's Dark Asset ability draws cards until you have 6 in hand when played from your hand, making it the SWSH equivalent of Shaymin EX. It appeared in the majority of competitive decks throughout the Sword & Shield era.

04 Is Darkness Ablaze out of print?

Darkness Ablaze has had multiple print waves but available sealed product is becoming scarcer. Booster boxes trade at $150-300+ depending on market conditions, with prices trending upward due to Charizard demand.