Pokémon Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box Review – Charizard ex Set Review UK 2026 — Worth It?

Obsidian Flames is widely considered the standout set of the early Scarlet & Violet era, almost entirely because of one card: Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare. The demand for this card kept Obsidian Flames in consistently higher demand than any other SV set at launch and for months afterward.

The set itself merits attention beyond the flagship pull. Obsidian Flames introduced Tera-type mechanics for Pokémon ex, giving cards like Tyranitar ex, Dragonite ex and Vespiquen ex Tera type designations with distinctive crystal border artwork. The illustration rare tier in this set is strong — several cards have exceptional artwork that collectors prize independently of their play value.

As an Elite Trainer Box, the product offers 9 booster packs plus the standard ETB accessories: 65 card sleeves in a set-themed design, 45 Energy cards, 6 damage counter dice, 1 competition coin, 2 acrylic condition markers, a player's guide and a divider box. The quality accessory package makes the ETB format the most popular Pokémon TCG product for players and collectors alike.

Pull rates for ultra rares across 9 packs are consistent with Pokémon's SV-era distribution. You can expect 2-3 holo rares, 1-2 ex cards and a reasonable chance at an illustration rare. The Charizard ex SIR is rare enough that most ETB openings won't yield it — but the overall hit rate for valuable cards in Obsidian Flames is among the best in the SV line.