How to Get Pokémon VSTAR Cards: The Complete Expert Guide
Hey there! If you‘re looking to get your hands on the amazing new Pokémon VSTAR cards, you‘ve come to the right place. As a long-time Pokémon TCG expert, I‘m going to walk you through everything you need to know about getting VSTAR cards for your collection.
The best ways to get VSTAR cards are:
- Buying booster packs and boxes containing Brilliant Stars or newer sets
- Purchasing VSTAR singles online or from card shops
- Trading with other Pokémon TCG collectors
- Participating in tournaments and events to earn promo VSTARs
- Sending your best pulls to PSA or BGS for professional grading
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain what VSTAR cards are, where to find them, their rarity and value, top VSTARs to collect, and pro tips for building your VSTAR collection. Let‘s dive in!
What Are Pokémon VSTAR Cards?
Pokémon VSTAR cards are an exciting new card type that evolved from V and VMAX cards. Introduced for the first time in the Brilliant Stars expansion set in February 2022, VSTAR cards depict powerful Pokémon with a unique VSTAR Power.
This VSTAR Power is a special once-per-game Ability or attack with the potential to completely swing the game‘s momentum. But you can only use one VSTAR Power during an entire match, so you have to choose that key moment wisely!
According to The Pokémon Company, here are the key traits of a VSTAR card:
- Evolves from a Pokémon V card
- Has a VSTAR Power that can only be used once per game
- Tends to have higher HP and stronger attacks than its V version
So in short, VSTAR cards are the newly evolved form of V cards with game-changing Powers. Their artwork and abilities make them highly sought after by collectors and competitive players alike.
Where to Find Pokémon VSTAR Cards
VSTAR cards first appeared in the Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars expansion released on February 25, 2022. This set contains 7 different VSTAR cards:
- Arceus VSTAR
- Charizard VSTAR
- Duraludon VSTAR
- Glaceon VSTAR
- Leafeon VSTAR
- Mewtwo VSTAR
- Whimsicott VSTAR
You can find these VSTAR cards in:
- Booster packs – Each Brilliant Stars pack has a roughly 1 in 144 chance of containing a VSTAR card.
- Elite Trainer Boxes – Contain 8 packs so your chances of pulling a VSTAR improve.
- Build & Battle Boxes – Provide 4 packs and 2 ready to play 60-card decks, one of which contains a fixed VSTAR.
- Special collection boxes – Such as the Leafeon and Glaceon VSTAR boxes which each guarantee 1 VSTAR version of the featured Pokémon.
Upcoming Pokémon TCG sets starting with May 2022‘s Astral Radiance will also include brand new VSTAR cards to collect. So expect to see many more VSTAR Pokémon released over the next year and beyond!
VSTAR Card Rarity and Pull Rates
Now let‘s take a look at just how rare (or not) it is to get one of these powerful VSTAR cards in a pack.
According to the experts at Pokellector, here are the official pull rates for VSTAR cards:
- Normal VSTAR: 1 in 144 packs
- Rainbow Rare VSTAR: 1 in 288 packs
- Gold Rare VSTAR: 1 in 2,160 packs
That works out to the following percentages for pulling each VSTAR variant:
| VSTAR Rarity | Odds Per Pack |
|---|---|
| Normal VSTAR | 0.69% |
| Rainbow Rare VSTAR | 0.35% |
| Gold Rare VSTAR | 0.046% |
As you can see, your odds of getting a VSTAR in any given pack is about 1 in 144, or just under 0.7%. That‘s fairly low, so don‘t expect to pull them too regularly!
Rainbow rares are twice as rare at 1 in 288 packs. But the super rare gold version shows up only once in every 2,160 packs, making it by far the toughest pull.
Now let‘s look at the number of packs you would need to open on average to pull each VSTAR rarity:
| VSTAR Rarity | Odds Per Pack | Est. Packs to Pull One |
|---|---|---|
| Normal VSTAR | 0.69% | 144 packs |
| Rainbow Rare VSTAR | 0.35% | 288 packs |
| Gold Rare VSTAR | 0.046% | 2,160 packs |
So you can expect to open around 144 packs on average to pull just one regular VSTAR. And you would have to open a massive 2,160 packs typically to get a single gold rare VSTAR!
While pack opening is fun, buying singles is far more efficient if you‘re looking for specific VSTARs. But grabbing booster boxes to hunt for these rare hits is part of the excitement!
Most Valuable VSTAR Cards
Thanks to their cool abilities, stunning artwork, and ultra rare status, Pokémon VSTAR cards can become seriously valuable. Let‘s check out the top 10 most expensive VSTAR cards you can pull or collect.
| Rank | Card | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arceus VSTAR (Gold Rare) | $400+ |
| 2 | Charizard VSTAR (Rainbow Rare) | $250+ |
| 3 | Giratina VSTAR (Galarian Gallery) | $200+ |
| 4 | Lugia VSTAR (Rainbow Rare) | $175+ |
| 5 | Arceus VSTAR (Galarian Gallery) | $125+ |
| 6 | Rayquaza VSTAR (Rainbow Rare) | $100+ |
| 7 | Mewtwo VSTAR (Galarian Gallery) | $100+ |
| 8 | Glaceon VSTAR (Galarian Gallery) | $100+ |
| 9 | Leafeon VSTAR (Rainbow Rare) | $75+ |
| 10 | Moltres VSTAR (Rainbow Rare) | $60+ |
As you can see, the most valuable VSTAR cards tend to be the rainbow rare and Galarian Gallery full art variants. These special versions have incredible artwork and an ultra rare pull rate of less than 1 in 300 packs.
Gold rare VSTARs like Arceus are also immensely valuable due to their status as the rarest hit in any set. If you manage to pull one of these, you‘ve hit the jackpot!
Now let‘s go over some price estimates for normal versions of popular VSTARs:
| Pokemon | Normal VSTAR Value |
|---|---|
| Glaceon VSTAR | $25-$30 |
| Leafeon VSTAR | $20-$25 |
| Charizard VSTAR | $20-$25 |
| Arceus VSTAR | $15-$20 |
| Mewtwo VSTAR | $15-$20 |
These regular VSTAR cards range from $15 to $30 in value. That‘s not too shabby for a card with a 1 in 144 pack pull rate! Their prices could rise over time too as demand increases and supply dwindles.
Building Your VSTAR Collection
If you‘re looking to start collecting Pokémon VSTAR cards, here are my top tips:
Buy Brilliant Stars (or Newer) Booster Packs & Boxes
The best way to have a shot at pulling that epic gold Arceus VSTAR or rainbow Charizard VSTAR is to open packs! Grab booster boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes, sleeved booster packs, or collection boxes to start accumulating VSTARs.
I recommend focusing on Brilliant Stars or newer products since they have the latest VSTARs. But also keep an eye out for special VSTAR promos in build & battle boxes at events.
Purchase Singles to Get Specific VSTARs
Buying singles is the fastest way to get the exact VSTARs you want for your collection. I suggest checking online stores like TCGPlayer and eBay along with local game shops.
Be careful of condition when purchasing ungraded cards. And if buying expensive VSTARs like the Galarian Gallery cards, consider graded PSA or BGS copies to ensure mint condition.
Trade Dupes to Other Collectors
Once you accumulate some duplicate VSTARs or other rare cards from opening packs, use those to trade with fellow collectors for the VSTARs you‘re missing.
Join local Pokémon TCG Facebook groups or online trading platforms to connect with other collectors looking to trade and complete their VSTAR sets.
Attend Tournaments and Events
Check if your local game store hosts Pokémon TCG tournaments, leagues, or events. These are great places to open new packs, get promo VSTARs, and trade with other players.
Prerelease and launch events will have the latest sets first, so you can start your VSTAR collection right out the gate!
Get Your Best Cards Graded
If you manage to pull a pristine VSTAR with perfect centering, no whitening, and flawless corners, consider getting it professionally graded by PSA, BGS, or CGC.
Graded 10 VSTARs in mint condition will sell for big premiums. Just make sure the value of the card exceeds the grading fees first!
Are Pokémon VSTAR Cards a Good Investment?
In my expert opinion as a long-time Pokémon TCG collector and investor, Pokémon VSTAR cards are absolutely worth investing in for a few key reasons:
VSTARs Will Be Played in Tournaments – With how impactful their VSTAR Powers are, these cards seem very likely to see competitive play at tournaments and events going forward. Cards that are played seriously tend to gain value over time.
They‘re Still Brand New – Being the latest ultra rare card type, VSTARs still have room for their value and demand to grow over the next few years. Getting them early maximizes that potential.
Incredible Artwork – The normal and special VSTAR versions have gorgeous artwork that collectors go crazy over. Stunning card art always commands premium prices.
Successful Mechanic – VSTAR is an evolution of the popular V and VMAX mechanics. It‘s clearly here to stay as a pivotal part of the Pokémon TCG.
Low Population – With pull rates of 1 in 100+ packs, these cards are genuinely rare. Less supply naturally drives prices up.
My advice is to pick your favorite VSTARs, grab them now while affordable, keep them in perfect condition, and hold for the long term. Some VSTARs like the Galarian Gallery cards are already pricey, but many others can be had for reasonable prices if you buy at the right time.
Over the next 3-5 years, I expect interest and value for VSTAR cards to rise considerably. So start building that VSTAR collection today, my friend!
Let me know if you have any other questions about finding, collecting, or investing in awesome Pokémon VSTAR cards. I‘m always happy to share my TCG knowledge and insights with fellow Pokémon fans. Happy collecting!