Is Cinderace V Rare? A Detailed Look at One of the Most Sought-After Cards from Sword & Shield
As an avid Pokémon TCG collector and player myself, I totally understand the excitement of pulling an ultra rare Cinderace V card from a Sword & Shield booster pack. Its silver ‘V‘ icon immediately lets you know you‘ve hit the jackpot! But what exactly makes Cinderace V so rare and valuable? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything you need to know about this iconic card.
How Rare Is Cinderace V and Why?
Let‘s start by understanding what makes Cinderace V classified as an "ultra rare" card.
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Cinderace V has a pull rate of approximately 1 in every 12 booster packs, according to popular reporting sites like PokeGuardian. This means your odds of pulling one are less than 10% per pack.
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As card #035/192 in the Sword & Shield: Rebel Clash set, it‘s on the rarer end of ultra rares you can possibly acquire.
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The even rarer alternate art version (189/192) only appears 1 in every 144 packs – that‘s 1 per booster box!
For context, here are the Cinderace V pull rates across some other Sword & Shield sets:
| Set | Card Number | Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rebel Clash | 035/192 | 1 in 12 packs |
| Champion‘s Path | 074/073 | 1 in 24 packs |
| Shining Fates | 018/072 | 1 in 12 packs |
Based on this data, you can see obtaining any version of Cinderace V requires a fair bit of good pack opening luck! Its elusiveness contributes to its popularity among collectors.
Cinderace V Card Value Guide
So how much is an ultra rare Cinderace V worth exactly? Here are current market values based on sales data aggregated from TCGPlayer and eBay:
| Cinderace V Card | Condition | Average Value |
|---|---|---|
| Rebel Clash (regular) | Near Mint | $7 |
| Rebel Clash (regular) | Lightly Played | $4 |
| Rebel Clash (alternate art) | Near Mint | $22 |
| Shining Fates | Near Mint | $4 |
| Champion‘s Path (rainbow) | Near Mint | $35 |
Keep in mind these prices fluctuate frequently based on supply and demand. Special printings like rainbow rares fetch higher premiums from collectors. Regardless of version, Cinderace V holds significantly more value than regular V cards from the same sets.
Why Cinderace V Is So Valuable
Cinderace V‘s worth stems from several key factors:
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Competitive viability – With a single Energy attack doing 210 damage, Cinderace V is a staple in many high-level decks. This keeps demand strong among tournament players.
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Character popularity – Cinderace gained a big fanbase as one of the most well-designed starter evolutions in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
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Artwork appeal – The alternate art kicked soccer ball version has artwork highly appealing to collectors.
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Rarity – Its status as an ultra rare makes it harder to obtain than common or regular rare cards. Lower supply + high demand = greater value.
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Long-term holding potential – As a distinctive card from the first Sword & Shield sets, Cinderace V has potential to gain value over time as it becomes scarcer.
Simply put, Cinderace V checks all the boxes that make a Pokémon card valuable – great aesthetics, competitive utility, fan sentiment, and long-term appeal.
How Does Cinderace VMAX Compare in Rarity and Value?
Much like its V counterpart, Cinderace VMAX is also classified as an ultra rare card indicated by the ‘VMAX‘ icon. Let‘s examine how it stacks up:
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Rebel Clash Cinderace VMAX (036/192) has a pull rate of 1 in 18 packs – slightly rarer than the V version.
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The rainbow rare VMAX in Champion‘s Path (074/073) appears just 1 in 216 packs – an incredibly scarce card!
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Current market value is around $8 for the Rebel Clash regular VMAX and $40 for the rainbow rare.
While not quite as sought-after as the V, the Cinderace VMAX remains an important card for competitive decks. Combined with the V version, collecting a full Cinderace evolutionary line is no easy task for any collector!
Should You Keep or Sell Your Cinderace V Card?
If you manage to beat the odds and add a Cinderace V to your collection, you might be wondering whether to keep it or cash out. Here are a few factors to consider:
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Are you more of a collector looking to complete sets, or focused on making profit? Selling now can be lucrative.
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Do you frequently play the trading card game competitively? Keeping it lets you use a top-tier card.
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Does the artwork hold special meaning or appeal to you? Cards kept for personal significance tend to hold value.
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Can you afford to hold the card for the long term? Cinderace V may continue gaining value over time.
There‘s no definitively right or wrong answer – go with your collector instincts! For a card of this rarity, value, and significance, you really can‘t make a bad choice.
Whether your goal is competitive play, set completion, profit, or long-term collecting, Cinderace V is undoubtedly one of the most iconic chase cards from Pokémon‘s Sword & Shield era. I hope this guide gave you a comprehensive overview of what makes it so rare and valuable. As a TCG fan myself, I can‘t wait to see what other highly sought-after cards emerge in new sets!