Is Kyurem VMAX Rare? A Detailed Look at the Icy Legend‘s Value and Rarity

The short answer is yes – Kyurem VMAX stands as one of the rarest and most valuable cards in the entire Pokémon TCG right now. As an Ultra Rare card with premium abilities and art, it commands prices over $100 for graded mint copies.

Let‘s dive deeper into why this icy dragon legend captivates collectors and players alike with its extreme rarity.

Kyurem VMAX 101

First, some quick Kyurem VMAX basics:

• Rarity: Ultra Rare

• Set: Sword & Shield – Lost Origin

• Card Number: #049/196 (normal), #210/196 (alternate art)

• Current Value Range: $30 – $100+ mint

Right away, we see Kyurem VMAX already sits among the top echelon of cards in any new set thanks to its Ultra Rare classification. It shares this rarity tier with only a handful of other noteworthy cards like the Lost Origin Giratina and Aerodactyl.

Kyurem Lore & History

To understand Kyurem VMAX, let‘s explore Kyurem itself. This icy dragon Pokémon first emerged in the Unova region as a Legendary beast representing boundaries. Its backstory tells that it was once part of a single powerful dragon that split into Reshiram and Zekrom.

Kyurem wields dominion over freezing cold temperatures. It can fuse with either Reshiram or Zekrom to shift into new Black Kyurem and White Kyurem forms. This fusion ability makes Kyurem highly adaptable to any battle or situation.

In the mythology, Kyurem factions would cause violent blizzards if the peace between Reshiram and Zekrom was disrupted. Its chilling power kept the unified dragon‘s influence in balance.

So from a lore perspective, Kyurem VMAX channels the strength of this impactful legendary beast. As we‘ll see, these fusion capabilities and dynamic attacks make Kyurem VMAX a true force.

Competitive Impact in the Meta

Kyurem VMAX initially made waves in the Mythic Mewtwo Arena and Pokémon World Championships events in 2022. Its unique attributes gave it an edge in the meta:

Glaciated World Ability: This lets you attach up to 2 Water Energy from hand to your Pokémon each turn. Fueling big attacks faster.

Max Frost Attack: Deals 120 damage plus 50 more for each Water Energy discarded. Can take easy KOs.

Fusion Strike Attack: 30 damage plus 20 more for each different energy attached to Kyurem VMAX. Hits for weakness.

With the right deck build, Kyurem VMAX can power up and dish out One-Hit-KOs alarmingly fast. According to Limitlesstcg tournament data, it boasts some of the highest usage rates and win percentages across all VMAX Pokémon.

For players, Kyurem VMAX‘s competitive presence enhances its desirability and perceived value. Broken mechanics and power creep inevitably draw interest.

Kyurem VMAX Rarity vs. Other Ultra Rares

Compared to other Ultra Rare VMAX and VSTAR hits in Lost Origin, Kyurem VMAX maintains an extra aura of exclusivity. Let‘s examine the published pull rates:

As we can see, Kyurem VMAX surfaces around 3-4 times more rarely than standard V cards from the same expansion at retail. This 1-in-24-pack pull rate puts it in the conversation for Master Set chase cards.

Among its Lost Origin peers, only the Secret Rare "Lostlorn Forest" Trainer card exceeds Kyurem VMAX with a 1-in-72-packs rarity. So by set metrics alone, Kyurem VMAX elevates itself as an elite Ultra Rare chase with Master Set collectors.

Alternate Art Drive Premium Value

The alternate art editions of Kyurem VMAX shine as the true crown jewels, valued at 2-3x more than the normal version. Vibrant colors and etched texturing provide an eye-catching premium treatment.

For investors and collectors, these alternate arts should outpace normal arts in long term gains. Their availability is even more limited, with TCGplayer listings showing market supply of the alternate arts lagging behind the normal version by 25-50%.

Over time, desirability tends to cluster on the stand-out alternate artworks. For example, Lost Thunder‘s Lugia VMAX alternate art currently sells for $500+ PSA 10 graded while the normal art stays below $50.

Final Verdict: An Iconic Competitive Beast

In summary, driven by its legendary lore, competitive presence, and evocative artwork, Kyurem VMAX checks every box when it comes to an iconic chase card. It will likely go down as one of the most memorable and coveted VMAX creatures ever printed.

For any collector or player, Kyurem VMAX should be a high priority acquisition thanks to its sheer rarity coupled with utility. In both gameplay and trade value, this icy dragon looks poised to deliver lasting value for years to come.

When asking "is Kyurem VMAX rare?" the overwhelming evidence says absolutely. This boundary-breaking legendary stands at the apex of the modern Pokémon card hierarchy thanks to its elite competitive stats, breathtaking artwork, and masterpiece-level rarity.