Honestly, it is a bit of a weird time for the Pokémon TCG. We are deep into the Scarlet & Violet era, yet everyone is still obsessing over Sword & Shield cards. Specifically, the Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR Gold card from the Lost Origin expansion.
You’ve seen it. That shimmering, hyper-saturated gold texture that makes your eyes hurt in the best way possible. It’s card number 213/196, a "Secret Rare" that should, by all logic of power creep, be gathering dust in a binder. But it isn't. People are still hunting it.
Why?
It’s partly because Hisuian Zoroark is just cool. It’s a tragic, spiteful ghost fox born from the harsh snows of ancient Sinnoh. That lore carries weight. But more than that, this card represents a specific peak in Pokémon card design.
The Reality of the Pull Rates
Let's talk numbers because the "Gold" label isn't just for show. Back when Lost Origin dropped in late 2022, finding a gold card was a genuine event. You weren't just looking for a "hit." You were looking for a 1-in-600 miracle.
Data from major openings like those at TCGplayer and Card Shop Live suggest that gold VSTAR cards appear roughly once every 125 to 150 packs. But that’s for any gold card. If you specifically wanted the Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR Gold, your odds plummeted.
You could easily rip through five booster boxes—that's 180 packs—and never see a speck of gold. It’s that scarcity that keeps the price floor from falling out. While standard VSTARs might drop to the price of a cheap burger, the gold version maintains a premium because, quite simply, there aren’t that many of them in "Near Mint" condition anymore.
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What it's actually worth right now
If you’re looking to buy or sell, don't get distracted by those "listing prices" on eBay where people ask for $500. That’s nonsense.
As of early 2026, the market has settled into a very specific rhythm. For a raw (ungraded) copy of Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR Gold, you are looking at a price range between $5 and $9.
Wait. Just $9?
Yeah. It sounds low for a Secret Rare, but there's a catch. The "Gold" version from Lost Origin actually faces stiff competition from its own cousin: the Galarian Gallery version from Crown Zenith (GG56).
The Crown Zenith version features hauntingly beautiful "Full Art" by SIE NANAHARA. Collectors often prefer the storytelling in that artwork over the flat gold texture of the Lost Origin secret rare. Because the GG56 version is so popular, it actually commands a higher price (often $20–$30) than the "rarer" gold version.
However, if you have a PSA 10? That is a different story. A perfect 10 for the gold secret rare can still fetch $35 to $45. It’s a low-population card in perfect condition because the gold borders are notorious for showing "silvering" or tiny nicks straight out of the pack.
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Can you actually play this card?
Short answer: Yes, and it’s surprisingly terrifying.
Long answer: You have to be okay with playing a "glass cannon" strategy.
The main attack, Ticking Curse, does 50 damage for each of your Pokémon that has any damage counters on it. If your bench is full and everyone is a little bit hurt, you’re swinging for 300 damage for just two colorless energy.
In the 2026 meta, where HP totals are ballooning, 300 damage is still the magic number. It KOs almost every Basic ex and VSTAR in the game.
- The Combo: You pair Zoroark with Gengar (Lost Origin) or the newer Area Zero Underdepths stadium.
- The Engine: You use "Damage Pump" to move damage counters around like a mad scientist.
- The Risk: You are basically helping your opponent by damaging your own mons.
I’ve seen players lately teching in Brilliant Blender or Terapagos ex to speed things up. It’s a high-skill deck. You’ll either win in three turns or get absolutely dismantled because you left yourself with too little HP. It’s stressful. It's fun. It’s exactly what Zoroark should be.
The "Gold" vs "Illustration" Debate
There's a segment of the hobby that thinks gold cards are "tacky." They prefer the Special Illustration Rares (SIR) we see in the Paldea sets.
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I sort of get it. The gold cards from the Sword & Shield era are very monochromatic. They don't tell a story; they just shout "I AM RARE" at you.
But there’s something about the way the light hits the etched texture on the Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR Gold. It feels like an artifact. If you’re a master-set collector for Lost Origin, this is your final boss. You can't claim a finished set without it, and because Lost Origin is no longer being printed, the supply is officially capped.
Spotting a Fake (Don't Get Scammed)
Since this card is still in demand, fakes are everywhere. Especially on marketplaces like Mercari or Facebook.
The biggest giveaway on a fake gold card is the texture. A real Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR Gold has "fingerprint" like ridges. If you run your thumb over it, it should feel like a vinyl record.
If the card is perfectly smooth and just has a "printed" gold shine, it’s a fake. Also, check the borders. Real gold cards have a specific metallic flake in the ink. Fakes usually look like a flat yellow or a dull bronze.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re sitting on this card or looking to grab one, here is how you should handle it:
- For Sellers: If your card has even the tiniest white speck on the back corner, don't bother grading it. Sell it as "Near Mint" raw for the $7–$9 range. If it is truly flawless, a PSA 10 is your only way to see a real return on investment.
- For Buyers: Look for listings that show the card at an angle under a lamp. You want to see that circular etching. If the seller only provides one blurry photo from the front, move on.
- For Players: Grab the gold version if you want to "bling out" your deck, but remember that the "regular" VSTAR (147/196) does the exact same thing for a fraction of the cost.
- Storage: Gold cards are prone to warping (the "Pringle" effect) because of the heavy foil layer. Keep it in a tight "perfect fit" sleeve and then a top-loader to keep it flat.
The window to find "cheap" Lost Origin packs is closing fast as they disappear from retail shelves. This might be the last year you can snag this card at these prices before the "nostalgia tax" for the Sword & Shield era really kicks in.