You’ve seen the card. It’s hard to miss. A massive, silvery beast diving through a literal hurricane while a tiny fisherman in a rowboat questions every life choice he’s ever made. That’s the Lugia V Alt Art from the Silver Tempest set, and honestly, it’s one of the few cards from the Sword & Shield era that still makes people stop and stare. It’s got "aura," as the kids say.
But here’s the thing. Most people look at the price tag—which has been doing some Olympic-level gymnastics lately—and think they’ve missed the boat. Or they think it’s just another "chase card" hyped up by influencers. They’re wrong. This card isn't just a shiny piece of cardboard; it's a turning point in how the Pokémon TCG (Trading Card Game) handles storytelling.
The kawayoo Factor and Why the Art is Divisive
The art was done by kawayoo. If you don’t know that name, you definitely know the work. They’ve been around since the Platinum era, known for a gritty, almost digital-painterly style. Some people actually hate this card. They say Lugia’s head is too small or hidden in the shadows on the left. They prefer the standard Lugia V drawn by the legendary Mitsuhiro Arita (the guy who did the original Base Set Charizard).
I get it. Arita’s version is cleaner. But kawayoo’s Lugia V Alt Art captures something the TCG rarely touches: the actual terror of a Legendary Pokémon. Lugia isn't posing for a photo. It’s causing a natural disaster. There’s a theory floating around Poke-Twitter and Reddit that this scene is a direct nod to a specific story from the anime's fifth season—something about fishermen caught in a storm before the "Beast of the Sea" appears. Whether that’s a confirmed fact or just fan-lore, the scale of the card is what sells it. You feel small looking at it.
The Reality of the "God Case" Rumors
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the Silver Tempest "God Packs." Back when the set launched in late 2022, rumors went nuclear. People were finding entire booster boxes where every single pack had a "hit." This sent the community into a panic. If everyone is pulling a Lugia V Alt Art, surely the value will tank to zero, right?
Wrong.
While those error cases existed, they were a drop in the bucket compared to the millions of packs printed. As of early 2026, the scarcity is very real. The pull rate for this specific alternate art is roughly 1 in 674 packs. Think about that. You could buy eighteen booster boxes and still not see this card. It’s that rarity—combined with Lugia’s status as a "Box Legendary"—that keeps it at the top of the food chain.
Market Check: What Is It Actually Worth in 2026?
If you're looking to buy one today, the market is... spicy. For a long time, the raw (ungraded) price hovered around $150 to $200. Those days are gone.
Current Price Points (Approximate)
- Raw / Near Mint: $340 – $390
- PSA 9: $380 – $430
- PSA 10: $840 – $950
Interestingly, the gap between a PSA 9 and a Raw copy is shrinking. Why? Because the quality control on Silver Tempest was notoriously hit-or-miss. Centering on these cards is often "left-heavy," making a PSA 10 a genuine trophy. There are over 22,000 PSA 10s in the population report, which sounds like a lot until you realize there are millions of collectors globally who want this as their centerpiece.
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Spotting a Fake Without Ripping It
With prices hitting these levels, the fakes are getting better. Don’t get scammed. The biggest giveaway on the Lugia V Alt Art is the texture. Real Pokémon "V" alternate arts have a very specific, fingerprint-like etching on the surface. If the card is smooth and shiny like a mirror, it’s a fake. Period.
Another trick? Check the "é" in Pokémon. Bootlegs often mess up the font or the accent mark. Also, look at the borders. Real copies have a deep, consistent black border. Fakes often look slightly purple or "washed out" because the printers they use can’t handle the saturation.
Should You Rip or Just Buy the Single?
Math time. At $5 a pack (if you can even find them at MSRP anymore), you’d spend over $3,300 trying to beat the 1-in-674 odds.
Just buy the single.
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Seriously. Ripping packs is fun for the dopamine hit, but if you actually want the Lugia V Alt Art, the "gambler's tax" is too high. If you’re an investor, look for copies with perfect centering on the front. Collectors are becoming increasingly obsessed with "well-centered" copies because so many came out of the factory looking lopsided.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
- Check the Texture First: Use a phone light at an angle. You should see swirling patterns in the texture that follow the clouds and the water.
- Verify the Back: Fake cards often have a back that is too light or has a blurry Pokéball. Compare it to a common card from the same set.
- Grade the High-End: If you find a raw copy that looks perfectly centered, it might be worth the $20–$30 grading fee. A "Gem Mint" 10 nearly triples the value of the card.
- Watch the "Tidal Wave" Trend: Usually, when a new Lugia card is announced in a modern set, the older ones spike. Keep an eye on Japanese set leaks to time your purchase.
The Lugia V Alt Art isn't going anywhere. It’s the "Moonbreon" of Silver Tempest. Whether you love the art or think it’s a messy storm of grey and blue, its place in Pokémon history is cemented. Just make sure you’re looking at the texture before you hand over your hard-earned cash.