Honestly, when Paradox Rift first dropped in late 2023, everyone was basically tripping over themselves to find a Roaring Moon ex. It was the big, scary ancient dragon. It had the "edge factor." But if you look at the market here in early 2026, the story has shifted in a way that most people didn't see coming.
The shiny "Future" and "Ancient" mechanics were the hook. Now? It’s the art that’s doing the heavy lifting.
If you’ve been opening booster packs lately, you know the vibe. Paradox Rift was the set that famously made pull rates harder. Before this, you could expect a Special Illustration Rare (SIR) in about one out of every 32 packs. Paradox Rift pushed that out to roughly 1 in 47. That small jump created a massive bottleneck for master set collectors. It’s why certain singles have stayed stubbornly expensive while others fell off a cliff.
The Groudon Anomaly
Let’s talk about the Groudon Illustration Rare (199/182).
It isn't even a Special Illustration Rare. It’s "just" an Illustration Rare. Usually, these are the $5 or $10 cards you find in the middle of a pack and think, "Oh, that’s neat," before moving on. Not this time.
The Groudon has become the definitive paradox rift chase card for a lot of people. The art is legendary. It’s got that vibrant, volcanic energy that just looks better in a slab than almost any of the actual "top tier" rarities. Currently, an ungraded copy is floating around $75 to $80. If you’re looking at a PSA 10? You’re looking at nearly $400.
That is absolutely wild for a card that is technically easier to pull than the gold Hyper Rares.
It proves a point we see time and again in the hobby: collectors don't care about the gold border if the art is boring. Groudon is essentially a masterclass in why "Rarity" doesn't always equal "Value."
Why Roaring Moon and Iron Valiant Are Still Heavy Hitters
You can't talk about this set without the "big two."
- Roaring Moon ex (251/182): The Special Illustration Rare. It’s the card that was supposed to be the "Moonbreon" of the Scarlet & Violet era. While it hasn't quite hit those four-figure heights, it’s still holding a respectable $30 to $45 for raw copies. The art is chaotic. It’s a primal, winged version of Salamence tearing through a forest. It’s aggressive, and collectors love that.
- Iron Valiant ex (249/182): This is the "Future" equivalent. It’s sleek, robotic, and weirdly elegant. It usually trails Roaring Moon by about $10 or $15, sitting in that $20 to $30 range.
The interesting thing about these two is the playability. Back when the set was new, these were staples in the competitive meta. Now that we’re further into 2026, their value is shifting more toward their status as the "face" of the Paradox era. If you’re holding these, the market has been pretty stable lately. No massive spikes, but no scary dips either.
The "Waifu" Factor and the Trainers
We have to mention the Parasol Lady (255/182) and Professor Sada’s Vitality (256/182).
The TCG market is predictable in one specific way: people love high-end female trainer cards. Parasol Lady is a great example. The art by En Morikura is stunning—the way the light reflects in the character's eyes is the kind of detail that makes people pay $80 for a PSA 10.
Sada’s Vitality is a bit different because it’s actually a great card to play. It’s one of those rare instances where the "collector" value and "player" value overlap perfectly.
The Cards Nobody Talks About (But Should)
There are some sleeper hits in Paradox Rift that are sort of hiding in plain sight.
Take the Steelix Illustration Rare (208/182). It’s got this painterly, impressionistic style that looks like something out of a gallery. It’s been slowly creeping up in price, recently hitting the $25 mark.
Then there’s Gholdengo ex (252/182). People either love or hate the "string cheese man" design. But the Special Illustration Rare version is surprisingly scarce on the secondary market. If you’re looking to finish a master set, this is often the one that ends up being the biggest headache to find at a fair price.
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What You Should Actually Do Now
If you’re sitting on a pile of Paradox Rift, or looking to buy in, the strategy has changed.
Don't chase the gold Hyper Rares. Seriously. Cards like the Beach Court (263/182) or the Garchomp ex (260/182) in gold look cool, but they aren't the price drivers. The market has moved toward "Art Rares" and "Special Illustration Rares."
Check your bulk. You might have a Magby (186/182) or a Mantyke (189/182) sitting in a tin. These Illustration Rares are currently worth $12 to $15 each. That’s more than most of the "Ultra Rare" full arts in the set.
If you’re buying singles, focus on the Groudon or the Roaring Moon SIR. These are the "anchor" cards of the set. They are the ones people will still be looking for in 2030 when the Scarlet & Violet era is long gone.
The best move right now? Look for well-centered copies of the lower-rarity Illustration Rares. Grading a $15 Mantyke and getting a 10 can turn a "bulk" hit into a $100 asset. Paradox Rift is a big set—182 cards before the secret rares—so don't get overwhelmed. Focus on the art that stands out, because that’s where the long-term value is hiding.