You know the feeling. You’re sitting there, fingers slightly shaking, tearing into a pack of Brilliant Stars. Most of the time, it’s a bunch of common Staryu or maybe a holo-rare if you’re lucky. But then, you see that glint. Not just a flash of gold or a splash of color, but that specific, dizzying spectrum that looks like an oil slick on a soap bubble. If you’re incredibly lucky, you’re looking at the Rainbow Rare Charizard VSTAR.
It’s card number 174/172. Technically a "Secret Rare."
Honestly, the Pokemon TCG has a bit of a Charizard problem. Or maybe it's a Charizard obsession. Every time a new set drops featuring the fire-breathing lizard, the market goes absolutely haywire. This specific version from the early 2022 era represents a weird turning point in the hobby. It was the peak of the "Rainbow Rare" era before the Pokémon Company decided to pivot toward the more detailed Special Illustration Rares (SARs) we see in the Scarlet & Violet blocks. People call it "Hyper Rare." Some people call it a masterpiece. Others think it looks like a grainy mess. Regardless of where you stand on the aesthetics, the value and the "pull-rate pain" are very, very real.
What's Actually Going on With the Rainbow Rare Charizard VSTAR Price?
Let’s talk money. Because that’s why most people are googling this card at 2:00 AM.
Initially, this card was a titan. We’re talking $200 to $300 right out of the gate. But the market for modern Pokemon cards is a fickle beast. If you look at current data from platforms like TCGPlayer or PriceCharting, you’ll see that the raw price has settled quite a bit. It’s no longer the "pay your mortgage" card it was during the height of the 2020-2022 bubble. You can usually find a near-mint raw copy for somewhere between $60 and $90, depending on the day and how desperate the seller is.
But grading changes everything.
If you have a PSA 10 Gem Mint Rainbow Rare Charizard VSTAR, you’re looking at a different tax bracket. Collectors crave perfection. Because these cards are often printed with tiny silver nicks on the edges—what we call "whitening"—finding a flawless copy is actually harder than you’d think. A PSA 10 can still command a premium, often hovering around the $150 to $200 range, though these numbers fluctuate faster than a Magikarp uses Splash.
Why did it drop? Well, supply. Brilliant Stars was printed into oblivion. Unlike the ultra-rare cards from the 1990s, there are thousands of these sitting in top-loaders across the world. Scarcity is artificial here. It’s a "hard pull," but it's not a "rare find" in the historical sense.
The Aesthetic Debate: Rainbow vs. Alt Art
There is a huge elephant in the room. In the same set—Brilliant Stars—there is another Charizard. The Charizard V Alternate Art (the one where he’s fighting Venusaur).
Most serious collectors actually prefer the Alt Art. Why? Because the Rainbow Rare Charizard VSTAR uses a "texture" pattern that some find a bit distracting. The rainbow effect washes out the iconic orange and teal colors of the character. You get this shimmering silhouette that looks amazing under a desk lamp but kind of loses the "soul" of the artwork.
However, the Rainbow Rare holds a specific "completionist" value. If you want a "Master Set" of Brilliant Stars, you cannot skip this card. It is the literal crown jewel of the numbered set.
The Pull Rates Are Brutal
I’ve seen streamers open five, six, ten booster boxes and never see this card. Data aggregated by community sites like TCGag suggest that the pull rate for a specific Rainbow Rare VSTAR is roughly 1 in 400 to 1 in 600 packs.
Think about that.
A booster box has 36 packs. You could statistically open 15 entire boxes and still miss it. That is the "Charizard Tax." It’s gambling, basically. But for the person who pulls it from a single "sleeved booster" they bought at a pharmacy? That’s the high that keeps the hobby alive.
How to Tell if Yours is Real or a Fake
Since this card is worth a decent chunk of change, the counterfeit market is everywhere. I’ve seen some terrible fakes on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. If you’re buying one, you need to look at three specific things:
- The Texture: This is the big one. A real Rainbow Rare Charizard VSTAR has a distinct, fingerprint-like texture. If you run your thumb over it, it should feel like a vinyl record or have a "toothy" grip. Fake cards are almost always smooth and glossy. If it’s flat and shiny like a cheap sticker, run away.
- The Font: Pokémon fakes always mess up the font. Look at the "HP 280" in the top right. On a real card, the font is crisp, clean, and specifically weighted. On fakes, the numbers often look slightly too thin or "bubbly."
- The Rainbow Sheen: On a genuine card, the rainbow effect moves vertically or diagonally when you tilt it. Fake cards often have a static rainbow holographic film that doesn't "interact" with the light correctly.
Honestly, if a deal looks too good to be true—like someone selling it for $20 "as is"—it’s a fake. Nobody is accidentally selling a Charizard VSTAR for the price of a sandwich.
Is It Good in the Actual Game?
We talk so much about the money that we forget people actually play the Pokemon Trading Card Game. For a while, Charizard VSTAR was a legitimate threat in the meta.
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Its Star Blaze VSTAR Power does 320 damage. That's huge. It knocks out almost any VMAX in the game with one hit. The trade-off is discarding two energy, but with cards like Magma Basin, you could accelerate energy back onto it pretty quickly.
In today's competitive landscape (which moves incredibly fast), Charizard VSTAR has been somewhat eclipsed by the Charizard ex from Obsidian Flames and Paldean Fates. The "ex" version is just more efficient. But in a "Kitchen Table" setting or a local tournament, the VSTAR version still hits like a truck. If you play the Rainbow version in your deck, you’re basically just flexing on your opponent. It’s the card-game equivalent of wearing a gold watch to a basketball game.
Why the 2026 Perspective Matters
Looking back from 2026, the Rainbow Rare Charizard VSTAR feels like a relic of a very specific era of collecting. This was the "Gold Star" or "Shinings" of the early 2020s. We’ve moved on to more elaborate art styles now, but this card remains a foundational piece for anyone who started collecting during the post-pandemic boom.
It represents the moment Pokemon realized that "texture" was just as important as "color."
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you're looking to add this card to your collection or you just found one in a drawer, here is the roadmap you should follow.
If you are buying:
- Check the "Centering": Look at the yellow/silver borders on the left and right. If one side is way thicker than the other, don't pay "Near Mint" prices. It will never grade a 10.
- Verify the Seller: Only buy from sellers with 1,000+ feedback on TCGPlayer or eBay. Ask for a video of the card under a light to see the texture.
- Be Patient: Prices on these "modern" cards usually dip when the set is rotated out of competitive play. We are in that dip right now.
If you are selling:
- Don't clean it: Never try to wipe a card with a wet cloth. You will ruin the texture instantly. Use a dry, microfiber cloth if there's a tiny speck of dust.
- Penny Sleeve + Top Loader: This is non-negotiable. Put it in a soft "penny sleeve" first, then a rigid top loader. If you put it straight into a hard plastic case, you might scratch the holographic surface.
- Consider Grading: If your card looks perfect—literally perfect—send it to PSA or BGS. The "upcharge" for a graded 10 is the only way to significantly increase the value of this card in the current market.
If you are holding for the long term:
- Store it flat: Don't let your cards lean in a binder. Over time, they can warp (or "curl") because of the foil layers reacting to humidity. Keep them in a cool, dry place. Silica gel packets in your storage box are a cheap way to save a thousand-dollar collection.
The Rainbow Rare Charizard VSTAR isn't just a piece of cardboard. It's a snapshot of a time when the world went crazy for a dragon that isn't even technically a Dragon-type. Whether it's a financial investment or just a shiny trophy for your binder, it’s earned its spot in the history books. Just don't expect it to buy you a private island anytime soon.