If you were around for the late 2021 Pokémon TCG craze, you remember the chaos. Fusion Strike arrived like a tidal wave. It was the largest English expansion ever released at the time, boasting a staggering 284 cards before you even started counting the secret rares. Honestly, it was intimidating. Collectors weren't just looking for cool art; they were hunting the Fusion Strike chase cards that defined an entire era of the Sword & Shield series. Even now, years later, the set holds a weirdly prestigious spot in the hobby because of how notoriously difficult it is to pull anything "hit" worthy.
The pull rates were brutal. Ask anyone who ripped a booster box back then. You could go through thirty-six packs and come away with nothing but a few standard V cards and a heavy sense of regret. But that scarcity is exactly why the top-tier cards from this set have maintained such high market values while other sets from the same year have cooled off.
The Gengar VMAX Alt Art is the King of the Hill
There is no conversation about this set without starting at the top. The Alternate Art Secret Rare Gengar VMAX (Card 271/264) is, quite frankly, a masterpiece of modern TCG illustration. It’s a literal fever dream. Illustrated by sowsow, the card depicts Gengar in its Gigantamax form, literally swallowing everything in its path—trees, buildings, and general scenery—into a dark, swirling void of a mouth.
It’s iconic.
Because the set was so massive, the statistical probability of pulling this specific Gengar was roughly 1 in 1,000 packs. Think about that for a second. You could buy three entire cases of booster boxes and still not see the big purple ghost. This scarcity, combined with Gengar’s status as a fan-favorite "OG" Pokémon from the Kanto region, has kept its price point firmly in the hundreds of dollars. For many, it's the definitive chase card of the entire Sword & Shield block, rivaled only by the Umbreon VMAX from Evolving Skies.
Why Espeon VMAX Didn't Actually Come in the Box (Mostly)
Here is a bit of trivia that messes with newer collectors. The Espeon VMAX Alternate Art (270/264) is technically part of the Fusion Strike chase cards lineup in the English TCG. However, in Japan, this card wasn’t in their Fusion Arts set at all. It was a gym promo card.
When The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) decided to bring it over, they stuffed it into Fusion Strike.
The art is cozy. Espeon is just chilling on a roof, looking regal while the sun shines. It’s a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the Gengar or the Mew. Collectors love it because it completes the "Eeveelution Alt Art" set that started in Evolving Skies. If you’re a completionist, you basically have to own this card. It's the missing link. Without it, your Eevee binder looks unfinished, and that drives demand like crazy.
The Mew Factor and the Competitive Meta
Mew is the face of the set. It’s in the name. "Fusion Strike" refers to the gameplay mechanic centered around Mew VMAX.
- Mew VMAX Alt Art (269/264): This is the "Pinkest" card you’ll ever see. It’s vibrant, busy, and captures Mew’s playful nature perfectly.
- Mew V Alt Art: A bit more subtle, showing Mew interacting with other Pokémon in a city setting.
For a long time, these weren't just collectible; they were essential for winning tournaments. The Mew VMAX deck was a dominant force in the competitive scene for nearly two years. Usually, when a card is "meta," its price stays high until it rotates out of play. But Mew has staying power. Even though it’s no longer the king of the competitive hill, the Alt Art remains a top-tier pull because it's Mew.
Let’s Talk About the Celebi and Sandaconda Situation
Not every chase card is a $500 monster.
One of the coolest things about Fusion Strike is the variety in the Alt Arts. The Celebi V (245/264) features art by Teeziro that looks like it belongs in a high-end storybook. It’s beautiful. Then you have the Sandaconda V, which... well, it’s a bit of a meme. It’s art-house. It’s weird. People didn't love it at first, but it’s grown on the community as a "quirky" chase.
The reality of Fusion Strike chase cards is that the "middle class" of hits is actually quite strong. You have the Rainbow Rares and the Gold cards (like the Gold Mew VMAX), but in the current market, collectors have largely moved away from the "rainbow" aesthetic in favor of the detailed, unique storytelling found in Alternate Arts. This shift in taste has made the gap between the "Big Three" (Gengar, Espeon, Mew) and the rest of the set quite wide.
The Infamous "Stolen Card" Scandal of 2023
You can't talk about the value of these cards without acknowledging the elephant in the room. A few years ago, photos surfaced online showing thousands—literally thousands—of Fusion Strike hits, including the Gengar and Mew Alt Arts, fanned out on a table.
It turned out a worker at a printing facility had basically "diverted" them from the assembly line.
Initially, this terrified the market. People thought the population of these cards would skyrocket and the value would tank. But TPCi reportedly recovered the bulk of those stolen cards. If anything, the scandal just solidified the "legend" of the set. It confirmed what everyone already suspected: the pull rates were so low because the hits were literally being swiped off the line. It gave the set a bit of a "forbidden fruit" aura that still lingers.
Is it Still Worth Ripping Fusion Strike?
Honestly? Probably not.
Buying a single booster pack of Fusion Strike today is a gamble with terrible odds. Since the set is out of print, the price of sealed wax is climbing. You’re paying a premium for the chance at a Gengar, but the math says you'll likely end up with a non-holo Rare Marowak.
If you want the Fusion Strike chase cards, buy the singles.
The market has stabilized. The "waifu" tax is present on cards like the Elesa’s Sparkle Trainer Gallery or the Alt Art Greedent V (which is surprisingly charming), but the heavy hitters are the ones that will appreciate over the next decade.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you're looking to add these to your collection now, don't just jump at the first eBay listing you see.
- Check the Centering: Fusion Strike was notorious for bad quality control. Many of the Gengar VMAX pulls were heavily skewed to one side. A "well-centered" copy commands a 20-30% premium.
- Look for "Print Lines": The holographic foil used in late 2021 often had horizontal or vertical lines running through the art. Collectors hate these. Use a high-res photo to check the surface before buying.
- Watch the Mew VMAX Gold: While not an Alt Art, the Gold Mew VMAX is surprisingly affordable right now compared to its peak. It’s a great "budget" chase for someone who wants a piece of the set’s history without spending a car payment.
- Verify the Texture: High-end fakes of the Gengar and Espeon are everywhere. Real Alt Arts have a "fingerprint" like texture that follows the art. If it’s smooth and glossy, it’s a fake.
The window for "cheap" Fusion Strike is closed. As the Sword & Shield era moves further into the "vintage" category, these cards are becoming the trophies of a very specific, very chaotic time in the hobby. Whether you love the "Gulping" Gengar or the serene Espeon, these cards represent the peak of Pokémon TCG illustration before the move to the Scarlet & Violet era. They are hard to find, harder to pull, and nearly impossible to forget.