Let’s be real for a second. Most Pokémon sets come and go with a flicker of hype before everyone moves on to the next shiny thing. But Shining Fates booster packs are different. It’s been years since they first hit the shelves in 2021, and yet, collectors still lose their minds when they find a stray Pin Collection or an Elite Trainer Box tucked away behind some dusty board games at a local shop. Why? Because this set was basically the "Greatest Hits" of the Galar region, and it tapped into a primal urge every collector has: the hunt for Shiny Pokémon.
You remember the chaos of the 2021 release. Scalpers were literally fighting in the aisles of big-box retailers. People were tracking delivery trucks like they were high-value targets. It was a weird time. But beneath all that frenzy, there was a genuinely incredible set of cards. Unlike a standard expansion, you couldn’t just walk in and buy a 36-pack booster box of Shining Fates. It was a "special" set, meaning the packs were only available in specific products like tins, V Boxes, and the iconic ETBs.
The Shiny Vault Obsession
The heart and soul of Shining Fates booster packs is the Shiny Vault. This is a massive subset of 122 cards that features Pokémon in their "Shiny" colorations. For those who aren't deep into the lore, a Shiny Pokémon is a rare color variant—like a black Rayquaza or a blue Ditto. In the video games, finding one is a one-in-thousands chance. In this card set, the pull rates were surprisingly generous, which made every pack feel like a lottery ticket where you actually had a decent chance of winning.
The Shiny Vault isn't just a bunch of filler. It includes everything from "Baby Shinies"—small, basic Pokémon like Galarian Mr. Mime or Bunnelby—to massive, full-art Shiny VMAX cards. Honestly, the Baby Shinies are some of the most charming cards the Pokémon Company has ever produced. They have this distinct silver border that looks incredible in a binder. They’re also relatively easy to pull. You’d get one every few packs, which kept the dopamine hits coming frequently enough to keep people addicted to the rip.
But we have to talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the lizard.
The Charizard Factor
Let’s not pretend people were buying these for the Shiny Dwebble. They were hunting the Shiny Charizard VMAX. Even now, years later, that card is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the set. It’s a gorgeous, black-and-red behemoth with a rainbow-speckled background. When the set first dropped, this card was selling for astronomical prices. While the market has cooled off significantly as more people have graded and sold their copies, it remains one of the "Holy Grail" cards of the Sword & Shield era.
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If you're opening Shining Fates booster packs today, that Charizard is the reason. It represents a specific moment in time when the hobby exploded. Interestingly, the pull rate for the Zard isn't nearly as punishing as some of the modern "Alt Arts" we see in sets like Evolving Skies. It’s difficult to find, sure, but it feels achievable. That’s the magic of this set—it’s accessible yet prestigious.
Why The Pull Rates Mattered So Much
Most modern Pokémon sets are brutal. You can open a whole booster box of a recent set and get maybe two or three "hits." It's demoralizing. Shining Fates turned that on its head. Because the Shiny Vault cards occupied the "Reverse Holo" slot in the pack, you could actually pull two "Ultra Rares" in a single pack. You might get a Shiny Baby in that middle slot and a Full Art Trainer or a VMAX in the rare slot.
This "double-banger" potential is what makes these packs so fun to open on camera or with friends. It’s high-variance in the best way possible. You aren't just looking for one gold star at the end; you're scanning the whole pack.
The Reality Of The Current Market
If you’re looking to buy Shining Fates booster packs right now, you’re going to pay a premium. Since they were never sold in standard booster boxes, the "per-pack" price is always tied to the cost of the original sealed products. Tins are often the best way to get them, but even those have dried up in many regions.
There's also the issue of "weighing." While modern packs are generally considered unweighable due to the varying weights of the code cards, I've always been skeptical of buying loose packs from unverified sellers on eBay or Mercari. It’s always safer to buy the sealed products. If a deal looks too good to be true—like ten loose packs for $30—it’s probably a scam or someone has already mapped the box.
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- Mini Tins: These are great because they come with two packs and a cool art card.
- Pikachu V Boxes: Usually contain four packs and a promo.
- Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs): The gold standard. 10 packs, plus those sick Eevee sleeves.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Set
A common misconception is that Shining Fates is just a reprint of the Japanese "Shiny Star V" set. While it shares a lot of DNA, there are key differences in the card list and the way the holofoil patterns look. The English version has a slightly different texture on the full-art cards. Some purists prefer the Japanese "God Packs" (packs where every single card is a hit), which don't exist in the English version.
Another thing people miss? The non-shiny cards in the main set are actually pretty decent for players. While collectors only care about the vault, cards like Crobat V were competitive staples for a long time. Even if you miss the big shiny pull, you might find some utility cards that hold a bit of value for the actual TCG players.
How To Handle Your Pulls
If you actually manage to pull a high-value card from one of your Shining Fates booster packs, don't just shove it in a binder. The quality control on this set was... let's say "variable." Centering was a massive issue. I've seen Charizards that look like they were cut by someone wearing a blindfold.
- Sleeve immediately. Use a "Penny Sleeve" before putting it into a Toploader.
- Check the edges. The silver borders on the Shiny Vault cards show "whitening" very easily.
- Grade if it's perfect. If you have a Shiny Charizard VMAX that looks perfectly centered with no white dots on the back, send it to PSA or BGS. A PSA 10 copy still commands a massive premium over a raw copy.
Actionable Steps For Collectors
If you're looking to dive back into this set, don't just start clicking "Buy It Now" on the first thing you see. You need a strategy because these packs aren't getting any cheaper.
Check Local Retailers First. Believe it or not, some stores like GameStop or even grocery stores still get random restocks of older "V Boxes" that contain Shining Fates. It's rare, but finding them at MSRP (around $5 per pack) is a huge win.
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Focus on Sealed Collection. If you can resist the urge to rip them open, keeping an Elite Trainer Box sealed is historically a great move. Shining Fates has a massive nostalgia factor already, and as the supply of unopened packs dwindles, the value of sealed products usually climbs.
Buy Singles If You're Hunting Specifics. If you just want that Shiny Suicune or the Shiny Ditto VMAX, just buy the individual card. Honestly, the odds of pulling one specific card from the 122-card Shiny Vault are statistically low. You'll save a fortune by just going to TCGPlayer or a local card show.
Verify Your Sellers. If buying loose packs, only buy from "Gold Star" sellers with thousands of reviews. Avoid "mystery boxes" or "repackaged" packs like the plague. They are almost always a way for people to offload their "green code" packs that they know don't have hits.
The legacy of this set is firmly cemented. It represents the peak of the "Shiny" craze and remains one of the most exciting opening experiences in the history of the Pokémon TCG. Whether you're chasing the black Charizard or just trying to finish that massive Shiny Vault, the thrill of cracking a pack and seeing that silver border peeking out never really gets old.