Quick facts
| Release date | August 14, 2020 |
| Set code | SWSH03 (main set) |
| Card count | 189 main set, 201 including secret rares |
| Chase cards | Charizard VMAX (020/189), Charizard V (019/189), Butterfree VMAX rainbow (190/189), Centiskorch VMAX rainbow, Eternatus VMAX rainbow, Salamence VMAX rainbow, Mew V |
| Sealed products | Booster Box, Elite Trainer Box, Eternatus VMAX Premium Collection, Build & Battle Box, 3-Pack and 1-Pack Blisters, Charizard-era Collection boxes |
| Standard booster box | Yes, 36 packs |
| Booster box price range (Aug 2026) | $300–$400 |
Sealed products for Darkness Ablaze
Booster Box
The 36-pack box carries an MSRP of $143.64 and shipped in four pack arts (Charizard, Eternatus, Salamence and Scizor). It was still being restocked well into 2021, so there is plenty of sealed supply. August 2026 prices run $300–$400 sealed, with eBay auctions closing around $320–$370 and shop listings a little higher. For the money, this is the cheapest sealed box in the era with a Charizard VMAX inside, which is what keeps it moving.
Elite Trainer Box
One ETB was released, with Eternatus on the front. Contents are eight packs, 65 Eternatus sleeves, dice, markers, energy and a guide, originally $39.99. Sealed ETBs sell for $105–$135 now, a modest premium over the per-pack cost of a box. It is a common item at card shows and is usually easy to find at the low end of the range.
Eternatus VMAX Premium Collection
Released alongside the set, this box includes an Eternatus V and Eternatus VMAX promo, an oversized Eternatus VMAX, a pin, a coin and eight booster packs (a mix of Darkness Ablaze and earlier SWSH sets). MSRP was $39.99. Sealed copies trade at $95–$125, roughly in line with the ETB, and it is the only Darkness Ablaze-branded big-box product.
Build & Battle Box
The prerelease kit has four packs and an evolution pack with one of four V promos (Charizard V, Eternatus V, Coalossal V or Crobat V), and the Charizard V promo box is the one people pay for. Sealed boxes trade at $55–$70 unsorted; if the seller shows the promo is Charizard, expect $75–$95.
Blisters and Collection Boxes
Three-pack blisters (Galarian Stunfisk, Galarian Darmanitan and other promos) sell for $35–$50, and single-pack checklane blisters for $10–$14. Late-2020 collection boxes that used Darkness Ablaze packs, such as the Charizard V-themed and Eevee-themed boxes, land at $45–$70 sealed depending on pack count.
Chase cards and pull rates
Charizard VMAX (020/189) was a $300 card in late 2020 and now sells for $35–$50 raw and $130–$180 in PSA 10. It is not a secret rare, which means it appears at a normal VMAX rate and shows up in most boxes. Charizard V (019/189) is $8–$12. The rainbow rares, Butterfree VMAX (190/189), Centiskorch VMAX, Eternatus VMAX, Salamence VMAX and Scizor VMAX, run $10–$25 each. Mew V and the full-art Trainers (Piers, Bird Keeper) round things out under $15. The prize pack and stamped variants of Charizard VMAX from organized play are separate and far more expensive, and they do not come from booster boxes.
Expect roughly one V or VMAX every three to four packs, with Charizard VMAX appearing in roughly half of boxes and secret rares two to four times per box.
Is Darkness Ablaze worth buying sealed?
At $300–$400 a box, Darkness Ablaze is priced close to what its contents might return if you open a lucky box and grade the Charizard, which makes it a lower-risk hold than the more expensive SWSH sets. It is unlikely to spike because supply is deep, but it has climbed steadily from the $110 it sat at in 2022. The realistic view is slow appreciation in line with the era, supported by the Charizard name. If you want to open packs from this era for fun, this is the box to open.
How to spot fakes and resealed products
Darkness Ablaze is a frequent target for resealing because the Charizard VMAX can be weighed out of packs. Factory wrap is thin and matte with a single seam and very small air holes; a glossy or slightly loose wrap with a wide seam is a rewrap. Look at the pack crimps: SWSH packs have straight, evenly spaced ridges, and a pack that has been opened and re-glued shows uneven ridges or a slight curl at the bottom. Every pack should contain a code card and weigh the same as its neighbors. On the Premium Collection, the cellophane should be sealed on all sides with no cut line along the bottom, which is the common way these are opened and taped shut.
Where to buy Darkness Ablaze sealed
Because this set was so widely distributed, many local shops still have boxes and ETBs in stock at fair prices. Use the card shop directory to find shops near you and check their sealed cases. Card shows reliably have Darkness Ablaze ETBs and premium collections at the low end of the range. For eBay:
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Darkness Ablaze booster box worth?
Sealed Darkness Ablaze booster boxes sell for $300–$400 in August 2026. It is one of the more affordable Sword & Shield era boxes because it was printed in large quantities through 2021.
What is the chase card in Darkness Ablaze?
Charizard VMAX (020/189). It sells for $35–$50 raw and $130–$180 in PSA 10 as of August 2026, well below its 2020 peak but still the card that drives the set.
Is Charizard VMAX a secret rare in Darkness Ablaze?
No. Charizard VMAX is a regular VMAX at 020/189, so it pulls at the normal VMAX rate rather than the much lower secret rare rate. There is no rainbow rare Charizard in this set.
How much is the Darkness Ablaze ETB?
The Eternatus Elite Trainer Box sells sealed for $105–$135 as of August 2026, against a $39.99 original MSRP.
What is in the Eternatus VMAX Premium Collection?
An Eternatus V and Eternatus VMAX promo, an oversized Eternatus VMAX card, a pin, a coin and eight booster packs. Sealed it trades at $95–$125.
Are Darkness Ablaze boxes commonly resealed?
They are targeted more than most SWSH sets because of the Charizard VMAX. Check for thin matte wrap with a single seam, even pack crimps and a code card in every pack.
Prices in this guide were last reviewed 2026-08. Live eBay listings above update daily.
