Shiny Charizard cards come from more than one “shiny” treatment in the Japanese Pokemon TCG, and the sets are easy to mix up. Between 2018 and 2023, three separate Japanese high-class packs gave Charizard a shiny-colour secret rare: GX Ultra Shiny, Shiny Star V and Shiny Treasure ex. Two further Charizard prints turn up in the same searches but aren’t technically “shiny” rarities at all.
The headline print is the Charizard VMAX SSR, 308/190, from Shiny Star V (S4a). Two other high-class packs give the Charizard GX SSR, 209/150, from GX Ultra Shiny (SM8b) and the Charizard ex SAR, 349/190, from Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a). Eight Japanese Charizard prints fall into three groups: five “shiny” prints, two non-“shiny” rarities and a Starter Set VMAX print.
- Set reference: Shiny Star V (S4a) card list.
- Sealed Japanese Pokemon booster boxes are listed on our store as of this update.
USD figures convert at ¥154/USD, approximate.
The Headline Print: Charizard VMAX SSR 308/190 (Shiny Star V)
Charizard VMAX, card number 308/190, is the Shiny Ultra Rare (SSR) print from Shiny Star V (S4a) — リザードンVMAX in Japanese. It carries 330 HP and a Fire typing, illustrated by aky CG Works. As with other Japanese secret/shiny rares, the “308” in “308/190” places the card past the set’s main 190-card numbering — the standard Japanese convention for a secret-slot print rather than a card inside the base numbered set.
Every Japanese Shiny Charizard Print
The Japanese Charizard prints offered as PSA 10 back orders — sourced to order; the product page shows the current terms — fall under a “shiny”, SSR, SAR or promo-era secret-rare treatment, plus two that turn up in the same searches but sit in different rarity tiers.
| Card | Set | Number | Rarity | Back order price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard VMAX HR (promo) | Sword & Shield Promos | 104/S-P | HR (promo) | ¥1,836,000 (~$11,922) |
| Charizard ex | Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) | 349/190 | SAR | ¥69,122 (~$449) |
| Charizard VMAX | Shiny Star V (S4a) | 308/190 | SSR | ¥46,081 (~$299) |
| Charizard V | Shiny Star V (S4a) | 307/190 | SSR | ¥34,060 (~$221) |
| Charizard VMAX (Starter Set VMAX) | Starter Set VMAX “Charizard” | 002/021 | — | ¥22,072 (~$143) |
| Charizard (not a shiny rarity) | VMAX Climax (s8b) | 187/184 | CHR | ¥16,751 (~$109) |
| Charizard ex | Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) | 331/190 | SSR | ¥13,500 (~$88) |
Two of these prints — the CHR from VMAX Climax and the HR promo from the Sword & Shield Promos series — aren’t “shiny”-themed secret rares in the same sense as the SSR/SAR prints.
GX Ultra Shiny (SM8b): Charizard GX SSR 209/150
Charizard GX, 209/150, is the headline chase card of ハイクラスパック「GXウルトラシャイニー」 / High Class Pack “GX Ultra Shiny” (set code SM8b), a Japanese high-class pack built around shiny-colour reprints of past GX cards. HP 250, Fire type, illustrated by 5ban Graphics. We already cover this set in full in our GX Ultra Shiny set guide.
Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a): Charizard ex SAR 349/190 and SSR 331/190
Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) gave Charizard two separate “shiny” treatments in the same set: Charizard ex, 349/190, Special Art Rare (SAR), HP 330, Darkness type, illustrated by AKIRA EGAWA; and Charizard ex, 331/190, Secret Super Rare (SSR), same HP and typing, illustrated by 5ban Graphics. For the complete 360-card set, see our Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) card list. Pull-rate discussion for the set lives on our Shiny Treasure ex pull-rates hub.
Shiny Star V (S4a): Charizard V SSR 307/190
The Charizard VMAX SSR isn’t alone in Shiny Star V (S4a) — the set also carries a Charizard V SSR, 307/190, HP 220, Fire type, illustrated by 5ban Graphics, using the same secret-slot “Shiny Ultra Rare” treatment. See our Shiny Star V (S4a) card list for the full set, and our S4a pull-rates hub for the rest of the set’s chase cards.
Two Charizard Prints That Aren’t “Shiny” Rarities
Charizard, 187/184, from VMAX Climax (set code s8b) is a Character Rare (CHR) — HP 170, Fire type, illustrated by GIDORA. See our VMAX Climax card list and pull-rates hub for the rest of that set.
Charizard VMAX, 104/S-P, is a Sword & Shield-era promo — a Full Art HR distributed as a tournament prize through a 2020 “Sealed Battle at Home Campaign” Charizard VMAX HR Battle event. Distribution is reported by multiple grading and marketplace sources as very limited — figures circulating among collectors and graders put it at roughly 600 examples, though that number comes from secondary listings rather than an official Pokemon Co. count.
A third context piece is the Starter Set VMAX “Charizard” theme deck’s Charizard VMAX (product-listed as 002/021).
The Sets: GX Ultra Shiny, Shiny Treasure ex & Shiny Star V
GX Ultra Shiny (SM8b) — ハイクラスパック「GXウルトラシャイニー」 in Japanese — released 2 November 2018, with a main set of 150 cards (secret rares like Charizard GX are numbered above that). Its English-set equivalent is Hidden Fates, released 23 August 2019 with 163 cards; Charizard GX reportedly appears in that set’s Shiny Vault subset as SV49/SV94.
Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) — ハイクラスパック「シャイニートレジャーex」 in Japanese — released 1 December 2023, with 360 total cards. Its English-set equivalent is Paldean Fates, released 26 January 2024 with 245 cards.
Shiny Star V (S4a) — ハイクラスパック「シャイニースターV」 in Japanese — released 20 November 2020, with 330 total cards. Its SSR tier is defined as shiny Pokemon V/VMAX cards that reuse their prior full-art artwork in shiny form, printed as secret cards. Its English-set equivalent is Shining Fates, released 19 February 2021 with 195 cards, including a 122-card Shiny Vault subset.
For a direct comparison of the two oldest sets here, see our GX Ultra Shiny vs Shiny Star V guide.
Where These Prints Sit Among Japanese Rarity Tiers
Within these three sets, SSR (Secret Super Rare) and SAR (Special Art Rare) sit at the top of the Japanese rarity ladder — both are full alternate-art, secret-slot treatments numbered past the main set count, which is exactly what all five Charizard “shiny” prints have in common.
The two bonus prints sit in different tiers entirely. CHR (Character Rare) is a character-focused illustration tier introduced in the s-series sets, distinct from SSR/SAR — VMAX Climax’s Charizard 187/184 is a CHR, not a shiny secret rare. The Sword & Shield Promos Charizard VMAX HR is a promo-only Full Art tier used for tournament and campaign prizes, outside the regular set structure altogether.
Where to Buy Shiny Charizard Cards from Tokyo
Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a), the set behind Charizard ex SAR 349/190 and SSR 331/190, comes as the booster box, currently listed at Sealed ¥19,575 (~$127) and No Shrink ¥17,251 (~$112), shipped from Tokyo with tracked delivery.
For the wider PSA 10 range rather than a single print, browse our full PSA 10 graded card collection. For a specific print, sourcing requests go through Quick Order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the headline shiny Charizard print?
It’s the PSA 10 Charizard VMAX SSR, 308/190, from Shiny Star V (S4a), a Japanese high-class pack.
What’s the difference between GX Ultra Shiny, Shiny Star V and Shiny Treasure ex?
They’re three separate Japanese high-class packs released in different years — GX Ultra Shiny (SM8b), Shiny Star V (S4a) and Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a) — each built around shiny-coloured secret rares of past cards, including a Charizard chase print in every set.
Does the Shiny Treasure ex Charizard ex SAR (349/190) have an English print?
Yes — it corresponds to Paldean Fates’ Special Illustration Rare, numbered 234/091, which is a different card from Paldean Fates’ Double Rare “Tera Charizard ex” (054/091).
Is the VMAX Climax Charizard the same rarity as the SSR/SAR shiny prints?
No. The VMAX Climax Charizard (187/184) is a Character Rare (CHR), a character-focused illustration tier, not a shiny-themed secret rare like the SSR and SAR prints.
How rare is the Charizard VMAX HR promo (104/S-P)?
It was distributed as a tournament prize through a 2020 Charizard VMAX HR Battle event. Collectors and grading sources report a distribution of around 600 examples, though that figure comes from secondary listings rather than an official count.
Where can I buy Japanese shiny Charizard cards from Tokyo?
Sealed boxes and PSA 10 cards ship from our Tokyo warehouse with tracked delivery. Browse the PSA 10 graded card collection for the wider range; sourcing requests for a specific print go through Quick Order.
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