Over the last few years, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has come back into pop-culture relevance. Collectors and casual fans are once again interested in Pokémon cards, and every set released typically features a few highly valuable chase cards.
While for many people the Pokémon Trading Card Game is something that evokes nostalgic memories of the late 90s and early 00s, it has had a recent resurgence. It’s true that Pokémon might be one of the most enduring modern pop-cultural franchises, but the trading card game in particular has not seen as much engagement in wider culture until recently. The release of Sword and Shield brought a whole new generation of Pokémon and fans to the franchise. Social media has also played a big part in generating hype, both around new Pokémon games and around the release and engagement with the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Cards that were released around the same time as the Sword and Shield games were popular, like the Evolving Skies set, are continuing to be of interest to die-hard collectors and casual fans alike. While some people want cards just for the aesthetics, many collectors are seeking cards that are more valuable than others. Each set invariably contains a number of more valuable cards, as can be seen if you check Evolving Skies values on CardTrack; the most valuable cards are known as chase cards. Evolving Skies is particularly loved, as it contains the Eeveelutions and a number of powerful Dragon Pokémon, as well as alternate art cards that fans love.
Let’s take a closer look at what chase cards are, why the Evolving Skies set is so popular, and at some of the biggest chase cards contained in it.
What Exactly Is a Chase Card?
Any collectible trading card game has a certain degree of chase associated with it. This basically describes the way that collectors will buy packs and boosters trying to find particular cards, to ‘chase’ them. Sometimes this is for functional usage reasons, like in Magic: The Gathering, but in other trading card games it is simply based on the market value and rarity of a card.
Chase cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game often contain alternate art, Pokémon that are particularly beloved by the community, a high level of rarity and very low rates of being found. The Evolving Skies set in particular has a number of chase cards, which makes it a fun set for unboxing and pack opening.
Why Is The Evolving Skies Set of So Much Interest?
There is no one single thing that can be attributed to why Evolving Skies gets so much love, but three main factors contribute to its success.
Firstly, it was released after the Sword & Shield games, which saw Pokémon experience a big surge in pop-culture popularity. These games introduced new regions, new Pokémon, and new mechanics, and were responsible for introducing a new generation of fans to Pokémon, as well as bringing back many old fans to the franchise.
Secondly, the Evolving Skies set has all eight Eeveelutions, which are some of the most popular Pokémon of all time, and have been since the early 00s. These Pokémon, in all their variations, are often sought-after by collectors, and this set features a number of well-received alternate arts for them as well.
Lastly, but by no means least, social media has had a massive impact on the Pokémon trading card game recently. Unboxing and card-pulling videos have become popular across social media platforms, and when collectors show themselves pulling cool alternate art cards and getting excited, it inspires others to start their own collection journeys.
Which Are The Most Sought-After Chase Cards From Evolving Skies?
The following are some of the biggest chase cards from the set.
Umbreon VMAX
By quite a wide margin, the biggest chase card, and the most famous card in the set overall, is the Umbreon VMAX. This alternate art card has been nicknamed “Moonbreon”, as it depicts a VMAX Umbreon reaching out towards a swollen full moon. It is considered one of the most iconic modern Pokémon cards ever printed.
This card can easily go for over $1,000 USD, and if it is in pristine condition, that number can rise dramatically.
Rayquaza VMAX
Nowhere near as sought-after as Moonbreon, the Rayquaza VMAX alternate art card is the second most chased-after card from Evolving Skies. This card can easily be worth just under $1,000 USD, but like all Pokémon cards, pristine versions are worth significantly more.
Dragonite V
The third-highest value chase card in the set, the Dragonite V alternate art, features one of the most popular Dragon Pokémon. The art depicts Dragonite playfully flying with his belly to the sky, and is absolutely charming. This card can easily go for several hundred dollars.
Leafeon VMAX
Returning to the Eeveelutions, as you knew we would. The fifth most sought-after chase card is the Leafeon VMAX alternate art. We hope you like Eeveelutions as much as the Pokémon card collectors who chase these cards, because the rest of the list is Eeveelutions all the way down.
Sylveon VMAX
The Sylveon VMAX alternate art is another of the set’s highlights, and the third most chased Eeveelution, according to value, from the set.
Glaceon VMAX
The Glaceon VMAX alternate art is the eighth most chased card in the set, but the fifth Eeveelution, and it isn’t the last Eeveelution in the top twelve chased cards either. People love cute-looking animals that remind them of cats, who knew?