Series: Scarlet & Violet
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Set Abbreviation: PAR
Paradox Rift is the Scarlet & Violet set that brought the Ancient and Future Paradox Pokémon to the TCG, but a Hoenn legend is the one running the chase. Here are the top 10 hits and chase cards, with Illustration Rares taking six of the spots, ranked by current market value.
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10. Gholdengo ex - $31.02
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 252/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Gholdengo ex stands with its arms crossed in front of a wall of gold coins, giving the camera a smug look. Akira Komayama kept the colors flat and golden, which makes it one of the funniest SIRs in the set. Gholdengo ex was also a major competitive deck after Paradox Rift came out.
9. Roaring Moon ex - $33.02
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 251/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Roaring Moon ex bursts out of a misty jungle with a crowd of other Pokémon scrambling around it. It's one of the faces of Paradox Rift, so it feels right to see an Ancient Paradox Pokémon on this list. The red wings against all that green are what grab you first.
8. Mantyke - $33.43
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 189/182
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Mantyke floats outside a porthole in an underwater research lab while a scientist watches from a desk covered in notes and screens. The whole card is in cool blues, and it feels like a still from a nature documentary. It's a quiet story card, and I really like it.
7. Garchomp ex - $34.70
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 245/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Garchomp ex is frozen in a crystal-like Tera form, rising out of a swirling whirlpool of blue and green water with bubbles all around it. Garchomp has been one of the most beloved Dragon-types since Diamond and Pearl, so it's no surprise a Tera version still turns heads.
6. Steelix - $37.11
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 208/182
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Steelix is working a construction site, towering over a half-built steel frame while workers in hard hats stand on its head like it's part of the crew. It's one of the funniest everyday-life scenes in the set. Steelix has been a Johto fan favorite since Gold and Silver, and this card gives it a new job.
5. Minun - $45.39
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 194/182
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Minun is part of a connected pair with the Plusle at #3, and OKACHEKE puts it in a living room game night with pizza on the table. The person on the couch is groaning, so this is the side of the scene where things aren't going well. Minun looks like it's about to cry right along with them.
4. Altaria ex - $45.93
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 253/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Now we're getting into the real chase cards for Paradox Rift with Altaria ex. Jiro Sasumo, who also drew the Piplup Illustration Rare on our Phantasmal Flames list, has it soaring over a seaside town and pink wildflowers with a flock of Wingull below. It's bright, breezy, and about as calm as a card gets.
3. Plusle - $46.08
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 193/182
Rarity: Illustration Rare
This is the happy half of the pair. OKACHEKE has Plusle dancing on the coffee table with confetti flying while the person on the couch cheers, so the Minun at #5 is the same game night going the other way. The Buddy Pulse Ability on Minun even mentions Plusle, which is a nice touch.
2. Morpeko - $61.01
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 206/182
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Morpeko is sitting in a sea of candy, lollipops, and donuts with its hungry face on, which is exactly what you want from a Pokémon that's always hungry. Yuu Nishida, who also drew Iono's Bellibolt ex in our Journey Together list, packs the whole card with color.
1. Groudon - $107.28
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift
Card Number: 199/182
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Groudon is the undisputed top pull in Paradox Rift, and a Hoenn legend beating every Ancient and Future Pokémon in the set is a pretty great story. Nurikabe, who also drew the Tyranitar in our Paldea Evolved list, has Groudon standing in a lava-filled sea with volcanoes erupting behind it. The card text even says it went to sleep after dueling Kyogre.
Final Thoughts
Paradox Rift is an Illustration Rare set at heart, with six of the top ten cards being IRs and Groudon leading the way. Cozy pairs like Plusle and Minun hold their own against SIRs like Altaria ex and Garchomp ex, and Gholdengo ex shows a competitive staple can still turn heads in a binder. It might just go down as one of the most underrated sets of the era.
FAQ
What are the best pulls from Pokémon Paradox Rift?
The best pulls are the Groudon Illustration Rare (#199), Morpeko (#206), and Plusle (#193). Altaria ex (#253), the top Special Illustration Rare, and Minun round out the top five.
Is the Groudon from Paradox Rift worth buying?
If you want the biggest card in the set, yes. It's the most valuable Paradox Rift card by a wide margin and a Hoenn fan favorite. Check the current market value on Rare Candy before you buy.
What is an Illustration Rare in Pokémon TCG?
An Illustration Rare (IR) is a full-art card where the artwork stretches across the whole card and shows the Pokémon in a scene. They sit below Special Illustration Rares in rarity and are some of the most collected cards in Scarlet & Violet sets.
How many cards are in Pokémon Paradox Rift?
Paradox Rift has 182 cards in the main set. Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares are numbered past that, which is why you'll see cards like #199/182 and #253/182.
What are Paradox Pokémon in Paradox Rift?
Paradox Pokémon are Ancient and Future versions of existing Pokémon from the Scarlet and Violet games, like Roaring Moon, the Ancient form of Salamence. Paradox Rift introduced them to the Pokémon TCG.
