The Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box is one of the most talked-about ETBs from the Scarlet & Violet era. This is not only due to the set itself, but also to its strong Charmander focus and the highly sought-after Pokémon Center-exclusive promo card . This ETB quickly became a staple among sealed collectors.
When was the Obsidian Flames ETB released?
The Scarlet & Violet – Obsidian Flames set was officially released on August 11, 2023. The accompanying Elite Trainer Boxes also appeared on the same date. Obsidian Flames is therefore the third main set in the Scarlet & Violet series.
What variants are there?
There are two Obsidian Flames ETB variants :
- Standard Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box
- Pokémon Center Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box
Both variants share the same basic Charmander- centric design, but differ significantly in content and collectible value.
Contents of the standard Obsidian Flames ETB
The standard Obsidian Flames ETB contains:
- 9 Obsidian Flames booster packs
- 1 full-art promo card (Charmander)
- 65 sleeves with Obsidian Flames/Charizard design
- 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
- Game accessories (dice, damage counters, coin-flip dice)
- Obsidian Flames Set Player's Guide
- Storage box with dividers
- Pokémon TCG Live Code Card
The Charmander promo card ties in thematically with the Charizard focus of the set and is exclusive to this ETB.
Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box – Why is it so popular?
The Pokémon Center Obsidian Flames ETB is sold exclusively through Pokémon Center and distinguishes itself in several ways:
Extras in the Pokémon Center ETB:
- 11 booster packs (instead of 9)
- Exclusive Pokémon Center-stamped Charmander promo card
- Limited availability (no regular retail sales)
The promo card as a key
The Pokémon Center-stamped Charmander promo card is the main reason for the popularity and higher price of the Pokémon Center Obsidian Flames ETB. This card is:
- Available exclusively through Pokémon Center
- Directly linked to Charizard (one of the strongest Pokémon brands ever)
- Very popular among PSA collectors
- Sensitive to condition due to white edges and centering
Precisely because this promo has not been re-released , it serves as a direct value anchor for the ETB.
Indicative market values:
- Raw: €170 - €200
- PSA 10: €2,000 – €2,600
The combination of Charizard hype , Pokémon Center exclusivity , and strong grading performance makes this promo card one of the most powerful ETB promos from the Scarlet & Violet era.
Price development since release
Since their release in August 2023, the price development of the Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Boxes has been very strong:
-
Standard Obsidian Flames ETB
→ About x6 since release
Photo taken on 16/01/2026
-
Pokémon Center Obsidian Flames ETB
→ About 6.5 times since release
→ This outperformance is largely driven by the Pokémon Center-stamped Charmander promo card
Photo taken on 16/01/2026
Within sealed ETB collections, the Pokémon Center Obsidian Flames ETB is now regarded as one of the strongest performers of the Scarlet & Violet era .
Why is Obsidian Flames interesting for collectors?
The Obsidian Flames ETB scores high on several collection criteria:
- Charmander as the central Pokémon
- Exclusive ETB promo card ( Charmander )
- Strong Pokémon Center variant
- Early Scarlet & Violet set with continued demand
This makes this ETB attractive for:
- Sealed ETB collectors
- Promo and PSA collectors
- Fans of the Charizard line
Conclusion
TheObsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box has quickly established itself as a key ETB within the Scarlet & Violet series. With Charizard as its flagship and a strong Pokémon Center promo card, this product holds its own both in terms of content and collection. The ultimate question is: will you open Obsidian Flames for the pulls, or will you leave this Charizard ETB sealed for the long haul?
