Charizard ex 151: The Special Illustration Rare That Revived Kanto
The 2023 Scarlet & Violet 151 set brought the original 151 Pokémon back — and its Charizard ex special illustration rare became an instant modern grail. Here is what drives it and what to check.
When Scarlet & Violet 151 arrived in 2023, it did something no modern set had managed quite so cleanly: it brought the original 151 Pokémon back with modern illustration-rare treatment, and it did it for the audience that grew up on Kanto. The set's headline card is the Charizard ex special illustration rare, card 199/165 — a full-art portrait of the most valuable name in the hobby, in the most nostalgic set of the modern era.
Why it became a grail on arrival
Two forces stack here. First, Charizard: it is the single most bankable character in the game, and any set's Charizard chase card gets a demand floor no other Pokémon enjoys. Second, 151's nostalgia pull — this is the set adult collectors bought to reconnect with the cards of their childhood. A special illustration rare Charizard sitting at the intersection of those two forces was always going to be the card everyone wanted.
How the value stacks up
As a heavily-opened modern set, 151's supply is larger than any vintage chase card's — so this Charizard's value is a demand and condition story, not a scarcity one. It trades in the familiar modern tiers: a clean raw copy is meaningful, and the gem-mint slab commands a steep premium because so much of the demand is portfolio-minded. With modern print quality this good, the difference between a 9 and a 10 usually comes down to centering and the tiniest surface flaws.
What to check before you buy
Centering front and back first — on a card this available, centering is what separates the gem copies from the rest. Then the holo surface under raking light for scratches and print lines, and the edges. Because supply is ample, be patient and buy the best-centered copy you can; on modern chase cards you are paying for the grade, and the grade is mostly centering.
Frequently asked questions
What is a special illustration rare?
A special illustration rare (SIR) is a Scarlet & Violet-era rarity that gives an ex Pokémon a full-art, illustration-forward treatment with an extended artwork and a higher card number than the set's main run. They are the modern equivalent of the alt arts collectors chase.
Is the 151 Charizard ex a good long-term hold?
It has the strongest demand floor of any card in a very popular set, but it is a modern card with ample supply — its value rests on sustained demand and on condition. Buy a well-centered copy and treat the grade, not scarcity, as the main driver.