Overview
Paldean Fates is a Special Holiday Expansion (Set SV4.5) in the Pokémon Trading Card Game's Scarlet & Violet Series, released on January 26, 2024. As a "Special Set," it is not sold in traditional Booster Boxes. The expansion focuses on Shiny Pokémon, featuring a massive Shiny Vault subset containing over 130 "Baby Shinies" and various Shiny ex cards, marking the return of Shiny Pokémon to the TCG similar to Hidden Fates and Shining Fates.
✨ Over 130 Shiny Rares (Baby Shinies) • 11 Shiny Ultra Rare ex cards • 3 Illustration Rares • 8 Special Illustration Rares
The set's crown jewel is the Shiny Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare, featuring a dark crystallized Tera form. Alongside popular picks like "Bubble Mew" (Shiny Mew ex) and Shiny Gardevoir ex, this set is highly collectible and marks a major milestone for shiny collectors.
Set Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | January 26, 2024 |
| Set Code | PAF (SV4.5) |
| Total Cards | 245 cards (91 Main Set + 154 Secret Rares) |
| Set Type | Special Expansion (No Booster Boxes) • Scarlet & Violet Series |
| Pack Structure | 10 cards + 1 energy per pack • 2 Reverse Holo slots |
| Key Pokémon | Shiny Charizard ex • Shiny Mew ex • Shiny Gardevoir ex • Shiny Pikachu |
| Card Rarities | Shiny Pokémon ex • Shiny Ultra Rares • Special Illustration Rares • Shiny Vault subset (130+ cards) • Gold Hyper Rares |
| Key Features | 130+ Baby Shinies • Shiny Vault subset • 8 Special Illustration Rares • Crystallized Tera artwork |
| Theme | Shiny Pokémon collection featuring the complete Paldean Pokédex in shiny forms with special Tera crystallization effects |
Rarity Distribution
Available Products
Note: Paldean Fates is a Special Set - individual booster packs are not sold loose in retail displays, and Booster Boxes do not exist.
| Image | Product Name | Contents | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Elite Trainer Box - Mimikyu | 9 booster packs • Mimikyu promo card • 65 card sleeves • Accessories | Jan 26, 2024 |
 |
Elite Trainer Box - Iron Treads/Great Tusk (PC Exclusive) | 11 booster packs • 2 promo cards • 65 card sleeves • Accessories | Jan 26, 2024 |
 |
Booster Bundle | 6 booster packs • Best value for packs | Feb 23, 2024 |
 |
Tech Sticker Collection | 3 booster packs • Sticker sheet • Promo card | Jan 26, 2024 |
 |
Mini Tin | 2 booster packs • Sticker • Art card • Collector's tin | Jan 26, 2024 |
 |
Premium Collection - Meowscarada | 8 booster packs • 3 Shiny promos (Stage 1, 2, & ex) • Oversized card • Magnetic holder | Feb 9, 2024 |
|
Premium Collection - Skeledirge | 8 booster packs • 3 Shiny promos (Stage 1, 2, & ex) • Oversized card • Magnetic holder | Feb 9, 2024 |
|
Premium Collection - Quaquaval | 8 booster packs • 3 Shiny promos (Stage 1, 2, & ex) • Oversized card • Magnetic holder | Feb 9, 2024 |
 |
Charizard Tin | 5 booster packs • Promo card • Collector's tin | Feb 9, 2024 |
 |
Great Tusk Tin | 5 booster packs • Promo card • Collector's tin | Feb 9, 2024 |
|
Iron Treads Tin | 5 booster packs • Promo card • Collector's tin | Feb 9, 2024 |
Special Illustration Rares
Paldean Fates features 8 stunning Special Illustration Rares with unique sparkle texture effects that capture the essence of Shiny Pokémon and Tera crystallization.
| Card Image | Card Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
Charizard ex 234/091 SIR | The top chase card • Dark Tera form with crystal effects • One of the most valuable modern cards |
 |
Mew ex 232/091 SIR | "Bubble Mew" • Features distinct pastel bubble artwork with ethereal aesthetic |
 |
Gardevoir ex 233/091 SIR | Competitive staple • Beautiful melancholy blue artwork • Highly playable and collectible |
 |
Iono 237/091 SIR | Popular trainer card • Highly playable and collectible • Most popular character in Paldea |
 |
Penny 239/091 SIR | Features Penny in her dorm room with Umbreon • Team Star's true leader revealed |
 |
Arven 235/091 SIR | Features Arven preparing a sandwich with Mabosstiff • Heartwarming artwork |
 |
Nemona 238/091 SIR | The energetic rival character • Dynamic battle-ready pose |
 |
Clive 236/091 SIR | The academy director in disguise • Secret identity revealed |
✨ Paldean Fates' Special Illustration Rares showcase unique sparkle texture effects. Charizard ex leads as the highest-value modern card, while Trainer SIRs like Iono, Penny, and Arven have become fan favorites for their character-focused artwork.
Collecting Strategy: The Reality
Paldean Fates behaves differently than standard sets like Paradox Rift or Obsidian Flames. Understanding the actual pull rates is crucial to making smart collecting decisions.
📊 Understanding Pull Rates (CRITICAL INFO)
Shiny Guarantee: ❌ FALSE. Unlike the Japanese set, English packs do NOT guarantee a shiny in every pack.
- ✨ Baby Shiny Rate: Approximately 1 in every 3-4 packs (not every pack)
- 🎯 Pack Structure: Each pack has 2 Reverse Holo slots
- Slot 1: Reverse Holo OR Shiny Rare (Baby Shiny)
- Slot 2: Reverse Holo OR Shiny Ultra Rare / Illustration Rare
- ⚠️ Reality Check: You WILL open packs with only standard Reverse Holos and regular Holo Rares
- 🌟 SIR Pull Rate: Approximately 1 in ~600+ packs for a specific SIR
🎁 Best Products to Buy
For Opening Packs: Booster Bundles (6 packs). Since there are no Booster Boxes, the 6-pack bundle offers the lowest price-per-pack ratio without paying for extra accessories.
For Display: The Mimikyu Elite Trainer Box is widely considered one of the best-looking products in the modern era.
💡 Pro Tip: Because individual booster packs aren't sold loose at retail, Booster Bundles represent the best value for pack opening. ETBs cost more per pack but include sleeves and accessories.
💰 Singles Strategy (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
High-End Chase Cards: If you want Charizard ex SIR or Mew ex SIR, buy the single. At 1 in 600+ packs for a specific SIR, chasing these through sealed product is financially devastating.
The "Baby Shiny" Hunt: With over 130 Baby Shinies in the set, pulling them all yourself is nearly impossible. Open a few products for fun, then buy the specific Shinies you're missing. Most Baby Shinies are $2-5 each, making singles purchasing much more economical than chasing through packs.
🏆 Competitive Players
Key Cards: Gardevoir ex and Iono are the must-haves. The Shiny versions are "max rarity" upgrades for tournament decks, but the card text is identical to cheaper versions from previous sets (Obsidian Flames and Paldea Evolved).
Recommendation: Skip sealed product entirely and buy singles of the competitive staples you need in Shiny form if desired.
📈 Value Assessment
Sealed Product Investment: Paldean Fates Elite Trainer Boxes (especially Mimikyu) have historically held value well as special sets. Premium Collections with exclusive Shiny promos also command premiums.
Opening for Value: Without guaranteed shinies per pack, opening Paldean Fates for profit is a losing proposition. The math strongly favors buying singles over sealed.
⚡ Bottom Line: Paldean Fates is beautiful but has punishing pull rates compared to the Japanese version. Open 1-2 products for the experience and that new pack smell, then transition to singles for specific cards. The "no guaranteed shiny" structure makes this set much less rewarding to open than many collectors expect.
Where to Buy
🇺🇸 United States
Paldean Fates is available at major retailers and the Pokémon Center.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
UK collectors can find Paldean Fates at official retailers and major game stores.