If you're keeping an eye on the charizard ex 223/197 price, you already know that this card is basically the heart and soul of the Pokémon TCG Obsidian Flames expansion. It's the card everyone was chasing when the set first dropped, and even now that the initial hype has settled a bit, it remains one of the most talked-about modern "Zards" in the hobby. Whether you just pulled it from a pack or you're looking to add it to your collection by buying a single, understanding where the market stands is pretty essential before you drop your hard-earned cash.
Right now, the raw price for a Near Mint copy of this Special Illustration Rare tends to hover somewhere between $50 and $65. It's seen some ups and downs since its release in August 2023, but it has found a surprisingly stable floor compared to some other modern chase cards. Of course, if you're looking for a graded version—specifically a PSA 10—you're looking at a much higher price point, often closer to the $130 to $160 range depending on the week and how many are hitting the market.
Why Does This Card Hold Value?
It's no secret that there's a "Charizard Tax" in the Pokémon world. If a set has a Charizard, that card is almost guaranteed to be the most expensive one in the set. But with the 223/197 version, there's more going on than just brand recognition. This is a Special Illustration Rare (SIR), which means the pull rates are incredibly low. You could open several booster boxes of Obsidian Flames and never see this card. That scarcity is a huge driver for the price.
The artwork by Akira Egawa is also a massive factor. It depicts Charizard in its Tera form, looking absolutely massive and intimidating with that crystal crown. The dark-type coloring—a result of the Terastal phenomenon—gives it a unique aesthetic that stands out from the traditional orange and red dragons we've seen for decades. When a card looks this good, collectors want it for their binders regardless of how good it is in the actual game.
Market Trends Since Release
When Obsidian Flames first launched, the charizard ex 223/197 price was all over the place. I remember seeing people paying $100 or even $150 in those first few days of "pre-release hype." That's almost always a mistake, but the FOMO (fear of missing out) is real in this hobby. Predictably, the price took a dip as more product was opened and the market got flooded with supply.
What's interesting is how well it has held up since then. Usually, modern cards take a massive nose-dive after six months, but this Charizard has stayed relevant. Part of that is because Obsidian Flames isn't considered a "god-tier" set overall, so people aren't opening it as much as they are sets like 151 or Paldean Fates. Less opening means fewer new copies entering the market, which keeps the price from crashing.
Comparing the SIR to Other Obsidian Flames Charizards
It's worth noting that Obsidian Flames actually has several different Charizard ex cards, which can get confusing if you aren't staring at the numbers. You've got the regular double rare (125/197), the Full Art (215/197), and the Gold Hyper Rare (228/197).
While the Gold version is technically "rarer" in some people's minds because of the gold border, the 223/197 Special Illustration Rare is the one that collectors actually want. The market reflects this clearly. The Gold Charizard usually sells for significantly less than the SIR because the art on the SIR is just so much more evocative and detailed. If you're looking for the "true" chase card of the set, the 223/197 is it.
The Impact of Grading on Price
If you're thinking about buying this card as an investment, you've probably looked at graded options. The jump from a raw copy to a PSA 10 is pretty significant. Because modern quality control can be a bit of a gamble—think off-center borders or tiny white nicks on the corners straight out of the pack—a "perfect" 10 carries a premium.
Currently, the charizard ex 223/197 price for a PSA 9 isn't much higher than a raw Near Mint copy. In some cases, you might even find a PSA 9 for the same price as a high-quality raw card. The real "value" jump happens at the Gem Mint 10 level. If you have a copy that looks perfectly centered with clean edges, it might be worth sending it off to be graded. Just keep in mind that grading fees and shipping costs eat into your margins, so it's only worth it if you're confident in the condition.
Is It a Good Time to Buy?
This is the million-dollar question. Predicting the Pokémon market is a bit like predicting the weather, but there are some patterns we can look at. We are currently in a phase where Obsidian Flames is still readily available on store shelves. You can walk into a big-box store and grab an Elite Trainer Box or a few blister packs pretty easily.
History tells us that once a set goes out of print and becomes harder to find at retail prices, the chase cards start to climb again. We saw this with Evolving Skies (though on a much more extreme scale). While I don't think this Charizard will hit $500 anytime soon, it's a safe bet that it won't be $50 forever. If you're a collector who wants this card for your personal stash, buying it now while the price is stable and supply is decent is probably a smarter move than waiting three years and hoping for the best.
What to Look for When Buying Raw
If you're hunting for a deal on eBay or TCGPlayer, you need to be careful. Because the charizard ex 223/197 price is high enough to attract scammers but low enough to move quickly, fake cards do exist. Always look for the texture. These Special Illustration Rares have a very specific, fine "fingerprint" texture that runs across the surface of the card. If the card looks smooth or has a generic "rainbow" sheen without that textured feel, stay away.
Also, pay close attention to the "centering." Look at the left and right borders on the front, and the top and bottom. Pokémon's factory in the US has had some struggles with centering lately, and a card that's heavily shifted to one side will be worth much less to a serious collector. Even if you aren't planning to grade it, a well-centered card just looks better in the binder.
Playing with Charizard ex in the Meta
It's also worth mentioning that this card isn't just a pretty face; it's actually a powerhouse in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The "Infernal Reign" ability, which lets you search for three Basic Fire Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon when you play it, is incredibly strong.
Because it's a playable card, some of the demand comes from players who want to "max rare" their decks. When a card is both a top-tier collectible and a top-tier competitive card, the price tends to stay high because you have two different groups of people fighting over the same supply. If Charizard ex ever falls out of the competitive meta, we might see a slight dip in price, but the collector demand will likely keep it from falling too far.
Final Thoughts on the Value
At the end of the day, the charizard ex 223/197 price reflects its status as a modern classic. It's got the right Pokémon, the right artist, and the right rarity tier to ensure it stays relevant for years to come. Whether you're a hardcore investor or just someone who loves the big fire lizard, this card is a standout piece of the Scarlet & Violet era.
It's one of those cards that feels good to own. There's a certain weight to having the "big hit" from a set. If you can find one with good centering for under $60, you're doing pretty well in today's market. Just remember to sleeve it up immediately—nobody wants to see a $60 card get a scratch because it was rattling around in a tin! Collecting should be fun first and foremost, so if you love the art, the price is just a secondary detail to help you plan your hobby budget.