Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Obsidian Flames (Japanese: 黒炎の支配者Ruler of the Black Flame) is the name of the third main expansion of cards from the Scarlet & Violet Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It was released in English on August 11, 2023, and in Japanese on July 28, 2023.
Red-hot embers illuminate the pitch-black night and sparks flare into an inferno as Charizard ex surges forth with newfound powers of darkness! The glittering Terastal phenomenon imbues some Pokémon ex like Tyranitar, Eiscue, and Vespiquen with different types than usual, while Dragonite ex and Greedent ex show mastery of their own inner strengths. Not to be outdone, Revavroom ex, Melmetal ex, and more Pokémon promise to change the course of battle in the Scarlet & Violet—Obsidian Flames expansion!
Information
Ruler of the Black Flame logo
Obsidian Flames and the Japanese Ruler of the Black Flame are the first sets to feature Tera Pokémon ex with types that differ from their usual types. Type-shifted Tera Pokémon ex use the same Energy types as their usual type for their attacks, but have differing Weakness and Resistance in accordance with their shifted type.
Obsidian Flames is available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Ruler of the Black Flame was available in Japanese on July 28, 2023, followed by localized releases in Traditional Chinese on August 11, 2023, in Korean on August 25, 2023, and in Thai on September 29, 2023. The Indonesian set equivalent, Black Shine, released much later on October 27, 2023.
The Terastallized Charizard pack artwork for the Obsidian Flames and Ruler of the Black Flame expansions was illustrated by N-DESIGN Inc.[1] The artwork is also featured on certain merchandise released in tandem with Obsidian Flames and Ruler of the Black Flame.
English Terastallized Charizard pack
English Terastallized Dragonite pack
English Terastallized Tyranitar pack
English Revavroom pack
Japanese Ruler of the Black Flame pack
Traditional Chinese Ruler of the Black Flame pack
Korean Ruler of the Black Flame pack
Thai Ruler of the Black Flame pack
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins
Trivia
Even though Pokémon cards are typically ordered first by type and then by Pokédex number, in Obsidian Flames, the ultra rare prints of Absol ex (Pokédex number #0359) and Charizard ex (Pokédex number #0006) are numbered 214/197 and 215/197, respectively, despite both being Darkness-type Pokémon. In the Japanese Ruler of the Black Flame expansion, Charizard ex does come before Absol ex.
