Darkness Ablaze Booster Box

The Darkness Ablaze Booster Box is a popular sealed Pokémon TCG product from the Sword & Shield era. Released in 2020, the expansion brought powerful Pokémon V and VMAX cards into the game, including the highly recognizable Charizard VMAX and Eternatus VMAX.

For collectors, a booster box provides 36 Darkness Ablaze booster packs to open and explore. For players, the expansion introduced several cards that became important to Darkness-type strategies during the Sword & Shield era. 

What Is a Darkness Ablaze Booster Box?

A Darkness Ablaze Booster Box is a sealed display containing 36 Darkness Ablaze booster packs. Pokémon confirms that Sword & Shield-era booster display boxes contained 36 packs. 

Darkness Ablaze is the third main expansion of the Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield Series. Its official expansion lineup includes Pokémon V, Pokémon VMAX, Trainer cards, and Special Energy cards.

Darkness Ablaze Booster Box at a glance

• Expansion: Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze
• Series: Sword & Shield
• Release year: 2020
• Booster packs per box: 36
• Set size: Over 185 cards
• Pokémon V: 14
• Pokémon VMAX: 7
• Trainer cards: More than 15
• Special Energy cards: 3
• Major Pokémon: Charizard, Eternatus, Grimmsnarl, Centiskorch, Butterfree, Salamence

The official Pokémon card checklist numbers the regular set through 189/189, followed by additional secret and special-rarity cards. 

What Makes Darkness Ablaze Special?

Darkness Ablaze has a strong focus on powerful Pokémon V and VMAX. The expansion introduced several Gigantamax-inspired VMAX Pokémon while also featuring Pokémon from the Galar region and beyond.

The official Pokémon expansion page highlights Charizard VMAX, Grimmsnarl VMAX, Butterfree VMAX, and Eternatus VMAX among its major Pokémon. 

The expansion is particularly recognizable for its combination of:

• Charizard VMAX
• Eternatus VMAX
• Grimmsnarl VMAX
• Butterfree VMAX
• Centiskorch V
• Salamence V
• Crobat V
• Rainbow Rare and other higher-rarity cards

This combination makes Darkness Ablaze an interesting set for both Pokémon collectors and Sword & Shield-era enthusiasts.

Charizard VMAX in Darkness Ablaze

One of the biggest attractions of the Darkness Ablaze Booster Box is the opportunity to pull Charizard VMAX.

Charizard VMAX represents one of the expansion’s headline Pokémon. It evolves from Charizard V and features the enormous HP and powerful attacks associated with the VMAX mechanic.

The regular Darkness Ablaze checklist includes Charizard V at 19/189, while Charizard VMAX appears later in the set’s Pokémon VMAX lineup. 

Charizard has long been one of the most recognizable Pokémon in the TCG, so its presence gives Darkness Ablaze a strong collector identity.

Eternatus VMAX

Another major card from Darkness Ablaze is Eternatus VMAX.

Eternatus VMAX has 340 HP and features the Ability Eternal Zone. When the conditions are met, the Ability allows a player to have up to eight Darkness-type Pokémon on their Bench.

Its Dread End attack does 30 damage for each Darkness Pokémon in play. 

This design made Eternatus VMAX particularly important to Darkness-type strategies during the Sword & Shield era.

Pokémon’s own deck strategy article demonstrates an Eternatus VMAX deck built around Eternatus VMAX, Eternatus V, Crobat V, Galarian Slowbro V, Hoopa, and Darkness Energy. 

Other Pokémon VMAX to Look For

Darkness Ablaze contains seven Pokémon VMAX, giving collectors several large Pokémon to discover.

Some of the notable VMAX cards include:

• Charizard VMAX
• Eternatus VMAX
• Grimmsnarl VMAX
• Butterfree VMAX
• Centiskorch VMAX
• Scizor VMAX
• Salamence VMAX

The official card list confirms the VMAX cards and their individual set numbers. 

These cards are an important part of the Sword & Shield era because Pokémon VMAX helped define the gameplay and visual style of the generation.

Darkness Ablaze Pokémon V Cards

The expansion also contains 14 Pokémon V.

Some of the notable Pokémon V include:

• Charizard V
• Butterfree V
• Houndoom V
• Centiskorch V
• Vikavolt V
• Rhyperior V
• Crobat V
• Scizor V
• Galarian Stunfisk V
• Salamence V
• Eternatus V
• Grimmsnarl V

The official checklist lists these cards within the 189-card numbered set. 

Charizard V

Charizard V is card 19/189 and has 220 HP. Its attacks include Claw Slash and Fire Spin, with Fire Spin dealing 220 damage while requiring two Energy cards to be discarded. 

It also serves as the evolution point for Charizard VMAX, making the pair particularly relevant to collectors looking for the full Charizard line from Darkness Ablaze.

Darkness Ablaze Booster Pack Contents

Each Darkness Ablaze booster pack contains randomized cards.

Pokémon’s current support information explains that pre-Scarlet & Violet booster packs contain 10 game cards, including four commons, three uncommons, and three foil cards, with at least one foil card being Rare or higher. They also contain an Energy card and a code card. 

Because Darkness Ablaze is a Sword & Shield-era expansion, its booster packs follow the earlier Pokémon TCG pack structure.

A single pack can contain cards from different rarity levels, so opening packs is inherently unpredictable.

What Can You Pull From a Darkness Ablaze Booster Box?

A sealed box gives you 36 opportunities to discover cards from the expansion.

Potential pulls include:

• Regular Pokémon cards
• Holo Rare cards
• Pokémon V
• Pokémon VMAX
• Full-art Pokémon
• Full-art Trainer cards
• Rainbow Rare cards
• Secret Rare cards
• Special Energy cards
• Other higher-rarity cards

However, there is no guarantee that a specific chase card will appear in a particular box.

Pokémon specifically states that booster packs are randomly packed and that products containing booster packs do not provide a special rate or increased chance of specific cards. 

Darkness Ablaze Secret Rare Cards

Darkness Ablaze also has cards beyond the regular 189-card numbering.

For example, Eternatus VMAX 192/189 is a Rainbow Rare version of Eternatus VMAX. 

Rose 196/189 is another Rainbow Rare card from the expansion. The regular set also includes Rose at 189/189 as an Ultra Rare. 

These cards add another layer to the collecting experience because completing the full expansion requires looking beyond the standard numbered set.

Trainer Cards in Darkness Ablaze

Darkness Ablaze is not only about Pokémon.

The expansion introduced more than 15 Trainer cards, including cards such as:

• Big Parasol
• Billowing Smoke
• Bird Keeper
• Cape of Toughness
• Familiar Bell
• Kabu
• Piers
• Pokémon Breeder’s Nurturing
• Rose
• Rose Tower
• Spikemuth
• Struggle Gloves
• Turbo Patch
• Yell Horn

The official checklist includes these Trainer cards alongside three new Special Energy cards. 

Several of these cards were designed to support the new Pokémon VMAX-focused gameplay of the Sword & Shield era.

Darkness Ablaze for Collectors

For collectors, a Darkness Ablaze Booster Box provides a way to experience an entire Sword & Shield expansion through sealed booster packs.

The set offers several different collecting goals.

You could focus on:

• Completing the 189-card numbered set
• Collecting every Pokémon V
• Collecting all seven Pokémon VMAX
• Building a Charizard collection
• Collecting Eternatus cards
• Finding secret-rarity cards
• Collecting full-art Trainers
• Building a complete Darkness Ablaze master set

A master set requires considerably more than simply opening one booster box because of the different rarities and additional cards beyond the regular set numbering.

Darkness Ablaze for Players

Darkness Ablaze also has an important place in Sword & Shield gameplay history.

Eternatus VMAX became closely associated with Darkness-type decks. Its Eternal Zone Ability and Dread End attack were specifically designed to reward players for filling their field with Darkness Pokémon. 

Pokémon’s official Eternatus VMAX deck strategy demonstrates how the card could be combined with other Darkness-focused cards and Pokémon from both Darkness Ablaze and earlier Sword & Shield releases. 

The expansion therefore offers more than attractive artwork. It also provides a snapshot of how Pokémon VMAX strategies developed during the Sword & Shield era.

Darkness Ablaze Booster Box vs. Booster Packs

If you are deciding between individual packs and a sealed booster box, the main difference is quantity.

Feature	Darkness Ablaze Booster Box	Individual Booster Pack
Packs	36	1
Expansion	Darkness Ablaze	Darkness Ablaze
Randomized cards	Yes	Yes
Best for	Larger openings	Small openings
Collecting experience	Extended	Quick
Specific card guaranteed	No	No

A booster box simply gives you a larger number of packs from the same expansion. It does not guarantee a particular Pokémon or rarity.

Darkness Ablaze Booster Box for Sword & Shield Collectors

Darkness Ablaze sits at an interesting point in the Sword & Shield era.

The expansion arrived after Pokémon VMAX had been introduced and helped establish some of the large-scale Pokémon designs that became characteristic of the generation.

It also contains several recognizable Pokémon, including Charizard, Eternatus, Salamence, Grimmsnarl, Butterfree and Scizor.

For collectors building a Sword & Shield sealed collection, Darkness Ablaze represents one of the main booster display boxes from the era. Pokémon’s Sword & Shield booster display promotion included Darkness Ablaze alongside expansions such as Rebel Clash, Vivid Voltage, Battle Styles, Chilling Reign, Evolving Skies, Fusion Strike, Brilliant Stars, Astral Radiance, Lost Origin and Silver Tempest. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many packs are in a Darkness Ablaze Booster Box?

A Darkness Ablaze Booster Box contains 36 booster packs. 

How many cards are in Darkness Ablaze?

The official expansion contains over 185 cards, with the standard checklist numbered through 189 and additional higher-rarity cards beyond the regular set. 

Does Darkness Ablaze have Charizard VMAX?

Yes. Charizard VMAX is one of the headline Pokémon from the Darkness Ablaze expansion. 

Does Darkness Ablaze have Eternatus VMAX?

Yes. Eternatus VMAX is card 117/189 in the regular set and also has higher-rarity versions. It has 340 HP and the Eternal Zone Ability. 

Is Darkness Ablaze a Sword & Shield set?

Yes. Darkness Ablaze is part of the Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield Series. 

What are the main chase cards in Darkness Ablaze?

Notable cards include Charizard VMAX, Eternatus VMAX, Charizard V, Eternatus V, Crobat V and various full-art and secret-rarity cards. The specific cards collectors prioritize can vary.

Does a Darkness Ablaze Booster Box guarantee a Charizard?

No. Booster packs contain randomized cards, so a Darkness Ablaze Booster Box does not guarantee Charizard V, Charizard VMAX, or any other specific card. 

Is Darkness Ablaze good for completing a master set?

It can be an interesting set for a master-set project because it contains regular cards, Pokémon V, Pokémon VMAX and additional higher-rarity cards. However, one booster box will not normally provide every card needed for a complete collection.

Explore the Darkness Ablaze Collection

The Darkness Ablaze Booster Box remains a notable sealed product from the Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield era. With 36 booster packs, Charizard VMAX, Eternatus VMAX, multiple Pokémon V, secret-rarity cards and a wide selection of Trainer cards, the expansion offers plenty for collectors and players to explore.

Whether your goal is to chase Charizard, build an Eternatus collection, complete the Darkness Ablaze card list, or simply enjoy opening Sword & Shield-era booster packs, Darkness Ablaze offers a distinctive Pokémon TCG experience.

Darkness Ablaze Booster Box – Complete Pokémon TCG Guide

Explore the Darkness Ablaze Booster Box with 36 booster packs, Charizard VMAX, Eternatus VMAX, Pokémon V, secret rares, and more.

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