Palafin · Obsidian Flames, what to know.
About the Palafin card
Palafin is card 200 of 230 in Obsidian Flames, released in August 2023, an Illustration Rare. It is a Stage 1 Water-type with 150 HP.
As a Stage 1, it evolves from Finizen, which places Palafin deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Akira Komayama.
The Pokédex entry printed on Palafin reads: "This Pokémon's ancient genes have awakened. It is now so extraordinarily strong that it can easily lift a cruise ship with one fin."
What is Palafin worth?
Palafin is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Obsidian Flames's value. The rarity tier decides most of it, since the same card prints at several tiers with very different prices. In top-grade 1st Edition, Obsidian Flames holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Palafin before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Grading Palafin comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Palafin can drop from a 10 to a 9 on a single hairline. Inspect the window at an angle and the corners against the frame.
If you are collecting Palafin
If you are buying Palafin, work in order: confirm the print variant first, then the grade, then price against recent sales for that exact variant and grade. Price the Palafin against the population report, since modern holo supply is large.
