Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze

Status: Released (August 2020)

Charizard Returns in Darkness Ablaze

Released on August 14, 2020, Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze set the world on fire with the debut of "Charizard VMAX." This card, featuring the Gigantamax form of specific Kanto starter, became an instant chase card for collectors, driving huge demand for the product. But the set wasn't just about Charizard; it also introduced "Eternatus VMAX," a dark-type powerhouse that could hold up to 8 Pokémon on the bench and deal damage based on how many dark Pokémon you had in play.

The Rise of Eternatus

"Eternatus VMAX" defined the meta for months. With its "Eternal Zone" ability, players could flood their board with support Pokémon like "Crobat V" (which drew cards when played) and "Galarian Zigzagoon" (which placed damage counters). This created a fast, aggressive deck that could hit for 270 damage as early as turn two. Sword & Shield—Darkness Ablaze proved that VMAX Pokémon were here to stay, offering massive HP and one-hit knockout potential that shaped the game's power creep.