Quick Answer
Paldean Fates is a Shiny Vault-style set released in early 2024 featuring Shiny versions of popular Pokemon alongside Shiny ex cards and Shiny Special Illustration Rares. The headline card is the Shiny Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare, which commands some of the highest single-card prices of any recent Pokemon set in Australia. Box prices reflect this, sitting AU$200 to AU$300 in the Australian market. At that price range, EV is challenging unless you hit the key chase cards. Run your specific purchase price through the EV Calculator at /tools first. Check current AUD prices at /cards/pokemon.
What Makes Paldean Fates Different?
Paldean Fates is not a standard booster set. It follows the Pokemon Company's pattern of dedicated Shiny sets (similar to Hidden Fates and Shiny Vault sets from earlier eras). Every card in Paldean Fates features Shiny coloration, which drives collector demand independent of competitive play value.
Set size: 245 standard Shiny Collection cards plus the Special Illustration Rare tier featuring Shiny ex versions of popular Pokemon.
Packs per box: 36 packs per standard booster box.
Key pull structure: Shiny collection cards appear regularly. The Shiny ex and Shiny Special Illustration Rares are the premium pulls, with higher concentration than typical sets because the entire set is premium-tier content by design.
Top Cards to Know
Shiny Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare is the single card that defines Paldean Fates' value. Charizard in Shiny form with special art is one of the most collectible single cards in recent Pokemon TCG history in Australia. Its price relative to box price is the central EV question.
Shiny Mewtwo ex, Shiny Gardevoir ex, and Shiny Miraidon ex Special Illustration Rares are strong secondary chase cards. These hold meaningful AU value and support the box EV when pulled alongside the Charizard ex SIR.
Shiny standard ex cards make up the mid-tier value. Popular Shiny ex cards from competitive archetypes (Gardevoir ex, Roaring Moon ex) sell consistently but at lower individual prices.
The full current AUD price list for Paldean Fates chase cards is at /cards/pokemon.
Pull Rates and What to Expect
Paldean Fates uses an enhanced pull structure compared to standard SV sets. The Shiny Collection guarantees include one Shiny ex or better per several packs. Specific pull rates were documented by the community at release and show a higher Special Illustration Rare frequency than standard sets, which is why box prices sit above standard SV retail.
From a 36-pack box, expect at minimum one Shiny ex SIR card and multiple lower-tier Shiny ex cards. The question is whether your SIR pull is the Charizard ex (high value) or one of the lower-demand Shiny Pokemon.
Should You Open or Buy Singles?
Open if: you collect Shiny Pokemon broadly, want the full Paldean Fates Shiny Collection experience, or the EV Calculator shows positive return at your purchase price. The set is designed for collectors who value every card in it, not just the chase.
Buy singles if: you want specifically the Shiny Charizard ex SIR. At current AU secondary market prices, buying the card directly from eBay AU eliminates the variance of box opening. A targeted buy is almost always cheaper than chasing via packs.
Avoid: buying Paldean Fates at full retail price as speculative investment. The set has high collector demand but supply has increased significantly since launch, making price trajectory less predictable than at release.
The C3 Take
Paldean Fates is a collector's set first and an EV set second. If you love Shiny Pokemon and want the full visual experience of opening the set, that enjoyment has genuine value that the numbers don't capture. If you are purely evaluating box EV, the maths require the Shiny Charizard ex SIR to pull anywhere near cost, and the odds are not in your favour in any single box. Check current AUD prices at /cards/pokemon before you decide. The live data tells you whether the box or the singles market is currently cheaper for your target cards.
What to Read Next
- Browse Pokemon card prices in AUD at /cards/pokemon
- Run the booster box EV Calculator at /tools
- Compare Pokemon collecting options at /quizzes/collector-or-player
Australian Market Context
Paldean Fates has had variable stock availability in Australia since its 2024 release. Early print runs sold out quickly at retail, pushing buyers to secondary market prices well above RRP. Additional print runs brought prices down but set boxes still sit above standard SV pricing in the secondary market.
For Australian buyers, Amazon AU and local game stores occasionally stock Paldean Fates at clearance pricing. When that happens, the EV maths improve meaningfully. Set a price alert and buy when the box price drops to AU$180 or below rather than paying premium secondary market rates of AU$250 to AU$300.
The Australian secondary market for Paldean Fates singles is active on eBay AU. The Shiny Charizard ex SIR trades regularly enough that you can check current sold listings to get an accurate AU price before making any decision. That price is the single most important input into your EV calculation. Find it at /cards/pokemon.