Arceus V Alt Art 166/172: Price, Value and Analysis

If you follow the Sword and Shield era of the Pokémon TCG, the Arceus V Alt Art price is a question you have definitely come across. Card 166/172 from the Brilliant Stars expansion ticks every box a collector looks for: an iconic character, a standout illustration and a central role in the competitive meta of its time. Here is a full breakdown to understand its value, its history and its relevance today.

Brilliant Stars: Context

The Brilliant Stars expansion (French name: EB Stars Etincelantes) launched in February 2022, at a point when the Sword and Shield series had reached full maturity. This is the set where the VSTAR mechanic made its official debut in the Western TCG, with Arceus VSTAR as its commercial and competitive flagship.

Beyond the VSTAR cards, Brilliant Stars also introduced the Trainer Gallery, a subset of cards at the end of the set featuring trainers alongside their Pokémon. Card 166/172 is not part of that subset. It belongs to the Alternate Full Art category, which offers a completely reimagined artistic take on the Pokémon, frameless, across the entire card surface.

With 172 cards in the standard set (plus secret rares), Brilliant Stars is one of the densest expansions in the Sword and Shield series and one of the most played in Standard format at the time of its release.

The Card in Detail

• Number: 166/172
• Rarity: Ultra Rare - Alternate Full Art (commercially referred to as Alt Art)
• Artist: kawayoo
• Expansion: Sword and Shield - Brilliant Stars
• Release date: February 2022

The illustration by kawayoo is what immediately sets this card apart from the other Arceus V versions in the same set. Where the Regular Full Art version (illustrated by N-DESIGN Inc.) goes for a more graphic and stylized look, kawayoo delivers a painterly composition: Arceus floats at the center of an undefined space, bathed in golden and pastel light, surrounded by luminous rings that evoke its nature as the original Pokémon. The linework is soft, almost watercolor-like at times, with a depth of field that makes it feel like you are looking at a sacred painting rather than a trading card illustration.

This artistic approach is typical of kawayoo's work, which is recognized in the community for Alt Arts with a contemplative atmosphere. The absence of a frame lets the scene breathe across the entire card surface, which reinforces the immersive effect.

On the gameplay side, the card represents Arceus V, with its standard colorless Pokémon V characteristics, designed to quickly set up VSTAR evolutions in tournament play.

Value Analysis and Current Prices

Data from Cardmarket (French-speaking market) gives the following range for the Arceus V Alt Art 166/172, in ungraded condition:

Indicator	Price (EUR)
Price from	18.50 EUR
Trend	~42 EUR
30-day average	~47 EUR

Prices recorded on Cardmarket FR - data sourced from verified facts, physical FR market.

The 18 to 47 euro range reflects a significant gap between copies in poor condition or non-French versions and NM (Near Mint) copies in the French version. For a copy in good condition, expect to pay around 40 to 47 euros based on the 30-day average. The lower prices around 18 euros typically correspond to cards with visible play wear or English versions.

Note: no graded prices (PSA, PCA, BGS) are included in this analysis. Only the ungraded physical market is taken into account.

Valuation Factors

Arceus popularity: few Pokémon carry the mythological status of Arceus in the Pokémon universe. Nicknamed the "God Pokémon", it attracts both players nostalgic for Generation IV and newer collectors. This broad appeal stabilizes demand.

Illustration quality: kawayoo is an artist whose Alt Arts consistently hold strong values. The recognizable style and composition of this card make it a collectible in its own right, independent of gameplay.

Relative scarcity: the Alternate Full Art is a rarity format with only a handful of cards per set. In Brilliant Stars, the count is limited, which concentrates demand on specific cards.

Competitive history: Arceus V was a central piece of the Standard meta between 2022 and 2024. Even if it is out of format today under current rotation rules, that competitive exposure has embedded the card in the collective memory of serious players, which sustains its symbolic value.

Print status: Brilliant Stars is no longer in active print. The available stock is therefore fixed, and upward pressure on NM copies can only increase over time if demand holds.

Worth noting: the VSTAR version of Arceus (123/172, 176/172, 184/172) is illustrated exclusively by 5ban Graphics and has no Alt Art variant, which means all the "alt art Arceus" value is concentrated on the V card 166/172.

Should You Buy This Card?

Arguments in favor:

• Iconic character with a wide and lasting fan base
• Quality illustration by kawayoo, with recognized artistic value
• Closed set, stock mechanically decreasing over time
• Reasonable entry point around 40 to 47 euros for an NM copy, without exposing yourself to large sums
• A must-have reference from the VSTAR era for any Sword and Shield collector

Points to keep in mind:

• The low end at 18 euros shows that lower-quality copies are circulating in volume: check the condition before buying
• The competitive meta has moved on, Arceus V is no longer played in Standard under current rotations - the value is now driven purely by collecting
• The value is stable but no spectacular surge is expected in the short term: this is a patient investment

Practical advice: if you are targeting a copy for your collection, focus on an NM copy in the French version. The French version always carries a premium on the French-speaking market. Avoid played copies if you ever plan to resell. At 40 to 47 euros, the value for money remains solid for an Alt Art of this caliber.

Conclusion

The Arceus V Alt Art 166/172 from the Brilliant Stars expansion checks almost every box for a strong TCG collectible: a powerful character, a carefully crafted illustration by kawayoo, a closed set and stable demand. Its value range of 18 to 47 euros (with a 30-day average around 47 euros for NM copies) places it in an accessible tier without being trivial.

To stay on top of any price movement or easily compare available listings, you can track its value daily on PokéItem directly from your browser, or download the app on your phone to get real-time prices wherever you are.