Charizard Ultra Premium Collection: promo cards and prices

If you've ever wondered what the Charizard UPC card price really is on the secondary market, you're in the right place. The Charizard Ultra Premium Collection box released in late 2022 in the Sword & Shield series quickly became one of the hobby's references: a premium product, an iconic Pokémon and three exclusive promo cards found nowhere else. But between the media hype and the cards' real value, there's sometimes a gap. This article takes stock of what this box really contains, the exact card numbers, their particular finish and what these promos are worth today, backed by PokéItem reference prices.

The Sword & Shield era: context of the box

The Sword & Shield Ultra Premium Collection,Charizard box (official FR name) released in December 2022 in France. Its international version, the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield Ultra-Premium Collection,Charizard, had been available for a few weeks on the English-language market. This type of UPC product is designed as a prestige box: it's not simply a boosted Elite Trainer Box, but a set designed for the most invested collectors.

The contents notably include boosters from several Sword & Shield sets, accessories (dice, status markers, playmat), and above all three exclusive promo cards in Etched Foil. These cards are available nowhere else in an official English or French version, they're not part of a classic numbered set and cannot be obtained individually in standard retail.

An important point to clarify: contrary to some ideas circulating on forums, this box contains neither Squirtle nor Bulbasaur. It focuses exclusively on Charizard, in its three V forms. Another UPC titled "Mega Charizard X ex" released on November 14, 2025, but it's a separate product, don't confuse the two.

The cards in detail

The box contains exactly three Black Star promo cards:

• SWSH260, Charizard-V
• SWSH261, Charizard-VMAX
• SWSH262, Charizard-VSTAR

These cards don't have a classic X/Y number in a set: they carry the SWSH prefix specific to the promos of the Sword & Shield era. Their official rarity is Black Star Promo Card with an Etched Foil finish, also called textured foil. This type of treatment gives the illustration a subtle relief rendering that distinguishes it from classic holofoil, collectors particularly appreciate this effect on large-format cards like the VMAX.

Regarding the artists, the available public sources don't allow us to confirm the names with certainty for these three specific promos, so caution is warranted on this point rather than risking incorrect information.

Visually, the three cards share a coherent artistic direction around Charizard in its most powerful states: the VSTAR in particular benefits from dramatic staging that makes it the most sought-after piece of the trio.

Market value analysis and current prices

The cards from this box circulate mainly on the English-language market. On CardMarket FR, their direct availability is limited because the product was mainly distributed in the EN version. You therefore often have to turn to international sellers or specialized platforms.

Rather than rough estimates, here is the PokéItem reference price for each card, a price calculated by cross-referencing several market sources (CardMarket, eBay, real sales), recorded on the French market 🇫🇷 on June 24, 2026:

The VSTAR (SWSH262) clearly dominates the trio at €160.90: it's the most sought-after piece, driven by its spectacular staging. The V (SWSH260) follows at €80.38, ahead of the VMAX (SWSH261) at €58.62, the latter remains, despite its large format, the box's most accessible entry point.

These figures are a snapshot as of June 24, 2026: they evolve with the market, so remember to check the day's market value before buying or reselling. Note too that availability on CardMarket FR remains limited (box mainly distributed in the EN version), which can widen the gap with international listings.

The valuation factors

Several elements explain why these cards maintain their value:

Charizard's popularity remains factor number one. No Pokémon generates as much demand on the secondary market so consistently, every new card bearing its likeness systematically attracts a wide audience of collectors and speculators.

Promo exclusivity plays a crucial role. These three cards can only be obtained by buying the complete UPC box or by finding them already separated on the secondary market. There is no planned reprint in a standard set, which keeps supply structurally limited.

The Etched Foil finish is a visual-rarity criterion. It's harder to obtain in gem mint (PSA 10) than classic holos, because the textured background can reveal micro-scratches invisible to the naked eye. The PSA 10 population rate is therefore naturally lower, which puts a premium on perfect copies.

The end-of-era status of Sword & Shield also gives these cards a growing nostalgic value, now that the Scarlet & Violet series has taken over. SWSH promos are seen as closing pieces of a beloved cycle.

On the other hand, these cards are not played in the current competitive format, their value is purely for collectors.

Should you buy this card?

Arguments for buying: If you collect Charizard cards systematically, these three promos are must-haves. Their Etched Foil finish is visually distinctive, their exclusive status is clear, and the SWSH260-261-262 trio makes up a coherent set to display. In raw Near Mint, the entry point remains reasonable compared to other iconic Charizard promos.

Some caveats: The VSTAR at around €160 isn't an obvious bargain if you're looking for a quick capital gain, the Sword & Shield card market has stabilized and the speculative surges of 2021-2022 are behind us. Moreover, the existence of a new Mega Charizard X ex UPC (November 2025) could draw part of the attention and budgets toward this new product.

Practical advice: Favor raw copies in Near Mint if your budget is tight, and keep the VMAX or the VSTAR for a possible PSA 10 grading only if the copy is visually flawless from the start. Buying an already-graded PSA 10 remains the safest route for future resale.

Conclusion

The 2022 Charizard Ultra Premium Collection box remains a solid piece for any serious physical Pokémon TCG collector. Its three promo cards SWSH260, SWSH261 and SWSH262 combine exclusivity, premium finish and the eternal appeal of Charizard, a trio that has every reason to hold its value over the long term.

To track their market value evolution over the weeks and avoid buying or reselling at the wrong time, use PokéItem directly in your browser, or download the app to your phone to always have real-time price tracking at your fingertips, the page automatically detects iOS or Android.