Iron Valiant ex SAR Paradox Rift: Prices and Market Value

Among the most coveted cards of the Paradox Rift set, the Iron Valiant ex SAR price is a question that comes up often in the TCG community. The 249/182 card, by kantaro, depicts one of the most popular Future Pokémon of the set: Iron Valiant, the paradox version of Gardevoir and Gallade from a hypothetical future. With a Special Illustration Rare (SAR) rarity, a striking illustration and a Pokémon that made an impression from its release in November 2023, this card combines several strengths that explain collectors' constant interest. Here is a complete analysis to understand its value and decide whether it deserves a place in your collection.

The Paradox Rift set: context

Scarlet & Violet - Paradox Rift (EV04 in French, Scarlet & Violet - Paradox Rift in English) was released in November 2023 on the French-speaking market. It's the fourth main set of the Scarlet & Violet generation, and it introduces two large families of new Pokémon: the Ancient Pokémon (inspired by the past) and the Future Pokémon (from a technological future).

This duality gives the set a very strong visual identity. The Future Pokémon cards sport cool palettes, purples, electric blues, metallic blacks, that contrast radically with the usual aesthetic of the TCG. Paradox Rift offers 182 numbered cards in the base set, then a series of secret cards that pushes the numbering well beyond, up to the gold Hyper Rares.

The Iron Valiant ex SAR card slots into this collection of secrets with the number 249/182, which clearly places it beyond the set, in the premium illustration category. The set is now out of its main print run, which stabilizes supply on the secondary market.

The card in detail

Number: 249/182 Set: Scarlet & Violet - Paradox Rift (EV04) Rarity: Special Illustration Rare (SAR / SIR) Artist: kantaro

Iron Valiant is a Psychic and Steel Future-type Pokémon, a typing combination that gives it a very distinctive visual presence. The ex version has generous Hit Points, in line with the standards of ex cards from the SV generation.

The illustration by kantaro is one of this card's strong points. The artist depicts Iron Valiant in a dynamic, menacing pose, bathed in a deep purple environment streaked with bolts of energy. The Pokémon's cybernetic aesthetic, sharp blades, slender silhouette, is perfectly showcased by the full-page composition characteristic of SARs. The card literally overflows with visual energy, which sets it apart even within a set already very generous in polished illustrations.

Note: the Hyper Rare (gold) version of the same Iron Valiant ex carries the number 261/182. The two cards depict the same Pokémon, but with a different visual treatment and rarity. On CardMarket, the SAR is referenced under the code PAR 249.

Market-value analysis and current prices

The reference price observed on the French-speaking secondary market (CardMarket, FR market) for the Iron Valiant ex SAR 249/182 sits in a range of €20 to €30 in ungraded version, recorded in early 2025.

This range reflects a card whose value has stabilized after the launch excitement. At its release in late 2023, the Paradox Rift SARs experienced price peaks tied to the initial scarcity of the boosters. Today, supply has normalized while remaining contained, since the set is no longer actively printed.

The value remains consistent with other Future Pokémon SARs from the same set, which trade in similar ranges. It's not the most expensive SAR of Paradox Rift, that spot usually goes to the versions with the most emblematic Pokémon, but Iron Valiant ex holds its rank thanks to its own popularity.

The valuation factors

Popularity of the Pokémon. Iron Valiant quickly won over the community thanks to its design and its lore. The concept of a future version of an iconic Pokémon duo (Gardevoir / Gallade) generates strong attachment among players and collectors.

Effective scarcity. SARs have one of the lowest pull rates of modern sets. In a standard box of 36 boosters, the probability of landing on a specific SAR remains very low. Supply on the secondary market is therefore structurally limited.

Illustration quality. kantaro's artwork is a valuation argument in itself. Cards by recognized artists in the TCG community tend to hold their value better over the long term, independently of the metagame.

Print status. Paradox Rift is no longer in active print on the Western market. The supply of new cards is therefore frozen, which supports prices over time.

Limited competitive impact. Iron Valiant ex had a certain role in the TCG meta at its release, but the direct competitive impact on the value of a SAR is generally secondary compared to the aesthetic and scarcity factors.

Should you buy this card?

Arguments for:

• A range of €20 - 30 remains accessible for a SAR from a major set
• The illustration and the artist have real heritage value in a collection
• With the set finished in print, supply is not going to increase mechanically
• Iron Valiant enjoys solid goodwill in the community

To keep in perspective:

• The value has already absorbed most of its post-launch progression
• There is a Hyper Rare (gold) version of the same Pokémon that may attract some collectors instead
• The modern SAR market is competitive: each new set generates new similar cards that can divert attention

Practical advice: if you like the Pokémon and the illustration, it's a card that holds up at this price. If you're looking for a pure speculative investment, the short-term upside is probably limited, better to see it as a stable collectible than as an asset with strong immediate upside potential. For the purchase, check several sellers on the secondary market and verify the card's condition (centering, corners, surface) before confirming.

Conclusion

The Iron Valiant ex SAR 249/182 from Paradox Rift is a card that justifies the interest it generates: a polished illustration, an endearing Pokémon, real scarcity and a finished set. At €20 - 30, it represents a reasonable entry into the world of Special Illustration Rares of the Scarlet & Violet generation for anyone who wants to build a coherent collection around the Future Pokémon.

To track its market value day to day and not miss a buying opportunity, use PokéItem directly in your browser, or download the app on your phone, the page automatically detects your system and redirects you to the App Store or Google Play as appropriate.