Paldean Fates: The Shiny Pokémon Set Explained (and Its Best Cards)
More than 150 shiny cards and a tiny main set. Here's what Paldean Fates is, its best cards and how to open it today.
5 min read
Pokémon guide
Shiny Pokémon have always felt special, and Paldean Fates is basically a whole set built around that feeling. With more than 150 shiny cards hidden in its packs, it’s one of the most fun Scarlet & Violet sets to open, and we still get asked about it all the time.
Here’s our guide to what it is, the cards worth chasing, how it compares with Paldea Evolved and where to find it now.
Shiny Treasure ex, the Japanese version of the set.
In this guide
What is Paldean Fates?
Scarlet & Violet, Paldean Fates is a special set that released in English on 26 January 2024. It follows the tradition of Hidden Fates and Shining Fates, with a huge “Shiny Vault” of shiny Pokémon on top of a small main set. It’s the English version of the Japanese set Shiny Treasure ex.
Set size: 245 cards, with 91 in the main set and 154 secret rares, most of them Shiny Rares.
Headline Pokémon: shiny Pikachu, with shiny Mimikyu on the Elite Trainer Box.
Japanese equivalent: Shiny Treasure ex.
That ratio is what makes Paldean Fates unusual. The secret rares outnumber the main set by a long way, so opening packs feels like a treasure hunt.
The best chase cards
These are the cards collectors want most. We’ve left prices out as they move a lot, but the order reflects demand.
Mew ex (232/091)
The Mew ex Special Illustration Rare is the top card. It’s playful and colourful, and Mew is a fan favourite for good reason.
Charizard ex (234/091)
A shiny black Charizard ex as a Special Illustration Rare. Charizard plus shiny is a combination that never goes out of fashion.
Gardevoir ex (233/091)
The Gardevoir ex Special Illustration Rare is gorgeous and has a big following, especially among players who used Gardevoir decks.
Shiny Rares: Pikachu, Snorlax and Mimikyu
The Shiny Rare Pikachu (131/091), Snorlax (202/091) and Mimikyu (160/091) are some of the most loved small cards in the set. They’re affordable, cute and perfect for a binder page of shiny favourites.
Mew ex Shiny Ultra Rare (216/091)
Another Mew, this time as a Shiny Ultra Rare. Mew fans will want both.
Paldean Fates vs Paldea Evolved
People mix these two up all the time, so here’s the difference. Paldea Evolved is a main expansion from 2023 with a big regular card list. Paldean Fates is a special set focused on shiny Pokémon, with a small main set and a huge number of Shiny Rares.
If you love shinies, Paldean Fates is the one. If you want a traditional set with lots of playable cards and Illustration Rares, Paldea Evolved is closer to what you’re after. Plenty of collectors end up with both.
How to collect the set
Finish the main set quickly. With only 91 cards, it’s one of the easiest main sets to complete.
Pick a shiny theme. Collecting every shiny Paldea starter or every shiny Eeveelution is a fun alternative to chasing all 154 Shiny Rares.
Keep a checklist. With so many secret rares, it’s easy to lose track of what you’ve pulled.
Buy the top cards as singles. Waiting to pull the Mew ex Special Illustration Rare can take a very long time.
Because it’s a special set, there was no standard English booster box. It came in Elite Trainer Boxes, bundles, tins and collections, and English sealed product is now getting harder to find.
Where to find it now
English sealed products have mostly sold through at retail. Our best suggestion for opening the set today is the Japanese version.
The Japanese Shiny Treasure ex booster box contains the same shiny Pokémon, with excellent print quality. Japanese special set boxes are popular with collectors, and they’re a brilliant way to experience the “Shiny Vault” feeling.
If you love shiny sets in general, the Japanese Shiny Star V booster box is the Sword & Shield era’s shiny set, and it’s just as fun to open.
Buying older sets safely
Older sealed products are sometimes resealed or tampered with, so always buy from a shop you trust. Everything we sell is genuine and factory sealed, and we check every box before it leaves us.
Factory sealed
Dispatched from the UK
Japanese Shiny Star V
Is it worth collecting?
Absolutely, if you love shiny Pokémon. Paldean Fates is pure fun: lots of hits, a small main set and a huge list of shinies to discover. It’s also a great set for younger collectors, because nearly every pack feels like it has something exciting in it.
If you’d like another Mew-themed set, the Pokémon 30th anniversary set has Mew ex as one of its headline cards, and every card is a foil.
Who it suits
Shiny hunters from the games, Mew and Charizard fans and anyone who wants a set that’s genuinely exciting to open. It also makes a great present, because the shiny cards are instantly impressive even to someone who doesn’t know much about Pokémon.
Storing shiny cards
Shiny Rares have a special foil finish that can show scratches easily. Sleeve them straight away and keep your favourites in top loaders. A 9-pocket binder with side-loading pages is a great home for a shiny collection.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are in the set?
Paldean Fates has 245 cards: 91 in the main set and 154 secret rares.
When did it come out?
It released in English on 26 January 2024.
What’s the best card?
The Mew ex Special Illustration Rare (232/091) is the most wanted card, with the shiny Charizard ex close behind.
