What are Pokémon VMAX cards

Powerful evolution cards introduced in the Sword & Shield era, representing Dynamax and Gigantamax forms.
Identified by the red-bordered “VMAX” suffix and full-art, oversized illustrations.
Evolve from Basic V Pokémon and award 3 Prize cards when Knocked Out, balancing high HP and powerful attacks.
Often featured as the main attackers in competitive decks and available in rare Rainbow and Secret Rare variants.

Introduction and Design

Pokémon VMAX cards made their debut in the Sword & Shield base set (February 2020), translating the Dynamax and Gigantamax phenomena from the video games into the TCG. Each VMAX evolves from a Basic V Pokémon, distinguished by a bold red border and the “VMAX” suffix in its name.

Game Mechanics and Competitive Role

Evolving into VMAX grants massive HP, often 300 or more, and access to game-changing attacks. The trade-off for such power is steep: when a VMAX is Knocked Out, it awards your opponent 3 Prize cards. This high-risk, high-reward dynamic has made VMAX cards central offensive pieces in many tournament-winning decks.

Artwork, Rarity, and Variants

VMAX cards showcase full-art, oversized artwork with premium holo-foil etching across the entire card. They appear as rare pulls in expansions like Darkness Ablaze, Vivid Voltage, and Chilling Reign. Special treatments, such as Rainbow Rare, Full Art Secret Rare, and alternate-art prints drive strong demand among collectors and complement the later-introduced VSTAR cards.

What are Pokémon VMAX cards

Introduction and Design

Game Mechanics and Competitive Role

Artwork, Rarity, and Variants

Cards from the Sword & Shield Promos:

Lapras, Morpeko, Stonjourner, Snorlax, Lapras, Morpeko, Stonjourner and Snorlax from the set Sword & Shield:

Cards from the set Rebel Clash:

Cards from the set Darkness Ablaze:

Drednaw, Gardevoir, Alcremie, Charizard, Drednaw and Gardevoir from the set Champion’s Path:

Cards from the set Vivid Voltage:

Cards from the set Shining Fates:

Cards from the set Battle Styles:

Cards from the set Chilling Reign:

Cards from the set Evolving Skies:

Flying Pikachu and Surfing Pikachu from the set Celebrations:

Cards from the set Fusion Strike:

Cards from the set Brilliant Stars:

Heatran, Machamp, Heatran, Machamp, TG30 Ice Rider Calyrex, TG30 Shadow Rider Calyrex, TG30 Ice Rider Calyrex and TG30 Shadow Rider Calyrex from the set Astral Radiance:

Melmetal and Melmetal from the set Pokémon GO:

Kyurem, Kyurem, TG30 Orbeetle, TG30 Centiskorch, TG30 Pikachu, TG30 Eternatus, TG30 Pikachu and TG30 Mew from the set Lost Origin:

Regieleki, Regieleki, TG30 Blaziken, TG30 Corviknight, TG30 Rayquaza, TG30 Duraludon, TG30 Rayquaza and TG30 Duraludon from the set Silver Tempest:

Zeraora, Hatterene, Rayquaza, Rayquaza, Duraludon, GG70 Zeraora, GG70 Deoxys and GG70 Hatterene from the set Crown Zenith: