Rayquaza VMAX 218/203 · Evolving Skies

Evolving Skies is a set in the Sword & Shield series. It was released on 27 August 2021. The printed size is 203. This checklist is longer, at 237 cards. Rayquaza VMAX is 218/203, in position 218 of 237 on this checklist. Before it is 217 Rayquaza VMAX, and after it is 219 Duraludon VMAX. The collector number is above the printed set size of 203. The listed rarity is Rare Rainbow.

Rayquaza VMAX is a VMAX Rapid Strike Dragon Pokémon with 320 HP. In the Pokédex this is Rayquaza (#384), generation 3 (Hoenn). The card says it evolves from Rayquaza V. In this catalog that name is Rayquaza (#384).

Anesaki Dynamic illustrated this card. The same name is on 134 other cards in the catalog.

Rayquaza (#384) has 59 other cards in the catalog. Those other cards are in 31 sets. The other printings with a release date run from 2003 to 2026. The earliest other card is Rayquaza ex 39/40 in Nintendo Black Star Promos (2003). That card is named Rayquaza ex, while this one is Rayquaza VMAX. That card lists 100 HP, and this one lists 320 HP. The rarity there is Promo, and here it is Rare Rainbow. Ryo Ueda illustrated that card, and Anesaki Dynamic illustrated this one. Retreat cost there is 1, and here it is 2. 53 other cards of Rayquaza list a different HP.

Azure Pulse is listed as Ability. Once during your turn, you may discard your hand and draw 3 cards. The attack Max Burst lists 20+ damage. The cost is Fire, Lightning. You may discard any amount of basic Fire Energy or any amount of basic Lightning Energy from this Pokémon. This attack does 80 more damage for each card you discarded in this way. Retreat cost is 2. The card text says: VMAX rule: When your Pokémon VMAX is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards. The regulation mark is E.

I keep a set binder for Evolving Skies, meant to hold every card of that set. This card is one slot in the Evolving Skies set binder. A generation binder holds one card of each species. Rayquaza can fill a slot in Generation 3 binder (Hoenn). Themed lists that include this exact card are Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza, Giant Pokémon, VMAX cards, Rapid Strike, and All Rayquaza cards. I still need this card.