How Many Pokemon V Cards Exist?

As of early 2023, there are over 300 unique Pokemon V cards released in the trading card game. This number will continue rising rapidly with new sets debuting every 3-4 months containing fresh batches of V cards.

As a passionate Pokemon TCG collector and player since the Wizards of the Coast days, V cards represent an exciting evolution for the franchise I grew up with. Their introduction in 2019‘s Sword & Shield base set marked a new era that captured fans old and new.

In this article, join me in exploring what makes Pokemon V cards so popular, the staggering array out there, and where the future may take this red-hot TCG category.

The History and Rise of Pokemon V Cards

Pokemon V cards arrived in February 2019 as a replacement for the outgoing GX mechanic. They continued the tradition of flashy Ultra Rare cards with big HP, damage and abilities aimed at competitive play.

What sets them apart includes:

• Higher HP: Greatly expanded over standard cards and even GX predecessors
• VMAX Evolution: Basic V can evolve into towering VMAX form
• Tag Teams: Combine forces like Zacian V and Zamazenta V
• Special Arts: Alternate arts and hyper rares better than GX
• Future Viability: Maintained relevance in Standard format

V cards quickly upshifted the power dynamic and value proposition in packs. Collectors relished harder to pull rates for the most desired cards. Strong competitive abilities also endeared them to players.

Pokemon V Card Representation in Major TCG Sets

Here‘s a quick snapshot of how many V cards appear across current and recent sets:

As you can see, the number is all over the map but averages around 10+ V cards for main expansion sets. Mini sets like Shining Fates contain more as a percentage due to smaller overall size.

The most for any set thus far comes from February 2022‘s Brilliant Stars launch containing 18 Pokemon V.

Why Pokemon V Cards Are So Powerful and Popular

Let‘s discuss what gives Pokemon V cards such strong battle presence and collector gravitas versus standard cards or older EX, Megas and GXs:

Big Base HP: Survivable Blobs – By crossing the 200+ HP threshold, V Pokemon act as damage soaking tanks. It‘s not unusual for a V to have 50-100 more base HP than EX/GXs. Their staying power permits more attacks.

Expanded Attacks: Hits Like a Truck – Attacks dish out major punishment. Instead of GX‘s measly 250 damage cap, VMAX versions can clear 340+ damage easily with just 1 Energy attachment.

Abilities and Effects: More Than a Beatstick – Abilities like Inteleon VMAX‘s Shady Dealings make Vs pivotal role players too.

Premium Card Crafting: Chase Card Magnetism – From Rainbow Rares to Gold Cards to Alternate (Alt) Arts, Pokemon made upping allure for chase V cards an art form. Their appeal and value reflects this.

Competitive Relevance: Mainstays in Top Decks – VMAX and VSTAR cards continue dominating Standard tournament play years later. Their lasting impact exceeds previous EX and GX benchmarks.

Let‘s showcase some of the rarest and jaw-droppingly valuable V cards which embody these traits. Prices come from TCGPlayer Market tracking.

The Top 10 Most Valuable Pokemon V Cards

I‘ll focus on Alt Arts and interesting exceptions versus most Rainbow Rare chasing:

1. Giratina V (Alt Art) – $266

2. Rayquaza VMAX (Alt Art) – $230

3. Umbreon VMAX (Alt Art) – $160

4. Blaziken VMAX (Alt Art) – $134

5. Leafeon VMAX (Alt Art) – $130

6. Golden Snorlax VMAX (Secret) – $100

7. Mew VMAX (Alt Art) – $100

8. Arceus V (Alt Art) – $95

9. Genesect V (Alt Art) – $95

10. Glaceon VMAX (Alt Art) – $85

As expected, Eeveelution VMAX and legendary V/VMAX Alt Arts command the most value thanks to art and nostalgia factors. Cool oddities like Golden Snorlax VMAX also fetch premium pricing.

V Card Pull Rates and Rarity Compared to Other Ultra Rares

Let‘s quantify how unusual it is open one of these desirable V pulls:

• Normal V Card: 1 in 8 packs (12.5% odds)
• Full Art V: 1 in 43 packs (2.3% odds)
• Rainbow Rare VMAX: 1 in 111 packs (0.9% odds)
• Secret Rare Gold: 1 in 450 packs (0.22% odds!)

To put things in perspective, your chances of pulling a specific Alt Art V/VMAX hover around 1 in 900 packs according to expert estimates.

As you can see, while basic Pokemon V cards hold solid value and playability, their premium alternate arts and rainbow rare upgrades enter the big leagues of TCG rarity.

Addressing Counterfeit Concerns Among Pokemon Investors

Unfortunately, the soaring value of high-end Pokemon cards like these V gems draws unwanted attention from counterfeiters. Fake Pokemon cards harm the hobby by deceiving buyers and undercutting legitimate cards‘ worth.

Here are some red flags to watch for when assessing valuable V cards:

1. Too Good to Be True Prices

Super deals on cards far below market price almost always indicate fakes.

2. Bad Hologram Printing

Fuzzy or misaligned holofoil patterns happen often with counterfeits.

3. Font and Detail Issues

Not fully copying the intricacies of font kerning or attacks betrays fakes.

Outside of learning to spot them yourself, dealing with well-reviewed sellers plus professional grading provide the greatest protection. Companies like PSA and Beckett certify authenticity and condition for graded cards.

While counterfeiting makes buying high-end cards nerve-wracking, don‘t let it deter you. Follow general collecting best practices along with the thrill of pulling your own cards directly from packs when possible!

Predicting the Future of Pokemon V Cards

Pokemon V cards kicked off the latest era of the TCG in style. Their introduction brought renewed excitement through compelling gameplay and gorgeous artwork. Fan reception and strong tournament adoption cemented their place as mainstays.

But what does the future hold for Pokemon V past 2023? Here are my predictions:

More Variants: We‘ll see continuations of special arts plus introductions of AR/VR enhanced cards.

Power Creep Inevitable: VSTAR mechanic debuted in early 2022. I expect another replacement or evolution by 2024.

Featured Heavily in Reprint Sets: Past V cards will get second lives in compilation sets.

Values Will Keep Rising: The cards highlighted today already command insane prices. Further scarcity through time ensures accelerating growth.

I hope you enjoyed this deep dive into the ever-expanding realm of Pokemon V cards! As brilliant as the releases so far have been, the best is yet to come.

What are your favorite Pokemon V cards? Which do you think I missed mentioning that deserves more recognition? I welcome hearing your thoughts in the comments below!