Houndoom v – Darkness Ablaze (#178)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Houndoom v (#178) is a Rare Ultra card from Sword & Shield - Darkness Ablaze released in 2020. It showcases artwork by Ayaka Yoshida and the Searing Flame attack (20 damage), Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Burned.. TCGplayer market price sits around $4.56, Cardmarket average sale is €4.39, Floor listings start near €2.00. Market price has declined 3.6% versus the 30-day average.
- TCGplayer market price: $4.56
- Cardmarket trend price: €3.88
- 30-day Cardmarket average: €4.55
- Recent low listing: €2.00
- Market price has declined 3.6% versus the 30-day average.
- PSA 10 average: $42 across 9 sales
Card Details
- Set
- Darkness Ablaze
- Card Number
- 178
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare Ultra
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Ayaka Yoshida
- HP
- 210
- Type
- 🔥 Fire
- Regulation Mark
- Regulation D ✓ Legal in Standard
- Weaknesses
- Water ×2
- Retreat Cost
- 1 (Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Searing Flame
[Fire]
— 20
Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Burned. -
Vengeful Flame
[Fire, Fire, Colorless]
— 100+
If your Benched Fire Pokémon have any damage counters on them, this attack does 100 more damage.
💡 Excellent damage-to-energy ratio (33.3 per energy).
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Houndoom v from Darkness Ablaze (Rare Ultra) represents a premium addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2020, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Ayaka Yoshida.
Market Trends: Market price has declined 3.6% versus the 30-day average.
Grading Potential: Professional grading can significantly increase value - PSA 10 copies command an average of $42 based on 9 verified sales. As a Rare Ultra card, pristine copies are highly sought after by serious collectors.
Investment Considerations: Mid-range TCG cards often provide balanced risk-reward profiles for collectors.
⚔️ Competitive Play & Tournament Viability
This Houndoom v 178 is legal for tournament play in Expanded, Unlimited formats. The card bears Regulation Mark D, indicating its current competitive viability.
Key Attack: Houndoom v's Searing Flame deals 20 damage for Fire energy. Special effect: Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Burned.
Stats Overview: 210 HP • Fire Type • Weak to Water ×2
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Houndoom v Cards
Looking for other Houndoom v cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darkness Ablaze #178 ← Current | 210 | 2 attacks | Rare Ultra | $4.56 |
�📦 Darkness Ablaze Set Context
This Houndoom v is part of the Darkness Ablaze expansion , released as part of the Sword & Shield series in 2020. As a Rare Ultra card, it represents one of the premium pulls from this set.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Ayaka Yoshida, whose distinctive illustration style has made their cards highly collectible. Explore more cards illustrated by this artist to discover similar art styles and collecting themes.
💎 Professional Grading Guide
Professional grading can significantly increase the value of your Houndoom v card. Here's what you need to know:
Industry standard • Value multiplier: 3-6x
Best for: High-value cards, modern sets
Subgrades available • Value multiplier: 3-5x
Best for: Premium cards, perfect centering
Fast turnaround • Value multiplier: 2-4x
Best for: Budget-friendly option, bulk
💡 Should You Grade This Card?
- Yes, consider grading if: Premium rarity card in Near Mint+ condition
- Grading cost: $20-100+ per card (depending on service level)
- Break-even point: Card should be worth $50+ raw to justify grading costs
- Turnaround time: 2 weeks to 6 months depending on service
📈 Grading Performance: PSA 10 copies of this Houndoom v average $42 based on 9 verified sales. That's a 818% premium over raw card prices!
Collector Notes
- Rare Ultra cards from Darkness Ablaze are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- High-grade slabs matter: PSA 10 copies are averaging around $42, making condition upgrades impactful.
- The illustration by Ayaka Yoshida resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Fire typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
💰 Market Pricing
🏆 Graded Cards (PSA)
More from Darkness Ablaze
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Houndoom v 178 was released in 2020 in the Darkness Ablaze expansion. This set is part of the Sword & Shield series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Ayaka Yoshida. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Rarity & Collectibility: As a Rare Ultra card, this Houndoom v is among the premium chase cards from Darkness Ablaze. These premium versions typically hold value better than common printings.
Set Popularity: Darkness Ablaze represents a mid-era release that balances accessibility with collectibility.
Competitive History: Fire type Pokémon like Houndoom v with high HP make excellent tank options in competitive play, often serving as cornerstone Pokémon in control decks. Currently legal in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Houndoom v card with these essential products:
- Penny sleeves: Basic protection
- Perfect fit sleeves: Pre-grading
- Top loaders: Display & storage
- Magnetic holders recommended
- Binders with side-loading pages
- Storage boxes (800-count)
- ETB (Elite Trainer Box) storage
- Premium display cases
- Pair with Fire energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Houndoom v works best in Fire type decks. With high HP, consider including healing and damage reduction cards to maximize survivability. Low energy cost attacks make this card great for aggressive early-game strategies.