The Top Chase Cards from Astral Radiance You Need in Your Collection
Astral Radiance blasted onto the scene with a cosmic blend of Hisuian legends, stunning artwork, and one of the most memorable alternate arts in the Sword & Shield era. This set is stacked with collector bait — and we mean that in the best way possible.
Whether you're hunting the Machamp V Alt Art (aka "Running Machamp") that's exploded in value, the galaxy-brained Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR, or eye-popping Trainer Gallery hits like Starmie V with Misty, this set has serious pull potential.
In this article, we’re breaking down the best Astral Radiance chase cards — the ones turning heads at trade nights, topping price charts, and filling up graded slabs. Let’s get into the cards collectors are actually chasing!
Updated: July 9, 2025
Ah yes, Hisuian Typhlosion VSTAR — the ghostly fire starter with serious collector clout. At first glance, this isn’t your typical Typhlosion. Gone is the aggressive Johto energy — in its place, a mysterious, almost mystical aura. And that artwork? Chef’s kiss. With glowing purple flames and those hypnotic eyes, it looks like it walked straight out of a dream (or a feverish hallucination). It’s no wonder collectors are obsessing over this one — it’s got that perfect blend of nostalgia, regional twist, and serious shelf appeal.
But this card isn’t just vibes. From an investor's standpoint, Hisuian Typhlosion VSTAR is riding the wave of fan-favorite starter status and low population numbers in PSA 10s. It might not be the most expensive card in Astral Radiance, but its unique look, VSTAR power, and connection to the Hisui region give it staying power in the market. It’s the kind of card that makes you go, “Do I sell... or double sleeve and display forever?” (Spoiler: most of us are doing the latter.)
Card # / Rarity | 193 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Psychic / VSTAR |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Typhlosion |
Let’s hear it for the OG heavy hitter — Machamp VSTAR! While everyone’s losing their minds over the alt-art “Running Machamp” (and rightfully so), the VSTAR version deserves its own spotlight. This beast looks jacked, focused, and ready to throw down, with a swirling cosmic backdrop that screams, “Yeah, I bench press meteors for fun.” It’s a card that reminds you why Machamp has always been a top-tier fan favorite — he's pure power wrapped in nostalgia, with just enough new-school flair to make collectors and players alike take notice.
From an investor’s POV, Machamp VSTAR has all the ingredients of a long-term sleeper hit: iconic Gen 1 status, competitive VSTAR mechanics, and a killer design that pops in binders and graded slabs. It may not command the same price tag as the alt-art chase, but it’s a strong supporting player in the Astral Radiance portfolio — the kind of card you’re glad you held onto when the next retro wave hits. Plus, let’s be honest... any card that looks like it can suplex time itself? Yeah, that’s going in the "do not trade" pile.
Card # / Rarity | 194 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Fighting / VMAX |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Machamp |
If time is Dialga’s domain, Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR is out here bending space like it’s made of rubber bands. This card doesn’t just look powerful — it feels powerful. With that sleek, alien-like design and cosmic swirl of pinks and purples, Palkia VSTAR is basically a black hole for your attention. Every time you flip through a binder and spot it, you pause. You admire. You respect the space god.
Collectors love it for the aesthetic, but investors? They’re eyeing this one because it actually wins games. Palkia VSTAR was a certified meta monster, warping the TCG scene with its Spatial Swell attack and VSTAR Power that let players flood their benches like magic. That competitive dominance, combined with legendary status and sharp VSTAR visuals, gave it the kind of cross-market appeal that makes a card stick — in demand for both players and collectors. Whether you’re grading it, playing it, or just staring at it on your shelf like the space-faring icon it is… Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR is a centerpiece, plain and simple.
Card # / Rarity | 192 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Water / VSTAR |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Palkia |
Time waits for no one… unless you’ve got Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR in your deck. This card is straight-up legendary — not just in lore, but in collector status. With its majestic, otherworldly design and metallic sheen, Dialga looks like it was forged in the heart of a collapsing star and handed down by Arceus itself. It's dramatic. It's epic. It's exactly the kind of card that turns heads when you reveal it from a pack — followed by a quiet moment where everyone around you goes, “Whoa.”
But it’s not just a looker. Dialga VSTAR carved out a serious name in the meta thanks to its Star Chronos VSTAR Power — an attack so powerful, it literally lets you take an extra turn. Yep, you read that right. From a competitive standpoint, that’s the kind of mechanic that gets you sleeved and sleeved fast. Add that to its legendary status, playable strength, and absolutely killer artwork, and you’ve got a chase card that continues to hold long-term value in both the graded market and the TCG arena. Simply put: Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR is timeless — literally and figuratively.
Card # / Rarity | 198 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Metal / VSTAR |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Dialga |
Don’t sleep on the serene queen of Astral Radiance — Hisuian Lilligant V Alt Art is elegance, balance, and low-key flex energy all wrapped into one gorgeous card. While other alt arts bring the chaos (looking at you, Running Machamp), Lilligant brings the vibes. She’s mid-pose in a tranquil field, surrounded by petals and peaceful scenery, like she just dropped out of a Studio Ghibli scene and into your binder. It's calm, it’s composed, and for many collectors, it's one of the most artistic alt arts in the entire Sword & Shield era.
From an investor’s standpoint, this card checks all the boxes: alt-art status (✔️), underrated starter evolution from Legends: Arceus (✔️), and art that actually feels like art (big ✔️). While it may not top the price charts like Machamp or Dialga, Hisuian Lilligant V Alt Art has that sleeper appeal — the kind of card you stash now and watch quietly grow in value as more collectors realize its beauty and scarcity. It’s a must-have for alt art aficionados, grass-type fans, and anyone who appreciates a little grace with their grind.
Card # / Rarity | 163 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Grass / Basic |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Lilligant |
Now here’s a card with serious altitude — Hisuian Sneasler V Alt Art is the kind of pull that makes you stop mid-rip and just stare. Perched precariously on a cliffside with a dizzying view of the Hisui wilderness below, Sneasler oozes danger, elegance, and just a little bit of “don’t mess with me” energy. The vertical composition of the artwork is unlike anything else in Astral Radiance, making it feel more like a piece of concept art than a standard Pokémon card. It's moody, cinematic, and downright unforgettable.
Collectors love it for that breathtaking design, but investors should pay attention too — this card has long-term sleeper potential written all over it. Alt art? Check. Unique framing? Check. Popular regional form from Legends: Arceus? Double check. It may not be the flashiest card in the set, but Hisuian Sneasler V Alt Art brings serious style to any collection — and those who hold it now will be climbing the value charts later. It’s edgy, it’s rare, and it’s perched right on the edge of greatness.
Card # / Rarity | 175 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Darkness / Basic |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Sneasler |
Beedrill V Alt Art is proof that even Gen 1 bugs can glow up. Seriously — who knew Beedrill could look this cool? Slicing through a lush green field with a literal swarm behind it, this card gives the kind of energy that says, “Yeah, I’m a basic Pokémon… but I’m here to take your binder by storm.” The diagonal composition, aggressive posture, and vibrant color palette make this one of the most visually dynamic alt arts in the entire set — and a total dark horse chase card for collectors in the know.
From an investment standpoint, this is what we call a low-pop sleeper. It doesn’t always get the same spotlight as Machamp or Dialga, but Beedrill V Alt Art has that perfect mix of fan nostalgia, standout art, and under-the-radar rarity that could age like fine honey. It’s also a dream for full-art collectors who want something different — something with a little buzz. Pun absolutely intended.
Card # / Rarity | 161 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Grass / Basic |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Beedrill |
If Salvador Dalí and Arceus teamed up to design a Pokémon card, you'd get the Origin Forme Dialga V Alt Art. This thing is surreal in the best way — a time-bending titan floating in a dreamscape of shimmering metallics and warped reality. It’s a total departure from traditional card art, and that’s exactly what makes it so iconic. The second you pull it, your brain short-circuits for a second — "Am I holding a Pokémon card or a piece of fine art?" Answer: both.
From a collector’s point of view, this card is pure grail status. The demand is high, the artwork is polarizing in a good way, and let’s not forget — it’s freaking Dialga, a Sinnoh legend and one half of the temporal-spatial god duo. For investors, this is one of Astral Radiance’s crown jewels. Low pull rate? Check. Alt-art status? Check. Cult-level hype? Check. Whether you’re sleeving it, grading it, or just admiring it in a magnetic case under LED lighting (no judgment), Dialga V Alt Art is a modern masterpiece that’s only going up in value — and in aesthetic.
Card # / Rarity | 177 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Metal / Basic |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Dialga |
Just when you thought Pokémon cards couldn’t get weirder — enter the Origin Forme Palkia V Alt Art, the card that looks like it was ripped straight out of an abstract art museum or a lost panel from a manga about gods. Designed by the legendary Shigenori Negishi, this card has Palkia standing in what looks like a dimension where physics took a vacation: stairs going nowhere, floating columns, Escher vibes everywhere. It's bold, bizarre, and absolutely unforgettable.
For collectors, this card is a must-have conversation piece. It breaks the mold of traditional TCG art and stands alone as one of the most uniquely illustrated alternate arts in the entire Sword & Shield era. And for investors? It’s got all the ingredients: a Legendary Pokémon, low pull rates, Alt-Art scarcity, and growing fan appreciation as more people realize how daring the artwork truly is. Origin Forme Palkia V Alt Art isn’t just a card — it’s a collectible statement. The kind of card that turns a binder into a gallery.
Card # / Rarity | 167 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Water / Basic |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Palkia |
Machamp V Alt Art isn’t just the crown jewel of Astral Radiance — it’s a modern classic that captured the hearts (and wallets) of collectors the moment it dropped. Nicknamed the “Running Machamp”, this card trades brute strength for slice-of-life charm, showing our four-armed friend dashing through a bustling market, arms full of groceries, casually helping the townspeople like the local gym bro we all wish we had. It’s a rare mix of power and personality — a card that tells a story, not just flexes stats. No explosions, no dramatic battle pose — just Machamp being a relatable legend, and that's what made it iconic.
What really sets this card apart is its cross-appeal. Hardcore collectors love it for the expressive artwork and unique composition, while casual fans are instantly drawn to the playful slice-of-life vibe. On top of that, it's a low-pull-rate Alternate Art of a beloved Gen 1 Pokémon — a perfect storm of nostalgia, rarity, and originality. Add in the fact that high-grade PSA 10s consistently command premium prices on the secondary market, and you’ve got a chase card that’s earned its status as Astral Radiance’s MVP.
For investors, Machamp V Alt Art is more than just a fun pull — it’s a blue-chip collectible. It checks every long-term value box: stunning art, iconic character, playable name recognition, and a steady upward price trend. Whether you’re collecting for passion or profit, this card is one of the few modern-era Pokémon cards that transcends its set. If Astral Radiance has a legacy in the years to come, it’ll be anchored by this unforgettable Machamp moment — running through the market, into binders, and straight into collector history.
Card # / Rarity | 172 / Ultra Rare |
Type / Stage | Fighting / Basic |
Set | Astral Radiance |
Character(s) | Machamp |

Sword & Shield
Astral Radiance
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