# Pikachu VMAX (Japanese) #279 — S8b: VMAX Climax

## Summary

Pikachu VMAX is the gold-card chase of VMAX Climax, an ultra rare that sits at the very top of this Japanese set and is the pull most buyers are hunting. The Pikachu is rendered as a glittering gold silhouette against black, with jagged lightning bolts radiating behind it. Japan received it in December 2021, nearly a year before the English version appeared in Lost Origin's Trainer Gallery. The modelled guide sits at $55, up 5% over 30 days on 4 copies traded, with 121 days of inventory on the board; a PSA 10 brings $170, 3.1 times raw, but a 90% gem rate against $65 of fees makes grading a losing trade.

## Identity

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Set | S8b: VMAX Climax |
| Language | Japanese |
| Number | 279 |
| Rarity | Ultra Rare |
| Era | jp-swsh |
| Illustrator | Unknown |
| Release date | 2021-12-03 |
| Image | Unavailable |

## Card details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Card type | POKEMON |
| Finishes | Holo |
| Languages | JA |

## Current stats

- Headline price: **$54.85** (ITEM_MEDIAN; modelled guide price) — as of 2026-11-09
- Headline basis: MODELLED_GUIDE — The venue’s published daily market guide, which the venue itself declares MODELLED. Nothing is confirmed to have traded at it, no copy is listed at it, and it is not our estimate — it is theirs.
- 24h change: 0.00% · 7d change: -0.10% — as of 2026-11-09
- Floor delivered ask: $118.86 — as of 2026-11-08T21:01:35.914Z
- Quant score: 69/100, regime ILLIQUID_UNKNOWN — as of 2026-11-08T21:01:35.914Z — 4 of 11 inputs · 35% weight · -32% confidence

## Provenance

- Catalog — observed 2021-12-03T00:00:00Z, confidence 98%
- Guide price (modelled) — observed 2026-11-09T00:00:00.000Z, confidence 90%
- Price statistic — observed 2026-11-08T00:54:26.173Z, confidence 90%
- Confirmed sale — observed 2026-10-14T17:00:22.733Z, confidence 85%
- Live ask — observed 2026-11-08T00:54:26.173Z, confidence 80%
- Inventory count — observed 2026-11-08T00:54:26.173Z, confidence 70%
- Population census — observed 2026-11-05T01:33:10.217Z, confidence 60%

## Links

- [View on Cardboard Alpha](https://cardboardalpha.com/pokemon-japan/s8b-vmax-climax/pikachu-vmax-3)
- [JSON snapshot](https://cardboardalpha.com/api/terminal/raw~pokemon-japan%3Ajp-23644-279%3AJA%3AHOLO~NM)