Burning Shadows vs Crimson Invasion ETB: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 28, 2026 · 5 min read
Buy Burning Shadows if you want the Charizard GX ceiling and a deeper secret rare pool. Buy Crimson Invasion if you want a lower secondary market entry and the Ultra Beast debut at a meaningful discount.
Both are Sun and Moon era Elite Trainer Boxes released in 2017, each with 8 booster packs, 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, damage counters, a coin, acrylic markers, and a player's guide. Neither includes a promo card, despite what some listings imply. The two sets cost roughly the same at launch ($39.99 MSRP each), but they diverge significantly in secondary market pricing and pull appeal.
On this page 5 sections
At a glance
| Detail | Burning Shadows (SM3) | Crimson Invasion (SM4) |
|---|---|---|
| EN release date | August 4, 2017 | November 3, 2017 |
| Cards in set | 147 + 22 secret rares = 169 total | 111 + 13 secret rares = 124 total |
| ETB packs | 8 booster packs | 8 booster packs |
| ETB sleeves art | Necrozma | Silvally |
| Promo card | None | None |
| MSRP at launch | ~$39.99 USD | ~$39.99 USD |
| Secondary market ETB (Oct 2026) | ~$300–$370 observed | ~$218–$260 observed |
| Top chase card (raw value) | Charizard GX 150/147 (Rainbow Rare) ~$840 | Gyarados GX 112/111 (Secret Rare) ~$82 |
| Secret rare count | 22 | 13 |
| Set highlight | Charizard GX, Gardevoir GX, Necrozma GX | Ultra Beast GX debut (Buzzwole, Nihilego, Kartana) |
Release dates confirmed via Serebii.net (Burning Shadows) and Serebii.net (Crimson Invasion). ETB contents confirmed via the official Pokemon.com product gallery pages for each set. Secret rare and chase card values sourced from secondary market listings observed October 28, 2026.
Where Burning Shadows wins
The Charizard GX factor
Burning Shadows contains the Rainbow Rare Charizard GX (150/147), currently valued at approximately $840 raw. That single card outweighs the entire top end of the Crimson Invasion pull list by a factor of ten.
Charizard GX in the full art and hyper rare variants also sit in this set alongside Ho-Oh GX and Marshadow GX. Even excluding the rainbow, Burning Shadows holds more individually valuable cards. For the full contents breakdown, our dedicated fact-sheet covers every pull type in the set.
A 69% deeper secret rare pool
Burning Shadows has 22 secret rares to Crimson Invasion's 13. More secret rares means more chances at something above-set with each pack, and a wider variety of outcomes across a full ETB.
The 22 secret rares include 6 Full Art Supporter cards (Acerola, Guzma, Kiawe, Plumeria, Sophocles, and Wicke), 3 Secret Energy cards, and the rainbow hyper rares. Crimson Invasion's 13 are top-heavy toward Gyarados GX variants with a shorter Trainer card list.
Sealed value holds with Charizard demand
Secondary market ETB prices observed October 28, 2026 put Burning Shadows at $300–$370 and Crimson Invasion at $218–$260. The $80–$110 gap is entirely driven by Charizard demand. If that demand softens, so does the premium.
It has not softened measurably since 2020.
Where Crimson Invasion wins
Lower secondary market entry
Crimson Invasion ETBs trade at roughly $220–$260 observed, compared to $300–$370 for Burning Shadows. That is a 30–40% discount for the same 8-pack format and the same ETB accessories.
For a collector who wants a sealed SM-era ETB on the shelf without paying the Charizard premium, Crimson Invasion is the rational choice. The sealed experience, the Silvally sleeve art, and the Ultra Beast pulls are all real, and the entry cost is meaningfully lower.
The Ultra Beast debut
Crimson Invasion introduced Ultra Beasts as GX cards in English for the first time: Buzzwole GX, Nihilego GX, Guzzlord GX, Silvally GX, and Kartana GX. That mechanic debut matters for set-completion collectors who track the evolution of the game's card design.
The Japanese equivalent of Crimson Invasion, Awakened Heroes and Ultradimensional Beasts (SM4 and SM4+), covers the full Japanese set context for collectors interested in the original release.
The deciding question
The choice comes down to one thing: do you want the Charizard GX ceiling?
If yes, buy Burning Shadows. The Rainbow Rare Charizard GX 150/147 is among the most searched SM-era cards, and its presence alone justifies the premium. The 22 secret rares and the Gardevoir GX, Ho-Oh GX, and Necrozma GX supporting cast all reinforce that.
If you want a sealed SM-era ETB for display or to open with no attachment to hitting Charizard, Crimson Invasion saves you $80–$100 for the same 8-pack experience. The Ultra Beast GX debut is a genuine set narrative, and the Gyarados GX secret rare is a solid pull in its own right.
Neither ETB comes with a promo card. Several listings describe the ETB as including an exclusive promo: that is a listing error, not a feature confirmed by official Pokemon.com product pages.
The ETB accessories are otherwise identical across both sets.
Players looking to build a competitive deck from either set will find that Burning Shadows remains more relevant for Gardevoir GX builds, while Crimson Invasion's Ultra Beasts have limited competitive utility in 2026 formats. Both sets are Standard-illegal. If competitive play is the goal, look at modern SV-era ETBs instead.
FAQ
Does the Burning Shadows ETB include a promo card?
No. The official Pokemon.com product gallery lists no promo card for the Burning Shadows ETB. Some marketplace listings describe an exclusive promo: this is a listing error the official product page does not support.
The Necrozma-sleeved box contains 8 packs and the standard ETB accessories only.
Does the Crimson Invasion ETB include a promo card?
No. Like Burning Shadows, the Crimson Invasion ETB includes 8 booster packs and standard ETB accessories (sleeves, Energy cards, dice, markers, guide). No exclusive promo was included in the retail box.
Which set has better cards to pull?
Burning Shadows, by a significant margin. The Charizard GX Rainbow Rare 150/147 alone sits around $840 raw, and the set has 22 secret rares. Crimson Invasion's top pull, the Gyarados GX secret rare 112/111, is valued at roughly $82.
The gap in pull ceiling is roughly ten to one.
Which SM ETB is cheaper to buy sealed in 2026?
Crimson Invasion, observed at roughly $218–$260 versus Burning Shadows at $300–$370 (October 28, 2026). Both are well above their original $39.99 MSRP. The difference reflects Burning Shadows' Charizard GX demand, not a difference in pack count or box quality.
Are these sets still relevant for competitive play?
No. Both Burning Shadows (SM3) and Crimson Invasion (SM4) are Standard-illegal in 2026. They are sealed collector products.
Players wanting to build a current legal deck should look at recent Scarlet and Violet era sets.
Browse Elite Trainer Boxes on DexHaul to compare current prices across independent shops for both sets. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More SM-era and modern Elite Trainer Boxes from independent shops: