The Dark Dragon Breathes Fire
Charizard ★ δ is the inevitable meeting of the most popular Pokémon franchise-wide with the most prestigious rarity tier of its era. Shiny Charizard is black — and because Delta Species Pokémon take on the type of their shiny coloration, this Charizard is a Darkness-type. A black dragon. Of course collectors lost their minds.
At 100 HP, this was the most powerful Gold Star at the time of its release. Fukuda's artwork shows the black Charizard in a classic fire-breathing pose, wings spread, body surging beyond the card frame with the kinetic energy that defines his Gold Star style.
The card occupies a fascinating price tier — more expensive than most Gold Stars thanks to the Charizard tax, but well below the Rayquaza ★ and Umbreon ★ due to a healthier PSA 10 population (~99 copies). During the pandemic boom, PSA 10 copies briefly touched $40,000+, and have since stabilized around $20,000.
For collectors who can't afford a Base Set Charizard but want a genuinely iconic Charizard card, the Gold Star δ is arguably the best alternative — it combines Charizard, Gold Star prestige, and the Delta Species mechanic into one stunning package.
