Exploring the World's Most Valuable Pokemon Cards: A Comprehensive Guide
Ever since the Pokemon main series game started blowing up in the western world; many knew that Pokemon would become a merchandising giant. There are hundreds of Pokemon that were popular, the Pokemon company was going to make a lot of money selling merchandise and cards related to these in-game monsters.
From this idea came the Pokemon TCG, one of the most famous and relevant trading card games globally. Having such immense popularity lead to people wanting to collect all cards and a huge demand for Pokemon TCG products arose.
People became obsessed about rare Pokemon cards worth thousands of dollars. There are a lot of cards worth tons of money, so it was inevitable that people started wondering what the most valuable Pokemon cards of all time were. Many bought cards to play the actual game, but many didn’t play the game at all and wanted to collect all cards as a hobby.
Today we’re writing a list about the most valuable Pokemon cards of all time. The list includes cards dating back to the original release and to highly coveted prize cards which were only given out to the winners of specific tournaments.
What Makes Pokemon Cards Valuable?
Before we dive into the specifics of the most valuable Pokemon cards, let's first explore why these cards hold such significant value in the eyes of collectors and enthusiasts alike. Several factors contribute to the value of Pokemon cards, including rarity, condition, historical significance, and demand among collectors. Rare cards that are in pristine condition and hold historical significance within the Pokemon TCG community often command staggering prices at auctions and sales.
List of Most Valuable Pokemon Cards
Rayquaza Gold Star
Sold for $27,000
We’re starting our list with the sky god, Rayquaza. This Raqyzua Gold Star card was initially released in 2005 as a part of the EX Deoxys set. It didn’t take much time for this dragon to start flying high; ever since its arrival, it has been one of the most coveted Pokemon cards due to the sheer popularity of Rayquaza.
Recently a PSA 10 Rayquaza Gold Star was sold for a whopping $27,000, that too in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. The booster packs from which this card comes from, are sold for over $300!
Latios/ Latias Gold Star
Sold for $40,000
Like the Rayquaza Gold Star, the Latios/Latias Gold Star is also a great pull from the Gold Star line of cards. The cards feature the iconic flying Pokemon, which got famous during the Hoenn Region games.
In a PSA 10, the cards are valued at around $40,000 each!
1st Edition Venusaur
Sold for $50,000
The first edition Venusaur is a rare card and a must-have for any serious collector out there as it is one of the three main starters that made the game famous. The greatness of Venusaur knows no bounds and carries around a hefty price tag of $20-30,000.
Last year, a Venusaur PSA 10 card was sold for $50,000 on eBay. Though the base price of the card is just over 20 grand, the price keeps going up with time.
Master Key Prize card
Sold for $30,000
When people think about valuable Pokemon cards, they think about a Charizard or a legendary Pokemon; not many think about a prize card. A prize card is only given to the winners of specific tournaments, meaning you can’t get these cards out of a booster pack.
The Master Key prize cards were handed out to competitors in the 2010 Pokemon world championships. There are only 30 such cards in circulation right now, and you can fetch one of these on eBay for $30,000 in a PSA 10.
1st Edition Blastoise
Sold for $35,000
Unlike the other Pokemons you can find in the wild, the original starters have a much greater value due to their sheer popularity amongst the fans. And to no one’s surprise, the 1st edition Blastoise is also a valuable card, in fact, one of the most valuable!
The card features the iconic Pokemon standing straight with an aggressive posture enough to scare any scrawny trainer trying to battle you. The card can be bought for $35,000 or even more depending upon the availability of these cards in the market.
The great popularity of Blastoise is what makes it even more valuable; fans love this blue turtle and are willing to pay a premium prize to get their hands on this coveted card.
#1 Trainer card
Sold for $90,000
Getting your hands on this card doesn’t only require money, it also requires a liking for Pokemon and excellent skills in playing the TCG. This card is only given to the winners of Pokemon TCG tournaments, making them a scarce card.
A PSA 10 card was sold for more than $90,000. Now that’s a crazy number. Even you can get the #1 Trainer Card, but there’s a catch, you’ll have to be the best Pokemon TCG player in the world. Or you can simply buy it at the price of a house.
Kangaskhan Event Trophy Card
Sold for $150,000
The Pokemon company likes to hold many tournaments across the globe; one such competition was held in 1998 where the parents and the kids participated together as a team. The winners of this tournament were given these Shiny Kangaskhan Trophy Cards!
A relatively simple prize at that time, the card is now worth more than $150,000, and less than 11 exists in a PSA 10 condition.
Trophy Pikachu
Sold for $100,000
In 1997 the first-ever TCG tournament was held where the winner, the runner-up, and the third-place finisher were awarded a Pikachu Trophy Card. These cards are unique and one-of-a-kind, and as mentioned earlier, only 3 of them exists.
The cards are so rare that one PSA 9 was sold for a whopping $100,000! And even if you have that much money, good luck getting your hands on one of these bad boys!
Pikachu Illustrator
Sold for $5,275,000
Pokemon hosts all types of tournaments where people can come and have a great time. One such event called COROCORO was held where the winner was given a Pikachu Illustrator card.
Though the card isn’t playable in the TCG, it still very precious, and the current price is estimated to be in the ballpark of 2 million dollars. That’s enough money to retire and have a happy life! The last Pikachu Illustrator was sold for $190,000 in a PSA 9.
The most valuable Pokemon card ever sold is a PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, sold to Youtuber Logan Paul.
1st Edition Charizard
Sold for $220,000
The 1st Edition Charizard is one of the most valuable Pokemon cards, ranking just after the Pikachu Illustrator card.
Like its two counterparts i.e. Venusaur and Blastoise, Charizard is also a member of the original three who captured the attention of millions of kids at the time of the game’s launch.
One of these cards was sold to the rapper Logic at a whopping $220,000 at an auction; even Logan Paul has one which he wore to his fight against Floyd Mayweather.
Which Pokemon Sets Have the Most Valuable Cards?
For collectors seeking to uncover valuable Pokemon cards, understanding which Pokemon sets harbor the most sought-after treasures is essential. While numerous Pokemon sets boast valuable cards, certain sets stand out for their legendary status and coveted collectibles.
Sets such as Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket are revered for their iconic cards and have the most valuable Pokemon cards. Exploring these sets can yield valuable discoveries for collectors keen on expanding their collections with rare and valuable cards.
The Pokemon TCG is a fun trading card game created so that people of any age can gather together to trade and battle and talk about their similar interests; little did they know what kind of behemoth they were creating. If you want to learn how to play the Pokemon TCG, we've written an article about that here.
Collecting Pokemon cards is as relevant in 2021 as it was in the 2000s. People still love pulling a holographic card, a rare card, or a card that’ll help them win a battle.
Heck, most of the people who collect Pokemon cards don’t even know how to play the game; they just love to collect these pocket monsters because it is fun. We hope this list would have ignited that fire in you, which will get you into collecting Pokemon cards because who knows, you might pull a card that can be worth thousands of dollars!
If you're interested in getting into collecting Pokemon cards, browse our products ! We have a lot of Pokemon booster boxes, Pokemon elite trainer boxes and Pokemon tins in stock !
