Which are the most expensive Pokemon cards?

Ever since Pokémon arrived on the scene, it’s always been popular in some shape or form.

Whether it’s collecting or playing the card game, working your way through the video games or watching the episodes and movies, Pokémon offers something for everyone.

So, we thought we’d put together a list of the 20 most expensive Pokémon cards in the world and show you just how expensive some of these cards have become! 

The 20 Most Expensive Pokémon Cards In the World

The Pokémon cards and figures mentioned below have been compiled from various sources around the web, such as Ranker & The Gamer. 

These are the 20 most expensive Pokémon cards in the world: 
 

20. Championship Arena Card

Cost: $499

Kicking off our list is at $499, is a Championship Card from the 2005 Pokémon World Championships.

The only way to get your hands on one of these pokemon ex cards worth money to compete in the above-mentioned tournament or a few other competitions in 2005.

The Championship Arena was limited to tournament events by Nintendo to keep it an exclusive prize.

19. Gastly – Expedition Card

Cost: $999

Gastly is not the most exciting Pokémon that springs to mind when you’re planning your next match. He’s never been a particularly popular Pokémon either; however, his card has managed to break the four-digit mark.

Most pro Pokémon players would not consider using Gastly in a match, let alone actually playing him.

However, that should give you pokemon ex cards worth money indication that the card’s value really has no direct correlation to its competitive significance.

18. Holographic Shadlowless First Edition Mewtwo Card

Cost: $1,500

Mewtwo was always one of the most elusive and rarest Pokémon in the game, so that also made his card worth a whole lot more than other expensive Pokémon cards on the list.

The base set shadowless first edition holographic card is exceedingly rare today despite being massively coveted in 1999.

So if you have one in your collection or lurking around in the basement, dig it out, it’s worth around $1,500!

17. First Edition Shadowless Holographic Blastoise Card

Cost: $1,500

Everyone loves Blastoise, right? Blastoise was a super rare card in 1999 and has only become more sort after as time went on.

If you’re able to find a PSA 9 card for less than $1,500, you’ll have done really well.

Cards like this are very difficult to come by.

16. Gold Star Espeon Card

Cost: $3,500

First introduced in the EX line of play, Gold Star cards are the ones with the Shiny version of the Pokémon.

They were easy to identify in the game as they were slightly different from any of their adversaries.

Espeon is the most valuable of all the Gold Star cards as it was awarded to players that met certain criteria and were distributed to them by the Pokémon Players Club.

15. Shining Charizard Card

Cost: $3,500

Shining Charizard marks the first time a “shiny” Pokémon was found in the card game.

The Pokémon itself is holographic, instead of the background, and it’s worth even more if it has a first edition marking on the bottom left-hand side of the image.

14. Pikachu – Expedition Card

Cost: $5,999

Next on our list of the most expensive Pokémon cards in the world is this Pikachu Expedition.

Everyone loves Pikachu, so it’s no surprise that these loveable electrical rats cards are always in demand and command high prices.

If you’re a mega-fan of Pikachu, then you might be fortunate enough to pick one of these up on eBay.

13. Holographic Shadowless First Edition Venusaur Card

Cost: $6,500

As many Pokémon fans will know, Venusaur was a difficult card to come by, let alone a holographic one.

If you did manage to get your hands on a first edition one and held on to it, today, it could be worth a good amount of money!

If you have the one without a shadow around the image box, then you’d be able to fetch even more.

12. Black Triangle Error Booster Box Card

Cost: $8,700

Besides singular cards, you can also spend a lot of money on booster packs like this one.

The beauty with these is that you don’t know what type of rare cards you’re going to get.

The triangle booster pack is the most valuable, and a box will set you back a few quid. They were actually printed as a mistake when factories were supposed to stop printing any more “first edition” packs.

The price comes from them being sealed in a booster box, instead of just a booster pack.

11. Master Key Prize Card

Cost: $8,799

The master key Prize card is only one of 34 cards to have ever been produced. The cards were awarded to players in a 2010 trading card tournament in Japan, creating exclusivity and value.

If you want to get your hands on one, you’re going to have to do a lot of digging around online, as these cards a rarely available for sale!

10. Computer Error – Kamex Mega Battle Card

Cost: $9,999

Originally distributed with the CoroCoro comic’s monthly issue, the Computer Error – Kamex Mega Battle card was then awarded to prize winners competing in the 1998 Kamex Mega Battles.

The card did earn some later reprints, but the original Japanese versions are worth far more than any of the English ones, hence the $9,999 price tag. 

9. Articuno – Tropical Mega Battle Card

Cost: $9,999

Next on our list of the most expensive Pokémon cards in the world is the 1999 Articuno.

This card was awarded as a prize during the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle tournament.

However, there are standard versions that you can purchase, however because of their rarity and association with some of the worlds top players, $9,999 is the bare minimum of what you’re going to have to pay to get your hands on one!

8. Tropical Wind Card

Cost: $10,000

The English Tropical Wind was awarded to participants of the 2004 World Mega Battle tournament and didn’t really cost a lot of money to purchase if you wanted your own.

However, the 1999 version handed out to prize winners of another Tropical Mega Battle Tournament, is worth a great deal more!

Because it’s been awarded to some of the worlds best players, it now demands $10,000.
 

7. No. 3 Trainer Promo Card

Cost: $32,499

The No.3 Trainer was awarded to the third highest-ranking player in the annual World Championships.

To many, this card is seen as a badge of honour and highly regarded in the industry.

Therefore its price is mainly derived from its exclusivity and kudos, but whether someone is willing to pay it’s asking price or not is a different story.

6. Tropical Mega Battle No. 2 Trainer Card

Cost: $60,000

As a prize derived from a series of tropical Mega Battles, which consisted of 7 tournaments depending on player ability, the top three players were given a trainer card with an Exeggutor on the front.

They were then able to present these cards to gain world-class treatment at any Tropical Mega Battle.

The cards are now incredibly hard to find, and it’s thought that the gold card is worth more than $100,000.

5. No. 1 Trainer Promo Card

Cost: $70,000

Next on the list is Pikachu’s No. 1 Trainer Promo Card.

The Pokemon franchise held a two-day competition in 1997 to celebrate their success. This gave birth to the official Pokémon Card Game tournament.

The No.1 Trainer Promo card was reprinted multiple times and used in several competitions, so that’s why this card is not the most expensive Pokémon card in the world but still worth a good chunk of change. 

4. Pikachu Illustrator Card

Cost: $100,000

The fourth most expensive Pokémon card in the world is the Pikachu Illustrator.

Supposedly there were 39 of these mystical cards, but it’s thought that there are only six left in existence.

So, if you manage to get your hands on one of these, then you’re looking cashing it in for roughly $100,000!

3. Kangaskhan – Parent/Child Promo Card

Cost: $133,000

This card was awarded as a prize at a 1998 parent and child tournament.

It is one of the most prestigious cards left globally, and thousands competed in the competition for the right to be named Pokémon’s ultimate piece of merchandise.

After the competition, the card was instantly retired, which dramatically increased its value.

2. No. 2 Trainer Promo Card

Cost: $200,000

The No.2 Trainer Card costs more than double the price of the No.1 card; however, it’s pretty difficult to find, and single listings like this are rare; therefore the owner can demand whatever price they like for it.

If someone is prepared to pay $200,000 for it, then so be it; however, it could sit on the market for several months and dramatically reduce in price if know one id willing to pay that much. 

1. Pre-Release Raichu Card

Cost: Unknown

Kicking it at the top spot on our list is the Holy Grail of Pokémon cards – Pre-release Raichu.

There are an estimated eight cards in circulation that have the “PRERELEASE” badge.

Everything else on the card remains the same as the base set version, except a stamp that serves as the main differentiator.

This card is so rare that it’s impossible to value, so it’s left unknown until one finally, pokemon ex cards worth money ever, goes up for sale!

Summary

We hope you enjoyed our list of the 20 most expensive Pokémon cards in the world. 

This is another incredible example of how much expensive collectable items can get. Who’d of thought Pokémon cards could become this valuable!

Here’s a quick recap of the 20 most expensive Pokémon cards in the world:

1. Prerelease Raichu – Unknown
2. No. 2 Trainer Promo Card – $200,000
3. Kangaskhan – Parent/Child Promo Card – $133,000
4. Pikachu Illustrator – $100,000
5. No. 1 Trainer Promo Card – $70,000
6. Tropical Mega Battle No. 2 Trainer Card – $60,000
7. No. 3 Trainer Promo Card – $32,499
8. Tropical Wind – $10,000
9. Articuno – Tropical Mega Battle – $9,999
10. Computer Error – Kamex Mega Battle – $9,999
11. Master Key Prize Card – $8,799
12. Black Triangle Error Booster Box – $8,700
13. Holographic Shadowless First Edition Venusaur – $6,500
14. Pikachu – Expedition – $5,999
15. Shining Charizard – $3,500
16. Gold Star Espeon – $3,500
17. First Edition Shadowless Holographic Blastoise – $1,500
18. Holographic Shadlowless First Edition Mewtwo – $1,500
19. Gastly – Expedition – $999
20. Championship Arena – $499

What’s your favourite most expensive Pokémon card in the world? Leave a comment below.

With the Pokémon Trading Card Game's popularity at an all-time high, people are rushing to their old collections and hoping to find a few treasures they can sell. You pokemon ex cards worth money stories of cards being flipped for five or even six digits how to close apps on xbox one with alarming regularity, causing the COVID-19 pandemic's equivalent of a gold rush.

However, if you're a casual fan digging out their old binders, there is a slim chance restaurants in rockford mi find any of those mythical best-sellers in your collection. While paying off your mortgage from one card may be all but impossible, you can still make a healthy profit. With that in mind, here are the top ten most valuable Pokémon cards that you might actually own.

To work this out, I went through every single Pokémon set on TCGPlayer's price database and noted every single card worth with a market value of more than $100. I then removed all promotional cards, including tournament prizes, limited editions, and gift cards given to the game's staff. While these can be worth a lot, it is very unlikely someone is going to have them sitting under their bed and simply not know about it.

Keep in mind that market prices for cards fluctuate quickly, meaning cards from recent sets like Shining Fates or Vivid Voltage might not hold their value as well as a Base set card from the '90s. It's also worth remembering that TCGPlayer's prices are an average; you could sell your own for much more or much less, depending on the quality of the card.

#10 – Stormfront Charizard, $489.46

Prepare to see a lot of Charizard on this list. As the series' most popular Pokémon, it appears on almost all of the cards here in some form or another.

Stormfront was released in 2008 under the Diamond & Pearl umbrella. While not one of the set's many rare Lv.X Pokémon, Charizard was still a highly coveted Secret Rare, putting him as the most valuable card from the entire set.

#9 – Aquapolis Lugia, $490

Aquapolis came from that weird e-Card era of the Pokémon Trading Card game, where cards could be scanned into the e-Reader peripheral for the Gameboy Advance. While the whole thing was a total failure (the e-Reader was never even released in Europe, yet the cards were.), some of the cards from that time are still pretty valuable. Lugia (also known as 'Crystal Lugia', due to its Crystal Type ability) is the most expensive card from Aquapolis, coming in at around $490-$500.

#8 – FireRed & LeafGreen Charizard ex, $500

The return to Kanta in the GameBoy Advance era also saw the TCG follow suit, with a set entirely featuring Pokémon from the original 151. To give it that Advance generation flair, a number of Pokémon also received an ex form, a new feature that was first introduced in EX Ruby & Sapphire. Of course, the #1 card was Charizard ex.

#7 – Shining Fates Charizard VMAX, $510

The newest card on this list, Shining Fates only launched last month, and brought with it a whole load of Shiny Pokémon. While there are a fair few cards in the set worth a decent amount of money, it is hardly surprising to see Charizard's full-art Shiny treatment take the top spot.

#6 – Base Set Charizard (Holo), $566.29

Base Set Charizard is probably the most famous Pokémon card in the world at the moment, and so you may be surprised to see it only be the fifth card on this list. The reason for that bank of america credit card pin number the difference between A Base Set Charizard and a Shadowless Base Set Charizard. Shadowless Base Set cards can be identified by the lack of a dropshadow around the art frame, and signify it was in the very first print run of the TCG. Ones with shadows, while still highly valuable, are worth significantly less.

In the context of Pokémon cards, 'holo' simply means a card with glittery foil finish on the art.

#5 – Plasma Storm Charizard, $572.47

From 2013, Plasma Storm was eighth Black & White expansion. In the far-flung Unova region, a land full of exclusive and unique Pokémon… Charizard is the most valuable card. While I do question The Pokémon Company's fixation on putting Charizard in every set, I do really dig the art on this one.

#4 – Base Set Shadowless Blastoise (Holo), $797.99

Okay, maybe not everything is a Charizard. This is the first appearance of a Shadowless Base Set card in this list, and it's the water-type Blastoise raking in the big bucks. Much like Charizard, it's important to be certain that what you have is a shadowless holo Blastoise, as one with the drop shadow is significantly less at 'just' $150.

To be entirely honest, I feel bad for Venusaur. The grass-type starter Pokémon are always my favorite, but it doesn't even make this list!

#3 – EX Deoxys Rayquaza Star, $961.46

It's kind of nice to see this card on the list for me, as EX Deoxys was one of the last sets I remember buying before going on a Pokémon TCG hiatus. Released in 2005, EX Deoxys continued the trend of 'Star' Pokémon, cards which depicted Shiny Pokémon instead of their usual coloration. While in recent years Shiny Pokémon have become a bit more common (especially in Shining Fates), at the time they were a massive deal, which is why Rayquaza Star is worth almost $1000.

#2 – Dragon Frontiers Charizard Star (Delta Species), $1500

Another now-retired special type of Pokémon is the Delta Species. It was actually part of an exclusive story set in the TCG-only Holon region, as scientists used Delta radiation to hunt down Mew. Delta Species Pokémon are type-shifted, giving this Charizard a Dark type over its usual Fire. On top of that, it's also a Star Pokémon, meaning you have a Shiny Black Charizard on a black card template for its Dark type. It's no surprise why this one is so popular.

#1 – Base Set Charizard (Shadowless Holo), $2032

Of course, there's no Pokémon card that is more sought-after than a shadowless Base Set Charizard. This is the one that regularly makes the news, with some auctions for it going up into the hundreds of thousands for a verified pristine copy. There are two printed versions of Shadowless cards – first editions can be identified by the First Edition symbol under the bottom left corner of the art, while second editions, while still Shadowless, do not have the same mark.

While first editions can sell for thousands more than second editions, their value more depends on the quality and PSA-grading of the card. The ones you see in the news are often PSA 9 or 10, but most don't tend to get that grade, meaning most sell for significantly less.

Still, 'significantly less' in this context still means almost $500 more than the second most valuable Pokémon card. If you find this in your collection, you're quids in.

There's a huge amount of Pokemon out there and even more Pokemon Trading Cards, raging from common pidgeys to rare and valuable legendary cards, or even better. And valuable really is the word, with some Pokemon TCG memorabilia going for hundreds of thousands of dollars recently. That's why we've put together this list of the rarest and most expensive Pokemon cards, so you know for certain what's hiding in your attic.

Rare and valuable Pokémon cards

Interest in Pokémon and the Pokémon card game has only continued to grow in recent years, with multiple card sales at auction setting new records in 2019 and 2020 alone, so there’s never been a better time to rifle through your collection and see if you own one of the rarest Pokémon cards of all time. Aren’t you at least a little curious? There might be a retirement fund waiting in your attic.

A rare card made of solid gold

Sold for 216,000 yen ($2,081) in October 2016

While many of the rarest Pokémon cards are cards released during the first years of the game, this card is an exception in that it appeared for the first time only a few years ago in 2016 to celebrate the Pokémon TCG’s 20th anniversary.

What makes the 20th Anniversary Pikachu card extra special is the fact it’s made out of solid gold. 11 grammes of 24-karat gold, in fact. Japanese jewellery maker Ginza Tanaka produced a limited number of solid gold cards based on the original Japanese Pikachu card - affectionately nicknamed ‘Fat Pikachu’ due to the electric mouse’s distinctive chubby cheeks in its original design.

The only way to get a copy of the golden Pikachu was to enter a lottery held in 2016. If you won, you were given the chance to buy a copy of the limited-edition card for 216,000 yen - or around $2,081/£1,700. It came in a special frame and box marking the anniversary, which you’d hope might keep it safe given the price tag and rarity.

Although the card recreates the original Pikachu card - including the Pocket Monsters Card Game logo on the back and its Japanese text on the front - it’s actually not legal for use in tournaments. You know, because it’s made of gold. We probably wouldn’t recommend trading it in the schoolyard either, unless your friend has a Rolls-Royce to give you in return.

A card so rare it may just be rumour

Reportedly sold for $10,500 in April 2009

Perhaps the most controversial Pokémon card of all time, Prerelease Raichu may also be the rarest Pokémon card ever made - in fact, it’s so rare that finding out exact details is tricky.

Prerelease Raichu was long rumoured to be a card printed by error in the run-up to the English-language release of the Pokémon TCG’s second usps office open today, Jungle, in 1999. So the story bank of eastman magnolia state bank, a very small number - said to approximately 100 - of Raichu cards from the game’s Base Set were accidentally reprinted with the word “Prerelease” stamped in the bottom-right of the card artwork. The game’s English manufacturer, Wizards of the Coast, reportedly destroyed all but a fraction of the copies, leaving 10 or fewer in the wild. The few remaining copies are believed to have been given to Wizards of the Coast staff.

For years, Prerelease Raichu was only rumoured to exist, until a copy believed to be genuine surfaced from a former Wizards of the Coast employee in 2006. In 2009, the first and seemingly only recorded sale of a Prerelease Raichu was reported by fan site PokeGym, apparently changing hands for $10,500. However, given the completion date of April 1st, whether the sale was real or an elaborate April Fool’s prank remains dubious.

Whether Prerelease Raichu actually exists remains in contention - no copies of the card have even been professionally certified or sold at auction, despite a number of apparent fakes popping up over the years. If a legitimate copy of the card were to surface, it may well set a new record for the most valuable and rarest Pokémon card of all time. Until then, it will remain a true Holy Grail.

A more recent card - but no less rare

Sold for $21,000 in November 2019

Master’s Key is another rare Pokémon card awarded to participants in a Pokémon TCG tournament. However, unlike No. 1 Trainer and its ilk, this card is a little more recent, being given to competitors in the 2010 Pokémon World Championships held in Hawaii.

Both those participating in the trading card game tournament and its video game counterpart received a copy of Master’s Key - the cards were identical, but came presented in a different trophy case frame depending on the category.

Only 36 copies of the card are estimated to exist - equal to the number of participants in all age divisions of the world championships.

A copy of the Master’s Key card sold at auction in November 2019 for more than $21,000, highlighting how valuable the rare prize card is.

A pair of Gold Star Pokémon cards from one of the most valuable Pokémon sets of all time

Sold for $22,000 in February 2021

Gold Star Pokémon cards are among the most valuable sets of Pokémon cards in existence and command an incredibly high value as a result. The cards are named after the gold star that appears next to the Pokémon’s name at the top of the card, which signifies that the card features alternative-colour maximum wire transfer bank of america different from the common version. Only 27 Gold Star cards were released from 2004 to 2007, making them some of the rarest Pokémon cards available.

While all of the Gold Star Pokémon cards are rare, only appearing once in approximately every 88 booster packs (or two booster boxes) for certain Pokémon TCG expansions, the very rarest are the ‘Eeveelutions’ - the many evolutions into which basic Gen 1 Pokémon Eevee can evolve. And the rarest of the rarest are the original Japanese-language versions of the cards offered to members of the Pokémon Players Club, who could spend points earned by participating in official organised play and tournaments to obtain exclusive cards.

While Eeveelutions Flareon, Jolteon and Vaporeon could be acquired in the EX Power Keepers set released in 2007 via the Pokémon online store, their psychic and dark elemental siblings Espeon and Umbreon could only be picked up by players who collected enough Pokémon Players Club points. The Espeon 025/PLAY card required 40,000 EXP points earned, while Umbreon 026/PLAY was even most pricey at 70,000 points.

While the Japanese versions of the cards are the most valuable due to their limited availability, even the English-language versions of the Espeon and Umbreon Gold Star cards fetch a high price. A Gold Star Espeon rated at PSA 10 Gem Mint condition was sold in February 2021 for over $22,000, while an Umbreon graded at an equally perfect condition fetched just over $20,000 at auction in December 2020. PSA values the two cards at $194,209 and $187,277 respectively, easily making them two of the most valuable Pokémon cards around.

Every copy of this rare and valuable promo card is one-of-a-kind

Sold for $31,200 in April 2021

The first of two rare and valuable Pokémon cards called No. 1 Trainer on this list, this particular card was awarded to winners of the regional Battle Road Spring tournaments held in Japan during early 2002. (Battle Road Summer versions were given out during competitions held usps office open today that year.)

The regional tournaments were held as qualifiers for the Pokémon World Championships, with the small number of No. 1 Trainer cards produced for the few winners making them some of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence.

Adding to the card's rarity is the fact that each No. 1 Trainer card was customised with the name of the tournament winner printed onto the card, making each card one-of-a-kind. According to auction house Heritage Auctions, the personalised aspect of the cards also mean that they rarely appear at auction, making them an even rarer sight in the world of Pokémon cards.

The 2002 No. 1 Trainer card was illustrated by Ken Sugimori, best known as being one of the original artists and designers for Pokémon's first generation of 151 Pokémon. The text on it reads: "The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament Battle Road Spring 2002 champion is recognised here, and his honour is praised." Sugimori's No. 1 Trainer artwork - featuring fan-favourite Pokémon such as Pikachu, Chansey and Marrill - is exclusive to the card, making it especially unique.

A copy of the 2002 Pokémon World Championships No. 1 Trainer card, complete with its original display folder and even the envelope it was delivered in, sold at auction in April 2021 for just over $31,000. While it's not the absolute rarest of the No. 1 Trainer cards, the card still ranks as one of the most valuable Pokémon cards.

An ultra-rare promo card - one of only a dozen ever made

Sold for $65,100 in October 2020

Only 12 Tropical Wind cards were produced as promo cards for the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle, a precursor to the Pokémon World Championships, making it one of the most valuable Pokémon sets around.

The Tropical Mega Battle saw 50 players from around the globe take part in a tournament for the trading card game in Honolulu, Hawaii. The only way to participate was to win a battle in your local region and earn an invite, making it an exclusive event for the best Pokémon trainers in the world - and the cards offered as prizes some of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence.

This particular Tropical Mega Battle promo card, the 1999 Japanese-language copy of Tropical Wind, has sold at auction for as much as $65,100 in PSA Gem Mint 10 condition, with the most recent record-breaking sale taking place in October 2020. PSA estimates its value to be as high as $148,482, making the ultra-rare card a contender for one of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever made.

The answer to "What's the rarest Pokémon card of all time?"

Sold for $90,000 in July 2020

It’s unlikely you’ve heard of Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer, and extremely unlikely you’ve ever seen a copy in person. When it comes to rare Pokémon cards, there are very few cards rarer than this.

No. 1 Trainer is a holographic promotional card awarded to finalists in the Secret Super Battle tournament held in Tokyo, Japan in 1999. (Making it a different card to the 2002 World Championships No. 1 Trainer listed above, despite the similar name.) To earn a place in the competition’s finals, which were held in a secret location, players had to first win a regional tournament. Their prize was the No. 1 Trainer card, which granted them access to the finals.

The card’s text translates to: “The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's champion is recognised here, and this honour is praised. By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Secret Super Battle.” The card features the Japanese logo for the “Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game”, along with artwork of original generation Pokémon Mewtwo by illustrator Hideki Kazama.

As only seven regional tournaments were held, it’s believed that just seven copies of the No. 1 Trainer card were made - making it one of rarest Pokémon cards in existence. Six of the ultra-rare cards have since been certified as being in perfect Gem Mint 10 condition by PSA - the prestigious organisation that grades the quality, condition and value of trading cards, up to the highest level of Gem Mint 10 - with a flawless copy selling at auction in July 2020 for $90,000.

This is a card so rare and valuable that Indiana Jones probably had to escape a crumbling temple with it at some point. Its counterpart cards No.2 Trainer and No. 3 Trainer, similarly awarded to winners in Japanese Pokémon tournaments during the late 1990s, are almost as rare and valuable.

A legendary Pokémon on a legendarily rare Pokemon ex cards worth money card

Sold for $144,300 in May 2021

Lugia is one of the most iconic and popular Pokémon in the entire series, having starred on the front of early Game Boy game Pokémon Silver and its Nintendo DS remake SoulSilver. A legendary bird Pokémon from Gen II, Lugia is one of the most powerful and hard-to-find Pokémon that players can catch in the video games - so it’s only fitting that its Pokémon card is also extremely rare.

The Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9 Pokémon card is described by auction house PWCC as one of the most difficult Pokémon cards to grade, as the result of a number of errors and misprints that were included in the early runs of the Neo Genesis set for the Jim edmonds house TCG. Later print runs were corrected, but many of the cards from the expansion remain more common in their earlier uncorrected forms.

As of May 2021, PWCC claims that only 41 Gem Mint 10 condition Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9 cards have ever been graded by PSA, with just three earning the maximum BGS 10 Pristine rating from grading company Beckett Grading Service credit union branches near me. The Lugia’s rarity means that it ranks almost as highly as the legendary first-edition Charizard when it comes to the most valuable Pokémon cards.

Thanks to its popularity and rarity, the Pokémon card also fetches a very high price at auction. A first-edition Neo Genesis Lugia graded at PSA 10 reportedly sold in October 2020 for $50,000, with a BGS 10 Pristine copy selling in May 2021 for over $144,000. A legendary price for what is definitely a legendary card, in every sense of the word.

The third-rarest Pokémon card of all time

Sold for $150,100 in October 2020

This valuable Pokémon card dates from the trading card game’s earliest years, having been given to participants in the 1998 Parent/Child Mega Battle tournament held in Japan. As the name implies, teams were made up of parents and children. Those who achieved a set number of victories during the tournament were awarded this special trophy card - the only time it was ever up for grabs, having never been mass produced - making it one of the rarest promo cards available.

What sets the trophy card apart from its commonplace counterparts is the inclusion of the Pocket Monsters Card Game logo - the original Japanese name for the Pokémon TCG - on the card back in addition to the front, marking it out as an extremely rare variant of the original holographic Kangaskhan.

Following the sale of a PSA 7 card in June 2020 for $35,000, a copy of Kangaskhan-Holo #115 graded at Gem Mint 10 by PSA was sold on eBay in October for over $150,000, making the already rare card one of the most valuable Pokémon cards sold in recent years.

At the time, auction house PWCC revealed that only 46 copies of the card have ever been graded, with only three ever being publicly sold in the two-plus decades since the card first appeared. The October 2020 auction was the first such sale of a mint condition card. PWCC described the card as the third-rarest Pokémon card in the world, calling it worthy of a museum. Whether it’s in a museum or someone’s collection, it’s undoubtedly one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made.

Extremely expensive, extremely rare - the Holy Grail of Pokémon cards

Sold for $195,000 in October 2019

The current record holder for the world’s most valuable Pokémon card is also one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made.

Pikachu Illustrator was originally given to winners of promo contests held in 1997 and 1998 by Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic. 39 copies were officially awarded to the winners, while two copies were reportedly later discovered by one of the card game’s creators, seemingly bringing the total number of Pikachu Illustrator copies to 41.

As well as being ridiculously rare, the card is unique in a number of ways. It is the only Pokémon card to say “Illustrator” instead of “Trainer” at the top of the card, and has a one-off pen icon in its bottom-right corner to acknowledge its creation for the design contest. The card’s artwork of Pikachu is by Atsuko Nishida, the original illustrator of the fan-favourite Pokémon.

Approximately 19 copies of the card are believed to still exist, with 10 certified by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) responsible for grading cards’ condition - although the actual number out there is disputed.

A near-flawless copy of the card graded at Mint 9 - one grade under perfect condition - sold at auction in 2019 for $195,000. That makes it the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction according to Guinness World Records, though it may have since been surpassed by the shadowless first-edition PSA 10 Charizard and Presentation Blastoise. Regardless, Pokemon ex cards worth money Illustrator is among the rarest Pokémon cards, with auction house Invaluable calling it “the most valuable and rarest Pokémon card in the world". The Pikachu Illustrator card is a true Holy Grail of Pokémon cards.

A card featuring the Pokémon Company's President himself.

Sold for $247,230 in April 2021

The most recent card to make headlines for pure value, this card sold for nearly a quarter of a million dollars at auction on April 26th 2021. You can find the full details at our story here, but this card depicts Pokémon Company founder and current president Tsunekazu Ishihara, and was given to the company staff as a celebration of the man's 60th birthday in 2017.

That makes the card rare, but this specific version is even rarer, as Ishihara actually signed this near-mint card to boost its price even further. The "2017 P.M. SM Black Star #TPCi01 Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Pokémon GX Promo Card", to use its full title, is a testament to the raw power apparently held by the Pokémon president. The ability "Red Chanchanko" is in reference to the red vest traditionally worn on 60th birthdays in Japan, and prevents the effect credit card generator 2018 with money working any attack, ability or trainer card against Ishihara. Meanwhile, its GX move "60 Congratulations", tells you to flip 60 coins, and take a present for each one. A truly legendary card.

A two-of-a-kind card that suddenly became one of the most valuable Pokémon cards of all time

Sold for $360,000 in January 2021

One of only two such Pokémon cards in existence - making it extremely rare - this Blastoise suddenly became one of the most valuable Pokémon cards of all time after it sold at auction in January 2021 for a whopping $360,000 (£266,000).

The ultra-rare Pokémon card was created in 1998 as a presentation piece by Magic: The Gathering maker Wizards of the Coast to convince Nintendo of Japan executives to allow it to handle the TCG’s English-language release. The game would eventually make its international debut one year later in 1999.

While two Blastoise ‘Presentation’ cards were produced, this is the only one that has been seen publicly. Even more impressively, it has been graded at a NM/Mint+ 8.5 level by certification website CGC, meaning that the 20-plus-year-old card is in near-perfect condition. The location and state of the other Presentation card remains unknown - meaning that this may well be the only such card of its type left.

A very valuable version of a classic fan-favourite

Sold for $369,000 in December 2020

Shiny Charizard has been one of the Pokémon card game’s most popular cards since it first released in 1999, so there’s no surprise that 20-plus years later, it remains one of the most sought-after cards for collectors and fans alike.

While a number of first-edition cards from the Pokémon TCG’s early days are worth some money - assuming they’re still in good nick - due to their limited availability and age, this specific version of the holographic Charizard absolutely stands out as one of the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards ever released.

What sets the card apart is the lack of a shadow underneath the fire-breathing dragon Pokémon. This was a printing error that was corrected for most of the cards printed, which makes the shadowless card all the rarer. According to auction house Iconic Auctions, the rare card is “the Holy Grail of Pokémon cards, the most iconic and important card to both the Pokémon franchise and its die hard fans&rdquo.

A mint-condition first-edition shadowless holographic PSA 10 Charizard sold at auction in October 2020 for a whopping $220,574 to retired rapper - and Pokémon fan - Logic, setting a new record for the already valuable card, according to card game outlet Cardhops.

That record was broken in November 2020 after a copy of the Shadowless Charizard sold at auction for $350,100, before reportedly being broken once only a month later with the sale of a copy for $369,000 - auction house Goldin Auctions claimed the figure to be the highest amount of money paid for any Pokémon card to date.

Since that record-breaking sale, Shadowless Charizard in Gem Mint 10 condition has continued to be one of the most valuable Pokémon cards of all time, with another sale in January 2021 fetching $300,000.

Heritage Auctions called the first-edition Charizard "arguably the hottest card in the entire hobby", adding that only 120 copies have been graded as Gem Mint 10 by PSA. According to PSA's SMR Price Guide, the average value of a Gem Mint 10 first-edition Base Set Charizard is $325,000, a significant jump from the $35,000 value of the same card in Mint 9 condition.

Its popularity, record-breaking sales and rarity make the shiny shadowless Charizard the most valuable Pokémon card of all time - for now, at least.