What Are the Most Expensive Pokémon Cards in the World?
The price of a Pokémon card can vary significantly depending on market demand, grading, and condition. Values are based either on the highest auction price ever achieved or the average price. For this list, we focus on the prices these cards fetched in recent auctions.
NUMBER 20: CRYSTAL HOLO CHARIZARD (SKYRIDGE)
Estimated Value: €22,000
We begin this list with one of the franchise's most beloved Pokémon. Few Pokémon have been as popular as Charizard. Its enduring popularity and status as one of the most recognizable Pokémon have kept it a fan favorite.
Prices for first-generation Fire starter cards have surged in recent years, breaking records at auctions. This Crystal Charizard from the 2003 Skyridge expansion is no exception, fetching up to €22,000 for a card in mint condition.
NUMBER 19: GOLD STAR TORCHIC HOLO (EX TEAM ROCKET RETURNS)
Estimated Value: €22,300
The EX Team Rocket Returns expansion from 2004 is among the most coveted EX series ever produced, featuring numerous holographic cards. It also introduced Gold Star cards, designed to rekindle collectors' interest. These cards are marked by a gold star next to the card's name and rarity symbols.
Torchic Gold Star Holo, the rarest of the set, was already hard to obtain upon release, and demand for it has only grown since.
NUMBER 18: GOLD STAR CHARIZARD HOLO (DRAGON FRONTIERS)
Estimated Value: €22,400
Continuing with the Gold Star series, this dazzling Gold Star Charizard Holo card from the 2004 Dragon Frontiers expansion features the Pokémon in its shiny form, earning it immense popularity among fans.
NUMBER 17: MASTER'S KEY (2010 POKÉMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP)
Estimated Value: €23,000
In 2010, participants in the Pokémon World Championship were awarded the Master's Key card, making it one of the most recent limited-edition distributions.
Only 36 copies are believed to exist, and owners rarely part with them, making this card nearly impossible to acquire. However, one was sold in August 2020 for €23,600.
NUMBER 16: FIRST EDITION CHANSEY HOLO & SHADOWLESS (1999)
Estimated Value: €32,000
In November 2020, a shadowless first-edition Chansey card sold at auction for €32,400. Shadowless cards, known for their misprinted absence of background shadows, are highly sought after due to their rarity and historical significance.
NUMBER 15: GOLD STAR RAYQUAZA HOLO (EX DEOXYS)
Estimated Value: €39,000
The EX Deoxys expansion introduced the Dragon type and featured the Gold Star Rayquaza Holo card. In December 2020, a mint condition card sold for €39,000.
NUMBER 14: FIRST EDITION BLASTOISE HOLO & SHADOWLESS (1999)
Estimated Value: €40,000
Blastoise's first edition shadowless card has gained immense value over the years, likely due to nostalgia and its iconic status.
NUMBER 13: ISHIHARA GX
Estimated Value: €44,000
This card was distributed during the 60th birthday celebration of Tsunekazu Ishihara, President of the Pokémon Company. With only 30–60 copies believed to exist, one sold for €44,040 in April 2020.
NUMBER 12: UNIVERSITY MAGIKARP TROPHY CARD (1998)
Estimated Value: €44,200
This card was awarded to winners of the Tamamushi University Hyper Test organized by the Shogakukan publishing house. Despite its high distribution (1,000 copies), few remain in mint condition, making it highly valuable.
NUMBER 11: 1999 TROPICAL MEGA BATTLE TRAINER NO. 2
Estimated Value: €44,300
This card was awarded to participants of the Tropical Mega Battle held in Hawaii between 1999 and 2001. With only five PSA-graded copies in existence, its rarity is unmatched.
NUMBER 10: SUMMER BATTLE ROAD MEW VICTORY ORB TROPHY HOLO
Estimated Value: €52,700
Awarded to the top players in the 2005 Summer Battle Road competition, this card's rarity and Mew's popularity make it a prized possession.
NUMBER 9: TROPICAL WIND - TROPICAL MEGA BATTLE
Estimated Value: €57,400
Tropical Wind is one of eight cards distributed during the Tropical Mega Battle event, held from 1999 to 2001 in Honolulu, Hawaii. This exclusive invitational tournament brought together the best players from various countries and rewarded participants with a limited set of eight cards, including Tropical Wind.
This card features a Psyduck relaxing on a tropical beach, playing a ukulele. Mint-condition Tropical Wind cards are exceptionally rare. One such card sold on eBay in October 2020 for €57,400. If you’re looking for a unique card to add to your collection, consider the 2018 Psyduck Munch Promo card.
NUMBER 8: UMBREON GOLD STAR HOLO
Estimated Value: €61,700
Eevee and its evolutions are among the most popular characters in the Pokémon franchise, so it’s no surprise that the Gold Star Umbreon has become one of the most coveted Pokémon cards. Released in Japan in 2005, the card features stunning artwork.
To obtain a copy, players had to be members of the Pokémon Player's Club and accumulate 70,000 EXP points before the end of the fourth season. Given that players earned only 100 points for attending official events, very few cards were distributed. This scarcity led to the sale of a copy for €61,700 in June 2021. For Pokémon's 25th anniversary, a reissue of this card could be found in the 25th-anniversary promo booster packs.
NUMBER 7: SUPER SECRET BATTLE TRAINER NO. 1
Estimated Value: €79,400
This card was awarded to one of the winners of the 1999 Pokémon Super Secret Battle tournament series. The tournament’s location was kept confidential by the Pokémon Company, inspiring the card’s name. Featuring a holographic silhouette of Mewtwo, this card is highly sought after by Mewtwo fans.
If you're a Mewtwo enthusiast, you might also consider adding the Japanese Mewtwo CP6 card to your collection.
NUMBER 6: 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINER NO. 2
Estimated Value: €97,100
Trainer No. 2 cards have always been highly prized by collectors, and the 2006 World Championship edition is no exception. Originally given to participants at the 2006 World Championships, this card allowed players to return to the event the following year.
Winning the card wasn’t easy; players had to reach the finals in their division. A PSA 9-graded copy sold for approximately €97,100 via PWCC in February 2021.
NUMBER 5: LUGIA NEO GENESIS 1ST EDITION HOLO
Estimated Value: €113,800
There has been a significant rise in the value of Lugia cards recently, especially the 1st Edition Holo from Neo Genesis, released in 2000. Collectors often seek cards with a specific holographic swirl, which appears randomly.
Once valued at around €1,000 in mid-2019, a copy sold at auction in November 2020 for €113,800. Lugia’s popularity has grown, especially with its starring role in Sun & Moon: Lost Thunder in 2018. You can also find a Lugia card from Pokémon’s 25th anniversary collection.
NUMBER 4: KANGASKHAN TROPHY
Estimated Value: €132,300
This card was awarded during a Japanese Pokémon tournament where a child and their parent competed together, embodying the family spirit symbolized by Kangaskhan and its baby.
While other Kangaskhan cards, like the Wizard Jungle version, are easier to find, the Kangaskhan Trophy card is a different story. Only 11 copies are believed to exist, making it highly desirable among collectors.
NUMBER 3: BLASTOISE GALAXY STAR HOLO – WIZARDS OF THE COAST TEST PRINT
Estimated Value: €317,700
These Blastoise cards were printed as test copies by Cartamundi for Wizards of the Coast in 1998. They were presented to Nintendo before the launch of the English version of the card game. Several adjustments were made before the final version was produced.
Due to their rarity, only one has ever been sold at auction, fetching €317,700 in January 2021. If you’re a Blastoise fan, you can opt for the Dark Blastoise Wizard card to expand your collection.
NUMBER 2: CHARIZARD 1ST EDITION HOLO & SHADOWLESS 1999
Estimated Value: €324,000
For almost every child of the '90s, Charizard was the card to own from the first editions. While it may not be the rarest card on this list, Shadowless 1st Edition versions can fetch absurd amounts, especially in mint condition.
Estimated Value: €330,000
This card was awarded to winners of a drawing contest hosted by CoroCoro Magazine in 1997. With only about 20 copies in existence, it holds the record as the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold.
Conclusion:
The Pokémon card market has been driven by nostalgia, rarity, and increasing media exposure. With new expansions constantly being released, collectors should stay vigilant. Who knows? Today's cards might become tomorrow's treasures!