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The Top 10 Most Expensive Pokémon Cards

The Pokémon Trading Card Game was first released in Japan in 1996. Since then, Pokémon has grown immensely and achieved unprecedented popularity over the past 26 years. Today, Pokémon is the largest media franchise in the world, surpassing even Star Wars and Disney. Due to the high demand and increasing rarity of older cards, their prices have skyrocketed. As a result, more investors are choosing to invest in Pokémon cards.

Are you just starting to collect Pokémon cards or considering diving into this exciting hobby? If so, you’re probably curious about which cards are the most valuable. In this article, we’ll showcase the top 12 most expensive Pokémon cards and explain why they’re worth so much. We’ve compiled a list of the most valuable cards, ranked by price, from lowest to highest.

Read on to discover the treasures the Pokémon world has to offer!

10. Umbreon Gold Star

The Umbreon Gold Star was released in 2005 and is relatively new compared to other rare cards. Its value stems from its rarity and its association with Eevee. Evolutions of Eevee, often called “Eeveelutions,” are incredibly popular, and the Umbreon Gold Star is no exception.

What makes this card especially unique is how it was obtained. Players had to be members of the Pokémon Players Club and earn 70,000 XP points within a few months. This required attending in-person events and winning numerous matches. These strict criteria meant only a handful of players could obtain the card, making it extremely rare.

At an auction, the card sold for an impressive € 63,324, featuring a BGS 9.5 grade. To illustrate its rarity: only two copies worldwide have a grading higher than 9.

Publication date: 2005
Grading: BGS – 9.5
Pokemon card auction value: € 63,324

09. No. 1 Trainer Super Secret Battle

In 1999, a special tournament was held exclusively for Japanese residents. Winners received the rare No. 1 Trainer Super Secret Battle promo card, which served as an entry ticket to the finals held at a secret location—hence the name “Secret Battle.”

This card’s value is further enhanced by its artwork featuring Mewtwo, one of the most iconic and beloved Pokémon.

In July 2020, this card sold for € 81,417, making it the ninth most expensive Pokémon card.

Publication date: 1999
Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
Pokemon card auction value: € 81.417

08. Pokemon World Championships Promo No. 2 Trainer

Only three copies of the card ranked number eight are known to exist worldwide. These promo cards were awarded during the 2006 World Championship in Anaheim, California. Since they were only given to the winners of this prestigious event, the number of available copies is exceptionally low.

The card has been publicly auctioned just three times, emphasizing its rarity and exclusivity. This might suggest the card deserves an even higher spot on this list. However, due to limited data, we’ve placed it in the eighth position.

During an auction organized by PWCC, the card sold for an impressive € 99,609. Over 100 bidders competed for this rare item, demonstrating how sought-after it is. Should another Pokémon World Championships Promo No. 2 Trainer card surface in the future, it’s highly likely to climb even higher on this ranking.

Publication date: 2006
Grading: PSA – Mint 9
Pokemon card auction value: € 99.609

07. Lugia 1st Edition Neo Genesis

The seventh spot on our list goes to the Neo Genesis 1st Edition Lugia. This card was originally available by opening Neo Genesis booster packs, which were once sold in local game stores. What makes this version special is the 1st Edition stamp on the card, which significantly increases its value and rarity.

Lugia made its debut in Pokémon Silver on the Gameboy, where this legendary Pokémon took center stage on the game’s cover. Lugia’s popularity was immense, and fans embraced this Pokémon enthusiastically. Lugia even starred in one of the Pokémon movies, further solidifying its iconic status.

On May 1, 2021, a Neo Genesis 1st Edition Lugia card was sold during a PWCC auction for an impressive € 130,558. This is a remarkable price for a card that was originally found in booster packs. Its high value is primarily due to its rarity. Worldwide, there are only three copies of this card with a perfect BGS 10 rating, a classification that is stricter than PSA’s.

This makes the Neo Genesis 1st Edition Lugia not just a collector’s dream, but also a symbol of nostalgia and value within the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Publication date: 2000
Grading: BGS – Pristine 10
Pokemon card auction value: € 130.558

06. Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy

We are approaching the top five, and the prices continue to rise impressively. The Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy, a promo card from 1998, is one of the most unique cards in the Pokémon world. This card could only be obtained by participating in a special tournament held in Japan. The card features Kangaskhan with its baby, framed by subtle holographic stars.

The card’s name, Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy, reflects the tournament’s concept: parents and children teamed up to compete against other Pokémon trainers. This family element is beautifully represented by the image of Kangaskhan and its baby on the card.

Globally, only eleven graded copies of this card are known to exist, making the Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy exceptionally rare. In October 2020, one of these cards sold for an impressive € 135,298. Due to its extreme scarcity, the value of this card is expected to rise even further in the future.

A unique card with a wonderful story, and in our view, an outstanding investment!

Publication date: 1998
Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
Pokemon card auction value: € 135.298

05. Ishihara GX Promo (Signed)

At number five, we find a remarkable and unique card in the world of Pokémon. This promo card doesn’t feature an illustration of a Pokémon but instead depicts Tsunekazu Ishihara, the CEO and president of Pokémon. Among true Pokémon fans, Ishihara is a well-known and respected figure, which already makes the card special. However, what truly sets this card apart is that Tsunekazu Ishihara personally signed it.

The card was specially created and distributed to employees who attended his birthday celebration in 2017. It is estimated that only 30 to 60 copies of this card exist, but versions bearing his signature are even rarer.

The specific card in question is signed and graded as a PSA 7. The signature received a subgrade of 9, contributing to the card’s impressive sale price of € 223,021. If a PSA 10 version of this card is ever discovered, it would almost certainly top the list as one of the most valuable Pokémon cards ever.

A rare piece of Pokémon history, highly cherished by both collectors and fans alike!

Publication date: 2017
Grading: PSA – 7 / Autograph: 9
Pokemon card auction value: € 223.021

04. Blastoise Wizards of the Coast Presentation Galaxy Star holo

This Pokémon card is shrouded in mystery and regarded as a true myth in the collecting world. It wasn’t discovered until 2021, and for good reason. This is an extremely rare card featuring Blastoise as the central image. Designed in 1998 by Wizards of the Coast, it was created as a prototype to showcase to retailers what the Pokémon Trading Card Game would look like. This happened even before the game was launched in the United States.

The rarity of this card is unparalleled. Reportedly, only two copies exist worldwide: one with a Magic: The Gathering back and one with a completely blank white back. The card offers a unique glimpse into the early days of the Pokémon TCG and represents a rare piece of its history.

In 2021, the Blastoise Wizards of the Coast Prototype was sold through Heritage Auctions for an astonishing € 325,984. With its status as one of the rarest cards in the world, its value seems poised to continue climbing.

A true holy grail for Pokémon collectors!

Publication date: 1998
Grading: CGC – 8.5
Pokemon card auction value: € 325.984

03. Charizard 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set

Have you been collecting Pokémon cards since childhood? If so, the Charizard is undoubtedly the card at the heart of it all. Many spent countless hours opening booster boxes, hoping to uncover this legendary Base Set Charizard. While Pikachu is the face of the animated series, Charizard is the icon of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Perhaps you still have a Base Set Charizard tucked away in your attic and think you’ve struck gold. However, hold off on celebrating just yet: the card’s condition is critical, and not just any Charizard holds immense value. The card in question is the 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set Charizard.

What makes this card so special? 1st Edition indicates that the card comes from the very first print run, identifiable by the stamp on the left side of the card. Additionally, it is shadowless, meaning there is no shadow around the card’s image. These unique features make this card exceptionally rare and valuable.

On October 9, 2020, a PSA 10-graded 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard was sold to rapper Logic for € 204,650. That amount seemed remarkable at the time, but just two months later, the record was broken again. During a PWCC auction, the same card fetched € 316,929, and later that same day, a Goldin Auctions sale set a new record at € 334,510.

But the prices climbed even higher. On March 19, 2022, the card sold at a PWCC auction for a staggering €380,315. This puts the 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard in third place on our list of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever sold.

Why is this card so sought after? Only 121 copies are known to exist worldwide in perfect PSA 10 condition. Combine this rarity with Charizard’s iconic status, and it’s clear why this card’s value continues to rise. For fans and collectors, the 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard remains the ultimate dream card, with prices likely to soar even higher in the future.

Publication date: 1999
Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
Pokemon card auction value: € 380.315

02. Illustrator CoroCoro Comics Promo

We’ve finally reached number two on our list, and this is no ordinary card. We’re talking about the legendary CoroCoro Comics Promo, better known as the Pikachu Illustrator. This card, an absolute holy grail among collectors, was awarded in 1997 to the winners of an illustration contest organized by the Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comics.

The Pikachu Illustrator, with its unique illustration of Pikachu, is the most sought-after card on this list. The rarity and iconic status of this card have led to record-breaking sale prices. In recent years, one example sold for € 176,780, another for € 181,310, and in 2019, one even went for € 220,289 at auction. These amounts were for a PSA 7-graded card. In February 2021, the record was once again shattered during a PWCC auction, where the card sold for € 339,953.

But the most notable story comes from Logan Paul, the famous YouTuber who has turned Pokémon card collecting into an art form. In June 2021, he traveled to Italy to acquire a PSA 9-graded Pikachu Illustrator. He paid an incredible € 1,133,177 for this unique card, setting a new milestone in the world of Pokémon collecting.

If you think this is unbelievable, wait until you read about the card that takes the top spot on our list. The amount paid for it truly surpasses everything!

Publication date: 1998
Grading: PSA – Mint 9
Pokemon card auction value: € 1.133.177

01. Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10: The unmatched number 1

You might be thinking, “But doesn’t this card already hold the number one spot as the most expensive Pokémon card ever?” And that’s true, although it may seem like an anticlimax, this card is indeed the most expensive one ever. As we mentioned earlier, Logan Paul’s journey wasn’t over yet. The purchase of the PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator was just the beginning of his quest. Logan Paul was determined to acquire a PSA 10 of this iconic card.

Indeed, there was an available copy in Dubai. The card’s owner, Dubsy, was willing to sell the card to Logan Paul but asked for a PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator in exchange, along with a sum of € 3,626,168, which is approximately € 4,759,345. This massive amount earned Logan Paul a spot in the Guinness World Records.

If you’d like to know more about how this record-breaking deal came about, you can watch Logan Paul’s documentary on it. We found it to be a fascinating story, and it’s also an entertaining and informative video to watch!

Publication date: 1998
Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
Pokemon card auction value: € 4.759.345

Do you have a card that belongs on this list?

Do you think some of your cards could be worth thousands of euros? Maybe you even found a Pikachu Illustrator at a trade show? If you’re unsure where to start or how to estimate the value of your cards, our ultimate guide will help you get started quickly. In no time, you’ll know everything about determining the value of your cards.

If you have any questions about this list, or if you have comments or suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact us!