Pokémon cards are big business. Like, really big. While there are plenty of Pokémon cards out there that are practically worthless, there are also hundreds that are worth a pretty penny, for a variety of reasons. It could be age combined with condition, or it could just be down to scarcity or limited edition.
Some of the prices of these cards get pretty crazy at the high end. Let’s take a look at the 10 rarest Pokémon cards ranked by price!
10. 2005 Umbreon Gold Star Holo
- Price: $70,000
- Grading: BGS – Gem Mint 9.5
If you received a 2005 Umbreon Gold Star Holo back when it was released, you were among the best of the best Pokémon trainers. This card was handed out to players who earned over 70,000 XP by the time the Pokémon Players Club Season Four came to an end. This involved winning plenty of in-person battles, which is why this card is so coveted.
The biggest-ever sale of this card came in June 2021, when it fetched a huge $70,000 at auction. This card came in at a Gem Mint 9.5 from Beckett Grading Services (BGS), which is the highest known condition of 2005 Umbreon Gold Star Holo in the world. While $70,000 is nothing to scoff at, it only gets higher from here.
9. 1999 Trainer Super Secret Battle
- Price: $90,000
- Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
In terms of exclusivity, the 1999 Trainer Super Secret Battle card is one of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence. Seven regional tournaments were held in Japan in 1999, and the winners of each received this card. Not only did it declare them as regional champions, but it also served as the ticket to the Secret Super Battle tournament, which was later held between the owners of these cards at a secret location.
The level of secrecy around the whole thing shrouds the 1999 Trainer Super Secret Battle card in mystery, which is why it remains so coveted to this day. With seven regional tournaments held, only seven of these cards were ever made, hence the $90,000 price tag when it last sold in July 2020. Given its extremely limited quantity, it’s remarkable that it exists in a Gem Mint 10 grading from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).
8. 2006 Pokémon World Championships Promo No. 2 Trainer
- Price: $110,100
- Grading: PSA – Mint 9
Pokémon cards truly don’t get much rarer than this. Given out as a winners reward at the 2006 Pokémon World Championships, it’s believed that only three of these cards were ever in circulation. Because of this, it’s hard to quantify the true value of the 2006 Pokémon World Championships Promo No. 2 Trainer card. After all, they’re not exactly going up for sale every day right now.
Most recently, this card sold on the PWCC Marketplace for $110,100. With a Mint 9 grading from PSA, it’s unlikely it exists in perfect condition. If it does, we could see a 2006 Pokémon World Championships Promo No. 2 Trainer card go for even more in the future.
7. 2000 Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia
- Price: $144,300
- Grading: BGS – Pristine 10
This is the first card on the list players received in Pokémon: TCG packs, rather than earned. As the first appearance of the legendary Lugia, this card has only risen in value alongside the continued growth of the popularity of Pokémon.
During its original run, the 2000 Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia suffered from serious quality control issues. With misprints galore, the card has become known as extremely difficult to grade. However, a total of 41 have received a Gem Mint 10 from PSA. Just three have been given Pristine 10 from BGS. In May 2021, one of these BGS – Pristine 10 cards sold on PWCC Marketplace for an eye-watering $144,300. The 2000 Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia hasn’t sold for a few years now, so it’ll be interesting to see how much value it gains beyond that.
6. 1998 Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy
- Price: $150,100
- Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
If you played in the 1998 Parent / Child Mega Battle tournament in Japan, you later might have been given one of these exclusive cards as a reward. It was the only way to obtain the 1998 Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy card, which explains its price today.
If PWCC is to be believed, there are 46 of these cards to ever be graded, with just three being sold at auction. The highest of these was a massive $150,100 sale, with a Gem Mint 10 grading by PSA. It’s a great card that serves as a reminder of how Pokémon can bring families together.
5. 2017 Black Star Ishihara Signed GX Promo Card
- Price: $247,230
- Grading: PSA – 7 / Autograph – 9
This card is truly one of a kind. On its front is the founder of The Pokémon Company and company president Tsunekazu Ishihara. It was given to staff at The Pokémon Company, celebrating Ishihara’s 60th birthday, meaning there are plenty of it in existence.
What separates this one particular card from the pack, is that Ishihara himself signed it. For Pokémon fans, it’s the ultimate collector’s item. While the card itself isn’t in great condition – it received a PSA grading of 7, it’s unique enough to fetch a ridiculous price regardless. It sold most recently in April 2021 for $247,230 at Goldin Auction House.
4. 1997 Pokémon Trophy Pikachu No.3 Trainer Bronze
- Price: $300,000
- Grading: PSA – 8
When Pokémon: TCG was first released, a number of tournaments were held with unique rewards for players. The four losers of the first-ever tournament received the 1997 Pokémon Trophy Pikachu No.3 Trainer Bronze card. Little did they know just how valuable it would become.
Due to the nature of the card’s existence, only four were ever made. Even fewer remained in good condition. Because of this, it was a huge shock when a version graded 8 by PSA went on to sell for $300,000 in April 2023, instantly becoming one of the biggest Pokémon sales of all time.
3. 1998 Pokémon Commission Presentation Galaxy Star Holo Blastoise
- Price: $360,000
- Grading: CGC – NM / Mint+ 8.5
The 1998 Pokémon Commission Presentation Galaxy Star Holo Blastoise is possibly the most unique card on this list. At first glance, it looks like a regular Pokémon card. However, it was designed by Wizards of the Coast, in a bid to allow Nintendo of Japan to let it take charge of Pokémon: TCG‘s English release.
It has been confirmed that two cards were made back in 1998. However, only one has ever been revealed, and it’s entirely possible the other is lost to time. When graded by CGC Cards, it received an NM / Mint+ 8.5 grading, which given the sparsity is a near-miracle. The card was bought in January 2021 by Blowout Cards, with CEO of the company Thomas Fish claiming, “I had to catch this one”.
2. 1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Charizard
- Price: $420,000
- Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
A 1st Edition Holo Charizard was every Pokémon fan’s grail all the way back in 1999. Some things never change for one of the most iconic Generation I Pokémon.
With 121 of these cards graded at Gem Mint 10 by PSA, it’s not exactly as rare as some of the other cards on this list. However, there’s something about Charizard that people are willing to open their wallets for. The biggest of all came in March 2022, when the 1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Charizard sold for $420,000.
1. 1998 Japanese Promo Pikachu-Holo Illustrator
- Price: $5,250,000
- Grading: PSA – Gem Mint 10
This is it – the holy grail of Pokémon cards. The 1998 Japanese Promo Pikachu-Holo Illustrator was given out as part of a CoroCoro art competition, with less than 20 winners receiving the prize. However, only one has stood the test of time to be given the Gem Mint 10 grading from PSA. It has achieved gone on to achieve legendary status over the years.
The 1998 Japanese Promo Pikachu-Holo Illustrator was most recently purchased by YouTuber Logan Paul who debuted the card around his neck at WWE WrestleMania 2022 (seriously). It was a private sale, meaning no official record of its price was revealed. However, it’s believed the card sold for $4,000,000 cash, plus a Mint 9-graded version of the same card (valued at $1,250,000).
The card is so rare in fact, that no picture exists of the PSA – Gem Mint 10 version. With only one of this quality in existence, it will surely only continue to rise in price in the future.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©The Pokemon Company.