10 Most Expensive Pokémon Cards Ever Released

For some people, Pokémon is just a fun game or a TV show. I first got into Pokémon by watching the animated series on TV when I was young. However, for those enthusiastic fans, Pokémon is more than just entertainment.

Besides merchandise, video games, and the TV show, true fans are also deeply into the Pokémon Trading Card Game. These cards are not only for playing but are also collectibles. Some of these trading cards are extremely valuable because of their unique history or rarity.

Here are some of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever:

1. Pikachu Illustrator

It may be hard to believe that a single card could be worth millions of dollars, but it's true. In 2021, a Pikachu Illustrator card sold for over 5 million US dollars.

This card is part of the rarest group of Pokémon cards because it was only awarded as a prize in three art contests held by CoroCoro magazine between 1997 and 1998. Each winner received one Pikachu Illustrator card. Although 39 cards were made, only 20 were actually awarded to winners.

The Pikachu Illustrator card is particularly special for collectors, especially the one graded PSA 10, which is the only perfect version in existence.

2. Topsun Charizard Scarce Blue Back

This Charizard card stands out because it’s different from the rest. It has no number, and its back is blue, looking just like a regular playing card. The Topsun or Top Seika company produced it before Wizards of the Coast took over. Though it was marked as being from 1995, it was actually distributed two years later.

This card is nearly 30 years old. Interestingly, out of the 31 cards produced, only this Charizard card reached a Gem Mint condition. In 2021, it was sold at an auction for up to 400,000 US dollars.

3. Pikachu No.2 Silver Trophy

The Pikachu No.2 Silver Trophy card is very expensive, not just because of its age but also because it’s rare. It was awarded to the second-place winner at Japan's first Pokémon tournament, the Lizardon Mega Battle. The first-place winner received a Gold card, and the third-place winner got a Bronze card.

The card shows Pikachu holding a silver trophy. Only 14 of these cards were made, and just four have been confirmed by PSA to exist. One of these cards, with a Gem Mint 10 grade from PSA, sold for 444,000 US dollars at an auction in September 2023.

4. First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard #4

Unlike misprints in books or art, which are usually thrown away, misprints on these Pokémon cards actually make them more valuable and sought after by collectors. One of the first edition Pokémon cards featuring Charizard, in perfect condition, sold for 420,000 US dollars in March 2022.

What makes this card special? Normally, the Charizard on the card should have a shadow behind it. But on some cards, this shadow is missing, making these cards quite rare.

These first edition Charizard cards from 1999 were printed in a batch of 121. This set is known for having some of the most striking artwork, making it very iconic in Pokémon history.

5. Blastoise Pokémon Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram

In January 2021, a Blastoise Pokémon card was auctioned off for 360,000 US dollars, making it one of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever. Created in 1998 by Wizards of the Coast, this card was made to convince Nintendo Japan to release the trading card game in English.

Only two of these cards exist, and this particular one is the only one known to the public and is in excellent condition. The whereabouts of the second card are unknown.

The sale of this card in 2021 was a big surprise to Pokémon trading card game fans, especially because it was one of the first cards made for North America.

6. Pikachu No. 3 Bronze Trophy

Along with the silver card, the Pikachu No. 3 Bronze Trophy card is another super-rare prize from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This card was given to the third-place winners of a tournament in Japan in June 1997.

Only four of these cards exist. One that was in perfect condition sold at an auction in April 2023 for 300,000 US dollars. This card is highly valued because it is a keepsake from the big tournament held at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall.

The Pokémon Company made fewer than 100 of these special Pikachu Trophy cards. Although one card has been sold, it’s still unknown if the other three will be sold in the future. This makes the cards even more appealing to collectors.

7. Black Star Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed GX Promo

For his 60th birthday, Tsunekazu Ishihara, the founder and president of The Pokémon Company, released a special Pokémon card featuring his own face.

The card, signed by Ishihara himself, is highly valuable to Pokémon fans. In April 2021, one of these cards sold for 247,230 dollars, despite only having a PSA grade of 7.

It’s believed that between 30 to 60 copies of this card were made. The card is cherished not just for Ishihara's signature but also as a symbol of his impact and legacy at The Pokémon Company.

8. Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy

In 1998, a Pokémon TCG family tournament was held in Japan. The winning pairs of parents and children received a Kangaskhan Family Event trophy card as an award. There are only 11 confirmed copies of this card, each with different PSA grades.

In October 2020, two copies with a PSA grade of 10 were each valued at 150,000 dollars. Almost two years later, a card with a Gem Mint 10 grade sold for 175,000 dollars. That’s a significant increase in value!

The PWCC auction house reports that only 46 copies of this card have ever been graded, and just 12 reached Gem Mint 10 condition. With their varying grades, these are some of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made, expected to continue rising in value.

9. Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9

The Neo Genesis expansion marked a significant moment in the Pokémon Trading Card Game because it was the first to include second-generation Pokémon. A standout card from this set is the first edition holographic Lugia #9.

In 2000, a production error made holographic Lugia cards in perfect condition extremely rare. Only three of these first edition holographic Lugia cards have been graded as BGS Pristine, making them very sought after by collectors.

While 41 Lugia cards were rated Gem Mint 10 by PSA, only three achieved the BGS 10 Pristine grade. In 2021, one of these BGS 10 Pristine cards was sold for over $144,000, an increase from its 2020 price of $129,000.

10. Toshiyuki Yamaguchi No. 2 Trainer

This Pokémon card was awarded to Toshiyuki Yamaguchi, the second-place winner at the Secret Super Battle tournament in Japan in August 2000. The tournament was the climax of the World Summer Challenge series, where players battled through eight qualifying rounds to get there.

Only three of these cards were ever made, featuring a photo of Yamaguchi surrounded by popular Pokémon like Pikachu, Chansey, Growlithe, and Doduo.

The existence of these cards was unknown for over 20 years until one surfaced at an auction in July 2023, where it sold for $137,500.

These are some of the Pokémon Trading Card Game cards that fetched the highest prices at auctions or direct sales. For collectors and fans, these cards hold exceptional historical value and are, therefore, very highly valued.