It's been almost three years since the Sword and Shield core set first brought Pokémon TCG players to the Galar region. Since then, we've had supply chain issues, a speculative bubble created by the pandemic, Target's ban on Pokémon cards, Pokémon's 25th anniversary, a new online TCG client, and one record year after another. .
Today we'll take a look at the cards that dominated the market during those eventful years, and look at how they became the stars of the biggest Pokémon boom of the millennium. These are the most expensive Pokemon cards in the Sword and Shield series.
Historically, some of the most valuable Pokémon cards have been prizes and giveaways, such as the Umbreon Star, which is given exclusively to Pokémon TCG players and tournament organizers. Play! Pokémon 2020 continues that tradition with preview promotions and prize packs, some of which are quite rare.
One of the best values is Vivid Voltage Staff Prerelease Promo Charizard, which is more expensive than the number one card on this list. This happened when a special Charizard card was issued to tournament organizers only during the global pandemic.
We do not count these cards because by design they were and are not available to most collectors. But you have to remember that they exist in case you find them in someone's transaction folder.
We do not count these cards because by design they were and are not available to most collectors. But you have to remember that they exist in case you find them in someone's business folder.
In November 2021, Fusion Strike has the daunting task of succeeding Evolving Skies and Celebrations, two of the most popular recent Pokémon franchises. The Pokémon Company International decided to up the ante and added 284 cards to Fusion Strike, making it the largest international set ever.
Unfortunately, most of the Pokemon that were chosen to fill all of these holes weren't nearly as exciting as those in the first two series. No offense to Sandaconda and Greedent, but their cards don't sell as well as Sylveon and Charizard. Not even the star Dream Pokémon from "Fusion Strike" can reach that level.
Two cards stand out from the crowd. First up is Alt Art Espeon VMAX, the only Alt Art Eeveelution VMAX not printed in Evolving Skies or Special Collections. The second is Gengar Alt Art. Gengar has always been one of the most popular Pokémon in the series, and the cartoonish sow's illustration captures the fun and sinister air that makes Gengar such a popular Pokémon.
Since November 2021, Gengar and Espeon have swapped first and second place multiple times. For now at least, Gengar remains the most expensive card in Fusion Strike and the 10th most expensive card in the Sword and Shield series.
#9 Giratina VSTAR (Cenith Corona: Galarian Gallery)
Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery's Giratina VSTAR is part of a four card cycle along with Palkia VSTAR, Dialga VSTAR and Arceus VSTAR.
Giratina is like the bad boy of the Pokemon universe. At the beginning of time, Arceus couldn't understand Giratina's attitude, exiled him to his room and distorted the world. Now, Giratina wanders outside of time and space, presumably writing poetry and playing a six-string bass.
Perhaps this is why the Giratina has become more valuable than any of its siblings, or even its creator. Whatever the reason, Giratina is the ninth most expensive card in Sword and Shield, and the only card on this list that is part of the subset.
#8 Secret Rare Charizard V (Path of Champions)
The timing is perfect for Champion's Path. The Charizard premium range went on sale in September 2020, seven months into the global pandemic, when the TCG industry supply chain was weaker than ever. A month later, the influential Logan Paul opened the first edition of Base Set Charizard live. Millennials' nostalgic interest in trading cards, already heightened by the quarantine, is at its peak.
Everybody wants a Charizard card. Nobody can get them.
Today, Path of the Champion Elite Trainer Boxes still sell for more than double the MSRP of $49.99, and every buyer will want to be able to open one of these two cards. First up is this Charizard V Secret Rare Shiny.
#7 Secret RareCharizard VMAX (Road to Champions)
The second is this Secret Rare Charizard VMAX in iridescent colors. It looks like Rainbow Rares is going the way of Scarlet and Violet's Doduo, so Charizard VMAX is the last of its kind.
#6 Alternate Art Charizard V (Bright Star)
Not to give this away, but most Pokémon cards don't end up being worth as much as they cost during pre-release season. When a new Pokémon appears on the horizon, even a month after its release, your card is usually worth a lot of money. As the next batch arrives and community interest changes, card prices stabilize, often slightly below the asking price.
A clear example is Alt Art Arceus V from Brilliant Stars.
Alt Art Arceus V sold for almost $100. It dipped to $64.38 over Brilliant Stars launch weekend, then went up, then back down, before slowly sinking to $33.72 in early August, a month after the release of Pokémon GO. It has since bounced back into the $40 range, where it has held for the past five months.
Alt Art Charizard V is also from Brilliant Stars, but it doesn't follow that pattern. In some ways, he's more valuable today than he was when he first came out.
#5 Alternate Art Lugia V (Silver Storm)
One of the first lessons the Pokémon Company International learned in the Sword and Shield era was that its fans love full card artwork that tells a story. For most of the history of the Pokémon TCG, art on very rare cards was either stuck to the frame of the card or lacked a sense of placement. or both.
Each Pokémon card is an opportunity to give fans a small window into the world of Pokémon. PKC is starting to take more risks with the Sun and Moon sets, but printing six or more alternate-art Pokémon cards in each major release starting in 2021. In 2022, alternate arts will appear, even complementing a subset of the trainer gallery consisting entirely of full art cards.
This all brings us to Alt Art Lugia V, the first chase card of the latest 2022 series, telling the full story of a "big shot" on a 2.5" x 3.5" canvas. she is a beauty
Scarlet & Violet will include more Alt Arts and Trainer Gallery cards, so it's clear the PKC likes their response to such cards.
4 Arte alternativo Giratina V (Lost Origins)
Before Silver Tempest and Alt Art Lugia V, Pokémon fans opened up Lost Origin and searched for its best-selling card, Alt Art Giratina V.
Shinji Kanada's surreal illustrations helped Giratina V outsell Arceus V, Palkia V, and Dialga V's Bright Stars and Star-Spangled Alternate Art. Later, Giratina used the same trick on Crown Zenith, as we see with card number 9 of she is ready.
#3 Arte alternativo Rayquaza VMAX (Sky of Evolution)
Rayquaza has appeared on many premium cards, from Shining Rayquaza from Exalted Dragons to Star Rayquaza from Deoxys. The Alt Art Rayquaza VMAX continues that tradition and gives a realistic backdrop for us to appreciate the scale of the Dynamax Rayquaza. The Pokémon overhead pass through ancient trees like traffic cones. The ruins under his feet looked like an ant nest.
Alt Art Rayquaza is an A-list Pokemon with good looks and the right attract rate (very low really). However, it's not even the most expensive card in Evolving Skies.
#2 Bidoof EMS (SWSH177)
On June 28, 2021, PKC declared the upcoming Thursday as "Bidoof Day" through a tweet.
To celebrate the beaver-shaped Pokémon, the PKC went all out. There are exclusive merch sales, TCG exhibition matches, a week-long Pokémon GO event, and a very engaged Rick Roll. But the most enduring gimmick turned out to be a simple promo card called the Special Delivery Bidoof.
PKCs have used Express Mail Pikachu to promote the opening of the Canada Pokemon Center in late 2020. Fans will only be able to get the card if they spend $20 or more during the limited window the new e-commerce site launches.
Delivering Bidoof requires more testing for fans. First, you need to sign up for the Pokémon Center newsletter. You'll then need to click a special link emailed on Bidoof Day to "Register Your Interest," after which you may receive a code you can use to add special delivery Bidoof to future orders of $20 or more. With so many hurdles for Bidoof, it's no wonder there aren't many copies in the world.
#1 Alternative Art Umbreon VMAX (Sky of Evolution)
At this point, the massive success of Alt Art Umbreon VMAX is a corny joke.
Alt Art Umbreon isn't just the most expensive Pokémon card in the Sword and Shield series. You'd have to go back a decade to Plasma Storm to find a more valuable Pokémon card, which is available in regular booster packs.
How did we get here? For starters, Alt Art Umbreon VMAX is a gorgeous looking card featuring one of the most popular Pokémon in the series, and it comes in a print set with a very low print rate. But the same goes for Alt Art Rayquaza VMAX, Alt Art Sylveon VMAX or Alt Art Espeon VMAX. Umbreon is twice as expensive or more. Because?
It's hard to say, but one theory is that once the price reaches a certain threshold, it creates its own demand. In other words, Moonbreon was popular because it was so expensive. The thrill of owning the most valuable modern Pokémon card has its own appeal, keeping demand high and seller supply low. Who would choose to sell their Moonbreon now rather than hold it for another five or ten years and see if it goes higher?
Keep up the good work, Umbreon. We can't wait for you to go to the moon.
FAQs
What are the most expensive Sword and shield cards? ›
- 1 Lugia V (Alternate Full Art)
- 2 Serena (Full Art) ...
- 3 Lugia VSTAR (Rainbow Foil Secret Rare) ...
- 4 Rayquaza VMAX. ...
- 5 Unown V (Alternate Full Art) ...
- 6 Regidrago V (Alternate Full Art) ...
- 7 Lugia VSTAR (Gold Foil Secret Rare) ...
- 8 Judge (Full Art) ...
#1 Alt Art Umbreon VMAX (Evolving Skies)
Alt Art Umbreon isn't just the most expensive Pokémon card from the Sword & Shield Series. You have to go back a full decade to Plasma Storm to find Charizard (bw8-136) that was available in regular booster packs.
The most expensive Pokémon card is the Pikachu Illustrator which sold for $5.275 million in July 2021.
Is Charizard in Silver Tempest? ›This Pokemon TCG excitement has continued with the November release of Silver Tempest. While there is no Charizard card in the newest expansion, a spread of Supporter cards and Legendary features like Gen 2's Lugia create a solid selection.
What is the best card to get out of sword and shield? ›Umbreon VMAX stands at the top as the best card in Pokémon's Sword & Shield series. Already, it can be considered one of the best Pokémon cards of all time.
What is the rarest Pokemon card 2023? ›We've put together the best ones to consider investing in 2023. From Ash's Pikachu to First Edition Charizard, these are the rarest and most sought-after Pokémon cards of all time.
How do I know if my Pokemon card is worth money? ›- Check the rarity of the cards. ...
- Take a closer look at early cards. ...
- Check the collector number. ...
- Keep an eye out for holographic cards. ...
- Look out for extra symbols or words after the name. ...
- Check out your Pokemon card's condition. ...
- What is the rarest old Pokémon card?
How Do You Tell the Rarity of a Pokémon Card? Find the card's collector card number. The rarity symbol to the right of this number (along with other card features) will tell you the Pokémon card's rarity.
What Pokemon cards sell $900000? ›Pikachu Illustrator Pokemon card sells for $900,000 at auction. In 1997, Japanese magazine CoroCoro held an art competition where contestants could submit their drawings for a chance to win a Pikachu Illustrator promo card.
What Pokémon cards sell $900,000? ›A near-mint condition vintage gaming card was sold for $900,000. The Pocket Monsters Japanese promo “Illustrator” holographic Pikachu card was created in 1998 and was only released in Japan.
Which Pokemon is worth $1000000? ›
One of just 41 copies in existence. One of the rarest Pokémon cards of all time, Pikachu Illustrator, has gone under the hammer for close to a cool half a million dollars. Pikachu Illustrator is a legend among Pokémon collectors, and for good reason.
Did Ash get a Charizard? ›Ash's Charizard (Japanese: サトシのリザードン Satoshi's Lizardon) was the fourth Pokémon that Ash caught in the Kanto region, and his fifth overall.
Which Charizard is Dragon? ›While Mega Charizard X is known for its black, toned body, hotter blue flames as well as its Dragon type, Mega Charizard Y is generally regarded for its flying prowess, with it allegedly being able to reach up to 10,000 meters of altitude while flying.
Who has a blue Charizard? ›Blue's Charizard (Japanese: グリーンのリザードン Green's Lizardon) is a Pokémon that Blue owns in Pokémon Adventures and his second overall. He was given to him by his grandfather, Professor Oak. As of A Vicious Cycle of Possibilities, he is at level 89, and his Characteristic is that he has "good endurance."
Which one to buy sword or shield? ›So what do you choose? In short, it depends on what you want from the game. Both Pokemon Sword and Shield will provide you with the same experience as the same features have been added in the game. Your choice on what to choose will weigh on the version-exclusive Pokemon and the Gigantamax Raids you wish to play.
What Pokemon cards should I keep an eye out for? ›- Pre-release Pikachu. Image via: TheNerdStash. ...
- Pikachu Misprint. Image via: TheNerdStash. ...
- Espeon Goldstar. ...
- First Edition Shadowless Holographic Blastoise. ...
- Holographic Shadowless First Edition Charizard. ...
- Magikarp Tamamushi University Promo Card. ...
- Trophy Pikachu. ...
- Pikachu Illustrator.
Shining Fates is setting the Pokémon TCG fandom on fire. This highly anticipated set is the sequel to the smash hit Hidden Fates, and features a standard set of 72 cards and a subset of over 100 Shiny Pokémon.
Which Pokémon cards will increase in value? ›Cards that are rare or out of print are more likely to increase in value than common cards. In fact, the longer you keep them, the more likely they are to increase in value. Another factor to consider is grading. Graded Pokemon cards are worth more than cards that are ungraded.
How many 1st edition Charizards were printed? ›The first edition set was released in limited quantity with 102 cards total, 16 of them being the rarer, coveted holographic cards. The holographic Charizard card became the most popular for a variety of cultural reasons at the time. We wanted to break down how we thought about the card as an investment.
Are all old Pokémon cards worth money? ›It's important to note that your average Pokémon collection won't make you rich. Most common and uncommon cards are worth less than $1, and even rare cards are usually worth less than $5.
What is the rarest 1995 Pokemon card? ›
1) First Edition Holographic Charizard
The #4 Charizard is by far the most desirable of all the first edition Pokémon cards.
Pokémon cards only hold their value if they remain in 100% pristine condition. If a PSA 10 Charizard drops to PSA 9 while it's in your possession, it loses 80% of its value. Demand for rare collectibles is extremely fickle.
What are secret Pokemon cards? ›A secret card is a card whose collection number is greater than the listed number of cards in the set, for example, numbered 101/100. Secret cards are generally rarer than the other cards in the set, and typically are holofoil cards as well.
How do you tell if a Pokemon card is rare or ultra rare? ›All Ultra Rare Pokémon cards have a holographic shine on them. Their art is also special, covering either half or the full card. Pokémon-EX – Introduced in the Next Destinies set, the EX cards have also appeared in the later XY series and the Black & White series.
How do I sell my Pokemon cards? ›- eBay.
- Troll and Toad.
- Cardmarket.
- Card Cavern.
- TCGplayer.
- CGC Castle.
- Facebook Marketplace.
The incredibly rare Trophy Pikachu card, with a PSA-8 grading, was put up for auction for only the most hard-core collectors to bid on, selling to a lucky (and loaded) bidder for $300,000.
What Pokémon card sold for $300 000? ›A super rare PSA-graded Trophy Pikachu Pokemon card has sold for $300,000 at auction. At PSA 8, it is the highest-graded Trophy Pikachu in existence.
What Pokémon card is worth $4000? ›Mewtwo was always one of the most popular first generation Pokémon. Everyone loves a good villain! It also helps that it is incredibly valuable, as a mint condition Mewtwo will sell between $4,000 and $5,000. This Mewtwo is going for $4,000, whereas this one is going for $5,000.
What Pokémon card is worth 500 000? ›The Pikachu Illustrator card from 1998 is back on the market. The highly sought-after Pikachu collectible is now up for auction on eBay, and the starting bid is a whopping US$500,000 (RM2. 24 million).
What Pokémon card sold for $450,000? ›At the PWCC March Premiere Auction, a 1999 Charizard Pokémon card just sold for a record-breaking $420,000, the most a Charizard has ever sold for, and the third highest for any Pokémon card of all time. Why so much?
What Pokémon card was sold for 700k? ›
Social Links for Ben Kesslen
Las Vegas Raiders player Blake Martinez sold a rare Pokémon card for $672,000, according to reports. The linebacker auctioned the Pokémon Illustrator Pickachu card from 1998 over the weekend, and it is said to be one of the rarest cards in existence.
As of August 2022, the most expensive Pokémon card is a Professional Sports Authenticator grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card that social media personality and boxer Logan Paul purchased for $5.275 million, according to Guinness World Records.
How much is Logan Paul charizard? ›As it turns out, the risk Paul took elevated the Pokemon card's value from $150,000 to $1 million dollars.
What is the rarest Pokémon card in history? ›The Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram card is the rarest Pokémon card in existence. Only two of these cards were ever made, created by Wizards of the Coast in order to obtain the contract to produce Pokémon cards for The Pokémon Company.
Why is Gengar VMAX so expensive? ›#5 Alt-Art Gengar VMAX
During this period, prices for either version of Gengar VMAX spiked as more players were looking to max out on copies of the card, and the max rarity version has managed to keep this price even after the card has fallen out of the competitive scene.
- 1 - Snorlax (Chilling Reign)
- 2 - Lugia VStar (Silver Tempest) ...
- 3 - Mew (Celebrations) ...
- 4 - Pikachu V (Celebrations Promo Card) ...
- 5 - Origin Forme Palkia VStar (Astral Radiance) ...
- 6 - Quick Ball (Sword/Shield - Base Set) ...
- 7 - Giratina VStar (Lost Origin) ...
The World's Oldest Swords
The oldest swords ever discovered are the Arslantepe swords. Found in modern-day eastern Turkey and dating to around 3300 BC, these first swords predate the production of bronze and are made of an arsenic copper alloy.
13th-Century Kamakura Katana – $418,000
It has a curved, single-edged blade, admired for its craftsmanship and artistic qualities. The most expensive katana sold for $418,000 and was produced during the Kamakura period.
As of February 2023, an Illustrator CoroCoro Comics Promo (Pikachu illustrator card) was the most expensive Pokémon trading card in the world, having been sold at auction for six million U.S. dollars.
What is the rarest gold Pokemon card? ›Umbreon Star is the most valuable Gold Star Pokémon card and remains one of the most expensive cards in all of Pokémon TCG history thanks to its incredibly limited release window.
How many dollars is Mew Vmax worth? ›
| Sale Date | Title | ▲ ▼ Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-06 | Mew VMAX 114/264 - Pokemon TCG Fusion Strike (2021) - NM 114/264 [eBay] | $9.84 |
| 2023-05-06 | Pokémon Fusion Strike Mew VMAX 114/264 Holo Ultra Rare 114/264 [eBay] | $4.99 |
| 2023-05-06 | Pokémon TCG Mew VMAX Fusion Strike 114/264 Holo Ultra Rare 114/264 [eBay] | $2.25 |
Mew VMAX - 114/264 - Ultra Rare.
Why is shiny Charizard VMAX so expensive? ›While the card wasn't very useful in competitive fire decks, its rarity and the fact that it features the iconic shiny Charizard on the front made it extremely sought after by collectors when it was released.
Who owns the most expensive Pokémon card? ›Paul purchased the PSA 10 card in exchange for a Mint 9 copy of Pikachu Illustrator - claimed to be worth $1.275m - plus an additional $4 million, making the total sale reportedly worth $5.275m. Paul was later given a Guiness World Record for the most expensive Pokemon trading card sold at a private sale.
What is the rarest card in Lost origin? ›#1 Giratina V (Alternate Art)
The alternate-art version of Giratina V is the most valuable Pokémon card in Lost Origin, no contest. Shinji Kanda's illustration puts Giratina in its natural habitat, the Distortion World, an alternate dimension outside of normal space and time.
- eBay.
- Troll and Toad.
- Cardmarket.
- Card Cavern.
- TCGplayer.
- CGC Castle.
- Facebook Marketplace.