Top 10 Most Expensive Pokémon Cards Ever

You are probably wondering about the most expensive pokemon cards in the world. If this curiosity of yours is true, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most expensive pokemon cards ever in this article. The term “Pokémon,” short for “pocket monsters,” was originally used in Japan in 1996. It rapidly became well-liked and has remained so for more than 25 years.

The brand, which started as a video game series, has since expanded to include an anime series, a trading card game, a mobile app, non-fungible tokens, and toys. More so, the game and its cards had a resurgence of interest in 2021, which caused the value of the cards to soar to well over $10,000. That said, let us discuss in detail the top 10 most expensive pokemon cards ever.

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What Are Pokemon Cards?

Pokémon is a Japanese video game franchise that has been operating for more than 20 years; in fact, it was 25 years old in 2021! Pokémon, short for “pocket monsters,” is a brand of toys, trading cards, video games, and a TV show.

The actual Pokémon are animals that either reside in the wild or with their owner (such as your child), who is referred to as their trainer. To “catch them all,” we mean all 800+ of them, which is the trainer’s objective.

Pokémon trading cards have returned in the past 12 months. A lot of people who collected Pocket Monsters as children are going back to do so now to create their ultimate collections.

Additionally, thanks to their parents and internet celebrities like Logan Paul, a new generation of Pokémon trainers are being introduced to the pastime of collecting Pokémon cards. Demand and price have increased as a result of the increase in attention.

Since the start of 2021, several sales records for Pokémon cards have been broken, including the most expensive Pokémon card in the hobby’s history. Here is a list of the three most expensive Pokémon ever, as well as the top 10 most expensive and rare Pokemon cards ever.

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Top 10 Most Expensive Pokémon Cards Ever

The table below contains the top 10 most expensive pokemon cards ever

1. 1998 Japanese Promo Card Holo Pikachu Illustrator

PRICE: $6 Million

The Japanese promo card Holo Pikachu is the most expensive Pokémon card ever. Pikachu is the most well-known and widely-used Pokémon character. This card was created for the Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic competitions in 1997 and 1998, whose winners received it.

In this card, the word “trainer” has been changed to “Illustrator,” and in contrast to previous cards, the bottom bears a pen icon. This is the most expensive Pokémon card in existence, with just about 40 cards known to exist.

You’ve probably noticed that a lot of the cards that sell for the highest prices online aren’t the standard Pokémon cards. Strange promo cards, like this Pokémon card by an illustrator, typically command a high price.

Only roughly 40 of these cards were ever produced and published, according to PWCC. They were distributed to participants in three art contests in Japan where they were asked to design their Pokémon cards.

Winners also received this uncommon Illustrator Pikachu card as a reward in addition to specially printed cards with their unique artwork. This card has a unique work of art made by Atsuko Nishida, who drew Pikachu’s initial character.

As a result, anytime this uncommon card is put up for sale, it generates a lot of revenue. The Japanese Holo Pikachu is first on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever.

2. First Edition Charizard Holographic

PRICE: $460,000

Another pokemon card on the list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever is the First edition Charizard Holographic. With a steep $460,000 price tag, this Shadowless Holographic Charizard is the second-most expensive Pokémon card ever.

In addition to being a first edition card and being sold in March 2022, its standout feature was the absence of a shadow beneath Charizard, which was later fixed. The card has a PSA Grading of Gem Mint 10 and is one of the most sought-after items in the TCG market despite being more than 20 years old.

Due to the absence of drop shadows behind the picture or text on very early cards, their rarity and price skyrocketed. Additionally, Charizard is a fantastic dragon that everyone enjoys.

3. “Backless Blastoise”

PRICE: $360,000

It’s not your typical Blastoise Pokémon card. This one is very significant because there is no printing on the side that is opposite the artwork, giving rise to the name “Backless Blastoise.”

The card was created by Wizards of the Coast as part of a test run and was never intended for general circulation. Before the US premiere of the series in 1998—and before anyone realized the franchise would take off the way it did—a tentative printing of the book was made. Only two of these cards are known to exist, and the only one to do so in 2021 was sold for $360,000 in January of that year.

The card that was sold was the only one of the two that were printed; the other had a blank back, making it considerably uncommon than usual. The Backless Blastoise is third on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever.

4. Black Star Ishihara Signed GX Promo Card

PRICE: $250,000

Another card among the most expensive pokemon cards in the world is the Black Star Ishihara. Pokémon Company founder Tsunekazu Ishihara is shown on this uncommon card. The fact that Ishihara has signed this particular card increases its value. This Kangaskhan, one of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence, was exclusively distributed to the victors of the Parent/Child Mega Battle tournament that took place in Japan in 1998.

This was a competition where families were pitted against one another, as the name would imply. This uncommon card was only available to families who attained a particular threshold of victories. PWCC claims that the PSA has only ever evaluated 46 of these cards. The Black Star Ishihara is fourth on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever.

5. Japanese Promo Card – Family Event Trophy – Holo Kangaskhan

PRICE: $150,000

6. 2000 – Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holographic Lugia

PRICE: $145,000

Another of the most expensive pokemon cards in the world is the 2000-Neo Genesis 1st Edtion Holographic Lugia. This first-edition Lugia card is a near-perfect illustration of a very well-liked card.

This legendary Gen II Pokémon is well-known for appearing on the cover of Pokémon: Silver. Since everyone adores Lugia, a lot of individuals possess this kind of card. However, Beckett Grading Services, another reputable trading card, and collectible grading business haven’t given the majority of these Lugia cards a Pristine 10 rating.

According to PWCC, it appears possible that this card might eventually sell for higher money. This 2000 card sold for a staggering $144,300 in May of 2021 because the legendary bird Pokémon from Gen II, Lugia, was a tremendous hit when it was first released. The Neo Genesis 1st Edtion Holographic Lugia is sixth on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever.

7. 2006 Pokémon World Championships Promo No. 2 Trainer

PRICE: $110,100

This Pokémon World Championship promo card is one of the most expensive Pokémon cards in the world and is yet another uncommon tournament card.

In 2006, during a three-day tournament conducted in California, it’s thought that just three were truly awarded. An adorable 3D-rendered Pikachu holding a big trophy is seen on the card’s artwork.

The PWCC claims that this is the sole instance of one of these uncommon promo cards that have received a highly coveted Mint 9 rating and have been publicly graded. This card sold for over $100,000 at an auction held earlier this year by the PWCC due to its extraordinary rarity, high mint grade, and charming Pikachu on the front. This card is seventh on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever.

8. 1999 Secret Super Battle No. 1 Trainer

PRICE: $90,000

Another promotional card, this Super Secret Battle trainer card was only distributed to around seven participants in 1999 in Japan during a massive national competition that cost a startling $90,000.

The tournament’s finals were kept a mystery. Only after winning one of these cards in one of seven regional tournaments, might players learn the location. The enigmatic Mewtwo’s original artwork, information regarding the Secret Super Battle, and the Japanese logo for the Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game are all shown on the card. This card is eighth on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever.

9. Umbreon Gold Star Holo

PRICE: $70,000

The Umbreon is another of the most expensive pokemon cards in the world. This card featuring Evee’s evolution, a Pokémon that even non-fans are familiar with, is incredibly rare and very expensive. The Umbreon Gold Star Holo is even more valuable because it is one of just two cards in the entire world with a BGS rating of 9.5.

Players in TCG had to amass over 70,000 XP points to obtain the desired card. It was appropriately auctioned off for $70,000, and there aren’t many of these 2005 cards left in existence worldwide. This card is ninth on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever.

10. 1998 Japanese Promo Card – Tamamushi University Magikarp Trophy

PRICE: $66,100

Exclusively those who managed to win at least one fight were eligible to get this incredibly amazing Magikarp promo card, which was only distributed during a two-day tournament event in Osaka, Japan.

You are required to pass the “Tamamushi University Hyper Test,” which was momentarily made available in a limited number of publications, to take part in this event.

What were the questions about? Since there isn’t much information online, we don’t know, but we can assume that the test concerned Pokémon. One thousand fans who performed well on all of the tests were invited to the Osaka event.

The card features a jumping Magikarp shooting a lightning bolt, with artwork created by renowned Pokémon artist Ken Sugimori. The last card on our list of the top 10 most expensive Pokémon cards ever is the 1998 Japanese promo card.

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Top 10 Most Expensive Pokémon Cards Ever

The table below contains the top 10 most expensive pokemon cards ever