Buzz
Since the debut of the Pokémon trading card game, collectors have been on the hunt for rare and valuable cards, like the iconic holographic Charizard. However, this is just one of many scarce cards available to the public, with some having even more limited production runs. WML Image / ShutterstockThe Pokémon trading card game was introduced in Japan in 1996, shortly after the Pokémon Red and Green games hit the Game Boy. Today, after 28 years and over 52.9 billion cards produced, the game still enthralls both players and collectors worldwide.
As reported by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), the volume of Pokémon cards sent for grading has doubled annually since 2015, exceeding the number of basketball, football, and hockey cards graded by PSA in 2018.
Have you ever asked yourself, "Which Pokémon card is the rarest?" If so, this article is tailored for you. We’ll explore some of the most elusive Pokémon cards ever released, uncover what sets them apart, and delve into their current market values.
Skyridge Crystal Charizard
The holographic Skyridge Crystal Charizard #146 stands out as a prime example of a rare Pokémon card accessible to the public. (Unlike most cards on this list, which are trophy cards awarded to competition winners or exclusive cards distributed to a privileged few.)
This card’s English version debuted in 2003, featuring artwork by Kouki Saitou. As noted by Bulbapedia, "Skyridge marked the last expansion created by Wizards of the Coast before they lost their licensing rights. This resulted in a single print run, driving the set’s value through the roof."
Cards from this set were also designed to work with the Nintendo e-Reader for the Game Boy Advance, enabling players to scan Pokémon cards and unlock special in-game content.
Approximately 1,000 of these highly sought-after Pokémon cards have been sent to PSA for grading, with only 230 achieving the top grade. These "Gem Mint 10" certified cards can fetch prices exceeding $10,000.
Pikachu Illustrator
In 2022, YouTuber Logan Paul set a Guinness World Record for the "most expensive Pokémon trading card
"The Pikachu Illustrator is among the rarest and most desired Pokémon cards globally," Paul stated to Guinness World Records. "Only 39 were distributed to winners of an illustration contest in 1998," he added.
This positions the Pikachu Illustrator card as one of the most valuable Pokémon cards ever, though it may not hold the title of the absolute rarest.
As noted by TCGPlayer Infinite, the Pikachu Illustrator card's appeal stems partly from its vintage. Introduced in 1998, the same year the Pokémon trading card game debuted in Japan, possessing an Illustrator card is akin to holding a piece of Pokémon's collecting legacy.
Master's Key
The holographic Master's Key card was presented to 36 finalists of the 2010 Japan World Championship representative tournament, which served as the Pokémon Company's version of a national championship for competitive players. Both video game and trading card finalists were awarded this exclusive card.
"The Master’s Key prize card is among the most sought-after items in the entire Pokémon universe," Peter Petipas, trading card game manager at auction house PWCC, told Dicebreaker in 2023 after a copy of this ultra-rare card sold for $66,000.
Tropical Breeze
Among the most prized Pokémon cards is the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind card. As reported by PWCC, the Pokémon Company issued only 586 copies of this card.
Most of these cards (576) were given to participants of the 1999 Pokémon Japanese Tropical Mega Battle Tournament, while the remaining 10 were distributed through a magazine promotion. In 2020, one of these cards fetched over $65,000 at auction.
However, the 1999 version isn’t the scarcest iteration of Tropical Wind. That distinction goes to Tropical Breeze, an exclusive promo card awarded to just 24 trainers at the 2001 Tropical Mega Battle. This event marked the only instance where "Tropical Wind" was rebranded as "Tropical Breeze."
Pokémon Snap
Some of the rarest Pokémon cards were created to promote Pokémon video games. A standout example is the 1999 Pokémon Snap card series.
To promote the new Pokémon Snap game for Nintendo 64, The Pokémon Company organized two contests. In the game, players captured candid photos of Pokémon, which could be submitted to the magazine CoroCoro or the TV show 64 Mario Stadium. Contest winners had their photos featured on actual Pokémon cards.
Each contest had five winners, who received either 20 or 15 copies of their winning card (20 for CoroCoro and 15 for Mario Stadium). This means only 15 to 20 copies exist for each of the 10 cards.
As stated by Pokumon, "Some winners have not sold any of their copies, though auctions have occurred. These are likely additional copies from the initial print run, with most sold by Yuichi Konno, one of the four original developers of the Pokémon TCG ruleset."
In November 2023, three Pokémon Snap cards were sold for over $70,000 each.
1999 Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer
Would you spend $90,000 on a piece of cardboard? That’s the amount one collector paid for a 1999 Super Secret Battle Trainer card.
This is among the rarest Pokémon cards globally, awarded to only seven players who won regional tournaments in Japan in 1999. The card showcases a holographic Mewtwo silhouette, designed by Hideki Kazama, as noted by Heritage Auctions.
World Champion Cards
Each year, an exclusive Pokémon card is introduced at the Pokémon World Championships. The Pokémon Company presents six copies of a unique card — one for each champion across three age divisions (junior, senior, and master) in both the trading card game and video game categories.
While all finalists receive the same card, the three champions’ versions are marked with the word "champion," making only three copies of the World Champion card available annually.
In 2002, the Pokémon Company took a unique approach. Each copy of the World Championships Sprint Battle Road 2002 No. 1 Trainer Promo was personalized, featuring the trainer’s name and their champion region printed directly on the card.
Although at least seven copies were made (one for each region), every card is one of a kind.
Wizards of the Coast Blastoise
The Wizards of the Coast Blastoise presentation card stands out among ultra-rare Pokémon cards. Unlike other high-value cards, it wasn’t a trophy or promo card but rather a prototype for a set that never saw production.
Only two copies of this test print card were created in 1998 by Wizards of the Coast, the creators of Magic: The Gathering. The card’s back even features the Magic: The Gathering logo, as it was printed on Wizards of the Coast’s Magic card stock.
The presentation clearly achieved its goal, as Wizards of the Coast continued producing English versions of Pokémon cards until 2003.
In 2021, this card was sold for $360,000.
