The Top 10 Rarest & Most Expensive Pokémon Cards of All Time
Key Takeaways
- The top 10 most valuable Pokémon cards are:
| Rank | Card | Release Year | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Test Print Blastoise Gold Border | 1998 | $216,000 |
| 9 | Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Promo | 2017 | $247,230 |
| 8 | Snap Pikachu | 1999 | $270,000 |
| 7 | Trophy Pikachu No.3 Trainer Bronze | 1997 | $300,000 |
| 6 | Signed Charizard “Misprint” | 1996 | $324,000 |
| 5 | Commissioned Presentation Blastoise Galaxy Star Holo | 1998 | $360,000 |
| 4 | First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard | 1999 | $420,000 |
| 3 | Trophy No.2 Pikachu, Silver 2nd Place, Second Tournament | 1998 | $440,000 |
| 2 | Charizard Topsun Blue Back | 1997 | $493,230 |
| 1 | Pikachu Illustrator | 1998 | $5,275,000 |
For passionate collectors, tracking down the most expensive Pokémon cards is much more than a hobby. Many view Pokémon cards as a lucrative investment vehicle, and some have even turned buying, selling, and trading into a full-time career.
Although the profitable side of Pokémon cards is hard to ignore, there are still legions of fans who collect them for fun and use them for their intended purpose: battling with friends. Of course, even the more casual collectors keep an eye out for hot pulls. You never know when you might strike cardstock gold!
Whether you’re hoping to catch your personal holy grail or just curious about the wild prices legendary cards have fetched, this guide to the most expensive Pokémon cards may surprise you. Join us as we unpack the top 10 rarest Pokémon cards!
FAQs
What is the holy grail of Pokémon cards?
The Pikachu Illustrator is often referred to as the “holy grail” of Pokémon cards due to its extreme rarity and high value of over $5 million.
What is a god pack Pokémon card?
“God pack” is a slang term that refers to a booster pack that only contains “hits” (high-value cards) and no Commons, Uncommons, or standard Rares. Getting a god pack is purely a matter of luck.
Should I put cards in toploaders?
Toploaders do provide excellent protection for high-value cards. For your most expensive Pokémon cards, we recommend magnetic cases.
What Pokémon sets have the best pull rates?
Sets that are popular for their pull rates include:
- Crown Zenith
- Paldean Fates
- Pokémon 151
- Scarlet & Violet
- Obsidian Flames
- Temporal Forces
How to Tell if a Pokémon Card Is Rare
Pokémon cards have a symbol in the bottom left corner that signifies rarity level. It’s important to note that there are many other factors that can affect a card’s rarity and value, such as misprints, signatures, condition, PSA grade, and market availability.
Pre-2023 Pokémon cards used three symbols to denote rarity: circle (Common), diamond (Uncommon), and star (Rare). When the Scarlet & Violet series launched in March 2023, five symbols were added to help collectors recognize the most expensive Pokémon cards.
As of 2025, these are the current rarity symbols:
| Black Circle | Common |
| Black Diamond | Uncommon |
| Single Black Star | Rare |
| Double Black Star | Double Rare |
| Double White Star | Ultra Rare |
| Single Gold Star | Illustration Rare |
| Double Gold Star | Special Illustration Rare |
| Triple Gold Star | Hyper Rare |
Additionally, there are Secret Rare cards that have higher collector numbers than the total number of cards in the set. For example, a card with 151/149 is a Secret Rare.
The Top 10 Rarest Pokémon Cards
Here’s a look at the most expensive Pokémon cards, as of 2025!
10. Test Print Blastoise Gold Border
This test print is one of the most fascinating Pokémon cards because its back is identical to a Magic: The Gathering card.
Price: $216,000
9. Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Promo
Pokémon employees received this promotional card in 2017 in celebration of the 60th birthday of Pokémon’s founder and president, Tsunekazu Ishihara. A signature usually devalues a card, but this signature adds to its rarity and value.
Price: $247,230
8. Snap Pikachu
This card was released in Japan to promote the Pokémon Snap video game. It became one of the most expensive Pokémon cards when it was purchased for $270,000 by well-known Pokémon card collector and influencer, Dubsy.
Price: $270,000
7. Trophy Pikachu No.3 Bronze 3rd Place, First Tournament
This card was awarded as a prize to 3rd place winners of the first-ever Pokémon tournament.
Price: $300,000
6. Signed Charizard “Misprint”
This was a test run of a first-edition Charizard. The case was signed by the card’s artist, Mitsuhiro Arita.
Price: $324,000
5. Commissioned Presentation Blastoise Galaxy Star Holo
While the exact origin of this card is unknown, it seems to be a test print or one-off promotion.
Price: $360,000
4. First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard
This is among the most expensive Pokémon cards simply because it’s so desirable. Charizard is a beloved character, and this is the first release in perfect PSA 10 (Gem Mint) condition.
Price: $420,000
3. Trophy Pikachu No.2, Silver 2nd Place, Second Tournament
Like #7 on our list of the top 10 rarest Pokémon cards, this card was a prize. It was awarded to 2nd place winners of the second-ever Pokémon tournament.
Price: $440,000
2. Charizard Topsun Blue Back
This promotional card originally came with chewing gum! It was produced by Topsun, the predecessor to WOTC (Wizards of the Coast). Its value stems largely from its historical significance and perfect PSA 10 grade.
Price: $493,230
1. Pikachu Illustrator
It’s no surprise that the most expensive Pokémon card is the most iconic character, Pikachu! Often referred to as the “Mona Lisa of Pokémon cards,” it was produced by CoroCoro Comic, a Japanese magazine, and awarded to the winner of a card designing contest.
YouTuber Logan Paul paid $4 million in cash and traded a PSA 9 Illustrator Pikachu, a total value of $5.275 million.
Price: $5,275,000
Catch Holy Grail Pokémon Cards
Giant Sports Cards is the ultimate online card shop for collectors and investors seeking valuable trading cards! Buy Pokémon cards, and have fun chasing the rarest ones!