How To Value Your Pokémon Cards

How To Value Your Pokémon Cards

Pokémon has been a worldwide phenomenon since its initial release in Japan in 1996 and collecting the cards has always been just as big as playing the game. Throughout the years there have been millions of cards sold and, as with lots of things, some are far more valuable than others.

There are some cards out there which cost more than most people’s houses and today we are going to take a look at why these cards are so valuable and how you can value your own collection. Just remember, when valuing cards it is very subjective. What might be valuable to you may be worthless to someone else and vice versa.

What Makes a Pokémon Card Valuable?

There are lots of reasons that Pokémon cards can be valuable but it often comes down to the rarity of the card, the popularity of the card (or the character on the card) and the condition of the card. Often just hitting one of these reasons can boost the value of your card significantly and if you manage to get a card which ticks all three boxes then it is likely worth a small fortune!

A rare card is quite simply one which does not have a big circulating supply. Often the more modern sets have been printed in such huge quantities that there is a plentiful supply of pretty much every card in the set and so they tend to not be as expensive as older cards. Older cards have a limited supply and this helps to boost their value.

Sets which are no longer being printed have a huge demand as you cannot go to the shop and buy some booster packs anymore. Think about the Pokémon Base Set that was released in English in 1999. Those cards have become rarer these days due to limited supply and massive popularity when they were first released, combine that with the fact that the print runs were a lot shorter than they are today and you have most of the things needed for an expensive card! Less cards available means that, naturally, they are rarer and likely to be more expensive.

It is not just older cards that are rare. Some promotional cards have very limited releases, perhaps you could only get the card from going to see the film, or maybe it was a giveaway when you buy a certain product. The ‘Illustrator Pikachu’ is one of the oldest promo cards around but also the most well known and rarest promo card out there and it made headlines in 2022 when one sold for an unimaginable amount of money!

Some sets have different rarities within the set, such as rainbow rare, character rare and full art. These types of cards are a lot rarer than others in the sets and this helps to drive their value up.

Certain Pokémon cards which are the most popular will have a huge appeal and often lead to their cards being the most expensive. Charizard is the prime example of this and people will often pay a significant amount compared to other cards when it comes to Charizard. Often it is the Charizard that will be the most expensive card in a set. It is a similar story with Pikachu. Being the Pokémon mascot has helped a lot with this, ask anyone about Pokémon and I guarantee they have heard of Pikachu.

Card condition is also important though and is often overlooked when deciding how to value a card. A card that is in mint condition, no scratches, markings or white edges will be worth an awful lot more than one which is bent or creased and scratched.

Some people don’t mind having cards in not as good condition if they are to sit in a binder collection, but a lot will pay good money for mint condition cards, especially if they are going to be graded (which is another topic for another time). On that note, though, buying graded cards is a great way to ensure that you are buying a genuine card in a certain condition.

Are Special Pokémon Cards Worth More?

There are lots of different types of special cards and some are considered far more valuable than others. Some promotional cards are quite rare and so tend to have a higher value compared to others which were produced in huge quantities. Some cards, such as Mcdonalds promo cards which were given out with Happy Meals in 2022, can be picked up for just a couple of pounds each. Others, such as winners cards and some Pokémon league promos, are a lot rarer and so carry a more premium price.

First edition cards are always more valuable as they are the first releases of a certain set. First editions have not been printed in English cards for a long time, however some Japanese releases continued to use the first edition stamps up to the 20th Anniversary Set CP6 (the Japanese equivalent of XY Evolutions). First edition Base Set cards are some of the most valuable cards around. This is a combination of them being the first batch of the first ever set printed, the fact that they have been out of print for over 20 years and so are hard to find and also that they bring about a real sense of nostalgia for many people. It is often a pattern that the older a set is, the more its value will increase.

Shadowless Base Set Cards are some of the most valuable cards around thanks to their relatively short print run and their rarity. They were some of the first English cards ever printed and are often seen as a must have for many serious collectors.

Pokémon Error Cards

There are certain cards with errors on, also known as misprints, and these are often valuable because of their rarity. Most Pokémon sets throughout history have contained one or more errors of varying severity, some more well known than others. Some examples include the Base Set Blastoise, which has the word ‘Stage’ missing from the ‘Put Blastoise On The Stage 1 Card’ from the top left of the card, and more common errors such as ‘holo bleed’, which is where the holo pattern extends from the main card image into the text areas.

Where to Sell Your Cards Online

There are many places to sell your cards including websites such as TCGPlayer and TrollAndToad, as well as good old fashioned Ebay. Lots of local stores have a buylist where you can trade in your cards, often for store credit. When selling online, make sure you decide on an accurate description of your cards and provide plenty of photographs to potential buyers as peoples ideas of card condition can vary wildly!

The Most Expensive Pokémon Card Ever Sold

The most expensive card ever sold was bought in 2022 and it was the Illustrator Pikachu graded at a PSA 10. It was bought by Logan Paul for a record $5.275 million. The reason for the huge price is the rarity of the card. Often seen as the holy grail of collecting, these cards were originally given out to the winners of promo contests in Japan in 1997 and 1998. Only 39 were given out as prizes and 23 of those have been graded by PSA. This one is the only one to receive the 10 grade, making it the only one in the world and therefore allowing it to command such a huge price tag.

While it is unlikely that you have an Illustrator Pikachu sitting in your binder at home, you may well have some other very valuable cards. It is important to keep them in good condition and if you are looking to sell them, make sure you do your research and determine the best price possible.