Pokémon Prismatic Evolutions: Most Expensive Cards Revealed

Overview Of Prismatic Evolutions

Prismatic Evolutions is one of the most exciting Pokemon TCG releases we’ve had in a good long while. With its gorgeous art and focus on the beloved Eeveelution family, it’s no wonder this set has both been in such short supply, and also has such valuable cards.

But if you’ve managed to snag some packs (perhaps through Magic Madhouse), which cards should you hold on to? Did you get a mega pull for the ages? Here are the most expensive cards you can find in Prismatic Evolutions, and why they can go for so much.

What Makes A Card Valuable?

If you’re new to collecting trading cards, it can be shocking to learn just how much some of these cards are valued at. What do you mean a piece of cardboard is worth hundreds of pounds?

In short, there are a handful of reasons why a card could be worth a lot. The first is simply rarity: some cards are printed much less than others, perhaps with even rarer art or foiling that makes them highly desirable. Popular Pokemon also tend to be worth more than others – this is why Charizard, or in Prisatic Evolutions’ case the Eeveelutions, especially Umbreon – are always worth more than, saqy, a Bruxish. Sorry, Bruxish.

It could also be competitive play that drives the price up. If a card is doing well at tournaments, the price is likely to shoot up as people buy it for their own decks. Dragapult ex is a great example of this, as the card is the face of the top-performing deck competitively right now3, and so even its non-special art version tends to command a higher price.

Top 5 Most Expensive Cards In Prismatic Evolutions

Though competitive play has helped Dragapult fetch a higher price, Pokemon is largely a collector’s game first, and so it’s no surprise to learn that all five of the most expensive cards are there for their stunning art and higher rarity.

At number five, we’ve shockingly the only Kanto Eeveelution in the top five, with secret illustrated rare Vaporeon ex. This’ll set you back £175. I’ll be fully honest and admit my favourite Eeveelution is Jolteon, so it’s a bit sad to see it get pipped to the post here by its water-type sibling. Still, this art is adorable.

At number four, we’ve got the secret illustration rare Leafeon ex, at a comparatively modest £199 All five of the top cards come from the secret illustration rares, with a gorgeous almost stained glass look and a rainbow foil border to replace the grey.

The third most expensive card in Prismatic Evolutions is Espeon ex, fetching an average price of £213. Ex Pokemon are all terrastalised, a mechanic introduced in the Scarlet & Violet video game that allows Pokemon to change their types. For the TCG, it gives them a lovely crystalline appearance and a floating crown of gems, as well as a move that requires three different types of energy to pull off.

In second place we have my second-favourite eeveelution in Sylveon ex, at £253. Eeveelutions are always super popular in the TCG, having previously almost single-handedly driven demand for the Sword & Shield set Evolving Skies. This is an incredibly pink piece of art, and Sylveon is always a fan-favourite, so it’s no surprise to see it here.

But, of course, the most expensive card in the entirety of Prismatic Evolution is the secret illustration rare of Umbreon ex. Umbreon is one of those Pokemon, like Charizard and Rayquaza, that is guaranteed to be the chase rare of whatever set it’s in. It was also the most expensive card in Evolving Skies with the famous ‘Moonbreon’ card, and here it’s wroth an eyewatering £802. If you find one of these, you’re quids in.

Rare and Limited-Edition Cards

As Prismatic Evolutions has been in high demand ever since it released, the top cards in it are almost amongst the most-sought-after in the whole of the TCG. Packs for it are in incredibly short supply, which makes the rares of it all the more expensive.

The reason the ex cards are worth far more than most other cards in the set is because they’re rarer than even the rare cards. They’re secret illustration rares, which have a much lower pull rate than a regular rare. You’re only likely going to find one in every 45 packs, so you should expect to see one in just over every two booster boxes you open.

Secret rares all have their own foil treatment too, with the grey border being replaced with a much more luxurious rainbow foiling. Of course, it tends to be the Pokemon itself that drives demand, but fancy foil borders certainly doesn’t help!

If you just want any of these cards regardless of its art treatment, the regular versions are a lot, lot cheaper. Umbreon ex may cost over £800 in its secret rare form, but the regular version can be found for just over £3, letting you flesh out your collection or build your perfect eeveelution deck without breaking the bank.

Tips for Collecting Prismatic Evolutions Cards

If you’re new to collecting and don’t know what you’re doing, there is one thing you should remember above all others: buy singles. Picking out the individual cards and buying them through a site like Magic Madhouse is infinitely cheaper than buying endless booster packs hoping you’ll get lucky. You should only be opening packs for the joy of opening them, rather than with the goal of getting any specific card in mind.

You will need to be careful, though. With Pokemon demand as high as it is, there’s a large number of sellers who are flogging fake cards, or are misrepresenting the quality of their stock. Identifying rares can be tricky, especially online, so it’s recommended to either find a way to look at the card in person at a fair like the Trading Card Game Shows hosted over the country, or buy through a reputable seller like Magic Madhouse support team ready to help you out should any problems arise.

Also keep an eye out for grading. Graded cards mean they’ve been independently verified and assessed for their quality, to ensure you definitely know what you’re getting. Graded cards do cost more, but with it comes the peace of mind that you’re getting a pristine card and not a fake.

It’s not just who you buy from, but also when. Prices fluctuate very quickly, it’s important to use resources like TCGPlayer or Card Market’s price histories to work out when a card is at its lowest, to pick it up then. You don’t want to buy when it’s at its all-time high, especially if you’re hoping to sell the cards on later.

Generally, the best time to buy a card is about two weeks after a set has come out. You’ve missed the bote on that for Prismatic Evolutions, having launched months ago, but demand for this set is always going to be high, so it’s somewhat of a special case anyway.

The final piece of advice is to protect your cards. You never know when Umbreon ex is going to pop up, so make sure you’ve got sleeves, toploaders, and binders on-hand for just in case you get a big pull. I’ve accidentally ruined valuable cards to an unfortunate drink spillage before, and I’ll never be bought in that predicament again let me tell you!

Where To Buy Prismatic Evolutions

As mentioned, if you’re wanting to pick up a big-money purchase like Umbreon ex, it’s recommended you get a look at the card in-person before you buy. Head to your local game store, or to an event (such as the upcoming UK Games Expo), where you can personally vet a card before dropping the dough on it.

If you’re going for other cards, though, online is a great way to quickly find the cards you need. Magic Madhouse has a full category dedicated to Prismatic Evolutions, with almost every card available, including stamped promo versions of all the ex Pokemon, including my perfect, spiky child, Jolteon. There’s even sealed product for if you’re feeling lucky, but make sure you act fast because this set is so beloved that it sells out incredibly quickly.