After years of excellent support, thePokemon TCG’s Sword & Shield era is officially behind us. So long, Pokemon V, VMAX, and VSTAR; it’s all about the return of Pokemon ex now - and more excitingly, the arrival of a brand-new generation of critters from Scarlet & Violet’s massive Paldea region.
Related:Pokemon TCG – Every VMAX Card In Crown Zenith, RankedScarlet & Violet’s self-titled base set doesn’t do a ton to shake up the formula just yet, but it teases the next few years of TCG goodness with a wealth of rad new cards. Which of these cards will be the rarest and most expensive in the ages to come? Here’s what we think.
10Gyarados ex (Illustration Rare)
As far as early frontrunners for pure punishment are concerned,Gyarados exis one rude dude. ‘Tyrannical Tail’ sure costs a fair amount of Energy, but the chance to dish out 360 damage in one fell swoop withoutanydrawbacks is already proving to be too appealing to ignore, with plenty of early Scarlet & Violet era decks online featuring this big shot Water-type.
Right now, Gyarados ex’s Illustration Rare variant is averaging around $25 on the open market.
9Dondozo (Illustration Rare)
Another Water Pokemon,Dondozoholds the distinguished virtue of being the only non-‘ex’ creature on the list. The allure of a mega-powerful ‘Release Rage’ fueled entirely by dead - sorry,discarded- Tatsugiri is clearly taking a toll on the market, as we’ve seen this guy sell for about as much as Gyarados ex.
Of course, there’s something else that rocks about Dondozo. While all of Scarlet & Violet’s most valuable cards are of the ‘Illustration Rare’ variety that covers the full piece, Dondozo’s is surely one of the most magnificent to behold. This talented splash of colors is confidently eye-catching.
8Koraidon ex (Secret Rare)
Gold-tinted Pokemon cards tend to be rather rare, as befits humanity’s endless fixation with the color and its portents.Koraidon ex’s Secret Rare is no exception, though itwillbe toppled further down our list. Pokemon Scarlet’s prehistoric mascot presently commands around $35.
On a personal note, we love the red-and-gold thing going on here. It’s justfierce.
7Penny (Illustration Rare)
Sometimes, a card’s estimated worth is built almost entirely upon the brilliance of its artwork. The alternative-artPennyis one such specimen. Their quiet, almost stoic stare out the window of Paldea’s prestigious school is accentuated by the multihued golden rays of the setting sun.
Related:Pokemon TCG: Most Valuable Cards In Crown Zenith
Penny’s Illustration Rare card hardly screams adventure, but then, it’s this more somber stature that makes the whole thing tick to the tune of about $30 and counting.
6Miraidon ex (Secret Rare)
So, what makesMiraidon exSecret Rare more expensive than Koraidon ex? Its average $45 price tag right now could be the byproduct of several things. Perhaps Miraidon is simply the more popular Pokemon.
It’s arguably the bettercard, regardless - decks are popping up that tap into Miraidon’s ability to summon a pair of Electric Pokemon to the bench every turn, once again proving that early sprints are a ticket to successful matches in the Pokemon TCG.
5Miriam (Full Art)
With its poppy, vibrant visuals, theMiriamfull art card delightfully showcases the gal’s quirky, perky, nature. Posing at the forefront of a path to who-knows-where, half-curious and half-contemplative, Sanosuke Sakuma’s artwork is raking in cash at $50 and more.
The card’s capabilities shouldn’t be disregarded, and doubtless the cost expenditure for its rarer forms ties in with its deck-boosting utility.
4Koraidon ex (Illustration Rare)
The Illustration Rare variants trump the Secret Rares withKoraidon ex’s second appearance, this one a striking jungle-themed assortment with an incredibly cute Dedenne. Is the cute Dedenne key to why the card’s already fetching $65? Probably not, but still.
Artist Ryota Murayama captures the essence of what life might have been like for ol' Korai in the Paldean distant past. It’s solid stuff.
3Miraidon ex (Illustration Rare)
The past may inform the future, but the future will always be more expensive. Not to be outdone in the second round of their back-to-back Scarlet & Violet valuable cards duel,Miraidon excomes equipped with all the blues and purples one could possibly anticipate from a card celebrating Violet’s mascot, elegantly applied to a far more modern environment complete with cups, couches, and a city skyline.
Related:Pokemon TCG: Hisuian Goodra VSTAR Guide
Expect to shell out about $70 if you seek this card on its own.
2Gardevoir ex (Illustration Rare)
At this point, we have to imagine the only people who dislike Gardevoir…reallydislike Gardevoir. She’s been an icon of the Pokemon franchise for over 20 years, handily the Hoenn region’s most beloved occupant.
Gardevoir exis a terrific card; 310 HP for someone without ‘VMAX ‘in their name is frankly epic, ‘Psychic Embrace’ has a ton of potential, and ‘Miracle Force’ keeps our gal hale, healthy, and harrowing. This charmingly cozy alternative art rendition has been sold for upward of $80.
1Miriam (Illustration Rare)
Who knows what tomorrow may bring, but as of this writing, the most valuable card in the Pokemon TCG’s Scarlet & Violet expansion isMiriam(Illustration Rare). The lass may be fumbling in full per Akira Korayama’s artwork, but there’s no mistaking her worth: this is the only Scarlet & Violet card already to crack the three-digit mark at around $105.
