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HomeExclusiveHow Can You Tell If A Pokemon Card Is Rare

How Can You Tell If A Pokemon Card Is Rare

Holographic Shadowless Charizard: $500000

How to Tell if Your Pokémon Cards Are Rare or Expensive!

There are a lot of factors that make the Holographic Shadowless First Edition Charizard card worth so much compared to any other Charizard card. Firstly, it’s a first edition version of the undoubtedly most popular Kanto starter, which already makes it extra valuable to most pokemon fans. Alongside this, the card is also shadowless, which essentially means the card lacks a shadow between the box containing the image of the Pokemon, and the rest of the card.

This “Shadowless” effect is not a misprint or a mistake. It’s actually the original Pokemon card design, as the foiling process has changed and provided a different look to modern holographic and foil cards. These Charizard cards have become one of the prime reasons for the Pokemon Card trend of the past two years, with YouTuber Logan Paul opening one as recently as February 2021 that was estimated by auction site owner Ken Goldin to sell for upwards of $500,000.

Unlimited Cards Are Well Less Limited

Just like its name, 1st Edition came first, then Shadowless, then Unlimited. Unlimited cards all come with the shiny holographic features from Pokémons first run, but without 1st Edition stamps, thus without the inherent value of 1st Edition status. Plus, they are more common than Shadowless cards, making Shadowless versions more valuable than their shadowed brethren. Remember, rarity and desirability often go hand in hand in the hobby. Unlimited cards were, and still are, more widely available, easily attainable, and sadly, less valuable.

Pokemon First Edition Raichu

Sold in March, 2021 for $17,100


As Pokemon skyrocketed in popularity over the years, one character became almost synonymous with the franchise as its de facto mascot.

Much of Pikachu’s popularity originates from the first episode of the Pokemon anime series entitled “Pokemon – I Choose You!” when the main protagonist of the series, Ash Ketchum, a trainer, receives Pikachu as his Pokemon from Professor Oak.

However, when exposed to a Thunderstone, the lovable, yellow, furry, rodent-like creature evolves into the final form of Raichu.

Raichu looks quite similar to Pikachu, but with a few distinct characteristics, namely its tail, ears, and dark coloration of the tip of its paws.

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Neo Genesis First Edition Holo Lugia

Sold in May, 2021 for $144,300

The 2000 Neo Genesis set was the first to feature second-generation Pokemon from the Gold and Silver video games that built off the massive success of the Red and Blue games.

And Lugia had the great fortune of being chosen as the character to be featured on the box art of the Pokemon Silver game.

Considering the massive boost in notoriety that Charizard and Blastoise received for being the box art characters for the Red and Blue games, respectively, the same is true for Lugia.

However, the difficulty of finding this card in top condition propels it even further into the upper echelons of expensive Pokemon cards.


Print issues are a problem for the entire Neo Genesis set, and the Lugia card is no exception.

Around 2% of the Lugias graded by PSA have received the PSA 10 grade, while even fewer BGS have received the BGS 10 Pristine label.

PSA 10 Lugias have sold for $76,000 and $129,000 before, but the BGS 10 brought home an even bigger price tag in May 2021 at $144,300.

Tropical Mega Battle: $10000

How to tell if a Pokemon card is rare

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, an annual Pokemon Trading Card Game tournament was held in Honolulu, Hawaii. At this 1999 event, just 12 of these Tropical Mega Battle cards were produced to be distributed to some of the lucky 50 players who attended the event, meaning the remaining number of mint copies is especially low all these years later.

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Showing a Psyduck having a nap in a hammock on a tropical island, this legendary Trainer Card sells for a whole lot of cash thanks to its rarity. In fact, according to the Telegraph, a mint-condition version of the card once sold for $10,000, making it a prime example of how valuable Pokemon TCG prize cards can eventually be.

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Torchic Gold Star Holo Team Rocket Returns

  • Release Date: 2004
  • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
  • Pokemon card value at auction: $25,400

In 2004, TPC introduced Gold Star Pokemon cards to drum up interest in the hobby again. The new line of collectibles had a low print-run, and made their debut alongside the criminally underrated Team Rocket Returns expansion.

Due to its insane popularity, Hoenn Fire-type starter Torchic instantly became one of the most rare Pokemon cards released that year. And whats not to love about it, its easily one of the most adorable artworks to ever grace a TCG release.

The specially marked collectible went up for auction in 2020 and sold for $25,400. That is a mind-blowing amount considering the same item was selling for around $300 in 2016, making the Pokemon cards value an 8,000% increase in just four years!


Check The Pokemon Cards Material

Pokemon cards that wonât pass step 1 are low-quality fakes. Once youâve verified the cardâs information, itâs time to examine the cardâs material. Layered paper is whatâs used for making most trading cards, including Pokemon cards.

In the case of Pokemon cards, theyâre made by pressing 2 layers of paper -the front and the back- onto a thin layer of plastic. This production method results in distinct physical features.

This video will help you understand the anatomy of Pokemon cards, so the following tests will make more sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQzBF8GK0uc& t=1s

You can test the physical properties of a Pokemon card to tell if itâs fake or genuine by doing the following:


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Who Buys Pokmon Cards These Days

Celebs arent the only ones interested in becoming the ultimate Pokémon masters. People all over the internet are excited to bid on these valuable pieces of memorabilia. If youre new to selling Pokémon cards, the process might seem a little daunting, but before you give it a hard pass, think about the potential rewards.

Wait Arent There Misprints In Pokmon

How tell if you pokemon cards are rare!!!

Yes, misprints also known as error cards do happen, but they are generally documented. In these cases, collectors look for a specific misprint of a card. If you think you have a misprint, look it up online and see if anyone else has noticed the same mistake. If you do have a misprint, you could have an even more valuable Pokémon card than you initially thought!

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Fake Pokmon Cards: How To Tell If A Pokmon Card Is Fake

With nearly 900 types of Pokémon, and the TCG booming, spotting fake Pokémon cards is a serious business – heres how to do it


Pokémon TCG players of old all share versions of the same, tragic memory, and it goes something like this. Youve scored the perfect trade. Someone at school was willing to hand over the shiny Alakazam youve wanted for what seems like forever, in exchange for your duplicate Growlithe. A win-win. You make the swap, and spend the rest of the day mooning over the splendid new gem in your collection, until your friend leans over and says oh wow, thats definitely a fake.

Tears. Devastation. The end of all things. But, worse than that, how do you know if theyre right? It looks real. Youve heard if you peel the card open a bit, theres a layer inside that proves its real, but youre not about to bisect your new Alakazam in a hurry. And so youre forever in limbo not knowing. Fast forward to 2021, and Pokémon TCG is larger than ever, collected and played by tens of thousands around the world, over 25 years after they first made the trip from Japan to the west. The market for rare Pokémon cards is so developed that there are vast lists of rare cards and misprints that fetch hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars at auction.

So, to business. For starters, well list the main methods, then well dig into the detail below.

Base Set: Unlimited Edition

There were reportedly six separate printings of the Unlimited Edition of the Base Set. The first five print runs had a copyright line that read: © 1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. ©1999 Wizards.. These five print runs are completely identical, with no way to differentiate between them. The final print run, which was only available in the United Kingdom, can be differentiated by a change to the copyright line which reads, ©1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. ©1999-2000 Wizards. Cards from the sixth print run are much rarer due to their limited geographical distribution.

Unlimited Edition made a number of aesthetic changes to the face of the cards. The overall card appears to be a lighter and brighter printing than the previous Limited Editions. The drop shadow was added behind the art box to add some depth to the card. In addition, certain text, such as the Pokémons HP value, was set in a bold typeface.


With five to six printings, these cards are by far the most common Base Set cards in existence, and their prices reflect that. Unlimited Edition was printed to meet the insane demand of a public that became obsessed with Pokémon. A Charizard from these printings could fetch about $500 in Near Mint condition from a collector.

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Pokemon Japanese Promo Daisuki Club 7200 Points Holo Umbreon

Sold in June, 2021 for $18,100

The Pokemon Daisuki Club started in 2004 and provided many benefits to its members, such as mini-games, contests, and special offers.


One of those cards was this holographic Umbreon card, and to earn it, the player needed to acquire 7,200 action points, which was no easy task.

Umbreon is one of eight different characters into which Eevee, a normal-type Pokemon, can evolve when leveled up with high friendship during the night in certain areas.

Its red eyes and the yellow markings on its slender black body give the dark-type Umbreon an unmistakable appearance giving this card tremendous eye appeal.

Other Tips For Identifying Fake Pokemon Cards

How to Tell if a Pokémon Card Is Rare and How to Sell It

There are many different production methods for fake trading cards, including Pokémon TCG cards, each with their own tell-tale signs that differentiate the product from the genuine article which means no one guide to identifying fakes can contain every possible red flag. Here are a few pointers on what to do if youre not sure about a card.

If, for some reason, youre looking at a Pokémon card to buy, but you cant physically hold and inspect the card for yourself , always ask the seller to take an original, high quality photo of both sides of the card for you. This should let you carry out all but the material-based tests, and allows a good deal of confidence the card is real.

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Pokemon Play Third Season Jolteon Gold Star 20000 Pts

Sold in June, 2021 for $20,000

Beginning in 2003, the Pokemon Players Club replaced the Pokemon Fan Club and with that change came the release of several exclusive Pokemon PLAY cards.

As players completed certain actions, such as attending an event, hosting an event, winning a battle, or placing in a tournament, they could accumulate experience points.

Once a player had acquired a certain number of points, he or she could receive a prize promotional card

Between January 2003 and January 2006, there were just four seasons in which players could participate, so time was of the essence in working to obtain these special cards.

If a player accumulated 20,000 points, he or she could earn this exclusive Pokemon PLAY Jolteon Gold Star.

Pokemon Japanese Base Set Holo No Rarity Symbol Holo Charizard

Sold in November, 2020 for $57,877

The 1996 Japanese “No Rarity” Charizard card is a true piece of hobby history as it marked one of the first appearances of the iconic character.

Most Japanese base set cards will contain a “rarity symbol” in the lower-right corner of the card that varies based on the card type.

Holographic cards in the set feature a star symbol, so if you find one without the rarity symbol, then you know you’re looking at the more rare, first-print “no rarity” Charizards.

The “no rarity” Charizards are much more difficult to find as PSA has graded 3,634 regular base set Charizards compared with only 273 “no rarity” Charizards.

Furthermore, roughly 14% of the regular base Charizards have achieved a PSA 10 grade compared to less than 2% of the “no rarity” Charizards.

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Bulbasaur 1st Edition $450

One of the most popular Pokemon, Bulbasaur delivers long term. Previously third in the pecking order for PSA 9’s, Bulbasaur is currently higher than Squirtle and Charmander. With low populations, be sure to make Bulbasaur a top priority.

PSA Pop: 783 – 237 – 416

Current Value: PSA 10 $3200 PSA 9 $450

Are Secret Rare Pokemon Cards Worth More

How to find out if your Pokemon card is rare!

Yes.

Obviously, while the original design of the Pokemon Trading Gard Game is to play with the cards, it is still a collectible card game.

As we just said, most of the secret rare cards cant really be played with. They wont have any value inside of the game. They are designed to be more as a collectible card.

Because secret rare cards are collectible, and they are rarer, you will often be able to command a higher price for them on the secondary market. You will be able to get even more if you are lucky enough to pull a holo secret rare.

If you do pull a secret rare card, then we encourage you to put it into a penny sleeve, followed by a top loader, as soon as you possibly can. This will help to protect it.

If you have a secret rare that features a pokemon like Charizard or Pikachu , then we suggest that you get the card graded. You have something that is going to be worth a lot of money. You can use companies like PSA or Beckett for this.

One of the brilliant things about secret rare Pokemon cards is that they tend to hold their value for a long time. This is because, unlike trading card games like Magic the Gathering, cards are never reprinted.

Well, not the secret rares. This means that you wont suddenly see a card reprinted that is going to knock the bottom out of the market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we actually saw secret rare cards gain a lot of value in an exceedingly short period of time.

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Pokemon First Edition Chansey

Sold in November, 2020 for $36,877

Fewer than fifty examples of the First Edition Holographic Chansey have received the elusive PSA 10 distinction, making it one of the most difficult First Edition Holos to find in that grade.

Chansey is a lovable pink, normal-type Pokémon that uses the egg held in its pouch to complete its signature move known as “Soft-Boiled” to help heal people and other Pokémon.

Many believe that Chansey can bring joy and happiness to those who catch it in the Pokemon world, while this card in high grade will bring lots of money to those who own it in the real world.

Pokemon Japanese Neo Summer Battle Number 2 Trainer

Sold in November, 2020 for $20,105

Just a bit ago, we had a look at the number 3 trainer card from the 2001 Neo Summer Battle Road Tournament.

And now we are looking at the card that contestants would receive for finishing in second place in that tournament.

The card has pretty much the same look and feel as the third-place card, but Chancey and Doduo have joined Pikachu and Growlithe in posing with Ash Ketchum, as he holds a silver medal.

Even in a PSA 7 holder, this card will sell for thousands of dollars to give you an idea of just how coveted these trophy cards are.

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Shining Fates Set List

The Pokemon Shining Fates set is unique it contains 73 base set cards, plus a Shiny Vault subset containing 122 Shiny Pokemon.

The Shining Fates set was released on February 19, 2021. The fourth subset in the Sword & Shield Series is comprised of two part a base set containing 73 cards and a Shiny Vault set containing 122 cards. All the cards in the Shiny Vault subset are Shiny Pokemon.

Cards from this set are sold in booster packs. Packs will contain a reverse holofoil OR a Shiny Pokemon from the Shiny Vault subset. Youll also find scores of Pokemon V, VMAX, Amazing Rare, Shiny Rare, Shiny Rare V, and Shiny Rare VMAX these cards tend to be the most valuable cards in the Shining Fates set.

Check The Pokemon Cards Design

Rare Pokemon Card???

After verifying a Pokemon cardâs information and making sure it all checks out, itâs time to inspect the design. If youâre familiar with Pokemon cards -real ones! this should be an easy step. If you have a genuine Pokemon card in your hand as a reference, the following steps would be even easier.

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First Edition Holographic Zapdos

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,400

Together with Articuno and Moltres, this electric and flying creature is one of the three Legendary birds of Kanto.

Only seen during thunderstorms, Zapdos will create lighting bolts and loud cracking sounds as it flaps its wings when airborne alerting everyone in the area to its presence.

The yellow and black spiked feathers that surround its body make Zapdos look just like the blasts of electricity it creates.

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