Pokemon TCG always has expansion packs and sets to look forward to. This year saw the release of the Pokemon GO set, a crossover between the trading card game and Niantic's popular augmented reality game. Fitting with the Pokemon GO theme, the artwork has Pokemon in photorealistic settings, with Eevee in a living room and Pikachu walking alongside its trainer on a sidewalk. As is the case with every set, there are a few cards that are quite rare and valuable.
Collectors should keep an eye out for Mewtwo cards, as they have become quite valuable on the online market. VSTAR cards are also very valuable, but the Dragonite VSTAR cards are the ones fans should really be hunting for. Radiant Charizard is also very sought after, and anyone who finds it is quite lucky.
Pokemon TCG and Pokemon GO
When Pokemon GO was launched in July 2016, it took the world by storm. It had gamers getting off their seats and exploring the outdoors in their search for as many Pokemon as possible. Years later, the phenomenon hasn't died down yet, and Pokemon GO remains one of the most downloaded mobile games. Fans of the augmented reality game can now get Pokemon TCG cards based on it.
The cards aren't too different from average Pokemon cards. They feature artwork with Pokemon in various real-world locations including bustling cities and calm pastures. The cards also bear a Pokemon GO badge to let fans know they're from that set. Collectors also have the chance of coming across holo cards which are typically shiny and worth more than regular cards. Lucky fans also have the chance of running into secret Ditto cards. They appear to be a regular Pokemon, such as a Bidoof, at first glance. However, if the card is peeled, it is revealed to actually be a Ditto. A similar idea would be quite effective with the upcoming Pokemon Scarlet and Violet card set, as the games feature Terastal Pokemon that can change their Type.
Most Valuable Pokemon GO TCG Cards
Not all cards in the set are created equally. Some cards are more sought after than others which raises their price on the market. Most of the expensive cards feature Mewtwo, who is a superstar among Generation One Pokemon. Mewtwo VSTAR is fairly rare, and collectors can expect to pay about $7 for a holofoil. The even rarer - and prettier - secret Mewtwo VSTAR is gold and fetches up to $43 online. The most valuable card isn't a holofoil, surprisingly. It's Alternate Art Mewtwo V, and the card depicts the Pokemon in an urban setting. Fetching up to $75, it is one of the most expensive cards in the set.
It should come as no surprise that Charizard makes an appearance on the list. The Pokemon GO set has a few Radiant Pokemon, including Radiant Eevee and Radiant Blastoise, though Radiant Charizard has proven to be the most valuable. It has been sold for as high as $80, though it currently picks up around $45 online. The Dragonite VSTAR card is fairly sought after, picking up about $4 online, though the Secret Rare Rainbow Dragonite VSTAR card is even rarer. The pretty card fetches about $34 online.
With the Pokemon GO set not being a mainline entry, there aren't too many cards to collect, although the rare ones may be hard to track down. Collectors can also look forward to the Sword & Shield - Silver Tempest expansion scheduled to release in November. When hunting rare and valuable Pokemon cards, collectors must always be aware of scammers and unscrupulous folks who are willing to take advantage of fans with fake deals.
Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS devices.