Every Pokemon in the Pokemon TCG deserves at least a few solid card arts to showcase their unique design and multiple angles in their natural habitats. However, some Pokemon, like Arbok, don’t offer much creativity, as this Kantonian original is probably one of the simplest Pokemon. Let’s be honest about this unusual snake – it’s just a purple cobra.
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While you won’t find Arbok’s best cards in some of the most expensive Pokemon TCG sets, it has a few appearances in vintage expansions, including Expedition. Arbok’s simplicity and accessibility make it one of the most forgotten Pokemon from its generation, but some of its best cards can still impress with solid values.
Cards are ordered according to their TCGPlayer Market Price, which you might pay on average for a copy of the (first edition, where applicable) cards below.
Given the age and rarity of these cards, only those with an established market price on TCGplayer are included.
However, sale prices differ depending on the card’s condition, so this market price is just a rough idea of the card’s value.
6
Arbok: Temporal Forces (Illustration Rare) – $7.90
The Best Arbok Art?
When Temporal Forces released, Arbok wasn’t on the shortlist of valuable cards tipped to be among the set’s best, but this art exceeds expectations with one of the most gorgeous moments to ever feature an Arbok, as it slithers among the trees at night.
While Arbok isn’t particularly exciting, the natural setting and bright green tones help to draw you into the center of this card’s scene, where Arbok hangs upside down.
Despite this card’s extremely short TCG career thus far, Arbok had significant momentum to carry it from the basement around $3.87, up to its current market price, almost four dollars higher. There will be many peaks and valleys in the future for Arbok, but this card has a chance to be one of its best depictions ever, with a value to match if demand continues to grow.
5
Arbok ex: Scarlet & Violet 151 (Ultra Rare) – $8.23
Mean Sickly Green
Scarlet & Violet: 151 is one of the best sets from this generation, boasting a collection of incredibly valuable cards headlined by some of the best Pokemon from Kanto, like Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur.
Even though Arbok can’t compete with the popularity of the Kanto starter Pokemon, this purple snake still gets to shine with this vibrant Ultra Rare. Arbok jumps up and down in price, hitting lows just above seven dollars, while creeping up toward the $11 mark, where this card aims to be.
4
Koga’s Arbok: Gym Challenge First Edition (Rare) – $9.25
Koga’s Cobra Sounds Way Better
Koga’s Arbok won’t ever reach the impressive prices that you’ll find from some of the most valuable cards in Gym Challenge, but this powerful Poison-type and its trainer still stand tall in this iconic set. The first edition version of this set is where the big money is, with cards like Arbok commanding respectable sums as first edition non-Holo Rares.
You’ll find near-mint (NM) copies of this card as high as nine dollars or so, with lightly played (LP) dropping to the eight-dollar range and slightly below, followed by moderately played cards closer to the four-dollar plateau.
An Unusual Promo
Promo cards usually have some kind of story attached to them; whether it’s a niche release or hype bonanza, WoTC promos can fall at either end of the spectrum. This Arbok is part of a set of seven cards from six expansions that were released with the “W” from “Wizards Of The Coast” in the art.
The other cards featured were Wartortle, Kabuto, Pikachu, Dark Charmeleon, Misty’s Psyduck, and Brock’s Vulpix.
Due to its rarity and the difficulty of finding one in NM condition, you should expect to pay about $24 for this card in NM condition, with LP dropping to $17 and below, with massive discounts available for MP cards, which fetch less than eight dollars in some instances.
2
Dark Arbok: Team Rocket First Edition (Holo Rare) – $36.17
Hissing In The Dark
The original Dark Arbok is stunning and boasts a value that sets it apart from its WoTC promo version, which shares nearly identical art. Arbok’s iconic screeching pose gives this Pokemon a fierce facade as it prepares to strike its victim with deadly venom.
Unfortunately for Arbok, this card tends to play second fiddle to the other valuable cards in Team Rocket, though first-edition copies still fetch a pretty penny. If you’re looking for an LP, you’ll find them for roughly $20, while NM copies jump toward the $40 mark.
1
Arbok: Expedition (Holo Rare) – $45.02
The King Cobra
Arbok’s crown jewel hails from Expedition, which is home to an impressive array of expensive cards that includes the starters again, much like 151. However, this depiction of Arbok diverts from intense realism into the realm of cartoonish interpretation, as this art maintains Arbok’s ferocity but translates it to a different style.
While you can find both Reverse Holo and regular Holo versions of this card, the regular Holo Rare commands a higher price.
Heavily played (HP) copies of Arbok sell for over $20 with MP cards cashing out at $26. LP copies are slightly more than MP, but NM copies of this Arbok can reach as high as $49, making this the most valuable Arbok card by far.
