Some of the best sets in the Black and White era boast expensive Pokemon TCG cards to collect, though other sets offer more affordable options. Emerging Powers is a solid set that embodies the standard styles of the era, but doesn’t come with many heavy-hitting cards to buy, as most offer decent art at a more-than-modest price.
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If you’re looking for a long list of legendary Pokemon to collect in Emerging Powers, you’ll be disappointed to see the heavy emphasis on Tornadus and Thundurus. While other choices are left out, you’ll be ecstatic if you’re a fan of the genie Pokemon, as this set represents their moment to shine. Unfortunately, the shine is a bit lackluster among the most valuable cards in Emerging Powers.
Cards are ordered according to their TCGPlayer Market Price, which you might pay on average for a copy of the cards below.
However, sale prices differ depending on the card’s condition, so this market price is just a rough idea of the card’s value.
5
Pokemon Catcher (Uncommon) – $1.75
Catching Pennies
Uncommon Item cards rarely make it out of the bargain bins, let alone find themselves among the top five cards in an entire expansion, but that’s exactly the case here. However, this card can’t compare to some of the most valuable you’ll find in the era.
There’s no mistaking that Emerging Powers’ values aren’t particularly high, with an unusually affordable roster of cards to pick from considering its age.
While evaluating a card’s use in the TCG or unique appearance, this card might offer something different than you would expect. However, when it comes to price, this card leaves us wanting more. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that you’ll ever make a large profit here.
4
Liepard (Rare) – $2.74
Lazy And Lounging
This Liepard takes a lackadaisical approach to life, lounging around on its laurels while other Pokemon pass by with their superior Reverse Holo versions. Sadly, while Liepard boasts both a Rare and Reverse Holo card, the latter doesn’t have an established market price, leaving the overall market price as a mix of both versions.
However, as an example, you can find this card for around one dollar as a Reverse Holo in near-mint (NM) condition, while the Rare version sold for $4.99 in the same condition. Despite the strange difference in market price, now might be a good time to pick up the Reverse Holo version cheaply.
3
Unfezant (Reverse Holo) – $4.33
A Flightless Fowl
Unfezant is another Pokemon that typically flies under the radar, though this Pokemon never really commanded attention through its beauty and grace, representing one of the least-loved birds in the Pokemon world.
Despite Unfezant’s lukewarm popularity, this card sits among the most expensive Emerging Powers cards in the set, though its competition isn’t strong.
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Heavily played (HP) copies of the Rare version only sell for about $0.70, with moderately played (MP) more than doubling to $1.49. On the higher side, the Reverse Holo can command $3.28 to $5.25 in near-mint (NM) conditions, dropping to as low as $1.65 for an MP copy, if the condition isn’t essential to you.
2
Tornadus (Full Art) – $6.58
Defying Demand
While Tornadus isn’t one of the best full art cards in the Pokemon TCG, this depiction of the legendary Pokemon sets a solid price for this Unovan Legendary Pokemon. However, there are few visually distinct hallmarks to point to, as everything about this card feels standard at best.
However, Tornadus puts up some slightly better sales than the previous cards, with HP cards starting around $2.70, with NM copies setting highs around the seven-dollar mark, leaving this card well shy of the double digits. However, this low price might be great news if you enjoy this Pokemon’s design, as this card won’t get much cheaper than it is right now.
1
Thundurus (Full Art) – $6.93
Hold The Applause
Thundurus outshines its genie twin, Tornadus, but it’s not particularly deserving of thunderous applause, given the small margin of victory and relatively low price point for the most valuable cards in Emerging Powers. However, despite its mediocre value, this Thundurus still provides a bright depiction of this powerful legendary Pokemon.
NM copies of this card have started to fall, though there were several sales in the six to eight-dollar range, leaving a bit of wiggle room for finding better deals. However, the last two NM cards fell well short of the six-dollar plateau, raising questions about which of these two genies can permanently claim the top spot in Emerging Powers.
