The Pokemon TCG is an international game that supports separate print runs in various languages worldwide. English is typically the most popular and valuable, but Japanese sets tend to follow close behind, with some rare offerings even exceeding their English peers.
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While it’s not always easy to compare English and Japanese sets, given that English sets tend to combine cards from multiple Japanese sets, Paradise Dragona forms an essential core of valuable cards that were also printed in English as Surging Sparks. Some Japanese Paradise Dragona cards boast massive values compared to their English versions, while others fail to equal them.
Cards are ordered according to their TCGPlayer Market Price, which you might pay on average for a copy of the cards below.
7
Alolan Exeggutor ex (Ultra Rare) – $11.43
Lost In Gold
Paradise Dragona’s first Dragon Pokemon appearance is a recent inclusion into the Pokemon TCG. However, despite Alolan Exeggutor’s relatively short TCG career, this Pokemon boasts several valuable cards, particularly with Alolan partners. However, this Dragon-type tree flies solo in both entries it posts in this set.
This Ultra Rare is already out of stock on TCGplayer, marking it as the most popular UR in the set, as the others are still available for below Exeggutor’s price.
However, UR cards tend to drop over time unless the Pokemon art and color combination are particularly complementary, like the Hyper Rare Pikachu from Surging Sparks.
6
Drayton (Special Art Rare) – $19.04
A Slick Slice Of Life
Drayton gets very little love in Surging Sparks, but cements his place as one of the top cards in Paradise Dragona, eclipsing his counterpart’s price by a small margin. Lucky for Drayton, his competition in this set isn’t quite as plentiful, but there are notable standouts in Paradise Dragona that are only valuable in this set.
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Trainers have a history of selling for higher prices in Japan, and this set continues the trend with both Drayton and an even more popular trainer to come.
5
Archaludon (Special Art Rare) – $26.99
A New Dragon Don
Archaludon is the new Dragon-type on the block, as this evolution to Duraludon was introduced in the Scarlet & Violet era. This art boasts an epic scene of Duraludon in the middle of shards of rock that it presumably just smashed through.
While most cards typically lose value from their prerelease price immediately after a set comes out, this card is holding fairly close to it, though it’s uncertain how long the market will continue to support this market price. If you want to maximize your dollar and enjoy this card, it might be best to wait and see where the price ultimately settles.
4
Alolan Exeggutor ex (Special Art Rare) – $29.39
A Superior Serene Scene
Alolan Exeggutor returns with its second entry in Paradise Dragona, but this art is undeniably more suited to the Pokemon than the all-gold background was. It’s usually impossible to fit Exeggutor’s long neck into card frames without zooming far out, but this art and the bent neck help give us a good view of this Pokemon and the rainbow Terastal pattern.
While the English version of this card is currently priced higher, both cards are likely to drop over time, as the most popular cards in both Paradise Dragona and Surging Sparks both draw heavy attention, leaving Exeggutor alone and forgotten as the hype heads elsewhere.
3
Lisia’s Appeal (Super Rare) – $33.42
A Strong Start
While Exeggutor’s card is gorgeous, Lisia jumps in with an incredibly sought-after card that highlights her bubbly personality and fierce competitiveness.
Though this card is likely to retain most of its value and might even rise, it will be tethered to the value of another Lisia card in this set; so, its ceiling will be clearly defined by the other version.
2
Latias ex (Special Art Rare) – $97.99
Second Best Again
This Latias ex is a stunning card that boasts high values in both Japan’s Paradise Dragona and Surging Sparks – each of which is high enough to warrant praise among Latias’ most valuable cards.
Latias may be expensive in Paradise Dragona, but the English version in Surging Sparks debuted at roughly double the price of its Japanese peer.
Latias is beloved in every language, so this card is likely to remain valuable in Paradise Dragona. As currencies and economic situations shift, look for the Latias ex from Paradise Dragona to ebb and flow in tandem with the English version.
1
Lisia’s Appeal (Special Art Rare) – $149.29
The Top Girl
Lisia’s popularity is enough to warrant a place among the top spots, but the Altaria cameo sets this card far above its competition, as the only card from Paradise Dragona to break the triple digits (for now). The bright colors, adorable pose, and playful wink give this card a unique appeal as Lisia’s eye contact breaks the fourth wall.
At almost $150, this card’s sky-high start doesn’t theoretically give it much room to move up, but demand could push this card well beyond its perceived potential.
As Pokemon card values enter uncharted territories, modern marvels like these may continue to go up without signs of stopping.
