The Most Valuable Giovanni Pokemon TCG Cards

While Pokemon are the fundamental focus in the Pokemon TCG, there’s plenty of room to give popular Trainers the spotlight, including iconic villains like Giovanni. Most of the valuable trainers in the Pokemon TCG are heroic figures, but even villains boast an impressive demand to support a solid roster of valuable cards.

Trainers typically appear across several sets, but Giovanni’s most valuable cards come from a single source: Gym Challenge. This vintage set boasts a triple header of important qualities that set it apart, as it features Pokemon and Trainer duos, has a first edition version, and can include swirls on the holographic patterns, making them a dream for collectors.

Cards are ordered according to their
TCGPlayer
Market Price,
which you might pay on average for a copy of the
first edition
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.

5 Giovanni: Gym Challenge (Holo Rare) – $52.47

The Boss Sets The Tone

On a list dedicated to Team Rocket’s intimidating tyrant, Giovanni opens the conversation with an incredibly fierce depiction of this boss dressed in his signature suit. While the dark background makes it hard to appreciate every detail, Giovanni’s trademarked furrowed brow conveys his mood.

As with all cards on this list, the
First Edition
version heavily outsells the
Unlimited
version, solidifying impressive premiums.

Giovanni can sell for up to the current market price, with near-mint copies also available for less, with a $47.99 sale to confirm this. Lightly Played (LP) cards might offer a small discount to the tune of $39, but you might struggle to find copies in lower condition on TCGplayer, with no recent sales to point toward as an example of what a moderately played (MP) or heavily played (HP) card may cost.

4 Giovanni’s Persian: Gym Challenge (Holo Rare) – $75.43

Hunting For A Top Spot

Persian is Giovanni’s signature Pokemon, with this evolved form of Meowth representing a much more serious and malicious attitude prevailing to match Giovanni’s. This card’s design is stunning and there’s plenty of room to find swirls on your holo patterns, as Persian only uses a small portion of the frame.

First edition sales range from as low as $29.90 for HP cards but rise to as much as $75 when purchasing NM copies. If you’d prefer a middle ground, then you can pay closer to $65 for an LP copy, or opt for the cheaper end of the spectrum for an MP copy, which doesn’t have any recent sales.

3 Giovanni’s Machamp: Gym Challenge (Holo Rare) – $88.03

A Flurry Of Fury

Machamp might be the least iconic inclusion among Giovanni’s roster of Pokemon in sets like Gym Challenge, but this Pokemon still stands out from the pack with a hectic card art that reflects Giovanni’s unrivaled anger.

Machamp punches above its weight with an impressive array of high sales. HP copies can sell for as much as $39.99, falling just shy of the $40 mark, while MP copies can sell for just shy of $50. LP cards can cost as much as $64.95, while NM copies soar to unexpected highs of $80.20 and $109.98.

2 Giovanni’s Nidoking: Gym Challenge (Holo Rare) – $112.61

A King’s Ransom

Nidoking is more closely associated with Team Rocket’s boss than Machamp, and this powerful Ground and Poison-type Pokemon makes an impressive statement with a triple-digit value. The close-up of Nidoking’s ferocious expression is perfect for this card, as it offers another reflection of Giovanni’s aggressive personality.

While you might only pay $22 for a damaged copy, NM first edition cards can sell for as much as $159.99, though they can also drop to as low as $108.55, so carefully inspect the particular card before purchasing it. LP cards also vary, with sales from $65 to over $87.

1 Giovanni’s Gyarados: Gym Challenge First Edition (Holo Rare) – $162.56

The Greatest Gyarados

Gyarados flies high above any other one of Giovanni’s powerful Pokemon, as this card represents Giovanni’s crowning achievement. Giovanni doesn’t connect with many Pokemon, but Gyarados’ combination of rage and strength makes it one of the best representations of the Rocket boss’s personality.

Expect damaged copies to start at $40, while MP copies tend to sell for between $80 and $85. On the higher side of things, LP copies have eclipsed the $100 mark, while NM cards soar above the market price in some cases, with the highest sale boasting a $199.99 price tag.