The Most Valuable Squirtle Pokemon TCG Cards

The original starter trio of Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur stand out as some of the most beloved and recognized characters in the Pokemon TCG. However, even though the evolved forms get plenty of attention, the first-stage Pokemon deserve love too, with some of Squirtle’s best cards commanding solid values.

While Squirtle’s earliest cards can’t compete with the more expensive, fully evolved forms in the Base Set, surprisingly high values are still attached to the simple designs featured on some Non-Holo cards. From vintage favorites to intricate modern marvels, Squirtle’s most valuable cards stand out with a mixed bag of designs that appeal to fans of all eras.

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 Squirtle: Pop Series 4 (Common) – $10.34

A Rare Find

The first Squirtle hails from Pop Series 4, one of nine special promo sets released to highlight some of the best Pokemon from the early generations, like Squirtle, along with popular inclusions such as Espeon and Umbreon. This is the softest depiction of Squirtle we’ve ever seen in the Pokemon TCG, with the light blue and white coloring instilling a dreamlike quality.

Unfortunately, this card’s price is more of a nightmare to make sense of, as sales jump around from eight to $12, with little regard for condition. As an example, some near-mint (NM) sales clock in at $9.95, while others jump to $10.94 and $12.30. However, lightly played (LP) copies mimic the same sales, with the highest reaching $12.14.

5 Ditto (Squirtle): Delta Species (Uncommon) – $11.24

A Terrific Technicality

While the Pokemon is technically a Ditto, this hysterical illustration of an imitated Squirtle is deserving of mention among the best Squirtle cards, and it has the sales to back up its inclusion.

Moving past the technicalities, this Squirtle is one of several other Pokemon imitated by Ditto from this set, with other inclusions, like Bulbasaur, also boasting solid values.

This card comes in a Reverse Holo version, which offers a higher price ceiling, but their $10.99 market price leaves them as the runners-up to the general Common’s market price. However, in reality, expect to pay a significant sum for the Reverse Holo version, with the LP clocking in at $32, followed by NM copies at $34.99.

4 Squirtle: Scarlet & Violet 151 (Illustration Rare) – $40.12

The Tide Rises

Scarlet & Violet: 151 sparked a resurgence in the Pokemon market, garnering interest from nostalgic collectors seeking to relive their youths while getting their hands on new-age interpretations of classic Pokemon. The most expensive cards in 151 feature several cards of the starter Pokemon and their evolutions, like this Squirtle on a beach.

If you’re looking to get your hands on this Illustration Rare, NM copies are beginning to soar to unprecedented heights, with recent sales reaching as high as $47.95, with a small discount for LP copies, which typically sell for a few dollars less than NM, in this case, $42.

3 Squirtle: Stellar Crown (Illustration Rare) – $50.85

A Stellar Swim

While there aren’t many other top-tier Pokemon among the most valuable cards in Stellar Crown, Squirtle steals the show in this modern set, despite competition from Terapagos, who still currently boasts the most expensive card.

Squirtle opened its TCG career right around the $50 mark during prerelease but quickly lost value, falling to about $39 at its low, but it quickly turned heel and began recovering lost value soon after release. Although recent spikes might correct itself, there’s a chance the value of this superb card might continue to soar considering the relatively weak card roster.

A Surging Squirtle Promo

Promo cards are fickle, as they tend to surge into prominence or fade into obscurity with little room for a middle ground. This Squirtle is an excellent example of a promo that took off, as this previously free card now commands a value that continues to approach $100.

The Pokemon Center Exclusive stamp
is essential and is the key distinguishing factor between this card and its cheaper version.

While this card had a high price at the end of 2023, it fell from about $90 to roughly $50 in November 2023, before this card immediately recovered and maintained a near-$90 value until October, when it fell to roughly $75. With the current market price closer to the high end, this card will likely cling to the $90 plateau.

1 Squirtle: Base Set First Edition (Common) – $103.82

The Original At The Top

The original Squirtle art from the Base Set is iconic, and the first edition, Shadowless copy of this card, is an incredible piece of Pokemon TCG history. Squirtle’s Bubblebeam remains one of its signature moves throughout various story arcs, as originated by this art.

First edition copies command an incredibly high premium, with the best versions (NM) selling for up to $149.99. If you want a clean card but prefer not to spend over $100, you can settle for an LP copy, which should cost you closer to $62.99, while a damaged copy will only run you about $15 if the condition doesn’t matter.