Vintage sets in the Pokemon TCG are packed with some of the most popular Pokemon of all time, as their pool of choices was restricted to characters from the first three generations. The best cards from the EX era feature some of the most expensive Pokemon sets ever and highlight their chase cards as the incredible gems they are.
Related
Pokemon TCG: The 5 Most Valuable Alakazam Cards
Watch your money disappear like magic while collecting these Alakazam gems.
All-time greats like Pikachu and Rayquaza made major marks in the EX era and changed the game with their collection of valuable Gold Stars. However, while many of these cards have incredibly high values, some are so rare that they don’t have confirmed market prices on TCGplayer due to a lack of recent sales. For now, those cards will have to wait on the sideline.
Cards are ordered according to their
TCGPlayer
Market Price,
which you might pay on average for a copy of the 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.
7 Gyarados Star: Holon Phantoms (Delta Species) – $598.00
On The Rise
The Gyarados Star leads the way in Holon Phantoms as one of the set’s premier cards, which boasts a shiny Gyarados in the middle of a ferocious roar.
A perfect copy (PSA 10) commanded $18,000, which is likely to spark a resurgence in raw copies of this card selling for high values on TCGplayer.
This card ebbs and flows, as it previously sat around the $700 mark, but has since dropped. However, with recent graded sales picking up, it’s unlikely that Gyarados’ price will drop much further, so look out for it to rise on this list in the future.
6 Latias Star: Deoxys (Ultra Rare) – $600.00
Flying High
Some of Latias’ most valuable cards feature gorgeous designs that highlight this Pokemon’s majestic qualities. The Latias Star is the perfect representation of Latias’ shiny form as it flies through the air, leaving a glimmering holo trail behind it.
Look out for swirls – sparkling patterns in the shape of whirlpools on the holographic background.
As time goes on, Latias’ condition factors more heavily into this card’s price. A recent heavily played (HP) sale set the current market price, indicating that there’s a demand for this card in better condition that will likely push its price well into the 1,000s of dollars.
5 Charizard ex: FireRed & LeafGreen (Ultra Rare) – $694.99
Always A Charizard
Charizard is always a usual suspect among the most valuable cards in any set, but its FireRed & LeafGreen card earns a place among the set’s most valuable cards.
Charizard is joined by the other Kanto starter Pokemon in this set, but there’s no denying that this Fire-type Pokemon is easily the most popular of the three.
Related
Pokemon TCG: The 6 Most Valuable Squirtle Cards
Squirtle finally gets the love it deserves in modern sets.
This is the most expensive Charizard ex-card on the market and earns its market price on the back of several solid sales in less-than-ideal conditions. Recent HP sales range from $245 to $275, with a near-mint (NM) copy of this card selling for as high as $950.
4 Umbreon ex: Unseen Forces (Ultra Rare) – $744.99
As Good As Gold
Umbreon ex follows Charizard’s lead as the only two non-Gold Stars on this list, as the gem from Unseen Forces is the set’s most valuable card.
Umbreon’s popularity usually catapults its value well above its peers, but it takes an extreme level of support to put Umbreon into the same conversation as Charizard, exceeding the Fire-type in this instance.
This card’s price has skyrocketed in recent months, with damaged sales previously lingering around $120 until a lightly played (LP) Umbreon sold for $454.99 and sent the market price way up. Although you can still find solid copies for much less than the market price, expect to pay a lot for a clean card.
3 Jolteon Star: Power Keepers (Ultra Rare) – $800.00
A Price Surge
Jolteon’s most valuable card has been simmering for a while now, just waiting for sales to push the market price into a new stratosphere. Given that this card’s gorgeous artwork and stunning design make it stand out, it’s no surprise to see its price rising.
Damaged and HP copies are fairly affordable, capping out at roughly $146 for the latter. However, LP and NM copies break the scale, with the former boasting a sale at $550. An NM copy commanded $800 and established a new market price for Jolteon, but another NM sale would help to confirm its new price.
2 Pikachu Star: Holon Phantoms (Ultra Rare) – $999.99
Value With Attitude
Pikachu is the most popular Pokemon alongside Charizard, so it’s only fitting that Pikachu appears among the best cards from the EX era alongside its Kantonian friend. This illustration of Pikachu portrays it with a healthy dose of attitude as it appears defiant and ready for a fight.
Rare cards like these only need
one or two sales to completely shift their market price on TCGplayer,
so it’s important to keep the whole picture in mind and not just adhere to the market price.
Pikachu previously sold for about $339 in damaged condition, but an LP sold for $999.99 and established a higher market price for this stunning card from Holon Phantoms. While it’s uncertain where this market price will trend, an NM sale will surely send it flying.
1 Rayquaza Star: Deoxys (Ultra Rare) – $1,740.00
The Best Of The Era
The Rayquaa Star is the undisputed most valuable card you’ll find from any of the most expensive sets in the EX era. While Rayquaza’s rarity leaves us with few sales to analyze, there are still two that appear recently enough to establish a market price.
On the other hand, the Charizard Gold Star hasn’t had recent sales, so it cannot feature among the best cards from this era until a market price is re-established.
While the sky-high market price is accurate as to what you may pay for an NM copy, a damaged card sold for $869.76, while one in MP condition sold for $1,250 – leaving the market price’s estimation as a fair value for Rayquaza.
