Legendary and mythical Pokemon are some of the most desirable to collect in the Pokemon TCG, due to their rarity and iconic designs. Some of the oldest vintage cards top the charts as the most expensive Legendary Pokemon you can buy, though the modern era offers equally valuable cards.
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Whether you prefer the simplicity of classic designs from some of the most valuable Pokemon sets, or you’d rather get lost in the incredibly detailed modern designs, the best Legendary Pokemon cards come in many forms. Prepare to open up your wallets if you want to own the most valuable Legendary Pokemon cards, featuring Mew, Mewtwo, Lugia, and more.
Cards are ordered according to their TCGPlayer Market Price, which is the average price you might pay for a copy of the (first edition, where applicable) cards below.
Given the age and rarity of some 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
Lugia: Neo Genesis First Edition (Holo Rare) – $780.96
An All-Time Great
Lugia starts things off among the most valuable Legendary Pokemon cards in the Pokemon TCG with one of the most recognizable cards ever. What Charizard was to the first generation of Pokemon cards, Lugia replicates for the second generation with this iconic card.
This card also boasts the Cosmos Holo pattern, which can feature glittering whirlpool patterns called “swirls,” which enhance the card’s eye appeal and increase its value.
Near-mint (NM) raw first-edition copies of this card set the ceiling just above the $2,000 mark, while lightly played (LP) copies drop off significantly to about $900. The price continues to fall the worse the condition is, with moderately played (MP) sales hovering around the $550 range.
6
Shining Mewtwo: Neo Destiny First Edition (Secret Rare) – $836.99
A Glimmering Silhouette
Mewtwo is arguably the most recognizable Pokemon after Pikachu and Charizard, and it even boasts a collection of incredibly valuable cards to support this claim. Vintage Mewtwo cards usually come with a hefty price tag, but the first edition versions command impressive premiums over their Unlimited counterparts.
As an example, this card’s Unlimited version fetches roughly $400 in LP condition, while the first-edition copy easily eclipses $800. Sticking to the first edition, you can expect to pay more than $500 for a copy in MP condition, while damaged cards offer a slight discount, coming in at $350.
5
Rayquaza Star: Deoxys (Ultra Rare) – $869.76
Beware The Market Price
Rayquaza has a similarly impressive share of the vintage market to Mewtwo, with some of the top options selling for thousands of dollars in good condition. Unfortunately, Rayquaza Star’s rarity works against it when it comes to TCGplayer’s market price, as this card can sell for far more than you might think.
This Rayquaza doesn’t have many sales to point to on TCGplayer, but a damaged copy sold for about $870, giving us an idea of the card’s floor, but not its ceiling. As a point of comparison, a PSA 8 also sold on TCGplayer to the tune of $6,000 – almost ten times as much as the damaged copy.
4
Latias Star: Deoxys (Ultra Rare) – $900.78
An All-Star Design
Unsurprisingly, Latias Star shares the same conundrum as Rayquaza and some of the other valuable Gold Star cards among the most expensive Legendary Pokemon cards. This card claims an impressive rank among the most valuable Latias cards, though it can’t quite beat out the modern competition for the top spot.
Heavily Played (HP) copies of this card start at $600, setting an impressive benchmark for cleaner copies to adhere to. Upgrading to an MP will cost about 50 percent more, with a sale registering $900. However, with an LP sale fetching almost the exact amount, we’ll need more data to determine if it was an erroneous mislabel or where this card’s ceiling is.
3
Latios & Latias GX: Team Up (Alternate Full Art) – $1,152.10
Modern Icons
Who would have thought that a modern card could make the list as one of the most valuable Dragon-type Pokemon and claim a spot as one of the best Legendary Pokemon cards to ever grace the Pokemon TCG? That’s the pull that a card like this legendary Latios & Latias Tag Team has.
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This card continues to rise, as it had incredible gains in 2024, soaring from about $700 to well over $1,000. With modern cards rising across the board, it’s clear that some of the most desirable Pokemon artwork commands a massive premium that will keep them far above their competition.
2
Mew Star: Dragon Frontiers (Ultra Rare) – $1,500.00
Looking Blue, Feeling Better
Mew earns its place among the most valuable Legendary Pokemon TCG cards as one of the most beloved (and adorable) characters in the series. This card consistently remains in demand, as newcomers and veterans all pine to own Mew’s most valuable card, hailing from Dragon Frontiers.
While you can pick up a damaged copy for a relatively modest price of $159, don’t expect a discount on cleaner copies. This card sets the ceiling at $1,500 in NM condition, with an MP sale dipping below the $500 plateau if you don’t want to spend your rent money on a single card.
1
Lugia: Aquapolis (Secret Rare) – $2,388.99
Rising Into The Stratosphere
Speaking of dropping a month’s rent on a card, the Lugia from Aquapolis can help you do just that – or multiple months, depending on where you live. This card flies high above the competition as one of the rarest and most visually stunning Legendary Pokemon cards in the history of the TCG.
Damaged copies start around the $400 mark while upgrading to an HP will cost an extra $200 at about $600. MP copies start to get into serious money, as they cross the $1,000 barrier, while an LP can easily run you $1,500. If you only collect the cleanest cards, prepare to shell out more than $2,000 for NM copies of this iconic Lugia.
