5 of the Rarest Pokémon Cards You Wish You Had Today

The Pokemon collecting community is far more diverse than the surface-level premium pricing suggests. So, below is a list of some ridiculously rare Pokemon cards that aren't commonly acknowledged by the Logan Pauls of the world. We'll go through a cosmos filled with fan-club promotions, printing faults, and one-of-a-kind oddities. Consider this a history lesson: 5 cards you should know before diving into Pokemon.

1. 1st Edition Charizard, Holographic – SGC GOLD LABEL PRISTINE 10

This Charizard is a first edition shadowless holographic card. Super early cards lacked drop shadows beneath the picture or text, which increased their rarity and price. It's also Charizard, a wonderful dragon that everyone adores. Charizard cards have grown in popularity in recent years, with celebrities such as retired rapper Logic and famous-for-some-reason-influencer Logan Paul getting in on the fun. Paul wore a super-rare Charizard around his neck even during his battle with Floyd Mayweather.

2. 1999 Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer

You've probably never heard of Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer, and even if you have, you've probably never seen one in person. There are few cards rarer than this one when it comes to Pokémon cards.

No. 1 Trainer is a holographic promotional card given to finalists in Tokyo, Japan's 1999 Secret Super Battle competition. (Despite the identical name, this is a different card than the 2002 World Championships No. 1 Trainer described above.) Players first had to win a regional tournament to qualify for the competition's finals, held in a secret location. Their reward was the No. 1 Trainer card, which allowed them to compete in the finals.

The inscription on the card reads, "The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's champion is recognised here, and this honour is praised. By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Secret Super Battle." The card contains the Japanese emblem for the "Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game," and artwork by Hideki Kazama depicting the first generation Pokémon Mewtwo.

3. Tamamushi University Magikarp

This Magikarp card was created as a promotion for magazine publisher Shogakukan's Celadon University campaign, and it was given to individuals who succeeded in becoming "Pokemon Professors." 1000 Magikarps were up for grabs by sending in the Entrance Test, Professor Test, Super Professor Test, and Hyper Professor Test (all found in different Shogakukan publications focused at kids).

Even though so many were printed, the PSA has only identified 91 so far. PSA 10-graded cards sell for far more than any other condition, fetching $66,100 at auction.

4. PSA 10 Holo Rayquaza Gold Star EX Deoxys

Rayquaza is clearly a member of the royal family if Charizard is the king of Pokemon. It tends to command a premium price in each set in which it appears, but none are as scarce as EX Deoxys' Rayquaza Gold Star, which has just 56 certified PSA 10 quality cards in circulation, placing it on a level with the renowned Holo Base Set Shadowless Charizard.

PSA 10-grade Gold Star Rayquazas are valued at an astounding $40,400. Auctions can sometimes swing drastically on either side of that price. Goldin Auctions offered three in 2021, with the top-selling for $44,280 and the lowest for $34,440.

5. Mew Victory Orb Trophy

Mew is the world's most intriguing Pokemon. Mew was pivotal in the universe's early tales and remains a cultural icon to this day. Mew was memorialised with its own trophy card in 2003 and 2004, given to champions of a Pokemon tournament in Japan. A card shark's golden rule is that if Nintendo distributes a promotional prize to a limited group of card sharks, it will most likely maintain a lot of value. That's certainly the case with Mew Victory Orb, which, as GameRant points out, has only 14 PSA ratings.

Conclusion

Even within the rarest Pokémon cards, there are numerous subtleties that translate into a wide variety of values. While a few high-profile examples may grab the attention of beginners and veterans alike, the Pokémon card market is more dynamic than it seems. If you want to get into collecting, why not check out some of these rare Pokemon cards?