Moltres is one of the most iconic Pokemon from Kanto’s original 151, and it holds a special place among the best legendary cards in thePokemon TCG. Some ofthe most valuable Entei cardsprove that there’s stiff competition among Fire-type Pokemon, but Moltres isn’t known to offer anything but straight fire in response.
With a long history in the Pokemon TCG, it comes as no surprise to see several classic vintage sets featured among Moltres' best cards. With the current buzz around the Pokemon TCG focused on sets withPokemon and Trainer duos, like Gym Challenge, we’ll see Moltres join in on the hype with its vintage versions.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGPlayerMarket Price,which represents what 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 anestablished market price on TCGplayerare included.
However,sale prices are vastly different depending on the card’s condition,so this market price is just a rough idea of the card’s value.
6Moltres: Skyridge (Holo Rare) – $100.00
High In The Skyridge
One of the most valuable Moltres cards on the market hails from an incredible set that lives in Pokemon TCG folklore as one of the all-time greats: Skyridge.The most expensive cards in Skyridgecan command incredible sums, with this Moltres flying among them with its solid $100 market price.
Although this set typically has some of the most difficult-to-find cards in ungraded condition, the Skyridge Moltres has listings as low as themarket price,but unfortunately, this value is being set based ona damaged card that sold for the same amount.
For the time being, we will need to wait for more heavily played(HP),moderately played(MP),lightly played(LP),or near-mint(NM)copies to sell to accurately determine where this card belongs among the best Moltres cards.
5Rocket’s Moltres: Gym Heroes (Holo Rare) – $115.00
Continuing The Hot Start
Gym Heroes is a fantastic set that features several popular Pokemon paired up with notable characters from the series, including Team Rocket Grunts. While Blaine and other heroic characters also feature among the best cards in the set, there’s always room to give a little love to the bad guys.
Moltres features twice amongthe most expensive cards in Gym Heroes,with its more valuable version still to come.
First edition copies command a premium over the unlimited copies but sell in a wide range depending on their condition.An NM first edition copy might run you about $115,while you can save a huge amount by settling for HP, which will cost closer to $50.
4Moltres Lv 33: Supreme Victors (Secret Rare) – $139.81
Looking Up At The Competition
The Moltres from Supreme Victors is one of the most distinctive Moltres cards in the TCG, featuring a flat, 2D artwork that somehow manages to accomplish an incredible amount of detail in this simplistic portrait. The burning flames rage on, tipping between red-hot and white-hot levels as Moltres soars through the sky.
This card’s market price is fairly low, considering there aresales in LP condition at around $150,while NM copies have earned as much as $250. However,MPconditions will net a major discount, rangingbetween $58 to $78.
TCGplayer’s market price doesn’t flawlessly reflect its recent sales, so it’s important to check the sales and contextualize the value.
3Blaine’s Moltres: Gym Heroes (Holo Rare) – $184.49
Burning Up With Blaine
Moltres returns with its second Gym Heroes artwork,this time featuring Blaine as its Trainer, breaking free from the clutches of Team Rocket. The artwork even appears to feature Moltres flying high in the sky, well beyond the reach of any human.
As always, the first edition is where the big values are, though someone was lucky enough to snag a damaged copy for $20. However, you should expect to payat least $150 if you’re looking for this Moltres LP and better conditions.
2Moltres EX: FireRed & LeafGreen (Secret Rare) – $187.23
A Bright, Fire-Filled Frame
The Moltres ex from FireRed & LeafGreen is a beautiful, vibrant depiction of this brilliant, smoldering bird,setting its borders alight with flickering flames.Moltres rarely gets a portrayal this perfect, as the essence of its destructive powers remains balanced with the elegance of this legendary Pokemon’s design.
While this card typically sells below $100 in most conditions, an NM sale of $156 has increased the market price dramatically. However, there are no recent sales in the region of $190, leaving someroom for this market price to significantly shift after more sales occur.
1Rocket’s Moltres EX: Team Rocket Returns (Ultra Rare) – $276.11
Team Rocket Blasting Off Again
Team Rocket Returns is one ofthe most valuable sets from the EX era, featuring incredible artwork like this Moltres. This unique depiction of the Fire-type legendary bird blends its signature red, orange, and yellow palette with a dark black and yellow background.
Even damaged copies of this card command staggering figures, as you’ll need toshell out $70 at minimum to get this card.NM soars into the $300 range and above,and you’ll struggle to get a good deal unless you settle for MP, which is closer to $110.
