The latest generation in thePokemon TCGis full of cards that are already roaring in value, with others still waiting to reach their potential. WhileSword and Shield’s best setshave had some time to simmer, Scarlet & Violet’s are still hot off the presses, offering some incredibly hyped-up cards to collect.
While it will take some time before the real deals can be separated from the pumped-up pretenders, some of Scarlet & Violet’s best cards are shaking out nicely. There’s a healthy blend ofeternally valuable Pokemon, like Charizard, along with new Pokemon and trainers representing Paldea with Special Illustration Rares (SIR) and Illustration Rares (IR).
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGPlayermarket prices, which are subject to change.
Updated July 03, 2025, by Andrew Scariati:Prismatic Evolutions threw a massive wrench in sorting out the most expensive Scarlet & Violet chase cards, with so many candidates for the top spots. Since the Scarlet & Violet chase cards are still in so much flux, we’ve only included a few additions at the top that are likely to persist as we continue to monitor future price changes for the newest sets.
13Raging Bolt ex: Temporal Forces (Special Illustration Rare) – $98.99
Towering Above Paradox Pokemon
Though it’s backed away from its previous high above $100, Raging Bolt is stillthe most valuable card you can get in Temporal Forces, the set released just before Twilight Masquerade. Whether you’re a fan of the new Paradox Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet, or you prefer the original legendary dogs,this artwork is stunning.
Raging Bolt is the main focus, but the attention to detail in the card’s lighting and collection of trees is gorgeous to behold, painting an incredibly lush natural scene before our eyes.
12Squirtle: Pokemon Center Exclusive (Promo) – $145.30
An Unlikely Surge
While the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat represents the worst things about promo cards, Squirtle offers a slightly more wholesome tale. This card didn’t get much fanfare, but slowly rose in value over time, indicating a strong demand for it.
This simple card was also given away for free – though you had topurchase something on the Pokemon Center website to receive it.
Once this card was no longer available as a free incentive, it was not restocked often, as the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat has been, allowing it to increase in value.
11Charizard ex: Paldean Fates (Special Illustration Rare) – $202.56
Paldea’s Signature On Display
This is getting out of hand; now there are two of them asCharizard sweeps consecutive placementsamong the most expensive Scarlet & Violet era cards. This shiny Charizard eclipses its 151 counterparts by a small margin, and it may not keep its nose ahead for long.
However, this Charizard art features Terastallization, the signature mechanic from the Scarlet & Violet era, giving it a unique distinction from other Charizard cards, likethe most valuable ones from Champion’s Path.
10Latias ex: Surging Sparks (Special Illustration Rare) – $249.13
The Sky’s The Limit
Surging Sparks opened up the floodgates to another level of hype in the Pokemon, assome of the most expensive cards in the setdebuted at sky-high prices. Latias ex is one of the highlights of the set, earning its place thanks to the incredibly gorgeous scene depicted in the card’s art.
Latias opened at around $180 and shot up past the $200 plateau shortly thereafter. While the set is still incredibly young, this card is likely to maintain most of its value asone of the most desirable cards in the era.
9Magikarp: Paldea Evolved (Illustration Rare) – $267.10
Paying Homage To Giratina V
The Magikarp Illustration Rare has had a long and difficult journey, but it finally sits atop the throne asthe most valuable card in Paldea Evolved, settling for a second-place finish overall in the S&V era.
This card shares a similar mosaic-like background withthe Girtaina V alternate art from Lost Origin, with the artist reprising the iconic pattern for this card.
Magikarp’s climb from the $50 range to its current plateau is an incredible trajectory, as this underdog consistently fights against the current. A surprise appearance from Gyarados in the background gives this card even more to enjoy.
8Charizard: S&V 151 (Special Illustration Rare) – $276.78
Soaring Into The Stratosphere
On the other side of the spectrum, the Charizard SIR has been available for quite some time and evenmade it this high on the list despite a series of reprints for 151in mid-2024.
This card peaked at around $135 after the reprints sent it down toward the $100 mark before Charizard immediately bounced back and soared toward $200. Given the immense popularity of the Pokemon and the set,this card will be among the top cards from the Scarlet & Violet era for years to come.
7Pikachu With Grey Felt Hat (Promo) – $324.79
A Tumultuous Promotion
Speaking of cards with a rocky history, the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card, a.k.a. “Van Gogh Pikachu” is perhapsthe most controversial promo card released in the history of Pokemon,due to the widespread theft, scalping, and resale of this card on the secondary market.
It once hovered around $170, but this promo Pikachu tells a cautionary tale of what happens when you buy a card purely on hype, as itlost about 50 percent of its once sky-high valuationbefore eventually recovering and rising to its current price.
6Mew ex: Paldean Fates (Special Illustration Rare) – $373.51
A Mischievous Mew Masterpiece
Paldean Fates has had a bit of time to settle in the market, and the shiny Mew EX, also known as “Bubble Mew” issettling at a solid value between $80 and $90.This card’s artwork stands out from the rest ofthe most valuable Paldean Fates cards.
Even at such a solid value, Mew EX isn’t the most expensive card from its own set, as that distinction belongs to another Kantonian classic.
While it once dropped a long way down from its previous high of around $125, Mew made a comeback that pushed it to its current market price, illustrating its incredible popularity.
5Greninja ex: Twilight Masquerade (Special Illustration Rare) – $411.17
Is This Real Life, Or Just Fantasy?
The Greninja EX SIR’s existence thus far has been one consumed by hype, as this card’s incredible demand is unprecedented. However, given the unnaturally sharp spikes in prices, there’s reason to be skeptical that there might be something unusual going on behind the scenes in the Pokemon market.
Only time will tell how much of this hype is theresult of legitimate demand, and how much of the value is being inflatedby a small group of buyers.
This card continues to climb in value as the set ages, leaving no doubt that Greninja is a genuinely striking card deserving of its high price. It manages to continue exceeding every major plateau without signs of a major pullback.
4Espeon ex (Special Illustration Rare) – $426.66
Floating Upwards
Espeon ex is one of the newer additions to the most valuable Scarlet & Violet chase cards, as this Prismatic Evolutions SIR stands out with a beautiful array of colors and glimmering gems in the artwork. Espeon is frequently considered among the most beloved Eeveelutions, along with Umbreon.
This card jolted out of the gate with an impressive price around the $400 mark, though time will tell how Espeon’s value will ebb and flow to correspond with Prismatic Evolutions' reprints.
