With its famous water cannons and massive hit points, Blastoise has been a favorite Pokémon since its debut in the original Pokémon Red and Blue video games. Known as the final evolution of the almost-as-popular Pokémon Squirtle, this Water-type monster always made a splash in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), featuring on many valuable and sought-after cards. In this article, we dive into the world of the most expensive Pokémon card in the hobby to bring you the top 15 most valuable Blastoise cards ever.
From rare holographics to early prototype tests, these Blastoise cards represent not only a significant investment for collectors but also a nostalgic journey through the dawn of the Pokémon card game franchise. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a new fan of the TCG, join us as we explore the allure, the rarity of those Pokémon cards, and, of course, the value of the best of the best of Blastoise cards.
The Top 15 Most Valuable Blastoise Pokémon Cards
Remember you can always follow the latest auctions, pricing trends, and hot deals from Cardbase when you check out the card’s specific page or download the Cardbase App to manage your Card Collection. This shows the main Blastoise page, but you can find individual data for each card by simply searching for the one you seek. After reading this list, you may want to put some of the best Blastoise cards on your Watch List so you can get notified when a copy comes up for sale.
15. 2002 Pokémon Expedition HoloFoil Blastoise #4/165 - $1,875
As popular as Blastoise is, a lot of the cards featuring the water-type Pokémon fail to capture him in an interesting pose. Not this one: The 2002 Expedition series gave us one of the best pieces of art on a Blastoise card. A partially-submerged version of our favorite water-type Pokémon looks like he’s sneaking up and ready to use his Giant Wave attack, with the detailed foam and water giving the card a depth and feel rarely rivaled by Pokémon designs. As a Holofoil card, the image also sports a shiny, reflective quality, adding to its look and likely increasing its value to collectors.
Giant Wave is a colossal attack, which is also one of the reasons this particular version of Blastoise is so popular. Combining the value as a playable card with the beauty of the art, it’s no wonder this rare card is so popular with Pokémon fans. This is also part of the Expedition Base Set with e-Card features that introduced interactive features in Game Boy Advance games.
In April 2023, a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy was sold for $1,875. The price has already gone up since then, with similarly-graded copies listed for almost 50% more. Time to grab a copy before it surges any more? I think so.
14. 2002 Pokémon Expedition For Position Only Test Run Blastoise #36/165 - $2,550
This unusual test card from 2002, like the last entry, is from the Expedition set that introduced a new technology feature linked with e-Cards and QR codes printed on the cards with a small dot. With Nintendo hardware, players could enjoy a variety of games and additional features.
Then-publisher Wizards of the Coast printed 165 cards in the set, with a handful printed in a test with the words "For Position Only" printed over the artwork. Blastoise, being a fan-favorite, was included in that small group of cards. With such a small population of cards, it’s not surprising that a For Position Only Blastoise sold in September 2020 for $2,550 in BGS 9 Mint condition. If you want this card, good luck finding them. The grading companies suggest the population is under 20 in the world.
13. 2002 Pokémon Legendary Collection Reverse HoloFoil Dark Blastoise #4/111 - $2,605
This appearance of the more aggressive Dark Blastoise is part of the Legendary Collection set, an expansion set released in 2002. This set reintroduced popular cards from earlier sets with a new feature, the "Reverse Holo". With a reverse holo backdrop, this card creates a major contrast against Blastoise's image, enhancing its overall visual appeal and surely driving up the value. It’s a truly eye-catching card that looks like fireworks are exploding throughout the background. Few other Pokémon cards match this look and, paired with the ongoing love that Blastoise gets as one of the most popular Pokémon, of course this 2002 Pokemon Legendary Collection Reverse Holographic #4 Dark Blastoise card is one of the most sought-after in the Legendary series.
In game, the card has a couple of powerful attacks but, like so many “Dark” variants, it does damage to itself when it uses one of them. That’s just part of the deal if you are going to play with the more mischievous and powerful Dark Pokémon variants.
This isn’t a common card, so finding a copy may be challenging. That’s part of why a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold in April 2021 for $2,605. If you’re on the hunt, be sure to set it up on your Cardbase Watch List.
12. 2000 Pokémon Team Rocket Holo Dark Blastoise #20/82 - $3,115
The 2000 Team Rocket Dark Blastoise was part of the fifth expansion of the Pokémon TCG and it represented the first US appearance of Dark Pokémon that were powerful and more costly to get out into the game. Team Rocket is a notorious group of villains in the Pokémon anime series who devise various schemes to capture Pokémon already caught by other trainers.
Blastoise is one of the most popular Pokémon around and that definitely has translated to more popularity for the Dark incarnation, too. The Dark Blastoise is a HoloFoil card, which adds to its value and mystique. This card can be found in both an Unlimited Edition (which also differs in numbers - #3, instead of #20) and 1st Edition with the appropriate stamp to the left of the card art. Although lower-graded copies can be found for much less, a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy with the 1st Edition logo sold for over $3,100 in May 2023. This valuable card is likely to be worth even more money in the days ahead.
11. 2000 Pokémon Topps Chrome T.V. Sparkle Blastoise #9 - $3,683
No, this is not a HoloFoil card - it’s a Sparkle card. Topps Chrome series is known throughout the trading card industry for being a little nicer, more valuable and they feature more of a sheen than their traditional cards. While this card is not for playing in the Pokémon TCG and it features a common Blastoise image that’s been in use since the early days of the franchise, these Topps cards still make excellent collector’s items for fans of the franchise who don’t play the trading card game.
This is proven to be true because this collectible Blastoise card has gone up in price considerably on the basis of its rarity and the popularity of Blastoise. A graded PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold in January 2022 for $3,683, easily outstripping a lot of terrific Pokémon TCG cards to place on our list. You might find ungraded copies for considerably less, but make sure to check them out. These cards are over 20 years old now and if they were not packed away on a slab, they could be damaged and worn. If you’re looking to invest in Pokémon Cards, you definitely only want to buy cards in the best of condition.
10. 1996 Pokémon Japanese Bandai Carddass Vending Blastoise Trainer #156 - $3,840
This early Pokémon card is also not for use in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). These 1996 Bandai Carddass cards were sold in vending machines in Japan. While it’s Blastoise on the card, this is a Trainer card. Does that mean Blastoise is a trainer now? It’s a mystery.
The back of the card is interesting as well, offering a Pocket Monsters Town Map. That portion of the card is in English, but the detailed descriptions on the map are in Japanese so get out your Google Translate app if you want to know more.
Note that the quality of the Bandai cards are not of the same high-quality as the game cards, but since these are designed as trading cards rather than for play, they are still an interesting collectible from the earliest days of Pokémon. They are also commanding a solid price; a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold in February 2023 for $3,840. They are pretty rare to find in any condition so if you want this one for your own collection, keep a close eye out. This set continues to grow in value because so many collectors and investors want to get cards from the earliest days of the Pokémon franchise.
9. 1997 Pokémon Japanese Rocket Gang Holo Dark Blastoise #009 - $4,000
Yes, Dark Blastoise had an earlier debut in Japan in 1997. While some numbers are different, the power-level of this Dark Pokémon is pretty much the same as it would appear a few years later in the US release of the Team Rocket set. The same excellent illustration showing the monster out in space was used as well, but the vivid colors of the US release aren’t evident in this earlier version of the card.
Still, it’s the first appearance ever of the Dark Pokémon and a pristine CGC 10 Perfect copy (including Perfect grades for all sub-grade categories) sold in May 2023 for about $4,000. Pokémon Cards from this series are highly valuable and if you plan to put together a set, save up your money because it won’t be cheap.
8. 1995 Pokémon Japanese Topsun Blue Back #9 - $4,200
One of two Topsun trading cards from the earliest days of Pokémon collectibles, this 1995 Blastoise card featured the art that would be one of the main visions of this popular monster. Again, this series of collectible cards predates the Pokémon TCG, so they lack stats or the usual features of the game cards. Regardless, they have still become expensive trading cards for investors and die-hard fans of the Pokémon franchise. Naturally, Blastoise is one of the most sought-after cards in the set. The same card also comes in a Green Back variety that is similar in type and another version you’ll see further up the list that is quite different.
Stories vary about the actual date when these cards came out to the public, but there are not too many floating around these days. According to PSA, there are barely over 50 that have been graded and fewer than a third of those are graded PSA 10 Gem Mint. To that end, a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold in February 2021 for $4,200. If you are a collector of the original Pokémon cards from Japan, this seems like a must-buy for that very valuable collection.
7. 2004 Pokémon Ex Fire Red & Leaf Green EX Holo Blastoise #104/112 - $5,200
This Fire Red and Leaf Green card is from the 2004 EX series of exceptionally powerful Pokémon, which was released in tandem with the similarly-titled video game versions. As both a Holo Rare in the set and simply being part of the EX line of cards, this version of Blastoise is very powerful in-game with its high HP and devastating attacks, signifying Blastoise's evolution into an even more formidable force. The card's holographic design complemented by its beautiful artistry and effective use of shadows adds significant collector value to this incredible card.
Thus, its collectibility is based on its scarcity and utility in actually playing the game. In October 2020, a copy in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition sold for a whopping $5,200, bringing this powerhouse Pokémon onto our list of the most valuable versions of Blastoise.
6. 1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless Blastoise #2/102 - $8,100
While it lacks the 1st Edition stamp, a Shadowless Blastoise is no slouch when it comes to value. The thrill of owning a Shadowless card with its clean design still keeps this card high in demand among die-hard Pokémon enthusiasts. We thrive on those small differences in the serious collector business.
Lucky collectors can sometimes still find copies ungraded and played to round out their set for less than $100, but if you are seeking a minty-fresh copy, you may need to pay up to $8,100. That’s how much a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold for back in June 2020. Prices may be rising, though. Current listings are almost double this price.
To avoid overwhelming this list any further with the 1999 Base Set Blastoise, let’s note that the “Unlimited” version of the card, when they added the ‘Shadow’ texture in the card background that became the norm, has sold in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition for as much as $6,750. However, it’s not hard to find lower-grade copies for much less, often in ‘played’ shape. Ungraded copies are also pretty widely available if you seek them out on Cardbase.
5. 1999 Pokémon Base Set Stage Error Holo Blastoise #2/102 - $8,400
Here’s yet another variant Blastoise card from the Base Set. This one’s distinction is a small printing error, but that makes all the difference in the price. If you look closely, the word “Stage” is missing from the top right text instructing the player to put Blastoise over their Stage 1 Wartortle, the Pokémon from which Blastoise evolves. Any error they make means more valuable variants for us collectors to enjoy talking about.
Indeed, this minor error means that this ‘Shadowed” Blastoise from 1999 actually crept into the price range of its Shadowless counterpart. A PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of this card sold in February 2023 for $8,400 and with very few copies out there, this price could increase even more in the future.
4. 1999 Base Set 1st Edition Shadowless Holo Thick Stamp Blastoise #2/102 - $8,610
The cards on this list are starting to look pretty similar, but keep in mind that it’s often the little differences that make collectibles worth so much more money. This 1999 Base Set 1st Edition “Thick Stamp” Blastoise is differentiated by the stamp, which makes it valuable but not quite as valuable as the thinner stamp version. Collectors will also notice a glossier look to the holo elements, too. Can you see the difference? It’s subtle.
There are not too many copies out there, but a PSA Gem Mint copy sold in June 2021 for $8,610. A number of copies have sold since then for less, so this one might not be on the way to a higher valuation with such a small point of differentiation.
4. 1999 Base Set Shadowless Blastoise Trainer Deck B #2/102 - $20,000
Yes, the difference from the next card on the list is subtle from the front of the card - just a small 1st Edition logo missing from the side of the card. But if you look at the back, it’s easy to see the red border and designation that this card is from a promotional early set called Trainer Deck B, also referred to as “Misty’s Deck”. While that set had a full complement of 60 cards, Blastoise has been the standout card within it, commanding the highest prices. Per the PSA database, fewer than 20 copies have been entered into their database, so these cards are exceedingly rare.
This is a valuable card, but pricing has varied quite a bit in recent years. If you are seeking a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy, you might be paying in the range of $20,000. That’s how much one sold for in March 2021, although prices dropped a bit when others were sold the following year. Keep your eye out if you want this unique item - they do pop up on various platforms tracked by Cardbase once in a while.
3.1995 Pokémon Japanese Topsun Holofoil Blastoise #009 - $20,100
This Japanese Topsun card is listed as dating back to 1995, which is awfully early for a Pokémon card considering that the official Pokémon Trading Card Game debuted in 1996. This set included 150 different Pokémon characters, with only about 10% of them getting the Holofoil treatment. Blastoise was one of them, so collectors can find three different versions: Holo, plus cards with a blue or a green card back that looked quite different.
Release dates for this card are fuzzy, but its historical significance cannot be overstated. PSA’s population report suggests that only a dozen copies have been seen in this graded condition. That’s likely why a collector paid just over $20,000 for a copy of 1995 Pokémon Japanese Topsun Holofoil Blastoise #009 in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition back in October 2020, at the height of the COVID lockdown pricing surge seen across the trading card space.
2. 1999 Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Blastoise #2/102 - $80,000
That’s right, the Shadowless 1999 1st Edition Blastoise card is actually not at the top of the list. Usually, Shadowless cards from the original 1999 Base Set are like the Baseball rookie cards of the Pokémon world: They’re the most valuable you can find. You’ll see why in a moment, but for now, let’s call out the pristine holo card look featuring the first appearance of fan-favorite Blastoise in its majestic form.
As most serious Pokémon collectors and players know, the first cut of Pokémon cards that came out in the United States lacked a textured shadow around the card border that the company later added. Thus, it’s become an instant way to confirm the first-edition status of a card and it renders cards from that era just about the most valuable you will find.
While copies of the Shadowless Blastoise can be found on the lower end of the grade ratings (say, under PSA 5) for a few hundred dollars, our pricey Blastoise here was a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold in 2020 for $80,000.
1. 1998 Pokémon Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Promo “Backless Blastoise” #009/165R - $360,000
I’m combining two very similar cards for the top of the list. While the above description talks about the most expensive Blastoise card ever, first let’s talk about the runner-up.
There is a reason why you never saw these cards even if you were opening booster packs on the day of the 1st Edition Pokémon TCG launch. That’s because they represent test prints produced by Wizards of the Coast in 1998 using existing cartoon artwork of this popular Pokémon rather than the classic image you’ve seen on the last few entries of the list.
In the case of the first one, the card was authenticated by CGC as one of the first efforts to produce a Pokémon card from the company famous for launching the collectible card phenomenon Magic: The Gathering. Its status as a test print is further evident in its use of a Magic: The Gathering card back, although the front side shows an early version of the Blastoise stats as they would appear in the Base Set in 1999. Lots of subtle changes happened between this and the final version, including renaming many of the abilities and Blastoise even got significantly bigger and almost doubled in weight. Since this card is of huge historical significance, the fact that it is graded in CGC 6.5 EX/NM+ condition didn’t bring down the pricing at all.
A unique test card like this will certainly never be reprinted in any way so that’s why it has become one of the most valuable Blastoise cards around. This copy sold in July 2021 for staggering $216,000.
Believe it or not, that’s not the top of our list. This is it - the most expensive Blastoise card ever sold. This is much the same as the card that sold for $216,000, with a couple of notable changes. This is, in fact, likely the very first effort by Wizards of the Coast to create a Blastoise card, with this version even lacking even a card back. The background behind Blastoise is a bit different as well, but since it was a prototype card, that could be just some Photoshop effect.
While this card would be worth plenty with even a poor grading, before the sale this card was reviewed and graded by CGC as being in 8.5 NM/Mint+ condition. Reports suggest that only two of these cards exist so there’s no way to ever get one again. That certainly helped a collector decide to buy it in January 2021 for $360,000, making it among the most valuable Pokémon cards ever sold.
Wrapping Up the Most Coveted Blastoise Pokémon Cards
There you have it - the 15 Most Valuable Blastoise cards ever sold. With a monster as well-liked and useful in play as Blastoise, it’s no wonder that cards featuring this water Pokémon would rise so high. Some of these prices even rival the most valuable cards featuring the two most popular Pokémon, Pikachu and Charizard.
It’s worth noting that this list focused on English language versions of the cards, plus early Japanese editions that predate the Pokémon TCG, so we don’t end up with a list that simply includes the same card in different languages. Otherwise, the entire list might have been versions of the same 1999 Shadowless Blastoise. We thought this way was more interesting and we hope you agree.
Whether you are a seasoned collector or a novice, any of these cards can add significant value to your Pokémon card collection. Their historical significance and unique designs showcase the excellent monster that Blastoise is and why it continues to be one of the most popular creatures in the game. Happy collecting!
