Pikachu is one of the most beloved and iconic characters in the world of Pokémon. Of course, Nintendo has highlighted him more than any other Pokémon character after his early popularity, even though they thought Poliwhirl and Clefairy might be a better ambassador for the brand. With its cute appearance and cool electric powers, Pikachu has captured the hearts of fans around the globe and he’s been the face of the game since. From its trading cards to its extensive line of merchandise, Pikachu has become a cultural phenomenon that continues to captivate and delight fans young and old even decades after his introduction.
Of course, if you're a Pokémon enthusiast and a collector, you know that no collection is complete without a range of Pikachu cards. The lovable electric monster has been featured in numerous sets, each with its own unique artwork and rarity. To help you curate an impressive collection, we've compiled a list of 10 of the most valuable Pikachu cards that are sure to elevate your Pokémon collection if you can nab one. Note that a lot of them are limited-edition Japanese promos, especially some of the oldest ones. Pikachu is popular all over, but since the game started in Japan, they have some of the most exclusive and expensive cards ever made. Okay, let’s dive in!
Top 10 Most Valuable Pikachu Pokémon Cards Ever Made
Don’t forget that if you want to buy one or more of these amazing Pikachu cards, you can track the prices and monitor Hot Deals by adding them to your Watchlist on Cardbase. This is the best way to keep tabs on the cards you want the most across dozens of trading card marketplaces online and find that perfect addition to your collection.
10. 2005 P.M. Victory Ring Japanese Promo Spring Battle Road Pikachu Trainer
This Victory Ring Pikachu card is from the Spring Battle Road competition held in 2005 and then again in 2006. Like many of the promo cards handed out to winners of regional Japanese tournaments, it’s a trainer card and it was only released in Japanese. Less than 100 of these cards were awarded each year to the winners in various divisions. While the Victory Ring card might not be as rare as some of the other cards on the list, it’s still in high demand due to a few factors that make it so unusual. First and foremost, most of these trainer promos have a trophy and not a ‘Victory Ring’. Plus the artwork itself is distinct in that it’s a previously released image with Pikachu added in, making it even more distinct from other promo trainer cards out there.
According to grading company PSA, not many copies of the Victory Ring promo have been graded at their top level, but a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of the card sold in June 2023 for $21,000 and all signs point to the fact that this valuable card will get more expensive in the days ahead.
9. 2021 PCG 25th Anniversary Japanese Promo Pikachu & Zekrom GX #2018 - $21,999
We need to have at least one recent card on the list, right? This 2021 special edition Pikachu card is from the recent 25th Anniversary of the Pokémon brand. Pikachu’s parent company celebrated the occasion by releasing this card alongside a set of others that showed the history of the franchise over time. Technically, Pikachu is sharing this ‘Tag Team’ card with Zekrom, but we’ll let this one team appearance slide into the 10 spot here since it’s a dazzling-looking card that recently sold for a significant amount. Every other card on this list is just Pikachu. Frankly, it doesn’t need anyone else to make its cards valuable.
This PSA 10 Gem Mint copy sold in June 2023 for $21,999 - and, according to the seller, they have one more copy for sale at the same price, same grading. That doesn’t happen too often.
8. 2016 P.M. Pokémon 20th Anniversary 24K Gold Ginza Tanaka #25 Pikachu - $29,520
Everyone knows Pikachu. He’s appeared on tons of Pokémon cards, but never one quite like this special edition card. The Gold Pikachu card was released in the Japanese market and is literally made of solid 24-karat gold. Crafted in collaboration with jewelry company Ginza Tanaka, this luxe collectible was released in 2016 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. Of course, you couldn’t just buy a copy; investors and collectors had to enter a lottery for a chance to acquire one from the company. Successful lottery entrants then had to fork over about $2,000 to purchase a copy that was then delivered to the lucky buyers encased in a custom-made glass commemorative holder from Ginza Tanaka. Naturally, they were going to appreciate in value so it’s not like the price of admission for this expensive Pikachu card was going to go to waste.
While that amount is a significant upfront cost and, of course, you can’t play the card in a tournament, the Gold Pikachus are indeed worth a lot of money today. In a testament to Pikachu’s appeal to collectors, someone sold their own rare Gold Pikachu card for an astounding $29,520 in September 2021. Many more have been sold in a similar price range, proving that the initial investment was definitely worth it. Of all cards to hold value over time, this is one that is likely to gain in significant value over time because it’s both a precious Pikachu and a precious metal.
7. 2016 Pokémon Japanese XY Black Star Promo 20th Anniversary Festa Participation Prize Holofoil #279/XY-P - $32,520
The 2016 Pokémon XY-P Promo #279 is an exclusive card produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. This valuable Pikachu card was only released in Japan at the 2016 Pokémon Festa event. Participants of the event were each given this card as a souvenir, reinforcing its rarity and collectible appeal due to the one-off opportunity to acquire a copy of this Japanese language card.
Falling under the XY Black Star Promos series of rare Pokémon cards, it is part of a collection well-known to collectors because of their limited distribution. The card is a holofoil, which usually signifies a rare and highly valued Pikachu Pokémon card. The card's number, #279, refers to its numerical position within the XY Promos collection.
As a participation prize, this card is not as rare or valuable as some of the Trophy cards you’ll see further down the list, but it’s still of historical value. This particular copy was graded a perfect BGS 10 Pristine and that’s only happened a handful of times according to the grading company’s database. Thus, it’s not surprising to see this copy sell for a massive $32,520 in March 2023.
6. 2012 Pokémon World Championships Pikachu Trophy No. 1 Trainer - $72,000
Exclusivity powers the value of a lot of the cards remaining on our list. These “Trophy” cards are rare since only a few were printed for specific events and they had to be won, they couldn’t just be purchased. Of course, years later, some Pokémon champions are selling their victory cards for a tidy profit.
In this case, this is the “Gold” or Number 1 Trainer trophy card from the 2012 Pokémon World Championships held in Hawaii, USA. The card takes its design cues from the cards featured in that year’s tournament: HeartGold, SoulSilver, and the early Black & White era. Of course, you had to actually claim a spot on the winner’s podium to get a copy of this gorgeous card with a victorious Pikachu holding up a gold trophy illustrated by Kei Hoshiba. Only three were issued that year for the tournament, so this is another exclusive and massively valuable Pikachu card.
That was proven out when one of those three, a PSA 9 Mint, sold for $72,000 in December 2021. Now that’s a winning price and I expect these cards will only get more valuable over time.
5. 1997 P.M. Silver Trophy Pikachu No. 2 Trainer - $84,000
Another Trophy card here, but from a far earlier era. This specific Trophy Card is the No.2 Trainer Trophy Card and it was awarded in Japan to the runner-up during the Lizardon (that’s what they call Charizard) Mega Battle held back in 1997. So, it’s rare and also historical as that was one of the first major Pokémon tournaments in history.
With such a limited number of these rare Trophy cards out there, not many this old have surfaced for grading and sale, which drives up the value considerably. According to PSA’s website, only three copies of it have ever emerged, and only one of those is PSA 10 Gem Mint condition. This 1997 edition Silver card sold in an auction on Japanese Yahoo for $84,000 in 2020.
4. 2006 Pokémon World Championships Pikachu Promo No. 2 Trainer - $110,000
Pikachu gets the honor of appearing on these Trophy cards as the official spokes-monster for the brand. This Number 2 Trainer trophy card is a rare piece of Pokémon memorabilia from the 2006 World Championships and was only awarded to a select few competitors who reached the finals in their division. Held just down the street from Disneyland in Anaheim, California between August 18th and 20th, the World Championship offered Pokémon trainers a chance to compete with the best of the best and win exclusive prizes. To win one of these cards, players had to secure a place in the tournament finals.
The trophy card itself boasts an iconic holographic pattern typical of the EX-era of Pokémon cards, an official 2006 stamp, and shows a victorious Pikachu holding a silver trophy up with some effort. This stunning card is the only copy graded by PSA and it is said to be one of just three in the world. The card's scarcity and significance make it a potential centerpiece for any collection or investment portfolio. The latest recorded sale for a second-place Trainer card in PSA 9 Mint condition took place in a February 2021 auction, where it sold for an impressive $110,000.
3. 1998 Pokémon Japanese Trophy Pikachu Gold No. 1 Trainer - $128,900
One of the older Pikachu Trophy cards on the list, this 1998 limited edition card was awarded at the Pokémon Lizardon tournament in Japan. The top three winners in the tournament received this exclusive Pikachu card, which shows the famous electric-type monster holding a trophy the color of their victory rank (Gold, Silver, Bronze). These prize cards are exceptionally rare because only a small number of these cards were ever created and they were exclusively distributed at special events, adding to their value and allure in the eyes of collectors.
The grading company PSA has recorded just a handful of these cards for certification. In 2021, a notable sale of a copy of the Gold Trophy Pikachu card, graded at PSA 7 NM, was sold for a staggering $128,900. This sale stands as a testament to the immense value and desirability of these rare Trophy cards, which are seen as the crown jewels in many Pokémon card collections. If you can’t win one in a tournament, you can buy them - but they will cost you an awful lot of money.
2. 1997 P.M. Trophy Pikachu Trainer Bronze No. 3 - $300,000
The Pikachu Trainer #3 Bronze Trophy Card is a rare artifact of Pokémon TCG history, originating from the first-ever Pokémon TCG tournament in 1997. This Pikachu card, which could not be purchased but had to be won, was awarded to the four third-place winners of the tournament held at Makuhari Messe Event Hall, Japan. The specialness of the cards from this first-ever tournament makes this card worth so much more, even though it’s just a Bronze card from the event. Can you imagine the pricing for a Gold trophy version? The sky’s the limit.
The card's artwork is the work of popular and renowned Pokémon artist, Mitsuhiro Arita. This exclusive card, of which only four copies exist, was sold at auction in PSA 8 NM-MT condition in April 2023 for a staggering $300,000, making it one of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever sold publicly. The card's historical significance, rarity, and artistic value make it a true gem for any collector.
1. 1998 Illustrator Pikachu - $5,275,000 (or $6,000,000?)
The Pikachu Illustrator card is undeniably the most expensive and rare Pokémon card ever - not just the most expensive Pikachu card. Originating from a 1997 art competition held by CoroCoro, a Japanese comic magazine, winners got this unique card that portrays Pikachu whimsically sketching other monsters.
The card was illustrated by Atsuko Nishida, one of Pikachu's original creators, further adding to the significance of this card for collectors. Less than 41 copies of this card are believed to exist based on the number of winners in the CoroCoro contest and a couple of others being released. This factor that virtually guarantees its value will continue to escalate over time.
Over the past decade, Illustrator Pikachu cards have consistently sold in the range of $200,000. However, in 2020, the card broke a new record when a copy sold for an impressive $250,000, surpassing the prior record of $243,000 set in 2019. That record was short-lived: In February 2021, a PSA 7 NM version of the card fetched an astonishing $375,000 at a PWCC auction. Basically, this whole list could be just sales of Pikachu Illustrator.
The momentum of the value of this card going up didn’t stop there. The Japanese-language card demolished its previous record in February 2022, when a copy was sold for an eye-watering $900,000. What makes this even more amazing is that it was only a PSA 7 NM copy of the card.
Only a few months later, the record was shattered again when a PSA Gem Mint 10 version of the card sold for an unbelievable $6,000,000. This is where things get a bit fuzzy. While the PSA database claims a sale for $6,000,000 was made for a PSA 10 Gem Mint condition copy of the card, YouTuber Logan Paul was seen donning a copy he bought for approximately $5,275,000 in cash and trade-ins, during his ill-fated WrestleMania debut in April 2022. During the event, a few people erroneously posted on social media that the card was ‘worth $6 million dollars’ even though it’s been widely reported about the specifics of his transaction.
The story behind Logan Paul's purchase of that PSA 10 Gem Mint copy of a Pikachu Illustrator card adds another fascinating chapter to its history. In July 2021, Paul’s was introduced to a seller from whom he purchased the card. The transaction involved a $4,000,000 cash payment and a trade of a PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator, amounting to a total purchase value of $5,250,000. It worked out much better than the time Logan Paul spent $3,500,000 on what was purported to be a box of 1st Edition Pokémon Base cards…and when he opened the box, it was a fake box filled with worthless G.I.Joe trading cards.
Paul is not the only celebrity to have owned one of these cards. In October 2022, Blake Martinez, a former New York Giants football player, auctioned his CGC 9.5 graded Pikachu Illustrator card for $672,000. That was a rare instance of a non-PSA graded copy of the card out there; the vast majority of Pokémon cards go to PSA for grading.
Given the Pikachu Illustrator's rarity, its immense popularity, and the excitement it creates among collectors, the Pikachu Illustrator card is not just the rarest Pokémon card but also the one with the highest price to justify its lofty status.
Pokémon Cards with Pikachu Power A
Pikachu's legacy is one that will live on for generations to come. It’s like a modern Mickey Mouse that melts the hearts of kids and adults both. Pikachu is much more than just the symbol for the game, it's a beloved character in pop culture recognized by fans and people who have no idea what Pokémon is. This is part of the reason Pikachu cards are so popular and expensive. Indeed, most of these cards are on the list of the most valuable Pokémon cards, period. With all the trading cards and merchandise devoted to Pikachu, I believe his cards will continue to be among the most sought-after by collectors for years to come.
We hope this little review of the most valuable Pikachu cards gave you one to strive for and maybe one to discover anew. While the high prices of these cards might not be in the budget for all collectors, there are plenty of Pikachu cards out there to delight fans and we hope seeing these exclusive and valuable copies brings a smile to your face, as Pikachu usually does. Now, go catch ‘em all!
