There are many reasons for trading cards to shoot up in price and make news media headlines with how ridiculous the cards are sold for. These reasons include the card's rarity, popularity, age, and design. That holds true for the Pokemon TCG as well.
The Pokemon TCG has some incredibly valuable cards of different types. However, a unique type of card that players also value is the reverse holographic. These cards can be of the rare holo rarity and lower, and they sport a shiny background with normal card art. This makes them some of the more sought-after cards.
The prices are taken from tcgplayer.com and are subject to change.
10 Kabutops - Skyridge
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- $225.00
Kabutops from Skyridge is an interesting card. Unfortunately, Kabutops has never been that valuable in any set its been included in, considering both popularity and usability.
However, as evident throughout this list, just being released in the set Skyridge is enough to bump up the value of a card considerably. Skyridge was the last set printed by Wizards Of The Coast, and it only had one print run. Thus, even a lesser-known Pokemon like Kabutops became invaluable.
9 Venusaur - Legendary Collection
- $280.98
Speaking of older cards and WOTC printings, Venusaur from the Legendary Collection is worth about $280 nowadays. The Legendary Collection is a reprint of the earliest sets in Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket expansions.
The card itself was never a trendsetter competitively, but the iconic look and immediate recognition of a starter make this card worth a lot. This is one of the classic starter cards, after all.
8 Charizard (Delta Species) - Crystal Guardians
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- $283.33
Delta Species Charizard is the only card on this list that's not from the Legendary Collection or the Skyridge set—released in 2006 with the Crystal Guardians set. That means this card is also the newest release on this list, which is commendable.
This card's value is high due to a few factors. Charizard is always a selling point, being the secondary mascot to the company almost, showing up in countless products. The delta species were also interesting cards, giving Pokemon unusual typings, electric and steel in this case. The art is also great, with Charizard mid-maneuver, presumebly in battle.
7 Dark Blastoise - Legendary Collection
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- $293.99
The second of the starters on the list is Dark Blastoise from the Legendary Collection. This is a reprint of the classic Team Rocket expansion card, which looks gorgeous. Dark/Shadow Pokemon have always been fan favorites, and this is no exception.
The card, unfortunately, was never that viable competitively, but its iconic look and age make it very valuable. The original sets of the Pokemon TCG can sell for absurd amounts. As a reprint of those sets, Legendary Collection also has some incredibly valuable cards, Dark Blastoise being the second most valuable reverse holo in the set.
6 Umbreon - Skyridge
- $312.48
Umbreon is another card from the Skyridge set with fans' attention. The Eeveelutions are always sought after, as they are almost as iconic as Pikachu and Charizard, and they usually have some decent cards printed in terms of usability.
This Umbreon, in particular, has an interesting floodgate ability in Dark Gaze. However, it's not the best option competitively due to its low HP and being a Stage 1. Despite that, the card sells for over $300, proving its popularity.
5 Celebi - Skyridge
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- $399.99
Celebi from Skyridge jumps considerably in terms of price compared to other entries on this list, selling for about $400. The card is from the Skyridge set, already increasing its worth, but that's not all. Celebi is an iconic Mythical Pokemon, and the card design is gorgeous.
It has the ability Crystal Type, which many other Normal-type Pokemon have in this set, meaning it can change into three different types for a turn. This could lead to some plays where you capitalize on your opponent's weakness, but it's not the best attacker. Celebi is best preserved as a collection piece, after all.
4 Crobat - Skyridge
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- Up to $500
Crobat is an interesting Pokemon, also released in Skyridge. It has the common Crystal Type ability, being able to turn into Grass, Fire, and Psychic-types. Its attacks are not too bad, with Poison Flame having a 50 percent chance to inflict both Burn and Poison, and Squared Attack dealing up to 80 damage.
These are not bad traits for a Pokemon, but Crobat is held back by its low HP and being a Stage 2. When you look past the viability, however, Crobat is extremely valuable. While its market price is not available on tcgplayer.com currently, it has recorded sales of over $500 on several websites.
3 Ho-Oh - Skyridge
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- Up to $700
Ho-Oh is another card from Skyridge with the Crystal Type ability, able to turn into a Fire, Water, or Electric-type. It's a Basic Pokemon, unlike Crobat, which greatly helps its case. The attacks are also quite decent, especially when considering the weakness plays you can make with Crystal Type.
The card does not have a market price listed on tcgplayer right now, but it's consistently sold for about $700. The card is, without a doubt, one of the more expensive and sought-after reverse holo cards of all time.
2 Charizard - Skyridge
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- $699.99
The most valuable card from the rare and expensive Skyridge Set is Charizard, to nobody's surprise. There is a reason The Pokemon Company keeps marketing Charizard; it just works. This card is not that great competitively or doesn't have a unique story, but it has a market value of $700.
As mentioned before, Skyridge is already a very expensive set, being the last one printed by WOTC. When you combine that with the marketing gold Charizard, you get a card worth hundreds of dollars. The art is very dynamic and sharp, which helps this card become so valuable.
1 Charizard - Legendary Collection
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- $1,999.99
At the top of the mountain is, of course, Charizard. This is Charizard from Legendary Collection, which is enough reason for its incredible price tag. This card has a market value of about $2,000 currently, and that's the kind of Pokemon Card you'll see in mainstream media headlines.
The design is already worth a lot, as the base-set Charizard is potentially the most iconic card in any modern trading card game. The reverse-holo is beautiful, making the art pop out even more. When you add the age and rarity of this card to the equation, it becomes the holy grail of reverse holographic Pokemon cards.