Reading time: 8 min
Key Takeaways
- Gold Star Pikachu – from the Holon Phantoms series, a 2000s rarity with PSA 10 copies exceeding $77,000.
- Pikachu Illustrator – the ultimate Holy Grail, with around 40 copies and a record sale of $16.5 million, drawn by Pikachu’s original creator.
- Trophy Pikachu No. 1 Trainer – distributed in 1997-98, fewer than 15 known copies, a true museum piece.
If you’ve been in the Pokémon TCG world for more than five minutes, you know that Pikachu is the face of the franchise. Not Charizard, not Mewtwo, not the latest trending legendary.
Pikachu. The little yellow mouse has been staring at us from booster packs, binders, and auction listings for nearly 30 years, and it shows no signs of stepping back.
But with thousands of Pikachu cards printed across the TCG’s entire lifespan, the real question is: which ones actually matter?
Among the thousands, there are five Pikachu cards that represent the absolute best the TCG has ever produced.
Gold Star Pikachu (Holon Phantoms 104)
Before Alt Arts took over the hobby, there were Gold Stars. If you were collecting in the mid-2000s, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Gold Star Pokémon were the most coveted cards of the EX era. They were shiny versions of popular Pokémon, printed at a pull rate of roughly one per six booster boxes. And sitting at the very top of the pile is Pikachu.
The Gold Star Pikachu features a dynamic crossed-arms pose, with a yellow-to-white gradient that still looks stunning two decades later.
PSA 10 copies have surpassed $77,000, with sales continuing to climb as collectors who grew up in that era rediscover the card.
Pikachu (Base Set 1st Edition 58)
I can already hear the debate. Is a 40 HP Pikachu that your opponent’s Bulbasaur could knock out in a breath really one of the five best cards ever printed? From a gameplay standpoint, absolutely not. But that’s not the point.
This card is the origin story. The 1st Edition “shadowless” print, where the drop shadow was removed from the frame before Wizards of the Coast caught the error, is the most historically significant version of the foundational Pikachu card.
PSA 10 copies frequently sell above $4,000, while raw copies will run you around $150.
Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare (Scarlet & Violet: 151)
When it comes to the modern era, the 151 SIR Pikachu has to be mentioned.
When The Pokémon Company released the Scarlet & Violet 151 set as a love letter to the original 151 Pokémon, collectors lost their minds.
The Special Illustration Rare Pikachu features a wide, painterly artwork that transforms the franchise mascot into a true collector’s work of art. Honestly, it’s a card you’d frame and hang on your wall.
The 151 SIR Pikachu has held its value in a way that most modern cards haven’t managed. You’ll find PSA 10 copies around $500.
Trophy Pikachu No. 1 Trainer (Lizardon Mega Battle)
The Trophy Pikachu No. 1 Trainer Gold was awarded exclusively to winners of the 1997-98 Lizardon Mega Battle, one of the very first official Pokémon TCG tournaments ever held.
Only around 15 copies exist. The artwork, illustrated by the legendary Mitsuhiro Arita, depicts Pikachu triumphantly holding a gleaming golden trophy — and that’s exactly what the card represents.
A PSA 10 copy sold in 2025 for $450,000. There are more known copies of certain Rembrandt paintings than there are of this card. If you own one, you hold a piece of history that almost no one on Earth can claim.
Pikachu Illustrator (CoroCoro Comic)
The Pikachu Illustrator isn’t just the greatest Pikachu card of all time — it’s arguably the greatest collectible card of all time, full stop.
CoroCoro Comic held an illustration contest in Japan in 1997 and 1998, and the winners received this card. It is the only Pokémon card ever printed with the word “Illustrator” instead of “Trainer,” featuring a unique pen icon in the lower right corner.
The artwork was drawn by Atsuko Nishida, Pikachu’s original creator herself. Fewer than 40 copies were ever produced, and only one has ever received a grade of 10.
That copy sold for $5 million when Logan Paul acquired it in 2022, and he later resold it for approximately $16.5 million, making it the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold.
No other card comes close. No other Pikachu ever will.
Continue Your TCG Reading
Discover The Most Valuable Cards from the Southern Islands Set and the Top 5 Mega Evolution Cards right here.
Protect your collection with:
- Penny Sleeves – Amazon | eBay | Fanatics
- Top Loaders – Amazon | eBay | Fanatics
- Binders – Amazon | eBay
- 9-Pocket Pages – Amazon | eBay
Stay tuned for upcoming market analyses and collecting guides. See you around the cards!
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