Best Ultra Rare Pokemon Cards to Invest In

Ultra rare Pokémon cards? They're the real deal. With 200 to 440 unique finds released yearly, collectors can't get enough. Just look for the shiny white or gold stars.

Pokémon card values are influenced by factors like rarity, cultural significance, market forces, online marketplaces, quality, condition, and the franchise's enduring popularity.

The odds of scoring an Ultra Rare card in a booster pack shifted from 1:12 to 1:24 after Soul of the Duelist. Thanks to new games, movies, and TV shows, the Pokémon craze remains strong, helping maintain high card values.

This competitive, ever-changing market sees prices swayed by supply and demand. So, as long as Pokémon capture hearts and minds, card values will likely stay high, making them quite the prized possession for collectors.

Ultra Rare Pokémon cards certainly live up to their name—they're incredibly hard to find. As Rare Holofoil cards, they boast unique symbols and replace the rare card in Booster packs.

Take the ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator card, for example—only 39 were passed out in 1998, and just 10 confirmed copies exist today. This elusive gem was a prize from 1990s contests, enhancing its value and rarity.

Now, let's dive into some of the most valuable ultra rare Pokémon cards.

1. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Pikachu Holo Illustrator

• Price Range: $375,000 to $6 million
• Highest Sale Price: $5.3 million
• PSA 10 Supply: 1
• Set: Japanese Promo

The Pikachu Illustrator card is widely considered the rarest and most expensive Pokemon card in existence. Originally given as a prize in a 1997 art competition by CoroCoro, the card has consistently fetched high prices over the past five years, typically between $375,000 and $6 million.

In 2020, the card set a new record when it was sold for $250,000, which was then surpassed in 2021 when a PSA 7 card sold for $375,000 during a PWCC auction. However, in July 2021, Marwan Dubsy sold a Gem Mint to YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul for $5.3 million.

2. 1999 Pokemon Game Charizard-Holo 1st Edition #4 

• Price Range: $3,000 to $182,000
• Highest Sale Price: $400,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 122
• Set: First edition

In recent years, the value of the 1999 Pokemon Game Charizard-Holo 1st Edition #4 card has soared, with the 1st Edition being the most coveted. The shadowless variant, which lacks a border shadow, is even rarer and more valuable.

In recent years, the value of the 1999 Pokemon Game Charizard-Holo First Edition #4 card has soared, with the 1st edition being the most coveted. The shadowless variant, which lacks a border shadow, is even rarer and more valuable.

On October 9, 2020, rapper Logic purchased a Gem Mint First Edition Charizard for over $226,000, setting a new record. However, just two months later, that record was broken when a bidder at a PWCC auction paid $350,000 for the same card. Incredibly, another first edition reportedly sold for $369,000 at a Goldin Auctions event in December 2020.

3. 2017 Pokemon SM Black Star Promo Ishihara Gx #Tpci01

• Price Range: $12,000 to $100,000 
• Highest Sale Price: $100,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 1
• Set: SM Black Star

An unusual addition to any Pokémon card collection, the rare promo card features the artwork of Tsunekazu Ishihara, the CEO and President of The Pokémon Company. This one was originally distributed to employees who attended his birthday celebration in 2017.

A limited number of these distinct Pokémon TCG promo cards, ranging between 30 to 60, are highly coveted by collectors. In fact, one of them fetched an amazing $50,000 in an auction back in April 2020.

In 2021, a PSA 7 card signed by Ishihara was sold for $247,000 at a Goldin Auction. This signature transformed the card into a one-of-a-kind gem among die-hard Pokemon card collectors.

4. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Kangaskhan-Holo Family Event Trophy Card #115

• Price Range:  $27,000 to $225,000
• Highest Sale Price: $150,100
• PSA 10 Supply: 12
• Set: Japanese Promo

The 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Kangaskhan-Holo Family Event Trophy Card #115 was only obtainable by participating in a special tournament in Japan where a child and their parents had to battle together. The card features a charming illustration of Kangaskhan with its baby in its pouch surrounded by holo sparkles.

This Pokémon card's rarity significantly affects its value—only twelve  PSA 10 cards exist. In October 2020, two were sold for a remarkable $150,000 and $150,100.

5. 2000 Pokemon Neo Genesis 1st Edition Lugia-Holo #9

• Price Range: $180 to $55,000
• Highest Sale Price: $144,000
• PSA 10 Supply: 45
• Set: Pokemon Neo Genesis 

Lugia, one of the most beloved legendary Pokemon, made a splash with its debut as a TCG card. Years later, the psychic bird has become a highly coveted item among collectors, especially from its Neo Genesis expansion. Only 45 PSA-10s exist in the wild.

In 2020, a First Edition Lugia sold for $129,000, but it didn't stop there. In May 2021, a BGS 10 raked in an even higher price of $144,300 at a PWCC auction.

6. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo University Magikarp Tamamushi University Prize #129

• Price Range: $2,000 to $65,000
• Highest Sale Price: $66,100
• PSA 10 Supply: 14
• Set: Japanese Promo

In 1998, Shogakukan’s Magazine organized a contest in Japan for school students who were fans of Pokemon. The best performers received invites to a special conference held in Osaka that year, where they would participate in a unique Pokemon card battle tournament.

The winners of this contest were awarded the Magikarp Trophy Pokemon card promo. It's unsurprising to see this ultra-rare collectible sell for $66,100 at a PWCC auction in February 2021.

7. 1999 Pokemon Japanese Promo Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind

• Price Range: $6,000 to $90,000
• Highest Sale Price: $65,100
• PSA 10 Supply: 3
• Set: Japanese Promo 

The 1999 Pokemon Japanese Promo Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind is popular among Psyduck fans. This rare Pokémon card depicts the water-type Pokemon playing the ukulele while relaxing in a hammock with Jigglypuff, making it one of the cutest cards you can collect.

Before The Pokemon Company established the World Championships in 2004, Japan held an earlier version of the TCG competitive scene known as the Tropical Mega Battle.

In October 2020, the Tropical Mega Battle card went on auction and sold for an impressive $65,100.

8. 2004 Pokemon EX Team Rocket Returns Torchic-Holo Gold Star #108 

• Price Range: $300 to $48,000
• Highest Sale Price: $25,400
• PSA 10 Supply: 17
• Set: Pokemon Ex Team

In 2004, The Pokemon Company (TPC) introduced a new line of collectibles called "Gold Star" Pokemon cards to revive interest in the hobby.

These ultra-rare cards had a low print run and were released alongside the Team Rocket Returns expansion, which unfortunately did not receive the attention it deserved. One of the rarest Pokemon cards released that year was the Torchic card, featuring the adorable Hoenn Fire-type starter.

The card’s popularity soared, making it a highly coveted item among collectors. In December 2020, a Torchic Gold Star card #108 got auctioned for $25,400—which is remarkable when you consider that the same card was selling for around $560 in 2016—meaning the card's value rose by more than 4,000% within four years.

Now, let's tackle the main question. Given their growing demand and scarce supply, investing in ultra-rare Pokémon cards could be profitable. Some investors even claim that Pokémon cards can outperform stocks, with certain cards witnessing a 500% increase in value since 2019.

When investing in graded Pokémon cards, consider the cons like high grading costs, which may outweigh the card's value, and long waiting times to get cards graded due to overwhelmed grading companies. Additionally, increased card production might affect scarcity-driven values.

So, it's wise to carefully weigh the costs and potential growth aspects, especially for newer cards, while staying updated with market trends and expert advice. Be cautious when investing in Pokemon cards and other collectibles because profits aren’t guaranteed.

But, if you play your cards correctly (pun intended), you could end up with a valuable collection worth more than Logan Paul's 1998 holographic Pikachu Illustrator.