The rarest Pokémon cards, and the gold cards collectors chase
Rare Pokémon cards come in two kinds: cards that were made in tiny numbers, and cards that are hard to pull from a pack. The first kind are the rarest Pokémon cards in the world. The second kind, including today's gold cards, are the chase cards of every new set.
What is the rarest Pokémon card?
The Pikachu Illustrator. Only 39 were awarded, as prizes in CoroCoro Comic illustration contests in Japan in 1997–98, and it has never been reprinted. It's also the most expensive: a PSA 10 copy sold for $16.49 million in 2026 (the most expensive Pokémon cards).
The rarest Pokémon cards ever made
- Trophy cards. Prize cards from early official tournaments, such as the Pikachu "No. 1", "No. 2" and "No. 3 Trainer" cards, were given to a handful of winners each.
- Contest and event promos. Cards handed out at one-off events in the late 1990s and 2000s, mostly in Japan, in very small numbers.
- Gold Star cards. Printed from 2004 to 2007, marked with a gold star after the Pokémon's name. Most sets had just one to three, and they were very hard to pull.
- First edition holos. 1999 Base Set holo rares with the 1st Edition stamp, especially in top grades.
- Crystal and Shining cards. Rare holo variants from the e-Card and Neo eras.
Because so few of these exist, their prices only appear when a copy is sold.
Gold Pokémon cards
"Gold Pokémon cards" can mean three different things:
- Gold rare cards in modern sets. In today's sets the hardest pull is often a gold card, with gold borders and a textured foil finish. It's called a Hyper Rare in English sets and UR in Japanese sets. The Mega Charizard Y ex Hyper Rare is one example.
- Gold Star cards from 2004–2007 (above).
- Gold-plated cards (below).
Modern gold cards are hard to pull, but they're printed for every copy of a set, so they're far easier to find than a Gold Star or a trophy card.
Golden Pokémon cards (gold-plated)
In 1999 Burger King gave away 23-karat gold-plated metal Pokémon cards, each in a Poké Ball, with kids' meals. They're collectible souvenirs rather than playable cards. Gold metal "cards" sold online today are novelties, not official Pokémon TCG cards.
How rare are modern chase cards?
In Japanese sets, the rarest cards are marked SAR (Special Art Rare) and UR (gold), and the Mega Evolution series adds its own top rarities, like the Mega Rayquaza ex Master Ultra Rare. These can turn up less than once per booster box, and a sealed box never guarantees a particular card. Read Pokémon card rarities explained for every symbol, or shop rare Pokémon cards if you'd rather buy the exact card you want.
Questions
What is the rarest Pokémon card?
The Pikachu Illustrator: only 39 were ever awarded, in Japan in 1997–98.
Are gold Pokémon cards rare?
Modern gold cards (Hyper Rares, or UR in Japanese sets) are among the hardest pulls in a set. Vintage Gold Star cards from 2004–2007 are much rarer.
What are gold Pokémon cards worth?
It depends on the card, the set and the condition. Modern gold cards range from a few dollars to hundreds, popular Pokémon in top grades sell for more, and Gold Star cards can reach thousands.