#The ten most dear Gold Star playing cards – Destructoid

The Pokémon TCG is not any stranger to uncommon and precious chase playing cards. Even from the start, playing cards similar to Base Set Charizard, Base Set Blastoise, and Base Set Alakazam boasted tremendously excessive worth tags, they usually’ve retained them properly into the third decade of the Pokémon franchise’s existence.

However the Neo period units launched “Shining” playing cards, which represented Shiny variations of Pokémon for the primary time within the TCG (Shiny Pokémon characteristic alternate colorations and have been additionally launched in Technology Two, Gold and Silver, of the mainline Pokémon video games).

The Shining playing cards from the Neo units stay a well-liked collection that holds an unimaginable cachet amongst collectors and followers, however there’s one other set of playing cards that includes Shiny Pokémon unfold throughout a number of units that’s much more beloved and much rarer: Gold Star playing cards.

Gold Star playing cards (formally dubbed “Pokémon Star” playing cards within the TCG) might be discovered in lots of units, together with Crew Rocket Returns, Deoxys, Unseen Forces, Delta Species, Legend Maker, Crystal Guardians, Holon Phantoms, Dragon Frontiers, Energy Keepers, POP Collection 5 and, as one-offs, in Celebrations.

With lovely paintings illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda and strange, putting colorations on all of the playing cards, it’s no surprise they’re massively enticing to collectors and followers. After all, the supreme shortage of those playing cards—they have been solely present in roughly one out of each two booster packing containers—is the principle cause for the sky-high worth factors that every one Gold Star playing cards boast. Let’s peep the highest 10.

Observe: All costs come through PriceCharting, as TCGPlayer doesn’t have listings for a lot of of those eminently hard-to-find items of Pokémon-related cardboard.

Market Worth: $646.65

The record kicks off with a tremendous card that includes the beautiful Shiny model of one in every of Technology Three’s stage two Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon: Metagross. This Psychic/Metal-type ‘mon boasts terrific all-around stats and an exquisite sort mixture, making it a favourite of many trainers.

This attractive gold-and-silver model of Metagross seems terrific within the moody, lovely paintings delivered by Shiny Pokémon knowledgeable Masakazu Fukuda. In entrance of a blood-red background, this Metagross is able to ship a powerhouse Meteor Mash to its foes. Seeing as that is the least precious card on this record—at a staggering worth level close to $650—that offers you an thought of the great median worth of Gold Star playing cards for Pokémon TCG collectors and followers.

9. Holofoil Mudkip (Star) – Crew Rocket Returns

Market Worth: $662.67

This lovely card occurs to be one of the vital precious Water-type playing cards of all time and options Shiny Mudkip (one of many starter ‘mon from Technology Three’s video games). It’s supremely robust to search out and, thus, incorporates a price ticket approaching $700 on the secondary market.

The primary delineating issue for these playing cards is that they’re meant to characteristic Shiny variations of the ‘mon featured, however as a substitute, this card incorporates a blue Mudkip (its commonplace coloration) as a substitute of a Shiny, purple-hued one. Nevertheless, its tail is the yellowish one which shiny Mudkip has. Curious.

8. Holofoil Latias (Star) – Deoxys

Market Worth: $671.35

One of the crucial precious Colorless playing cards of all time incorporates a Shiny model of the feminine roaming Legendary Pokémon from Technology Three: Latias. Latias has been discovered on a number of notable chase playing cards through the years, together with in 2024’s Surging Sparks set, however this one takes the cake.

Gold Star playing cards have been printed so sparingly, and it’s no surprise solely 22 copies of this card have been graded out as a PSA 10. The latest sale of 1 value over $20,000! That’s a tremendous quantity for a small piece of cardboard that includes a fictional character.

7. Holofoil Charizard (Star) – Dragon Frontiers

Market Worth: $738.98

One of the crucial well-known, if not essentially the most well-known, Pokémon of all time is Charizard, the ultimate evolution of authentic Fireplace-type starter Charmander within the first video games launched within the franchise. That fame continued into the Pokémon TCG, as Base Set Charizard stays, maybe, essentially the most recognizable card throughout the TCG, and maybe throughout all TCGs.

As such, the Gold Star model of Charizard from Dragon Frontiers showcasing a fire-breathing ‘Zard boasts a powerful worth level for an ungraded copy that approaches $750. Searching for a graded copy? Even PSA 1s go for roughly the identical quantity as a uncooked model, and PSA 10s are price near $20,000 on the secondary market, seeing as solely 99 exist on the planet.

6. Holofoil Pikachu (Star) – Holon Phantoms

Market Worth: $745.25

This focused-looking Shiny Pikachu with angle walked in order that “Chonkachu” from Vivid Voltage might run. Whereas Pikachu’s Shiny coloration isn’t that partaking (only a barely darker, redder model of ordinary ‘Chu), this card is actually eye-catching.

With putting paintings from Fukuda of a Pikachu enveloped by electrical energy with its arms folded defiantly, it’s no shock this ultra-rare card is price almost $750 shut to twenty years after launch.

5. Holofoil Treecko (Star) – Crew Rocket Returns

Market Worth: $861.65

The second of three Technology Three starters that seem on this record, this Shiny model of Ruby and Sapphire’s Grass-type starter incorporates a blue-tinted physique and a bright-red tail, making it a splendidly intriguing card for Gold Star followers (and Treecko followers as well).

This Treecko does, admittedly, look somewhat threatening, which is becoming for a card from the Crew Rocket Returns set, which featured the return (fittingly) of playing cards with the “Crew Rocket’s” Pokémon moniker. With these playing cards making an look in upcoming Japanese and English units, anticipate Gold Star playing cards from that set, similar to this Treecko, to skyrocket in recognition and worth within the close to future.

4. Holofoil Torchic (Star) – Crew Rocket Returns

Market Worth: $973.73

The ultimate Technology Three starter on this record is the Fireplace-type starter from the mainline video games, Torchic. Arguably essentially the most lovely of the three, Torchic evolves into the chicken-like Combusken after which into the majestic and highly effective Blaziken.

Nevertheless, it’s Torchic that’s featured on this eminently precious card with a lighter coloration representing its Shiny type. All three starter Gold Star playing cards are price a fairly penny, however this winking Torchic takes the cake with an enormous worth simply shy of $1,000 in right now’s market.

3. Holofoil Rayquaza (Star) – Deoxys

Market Worth: $1,615.87

Essentially the most precious Colorless card of all time additionally hits the highest three amongst Gold Star playing cards. Rayquaza Gold Star options sensible Fukuda paintings of the large, terrifying presence of Rayquaza—so large, in actual fact, that this legendary ‘mon juts out of body as a consequence of its sheer scale.

This card is actually a grail, as its baseline worth level for an ungraded copy is properly above $1,500—already a staggering sum. However when you get into graded copies, you’re actually “worth of a brand new automotive” ranges. For example, the latest sale of a PSA 10-graded copy of this card was $34,440! Whereas that’s a small fortune, it’s comprehensible as solely 48 copies with that grade exist.

2. Holofoil Umbreon (Star) – POP Collection 5

Market Worth: $2,198.12

Eeveelutions are all the time a scorching commodity amongst Pokémon TCG followers and collectors. Seeing as Eevee has become the nominal second mascot for your entire Pokémon franchise, Eevee’s evolutions are no less than equally as fashionable as their pre-evolutions, if no more so.

As such, the 2 most dear Gold Star playing cards each characteristic Eeveelutions, they usually additionally occur to be essentially the most precious Eeveelution playing cards of all time. In a stunning twist, Umbreon (of Moonbreon and Sunbreon fame) truly is price fairly a bit lower than its Psychic-type sibling.

1. Holofoil Espeon (Star) – POP Collection 5

Market Worth: $2,495,80

Espeon Star from POP Collection 5 is essentially the most precious Gold Star card of all time, with a worth level reaching a skyscraping $2,500 on the secondary market. Each Espeon and Umbreon Gold Star hail from POP Collection 5, which was a particular set that was launched for the Pokémon Organized Play program, which featured organized official tournaments and occasions.

Seeing because the small sum of 17 playing cards are featured within the set, the booster packs launched for the set solely contained two playing cards. As such, the percentages of pulling both the Umbreon or Espeon have been infinitesimal—therefore the large worth factors for these playing cards from 2007.