Speculating the market can sometimes be difficult for Pokémon cards. It takes an expert to analyze recent sales and identify trends over time. We’ve studied the data on a handful of Pikachu cards and were able to identify some that are likely to be profitable over time.
Since we’re talking about Pikachu, these are all safe bets. Perhaps the most ubiquitous Pokémon, many people have Pikachu-specific collections, and all newcomers to the hobby feel safe buying Pikachu cards. This list is a culmination of the smartest Pikachu investments, plus a really crazy card at the end.
All of these cards are relatively affordable, so you wont see them on our list of Expensive Electric-Type Cards.
Pikachu RC29/RC32
$15-$20
Expansion: Generations
Release Date: February 2016
This is a great card from the Generations expansion released in 2016. The “RC” stands for Radiant Collection, which was a subset of special cards within the set. The price for this card has been on a subtle incline since September 2022. As supply dwindles, the price will go up higher and higher.
Pikachu VMAX 188/185
$100-$140
Expansion: Vivid Voltage
Release Date: November 2020
This Pikachu is infamous for its elusive pull rate. Nicknamed “Chonka-chu”, this little mouse is extra thick. But that’s not all, this is the rainbow rare version. Upon the set’s release, this card was selling for almost $500 but has since dwindled as the market became saturated.
This is a great time to buy the card as it’s at an all-time low. Vivid Voltage is now out of print and we’re seeing fewer and fewer packs available for purchase. Prices will soon increase.
Pikachu on the Ball 001/005
$140-$160
Expansion: Pokémon Futsal
Release Date: September 2020
The first promo card on our list is the Pikachu from the Pokémon Futsal Collection<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>. This small set of five cards was the result of a partnership with The Football Association. Pikachu is depicted wearing a white t-shirt and chasing a Pokéball-style football.
Following the trend of most of the cards on this list, the price is at an all-time low. Promo cards are famously desirable among collectors (we will see many more on this list!) and this one is special, being a football card. The price may continue to drop, but will likely spike around World Cup time.
Pikachu SWSH020
$25-$30
Expansion: Sword & Shield Black Star Promos
Release Date: May 2020
Why did this card make the list? Just look at it. This was the 20th Sword & Shield era promo card and the first to make people go crazy. You could find this in the Sword & Shield Figure Collection. This is the only Pikachu card to illustrate Pikachu’s Iron Tail attack in such a bold fashion.
Prices on this card dropped but are on the rise again. As we enter the new Scarlet & Violet era of the TCG, these SWSH cards will receive less attention and slowly creep up in price.
Special Delivery Pikachu SWSH074
$130-$150
Expansion: Sword & Shield Black Star Promos
Release Date: May 2021
This card was part of a Pokécenter promotion celebrating the site opening in Canada, being given away free for customers who spent more than $20 on the site. So far we have 3 Special Delivery cards including Pikachu, Bidoof, and Charizard.
This Pikachu saw quite a spike in its value upon release and has held reasonably steady ever since. Its next price hike appeared around the release of the Special Delivery Charizard but fell back down to normal shortly afterward. Very recently there has been a slow increase in it’s value.
Pikachu V SWSH145
$25-$30
Expansion: Sword & Shield Black Star Promos
Release Date: October 2021
This gold Pikachu card was only available in the Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection, which was infamously difficult to obtain. The Pokémon Company International didn’t manufacture a lot of these, and demand was very high.
Now that the dust has settled, the price of this card is very reasonable. It is, however, very unique. Unique and special cards always go up in value, making this card a good investment.
Pikachu 241/236
$30-$35
Expansion: Cosmic Eclipse
Release Date: November 2019
This was a fan-favorite card right out of the gate. Cosmic Eclipse was the first set to really push the full-art secret rares like this. The artwork is instantly nostalgic, as it represents the early days of Pokémon. Some collectors complain about this card having a bright yellow border. If you would prefer a more subtle version, you can always check out the Japanese version, which has a silver border instead.
Prices have fallen since 2019, and once again, this card is now at a low price. It’s time to scoop it up before it gets too rare.
Pikachu EX XY124
$35-$40
Expansion: X&Y Black Star Promos
Release Date: September 2016
This card was only available through purchasing the Pikachu-EX Red & Blue Box released. This product included Generations booster packs and was a throwback to the OG days of Pokémon. The card itself is stunning and also features two more Pokémon, Jolteon and Electabuzz.
The price has remained steady ever since its release, with some fluctuations. The product it came in was printed plentifully, which has kept the price down. However, it won’t stay low forever, and when it does pick up, it’ll probably get expensive.
Mario Pikachu XY294 & Luigi Pikachu XY296
$1,500-$2,000
Expansion: X&Y Black Star Promos
Release Date: October 2016
These cards are very sought-after by collectors and some of the most expensive on this list. You could get them by purchasing the Mario Pikachu Special Box, which was available in Japan only. There is a regular holo and a full-art version for both the Mario and Luigi version, for four cards in total.
Prices for these promos are high and always will be. However, seeing as how a set of PSA 10 copies can fetch north of $30K, it’s hard not to grab these if a good deal pops up.
Pikachu XY202
$20-$25
Expansion: X&Y Black Star Promos
Release Date: November 2016
This Pikachu was a promo given to those attending the Pokémon League for Evolutions Season One. It’s a reprint of an old Wizards of the Coast era card but now features a Pokémon League stamp on it.
Since these were rather plentiful, prices aren’t too bad. But they will eventually g up in time, especially for those who are seeking all Pikachu cards.
Pikachu PokéKyun Promo
$200-$250
Expansion: コンセプトパック ポケキュンコレクション (Concept Pack PokéKyun Collection)
Release Date: January 2016
Here’s a unique card that could be the centerpiece of any Pikachu collection. This card was released in Japan only and is one of few Pokémon cards to feature a human on it. In addition to this, the card also has a very coll reverse-holo pattern in the shape of hearts.
Currently, this card is going for around $200 raw on eBay but will surely increase over time. This is just too unique of a card to not be investment-worthy.
Pikachu Star 104/110
$400-$500
Expansion: Holon Phantoms
Release Date: May 2006
The ‘star’ cards are very, very sought-after by collectors. These represent shiny Pokémon, which have slightly different colors than their normal variants. For example, Pikachu is more of an orange-dark yellow, and Charizard is black. These cards are very cool but ultra rare.
This is one of those cards that just always will be a good purchase. Demand is way higher than supply. The price of this card always has been around the $500 range, but sometimes sells for as high as $750 raw. A PSA 10 of this card recently sold for $7,000.
Pikachu Black Star Promo 1
$25-$30
Expansion: Wizards of the Coast Black Star Promos
Release Date: July 1999
This is one of the first-ever Pokémon cards to ever be released. Nicknamed the “IVY Pikachu” this card is very nostalgic, as many 90s kids had one. The best part about this card is that it isn’t very expensive.
Prices have been sitting around the $25 mark, which is fantastic. This is an old card and one day will be very sought-after.
Topsun Pikachu
$300-$350
Expansion: Topsun blue-back & Topsun green-back
Release Date: March 1997
Topsun cards were released in 1997 and were not part of the official TCG. They were sold with a stick of gum, in packs of two. Topsun cards are very very cool and also quite expensive these days.
Topsun cards still fly under the radar of most collectors. We’ve published a huge guide all about Topsun cards, and why they are so valuable to the hobby. It would be foolish not to invest in a card such as this one, as it’s not only a collectible but a piece of Pokémon history.
Pikachu (Red Cheeks) 1st Edition 58/102
$130-$150
Expansion: Base Set
Release Date: January 1999
This is actually an error card. Most people know that Pikachu does, in fact, have red cheeks. But as the story goes, the Wizards employees changed the original artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita. Arita’s version had yellow cheeks, and the employees changed them to red, assuming that it was a mistake.
However, Arita had intentionally made Pikachu’s cheeks yellow, since Pikachu is generating electricity. Once they got word of the mistake, Pikachu’s cheeks were changed back to yellow.
The red cheeks Pikachu is a famous error front the very first expansion set of cards, therefore being a truly historical moment in the Pokémon TCG’s history.
Prices aren’t too bad either. You can pick up a 1st edition red cheeks Pikachu for $150 on eBay.
BONUS ENTRY: 1st Edition Ivy Pikachu
Expansion: Jungle
Release Date: June 1999
The ‘Ivy Pikachu’ is an insanely rare collector’s item. This is a Black Star promo card that was actually available in the 1st Edition Jungle expansion packs from 1999 but not officially listed as an obtainable card.
Some consider this card to be the first secret rare Pokémon card ever. In fact, pulling this card from a Jungle pack was considered an error until recent evidence has all but confirmed that it was intentionally included in some Jungle packs. Interestingly, this is the only 1st edition Black Star promo card ever printed.
The history behind this card is what makes it so desirable.
There are no recent sales for the raw card, but a PSA 10 copy recently sold for over $4,000.
If you enjoyed this list, check out our 7 Charizard Cards to Invest In (Updated for 2023).
