Cracked Ice Holo cards are a type of Pokémon trading card featuring a special holofoil pattern known as “cracked ice”. Cracked Ice cards aren’t produced very much, so they are considered rare and valuable by many Pokémon trading card collectors.
This Is What A Cracked Ice Holo Looks Like
The Cracked Ice Holo pattern, also known as “Ice Holo” or “Shattered Glass,” is a type of special holofoil finish found on trading cards from various collectible card games (CCGs), not just Pokémon. The cracked ice holo pattern can also be found in many sports cards such as NFL, NBA, Soccer, and MLB. Even Fortnite has added cracked ice holos to their cards!
Cracked Ice Holos are characterized by a series of triangle-like shapes arranged in a pattern that resembles cracked ice, creating a unique and eye-catching appearance. The pattern is produced by printing a layer of holographic material onto the card’s surface, which reflects light in different directions to create a shimmering effect.
The first Cracked Ice Holo cards were released in the Pokémon Trading Card Game for the EX FireRed and LeafGreen expansion set. They were:
- Articuno ex 114/112
- Moltres ex 115/112
- Zapdos ex 116/112
Since then, Cracked Ice Holo cards have remained a popular and sought-after type of card among Pokémon collectors. These cards are usually rarer than other types of Pokémon cards, making them highly prized by collectors.
However, the oldest cracked ice holos in the Pokémon franchise would be the Topsun cards of 1997. At the time, these were referred to exclusively as prism foil cards, but nowadays the term ‘cracked ice’ is used as well.
Are Cracked Ice Holos Rare/Valuable?
Cracked ice holos were once readily available in decks, but now are only available in select other products such as blister packs or collection boxes, although we haven’t seen any lately. Older cracked ice holo cards are now quite valuable.
Some examples of cracked ice holos that have increased in value over the years include the secret rare legendary bird ex cards, the Skytree Rayquaza, and of course, Topsun cards.
Cracked ice holos were also available in tins and other products as promotional cards. The cards were often reprints of cards in the respective expansion, but with the exclusive cracked ice holo pattern.
There are also reverse holo cracked ice cards. You’ll probably remember the reverse holo cards from the Pop Series.
These specific cards are considered to be highly sought after by collectors and can command high prices on the secondary market.
Where To Get Cracked Ice Holo Pokémon Cards
Cracked ice holo Pokémon cards originally came from theme decks, but have now been replaced with V cards. V cards are a type of Pokémon card that was introduced in the Pokémon Trading Card Game in 2020.
The last cracked ice holo was Charizard and Drednaw from the Vivid Voltage set, both available in theme decks. If you’re interested in collecting cracked ice holo Pokémon cards, you can look for them on eBay or other online marketplaces. They are relatively cheap to buy, although the value of individual cards can vary depending on their rarity and condition.
It’s important to keep in mind that the value of trading cards can fluctuate over time, so it’s always best to do your research and consult price guides before making a purchase
Conclusion
Cracked Ice cards are very valuable and are a great investment option in my opinion considering that they are no longer produced! This type of card will only increase in value as time goes on due to the lack of production. As always, do your due diligence before investing!
