The Pinnacle Of Collecting
What starts as a pack opening can sometimes turn into a life-changing moment. In the world of collectible card games, a single card can carry decades of history and astonishing market value. Limited print runs, flawless grading, and iconic status drive prices higher every year. Let’s explore the most expensive card pulls that have stunned collectors worldwide.
1. Pikachu Illustrator ($5,275,000)
Only 39 to 41 copies exist because this card was awarded as a prize in a 1998 CoroCoro magazine illustration contest in Japan. Logan Paul bought a PSA 10 copy by trading a PSA 9 version plus $4 million cash. The deal holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive trading card ever sold.
Wiryan Tirtarahardja on Unsplash
2. Black Lotus Alpha ($3,000,000)
Approximately 1,100 copies came from the original 1993 Alpha Limited Edition booster packs. A CGC Pristine 10 copy changed hands privately in March 2024. The card costs zero mana to play and generates three mana of any color immediately.
3. The One Ring Serial #001 ($2,000,000)
Brook Trafton pulled this one-of-one serialized card live on stream from a Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Collector Booster in 2023. Post Malone bought it privately shortly after the viral opening. The foil-etched card features Tengwar text and remains completely unique in existence.
4. 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard ($550,000)
Heritage Auctions sold a pristine PSA 10 copy in December 2025 as a record-breaking transaction. The 1999 English Base Set 1st Edition booster packs had notorious print quality issues that damaged most cards during production. Shadowless variants from the earliest print run make top-grade examples incredibly rare.
Romer Jed Medina from Newark, NJ, United States on Wikimedia
5. Topsun Blue Back Charizard ($493,230)
Japanese Topsun chewing gum promo packs from 1997 contained these early Pokémon cards with unique blue backing. Goldin Auctions moved a PSA 10 copy in January 2021. These were among the very first Pokémon TCG releases in Japan before the game became a global phenomenon.
6. Silver Pikachu Trainer ($444,000)
Second-place finishers in the 1997–1998 Lizardon Mega Battle tournament series received this trophy card. Only 14 copies are known to exist from competitive play during Pokémon TCG's infancy in Japan. A PSA 10 example sold at Goldin Auctions in September 2023 for $444,000.
7. Blastoise Galaxy Star Hologram ($360,000)
Cartamundi, the printing company, received this 1998 prototype test print to showcase experimental galaxy star holographic foiling effects. Only two copies exist from the pre-production phase. Heritage Auctions sold a CGC 8.5 graded copy in 2021.
8. Tyler The Great Warrior ($311,211)
Tyler Gressle received this one-of-one Make-A-Wish Foundation card in 2005 when he was battling a rare liver disease. The unique BGS 7 copy was sold on eBay in April 2023. No other copies were ever printed or released in booster packs anywhere in the world.
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9. Bronze Pikachu Trainer ($300,000)
Third-place finishers at the 1997 1st Official Pokémon Card Game Tournament took home this bronze trophy card. Heritage Auctions handled a PSA 8 copy in April 2023. Only four copies are known to exist from the earliest competitive era.
Wiryan Tirtarahardja on Unsplash
10. Shadowless Charizard SGC 10 ($369,000)
Goldin Auctions sold an SGC 10 copy in December 2020 during a period of intense market activity. Multiple high-value sales of this exact card happened on the same day due to collector frenzy. The shadowless print variant from the 1999 English Base Set 1st Edition packs remains vanishingly rare.
11. Shadowless Charizard PSA 10 ($336,000)
Heritage Auctions moved a PSA 10 copy in March 2022. The shadowless variant has become the most recognizable version among serious collectors. Low population in top grades keeps values elevated even as the market fluctuates.
12. Japanese Artist-Signed Charizard ($324,000)
Mitsuhiro Arita, the original illustrator, signed this PSA 10 card from the 1996 Japanese Base Set 1st Edition packs. The artist-signed copy sold in 2022 with a unique provenance that standard copies lack.
13. English Shadowless Charizard ($311,800)
An eBay auction in March 2021 moved a PSA 10 copy during the height of the pandemic-era Pokémon boom. The shadowless variant had strong collector demand after surviving 25-plus years since its original release.
14. Time Walk Alpha ($120,000)
Part of the legendary Power Nine from 1993 Alpha Limited Edition packs, this extra-turn sorcery revolutionized early gameplay. High-grade examples have sold for around $120,000 in top auctions. The card allows taking an additional turn and remains condition-sensitive due to age.
15. Mox Emerald Alpha ($80,000)
One of the “jewels” in the Power Nine mana suite, Mox Emerald Alpha has survived more than 30 years as a cornerstone artifact. Pulled from the 1993 Alpha packs, it provides free green mana that fuels ramp strategies.
16. Mox Pearl Alpha ($70,000)
White mana artifact pulled exclusively from 1993 Alpha packs enables aggressive mana acceleration in gameplay. Top‑graded examples command prices near $80,000 when they appear at auction. Very rare in pristine condition after decades of play and storage, Pearl Mox completes the white side of the legendary cycle.
17. Mox Ruby Alpha ($60,000)
High-grade copies from 1993 Alpha packs have sold for around $60,000 at specialized auctions. Critical for red aggro and fast starts in Vintage format, the red mana artifact remains highly sought. Ruby Mox inspires fiery red deck builds and even convention jewelry replicas among dedicated fans.
18. Mox Jet Alpha ($55,000)
Black mana artifact pulled from 1993 Alpha packs accelerates control and combo decks with free resources. Well‑preserved copies can reach about $55,000, their exact value shaped by condition and timing. It’s a staple in many Vintage black-based archetypes.
19. Timetwister Alpha ($52,800)
Timetwister Alpha, part of Magic: The Gathering’s legendary Power Nine, first appeared in the 1993 Alpha Limited Edition. High‑grade copies have commanded prices up to $52,800. Known for reshuffling and drawing seven cards, its format‑warping effect makes it a prized centerpiece.
20. Ancestral Recall Alpha ($38,500)
A CGC Pristine 10 copy sold in 2023 as the draw-three spell that completes the Power Nine. Pulled from 1993 Alpha Limited packs, it remains banned in most formats for overwhelming card advantage. The card famously appeared on the Pawn Stars TV show when a collector brought it for appraisal.
