For every Pokemon card collector, there’s nothing more satisfying than the thrill of pulling a valuable card from a booster pack.
But do you know the basics of how to value Pokemon cards?
Like other trading card games, Pokemon TCG boasts a plethora of cards that can be sold for over a hundred dollars, especially those printed in the older sets.
So, if you’re new to Pokemon TCG, the one thing on the top of your mind is how to value Pokemon cards and how to know if the cards you have right now are worth any money.
To give you a better understanding of how to value Pokemon cards, you need to know certain factors affecting card prices in the market.
How to value Pokemon cards: factors that increase and decrease Pokemon cards prices
Appraising a Pokemon card is more complicated than you think. Before a card can be valued, here are the things that you should consider:
Supply and demand
The law of supply and demand is a significant factor in how to value Pokemon cards. Scarcity creates value, and if many people are going after a particular card, it eventually becomes low in supply, increasing its value over time.
Card rarity and set
Pokemon cards are categorized into different rarities. Some of the most basic card rarities in Pokemon TCG include commons, uncommons, and rares.
Rare cards can be further classified into regular rare, ultra rare, secret rare, hyper rare, and so on. Most ultra rare and secret rare cards are more expensive than other cards.
Each Pokemon card can also be valued based on a set. Older sets released during the 1990s are extremely pricey since they’re not in circulation anymore.
Pull rates
The chances of getting a specific card from a pack is called pull rate. If a card has a ridiculously low pull rate like the Gengar VMAX from Fusion Strike (0.13%), it will surely catch an equally high price as well.
Popularity of the featured Pokemon or trainer
Sometimes, the value of a card may simply depend on what Pokemon or trainer it portrays.
Charizard cards are highly sought-after collectibles regardless of its rarity simply because it has a massive fan-base. The same can be said for trainer cards, like Miriam in the Scarlet and Violet base set.
Card artwork
Many sets nowadays include multiple copies of a card with varying artworks, leading to the rise of artwork-based rarities like illustration rares and special illustration rares.
While the ways of appreciating an artwork are subjective, Pokemon cards with unique and enticing artworks can skyrocket in prices, which is what happened with this Magikarp card from Paldea Evolved.
Condition of the card
No matter how expensive they can be, Pokemon cards are still made of cardboard. Even the highest-quality cardboard may eventually show signs of wear and tear, so an old but pristine-looking Pokemon card is a worthy collector’s item.
Pokemon cards can be professionally graded according to its current condition, with the highest ratings being 10 (Gem Mint) and 9 (Mint).
If you get your card professionally graded by a reputable card authentication company, it will likely fetch a price slightly higher than its market value.
Oddities
Errors during the printing process can make a Pokemon card look odd and highly expensive.
Considering the strict quality control implemented in Pokemon card factories, there are only a handful of authentic error cards today, like those with “miscut” borders, wrong text, and wrong coloring.
Oddities lay in the gray area of valuing Pokemon cards, but these cards can still fetch high prices if sold to the right buyer.
How to value Pokemon cards — best ways
Thanks to modern technology, you don’t have to make any unfounded estimations when appraising Pokemon cards.
In fact, you don’t even have to do the appraising yourself, since there are already accessible sources where you can get the current market prices of all Pokemon cards. These are:
Online card databases
With a simple Google search, you can now have an idea of how much is a Pokemon card by looking for sites or downloading apps that show a definitive Pokemon card price list.
Look for ones that allow you to sort the card prices under a particular set, or to make it easier, simply type the name of your card, its rarity, set, plus the word “price” on Google.
Taking your card to a local store
This can be time-consuming compared to googling the price of your cards, but if you want to get your cards valued and sold right away, visiting your local store is the best way to go.
Card stores can provide you with information regarding the most recent market prices of your cards, and if they’re interested enough, they can even buy your cards on the spot.
What’s more, stores are also ideal places for Pokemon collectors to meet up, so you might use the chance to get some nice deals, whether through purchases or trade, and make new friends along the way.
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