The Pokémon Trading Card Game is full of valuable cards that sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the rarest cards may surprise fans.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a trend that appears to only be growing as time passes, and that increasing popularity drives more and more attention to the rarest Pokémon cards. While some fans may be most interested in securing a beautiful card of their favorite monster, others are more concerned with collecting the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards. Throughout the collections of cards produced by The Pokémon Company and Wizards of the Coast, there are a few that have only had a few dozen copies made.

There are several cards that have reached enormous value thanks to the popularity and presentation of the Pokémon depicted. However, some of the rarest Pokémon cards have not necessarily been the most expensive. Superfans and collectors alike will likely never set their eyes on these rare cards in person unless they are very lucky. Despite the raving popularity of rare First Edition Charizards and Surfing Pikachus, these are not the rarest cards in the Pokémon TCG. In fact, some of the rarest prizes floating throughout the market are cards that aren't as well-known as the most sought-after collector items.

Kangaskhan Is One Of The Rarest Pokemon TCG Cards Despite Not Being Popular

When fans think of the rarest Pokémon card, Kangaskhan probably isn't the first monster to come to mind. However, the Kangaskhan Holographic Family Event Trophy Card is one of the rarest cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. One copy was sold in October 2020 for an astounding $150,000, and only three have ever been sold to the public in the past twenty years. Originally, this card was awarded to the 1998 Parent/Child Mega Battle tournament teams who obtained the required number of victories. Only 46 of these cards have ever been graded by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), according to Dicebreaker, making it one of the rarest.

The Pikachu Illustrator Card Is Incredibly Valuable

The Pikachu Illustrator Card is one of the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards ever produced. The card’s artwork of Pikachu was illustrated by the electric mouse’s original artist Atsuko Nishida. The Pikachu Illustrator Card was awarded to winners of promo contests held in 1997 and 1998 by the Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic.

Only 41 copies of this card were ever made, with 39 being awarded to the various winners of the promo contest. Of these 41 cards, only 10 have ever been certified by the PSA. The highest-value sale of the Pikachu Illustrator Card was a combined trade and purchase of an unbelievable $5,275,000 value to YouTuber Logan Paul, setting a Guinness World Record as the most expensive Pokémon card.

The Most Expensive Blastoise Is The Rarest Pokémon Card

The rarest card may surprise fans of the franchise, as it is neither a Pikachu nor a Charizard Pokémon TCG card. The Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram card is the rarest Pokémon card in existence. Only two of these cards were ever made, created by Wizards of the Coast in order to obtain the contract to produce Pokémon cards for The Pokémon Company. The other card is apparently lost, with no current information on its whereabouts. If it has been destroyed, then the Blastoise card sold at auction in 2021 for $360,000 may be the very last of its kind.

While it's unlikely for even the most dedicated collectors to get their hands on these cards, it can be fascinating to understand the lesser-known treasures of the Pokémon TCG. Identifying the rarest Pokémon TCG cards can be a bittersweet task, as it's likely that many will soon be lost to time or succumb to inevitable wear and tear. However, preserving each of these cards in memory is a very rewarding experience for dedicated Pokémon Trading Card Game fans and collectors.

More: Pokémon TCG's Most Overvalued Cards

Sources: Dicebreaker, Pokémon/YouTube