Q&A
Why are some Pokémon cards worth so much?
Updated October 23, 2026 · By the PullMeter team
Our data shows value is extremely concentrated. In Phantasmal Flames, the single top card (Mega Charizard X ex, $619.14) makes up 61.6% of the whole set's value. The most valuable cards are almost always the rarest printings, like Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares, which show up in only a few percent of packs (see how rare an SIR is). Demand for popular Pokémon and artwork does the rest.
Top-card share by set: Phantasmal Flames 62%, Paldean Fates 35%, Prismatic Evolutions 29%, Twilight Masquerade 26%, Destined Rivals 25%, Surging Sparks 24%, Obsidian Flames 22%, Journey Together 22%.