We’ve all been there: you open aPokemon TCGpack and pull a card with a cracking artwork, only to realize it’s worth a fraction of the cost you paid for the pack. While this is to be expected from packs that don’t feature a major hit, it’s pretty surprising to see how affordable some of these cool Pokemon cards are.
Whether it’s underrated Special Illustration Rares or hidden gems from various Trainer Galleries, you’ll be shocked to see the price tags of these intricately detailed scenes. Age is likely to increase the price of these cards, so if you’re a fan of these cheap Pokemon cards that look valuable, pick them up now.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGplayermarket price. Cards without a market price are not included. Only cards with a value under five dollars were considered.
8Falkner: Paldea Evolved (Ultra Rare) – $1.18
Waiting To Fly
Paldea Evolved’s most valuable cardsare well-documented, as the Bubble Mew has ascended to incredible levels of both hype and value. At the opposite end of that spectrum sits Falkner, the Flying-type specialist, who you can find for about one dollar.
He’s far from the most popular trainer in the TCG, and whilesome Ultra Rares aren’t always as valuable as the best options,this card doesn’t look as boring as the price would suggest. The cool-guy pose and bright shades of blue in the background perfectly accentuate Falkner’s features, but not his price.
7Comfey: Crown Zenith (Galarian Gallery) – $1.20
Calm & Cozy
This Comfey card might not jump out at you with its more muted color palette, but for about $1.20, you can’t go wrong with the subtle pastels and small details. If you love flowers and Pokemon, this is probably the best value for your money in the entire TCG, so don’t overlook it.
Comfey is far from the most popular Pokemon in Crown Zenith, and given how many incredible cards you may find in that set, maybe it’s not surprising how cheap this card is. That being said, it’s still a great bargain that offers great artwork for the price.
6Spiritomb: Crown Zenith (Galarian Gallery) – $1.30
A Frightening Spirit
Following Comfey’s more muted colors and darker background is Spiritomb, another underrated Galarian Gallery card that can be yours for less than the price of a bag of chips in some places.Crown Zenith’s collection of expensive cards getsall the attention, but Spiritomb stands out with its incredibly creepy scene.
This card will have you screaming at the girl in the foreground to turn around, like any great horror scene tends to do. While you might not expect such a terrifying moment depicted on a Pokemon card, its extremely low cost feels incongruent with how detailed and horrifying this artwork is.
5Friends In Paldea: Prismatic Evolutions (Ultra Rare) – $1.31
Some Friendly Competition
Friends In Paldea’s value doesn’t make sense, and there are so many positive factors going for this artwork that for $1.30, you can’t go wrong. With Juliana, Florian, Penny, Nemona, and Arven included in the scene, you can appreciate some of the most iconic trainers from Paldea on a single card.
Prismatic Evolutions is one of the most valuablesets from the era, and to find a card this nice for such a bargain seems like a no-brainer to buy. We could go on forever about this one, but we’ll refrain and just say that this is easily our favorite affordable Pokemon card.
4Surfing Pikachu V: Celebrations (Ultra Rare) – $1.66
A Breaking Wave
Speaking of shockingly affordable cards that you wouldn’t expect to be so cheap, this Surfing Pikachu V stands out as the most recognizable artwork here. Unfortunately, this version hails from Celebrations, a set which featured reprinted artwork from some of the most famous Pokemon TCG cards.
The original artwork wasn’t quite as bright, and originally appeared in Rising Rivals, commanding an over $100 price tag – a far cry from this card’s sub-two-dollar cost. It’s an expected price that falls in line with other Celebrations cards, but you’d think any Pikachu this unique would be worth closer to the price of a surfboard than a bottle of water.
3Geeta: Obsidian Flames (Special Illustration Rare) – $2.23
The Cheapest SIR Available
As a Special Illustration Rare, you’d expect Geeta to make a mark as one ofthe most valuable cards from Obsidian Flames,but despite the steady rise of booster boxes, this card still hasn’t recovered to its former highs.
Geeta’s lukewarm popularity plays a role in how affordable this card is, but considering the high level of detail and the bright lighting giving this trainer the platform to shine, its value is still shocking. You won’t find a more affordable Special Illustration Rare than this one.
2Turtonator: Stellar Crown (Illustration Rare) – $2.53
Put Your Stumps Together For The Turtonator
Turtonator isn’t even on the same plane of popularity as Pikachu, but this adorable artwork is severely underrated, despite its value sitting nearly a dollar above the Surfing Pikachu V. The bright light beams breaking through the clouds and rain are such a nice touch that sets a positive tone in this rainy scene.
Turtonator stands waiting for a moment to step outside, as it sits patiently at the mouth of its cave, so it can safely navigate the land when the rain stops. Much like the fiery turtle Pokemon depicted, we’ll be waiting for this card to get some more love.
1Gardevoir: Silver Tempest (Trainer Gallery) – $3.06
An Underappreciated Duo
Gardevoir is undoubtedly one of the most popular Pokemon ever, and while that doesn’t equate to a massive price tag for every one of its cards, this shared scene with Kalosian Champion Diantha stands out as a great deal. For a few dollars, this card is a must-have and stands out as one of the most special artworks that costs under five dollars.
If you’re looking to spend a few dollars on Pokemon cards, you’ll struggle to find a better deal or a better-looking card with both a Pokemon and a trainer featured than this.
