Metal cards are relatively recent additions to thePokemon TCG, as cardboard remains the standard for most printings. Despite that, metal cards are beginning to gain steam, as they started to become more common withthe Sword and Shield era cards,and continue to be used in some of themost valuable Scarlet & Violet era sets.
Whether you prefer the light, portability of cardboard or the tactile, heavier metal cards have piqued your interest, the concept is producing slightly more valuable cards. These are the most expensive metal cards released in the Pokemon TCG thus far, though their ranks are limited.
These cards are ordered according to theirTCGplayermarket price. All metal cards released thus far are included. Any card without a market price cannot be included.
6Arceus V: Miscellaneous Cards & Products (Metal) – $5.83
The Creator Weighs In
Arceus might be best known as the Pokemon god and creator of all things, but you might not know that this Pokemon boasts two distinct metal cards in the Pokemon TCG. The first metal Arceus V card borrows the design from Brilliant Stars, and while that card is barely over a dollar, this metal version commands a significantly higher relative price.
Even though it’s respected as probably the most powerful Pokemon ever, Arceus' metal card still sits at a fairly humble value, though it seems destined to continue rising. While this card art is far from recognizable, its solid valuation in spite of this bodes well for the future of metal cards.
5Arceus VSTAR: Miscellaneous Cards & Products (Metal Promo) – $7.71
The Star Of The Show
Arceus keeps its momentum rolling with the Arceus VSTAR, another artwork taken fromthe original design in the Brilliant Stars set.Compared to the roughly four-dollar price tag on the regular cardboard version of this artwork in Brilliant Stars, this metal card is roughly double the value.
It’s hard to say if these rough value ratios will apply to future metal cards, especially considering the low total values in question, but it’s a good standard to keep in mind. However, the next metal card won’t boast quite as big of a difference in value between the regular and metal versions.
4Mew ex: Scarlet & Violet 151 (Hyper Rare Metal) – $10.01
All About Material
Mew has seen it all and has one of the most impressive rosters of valuable cardsin the history of the Pokemon TCG, but it still isn’t satisfied. Unfortunately, this Mew card bucks the trend and clocks in at a slightly cheaper value than the regular cardboard version of this Hyper Rare design.
Luckily, each card hovers around the $11 mark, so you won’t have to shell out much to add both of these choices to your collection.
Building a 151 master set can be a lot of fun if you’re able to find the cards or open some of the products on your own, and you simply need to have the metal version to go with the standard Mew ex Hyper Rare.
3Greninja ex: Game Stop (Double Rare Metal) – $25.17
More Weight, More Rarity
The Gamestop Greninja ex metal card can be found included within the special Greninja Ultra Premium Collection, originally sold at GameStop. This unique box included multiple special Greninja cards, including this rare metal variant of the popular Greninja ex Double Rare design from the Scarlet & Violet generation.
While it’s far from the most impressive Greninja card in this generation, Greninja stands out thanks to its unique texture and this Pokemon’s sky-high popularity. Even though this card’s design is relatively simple, it stands at over double the value of the Mew ex, indicating its significant desirability in comparison.
2Pikachu: Celebrations (Metal) – $65.61
OG Pikachu Art
Pikachu’s most expensive cardsmight not be shaken up by this metal card from Celebrations, but any time this Pokemon appears on a card is a special occasion. Celebrations features reprints of several popular designs, like the Pikachu artwork from the Base Set featured on this metal card.
The metal texture gives this card a uniquely darker tone, which provides the perfect contrast to Pikachu’s bright yellow color palette. This difference in lighting creates an effect that makes Pikachu appear brighter in the center and cements this as one of the most iconic metal cards thus far.
1Charizard: Celebrations (Metal) – $130.70
An Icon Returns
From one Pokemon superstar to another, Charizard claims the crown from Pikachu as the most valuable metal card ever released. While the future of metal cards is looking brighter based on the solid valuation of this exclusive group, it’s clear they also offer a fun reinterpretation of classic Pokemon artwork.
The unique effects that the metal gives off make this metal Charizard card even more eye-catching, as it appears to have a bright action effect as it refracts light. Expectthis valuable Charizard cardto be the most expensive metal card for the foreseeable future.
