The release of the English versions of White Flare and Black Bolt marks a momentous moment for thePokemon TCG, with each of Unova’s 156 Pokemon highlighted with Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares. While these sets predominantly mirror their Japanese versions, another exclusive Black White Rare was added to both sets: Victini.
Black White Rares feature cards completely drenched in the subject’s main color palette, with Zekrom’s all-black card also appearing among the best cards in Black Bolt. The most valuable cards in Black Bolt mirror similar concepts asWhite Flare’s most expensive cards,but feature darker motifs.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGplayermarket prices, which are subject to change and volatility over time. Any cards without a market price were not included.
8Meloetta ex (Special Illustration Rare) – $54.82
A Mellow Start
Meloetta makes a statement with one of this Pokemon’s most visually detailed cards ever, at a relatively good price considering how much some of the other best Black Bolt cards command. Meloetta is Black Bolt’s answer to Keldeo, and while both Pokemon are popular and boast bright artwork, they fall short of surprising competition.
However, unlike the Jellicent from White Flare, the Pokemon that jumps ahead of Meloetta’s solid value owes most of its prominence to the illustrator.
Shinji’s Golden Touch
Shinji Kanda has made a name as one of the most talented artists in the Pokemon TCG, as he adds this card to an impressive resume that includes the Giratina V Alt Art from Lost Origin and the Magikarp Illustration Rare from Paldea Evolved.
While Seismitoad isn’t anywhere close to as popular as those Pokemon, this artwork is reminiscent of the Magneton promo from Surging Sparks, boasting an equally bright background to make this card pop. Whether you love the design or are a Kanda collector, this card is a tempting option, even at its high price.
6Genesect ex (Special Illustration Rare) – $78.05
Real G’s Move In Silence
Genesect appears with arguably its coolest artwork yet, which could see this card grab a permanent spot amongGenesect’s most valuable cards.Genesect’s machine side shines here, as the Bug and Steel-type Pokemon appears to be emerging from an assembly line in a factory, or something similar.
The cold, mechanical background meshes well with the fiery red glow shining through the doorway, providing the perfect canvas for Genesect to shine as the star of this subtle show.
5Kyurem ex (Special Illustration Rare) – $92.15
Icy Like 1017
Kyurem climbs toward the triple digits on the back of one of the Pokemon’s most detailed depictions yet. If its icy wings weren’t cold enough, the frozen cave surrounding Kyurem brings plenty of bright color and an impressive amount of detail to this Special Illustration Rare.
The sharpness of the icicles communicates Kyurem’s dangerous nature, and the epic pose gives this card everything it needs to challenge the most valuable Black Bolt cards.
4N’s Plan (Special Illustration Rare) – $121.95
He Finessed Down Victory Road
N’s collection of valuable cardscontinues to grow thanks to this stunning close-up of one of Unova’s most iconic characters. Even if you didn’t already know and love N, this card perfectly captures the trainer’s calm demeanor, and exudes good vibes on the back of the bright lights in the background.
A closer look reveals a Ferris wheel in the background, which is a clever reference to one of N’s first appearances in the Pokemon Black & White video games.
3Zekrom ex (Special Illustration Rare) – $310.00
Go Off
Zekrom’s earth-shattering Special Illustration Rare doesn’t need superlatives or in-depth analysis to explain how gorgeous this card is. The Pokemon is surrounded by lightning bolts crashing into the surrounding earth, as it descends to the ground.
Aside from the aura farming Zekrom is busy with here, this card surpasses the competition with an unmatched level of detail and arguably one of the coolest poses in Pokemon TCG history.
2Victini (Black White Rare) – $376.83
Red Like 2012
Victini might have captured the crown in White Flare, but it falls short of the heights it reached in that set, as there’s another Black White Rare that rises above. The all-red background works surprisingly well for Victini and doesn’t completely overwhelm the Pokemon, though it’s not particularly distinct either.
If you love the all-red design, then this card is a must-have for you, as it likely won’t be imitated or duplicated anytime soon. While it’s likely this card’s price will shift dramatically, it’s equally likely that Victini will remain among the best cards from Black Bolt.
1Zekrom ex (Black White Rare) – $462.00
Black Cards, Black Clothes
Zekrom claims the crown again, as it did inthe Japanese version of Black Bolt,with this Black White Rare boasting a noticeably higher price tag than the all-white Reshiram from White Flare. While Reshiram’s card did a great job using lighting, this card’s black background forced a different approach, as Zekrom’s black is a noticeably different shade than the background.
This was a necessary change to prevent the card from just being completely black, but it makes this Pokemon appear much more distinct, perhaps contributing to its superior valuation.
