The Poke Ball is one of the most famous props in Pokemon, and thePokemon TCGfeatures several cards with different Poke Ball variations. While you might expect to see the iconic Master Ball at the top of the list, a ball’s strength is far from the only deciding factor in determining value.
Many of the most valuable Poke Balls feature rare promo cards only distributed to a select few trainers who volunteered at and competed in competitive Pokemon events. Exclusivity is the name of the game, and these expensive Poke Ball cards play it very well.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGplayermarket price. Cards with ‘Staff’ and non-Staff versions are not featured twice; only the Staff version is listed.
8Ultra Ball: Brilliant Stars (Secret Rare) – $23.74
A Star Ball
Brilliant Stars is a great source of valuable cards,especially if you’re a fan of the Trainer Gallery, but did you know that it even boasts a pretty sweet Ultra Ball Secret Rare? Despite its incredibly bright and usually overpowering gold background, this base works perfectly with the Ultra Ball’s gold and black color palette.
Prepare to see a lot of this ball, as it has several valuable variants.
The positioning of the Ultra Ball is tantalizing as it remains perpetually stuck in its opening sequence, though we’ll never catch a glimpse of what’s inside.
7Ultra Ball 68a/73: League Cup (Staff Promo) – $37.45
A Competitive Event
The Ultra Ball League Cup Staff Promo is the first example of an Ultra Ball card distributed to a limited audience, as the ‘Staff’ stamp indicates that the card was intended for volunteers at select League Cup events. This simple design is far less glamorous than the Brilliant Stars version, but the simplistic background works equally well.
It might be pushed further away, making it appear smaller on the table, but this Ultra Ball is still the star of the show, and the hyper-realistic style stands out from many of the other expensive Poke Balls.
6Ultra Ball 135/149: Europe Championships (Promo) – $38.95
Raising The Bar
You might not be familiar with the wide variety ofPokemon Championship events, which are a major source of valuable promocards. Unless you’re a competitor, you’d have to find these cards on the secondary market, as they were exclusive to their given events, as with this European version.
This particular card was distributed at an event in London from November 17-19, 2017. Unless you were there, chances are you’ve never seen this card in person, but if you’re keen on it, the roughly $40 price tag might not be too steep.
5Ultra Ball: Sun & Moon Base (Secret Rare) – $42.41
Far From Basic
This Secret Rare Ultra Ball luckily wasn’t exclusive to a limited-time event at a specific location, but it still boasts a higher price tag than some of the more exclusive versions. With somany valuable Sun & Moon era cards soaring in price,this Ultra Ball is sure to continue its run up the charts, even if the top spot is out of reach.
This version features a slightly more ajar Ultra Ball latch, though it’s equally teasing as the Brilliant Stars Secret Rare, hiding the Pokemon inside behind a bright light.
4Nest Ball 181/198: North America Championships (Staff) – $48.99
A Shocking Appearance
You might’ve expected to see older and older cards higher up the list, but it turns out that the modern Poke Ball distributions switch things up, and even introduce another subject: the Nest Ball. It’s more than just an Ultra Ball party, as this unusual ball choice stands out thanks to its stamps as much as its surprising selection.
This 2024 championship promo is distinguished by the ‘Staff’ stamp in the bottom left corner, marking its rarity. With such desirable promos, volunteering at these events is becoming more popular every year.
3Nest Ball 181/198: Europe Championships (Staff) – $86.50
Europe’s Best
The European Championships contribute anotherimpressively valuable Regional Championship promoto the growing list of expensive Nest Balls. This card is nearly identical to the American version, save for the distinct championship stamps on the bottom right of the artwork.
While they’re both similar in appearance, you’ll notice that the European version is far more valuable, so pay close attention to the details before you buy one of these valuable Nest Ball cards for yourself.
2Ultra Ball 150/172: North America Championships (Staff Promo) – $110.00
The Ultimate Champion
Speaking of North America, there’s another valuable Staff Promo from a North American event to appreciate, but this time the focus is on the Ultra Ball again. This is easily the most unique artwork depicting an Ultra Ball, thanks to the bright light billowing from within the ball, combining with the shades of red in the background.
This Ultra Ball also stands out as the first Poke Ball card to crack the triple-digit barrier, but even with such a strong showing, it’s hard to compete with the most valuable version to come.
1Ultra Ball: Plasma Freeze (Secret Rare) – $799.98
The True Master Ball
An Ultra Ball takes the cake as the most expensive Poke Ball ever, confirming that no card featuring a Master Ball could compete with the rest of its peers. Thisvaluable gem from Plasma Freeze is one of the set’s most expensive cardsand will stun buyers with its $800 price tag.
If that massive cost wasn’t surprising enough, a look back at its rise from below $500 to now will hammer home the point; just take a look at its price chart and be amazed.
